Time to Quit - Time to Plan

It's that time of year again, where if you're serious about New Years Resolutions, it's time to plan to quit smoking.

I found this great 10 Step Plan that I wanted to share with you.

I'll be trying it myself this year and hopefully will have success this time.

Let me know how you go.

Good luck.

Writers Strike

Pass on the buzz and understand the issues at stake. Thanks

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Nasty Cockroach Incident

Typical Sunday night in Brisbane

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Lazy Morning

Indulgent Saturday morning - woo-hoo!!

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The Christmas Crunch

Beat The Rush When Shopping For Christmas Gift Ideas

Santa may only deliver toys one night a year but for the majority of holiday Christmas shoppers’, gift buying takes a considerable amount of planning and preparation. For many holiday shoppers, Christmas shopping ideas are accumulated over a year of listening for clues, gathering ideas and watching sales.

Holiday Tips For Christmas Gift Ideas

As someone that has perfected the art of gift buying, it is now common for me to purchase many of my gifts during sales through-out the year. Children are exceptionally easy to purchase toys for well before the first snow even falls, Christmas gift ideas such as hobby items, thematic toys or special interest items can easily put a smile on a child’s face. If you are at a loss for Christmas gift ideas for your child, just watch an hour or two of Saturday morning cartoons with your child. The commercials are filled with different toys ideas that children respond to in a favorable or not so favorable manner. Listen close enough and you will soon have your Christmas gift ideas.

When It Comes To Christmas Gift Ideas, Stay Alert For The Bargains

Shopping early and watching for clearance and retail markdowns is an easy way to save money while purchasing the gifts your friends and family want for Christmas. For many companies, especially toy companies, new packaging means that the exact same toy in the old package will be clearanced at the retail outlet. It is possible to purchase Pirates of the Caribbean action figures for a reduced or clearance price simply due to packaging modifications. So the same toy can be purchased for a 30-50% discount simply due to the packaging. This may not seem like a great savings but if your child is a collector of a certain toy, you can be buying two or three toys for at the sale price for the same amount that you would have spent on one toy at the original price.

Don’t Overlook Online Shopping When Searching For Christmas Gift Ideas

Another great way to shop for Christmas gift ideas is to search the internet for online markets and discount auctions. For many, the fun of bidding on an auction is only enhanced when a specific item is purchased at a reduced rate. Often it is possible to purchase new toys and other Christmas gift items for a greatly reduced price, even if considering the expense of shipping and handling. It is best to first visit a variety of retail online outlets and price check the expense of the item you are purchasing. Once you have a clear idea of what the retail expense would be, find an auction and bid on the item, stopping before the auction price exceeds the retail price. While it isn’t always easy to save money this way, sometimes it is possible to save a fortune.


Novelty gifts to make everyones day and give evryone a good laugh.

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Funny Birthday Cards

Everyone loves when their birthday comes around, despite the fact that they are getting older. Your birthday is a time when friends and family show how much they appreciate the fact that you were born and are now in their lives. The best way to show that person whose birthday is coming up how much you care is to get them a funny birthday card.

Choose Your Humor Wisely

There are many funny birthday cards to choose from, it all depends on who you are planning to give it to as to how tasteful you want to go. For example, you wouldn’t want to give your grandmother a funny birthday card that’s a little raunchy, one that you would normally give a peer, because that would likely offend her. You wan to choose the humor according to the taste of the person you’re buying the funny birthday card for.

Neutral Humor

If you want neutral humor, that is, humor that can be given to anyone because of the tame nature of the card, your best bet is to shop for funny birthday cards at your local pharmacy. At your local pharmacy, birthday cards are separated by occasion, sex, and even brand. You have a very large selection of funny birthday cards that can given to anyone on your list, a coworker for example. These neutral funny birthday cards are also great if you are buying for someone who you really don’t know that well and you just want to make them laugh without offending them, because you aren’t fully aware of their sense of humor, or of what they may find funny.

Racy Birthday Cards

Of course, there are funny birthday cards for those who you know that you can’t offend and you actually want to shock them a little bit, while making them laugh at the same time. You can find funny birthday cards that push the limit at your local adult store. At adult stores, they sell funny birthday cards that will shock, as well as make the person laugh.

So, pay attention to the person you’re buying the card for, as you don’t want to offend. The point is to make them laugh on their special day so choose your birthday cards carefully and don’t forget to write a special note inside to show that person that you wanted to make them laugh but you also wanted to show them how much you truly care about them and how much you want to celebrate the fact that they were born on this day several years ago.

Anniversary Gift Basket

Anniversaries are special occasions that should be remembered with special gifts. An anniversary gift basket is one of the best ways to remember a special occasion. The anniversary is the beginning of a special life together for two people or possibly a marker for a number of years at an important pursuit. A great party is usually a way to mark the recurrence of a special event, but those in attendance at this party usually want to bring something to show their appreciation of this special marker. An anniversary gift basket can contain many different items, and the recipient will remember the giver as each item is used or consumed.

An anniversary gift basket filled with fine wines and complementary items is usually most appreciated by people marking special occasions. An anniversary gift basket filled with fine wine will be a way to share with others marking the anniversary. A special advantage of a gift basket is the opportunity to share the contents with others interested in the important event. An anniversary gift baskets filled with wines will often have some special treats that will enhance the tastes of the great wine. Some cheeses and crackers are often included in a basket filled to mark a special occasion.

An Anniversary Gift Basket Brings Smiles And Special Memories

There are other great ingredients that make wonderful anniversary gift baskets. A basket filled with fine cheeses is a tasty treat for those thinking back to a special occasion from the past. The basket filled with cheese and some crackers or breads to go with it will often provide a snack or even a meal for those remembering that great time from the past. A gift basket filled with sweets might be the perfect way to remember a momentous occasion from years gone by.

A personalized anniversary gift basket might be the perfect way to remember the beginning of a great career or a special marriage. The gift basket could be filled with mementoes from the great beginning. The gift basket might have some pictures marking the milestones from the years before. The pictures could be of the children and grandchildren that are near and dear to a happy couple. The gift basket remembering many years of hard work might also include some pictures of important people or milestones in that career. Of course, the specialized gift basket could have the wine and cheese from other baskets to go with the special mementoes.

Party Planning Technique - The Surprise

The element of surprise is something that is hard to achieve in a party nowadays. It seems that everything’s already been done, and if it hasn’t somebody probably blabbers and lets the whole surprise out two days before the party.

Watching movie scenes with surprise parties makes the activity look so easy. It’s as if the whole world conspires to keep the surprise a surprise, and make the look on the celebrant’s eyes something to remember forever. Well, it is never that easy and some people just can’t keep their mouth shut.

To help with the Surprise party planning, here are a few tips to guide and enlighten all those party planners through all the corners of planning a surprise party.

- The surprise element can be heightened by the presence of long lost friends, friends from college, from high school, cousins, close neighbors, parents, everyone you can think of. The mere presence of all these people will surely embed that beautiful surprised smile on the celebrant’s face.

- Ask all those invited, two weeks before the day, and don’t do this through a written note. Ask the people personally or on the phone, this way there’ll be no evidence. It’ll also help to ask in a bit of a menacing tone, as a sort of warning to keep quiet.

- Start thinking about the entertainment that you’d want to use. For a grown-up, it’ll probably be best if you hire some sort of live entertainment, something like a band. It’ll be a bit heavy on the pockets but it’ll surely raise the surprise effect. For children, a couple of well placed bubble machines and maybe a little petting zoo would do the trick.

- Stage a 3 hour trip to the store or the park so that the people left in the house could have time to prepare and decorate.

- Use food that is easy to prepare so that 3 hours would be enough to have the place decorated and the food ready.

- The lights don’t necessarily have to be off. The surprise would be just as effective from the lawn as it will be from inside the house.

- Inform the celebrant of a different celebration, like a dinner or a movie, so that he doesn’t get suspicious of the lack of preparation.

- Finally, wait until the last moment to tell the kids involved, daughters or children invited, so they don’t get too excited and spoil the secret.

Preparing a Party

Preparing your party can be a roller coaster ride of emotions for you. Excitement, nervousness, intimidation, insecurities, low confidence, name it, it is a mix of emotions.

But in this endeavor, you have to cool down, chew everything and think. You have to start somewhere to get there on that day of the party. You can start at your house and begin cleaning it. Do not be overwhelmed because you do not have to clean the whole thing, scrub all the windows and be dustfree here and there.

After all, no one will notice the little cobwebs you hide, the dust in bins because everybody is busy socializing and the ambiance will be dark and only the candles will be lit. But if there is one thing that is needed to be cleaned in your house that is your bathroom or known as the powder room.

Your powder room should be in the most presentable condition because this is what people are very sensitive about. Fresh hand towels or tissues should always be available, fancy soaps must be in the soap dish for added attraction, dried flowers to adorn the room, miniature pictures to divert attention from dirt and air freshener or potpourri to keep the room smelling fresh.

From what you have learned in other parties, interviews with friends, tips from experts and researches, you are fully ready to take on the challenge of organizing you own.

To start off your work, you have to prepare the setting or the venue of the party. This would involve cleaning, decorating, putting the place into mood and add music to it. It is important to be creative at all times.

Second, do your research. Know who has allergies in your guest lists, the best time to schedule for the party, usually Saturdays and not during the time of exams.

Third, you should settle the budget for your party and make sure to spend within your range. You will be in a disaster if you exceed and do not know what to do.

Drinks are another issue you have to sort out. Would you allow alcoholic drinks at your party, to whom will you serve them? If not, decide earlier so that you would not have to prepare and serve it.

Menus are the winner in the party so you have to decide on the dishes very well. They should be tasty, great and well presented.

Lastly, a birthday cake should be decided and planned well too.

Planning for Catering Services

If you would like to enter the world of entrepreneurship, catering is for you! Catering business offers a lot of opportunities for growth and greater profit. If you would like to venture into the catering service, here are a few tips you can follow to start your own business:

1. You may start your party catering service by applying for a license to operate as a caterer. You can get your license at the local Health Department where all catering services licenses are issued and approved. The Health Department will inspect and check if you have the capacity to operate in an area where food will be cooked clean and correctly. Food sanitation is one factor they will consider before they will issue the permit for your catering service.

2. You need to have complete items for your catering service. You must have the important materials like cooking utensils, chairs, and tables. You may also consider decorative props that can be an added feature to your set up business. You must also have a separate place for the food operation and your kitchen.

3. As your first step, you must identify your product and your market. You can choose from different options on your market like conferences, parties, receptions, picnics, and exclusive seated dinners for VIP’s. You may choose one from these options, concentrate on it and develop it to be successful. Analyze where you can benefit and earn more. You can also try combining these services as long as your budget and personnel can handle the work and preparation for your catering service.

4. You should know if your catering service could keep in step to some established catering services that are known already in your area. Ensure that your business can be as competent and can serve all the needs your customers look for in a catering service.

5. If you lack funding to finance all the materials and items you need to serve the clients, you may consider renting from other catering services. This will keep your initial funding at a low cost. Renting other utensils will help you to allot money on the more important things you may need for the catering business.

6. You must also establish your menu as your main attraction to your catering service. You must consider a variety of foods that you will serve during functions and parties. As a caterer, you must know how to make all kinds of foods and provide your client all the information you serve in your catering service.

How to Start a Party Planning Business

Party planning is recommended for those who are starters in the world of business. It offers a wide market and does not require any special skills to operate it. If you would like to start your own party planning business, here are some guidelines you can follow:

1. You may start your party planning business by doing it at your own home as your dry run for your business. It is recommended that you make a party planning business in the evening on weekdays. The most appropriate time that a party is held is 7:30 in the evening when the most number of guests are already free from their work. You may ask the help of your friends to arrange and prepare your organized parties.

2. You may make a list of persons that you will invite for the party. Prepare the invitations and make a follow up call to confirm the number of invited guests who will surely attend your party. Ask your neighbors, friends, and even persons you have met on occasions to come and enjoy the party you have organized. This will also inform them that you are starting a party planning business where they may recommend you to their families and friends.

3. You have to set up the decorations early in the venue of the party. It is better if you prepare and decorate two days before the party. After the decorations and props set-ups are done, you may concentrate on preparing the menu that will be served at the party. You can set a schedule on the more important things that you should prepare first so that you will not cram when the day of the party is nearing.

4. It is advisable that you make a plan on the party process. You may follow an outline on what could be the format of the party. Greet the guests while they enter the place and you may give them nametags for others to know them as well. You can introduce them to other guests and show them the catalog of the menus for them to choose what refreshments they would like to be served

5. Determination is one big factor that contributes to the success of your party planning business. You have to believe in yourself that you can put up this kind of business where you can earn more money and establish yourself as a direct sales merchandiser.

Planning a Retirement Party

Planning a party for someone who is turning in his time card and looking forward to a life of leisure? Here are some helpful guidelines:

1. Invitations. Create an invitation that speaks of what the party is for. An imitation paycheck, fake resume containing funny descriptions of odd jobs she/he had for the past years or a newspaper headline declaring the day of the party as a holiday can be very appealing.

You can also include in the invitation gifts that the guest can bring for the retiree. Notify them of the retiree’s hobby and wishes so they know what to bring.

2. Guest Attire. Include in the invitation your guests’ attire. Ask them to come dressed in stereotypical retirees outfit such as housecoats, tourist outfits, golf cloths or beach floral polo with white shorts.

3. Consider your budget. Calculate the costs for food, drinks, venue and entertainment. It is through proper budgeting that you can then determine the when, where, how and what of the occasion.

4. Formulate a roast. Gather all co-workers together and come up with ideas, comments and jokes. Select a good host for this part.

5. The venue. When choosing the location for which to hold the retirement party, keep in mind the retiree’s likes and dislikes. Does she/he like it better to have a large or small gathering? In the evening or during the day? Luncheon, cocktails or dinner?

5. Have a guestbook. Make it more personal wherein the guest can sign as well as recall the good times and convey messages of luck in the future.

6. Make a toast and ask each co-worker to say something about the “honoree”, thanking him/her for all the good times shared as well as what he/she did that inspired them. This can truly be inspiring as well as touching.

7. Decorations. Your decorations should emphasize the retiree’s job accomplishments. You can exhibit trophies, photos and awards. Table centerpieces, should emphasize the retiree’s interests or hobby such as gardening, golf, cooking, football, etc.

8. Hire either a photographer or a videographer or both if your budget permits.

9. Invite the retiree’s first boss or previous co-worker to say something about the retiree.

10. Hire a couple of dance instructors to take your guests and especially the retiree to the dance floor and show some “moves”. Dance instructors can certainly add life to your celabration.

11. Watch the retiree enjoy the party you organized and you will enjoy it more!

Anthony Robbins Live

Anthony Robbins celebrates 30 years of changing people's lives and you could be one of them.

Anthony will be appearing live at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on 14-17 September 2007.

Save $200.00 on your ticket by visiting the link.

See you there.

Kath

21st Birthday Ideas

Even before you turn 21, everyone is just talking about how you’ll soon be legal to drink. All the birthday gift ideas for a 21st birthday are usually tied to martini glasses, beer coupons and ‘Congratulations you’re legal’ memorabilia. What they do not realize, is that now that you are 21, you are also a responsible adult and pretty much answerable for your own mistakes. So, some responsible birthday gifts for those turning 21 can include fun yet dry alternatives.

A trip to have some fun with friends can be the perfect 21st birthday gift. Parents and other family members can help pool in for a trip to celebrate your birthday and you do not need to get drunk to enjoy yourself. Skiing, swimming, rock climbing or thrill rides, whatever your choice may be, a nice trip may be a perfect way to celebrate the big number.

A notebook, PDA or iPod can also be a substantial and yet responsible 21st birthday gift so that you can work and stay connected with friends and family and be accessible everywhere you go. You can take your music and your contacts with you and not be bored on long plane or train rides.

Many people graduate soon after their 21st birthday and therefore any help with student loans can be a good idea. It may not sound like a fun gift, but it sure is a practical one! Add the years if interest on it and you’ll be thanking your stars you didn’t get another sweater as a 21st birthday gift once those collector calls start haunting you ten years down the road.

A sentimental 21st birthday gift for your son could be 21 cards, one from each of his previous birthdays in a box to remind you and him of all the times you he made your day special or your life worth living. Whether it is in the form of a scrapbook or a simpler alternative, a snapshot of the last 21 years can be a priceless gift, even though some money to go with it would be a good idea too!

Who Said Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees?

Depending on your budget, you can buy a small tree or plant and stick 21 gift cards to the leaves. The denominations could be anything, but the idea will be cute and the variety of stores to go to enjoyable for the birthday boy or girl. You could write a cute message on the plant pot and add $5 denomination gift cards to ice cream parlors, movie rental stores, or more than one card to the same place all around the tree.




Have a special occassion to attend we can help you find the perfect gift.

Personalised Birthday Gifts - Should you do it

There are so many websites and stores that are jumping on the personalization bandwagon that it makes industry experts think whether this is a fad or something that is here to stay. What started off with company logos on pens and desk clocks to serve as marketing tools has now permeated in to every home. Beginning with initial purses and wallets, now people have their entire names (first, last and middle) on everything from bags and briefcases to door knockers and welcome mats!

Advantages

The advantages of a personalized birthday gift is the obvious one that the gift giver went out of his or her way to get something especially for you instead of picking up a box of chlorates from the drug store en route to the party or re-gifting some glasses stored in the basement. It also denotes that the person thought about you and your gift well in advance, because personalization is rarely ever done on the spot.

A personalized birthday gift need not be store bought. You can still put in thought and effort into a personalized birthday gift by crocheting, knitting or quilting something for a special person. An idea for a baby’s first birthday can be a patchwork quilt of cute baby motifs coupled with messages from aunts and uncles to make a wonderful personalized birthday gift.

Disadvantages

However, there is a flipside to personalized birthday gifts too. For one, you can not take it back. You may appreciate the thought that your sister got you a personalized door knocker but you really don’t want any one standing outside your door to know your name because you are wary of salespeople and scared of kidnappers. It may also be that you already have two other mugs with cutesy messages and really do not care for yet another one with your name on it. Everyone at home knows which mug is yours and its okay if your husband takes a sip from yours once in a while!

You love your name, but it was spelled incorrectly like Madisun was spelt as the typical Madison whereas you like your name to be unique. Similarly, you think your name sounds cool, but unfortunately the initials do not. For instance, Patrick Ian Gordon in initials on a leather briefcase will not be very elegant to take a PIG to work everyday!



Wine Country Gift Baskets at SHOP.COM

Poker Themed Party

The greatest party theme to hit adult parties and gatherings is the poker or casino night. This is a very challenging party because you have to set all the fixtures used for poker and set the right mood and feel like you are in the casino.

This is a great way for adults to relax, retire for the day and unwind either in a friend’s house, up on the hill, a cozy rented place or resthouse.

Each room will be prepared and carpeted for poker tables and other games. There will be like a VIP style lounge with velvety fabrics and felt for tablecloths. Additional touches and decorations such as casino murals and playing cards are good in jazzing up walls and boards. Facades or entrance way to the party hall may also be used with poker designed arch where most people can take pictures or those who sit down at the registration office. Balloons and banners can also be used to accentuate the area. They can be shaped as pawns and put in as decorations.

Costumes are more on sexy black tops and evening dresses while men go for black polos and slacks. Food may come in variety like shrimp cocktail, carved prime rib and assorted finger foods and appetizers.

Supplies, lessons, instructional and other supplies for a casino themed party are available in show rooms of different sites on the net. So it would not be difficult to buy. Posters and banners are used to promote the event and introduce the celebrants.

In every planning of parties, there is a checklist that needs to be followed to be guided accordingly.

First, a month before the event, details must be arranged and decided like dates, place, theme, guest list, invitations, decor and music.

Second are the preliminaries wherein house cleaning, follow-up invitations, groceries, table linens, food, decor and prepared preparty food must be finalized.

Third, gear up the maximum shopping of groceries needed for the party.

Fourth is to do the last minute details check, cleaning, decorating of the party, setting of tables for many people.

On the day of the party itself you have to finally clean and check everything and if food is prepared according to the time table.

The most important thing of all, as host of the party, be sure that you do not spend too much of your time in the kitchen while others are having fun at your own party. Just follow your planner checklist and timetable and you are set.


The Wireless Multi-Player Poker Game.

Wedding Reception Party

Your wedding party reception should bring you a lot of happy memories when you look at your wedding pictures later on. Therefore you have to plan it that everything should look, feel and work out as you have perceived it to be.

As the wedding reception is basically a celebration after your wedding ceremony, keep in mind that above all, you ought to enjoy it and savor every moment of it.

Things to do before the wedding party:

1. Decide where to host the reception. Take into consideration the comfort of the place that will host your reception. When you want your wedding reception party to be held in a garden or outdoors, always consider these factors: wind, rain and humidity. Require the hotel to put up tents attractively decorated with flowers and lighting to solve the problems of rain as it also adds to the mood of the party.

2. Choose the decorations, most specially the flowers. Talk to the florist of your choice about what you want, where you want it, how you want it and what kind of atmosphere you wish to create in your wedding reception.

Make sure that aside from decorating the place, the florist must work together and coordinate with your food caterer so both can complement each other.

3. Choosing the caterer. Here again, make sure that you know what you want before selecting a caterer for your food.

To whatever decision that you will make, the caterer should understand all that you are envisioning in your wedding party reception. When he easily understands, it means that you both can work easily together, with peace!

4. Choose the wedding cake. When selecting a wedding cake, make certain that it goes with the motif of your wedding reception. Consider your color motif as well as the style of your wedding. Choose it well, as the cake often is the center of attraction of the reception, aside from you (the bride) of course.

5. Decide on the music. Select the style of music that best conforms to the style and again, the motif of your wedding reception.

Normally, it begins as a background, making the music slow and soft as the beat picks up encouraging everybody to dance after the meal.

Decreasing the music speed as well as slowing down the volume usually signals the conclusion of the celebration.

During the reception:

Just sit back, relax and enjoy your wedding party. Go dance, and have the best time ever with your husband and with your loved ones!

Wedding Frames

Party Planning Checklist

Party planning may seem a difficult task to many. To make the planning easier and organized, you should have your own checklist. The following items are the things that should be considered in your checklist.

1. You have to find out if it is a special holiday or a formal party if you want to organize a party. You may then choose the theme of the party that is appropriate for the guests. This will also help you in identifying the things that you may need for the party.

2. Try to number out the guests you are going to invite to be prepared on the food and drinks you will serve. Choose a place where you can accommodate all the guests and make sure that you reserve the location of the party in advance.

3. Make the guests informed on when and where the party will be held. Send the invitations earlier so that your guests can check out their own schedules. Be sure to set the exact date and venue for the party. You may even attach a sketch of the party’s venue.

4. It is strongly recommended that you select a menu of what you will serve for the party. Food is always the main attraction of a party. You may prepare dishes and appetizers for the party and try to make the menu appropriate for the guests that you have invited. There are also instances that you may not expect surprise guests that may come for the party. That is why it is advisable that you prepare more food to make sure that there will be no shortage on the food that will be served.

5. Be sure to decorate the place where you will hold the party. Make the place clean and you may want to consider placing plants, flowers, and decorative props that will set the mode on the party’s theme. You may also add entertainment by having a sound system for the party. Just remember to pick out the right music and organize a play list of the songs that will be played.

6. Contact the catering service for reservations of chairs and tables that will be used. It is better that you book these items two weeks before the party. You may ask your friends and family to help you decorate and prepare for the party. It is not that easy to do all the preparations alone. Preparing the party alone can be time consuming and can give you more stress. It is advisable that you seek help from your friends or you may hire a party planner if you can afford the fee.


Costume Craze

Party Planning Top Ten

I'm forever choosing party gifts or throwing parties or helping to organise them and sometimes I just run out of ideas or have tried the same ones over and over. So I'm starting this section with some great party ideas and let you know where you can get some great supplies cheap as well both online and offline.

So without further ado:

Party Planning Top Ten

An excellent and remarkable party does not happen in a snap. One needs to devote time to plan for the event. This top ten party planning guide will help any host in preparing for a perfect party.

1. Budget. Decide how much you are willing to spend on a one-time event and stick to it!

2. Theme. Decide on the unifying element of the party. Themes bring focus and added excitement. It can be as simple as color themes to as elaborate as a Victorian Era theme for a costume party.

3. Time and Date. Finalize the time and date of the party. Choose a day and hour that is convenient for the majority of the invited guests so that they will be encouraged to show up.

4. Party Place. Decide on the location that works best for the host and guests. Make sure to include a map of the place with the invitations, no matter how familiar it is.

5. Guest List. Create the guest list. It is imperative that a list is created, to make sure that everyone that needs to be invited is included and not forgotten.

6. Invitations. Create invitations and send them out immediately after the guest list is finalized. Let guests know what the party is all about by creating invitations that are in line with the party theme. Formal or not, have a system for RSVP to know the final headcount.

7. Style and Menu. Decide on the party style and menu: Formal or informal, brunch or dinner, potluck, catered, in-house or a combination. Once decided, make a list of the food and drinks that need to be purchased at the grocery.

8. Party Activities. Plan for the party activities. Whether celebrating a birthday, shower or a simple get-together, create a list of activities like games to liven up any gathering.

9. Music. Plan for the music. Music is such an intrinsic part of any party, but is usually taken for granted in the planning. Give this aspect some thought time and it would definitely perk up your gathering.

10. Décor. Plan for the decorations: guest entry, gathering area, table setting, and centerpiece. As the planning gets finalized, create a shopping list for the decorations. Don’t forget to include game prizes on the list as well as mementos if the host is planning give-aways.

Do your planning two to four weeks prior to the day of the party (4-6 weeks for a formal gathering) and give enough time for you to host and enjoy a remarkable event!

New Apple Iphone

Take a tour of the new Apple IPhone. It embraces everything into one piece of equipment. FINALLY.
Widescreen ipod, internet in your pocket, phone, email, listen to music while you work. MP3 and MP4, multi-touch functionality.
Upload to PC and synchronise.
What more can you want?

Need Content

This is the best PLR Content program I've seen and well worth every penny.
Check it out.

The Xbox 360 WiFi Adapter - Worth It?

The Xbox 360 WiFi Adapter – Worth It?

Your Xbox 360 can connect to a network router for wifi internet access and access to Xbox Live. The Xbox 360 does not come standard with a wifi network adapter, so one must be purchased if you want to give yourself Xbox 360 wifi access. These can be purchased from Microsoft, but are typically rather expensive.

The Pros And Cons

Microsoft offers a wifi adapter for the Xbox 360. It looks great, but Xbox 360 wifi doesn’t come cheap. It is stylishly crafted to blend perfectly with your Xbox 360 system, and is generally very easy to install. The Xbox 360 wifi adapter is typically quite a bit more expensive than other wifi adapters, because it uses dual-band 802.11 a, b, and g bandwidth; and because it is usually smaller than other wifi adapters. The Xbox 360 wifi adapter uses a USB cable, which supplies both power and also allows the user to utilize the Ethernet port for computer hookup.

Installation

Installation of the Xbox 360 wifi adapter is easy for most end users. The first step is to connect the wifi adapter to the Xbox 360 with a usb cable. Keep in mind that although you can connect a regular Xbox to wifi as well, you must use an Ethernet cable to do so.

Second, navigate through your Xbox 360 settings until you find the Xbox 360 wifi settings, or network settings on some consoles. Be sure to set your network name, or SSID, setting so that it matches the name on your wifi router. If the router has preinstalled network name broadcast, then the network name will automatically show up on you Xbox 360 wifi screen. If not, you should select the option for an unspecified network, and enter the name found on your router.

Wireless routers will only use the ‘Infrastructure” setting as the Network Mode. The next step is to set your Security Type so that it is the same as on your Xbox 360 wifi router. If your router uses a WPA, or WiFi Protected Access, you need to disable it, because the Xbox 360 does not support that type of encryption.
Be sure that you save all of the settings for your Xbox 360 wifi adapter, and test to make certain that the network is functioning correctly. You should receive an on screen message, letting you know that your Xbox 360 wifi connection is live. The Xbox 360 offers a test option that will be titled ‘Test Xbox Live Connection’.

Internet Marketing the Latest

Why Internet Marketing need's
'Slapped' and why it's time to
change....

- by Andrew Fox

© Andrew Fox - All Rights reserved
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I can remember it all too clearly..

Back in 1999, when I began my journey online there were only 5-10
'experts' in Internet Marketing.

It was a wonderful place to live in, a safe environment where you
could work and breathe without being poisoned with some hyped
up product.

Fast forward and the industry, started to change. The 'sharks'
smelt blood and entered our market place and started
destroying the industry..

What happened?

Simple really...

Greed. Products upon products started to filter into the market
place like a tidal wave - relentless and not caring about the damage
it left in it's wake...

People running up HUGE debts on credit cards, in some cases
taking equity out of their homes just to become another victim of
a vicious scam.

I monitored everything, my blood boiling every second of the day
until it was too much.

That was when the 'Guru Slayer' was born - a guide created for
an ordinary person to follow a step by step plan online.

Not hype, not fluff or any BS. Short, sharp, crisp and to the point.
No high price tag, no hard selling...

I only hope it will help the market place return to the state we
once had it in...

Warm Regards,

Andrew Fox

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Andrew Fox has been marketing online
since 1999. His latest product the
'Guru Slayer' fights back against a
polluted industry that has destroyed
the lives on many. See his story by clicking
the title of this article.

Free free to reproduce this article to
your own website/ ezine list.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Asthma Info

The Asthma season has started and will continue through the change of seasons. Here are some products that I hope will help those of you discovering asthma for the first time or seeking other ways to manage your own asthma without the constant need for Ventolin.

Cause of Asthma

The Defined Cause of Asthma and Asthma Attacks

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease which cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. It is a disease of the respiratory system in which the airways in a person’s body develop that of increased responsiveness to that of various stimuli, and the symptoms of asthma can vary from mild to life threatening.

What is the Cause of Asthma?

As for the cause of asthma, it is truly not fully understood as to what factors are the cause of asthma, even though there has been significant amounts of research done in regards to this matter. However, in regards to the cause of asthma attacks, there are several things and factors in particular that are considered as being a known cause of asthma attacks, and which therefore any asthmatic person should beware of.

For instance, some of the most common factors include that of: exercise, allergens, irritants, viral infections, animal dander, dust mites, cockroaches, pollen from trees and grass, and indoor and outdoor mold. Some other factors include: cigarette smoke, air pollution, cold air or changes in the weather, strong odors from painting or cooking, scented products, stress, medicines such as Aspirin, sulfites in food, and infections.

The symptoms of a typical asthma attack will include that of the following: wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest, for instance. There are certain steps that most asthmatics are told to take, in order to at least try to prevent the occurrence of attacks, which includes that of the following: clean carpets regularly, wash pillowcases and sheets in hot water weekly, wash hands regularly, remove any rugs or carpets that collect dust, keep your windows closed, keep the air conditioning on, and keep your animals outside.

Although even if you used all of these methods, there is still no guarantee that you will not suffer from an asthma attack, at least you know that the risk is less. Because asthma is not a curable disease, the only real thing you can do to benefit yourself is to take all of the proper and preventive precautions that you can, such as following what you should and should not do if you are an asthmatic.

One of the other most important factors is to make sure that you have been diagnosed properly, and the way your physician will do this is by using a spirometer, which is a device that assesses lung function, and is used: to determine how well the lungs receive, hold, and utilize air; to monitor a lung disease; to monitor the effectiveness of treatment; to determine the severity of a lung disease; and to determine whether or not the lung disease is restrictive or obstructive.

Recognising Asthma Symptoms or Signs

The Importance of Recognizing an Asthma Symptom or Sign

Recognizing an asthma symptom or sign is in fact considered as being one of the most crucial factors in asthma altogether. As well, recognizing an asthma symptom or sign is an incredibly important part of managing asthma, and knowing when early warning signs are appearing is helpful, in that the proper treatment can begin and other interventions can also begin early, rather than waiting until the attack has already come, or is in such a state of progress that it cannot be stopped.

In regards to which type of treatment is most effective for asthma, the answer would clearly be that of early intervention; therefore, this is why recognizing an asthma symptom is so incredibly dire in the matter of taking care of your health if you are an asthmatic. This does not have to be difficult, as there are certain warning signs that are typically experienced before the onset of an attack, and although an asthma symptom may vary from one person to the next, the basic signs are all the same, and recognizing these signs is what will allow you to start early treatment methods.

Some of the most common warning signs include that of: breathing changes, sneezing, runny nose, coughing, headache, moodiness, chin or throat itches, fatigue, dark circles under eyes, trouble sleeping at night, downward trend in peak flow number and an intolerance or inability for physical exercise.

There are also more severe asthma symptoms and warning signs, which typically mean that the asthma attack has already progressed quite far, and these symptoms include that of: severe coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or tightness in chest; difficulty talking or concentrating; walking causing shortness of breath; hunched posture; nasal flaring; the neck area and between or below the ribs moves inward with breathing; there is a gray or bluish tint to the skin; and peak flow numbers are typically in the danger zone, which usually means that it is below 50% of that person’s personal best.

Of course it is quite obvious that if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, especially those of the more severe signs and symptoms, you need to call some form of medical personnel immediately. However the best method is that of prevention, and so determining what factors are the triggers to the onsets of your asthma attacks, and thus attempting to avoid these factors as much as possible, will at least remotely help you in reducing the frequency of your attacks, or perhaps even basically eliminating them altogether.

Nintendo Wii Problems and Solutions

Nintendo Wii Problems and Solutions

Nintendo has just release their latest video game offering and it has been received pretty well worldwide. Not all countries have experience Nintendo Wii yet because releases have been limited to a few countries. Some people have resorted to online purchasing of Wii to be able to get them before the others in their country and others have been said to have asked relatives and friends in released countries to buy it for them.

Nintendo, Wii Have a Problem

Despite all the hype that has surrounded Wii, several problems have come up. The very first of the Wii problems, came up even before the console was previewed and released. Many game developers and members of the media had doubts regarding the name of the product. Wii was initially named Revolution but Nintendo change it before its release. Nintendo’s response to the clamor was to stick to their guns regarding the name change and invest a huge amount of money in advertising and promoting Wii.

Another of the Wii problems is probably the result of the huge advertising budget Nintendo injected into Wii. Thousands of people anticipated the release of Wii that there were so many pre-orders even before it was announced which countries the Wii was to be initially released in. Up until the 2nd quarter of 2007, some pre-orders in UK have not been met.

Wii problems also surfaced when the console was released late last year. Some Wii problems concerned really defective console and as soon as the buyer contacts Nintendo, they will advise the buyer to return the unit and wait for the replacement. Signs of defective Wii systems are the console turns off after some time, the screen gives you a repetitive error message even after have consulted the manual and technical support, the remote does not get any kind of response from the console after checking the batteries.

There are so many signs of Wii problems that could mean your Wii is defective. It is best to consult the manual and contact technical support. This happens to some new products and they eventually get the kink out after getting used to producing them. Other Wii problems concern the strap for the remote but Nintendo has already issued a statement that they will replace these with better straps.

Read The Manual First

Some Wii problems that surfaced were just human error like when the player placed the disc the wrong way and like expecting the light to keep on flashing even when it is supposed to turn off when there is no data exchange. I guess the best thing to do is to read the manual thoroughly before turning the unit on and to read the manual again when you think you have a problem. Some of the Wii problems can be solved by reading the manual while others really need technical support.

What is Asthma - It's that time of year

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic and non-curable disease which involves the respiratory system, and which causes the airways to constrict and become inflamed. However, it is believed by some to be partially inherited, but is also considered to be due to a wide array of other factors, such as environmental, infectious, and chemical factors. Therefore, although there is no definitive cause as of yet for asthma, there are certain presumed factors both in regards to the cause of asthma as well as to the onset of asthma attacks.

What is an Asthma Attack?

There are many factors which are considered to trigger an asthma attack, as well as that of risk factors; although anyone may have an attack, it most commonly occurs in the following persons: children under the age of 5, adults in their 30s, adults over 65, and people living in urban communities. There are certain other factors as well that are considered to be involved, including: family history of asthma, personal medical history of allergies, children with a family history of asthma, children who have allergies and children who have exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke.

There are certain factors that occur during a typical asthma attack, with the most common being: the lungs and airways overreact to certain triggers causing the lining of the airways to become inflamed and swollen, tightening of the muscles that surround the airways, and an increased production of mucous; breathing becomes harder and may hurt; possible coughing; and there may also be a wheezing or whistling sound, and this is especially typical of asthma.

There are certain factors which are typically accused of causing attacks, and which any asthmatic should try their best to stay away from, and this includes that of the following: allergens, such as mold, pollen, animal protein, cockroaches, and certain foods; respiratory infections and sinusitis; irritants, such as strong perfumes, chemicals such as coal or talcum powder, air pollutants, changing weather conditions, and chemical-exposure; sensitivity to medications, such as aspirin or sulfites which are used as preservatives in foods and beverages; exercise; gastroesophageal reflux; smoke; and emotional anxiety and nervous stress.

Because this condition is not curable, it is incredibly important to take all of the proper precautionary methods that you can, in order to at least attempt and prevent attacks from coming on as best as you can.

The Wii Mii Experience

The Wii gaming system has changed many things in regards to how games are played and who is playing the games. This gaming system has gotten even the most disinterested people involved in playing video games. With its highly interactive features allowing for the player to literally be in the game, the Wii game console could be looked at as the wave of the future.

The Unique Wii Mii Characters

As with all video games, in order to play the game, the player must create a character. Many games already have a set staple of characters to choose from, and there is really no individuality about the character. Some games allow for the characters to choose their own weapons, animal companions or small variables, but on the whole they are set within the game, and not very unique.

The Wii mii characters a re highly individualized. These characters are used in the sports line of games by Nintendo. These games include Tennis, Golf, Bowling and Baseball. The Wii mii is the “mini you” that will play the game. These unique little Wii mii people are as fun to make as the game is to play.

Creating your own Wii mii can take a lot of time. The choices from eye color, skin color, nose shape, hair color and design are all very personnel choices. The whole process is fun, making a Wii mii that represents you is all about the numerous choices and is as big a part of the game as the game itself.

Some people become so involved in creating the Wii mii, that they try to create look a likes for celebrities. Again, this can become quite an operation, trying to get the exact mixture to create a celebrity icon that will then go on and bowl for you. It can be very funny to create a Wii mii of the president and then have him playing baseball.

All of this creative fun has even sparked competitions for the best designed Wii mii characters. People will post their creations on-line for public approval and to view how other characters have been created. This has become a serious past time for plenty of people looking to improve their characters.

The Wii mii craze is an offshoot of the entire interest in the Wii gaming group. Not only are the games enjoyable to play, making your own characters to play the games lends itself to an evening of good entertainment.

Wii Sports

Wii Sports – Video Games That Get Your Heart Pumping

Wii Sports is a collection of five mini-games that comes bundled with the new Nintendo Wii system. The games are designed to spotlight the positive features of the console by utilizing the motion-detecting remote and the customized Mii avatar. Step-by-step instructions help to make the games easy for anyone to play. Most innovative is the way Wii Sports gets you off the couch and moving your body. Each of the five games has strengths and weaknesses, which will be reviewed in this article.

Wii Sports Bowling

Easily the best of the five, Wii Bowling is addictive enough to be dangerous. The controller is very responsive with this game, meaning that any little twist of the wrist can make or break your throw. Up to three other players can compete against you but even the practice sessions are fun so don’t worry if you happen to be alone.

Wii Sports Baseball

Although limited to pitching and hitting, Wii Baseball is still a great way to have a fun afternoon. Your actions control your success in the game thanks to the motion sensitive remote. The faster you swing the remote, the faster the ball in the game is thrown. Or hold the remote like a bat and try to hit a home run. The game really brings out your competitive spirit as you try to beat your friends or the computer.

Wii Sports Tennis

Not as responsive as bowling or baseball, tennis will take some finesse before you can call yourself a master. The controller is held in much the same way as you hold the “bat” in baseball but the addition of a double’s partner makes the timing a little trickier. If the ball is close to your partner and you swing in anticipation of the ball coming your way, it’s possible that the ball will fly by your partner’s, and then your, head.

Wii Sports Golf

I’ve never been a fan of golfing video games but this one has some promising features. The courses are less complicated than some that I’ve seen and the remote allows control over more variables than just the normal power behind the swing. Still it takes some time and effort to get the timing right and unless you’re a natural at this type of game, you’re unlikely to want to put the hours into it necessary to master the game.

Wii Sports Boxing

This was the biggest disappointment of the package. Most certainly one of the most anticipated of the Wii Sports, the boxing simulation game falls very short of what was expected of it. Responsiveness is practically zilch with almost no hope of getting your Mii to hit where and when you want it to. On the other hand, your opponent is just about guaranteed to hit at least two out of every three swings. It’s a good thing that the other four games are fun because you’re not likely to play this one much.

Wii Sports Training

Not a game in and of itself, the Wii Sports training sessions still bear mention. Each sport, once played, unlocks training levels that feature basic to expert exercises. How many times can you hit out of thirty pitches in the baseball training? Or try to hit a bulls-eye with a tennis ball without missing any balls. The exercises differ as they get harder and each success improves your Mii’s total fitness score so even if you won’t get fit enough to win a gold medal from Wii Sports, your mini-you might.

Marg McAlister and Writing for Success

Marg McAlister is also an SBI user and I welcome back her tipsheet. She is an expert in her field so for all you aspiring writers or seasoned professionals, you could do a lot worse than to check out her site at the links below. Try the SBI Net Writing course by clicking the link in the title of this post to help polish your skills to make content your best selling feature and money making tactic.

Writing for Success Tipsheet is Back

Feature Article: Will I Ever Improve? Tips on Self-Editing

by Marg McAlister

Writers all want to be published. No matter what they're writing - short stories, novels, articles, biographies - there's nothing like the validation of seeing it in print. The downside is this: unless you're self-publishing, you have to wait for someone else (usually an editor) to say 'yes, we want to publish your book'.

The question in most writers' minds is this: "What will prompt the editor to vote 'yes' rather than 'no'? What is she looking for? Is there anything I can do to improve my chances?"

Some things you have control over; some things you don't.

· You don't have any control over whether another writer might have sent in a similar story to yours in the same week.

· You don't have any control over an editor's personal quirks, preferences or moods.

· You don't have any control over an editorial panel that might outvote an editor who is presenting your work with a view to publication.

What you do have some control over are the following:

1. The originality of your plot. (Most of the time this involves a new twist on an old theme - forget about trying to think of something that hasn't been done before.)

2. The appeal of your characters. Editors are not likely to want to publish a book featuring dull, two-dimensional characters.

3. The 'voice' you use. This means the general tone and style of your writing - think of the difference in the voice of Janet Evanovich, author of the popular 'Stephanie Plum' books, and the voice of Lee Child, author of the equally popular 'Jack Reacher' books. Editors are always eager to find a writer with a 'new voice'.

4. The quality of your editing. Good writers are able to proofread and polish their scenes to a high standard. They edit for grammar, spelling, and style. If something seems wrong, they try to work out what it is and fix it - they don't give up, shrug and say 'It's close enough'.

All four of the above-mentioned things you do have control over are important, but for now, we'll look at the fourth - the quality of your editing. The biggest problem by far for most writers is working out WHY something 'sounds wrong'. They know there's a sour note in there somewhere - but what is it? How can you fix something when you can't pinpoint exactly what's wrong?

Nobody is pretending that it's easy. It takes time to hone your writing skills and improve your technique. At times, most writers feel that they'll never really 'get it' - it all seems like such hard slog! Remember that, and when you're feeling down, remind yourself that you're not alone.

It helps to have feedback from other writers who can help you analyse your work, but you can also gradually improve your skills by buying 'how to' books, doing short courses, or using a critique service. The following tips will help you to improve your self-editing skills - and thus improve your chances of acceptance.

1. Keep Your Tools Sharp - and Invest In New Ones When Necessary

Why is it that many people think nothing of upgrading to a better TV or coffee machine, but baulk at the idea of investing in their writing career? You may well have a dozen books on plotting and writing - but how old are they? How often do you refer to them? How much have they taught you?

From time to time, browse sites like Amazon.com and The Writers Digest to check out the latest books for writers. When you see one that appeals, Google the name of the book plus the word 'review'. This will help you to find what other people think of the book. When you locate one that seems popular, think about buying it for your professional library. Keep updating!

Every so often, consider doing a new course on writing. Make sure you research the course carefully before you start. Is the author of the course well-regarded? Are there testimonials from satisfied students? What kind of feedback/testing is involved?

Your tools also encompass your computer, word processing software, printer and seating. Look for ease of use, comfort and enough power/memory to do the job properly.

2. Edit One Thing At a Time

When the time comes to edit a scene or chapter, most writers just sit down and read through their work without any kind of plan or systematic approach. They hope that if something's wrong it will jump out at them. All too often they're tired or pushed for time, and don't give their work the time and effort it deserves.

Wrong approach! You've probably spent hours constructing a plot and creating characters, and weeks or months writing the chapter (or chapters). Does it make sense to sabotage all your effort by rushing through that essential editing stage? Of course not.

Divide your editing time into (a) proofreading for spelling and grammar (b) checking style and technique and (c) checking story structure. You might find it most fruitful to do these in separate sessions. That way, your focus for the session will be on just one aspect of editing - far less confusing, and more likely to produce rewards. Let's look at each in turn.

(a) Spelling and grammar.

Use the spell check / grammar check function on your word processor for the first run through. If you're naturally strong at spelling and grammar, this will probably be enough. If you are not strong in these areas, then you'll need to enlist the help of someone who is: another writer, a friend or a family member. (You can't rely just on the word processor to check these things - it doesn't pick up everything, and sometimes suggests really weird options.) Don't skimp on this step, thinking that it's an editor's job to fix spelling and grammar. Editors are busy people. They are far more likely to take on a writer who has mastered basic technical skills.

(b) Style and Technique

When you're reading through your scenes to check for style and technique, you are looking for things like these:

· wordy sentences that slow the pace and cause reader confusion

· run-on sentences (including the common habit of using a comma to 'splice' sentences together). This is really part of the grammar check, but crosses over into technique.

· dialogue - do you always know who's speaking? Do you have too many speech tags? Is the dialogue cleanly integrated into the other action of the scene? Can you picture the setting where the dialogue is taking place? Do all of your characters have an individual voice? Is the tone of the dialogue appropriate for each character (age, level of education, occupation, historical era)

· viewpoint - do you have a viewpoint character for each scene? Do you clearly establish who this person is at the beginning of the scene? Have you unintentionally slipped into the viewpoint of other characters?

· are you over-using the word 'as', both at the beginning of a sentence and in the middle?

· are you starting too many sentences with words ending in "-ing"?

· are you starting too many sentences with the same word? (Especially pronouns - "He" and "She")

· are you unintentionally repeating words or phrases so they set up an 'echo' that may distract or annoy the reader?

· is your writing becoming dull because too many sentences are the the same length or have identical patterns?

· is your writing style jerky and uncomfortable for the reader because you use too many short sentences or sentence fragments?

· are you 'telling' too much rather than 'showing' what is happening?

· are you 'dumping' too much information into a scene and spoiling the flow and pacing?

· are you spending too much time describing the setting, rather than blending in only whatever description is necessary as seen through the eyes of the viewpoint character?

· are you boring the reader with too much interior monologue or agonising over the character's situation?

· are you slowing the pace through 'too much' of anything - too much information, too much description, too much incidental dialogue, too much introspection, too many examples?

(c) Checking Story Structure

You need to check the structure of your story both as a whole and for individual scenes. Each scene should have an inciting incident - that is, a reason for the characters to be where they are and doing what they are doing. What triggered the scene? Is this a logical progression? Do we believe in the motivation? Can each scene justify its presence in the book? If you took a scene out, would it affect the book as a whole? If the answer to that is 'no', then why is the scene in the book?

When you are looking at story structure, you are checking for:

pacing - are there any sections of the story that are too slow? Do you need to introduce another complication or another character to liven things up? Would you be better off simply cutting a few unnecessary scenes or chapters

motivation - is the motivation believable for all your characters? How does the story start? How will the main character's life change? Does each scene lead logically to the next? Are there identifiable 'turning points' in the novel - where a character's actions or decisions lead them in a new direction, with no turning back?

suspense and tension - does this build throughout the novel, leading to the climax? Do you always have something else for the reader to find out (thus creating a page-turner)? Does each scene have its own tension?

Is there a 'bleakest moment' when everything seems lost or under threat?

Is there a satisfying conclusion?

The above points are just the basics of what you should be looking for. You will probably find more as you develop as a writer. The most useful checklists you can use are those created by yourself. If you have weak areas, give these prominence on your personal checklists.

3. Edit One Scene at a Time

The tighter your focus, the more likely you are to do a good job. Sitting down to edit a whole book in a day is too big a task. You're sure to get fatigued and miss obvious errors and 'clunky' structure. You'll also be tempted to skip over sections that are 'pretty much okay'.

'Pretty much okay' is not good enough. It's easier to stick to a high standard of editing when you're not taking on too much in one go. Be strict with yourself about this. The only time you should sit down to read through the whole book is when you feel the book is as good as you can make it on a scene-by-scene basis - now you're doing a final run-through to assess general flow and pacing.

Learning to be an effective editor for your own work is largely a matter of experience teamed with an organised approach. It can be made a lot easier if you team up with another writer to proofread each other's work, but you can do it yourself. The reward for all your hard work is an increased chance of getting that 'YES!' from an editor. That's got to be worth it.

(c) Marg McAlister 2007

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(c) Marg McAlister and Writing For Success. You may pass this newsletter on to others or reproduce the content provided that the articles are not changed in any way without permission. All copyright details must be reproduced, and the following resource

Marg McAlister's writing sites and ezines are full of up-to-date, practical advice for writers. Get timely tips to ensure writing success both online and in print:

http://www.Writing4SuccessClub.com
http://www.writing4success.com
http://www.writing4success.com/spotlight_ecourses.htm
http://www.HowTheHeckDoI.com

http://www.EsssentialGuidetoGhostwriting.com
http://www.career-booster.com
mailto:marg@writing4success.com

How Wonderful is Wii Remote?

When Nintendo released their new Wii system late last year, everyone was curious to see what the deal was with the long one-handed remote that was to serve as the console’s main controller. Named for its resemblance to a television remote control, the Wii remote is more innovative and more user friendly than the traditional gamepad controllers. But even with all the motion detection and interactive play, how wonderful is the Wii Remote?

The Wii Remote Is Motion Sensitive

Responsive to every move you make, the motion detection feature of the wii remote sets it apart from any other controller every made. Nintendo wanted to make something that anyone, even someone who has never played video games before, could pick up and easily adapt to. Anyone who has ever used the Wii remote would probably agree that nintendo hit the nail on the head with this design. Just make sure you have the strap securely around your wrist or the remote can fly out of your hand during game play.

The Wii Remote Is Wireless

Unlike game pad controllers that either were limited by the length of their cords or the wireless versions that had problems relaying the information even from the smallest distance away, the Wii remote is wireless but uses short-range “Bluetooth” technology to communicate to a sensor placed affixed somewhere near the television being used. Up to four remotes can be picked up as far as 30 feet from the sensor, however performance is best when used within 16 feet. This is much more distance than the average gamer puts between himself and the television anyway.

The Wii Remote Is Versatile

The Wii remote was designed to be used ambidextrously, with either the right or the left hand, and to be held in a variety of positions. Hold it vertically for most games that require fighting, jumping, or swinging an object. It can be turned horizontally, like the original gamepads, to simulate a steering wheel for a driving game. Other activities that the remote can be used for include spinning, dropping, smudging, and flipping and more.

The Wii Remote Is Expandable

Several attachments for the Wii remote were designed by Nintendo but only two ever made it to market. The nunchuck, which can be used in almost as many games as the remote, has an oblong shape and features an analog stick, a trigger button and a C button. The nunchuck is held in the off-hand and plugged into the remote in order to share communication. This attachment also comes bundled with the Wii console. The other remote attachment that was released by Nintendo is the classic controller, which looks like the old Nintendo gamepad controllers, and is only used with the virtual console games that are purchased with special “Wii points”. The list of virtual games greatly increases the number of games available for play on the Wii system.

Wii Review

A Wii review Will Let You Know The Inner Workings Of The Nintendo Wii

There are many people that have written their own Wii reviews and you should not have much difficulty in getting the lowdown on this product. In any case, going by available Wii reviews one learns that the Wii is a bit smaller than what one would normally expect though it does have distinctive, smooth as well as good looks. If you are thinking about the Wii-mote, you need not worry as it too is simple to use once you get the hang of its keys.

Get All The Information That You Need

You would also be looking for information about the Nunchuck in a good Wii review and this is readily available as you will learn that it too is good when connected with the Wii-mote to play games that come with the system. You will learn that it is also possible to buy additional games and you will also not experience any difficulties with the sensor bar that too is easy to set up so that you can get your game started in a short time.

You can also learn a lot from the Wii review about what else you get with your Nintendo such as whether owner manuals are provided which would enable you to understand the workings of the Wii as well as get maximum pleasure out of your gaming experience. The Wii review may also include information about getting used to the Wii and requiring using physical effort because the motion-sensor technology that comes built-in with the controller. So, you could find yourself playing tennis with the help of the Wii-remote that acts as your tennis racket.

Your Wii review should also give you an idea of where to purchase the classic Wii controller that need to be bought separately. In any case, when you play your Wii games you should also benefit by staying in shape and thus can choose from between tennis, boxing as well as bowling to play as well enjoy regular exercise at the same time.

If you want to learn how to connect to the website of Nintendo, you may need to read up on a Wii review which will probably help inform you about how to go about it. There should also be information about using the ‘Virtual Console’ and how to take advantage of the backward compatibility of Wii to play the Nintendo NES games. You may also nee to learn that the Nintendo Wii is not just for little children and that all age groups do find it useful and in fact, experienced gamers usually cannot get enough of their Nintendo Wii’s.

The Best Games Released For The Wii System

Nintendo has focused more on quality than quantity when it comes to the games it has released for its newest Wii system. Nintendo has published only a dozen games for the Wii, although more are scheduled for store shelves soon, but the ones that have been put on the market have certainly raised the bar for fun family entertainment. Fortunately for those of us who can’t get enough of the Wii system, third-party game published have created and marketed a wide range of Wii-compatible games. Both sources were considered for our list of best Wii system games.

Games Published By Nintendo

Although not the most graphic-rich, Wii Sports and Wii Play offers players hours of simple fun that can be enjoyed alone or with a roomful of friends and family. The best thing is that the mini-games get you off the sofa and on your feet acting wild and having a ball. Wii Sports comes with the Wii system while Wii Play is bundled with a second controller.

The first greatly anticipated Wii game is the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Link and Princess Zelda are back for another crazy adventure, this time torn between his normal life as a human and the Twilight World that rips him out of the light and into the body of a wolf-like creature. Zelda offers decent graphics, mind-bending puzzles and plenty of interactive fighting action. If you enjoyed playing the old Zelda games, you are going to love the Twilight Princess.

Just released last month, Mario Party 8 is similar to Wii Sports and Wii Play in that it has various Wii system games included in one package. The difference is that Mario Party 8 is geared more toward multiple-playing competing in various activities ranging from driving and rowing to believe it or not, painting. Invite your friends over for this one and watch the party take off!

Games Published By Third-Party Companies

Sonic the Hedgehog is back in his first solo adventure in 16 years. Published by Sega, Sonic and The Secret Rings is fantastic frantic fun! Swerve along wacky obstacle courses with Sonic as he collects rings and pearls while avoiding dangerous elements. Enjoy the one-player adventure mode that carries you throughout Sonic’s newest storyline or grab a friend, or two or three, and compete in the multiplayer party games. A “Secret Book” mode also allows you to play any on the 225 bonus levels revealed through success in the adventure mode.

If culinary conquest sounds more like your cup of tea, try Cooking Mama – Cook Off for the Wii system. A sequel to the popular Cooking Mama, Cook Off puts you in total control with the amazing Wii remote. Chop, dice, slice, stir and grate as you battle the opposition for cooking medals and awards. A two-player competition mode and a ‘Friends and Food of The World’ computer challenge gives you even more chances to use Cook Off’s 55 different recipes and 300 ingredients.

The bottom line is don’t discriminate when choosing games for your Wii system. Other companies have in great part succeeded to keep with the Nintendo spirit when it comes to ease of use and incorporating the features of the Wii remote. So go ahead and give them all a try.