Won Me

A new generation of betters will certainly have read the phrase “offshore sports betting”, though a few maybe aren’t entirely positive what it signifies. A foreign gaming site inherently performs external to the territory of any single nation but alternatively it can be an internet based gambling site which has the majority of their main servers inside the boundaries of a country where on-line wagering is not presently disallowed. In summary then, it’s best portrayed as a betting establishment operating extraneous to the land of the gambler. Live gaming websites are in the main governed through three agencies. They are the OSGA (the Offshore Gaming Association), IGC (Interactive Gaming Council) and the Fidelity Trust Gaming Association FTGA.

online sports betting odds on nfl

The OSGA is an autonomous agency that watches the current offshore sports gambling industry, they are trying to also offer gamblers the capacity to easily pick out honest sites to play gambling games on, without concern. The Offshore Gaming Association strives to champion the legal rights of gamblers, additionally they charge no association dues. The Offshore Gaming Association are a highly well-qualified and nonpartisan third party company that conveys unbiased conclusions, indicated by customer feedback, unprejudiced examination, calls, inside advice also dispenses industry information.

The IGC is a non commercially motivated organisation. The agency was designed to allow an arena for curious parties to talk through questions and in addition to further collective matters in the multinational web-based betting industry, in an effort to establish reputable and sound business instructions and systems that improve buyer confidence in net based sports betting merchandise and utilities, and to serve as the overseas gaming industry’s global practise interpreter and it also acts as an information clearinghouse.

The IGC has worked up a regard for promoting trustworthiness, integrity and also solidity thanks to the code of conduct it stands for, also its allure to honest concerns. The Interactive Gaming Council governs offshore betting by means of applying a unique ten-point series of rules furthermore charges gambling sites a payment to feature the council’s logo. Displeased clients can also mention any of their misunderstandings to the IGC.

The Fidelity Trust Gaming Association was founded in an attempt to produce a standard to upgrade the actions of machine-accessible sports gaming operations. The agency believe that conducting business with enterprises of good reputation, they can fabricate an affiliation of the most honest and most competent overseas gambling operations globally. In short, these are bodies who monitor the dealings of machine-accessible sports gambling and which should work to relieve any fears due to the insecurity experienced by bettors. Machine-accessible sports betting sites are absolutely trustworthy, in that private details should not be necessary and the returns and the odds should be exactly as balanced and sportsmanlike as a common Vegas-style sports wager. These internet sites minimize the traveling costs, but nevertheless maintain the original essence, only these days you are able to wager in your home.

From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters….

The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero’s Journey:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

and more…

Sample Movie Deconstructed: Casablanca (1942)

• FADE IN: visuals and narrative set the context [World War 2, imprisoned Europe , escape to America , Casablanca ’s place in the refugee trail].

• Introduce the Antagonism [the officers round up the usual suspects and nonchalantly shoot a suspect].

• Characters in this Ordinary World. Back story of this Ordinary World. It’s a place to be wary of [”vultures everywhere;” the pickpocket sequence].

• Visually demonstration of the desire to escape the Ordinary World [the aircraft flying overhead sequence].

• Meeting the Antagonist and Shape Shifter [Renault greets Strasser]. Reference the Hero [Rick] and the Magical Aid [Letters of Transit].

• Introduce the Hero’s Ordinary World and the allies and characters that inhabit it [we enter Rick’s bar].

• Hero’s status [through the impressions and conversations of other people].

• Meeting the Hero, his nature and capabilities [We meet Rick, he is king of this world with the power to let people in or out; he bars the Nazi sympathiser].

• Meeting with the Supernatural Aid / Mentor and receiving a Magical Gift [Rick meets Ugarte, who gives him the Letters of Transit].

• Hero Tested. Rick given the chance to sell the café and leave with the Letters of Transit [Ferrari offers to buy the café]; Loyalty of Allies Tested [Sam won’t leave despite the salary rise offered to him].

• Hero’s Inner Challenge demonstrated [Rick cannot love women as indicated by the indifference to Yvonne].

• Hero’s True Nature demonstrated [Rick ensures Yvonne gets home safely].

• Develop Hero and Shape Shifter relationship [Rick and Renault outside the cafe]. Reference the hero’s back story.

• Foreshadow of the Call to Adventure and the Refusal [Renault refers to Victor; Rick explicitly states his Outer Challenge - “I stick my neck out for nobody.”

• Call to Adventure [Renault explicitly tells Rick not to sell Victor the Letters of Transit; foreshadow of the arrival of Romantic Competitor and Romantic Challenge; on the way to the safe sequence].

• Develop Hero’s backstory and capabilities for the Journey [we learnt that Rick fought for the resistance].

• Refusal of the Call [Rick refuses to aid Ugarte; “I don’t stick his neck out for anybody”].

• Interdiction [Strasser threatens Rick with his past if he helps Victor].

• First Threshold. Arrival of the Romantic Competitor and Romantic Challenge [Victor and Ilsa].

• Foreboding [Sam distressed at seeing Ilsa].

• Warnings at entering the First Threshold [Ilsa feels they shouldn’t stay].

• Romantic Competitor’s status [Berger reveals himself and is “at his service.”]

• Meeting Allies. Romantic Competitor and Romantic Challenge meet the Shape Shifter. [Victor and Ilsa meet Renault]. Referencing the Hero, the coming adventure.

• Inner Cave. Confrontation between the Antagonist and Romantic Competitor [Victor and Strasser face off]. A future confrontation between them is established [Strasser demands that Victor comes to his office].

• Fearful of the Journey [Ilsa afraid for Victor].

• Physical Separation [Victor finds out what Berger knows; Ilsa and Sam recognise each other and talk].

• Warnings against the Journey [Renault watches over Victor; Sam asks Ilsa to leave Rick alone].

• Hero pulled into the Journey [Sam “plays it again,” Rick sees Ilsa, Rick joins Renault and Victor for a drink].

• Hero and Romantic Challenge backstory referenced [Rick and Ilsa note their past]. Hero affected by the meeting [Rick joins them for a drink and foregoes the bill].

• Foreshadow of the Road of Trials [Renault reminds Victor about the Meeting].

• Hero’s Inner Challenge made explicit [Rick can’t get over Ilsa; drunk in the bar]. Warnings by Ally to avoid the adventure [Sam tells Rick to forget Ilsa]. References to the back-story between the Hero and Romantic Challenge.

• Hero and Romantic Challenge back-story illustrated (we see them in Paris ).

• Conflict between the Hero and his Romantic Challenge established [Ilsa comes back to talk to Rick].

• Antagonist and Shape Shifter enhance their plans [Renault and Strasser make plans for Victor and Rick].

• Trial 1 (Victor) [Victor confronts Strasser]. Antagonist demonstrates evil [Ugarte is dead].

• Trial 1 (Rick) [Ferrari wants the Letters of Transit from Rick]].

• Trial 2 (Rick) [Rick meets Ilsa in the market; she tells him Victor is her husband].

• Trial 3 (Victor and Ilsa) [Ferrari offers a single Exit Visa. Ilsa refuses to leave Victor].

• Meeting the Oracle. Ferrari directs Victor and Ilsa toward Rick (toward the Sword) .

• Rest Break before the Seizure of the Sword: we meet the pickpocket again; antagonist appears at Rick’s and Renault and Rick relate; Yvonne returns.

• Conflict on the Journey to the Sword [Rick breaks up the fight in his bar].

• Time Pressure [Strasser and Renault debate killing Victor].

• Comedic element [”what watch? Such watch? sequence”].

• Learning about the Ideal and the Sword (Rick) [the Bulgarian girl asks Rick to help].

• Hero Metamorphosing [Rick is now more amenable to the Victor and Ilsa; allows Sam to play “as time goes by…”].

• Hero seizes the Sword [Rick helps the Hungarian couple win at Roulette].

• Reward. [Rick gets a hug from the Bulgarian girl].

• Antagonists react at Seizure of the Sword [Renault deflated that Rick has spoilt his romance].

• Celebrating the Seizure of the Sword [ everyone notices and approves of Rick helping the Hungarian girl; the barman pours him a drink].

• Seizing the Sword (Victor) [Victor asks Rick for the Letters of Transit].

• Near Death Experience (Rick) [Victor leads the opposition anthem; Strasser closes Rick’s bar].

• Resistance to the Near Death Experience [Rick protests to Renault].

• Antagonist triggers a Time Pressure [Strasser warns Ilsa that Victor is in danger].

• Warning against the Night Sea Journey and the Near Death Experience [Ilsa warns Victor not to go to the meeting].

• Building up to the Atonement [Victor and Ilsa discuss Rick].

• Hero survives the Near Death Experience. [Rick can keep going for a few weeks]. Hero’s True Character illustrated under pressure [everyone still gets paid].

• Atonement with the Father [Ilsa confronts Rick and asks for the Letters of Transit; pulls a gun on him].

• Apotheosis [Ilsa reveals that she thought Victor was dead when she met Rick; Ilsa prepared to sacrifice herself for Victor].

• Ultimate Boon [Victor survives his Near Death Experience [returns from the meeting]. Rick learns that Victor is prepared to sacrifice himself for Ilsa - he realises what love is].

• Refusal of the Return [Victor arrested; Renault resists letting him go].

• Magic Flight [Rick lies to Renault; says he wants to escape with Ilsa].

• Rescue from Without [Ferrari agrees to buy the bar].

• Crossing the Return Threshold and First Catharsis [Rick gives Victor the Letters of Transit; Rick pulls a gun on Renault; forces him to arrange a flight].

• Time Pressure. Strasser alerted.

• Master of the Two Worlds and Overcoming Romantic and Inner Challenges [Rick lets Ilsa go and explains why; says farewell to Victor].

• Time Pressure [Strasser in pursuit].

• Romantic Competitor Overcome [Rick and Victor interaction].

• Hero and Shpae Shifter confrontation [Renault confronts Rick].

• Final Antagonism. Strasser almost prevents Ilsa and Victor escaping.

• Second Catharsis [Rick shoots Strasser].

• Antagonist’s lieutenants pursue Hero [Renault’s men see Strasser’s body]

• Third Catharsis. Shape Shifter turns [Renault diverts his men: “round up the usual suspects…”]. Link to the beginning of the story.

• Freedom to Live. Hero and Shape Shifter Union [ “the start of a beautiful friendship”.

Learn more…

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

Regus is a commercial property rental company that has reported record growth in the market in 2008, the fifth year in a row of increased performance.

Although it has been criticized in the past for taking out long term rental contracts itself and then subletting the property to companies on shorter term contracts, Regus’s business plan has proven highly popular in times of economic difficulties.

Profits of the company have reached £150m over last year’s profits of £120m and their total revenues have increased to a new total of £1.08bn. In addition to this, the company’s share prices have risen to 1.8p per share dividend, up from 1p last year.

Profits for the company have risen by 24% over the previous year since more companies are turning to renting their workplaces rather than suffer the increasing costs involved with purchasing their own premises. Indeed, some companies have even sold their original office space and decided to start renting their places of work instead. Click here for Claremont, which offer a complete and customised commercial and office relocation service.

On top of the success of Regus in the UK, their expansion in Asia has also been extremely successful. Growth in Asia has increased greatly with the opening of 112 new premises and the expansion of business office space into Taiwan and Pakistan. With a total of over 150,000 workstations in Asia, revenues there have risen fifty-five percent over last year’s total.

Now imagine just how much time and money you could save if everything that you wanted for your roofline, conservatory, door or cladding project was available from one supplier. That’s precisely what you will find at your local Eurocell Building Plastics (EBP) branch. From high-quality uPVC fascias and soffits to composite doors and all the tools and accessories to fit them, branches bring everything together under one roof.

Consistently High Quality Products Nationwide

Eurocell Building Plastics depots are unique in the market because most of the products they stock are manufactured by them. This gives Eurocell complete control over the supply chain, resulting in quicker turnaround of orders, greater delivery reliability and consistently high-quality products. It means you can rely on finding the same range and quality of products whenever you call in to one of the branches because, unlike other stockists, they willl never be changing their supplier. It also means you can find compatible products at whichever branch you visit, anywhere in the UK.

Great Value And Exceptional Service

The success of Eurocell is based on speedy, efficient service that ensures they deliver lasting customer satisfaction. And because Eurocell stock their own products, they are able to keep prices down. Their high-performance Silversil sealant, for example, is less than half the price of the DIY stores’ equivalent own-brand products. It’s this combination of great value for money and exceptional service that makes customers return to Eurocell again and again.

Next Day Delivery

You can order any Eurocell product from your local branch for free next-day deliver, or you can order online and they will deliver to your door within 48 hours.

In this article I have identified seven triggers in marriage that are often used for justification for divorce, but really, none of these seven things warrant divorce or provide any validation what so ever for divorce.

1. Sexless marriage.

We don’t want sex because we have lost touch with our spouse; essentially the bond that was there has been broken. When we spend too much time towards outside interests and wanting to be with friends we don’t feel like getting sexy or even having sex with our spouse!

Marriage needs attention! But we’re giving that attention to our friends. It’s true, woman usually give marriage the most attention, but we women are also more conscious of what needs our attention and consideration in the home.

Face it, we women are more aware than men, and that is why God’s specifically designed women to be in the home taking care of EVERYTHING instead of the man.

This is precisely why you should NOT break it off. You obviously need to spend more time together and get reacquainted like when you first married. You can’t do that if you are ignoring your spouse.

If your marriage is sexless or you are having sex infrequently it is time to bring romance back into the bedroom. You know what to do.

2. You constantly criticize your spouse

If we often criticize and nag it is because we are expecting too much from our spouse, and when things don’t get done at the designated time, or in the exact way we would do it, we criticize and complain.

Faults become more apparent when expectations don’t get met. We criticize our spouse because we blame them for the disarray of the marriage. We notice all their faults, feel all their faults, and live all their faults. Essentially we are living in our spouse’s faults. No wonder we constantly criticize.

We are too connected to the faults of our spouse, and so disconnected from the relationship of marriage!

Hectic schedules can often make us come across as naggy and critical. It’s because we’re so stressed out! We want things done and think if we nag about it, it will get done. We’re so busy that we don’t have time to deal with the children, chores, cooking, career, and household.

It is perfectly ok to delegate chores around the house to help lighten the load a bit. But what really needs to be done is to back off with the criticism and let our spouse be who they are.

This is all the more reason why we shouldn’t break it off. Now is the perfect time to learn to accept our spouse for the way they are and stop trying to change things that we can’t!

God certainly does not like that we criticize and disrespect who we married, and so the first action here would be to look at our self and see what it is that WE can do to change the situation to bring less negative attention towards our spouse.

3. You compare your spouse to others and you THINK your spouse never measures up.

Comparing is wrong. When you compare in a negative way you are essentially telling your spouse that they aren’t good enough for you. It can lead to a poor self-esteem in the long run and leads to peer pressure type thinking where you spouse may feel they need to continually challenge the person they are being compared to so he or she can prove they are better in some way.

But this is a fallacy of wrong thinking taking over in how you perceive your spouse to be. Everyone is different and as long as you continue to compare two people that are different, and expect him or her to be the same it will never happen. Your expectations once again will not be met and disappointment sets in.

Don’t compare your spouse to other people. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. People are beautiful in their own way.

4. You try to change your spouse and it doesn’t work.

Try this for a change. As a self help technique, have your spouse
write down YOUR bad habits, and the things that irritate him or her about you. Read them, study them, and change yourself! Reality check!

5. You don’t laugh anymore and it is impossible to have a lighthearted conversation.

Couples don’t laugh anymore because of all of the above. Marriage needs attention. Marriage needs fun and games brought into it now and again. What are you waiting for?

6. You THINK you are doing all the giving.

Are you keeping score! I know, lets play Santa!

Let’s pretend we’re Santa Clause. Now lets check our list to see who has been naughty or nice. If my spouse has been nice to me this week, I will give them a present, but if they we’re naughty, just forget it.

Children all over the world are growing up understanding all about how to give conditional love, and when they get married they can treat their own spouse conditionally like Santa did to them.

“No Dear, I’m not going to have sex with you tonight, you were mean to me all day today. Maybe tomorrow, if you’re nicer to me.”
Comedy shows like to depict this kind of behavior has being funny. This conditional sex-love dilemma in marriage is all about learning to give of your self even when you don’t want to.

Couples love selfishly because they do not have the knowledge to love properly. They love the way they have been taught to love. It is a conditioned and learned experience.

What is love?

It’s not lust that’s for sure! Lust frequently gets confused with love in the beginning stages of a romance and marriage, but all lust really is, is being rapt in the novelty of a new relationship that brings with it feelings of euphoria.

Lust is a sexual thing, while love is not. You can still love someone and not have sex with them.

Love sometimes takes years to develop. Love is a process of learning through your own spiritual and mental growth, and then giving of you self, whatever that might be, even when you don’t want to. It is a practice in remembering of sorts to take action in those areas in your life that are, or should be important to you.

Bottom line, love is a development of ones self through the growing process, and then learning to practice that love to those who are important to you. It is a continual growing process that you learn to develop with time.

To give is to love, and to love is to give. Giving can only come from a heart and mind that is free of selfish precedents and self-seeking based love. This involves not just surrendering sinful and selfish ways over to God, but allowing the Spiritual Christ into your heart and mind for emotional, and spiritual support.

Without God’s support in the marriage, couples are essentially utilizing their self-seeking love in the marriage, which in the long run cannot sustain a healthy and productive marriage.

7. You no longer feel good about yourself.

You don’t feel good about your self, because you do not know your self.

Low self-worth, depression and loneliness usually mean that we are not doing something in our life that we know we should be doing. We are not using all of our abilities to come to our potential. If we are living in a particular sin in our life and feel like we can’t get out, that will keep us from coming to our full potential in marriage.

Unfortunately when this happens in marriage, we tend to be overly needy with our spouse, believing that they should make us FEEL happy and good about our self.

But is that the responsibility of our spouse?

It is God that frees us from the weakness of sin. If we are living in sin, then we are not loving our self. If we don’t feel good about ourselves, we certainly cannot love others. Resent-filled hearts cannot love, it is impossible.

If we are living in our negative feelings, which many people do, we will not know the fulfillment of knowing what “real love” is.

Surrendering our guilt, resentment, angry feelings, and sin to God will free us from behaving selfishly and rebelliously toward our spouse in the marriage. Essentially it is when we let go of the hate in us that we learn to love.

Here is how it works, we give up the weakness that has been taking over our life, and we finally grow spiritually into a new person in Christ. That is when we learn to love who we are, and also loving others freely without negative feelings tearing at our flesh.

This issue is the root to all of the above issues. This is why I stress constantly in all of my articles, newsletters, and books, “to take care of your self first”.

That is the challenge most of us face on a daily basis, whether it be in our marriage or other relationships with people. If WE our in need of life, we certainly cannot give life to another.

Remember that none of these issues warrant breaking it off, they do warrant though, putting forth more effort in those areas that need our attention.

And these are the 7 reasons why you shouldn’t break it off. Your marriage needs attention!

Angie Lewis, author of new release, Journey on the Roads Less Traveled, a book about love, life and marriage. http://www.spiritual.journeybooks.4t.com/

ISBN 1413788904
Available Amazon and any online bookstore.

Angie is the writer for Heaven Ministries, an online marriage and bible study ministry. http://www.heavenministries.com/

Firewalls seem to be in style more and more. For those unfamiliar with what a firewall is, It pretty much is a program that sits between you and the outside world- think of a toll house that stands at the edge between your world and the digital world. There are many different manufacturers of firewalls from companies like Linksys, D-Link, Netgear, and many others.

Actually if you are familiar with Windows XP, there is a free firewall program that you can use to furnish a basic protection between you and your network. If you prefer more complete solutions you can do a search for free firewall programs on the net or purchase one.

It’s billed as the one-stop solution to prevent hackers and unauthorized access by intruders (both human and artificial intelligence generated). However firewalls are not unassailable.

A somewhat intelligent hacker could hijack you firewall and make it execute in ways that are not to your gain. There are online testing services that are either free or charge a token fee that will help you check to see if your firewall is working or not, or whether it has been compromised.

You may have also found that a firewall will not always operate nicely with your other programs, such as antivirus and anti spyware related software. This usually can be modified within the firewall program, where you can configure which programs and services on your computer are allowed to travel to and fro between you and the network.

If you’re not familiar with a firewall at the present moment, don’t worry. Most of the offerings on the market are easy to install and setup. However the one little pain in the neck may be that in the initial stages, every time you open a new program the firewall may give you a pop-up box that asks how you want to configure access for it.

Beyond that it’s not big deal, works like a charm. So if you haven’t configured a firewall for your computer or network, then it may be about time you did so.

Online Graduate Diplomas

It is well known that one needs a diploma to be able to further in one’s studies. Graduate diplomas can be acquired online and through various institutions. However, most people have turned to online diplomas. The beauty of this is that, one will acquire the diploma from the comfort of their home. This helps most people especially if they are embarrassed to go back to school and end up not acquiring a better life. The other benefit on online diplomas is that they can be acquired at ones pace and time. This especially benefits the busy corporate people who do not have much time to go to schools.

Although some
graduation diplomas acquired online have a lot of fraud in them where the diplomas or schools are not genuine or legitimate. There are various ways to detect and avoid being scammed by diploma mills; this includes understanding the past performance of the college, one should try targeting the colleges involved in award winnings they are more legitimate. Another way is by using the accrediting agency, joining forums that facilitate online colleges. Online colleges that offer deals that are too good to be true specially the offers, should keep you thinking as to why there cannot be any problem or why everything is too easy when applying for the graduate diplomas, probably it is not genuine.

List-making is a favorite journaling technique and is often used to quickly jot down a numbered record on topics like “my beliefs,” “my pet peeves,” “the things I hate about myself,” or “my strengths.” However, there’s a special type of list technique that moves beyond a simple itemization and into the realm of significant self-awareness.

This special technijque has several names, including table-of-contents, life chapters, and stepping-stones, the latter term used by journaling expert, Ira Progoff. Using this technique the writer lists their most important life events, as though they were chapter headings in an autobiography. Progoff and other suggest keeping the number of items to around a dozen, to ensure the inclusion of only major events.

One writer’s listed these items:

1. Brother died when I was three years old.

2. Mom went into the hospital when I was five, and I didn’t know why or when she would come home.

3. Grandma died when I was ten, and because of my age they wouldn’t let me go to the hospital and see her.

4. Dad died of a sudden heart attack when I was 15. I was with him but couldn’t save his life.

5. I fell in love but we lived in different cities and things just never seemed to work out.

6. My step-father diedhow could this happen?

7. My long-distance love affair ended.

8. I fell in love again and thought it was for a lifetime.

9. I got married and was happy, at least for a long time.

10. I got divorced. It wasn’t for a lifetime.

Is there any doubt that this journal-writer has major issues concerning death and other ending issues? And, do you notice the lack of happy events? After this diarist created the stepping stones, she then wrote about each, realizing how many unresolved issues she carried with herand how they impacted her ability to be happy.

As you do this exercise several times over months or years, you’ll find your choice of events changing. Sometimes your first love affair is the most important thing on the list, and other times it won’t make the top 10 or 12 at all. Why? Because the list reflects the issues that cry out for attention.

When you’re comfortable with this technique, try using it for specific topics, like the stepping stones of your weight issues, or relationships, or spiritual growth. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Good writing!

Copyright 2004 Patti Testerman

Journal Genie, The Website That Talks Back

http://www.journalgenie.com

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included and the resource box is left unchanged. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

About The Author

Patti Testerman is content manager at JournalGenie.com, the only online site that analyzes your writing and then gives you instant feedback. Discover self-defeating patterns, find better ways to communicate in relationships. Contact her at mailto:patti@journalgenie.com

[Disclosure: I went into EzineArticles.com very innocently. I knew that I had 10 free submissions, and my personal time was very limited. Therefore, my goal was to submit as many articles as possible at one time. When I had nine articles, I knew it was time to logon. I really didn’t think about being “judged” by these nine articles.

Now that I know what an honor it is to be a Platinum member with unlimited submissions, priority publishing, specialized client services, etc., I do not want any aspiring website, blog, or ezine publisher to take their submissions to ezinearticles.com lightly. Please note that I may have experienced some luck, as Chris and I were working at the same exact time. I also have a prolific freelance writing career for over 10 years. Therefore, I do not guarantee similar results. Ultimately, it is your content that will sell.]

Okay, so here it goes: How I Became An EzineArticles.com Platinum Member in One-Hour Flat & How You Can Too.

1. Research where you want to be.

   I looked at other Platinum members and noticed that their articles ranged between 600-800 words. Phew…all of mine where right in that range.

   While you’re allowed to submit articles between 200-4000 words, I may push the limits now, but for my first 10–no way.

2. Give credit where it’s due.

   In the submission form you’re asked who referred you. So, don’t leave it blank. My answer was EzineQueen.

3. Read The Editorial Guideline clearfully, and edit accordingly.

   Your article’s format is like your clothes, it’s the first thing Chris will see. Impress him.

   Use white space, and keep your words clean, tight and neat. [ See ]

4. Make your 10 free submission your best articles.

   Quality content means: Originality, timeliness, resourcefulness, inspirational, fun, punchy, snappy, personable, and with your own “Sabra Spunk”. Personality counts.

   For example, I sent my timely Vioxx article, original The Meaning of “Ponn” article, resourceful Leads, Referrals & Recommendations article, and inspirational I Don’t Believe in Failures. Catch my drift?

   Read the “Articles Should/Should Not” lists. Don’t upset or offend the busy guy (I’ve been an editor before, and with the number of articles Chris gets I don’t know how he does it. I’d delete a submission if these basic rules were violated).

5. Find a happy medium.

   In your resource box you get 1-5 lines. I notice some authors with nothing (dum-dums…lost opporunities) and others stuff their 5 sentences (show-offs…who cares!?)

   I picked a happy 3. Here’s mine:

   • Who am I?

   Ponn M. Sabra, MPH is the Author of “Empowering Women to Power Network”
   

   • Call to Action. What the reader should do?

   To learn more about her book and sign-up for FREE tips, articles and resources, visit her at http://www.EmpowerWomenNow.com
   

   • Why me? Nothing too flashy or long-winded.

   Ponn is profiled in Marquis’ Who’s Who of America and Who’s Who of American Women.

6. Submit articles in a specific order.

   I started with the most general “business” and “self-improvement/success” articles. Then, I submitted my niche articles: “business/entrepreneurs”, and “women’s interest”. By the time I submitted #6, all my articles went live and my status changed to Platinum.

   It worked for me. I don’t know if Chris noticed, but I sure did. So, give it a try.

   [Interestingly, My Article Report shows that my niche articles are getting the most hits.

   WooHoo…this means people need me and my content ][Stick to your keywords and phrases.]

7. Keep your copyrights. List it on the bottom.

   Whenever I see (C) I say, “Hey, this chick is watching her back”. Even though there are reprint guidelines for each online article submission portal like ezinearticles.com, putting it directly in your article guarantees that the copyright stays with you–always.

   I can’t speak for Chris if this was a consideration or not; but for me, (C) signifies a more professional writer/author.

8. Maintenance. Now, I have to stay here.

   Here’s my plan:

   • Active submissions,

   • Active recommendations to EzineArticles.com, and

   • Actively reading his ezine and autoresponders so I apply his fabulous tips.

He gave a great tip in a Post Script, and he knows I catched it. Pay attention, and apply what works.

Oh, and please read his Highlighted: Article Marketing Tips. These are all tips to help you get more articles published and generate more traffic. So, give the guy a break and don’t make these silly time-consuming mistakes. I’ve made a couple so far, but you can bet your bottom I’m not going to do it again. I want to stay right where I am.

All of these steps took me a few minutes to complete, and the remainder of my time was dedicated to actually submitting the articles.

No doubt, that was the single-best hour I spent in my online business career. I hope its yours as well!

(C) 2005 Ponn M. Sabra, MPH

[Note to ezinearticles.com readers: If I helped you in anyway through this article, please let our readers (and Chris) know by ranking this article below. Much thanks. To your success, Ponn]

Ponn M. Sabra, MPH is the Author of “Empowering Women to Power Network”. To learn more about her book and sign-up for FREE tips, articles and resources, visit her at http://www.empowerwomennow.com . Ponn is profiled in Marquis’ Who’s Who of America and Who’s Who of American Women.

Chamonix ski resort is situated at the foot of the wonderful Mount Blanc in the European Alps and is often recognized as the climbing and extreme skiing centre of the world. The resort is known as a true domain for extreme sports in both summer and winter seasons. The resort was home to the inaugural Olympics in the early 1920s - however it is also a region of exceptional views proffering much to the adventurous mountaineer and tourist.

However unlike a lot of purpose built snowboarding towns Chamonix isn’t a modern snowboarding resort and has been largely saved from the brutalist architecture which blight a majority of the French resorts. It’s also worth visiting Chamonix and the alps in summer. Chamonix is blessed with not only an internationally renowned snowboarding mountain but an elegant and thriving resort centre.

Chamonix town is big enough to insure there’s plenty for the vacationer to see. Whatever the pace of your holiday theres something to enrapture the whole group. There is an impressive swimming center, spas, paragliding and local market; and lots of boutiques, cafes and night clubs, Chamonix town offers a choice of skiing, charm and going out, which not many ski domains can come close to. Therefore organise your snowboarding vacation immediately.