Garret

In this article, I would like to introduce Drop Shot fishing to you. Many of you might be aware of the powerful potential of this method, while others may have never tried this technique. Drop shot fishing is one of the best "go to" techniques to use when the bite seems to be a bit slow or the fish are all suspended and will not strike anything else. When reaction baits are not working well, I tend to rely on dropshotting. The drop shot technique will work in stained water, but I find it to be more effective in clearer water. I use this technique in all depths of water from 6 feet to 60 feet.

A drop shot rig tends to work most of the year for me, although it works extremely well during pre-spawn and early Spring as well as the hot days of Summer for a variety of reasons. The bass may be deeper because they are keying in on bait moving off of the bottom and they have been living deeper due to the cooler weather. The bass may also be inactive during the daytime and need to be finessed. Dropshotting can be used to fish fast or slow, depending on what the bass want. The drop shot is also a wonderful technique for a vertical presentation. Bass will sometimes be as deep as fifty feet in summertime, and drop shot is the method I rely on to catch those deep lunkers. I usually catch most of my fish in ten to thirty feet of water, and I locate them using a fishfinder. You can use a fishfinder on a boat or the "Smartcast" type from shore.

The rod I use the most for dropshotting is a 7 medium lite action baitcast rod. If I am dropshotting in shallower water, I might go to a 66 medium light baitcaster. Because this technique is a finesse situation, I like to use a 8lb to 10lb fluorocarbon line with a 1/8 to 1/4oz weight. If you find that the bass are not responding to this presentation, you might switch to a 66 spinning outfit with 6lb to 8lb fluorocarbon. The lighter rig is good for most applications including finesse fishing with smaller worms.

There are many advantages of fishing a Drop Shot Rig. It is much easier to cast than a Carolina Rig, cast as far as a Texas Rig and also sinks faster. The bait is always suspended and easy to adjust depth for suspended fish. You are also able to feel the fish much better because of the weight being on the bottom as well as you can feel bottom better. Disadvantages include heavy line twist, and your plastics and weights will get hung in heavy cover. Putting a swivel on the sinker helps slow twist.

What type bait is best? Smaller slim type baits are best in clear water. Plastic worms in the 4 to 6 range with tapered or straight tails are ideal such as a Roboworm. In clear water this is a great finesse technique. When fishing any structure the Drop Shot Rig should be a consideration for a presentation option. This technique is extremely effective when fishing structure. When fishing muddy to clear water at any depth, this is a technique that will catch fish. Any structure free of heavy cover is an easy place to learn to fish this rig.

Why choose this rig over a Texas Rig? When fishing a Drop Shot Rig the bait is always suspended just off the bottom putting the bait at eye level or just inches above when the fish is on the bottom where it prefers to stay. This also gives an angler the ability to keep the bait in the strike zone longer.

How do you rig a Drop Shot? Tie a Palomar knot leaving 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 feet of extra line. Thread the loose end back through the eye of the hook so the hook stands point up. Tie on weight preferably with a swivel about 12 to 18 inches below the hook. Most hook manufacturers are making specific hooks for Drop Shotting. I like theGamakatsu because I think it is the sharpest hook right out of the package I have found. Weight size range from 1/8 to 5/16. A lot of anglers simply use bass casting weights. The weights I use and prefer are made by Magnum Weight Systems and they are basically a hollow brass pod. One end has a swivel and the other unscrews so you can add weight or take it away depending on your fishing situation. The weight that you add is in the form of small brass balls. This also allows you to shake the rig a bit to produce a rattle sound similar to a Rat-L-Trap. This feature will help to attract fish! The pods come in three standard sizes and are available at many tackle shops and online at Cabelas.

The deeper you are fishing the longer the leader up to about 4 feet long. When you are fishing deep with lighter line, this lets the bait fall faster giving a better feel of the bait and strikes. When fishing shallow water heavier line and a baitcasting outfit can be used. Lighter weights may be better for fishing on lighter line sizes on any type of outfit.

Presentations vary from casting to vertical jigging. Casting Drop Shot Rigs is similar to casting a Texas Rig except into heavy cover. This rig can be used as a swimming rig, hopped, crawled, or dragged. You can even fish as a stationary rig on bedding fish. One of my favorite methods that I call the Texas Drop Shot is absolutely deadly on bass. Instead of putting a weight on the bottom, put a 1/8 oz jig on bottom and run your drop shot hook with your worm as normal. Who knows, you might just catch 2 fish at once. If you have any futher questions on this technique, please e-mail me.Thanks!

G. Wayne Byrd is a professional bass tournament fisherman, who lives in Colorado. He is an active contributor to Fishin' Secrets with Eric Allee and Friends.

http://www.fishinsecrets.com

In todays trillion dollar society, health care is at the top of many individuals list. I find this to be especially true of those whom are faced with the battle of failing health. I'm mainly speaking about the wide spread of autoimmune diseases.

What exactly is autoimmune disease you may ask? A simple and yet most common explanation is, the disorders in which the body's immune system reacts against some of its own tissues and produces antibodies that start to attact itself. Such as you will find in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, scleroderma, and the list goes on.

I have been acquainted with, have studied and researched the field of autoimmune dis- eases for over 15 years. I became intrigued with such dominant passion only after I received a chilling report of being plagued with this excruciating disease myself.

Years of research have proven and led many to know and to understand that relief can be found from any circumstance. Yes, all things can be made some what better. It all starts with a decision and a determined mind. Our bodies responds graciously to a mind that aspires to getting better rather than one that implores self pity.

Of course mindset is not the only ingredient for notable changes in health. A change in our daily diet and exercise is crucial as well. We must now go from the bad sugars (table and artificial), to the good sugars (Glyconutrients), from less processed foods to more raw and whole foods, plus a daily regimen of some sort of exercise or activities.

Supplements play a major role in our well being also. Not just any type of supplements. Tremendous results have been achieved from the use of all natural supplements containing the key ingredients fucoidan, glyconutrients, and Russian adaptagens, which are all natural.

So, what are the keys to challenging autoimmune diseases? So far we have the proper mindset, proper nutrients, proper exercise, and proper supplements. One final key to add to this list would be proper rest. It is important to retire early enough to get a sufficient amount of rest. Preferably a minimum of 6-8 hours nightly. It is rest that allows body tissues and joints the time they need to repair.

Now is the time to start promoting wellness in your own bodies. Use your mind to think yourself into wellness. Don't let life have its way with you, instead have your way with life.

Choose to be a dancer and a prancer and WIN the challenge, you deserve it!

Rena Williams is a nutritionist of natural health with a well established wellness business. Her goal is to help many others achieve optimum health and reach their financial goals. Learn more about natural supplements at: www.mylimuconnection.com

Asbestos has been used for centuries and is not, as some think, a recent product. At one time items made from asbestos were regarded as having an equal value to gold. In fact, it is reputed that Charles the Great, (King of the Franks in the year 768) had a tablecloth made from asbestos. It does have a resistance to fire and heat and has been used over centuries for this practical purpose - from historical uses such as lamp wicks and Egyptian burial shrouds through to modern brake pad linings. It has been used for high temperature wiring insulation as well as in the construction of buildings to insulate and protect against fire.

There are many forms of asbestos but there are three main types, white, brown and blue.

White asbestos: otherwise known as chrysotile is the type preferred in industry. It has a flexible property and has been used in many theatres for fire safety curtains, as well as for firefighters protective clothing. Some evidence exists that it is harmful but not as harmful as some other types.

Brown asbestos: also known as amosite, this type usually originates from Africa and is highly bio-hazardous.

Blue asbestos: also known as crocidolite comes from Australia and Africa. This type is believed to be the most dangerous type of asbestos, therefore it is extremely bio-hazardous.

There are other types that someone may come across, some of which include actinolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos and tremolite asbestos. These are not as commonly used industrially, but may still be found in some products.

The main danger to health from asbestos is from the fibres, which can be inhaled. The four main diseases associated with asbestos fibre inhalation are asbestosis, mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer and diffuse pleural thickening.

Asbestosis: Caused by inhaling asbestos fibres, generally from heavy exposure. It is defined as lung fibrosis.

Mesothelioma: This is a form of cancer where cancerous or malignant cells are found in the mesothelium. This is the protective sac that most of the bodys organs are covered with. It mainly affects the lining of the lungs, which is known as the pleura and the peritoneum, which surrounds the lower digestive tract. Around 80 percent of cases of mesothelioma show the patient to have had a history of exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos-related lung cancer: For many years now asbestos exposure has been recognised as a high risk factor for the development of lung cancer. It is not possible, however, to put a direct number to the amount of cases of lung cancer, which have been caused by asbestos. This is because there are other risk agents that cause the disease, tobacco smoke for instance. Unfortunately it is not possible to distinguish which risk agent was the cause of a case of lung cancer.

Diffuse pleural thickening: As mentioned previously the pleura is a membrane covering which lines the inside of the rib cage and also surrounds the lungs. If asbestos fibres are inhaled, some may work their way into the pleura and this can lead to scarring and or fibrosis. This may cause the pleura to thicken. The condition will show up on an x-Ray. If this thickening spreads over a large area it may cause a restriction of expansion of the lungs.

It has now become clear that exposure to asbestos can be harmful. Because of this, the use of it has virtually disappeared. If there are products in the home that may contain asbestos, it is advisable to have a professional contractor inspect them. It is a complex process to remove asbestos and should always be done by a qualified person. It can be a highly dangerous and even lethal substance. If in doubt then call someone out.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Asbestos

For ten years, I told Larry King that he was a walking time bomb and should change his lifestyle before it was too late. At that time he was a radio broadcaster who smoked to stay alert while he worked day and night, and of course he ate a tremendous amounts of junk food. His blood pressure was 150/100 and his total cholesterol was 280. He suffered chest pains that were severe enough to take him to a cardiologist, but since his electrocardiogram was normal, he didnt see any reason to change his ways. When he had his heart attack, I was the first person to see him in the emergency room. Now he eats the way I do, exercises regularly, has normal cholesterol and blood pressure, and never felt better. His heart attack saved his life.

Some people are not as lucky as Larry and dont get a second chance. A heart attack has two components. First you lay down fatty plaques in your arteries over the years and the flow of blood slows to a trickle. Eventually a piece of plaque breaks off, travels further down the artery and forms clots, which block the flow of blood. The clots (which might have passed through a wide-open artery) block the blood supply to a part of your heart muscle, depriving it of oxygen and causing it to die. The same mechanism causes strokes, with a plaque blocking blood flow to some part of your brain.

Taking in more calories than you burn leads to plaques in arteries in susceptible people. Fats are the most concentrated sources of calories, so a diet to lower LDL cholesterol limits fats, particularly saturated fats and partially hydrogenated oils. You need some fat, but for most people, its hard not to eat too much fat. Fatty foods are everywhere, because manufacturers know that fat makes food taste good. Too many calories in your diet translates into too much fat in your body and in your bloodstream.

Read more about how to change your diet for heart health in The Good Food Book and the Heart Health section of my web site; see the links below.

Read my Good Food Book FREE, with 100 healthful recipes.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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Have you ever been encountered with a trauma in life and not know how your life would be after it was all said and done? This is a story of my trauma and how I survived and how I am taking an extreme tragedy and turning it into something spectacular.

This is a story of psychological terror brought on by the hands of my mother. I am the second oldest of 16 children and the stories I am about to describe relays what it was like to live under the terror and reign of our mother. The abuse started about 35 years ago in 1970 and who knew there would be 16 direct victims and many other people affected by her manipulations when all was said and done. Hind sight is truly 20/20 and I think if things were handled differently with the 1987 felony child abuse charges in Waukesha County, there wouldnt be this tale to tell today in 2005.

There are two distinct time periods in this story: the 17 years prior to 1987 and the 18 years after 1987. Unfortunately for all us children involved, the story reads nearly the same with only the children involved changing. You will find parallels in both sections that I still cant believe today and I was part of the situation from the beginning and a catalyst for this coming to light. What you will see is a very large break in the system but above all, the master manipulation that would rival the greatest minds. By manipulating her children, the social workers, the lawyers, the prosecutors, mom got off with nothing in 1987 when she was facing 18 counts of felony and misdemeanor child abuse charges, $180,000 in fines and 30 years in prison. Her ability to walk away from that without a scar only enabled her psychotic manipulating mind and that allowed mom to abuse again without fear for the next 18 years. It is heartbreaking to know and live with the fact that these actions have been addressed in the past and she ended up inflicting the same thing on my brothers and sisters as soon as the Department of Social Services stepped out of the situation in the late 80s. You often hear that history repeats itself, but I never would have imagined to be the exact same acts of manipulation, terror and intimidating abuse over such a long period of time.

September 14, 1987 - This is a day that I will never forget, it was the day that I looked into my mothers eyes and saw my own mortality. It was the day that I wanted to give up trying and just pass away to the next world. This day, is engrained in so many of the kids minds that each one that witnessed it can tell you a story of psychological warfare, utter pain, mental anguish, and overall defeat. This day was worse than anything I have faced in 14 years in the military. This day was worse than anything I could imagine, it was the day that my mother tried to kill me and was the day that I saw the devil in her eyes. So much of the last 17 years have built up to this moment and this day was merely the straw that broke the camels back.

This day started like any other day in our house, but it ended being a day that changed our lives forever. After school that day I was walking to my babysitting job which was a couple of miles away. One of the sneaky things I did as a teenager was to switch my clothes and hair when I got to school. Mom always made me wear skirts and two pigtails in my hair up until this day (I think she was reliving her high school years through us) and I snuck a pair of pants to school and a brush. When I got there in the morning after being dropped off I would go to the bathroom and switch out of my skirt and comb out my hair. Ted knew what I was doing but he never said much, he knew the deal. Well I took my skirt along with me when I was walking to the house I was to baby-sit at but I was still wearing my pants. Unbeknownst to me, my mother was following me in the car. She came up to me and found that I was wearing a pair of pants and had my hair down and not in pigtails which was one of her number one rules I wasnt allowed to do. She shoved me in the car and refused to let me continue to the job and she made me take off my pants in the car and she threw them out the window. To this day I do not remember how Mr. Maloney found out I wasnt going to be working there anymore, I think I was in too much shock to remember that. She started to beat me in the head, a 17 year old girl, in the car and saying things that I just cant write down on a piece of paper without cringing. All I could do was cry to myself but knew it would be over soon, until she stopped at the hair cutters. She said that since I cared so much about my hair and that I wouldnt wear the pigtails that she would have it cut off. She had my father take me in and say cut it short and then they left me there to get it cut. I cried in the chair the whole time and told the lady that mom was forcing this. She cried too and said she would try not to cut it too much. My dad came back to pick me up and he immediately looked at my hair and said your mother is going to be mad. I tensed because I knew what was coming. I got home and no sooner did I walk into the door that the bug eyes my mother is so famous for came out and she went straight for my hair. She was so mad she ran over to me and started pounding on my head and my back. I screamed in pain and disbelief and this went on for a while. Then she got even more crazy, she made dad get the other two girls down from the room to watch what was about to happen to me. Mom dragged me to the bathroom by my hair holding my face up to the mirror and screaming profanities at me. She took me by the neck with her forearm and strung me up on the wall with my feet dangling. She had freakishly strong grips that you couldnt get out of and she made the girls watch as she terrorized me. I was screaming, the girls were screaming for her to stop but she wouldnt. She pushed on my neck and put her face up to mine and simply yelled at me do you want me to kill you, do you want me to kill you now and the only words that would come out of my mouth was yes, yes, yes just kill me now and get it over with. She dropped me and yelled at the girls to watch what would happen to them if they ever disobeyed her and she took the knife and started chopping off my hair to the scalp. Just chopped and chopped in her fit of rage and beating me to my knees. I drained of life in that very moment. When she was done she sent us all to our black prison cells of our rooms and the girls cried for me that night. I slumped down on the bottom bunk, curled to the fetal position and prayed to God that I wouldnt wake up.

September 15, 1987 the day I left home and never looked back After falling asleep in my locked black room in an endless pit of sorrow and despair, the time came to go to cleaning. I was to continue on like nothing had happened. My dad called into my room to get up and get into the car to go to work. I hadnt seen my hair myself yet because I had no access to mirrors after the assault. I felt my head not sure if what happened was a dream or if it really happened. I cried, I just kept crying. She took the one thing from me that I adored, my long beautiful hair. I looked like a boy and to this day I cant bear to have short hair because of the memories associated with it. I sat in the car with my head on the window feeling lifeless and I had no ounce of hope. I was done, I was finished, I wanted out of my life. I continued on with cleaning, just working through my silent tears unable to look at my father who allowed this to happen to me. How could he let this happen to his daughter? After cleaning my mother made me wear a wedding type dress to high school with my tattered hair. So there I was, 17 years old, tattered hair in a fancy dress, most assuredly used to distract from my head. She slapped me a few more times when she saw the tears on my face and cut my hair so more, to even it out she said. I just stood there, emotionless, feeling dead to the world. I got dropped off in front of school, tears in my eyes as I was stared at walking through the halls. I walked to my homeroom and then walked right past it. I didnt know where I was going but I wasnt going to class like this. I hid in the sixth floor bathroom staring at my hair, I crawled under the sink in the fetal position and just started to cry. People came in and asked me what was wrong, all I could say to them was, go get Meg I only want Meg. Someone listened, someone got her. To this day I dont know what I told her. I blocked so much of what happened. Someone gave me a bandana to put on my head and she took me to the chapel in the basement. She stayed with me all day she is my hero, she saved me. She brought in Father Reiney and I told them everything. I was hungry and pulled out my lunch and was eating my spaghetti sandwich that was packed for me, Meg and I shared a laugh on that one. After I told the Father about everything he brought in a Nun and they told me what my options were. I had to find shelter for that night, somewhere where I would be safe, before I even got to say a word Meg said she would take me home with her that night. I was so scared at what was about to unfold before the both of us. We ended up getting on the bus to get to her house in Wauwatosa and she and I were embarking on our first adventure. She laughed at me on the bus because as we left Pius and traveled through the town I remarked, oh my gosh, the street signs are blue. I never knew that the street name signs were any color other than green. We never left our little area in New Berlin. That night Meg and her mom welcomed me with open arms but the peace did not last too long. My mother found out that I was at Megs house and she camped out in her front yard and started yelling at the top of her lungs. The police were called and I sat upstairs crying and in complete terror that she would take me back home. Meg and her mom did everything they possibly could to console me and they said that they knew someone down the street and that they were going to get me there. Poor Jane, Megs sister, was left to endure moms psychotic ranting and raving on the front lawn. They just got a small taste of the life I was living everyday. I was snuck out the back door and we ran down the street like we were really in hiding from the enemy. We ended up at that other house where I made a very important phone call. I hadnt talked to my dads family in probably a decade when I called Uncle Butch and Aunt Judi in tears. I told them who I was and that I ran away from home could I stay there for the night. I cant remember what else I talked about but I ended up at their house where mom would never suspect my whereabouts. From what I was told my mother stayed on Megs front yard for most of the night. I cant remember reintroducing myself to my relatives but looking back, I am so grateful that they opened that door for me. They have been suedo parents to me for the last 18 years and I just am in awe at their selfless acts of kindness that night. As the next day started there would be no school for me. I got up and had breakfast like a normal person. I sat at the table and served myself a meal, something that I had not done in 17 years. Aunt Judi and Uncle Butch listened as I poured out my life story at the breakfast table and they told me some of the things that I never knew about my extended family. Later that day, Father Reiney came to get me. They worked through the night for an option that would save me. This was the only option I had and ironically enough, moms escapades from the night before at Megs house were enough to get a restraining order. Fr. Reiney told me that they would take me to a home for runaways called Pathfinders in Milwaukee and they would protect me for two weeks. I started to cry. I just started to cry and couldnt stop. I think I said yes I would go and off we went. Fr. Reiney drove me there where I told them about the story of everything that happened in my home and then they gave me another blow. They said that they could only let me stay at Pathfinders if my parents gave permission. My world sank again, how could I escape? She would never give permission, I would be found out, I would be in the most trouble I have ever been in and I dont know what would happen. I told this to them, I told them every word that she would say to make me out to be the liar and the evil one. Word for word I described how the conversation would play out, I even shocked myself at the level of detail I provided. They called her on speaker phone, and word nearly for word it played out exactly how I explained. Somehow, someway those administrators convinced her to let me stay. I was still in my dress, she demanded it back. She demanded the clothes on my back, I borrowed some of theirs that were donated and they handed the dress over the next day. I dont remember where I slept that night, I dont remember much of anything except that was the first time in 13 years I hadnt had to get up to go to cleaning.

March 23, 2004 The day the kids were taken away again!! Another day in the history of our family that is difficult to forget. I received a call out of the blue from my sister saying the four kids whom I had never met or known before were taken away from mom. Jeffery had turned them in for abuse. My jaw dropped down to the ground in disbelief but more of relief. I immediately went to Annies house and walked in and found the kids sleeping in the living room. I walked in and said Hi, I am your sister Jennifer, boy I am glad to meet you guys! Annie gave me a run down of what had happened. Much like myself at the very same age, Jeffery had enough. He knew that I was emancipated and made a legal adult at 17 and went to his guidance counselor to see how he could do the very same thing. From there, the police were involved and they took the four children from school and Annie took emergency custody of them. I spent that entire first day, just sitting with my brothers and sister that I never knew and just talked. I found out who they were and allowed them to meet me and know that I would be there for them. Over the course of the next few days, I became the permanent home for Nick and Jeffery. Charlie was diabetic and I could not care for him so he went to a foster home and Amber stayed with Annie. As you might imagine, these weeks became utter nightmares being brought to life all over again. Nick and Jeffery were thrown into a home with a sister they never met and I suddenly was responsible for four kids as a single parent. My rules were strict and as the emotions played out, Nick shut down on me. He left my custody after a few short weeks and went to live with Ted for a few months before moving to a permanent foster home only a mile away from my house. Amber became too much for Annie and her five children so she came to live with me and through a barrage of emotional rollercoasters and a stint at Elizabeths house, Amber went to a loving foster home, also just a couple of miles from my house. Jeffery had a few rough spots but now lives in his own apartment after graduating High School and loves it. As of today, the kids spend a lot of time at my house to give the foster parents a break and they are thriving beyond belief. We are hoping mom is held accountable for years to come so these last three can be given the best chance possible to succeed.

27 July 2005 - Mom gets hard time - she is in prison tonight! Judge Dreyfuss was incredible, he not only allowed every child to make their victim impact statements, but said that it was critical as to the character of Linda Stephens and her propensity to abuse again and to take advantage of her children. Each child got up there and gave their statement; each child described how they are affected today because of what mom has put us through. Each child spun their tale of manipulation, abuse and control that mom exuded over them and how they are affected today. Mom sat their stone faced without caring just staring ahead with her jaw clenched.

Then the judge said his piece and then he sentenced mom. He admonished her for her 35 years of manipulation and stated that she was brilliant in her schemes and manipulations. He stated that prison can either be a punishment or to protect society. Judge Dreyfuss stated that he didnt feel she was threatening society but the threat she posed to her own children were too great to not recognize. Judge Dreyfuss sentenced her to 3 years in prison with no possibility of getting out early and then 8 years of extended supervision and probation. During those 8 years she would have to get a fulltime job (which she has never had) and pay back the people she has stolen from. She will not be allowed to have a credit/debit card, credit/debit card numbers, a computer, internet access or checking accounts due to the extent of her fraud and financial crimes. The Judge stated that she was to have no contact with the minor children ever via any means until they reach the age of 18 (the youngest now is 13). She was instructed to have absolutely no contact with the adult children in any fashion or form unless they wanted that contact and requested it and on their terms. This is so important to all of us who want nothing to do with her. Today was our closure.

Jennifer has lived a truly extraordinary life. As a child, she endured the horrors of child abuse, which included physical torture, mental cruelty, and near starvation. Upon Jennifers escape in 1987, her family was identified as one of the most severe child abuse cases in Wisconsin's history. At age 17, Jennifer's teachers risked their careers to notify the authorities and saved her life from certain death. Upon Jennifer's escape, she was made a ward of the court and placed in foster care until she became what would be her lifelong quest for higher education and she enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1991. As a young adult Jennifer was determined to better herself--no matter what mountain or land mine laid in her path and is currently a Major in the United States Army and continues to be an extreme advocate for social services, foster care, law enforcement, and prosecutors. In her off duty time, Jennifer offers programs for corporate groups, human services, Child Abuse Prevention Fund in Milwaukee, youth-at-risk, and continues to mentor for womens achievement potential.

Jennifer Stephens can be reached via email at WisconsinVision@aol.com or www.jenniferstephens.org

What is Spyware?
Spyware is any software that: 1. installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent; 2. tries to make it difficult (or impossible) for you to remove it; 3. sends information about you, your computer, your files or your Internet use to someone without your knowledge or consent; 4. sends information about you and discloses this to you in an obfuscated way.

What is Adware?
Adware is very similar to spyware (for example, it will often embed itself deep within your computer and make it almost impossible for you to remove it). Its main difference is that Adware pops up ads on your desktop constantly -- it makes its money from ads, not necessarily from selling information about you.

Where does Spyware or Adware come from, and how do your computer get it?
The answer to this question is probably as large as spyware / adware programs are numerous. Spyware / Adware often comes packaged with other software, File-sharing and music-sharing programs (often called "P2P") are the most serious offenders. or Some spyware / adware you may download willingly, not knowing that it does more than originally meets the eye. there are other methods as well. Some spyware is downloaded by your web browser pseudo-automatically. If you visit certain websites, those sites will try to send spyware / adware as a plug-in for your browser.

Your browser will ask you if you want to install the plug-in; if you say yes, your computer is open to whatever that site wants to install. And even worse than that, some spyware or adware acts like a virus to force its way onto your computer. This type of spyware or adware is often used by hackers and can cause all manner of problems on your computer. And some spyware/adware is commercially sold. It is used by employers to spy on employees, family members to spy on each other; anyone who has access to your computer can install this spyware/adware software and can then watch everything you type or everything you look at on your screen.

What is the dangers of Spyware/Adware?
The dangers of spyware or adware is obvious: companies are building databases about the sites you visit and the things you search for, people can watch everything you do on your computer, advertisers can shove pop-ups in your face even when you're not surfing, and hackers can even wreck your computer.

Spyware/Adware software is often poorly written. If your computer runs more and more slowly as it gets older, and you haven't made any changes to it to make it run more slowly, there's a good chance that it's getting clogged up with spyware or adware. Since spyware or adware watches everything you surf, or everything you type, and since there are many types of spyware or adware that can all be installed on your computer at once, spyware or adware can really kill your computer's performance.

With these concerns and many others too numerous to list here, spyware or adware is considered by many to be on par with viruses in terms of the power to harm your computer. And on top of that, spyware or adware jeopardizes your privacy, something viruses don't do. For all these reasons, the danger of spyware/adware is great.

For more information on spyware and its removal,visit http://www.easilyremovespyware.blogspot.com

Charisma is a quality that can enable you to accomplish almost everything you could ever want faster than you can imagine. It is a quality that all highly successful people have developed and use to their advantage in everything they do.

Charisma is an indefinable personal magnetism that can earn you the support and cooperation of people in almost everything you do. When you take the necessary steps to develop charisma, people will find themselves attracted to you and will want to help you achieve your goals.

Charisma is a personal magic of leadership that arouses loyalty and enthusiasm in other people. It is a special quality of magnetism that each person has and that each person uses to a certain degree. You have a special charisma to the people who look up to you, who respect and admire you, the members of your family, friends and coworkers. Whenever and wherever a person feels a positive emotion toward another, he or she imbues that person with charisma, or attractiveness.

People who have developed their charisma are often described as having an aura. This aura is a light that is invisible to most people, but not to everyone. This light radiates out from a person and affects the people around that person in a positive or negative way. The halo around the heads of saints and mystics in many religious paintings was the artists attempt to depict the light that many people reported seeing around the heads of these men and women when they were speaking, praying, or in an intense emotional state.

You also have an aura around you that most people cannot see but is there, nevertheless. This aura affects the way people react and respond to you, either positively or negatively. There is a lot that you can do, and a lot of good reasons for you to do it, to control this aura and make it work in your best interests.

If youre a business owner, developing greater charisma can help you tremendously in working with your staff, your suppliers, your bankers, your customers, and everyone else upon whom you depend on for your success. People seem naturally drawn to those who possess charisma. They want to help and support them. When you have charisma, people will open doors for you and bring you opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to you.

In your personal relationships, the quality of charisma can make your life more joyous and happy. People will naturally want to be around you. Members of your family and friends will be far happier in your company, and you will have a greater influence on them, causing them to feel better about themselves and to do better at the important things in their lives.

There is a close association between personal charisma and success in life. Most of your success and happiness in life will come from your relationships and interactions with others. The more positively others respond to you, the easier it will be for you to get the things you want.

Charisma is based on the Law of Attraction. This law states that you inevitably attract into your life people and circumstances that harmonize with your dominant thoughts. You are a living magnet, and you are constantly radiating thought waves, like a radio radiates sound waves, that are picked up by other people. Your thoughts, intensified by your emotions, as radio waves are intensified by electrical impulses, go out from you and are picked up by anyone who is tuned into a similar wavelength. You then attract into your life people, ideas, opportunities, resources, circumstances, and anything else that is consistent with your dominant frame of mind.

Your charisma is really a measure of the power of your personality. It is determined by a variety of factors, most of which you have control over. The critical thing to remember about charisma is that it is largely based on perception. It is based on what people think about you. It is not so much reality as it is what people perceive you to be. For example, one person can create charisma in another person by speaking in glowing terms about that person to a third party. If you believe that you are about to meet an outstanding and important person, that person will then be charismatic to you.

The foundation for developing charisma is having a strong purpose. Men and women with charisma and personal magnetism almost invariably have a clear vision of who they are, of where theyre going and what theyre trying to achieve. Business leaders have a vision of what theyre trying to create and why theyre doing what theyre doing. Theyre focused on accomplishing some great purpose. Theyre decisive about every aspect of their lives. They know exactly what they want and what they have to do to get it. They plan their work and work their plan.

You can increase your charisma and the magnetism of your personality by setting clear goals for yourself, making plans to achieve them, and working on your plans with discipline and determination every day. The whole world seems to move aside for the person who knows exactly where he or she is going. In fact, the clearer you are about your purpose and goals, the more likely people will be to attribute other positive qualities to you. They will see you, or perceive you, as being a better and more admirable human being. And when you have clear goals, you begin attracting to yourself the people and opportunities necessary to make those goals a reality.

You must have strong self-confidence to develop charisma. Men and women with charisma have an intense belief in themselves and in what they are doing. They are usually calm, cool, and composed about themselves and their work. Your level of self-confidence is often demonstrated in your courage and your willingness to do whatever is necessary to achieve a purpose that you believe in.

People are naturally attracted to those people who exude a sense of self-confidence, those who have an unshakable belief in their ability to rise about circumstances to attain their goals. People with strong charisma have developed expertise or competence. The more knowledgeable you are perceived to be in your field, the more charisma you will have among those who respect and admire that knowledge because of the impact it can have on their lives. This is also the power of excellence, of being recognized by others as an outstanding performer in your field. Men and women who do their jobs extremely well and who are recognized for the quality of their work are those who naturally attract the help and support of others. They have charisma.

One of the most admirable qualities of leaders, which lends a person charisma in the perception of others, is the capacity to step forward and take charge. The leader accepts complete responsibility for getting the job done, without making excuses and blaming anyone. When you take complete responsibility for yourself and your actions, you experience a tremendous sense of control and power that enhances your feeling of well-being and that generates the charisma that is so important to you in attracting the help of others.

When you set clear goals and become determined and purposeful, backing up those goals with unshakable confidence, you develop charisma. When you are enthusiastic and excited about what your are doing, when you are totally committed to achieving something worthwhile, you radiate charisma. When you take the time to study and become an expert at what you do, and then prepare thoroughly for any opportunity to use your knowledge, skill, or experience, the perception that others have of you goes up. When you take complete responsibility and accept ownership, without making excuses or blaming others, you experience a sense of control that leads to the personal power that is the foundation of charisma.

By merely looking like a winner in every respect, you will have the kind of external image that others admire, you build your charisma. When you develop your character by setting high standards and then discipline yourself to live consistent with the highest principles you know, you become the kind of person who radiates charisma to others. Finally, when you concentrate your energies on achieving the results that you have been hired to accomplish, the results that others expect of you, you develop the reputation for performance and achievement that inevitably leads to the perception of charisma.

You can develop the kind of charisma that opens doors for you by going to work on yourself, consistently and persistently, and becoming the kind of person everyone can admire and look up to. In the final analysis, that is what charisma is all about.

Copyright 2005 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and achieve total success. He is the founder and CEO of JLM & Associates, a consulting and training organization, specializing in personal and business development. Through his seminars and lectures, Joe Love addresses thousands of men and women each year, including the executives and staffs of many of Americas largest corporations, on the subjects of leadership, self-esteem, goals, achievement, and success psychology.

Reach Joe at: joe@jlmandassociates.com

Read more articles and newsletters at: http://www.jlmandassociates.com

Planning a summer barbeque...reading a great book out on your new or remodeled deck...creating a new season tan have gotten easier and classier with the New Age materials available for building deck stairs that deliver a design statement plus create value for your home and property.

Cool Contemporary Trends In Materials For Building Deck Stairs. When is a step not merely a step? Answer? When it's designed into a larger deck and entertainment area for every day use along with entertaining friends. No longer a "tag-along after thought" for a deck, deck stairs and deck stair railing systems create robust design statements...materials include traditional wooden deck steps such as pressure treated lumbers or more expensive but durable Western cedar...eco-friendly long lasting composite decking in subtle earth tones...and even high density vinyl.

How To Build Deck Stairs. All good, and all great deck step designs...especially when the "finished look" will be architect inspired with a textured composite and color-balanced material...rely exclusively on the quality of the support structure. Here, you and your builder are thinking about how to build deck steps supported by concrete support pads, structural timbers such as 2 in. X 12 in. pressure treated "stringers", anchor bolts, hangar and joist support hardware brackets, 16 in. center tread support studs, and of course laser-sighted layouts to determine pitch and angles so that each stair is level and "true".

Deck Stair Plans. Do-it-yourselfers can obtain remarkable and detailed deck stair plans online...from "big box" hardware and building supply retailers or local builders and architects. To design deck stairs, you'll need some form of PC-based cad program, in order to model different design iterations...adjusting width, height or rise or considering graduated width or even spiral deck staircase layouts. Look for programs, or service providers who can input your raw dimensional data...work up a complete bill of materials, from lumber lengths to deck screws...and then create a number of design "looks" for you to consider. Take your time. Decide slowly.

Deck Spiral Staircase. When building deck stairs and you want to make a huge visual impact, here's where the unusual wrap-around effect of spiral deck stairs becomes a design option. The positive argument says you'll create the same deck access, long life and load carrying capability plus you're adding seriously cool looks which may translate into improved home values. The less sanguine argument states that you'll find someone who has a physical difficulty or even a certain mental hang-up about approaching a deck spiral staircase, and of course seriously large objects (think huge grills, furniture, pianos, a team of Sumo wrestlers) generate difficult access-use problems.

Deck Stair Railing Systems - A World of Choice. No longer rough milled logs strung up outside Lincoln's Illinois cabin, modern decks get incredible finishing treatment options including metal deck railings (think steel, alloys)...cable deck railings (think thin-profile high strength steel safety cables held taut between upright posts)...or ultra-modernist see-through safety glass deck railings. Safety tip: check with your town's building code to learn about deck stair railing "code" requirements...spacing and layout which reduces risk of accident to you or guests or delivery guys.

Find Out More About Deck Stair Designs, Materials And Whats Necessary For Building And Installing Deck Stairs.

Please go to the following links for the latest in deck stairs and deck stair design strategies for your outdoor living space.

Deck Stairs: http://www.wise4living.com/hgdeck/stairs-steps.htm

Decks in general: http://www.wise4living.com/hgdeck/

Author Robin Derry is publisher for http://www.wise4living.com/ a specialty knowledge site that gives insights and solutions on building deck stairs, home and gardening projects such as decks and deer fencing, plasma and LCD TV stand design trends, wall mount and TV ceiling mount systems, HDTV and home entertainment systems, specialty academic camps, auto tire and wheels technology trends, medical spas, technology trends, unique gift designs, technology gifts, tips for families committed to youth summer camps, body health, household, sport, travel, footwear, education, spendthrift trusts and family law legal needs, and much more.

As a solo entrepreneur or small business owner, one of our key challenges can be reaching key decision makers in larger companies. Getting to the right person who can seal the deal can be a frustrating experience, especially if you dont have a game plan. Here are three ways to connect with the right people.

Cold Calling

In this age of voice mail, reaching prospects by phone has become more difficult. Cold calling will most likely reap stronger results if youre trying to reach small business owners, where connecting with the owner by phone is more likely, but with persistence you can reach corporate managers as well. There are several important steps you need to take to get results from cold calling

• Make sure you write a phone script that, in 30 seconds, will convey what you do and what benefit similar customers have gained from your service. This is essential. Youre phone script must answer the prospects question, whats in it for me?
• Practice your phone script until it feels natural and fits your communication style.
• Make sure it conveys your excitement about your offering.
• When you get the right person on the phone, tell them you have some exciting information for them and would they be able to give you 30 seconds to share it.
• End your script with an intriguing piece of information, specific product results that are impressive, or a question that will make them want to know more.
• Be persistent. Keep calling at different times of the day until you get the prospect on the phone. Leaving a message is rarely successful, but if you cant ever catch the person on the phone, you can always give it a try.
• When you get a prospect on the phone, ask their permission to have 30 seconds of their time. When the 30 seconds are up, ask their permission to continue.
• Also, script how youll respond to the different possible responses youre likely to receive from the prospect. For example, if the prospect says theyre not sure they want to meet with you, what will you say?
• If the prospect allows you to continue past 30 seconds, tell them youll be in their area on a certain day and ask if you could meet with them for 20 minutes to continue the conversation.
• Remember that if youre calling targeted prospects, its just a numbers game. Call enough people and youll make some appointments. Make enough appointments and youll close some sales. Calculating the call to appointments to sales ratio is important in determining if cold calling is working for you.

Warm Calling

You probably have a database of customers and a network of other professionals. Put a simple request out to your database telling them that you have some exciting information, pertinent articles or new products or services and you need to connect with, for example, operations managers in mid-level companies. Ask if anyone knows someone that they could connect you with that fits that category. Offer them a reward, gift certificate or coupon if you feel they need an incentive. If possible, see if they will arrange an introduction by calling or e-mailing this person to let them know about you. Then contact these warm leads. Theyll be much more likely to respond to your communication. To make this work, you must be very clear about what type of person you need to meet. Saying that you need to meet corporate managers, for example, is much too broad. Those in your database also need to feel that you will not make them look bad or take advantage of their contact, so you need to be clear about why you want to meet these types of people.

Focused Networking

If you were an operations or mid-level manager, where would you hang out in your free time? What business and social organizations would you join? What speakers or topics would you motivate you to attend a meeting?

If you can answer these questions, you can plan to attend the same meetings or socialize in the same places. There are many swim and golf clubs, for example, that are frequented by corporate executives. Even telling people at church about what you do and who youd like to meet can yield results. Every industry has its own professional organization and most of them welcome guests.

• Volunteer to work on a committee.
• Offer to speak to one of these groups on a relevant topic.
• Offer gift certificates to be used in a drawing at an organizational meeting.

Focused networking means using your networking time in places where you can connect with your target customer or others who can connect you with your target customer. Before you attend even one focused networking meeting, be sure to have a one or two sentence description of what you do and what problems you solve. Make it intriguing, so people want to know more. Is focused networking a quick fix? Nope. It takes time to build relationships. But once you get started, if you gain a few happy customers in the group, chances are theyll be a ripple effect and youll find your business being recommended to others regularly. In addition, you may connect with some people who can become sources for your warm calling campaign.

As a small business owner, its important to develop a network of other business owners so you can support each other and share contacts. Consider developing a six month strategy that includes all of these approaches. Be very, very specific about the type of prospect youre looking for. Track your results so you learn how your time is best spent. I guarantee that six months from now youll be looking at some very positive results!

Copyright 2004, Janis Pettit

Janis Pettit, Team Member of Solo-E (http://www.solo-e.com) and President of SmarTrack (http://www.smartrack.net), that specializes in improving profit and productivity through small business marketing and growth consulting, business coaching, workshops and tele-classes. As well as owning 4 successful businesses over the last 18 years, Janis hosted her own TV business talk show. Her articles have been published locally and internationally.

Find more articles like this at http://www.Solo-E.com, the lifestyle-inspired online learning and connection community. Visit now to receive a free copy of our special report, The Four Secrets of Solo Entrepreneur Success, plus a complimentary 30-day membership.

I was talking to a friend the other day, explaining what I do for a living, when she interrupted me and proceeded to tell me all about how wonderful her insurance agent was. Her story caused me to reflect on why I left my previous agent. I dont think my previous agent will be upset by this article, because not only did he not notice me when I was a policyholder, but Im quite sure he didnt notice when I left.

When I moved to Oregon from Colorado I decided to stay with the same insurance company I had been with for the last 12 years. I didnt know any of the agents in my new town (or anyone else for that matter), so I did what most people in my situation would do. I picked the agent with the largest ad! After all, he HAD to be at least somewhat successful to afford an ad like that, right? So I called the agency, got a quote, and bound my coverages. A few days later after I had moved into my new home I stopped by his office to deliver my initial payment. Youd think theyd be glad to see me. Nope. Youd think theyd say, Oh! Youre the one who just moved to town! Let me get Bob (not his real name) so he can introduce himself to you. Nope. They simply said, Thanks for dropping off the check. Now in fairness to Bob, maybe he wasnt in or maybe he was tied up in a meeting. But the truth is I never did hear from Bob. Ever. Well, thats not entirely true. I did receive a couple of mailings offering to sell me life insurance. Then one day about 8 months later, I met someone another agent.

But Im getting ahead of myself. I wanted to tell you about my friends insurance agent. She couldnt stop raving about him and how he had helped her. He learned that she had just moved to town and didnt know anyone. Not only that, but he learned she was just starting a new business in the area. He started introducing her to various business people in the community. He dropped off literature he thought shed find useful. He and his wife invited her to join them at various business functions that could be worthwhile. Whenever shed stop by his office with a questions, his staff (yes, he had a large enough book of business to employ 4 staff members) would always call him out of his office to say, Hi.

Was it worthwhile to devote that much time, thought and energy to one policyholder? Well, consider this She had him provide all of her personal and business coverage needs. Additionally, over the years, she has referred about 50 clients to him and continues to endorse him. And heres the most amazing part. HE HASNT BEEN HER AGENT FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS! She had to move away from the area and STILL she raves about him! By building relationships with his policyholders, this agent retains his clients who are loyal to him and become referral machines for him. In fact, at no time did my friend mention whether his rates went up or down. The rates became secondary. It was the relationship with her and the interest he took in her success that made all the difference. It was a real testament to the power of building relationships with A clients.

Let me finish telling about my own insurance agent experience. As I was saying earlier, I met another insurance agent about 8 months after moving to town. We met at a Chamber networking event. I really liked his energy and attitude; he was positive, sincere, and not pushy very relatable. We talked for a while, decided to get together to discuss what he did, and exchanged business cards. A few days later when I went to his office I found him to be the same person I had met earlier. In other words, while its true we did discuss insurance matters, he was very conversational and easy-going. He wasnt pushy and I really felt he was getting to know me. I went back a few days later for his insurance proposal and he had a handful of pamphlets and brochures for me. During the course of our previous conversation he had discovered that not only was I new to town, but was new to Oregon. He also had learned that I enjoyed hiking and camping. In spite of the fact that I wasnt yet a client, he had taken the time to round up a few things to help me. He had shown that he cared.

As you might guess, I became a client. Fortunately for me, his rates were really great; but frankly, I had decided to go with him even if his rates were slightly higher than I had been paying. I made the decision to move my business to him because my agent at the time didnt care and my new agent did. I decided to switch because my new agent not only cared, but he helped me improve my existing coverages, which I was willing to do even if it meant paying a higher premium. (After all, why have insurance at all if it doesnt protect us the way we want it to?) Not only am I a client, but I will no doubt stay his client for as long as Im in the area. You see, we connect with people for who they are and not for what they do. Ive already referred other clients to him.

By the way, at the end of my discussion with my friend, I asked her who her agent is now. She commented that when she moved into town she had just picked someone out of the phone book, but he never had any contact with her. Guess who Im going to refer her to?

Written by Michael Beck, The Insurance & Advisor Coach. Michael, an Executive Coach and Recruiting Activist, helps insurance and financial professionals succeed faster and easier. He can be reached at 866-385-8751 or mbeck@theinsurancecoach.com
Also, please visit http://www.TheInsuranceCoach.com

Permission to reprint with full attribution. 2007 Exceptional Leadership, Inc.

The entire premise of Multi Level Marketing is this:

Continually looking for suspects to turn them into prospects to turn them into converts. Everywhere you go that is at the forefront of your mind. The pressure becomes so intense to try to SPONSOR that next person. Eventually it takes over your every moment.

I've said it before, I'll say it again - the swirling masses below feed the king pins at the top. Those at the top don't care if it is peon pool A, B and C that feeds them or pool A, C and D or for that matter pool X, Y and Z.

The numbers are what drives it. Within the mass there are always varying numbers of honey bees and drones. So long as the honey bees are bringing the PV (point value) and BV (business value) back to the nest then those at the top don't care. After all, they are always insulated by the next lowest tier of so-called "leadership." That next lowest tier has been trained to fight to retain and control their drones.

Anyway, some people look good and they talk big and they will tell you all sorts of things but they turn out to be real duds. You know the type of person that I am talking about. We have all met them. They are the "gunna's" of this world. They're always gunna do this or that or something but never ever get around to it.

Then...

... and here is a BIG point I'd like to make - most people in MLM sponsor downward. What I mean by that is they tend to target down the old socio-economic scale.

Sorry if this sounds a bit crass or distasteful but it happens. Eventually what you get are a whole bunch of no-hopers down on the lowest level and then the die-back begins. They all drop out or sit and do nothing so MORE people have to be found.

Sometimes a "diamond in the rough" is found and one MLM leg gets a surprising kick along.

I always used to liken it to finding the Aces in a deck of cards. You have 52 cards and you know that sooner or later you are bound to turn up an ace but if you go out deliberately targeting the deuces then that is what you will get. Seek and ye shall find.

Again, it is a numbers game. Maybe you will turn up 48 cards before you find that first ace. Chances are that won't happen but it could. Heh, I might win the lottery tonight too!

And what about the Jokers. If someone has thrown them into the pack then that can be a challenge too. They are the people who are in MLM purely for their own entertainment.

So, unless you are able to find a big group of motivated people then all you will be doing is baby-sitting a crowd of folks who will do nothing. They are all sitting there waiting for YOU to make them rich. Does that sound like a good way to make money? I don't think so. You will spend more time and money trying to get the naysayers and doomsayers off the deck than anything else.

Brought to you by: Gary Simpson's http://www.MotivationSelfEsteem.com/Zenspiration.html website where you can receive motivating "Zenspirational Thoughts" plus an immediate FREE copy of the highly acclaimed, life-changing e-book "The Power of Choice." Here you will also be able to get your password for the "Wealthy Minds" Newsletter which will give you access to the MEMBERS' ONLY area of the http://www.turn-debt-into-wealth.com website.

Gary Simpson is the author of nine books covering a diverse range of subjects such as motivation, self esteem, affirmations, self defense, wealth creation and much more. His many motivation and success articles appear all over the web.