Astounding Language

There are lots of HTML editors on the market, however, you will want to look for one that has specific tools that will make building your websites easy, straightforward, and as stress-free as possible. Review the following requirements you should look for in an HTML editor.

Tool #1 - Word Wrap

You want to see everything you are writing and editing so an HTML editor with word wrap is very important. If your HTML editor does not have word wrap you will have many sentences in one line of text that is really long and more difficult to edit. Also, without word wrap you will be hitting the return key a lot and it is simply easier if you have this function.

Tool #2 - Customize

Make sure your HTML editor starts out with all of the basics but is also customizable to meet your specific needs as an editor. This will allow you to do your job exactly as you like in the order you want.

Tool #3 - File Support

When choosing an HTML editor, you will want to make sure it supports long file names. This will pay off for you and cause you fewer problems.

Tool #4 - Conversions

If you are working on many pages, you’ll want pathway conversions included in your html editor. With this feature, your HTML editor will be able to make the conversion for you depending on UNIX, Dos, or Windows and save you both plenty of time and headaches.

Tool #5 - Keyboard or Mouse

Some HTML editors are geared more toward a mouse while others are more geared toward a keyboard. You should decide whether you work best with a keyboard or mouse, and then choose an html editor that corresponds to your preference.

Tool #6 - Platform

Depending on whether you use Windows or Mac makes a huge difference in the html editor you use. Basically, if you use Windows you have lots of choices and options which can make choosing more difficult. However, if you use Mac you have fewer options and will have to deal with what is available unless you want to change platforms.

Tool #7 - Budget

Your budget is also a consideration in choosing the right html editor. You may be able to spend hundreds of dollars or you may be in search of a free option. Both are available, so know what you can spend as well as what you are looking for.

Choosing an HTML editor is not easy because not of them are going to have every tool you want in the budget you can afford. However, you can read reviews and test out different editors to find the one that best fits your skills and needs.

Michael Turner reveals step-by-step how you can increase search engine traffic in his free 7 part mini-series. Grab it now at http://www.powertraffictactics.com/

Some new technology is being used now in the UK, which makes GPS even more accurate for personal tech devices and automobiles. These new technologically advanced systems will be able to bring the accuracy within a meter, rather than the best in-car systems no barely accurate to 32 yards.

This new Super GPS System is the European Galileo Project and it will be completed in 2010 and will revolutionize the capabilities of current GPS. How will this be achieved? Through more satellites using a net-centric grid system. This system and all these technologies will be available to China as well, which one would suppose will be used for accurate military uses, such as guided munitions.

All of the new Super-GPS Galileo Project is on time and ahead of schedule meaning that the frequency bands set aside for this use are secure now and will not expire, as has been the case previously with such satellite ventures, as you recall one of Craig McCaws projects some eight years ago. The new 3G wireless cell phones in the UK will have built in GPS function, similar to those in the US.

Needless to say with all this new technology, the United States will lag behind in such capabilities in the commercial sector if it does not allow transfer technologies or joint use of satellite systems. Additionally such technologies are taking some military advantage away from the United States that they have enjoyed for decades. GPS will never be the same again and we will continue to see more of this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Car parts, just like cars keep going up and up in price. Just look at any recent bill for service for your car. $69 is not uncommon for an oil change if you have a Mercedes or BMW at your local dealer. $600 for headlights (not including installation), $700 water pump, $200 per tire - or more for certain cars. It just gets ridiculous. It has been estimated that if one were to try and buy all the parts for a car through their local dealer it would cost 300-500,000 for all the parts on the average car. someone is getting rich here and it isn’t us. There is a better way.

Start by looking online. There are junk yards that have the parts you need. And just because they are referred to as junkyards, doesn’t mean they only sell junk. Lots of their inventory is from cars that are less than 1 year old. What do you think happens to the perfectly good tires on a new BMW that was junked do to rear accident. Some wiley person buys them at a great discount for their own car. Junk or salvage yards turnover millions of dollars in car parts every year. The best site to use is car-parts.com. They will research thousands of salvage dealers and display the prices in order from cheapest and newest and colors, etc… You enter your part needs and then they will find your parts for you. It is not uncommon to get basically brand new or similar items for 1/5 the price a dealer charges or less.

Another great place is Ebay and Ebay Motors. There are lots of car parts on there for just about every make year and model of car. Everything from a hood to a door, interior carpet, radios, speakers, wheels - even spinners so you can pimp your ride like on tv and in the movies. I’ve even seen celebrity cars for sale on their and parts autographed by Nascar drivers like Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jr., etc… Even if you don’t end up buying on Ebay, it is generally a wholesale marketplace and will give you a feel for the value and true pricing of certain parts. It will also show you the huge difference between the actual value and what a dealer charges. Just remember this - “Dealer bad, Ebay good.” You can even buy your car on Ebay and save a mint - no bogus processing fees, lies by salesmen and their managers whose only job is to squeeze every penny they can out of you - especially the finance manager (they get you just hen you think you are done - and many times they get you for thousands of dollars in profit). Bogus dealer processing fees totalled more than $50 billion in 2005 - no wonder dealers are getting richer, playing more golf, etc… But due to lawyers and tax strategies the average dealer pays less in taxes than most americans (average dealer tax rate >1%) - go figure.

So there you have it get online and use salvage yards and Ebay to get a great deal on all your car part needs. For instructions on installing any part just look it up on Google. There are thousands of great forums and blogs that for free will give great pictures and step by step explanations on everything from changing a tire to a camshaft, bleeding brakes, fan belt replacement, etc… Do not use your dealer unless you like getting fleeced on a daily basis - as that is what they will do.

David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He holds numerous patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight repair, restorer and cleaner. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.mdwholesale.com

Here’s a Ferringo’s-eye view of Week 3 in the National Football League:

New England at Pittsburgh (-3)
Once again, the Patriots are involved in the Game of the Week. They’re dogs entering the Steel City, and are going up against the best team in football right now. Ben Roethlisberger has a ridiculous 153.6 passer rating, which is nearly perfect. He’s also 16-1 as a starter, which is nearly perfect and is looking to avenge the only loss of his pro career - a 41-27 blowout at the hands of the Pats in the AFC Title Game last January.

Pittsburgh is once again the top running team in the league, bruising its way to 170.5 yards per game (without their two best runners) and 4.7 yards per carry. The Steelers also rank fourth on defense, but are just 17th against the run. The Patriots, on the other hand, are only averaging 2.4 yards per carry, and they are the 12th-ranked defense in the NFL. In two games, they’ve yielded 23.5 points a game.

Per usual, Tom Brady will be the key to any upset chance that New England has. Brady’s shoulder is officially listed as probable, and he’ll be looking to avenge his poor performance (69.3 rating) against Carolina last week. That rating was the 17th worst of his 73 starts (in which he is 58-15). However, he’s 10-4 in games following his previous 14 losses and has posted a passer rating close to 95 in those games.

Cincinnati (-3) at Chicago
The Pats and Steelers may be the Game of the Week, but I really think that this is the most intriguing matchup of Week 3. It pits two young, up-and-coming teams - one with a high-powered offense and one with a hard-hitting defense - each trying to make a name for itself among the top teams in their respective conferences.

In this corner, Cincinnati has been the “Best Team That Nobody is Talking About” thus far by demolishing Cleveland and Minnesota. The Bengals and their Big Three - Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and Rudi Johnson - have led Cincy to the No. 1 offense in the league. They are averaging 462 yards per game, with 157 coming on the ground and 305 through the air. Palmer has been lights out (five TD’s and a 107.8 rating), and is being backed by a defense that has already forced a ridiculous 10 takeaways.

And in this corner, Chicago has been the “Best Team that Everyone Forgot Existed” until they posted a 32-point win last week over the Lions. The Bears have gone back to their roots - run the ball (114 ypg, 4.1 ypc) and playing good defense (7th overall). This is a big spot for a team that’s on the verge of having some confidence. If they can defend their turf they enter their bye week on a 2-1 roll with putrid Cleveland waiting on the other side.

But a win is far from given. Kyle Orton played well for Chicago last weekend (translation: no turnovers) and will again have to protect the ball against the Bengals.

Atlanta at Buffalo (2.5)
There are certainly quarterback issues for both of these teams. Mike Vick is listed as questionable this weekend with a sore hamstring, and J.P. Losman is unofficially questionable after getting benched last week for one drive against Tampa Bay. I would put Vick at about 85 percent to play. Also, Losman will again seize the reigns for Buffalo, and don’t be surprised to see Mike Mularkey dig into his bag-of-tricks and pull out some gimmicks this weekend.

This game will be a slugfest. Atlanta is fifth in the league in rushing (157 ypg, 4.6 ypc) and Buffalo is 15th (100 ypg, 3.8 ypc). The Bills are second in the league in total defense, but are just 30th in rushing after getting rolled by Tampa Bay (191 rush yards) last Sunday. Atlanta, on the other hand, will most likely be without cornerback/kick returner Allen Rossum and defensive end Brady Smith, who are two key cogs. Rossum is particularly important because the Falcons are already without corner Kevin Mathis - leaving the secondary very vulnerable.

New York Giants at San Diego (-5.5)
I hope Eli brings his ear plugs. This will be Manning’s first appearance in San Diego, the city that drafted him first overall in 2004 even though he said he wanted nothing to do with that organization. Also, Manning and the 2-0 G-Men will be rolling into the den of a team that, at 0-2, is desperate for a win.

Yes, the Giants are 2-0. But they are the fraudulent kind of undefeated. They tooled on the Cardinals (who doesn’t?) and then topped an emotionally spent Saints club in a “road” game in Jersey. They have scored 69 points so far. Pretty impressive, right? But they’re 26th in total offense and have run the second fewest plays (104) in the league. They’ve mostly been the beneficiary of special teams flukes and turnovers. Defensively, they’re allowed 370 yards per contest.

San Diego, on the other hand, is playing well until it matters. Drew Brees and Co. were on their way to a crucial road win over Denver last weekend until Drew Brees threw a horrible INT that Champ Bailey returned for a touchdown. The week before, they had benched Antonio Gates and decided to give LaDainian Tomlinson only two touches in the fourth quarter of a four-point loss to Dallas. It’s tough to have must-win games in September, but this is pretty close for the Bolts.

FREE PICK (YTD 0-1): This week I like Indianapolis to cover the 13.5 against the Browns. In 2004 the Colts had one of the Greatest Offenses Football Has Ever Seen. But over their last three games - dating back to the playoff loss in Foxboro - they’ve managed just 12 points per contest. I’m looking for them to break out in a big way at home against a Cleveland team that’s 30th in the NFL against the pass. Also, I think the Brownies are due for a letdown after a tough road win in Lambeau last Sunday.

1) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) - It’s really tough to be picky about a team that’s looked so good, but they are allowing the opposition to convert 48 percent of their third downs.
2) Indianapolis Colts (2-0) - This team has the purposeful look of a group on a Mission. It hasn’t been smoke and mirrors, but good ol’ fashioned toughness. Let’s see if they can sustain it.
3) New England Patriots (1-1) - This game at Pittsburgh is part of their Murderer’s Row schedule that has them hosting San Diego, at Atlanta, at Denver, bye, hosting Buffalo and hosting Indianapolis. But hey, according to every guffawing columnist across the country they’re the Best Team Ever so it shouldn’t matter, right?
4) Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) - The Bengals made one of the largest jumps from last week’s Power Rankings (up eight slots from 12). But memo to Chad Johnson: don’t call out Mike Brown (just ask Marcus Pollard). I hope my Bears knocks these guys back into the Dave Shula Days.
5) Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) - Despite their off-field issues, they already have a division road win and are averaging 161.5 yards per game on the ground. However, they are just 1-4 ATS in Denver, where they play on Monday.
6) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) - McNabb and Owens share the cover on this week’s Sports Illustrated. I don’t buy the love fest. It’s easy to get along when you’re up 42-3 at home, but let’s see what happens when they’re in a tough spot.
7) Carolina Panthers (1-1) - Peter King said that Brees’ interception against the Broncos last week was one of the worst he’s ever seen. My vote goes to Jake Delhomme’s toss to New England’s Mike Vrabel, who returned it for a TD.
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) - Losing safety Donovin Darius for the year is a huge blow. Also, Byron Leftwich is on his way to becoming the next Steve McNair - doesn’t practice due to injury then steps up and plays/leads his team on Sunday.
9) Atlanta Falcons (1-1) - Backup QB Matt Schaub has been an All-World Preseason player the last two years, and there are actually some rednecks in Georgia that would love to see him get his own shot. Those same folks have an IQ lower than Vick’s passer rating of 73.4. Atlanta is 2-11 in games that Vick hasn’t started in the last three years.
10) Washington Redskins (2-0) - I really didn’t think Mark Brunell could still throw it that far. I guess Roy Williams didn’t think so either.
11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) - They’ve only faced 32 rushing attempts in two games, but the Bucs defense is giving up only 40 yards per game on the ground and 2.5 yards per carry.
12) Dallas Cowboys (1-1) - Blame that loss on whichever linebacker that was that got juked by a 57-year-old Brunell on that 3rd-and-27 scramble.
13) Buffalo Bills (1-1) - Bills fans, this is what you get with a first-year QB. Trust me, I know. I’d be more worried about Willis McGahee dancing in the holes.
14) Seattle Seahawks (1-1) - Seattle is that quiet, shifty guy in the corner booth of the bar. He seems unassuming, but you keep looking over your shoulder because you don’t know if he’s going to snap and kill everyone or just get blasted and stumble home.
15) Chicago Bears (1-1) - Brian Urlacher has 15 solo tackles and three sacks in two games. Now where are all those ass-clowns that said he was overrated? Also, linebacker Lance Briggs has just been wrecking people.
16) Denver Broncos (1-1) - Remember how everyone ripped on them for picking up the Browns front four (worst in the league against the run in ‘04)? Well, Denver is currently 22nd against the rush (115 ypg) with K.C. rolling into town.
17) New York Giants (2-0) - If they go on the road and beat San Diego I still won’t jump on the bandwagon - but I’ll be very, very impressed.
18) New Orleans Saints (1-1) - After what they’ve been through and where they’ve been through over the last month (Oakland to Texas to Carolina to New York and now to Minnesota) Jim Haslett has a right to vent. That team just looked worn out in the fourth quarter of that MNF game.
19) New York Jets (1-1) - The good news is that Curtis Martin didn’t tear any knee ligaments (MRI was negative). The bad news is that safety Erik Coleman just had thumb surgery and may not be available.

20) Detroit Lions (1-1) - Monday, Steve Mariucci says that the team has no interest in ex-Buc Shaun King. Tuesday, King and Jeff George worked out for the Lions. Tick-tock, Joey Harrington. Tick-tock.
21) San Diego Chargers (0-2) - This isn’t a bad team at all. However they’ve absolutely given away two games already. Ah, Marty Ball.

22) St. Louis Rams (1-1) - I still don’t think they’re running the ball enough. However, they are third in the league in offensive time of possession (34:07 per game).
23) Oakland Raiders (0-2) - Despite playing two of the best rushing teams in the NFL, the Raiders D is giving up a paltry 3.0 yards per carry. However, they need to start pressuring quarterbacks. Their two sacks are tied for worst in the league.
24) Tennessee Titans (1-1) - Their win over Baltimore last week wasn’t a fluke from the standpoint that while they don’t have the depth to compete this season, they certainly have the talent to jump up and bite an unsuspecting team.
23) Baltimore Ravens (0-2) - Right now their run-pass ratio is almost 3-to-1, but not the way you’d expect. So far they’ve thrown 95 passes to go with only 34 rushes. Unreal.
26) Miami (1-1) - People are already calling Ronnie Brown (34 attempts, 94 yards, 0 TD’s) a bust because he’s not putting up the numbers that Cadillac Williams (54-276-2) is. I think it’s way too early to be making those claims.
27) Minnesota Vikings (0-2) - Just a thought, but maybe it’s not Randy Moss that they miss the most. Maybe it’s former offensive coordinator Scott Linehan (now in Miami).
28) Cleveland Browns (1-1) - As bad as the Packers were, any time you go into Green Bay and get a win it’s an accomplishment.
29) San Francisco 49ers (1-1) - They lost by 39 points, but I had to move them up one slot this week because the teams behind them looked that awful.
30) Arizona Cardinals (0-2) - Kurt Warner got sacked five times last week and was hit six others. If they can’t get the running game going - Marcel Shipp will start this weekend - then they’re going to get Warner killed. Their run-pass ratio is 37 rushes to 98 passes. Not good.
31) Green Bay Packers (0-2) - Wow. This team is a total mess, on all fronts, and shows no signs of improving. They just don’t have the talent on either side of the ball.
32) Houston Texans (0-2) - Jason Babin and Philip Buchanon - a tandem whom the Texans traded a combined five first-day draft picks for the rights to - have both been benched.

Questions or comments for Robert? e-mail robert@docsports.com.

Doc’s Sports Handy Links:
2005 NFL Schedules
Super Bowl 2006
NFL power rankings

Doc’s Sports Handicapping Service
1-866-238-6696

Since 1971 Doc’s Sports has been recognized as one of the leaders and most trusted names in sports handicapping information. Visit Doc’s website for
free college and NFL picks and predictions as well as updated articles and free game matchup reports.

Home improvement loans are loans specifically designed by loans companies to help you fund an essential home improvement projects.

Home improvement loans provided by loans companies are secured on the value of the borrower’s property. The amount available to the borrower is subject to the equity in their property and their ability to repay home loans when their outgoings and other loans are taken into account.

A home improvement loan is one that is issued by the lender on the basis that you use the amount of the loan to make improvements to your home that will increase the market value.

Typically a home improvement loan is offered by your existing mortgage lender, where the equity value in the house acts as security for the lender. Where this is the case, the amount you can borrow may be determined by the amount your improvements will add to the market value of your home.

Home improvement loans can be arranged at the same time as you are buying the property. This is as long as the total amount of mortgage and home improvement loan will not exceed the value of the property.

The reason why you would want to get this loan from your mortgage lender is that you may be able to obtain the same interest rate on the loans that you are paying on your mortgage, which cannot be beaten with a personal loan.

Home improvement loans are in some ways an extension of your mortgage, in that the first port of call for someone wanting to carry out major home improvement work on their home would be their mortgage lender. It is, however, a separate loan, which can be paid back over a different period.

The mortgage lender will not discourage this home loan, as it is in their interests for improvement work to be carried out on the home they are lending on, considering that they effectively own it until the mortgage is repaid.

Loans secured for home improvement are flexible in duration. The loans are independent of mortgage loans and are typically available with loans repayment terms of between two years and twenty five years.

With home improvement loans homeowners can borrow anything from £5,000 to £75,000 for a larger home improvement project.

There are countless home improvement projects that can be undertaken using improvement loans. New interior decoration can be funded by loans for home improvement, as can the purchase and installation of a fitted kitchen, bathroom or conservatory.

If you want better storage in your home then loans secured for home improvement can be used to purchase fitted bedroom furniture or to develop unused spaces in your home.

Loans for home improvement can be used for garden improvement too, such as landscaping the garden.

Larger loans for home improvement can be used to design and build an extension to your home.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author’s biography remains intact:

About The Author

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

There are a lot of parents who would like home schooling for their child. But they are afraid because they don’t exactly know if they can be their children’s teacher. They also need to find out if home schooling is suitable for their child and if there really is a need to home school their child. Of course most parents would like to have their children educated in school. The school is such a good place for learning practical skills and application.

Home schooling is efficient and helpful if you want it to be. You will be responsible for your child’s education so you will surely be the one to blame if they don’t learn. If your child prefers to be alone or isolated, you should not force him to go to school and mingle with the other kids. For sure, he will not feel comfortable and the learning process might be slow. If your child wants to learn at home with you, it will be to your advantage to teach him the basics.

Now that the education process is in demand, your child has a lot of options to choose from. First is to learn from the books just like the way they do it in school. Another way is by learning online through the use of e-books. E-books are the easy way to learn if your child does not feel comfortable with the teacher due to traumatic experiences or other reasons.

If going to school is geographically too far, you can educate your child at home. Traveling might be costly, stressful, and tiring. If your child has some physical disabilities, he might encounter difficulties in the public school system therefore home schooling might be the way to go. If your child has low self-esteem, and lacks confidence, he might not be able to deal with the pressures in public school, and could experience a lot of difficulties that may hinder his learning and social awareness. If your child has signs of autism or abnormalities, being home schooled would be the best way to go to ensure comfort and effective learning.

If your child’s interest is learning at home, home schooling will be the ultimate option. There are kids who go to school just to play and never study. If this is the case, bringing him to school will be useless and ineffective.

There is a fine balance with home schooling to ensure that your child has a relevant education alongside socializing and playing sports with other children. Home schooling allows you to impart values and teachings that you hold dear while adhering to the basic curriculum.

As long as your child has plenty of opportunity to mix with other children their age and you feel that you are adequately equipped to teach then home schooling can provide an effective alternative to sending your child to school.

Alison Palmer has an interest in Family & Children related topics. To find out how you can become successful at home schooling your child please visit this Home schooling related site.

I’ll always feel warmly about Conrad’s restaurant, in Glendale, California.

On the morning of the Northridge earthquake, Conrad’s was the only restaurant in town that opened for business, and stayed open until the last customer went home. (For the record, I had a jumbo burger with Swiss cheese, grilled onions, fries, and two chocolate shakes with lots of whipped cream and extra cherries on top.)

The line of hungry patrons shoe-laced down the block, but instead of being grumpy, everyone was smiling, happy to be alive, and bursting with their own quake stories to share with the strangers all around them.

What was truly extraordinary was the fact that Conrad’s did the ordinary, under exceptional circumstances. It opened for business-as-usual.

Undoubtedly, it had a skeleton crew, because freeways were damaged and closed, and some workers couldn’t make it in for their shifts. But enough servers and hosts were there for us, and this very fact exceeded, I’m sure, most people’s expectations.

Which of course, proves a point: You don’t have to provide “legendary” or “heroic” or otherwise spectacular service to succeed. You merely have to exceed people’s expectations as a way to consistently create customer satisfaction.

The problem is most companies do the opposite. They crow about how capable they are at providing top service, citing surveys that they have sponsored and often manipulated to appear better than they really are.

“Your call is important to us” is repeated incessantly on hold. Some service reps are even trained to ask one of the dumbest questions imaginable: “How can I provide you with exceptional service, today?”

In reality, most of us would be thrilled to replace this self-serving rhetoric with the basics. We really want service folks to:

Be there for us when we need them.

Be competent and well trained.

Be quick to address our problems and to solve them.

Be upbeat, and grateful for the opportunity to have our patronage, and

Be done!

To elevate our customers’ hopes, and then dash them, is utterly self-defeating. It reminds me of what I used to hear as a kid-athlete. It’s ok to boast, but you better be really, really good, in every single contest. Otherwise, the first time you screw-up, you’ll be razzed, relentlessly.

Moral: Be modest. Nice and humble does it every time.

If you’re modest, and simply competent, you’ll be appreciated and you’ll win customer loyalty.

That’s the secret to Conrad’s decades-long success.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman is a popular keynote speaker, consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books. He is the author of the Nightingale-Conant audio program, The Law Of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable. Gary teaches Entrepreneurship and Consulting at UCLA Extension, and he is President of Customersatisfaction.com and The Goodman Organization. He can be reached at gary@customersatisfaction.com.

Colorado divorce attorneys are noticing a rising trend. When it comes to divorce cases, more and more fathers are gaining primary custody of their children.

This is a change from previous years, when primary custody was typically awarded to the mother. Now, however, gender is no longer nearly as important a determining factor as it once was, according to the Arvada-based law firm of Hull & Zimmerman.

Rather, the overriding philosophy for the court is granting custody based on “the child’s best interest.” This has led to an emphasis on mediation and cooperation between the two parents.

In most Colorado divorce cases, one parent is granted “custodial” status and the other “visitation” status. The custodial parent is the primary caregiver, and the visitation parent typically has access to the children on weekends, alternate holidays and the like.

Which parent is awarded what status is now determined on a case-by-case basis, based on the opinion of psychologists, judges and other arbitrators.

Experts agree - when determining custody, it’s a good idea to have legal representation on your side. An attorney can help you navigate the complicated world of divorce law. He or she can help you protect your child, and obtain the sort of custody you think is proper.

Even if the divorce is amicable, it’s still a good idea to have an attorney on your side. And if the divorce is hostile - especially if one parent considers the other to be unfit - having an attorney on your side is invaluable.

A divorce can be very traumatic for a child. In order to ensure that your child is protected, it’s important to have qualified legal representation.

Whether it’s the rich, resonant tones of Richard Burton, the breathiness of Marilyn Monroe or the nasality of Fran Drescher, the sound of the voice conjures up an imagean impressionand can influence perception.

“You should think

of the sound of your

voice as inhaling the

words and letting them

reflect in the space

behind you. Vowels

shape the voice.

You inhale the

sounds rather than

projecting them.”

Len Cariou

Speakers know how to use the voice for effect but don’t always use the voice effectively. This can cause a variety of illnesses which can prevent speakers from doing what they do bestspeak.

One of the bigger problems for professional speakers is laryngopharyngeal reflux, an inflammation near the back part of the larynx due to acid rising to that point. Thirty-five million people in the United States have acid reflux.

“This inflammatory condition causes the vocal folds to function less efficiently leading to vocal fatigue and poor projection,” states Dr. Thomas Murry, clinical director, professor of speech pathology in otolaryngology at the Voice and Swallowing Center of Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Columbia University. Reflux is most common among speakers because so many speakers are on the go, stressed and may have poor diets. Being aware of the symptoms of reflux can help speakers take preventative steps to take care of the problem.

The big five symptoms are:

Vocal fatigue,

Lack of projection,

Hoarseness as the day wears on,

Throat clearing,

Increased phlegm in the throat

Noticing that you have some of the above symptoms is one step you can take to begin to alleviate the problem.

Preserving the Voice

To preserve the voice, don’t talk over noise or constantly clear your throat. Instead, Murry recommends the silent cough technique.

The silent cough technique is a way to clear the throat without violently banging the vocal folds together. The silent cough is done by breathing in air and blowing the air out fast through your throat and mouth without making a sound. Immediately after the silent cough, you should tuck your chin down toward your chest and make a strong swallow. The silent cough often clears mucous that clings to the vocal folds or near them. The silent cough is an important element of vocal hygiene and helps to prevent unnecessary trauma to the vocal folds. It is especially important to use the silent cough after surgery to the vocal folds.

If the symptoms of reflux continue, go to the doctor before the problem becomes severe.

Another common physical voice problem is vocal paresis, a weakness in one or both vocal muscles manifesting in breathiness or fatigue. Both folds must come together symmetrically to produce a clear, resonant voice. Vocal paresis can be caused by a flu or viral infection. When the nerve is inflamed, the condition can last for six months to a year, causing the speaker to change habits to adjust to the inflammation. A monotone may be an indicator of a minor defect or partial paralysis. Also, speakers who have difficulty projecting could have some vocal fold asymmetry. Tape yourself and listen to how you sound. Also, be aware if you find people asking you to talk louder. This may be an indication that you are suffering from vocal paresis.

Breathiness and Hoarseness

If you are part of a speakers circle, have one meeting dedicated to voice quality. Often what you think is normal may actually be an indication that something needs to be checked out. If you have women in the group, note if they speak in a breathy manner.

Women are more inclined to get polyps or nodules, which are growths that prevent complete closure of the vocal folds and create breathiness. “In females, the back part of the vocal folds never completely closes due to the way they are formed. So the female voice is always going to be a little bit more breathy than the male’s because of anatomy,” states Murry.

If you are suffering from breathiness, take action and get checked out. It is always better to be safe than sorry. The definition of the term “frustrated and feeling sorry for yourself is to wake up to find that you’re hoarse when you have a big speaking engagement.

When hoarseness is the problem, first determine that there is no hemorrhage. Then start a process of hydration and steam. Speakers should travel with a facial steamer. When staying in a dry hotel room, opera singers use them every hour for five minutes. Alternatively, you can make boiling water in your coffee pot, pour it into the ice bucket, and throw a towel over your head to reap the benefits of steam.

To avoid becoming hoarse, avoid alcohol, chocolate and caffeine before a speech. They will dehydrate the mucous membranes, causing hoarseness. Finally, after an all-day motivational program, get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. Before you climb into bed, toss out those mint chocolates on your pillow; they are a double whammy because the mint relaxes the lower esophagus and allows acid to come up.

Keeping the Voice Healthy

To keep the voice healthy, Renee Grant Williams, author of Voice Power (AMA-COM), recommends drinking eight glasses of water a day, avoiding dairy products and eating a balance of protein and carbohydrates. She also recommends practicing “safe speaking” by using disposable hand sanitizers to clean off telephone mouthpieces.

Your voice is a precision instrument that needs to be assessed regularly. If there is a change in your voice for two consecutive weeks or you experience excessive coughing, see an otolaryn-gologist who specializes in throats. When surgery won’t solve the problem and you have a weakness in the cords, or there is a pathology, you need a speech pathologist.

“Nobody should see a speech pathologist unless they’ve had a good strobo-scopic examination,” warns Murry. A video chip flexible stroboscope is a new technology used to examine the vocal folds. It takes pictures and slows down the motion of the vocal folds for better viewing and diagnosis. If the anatomy is healthy and you need to learn how to use your voice properly, see a voice coach.

To prepare for your presentation, you use your intellectual muscles. To maintain your physical health, you exercise your body’s muscles. To prepare to speak, you need to prepare your voice. “The most important thing to know,” cites Murry, “is that just like the legs and arms of a football player, the vocal folds are muscles that can get weak, injured and tired.”

Jeanette Lovetri, one of the world’s top specialists in training professional singers and founder of the Voice Workshop and Somatic Voicework, believes, “The more vocal fitness, the more the voice stands up to stress.”

The goal of working with a voice trainer is to get the instrument to have more efficient responses. Just as runners have physical trainers, speakers need voice coaches.

Murry recommends practicing the three Ps: Posture, Placement and Pitch.

Posture: Hips over the legs, shoulders down, jaw relaxed, tongue forward.

Placement: Your voice is coming out of the bell of your head and not from a little tube in the throat. Imagine the sound coming out of the end of a French horn and not out of the tubes of the horn.

Pitch: Experiment with different pitches to see which one brings out the best “ring” or resonance once you have the proper posture and placement.

Once you know where your speaking voice is, you can calibrate your voice with these five-minute warm-up exercises:

Breathing down low in the chest
Humming to match to the best quality possible
Lip trills
Tongue trills
Syllable drills (puh tuh kuh/ buh duhguh) to warm up tongue/jaw motion

For training the speaking voice, Lovetri recommends singing. “Professional singing is two to five times more demanding than professional speaking. It’s a very effective tool to shorten the amount of time it takes to develop the voice. Be sure that the instructor is working from a “physiologic place and not just from a musical place,” she cautions.

Lovetri shares, “The key to vocal fitness is good breathing and relaxed but dynamic use of body parts. Most people don’t breathe adequately. To project your voice, torque up your breath.”

Twila Thompson, director of The Actors Institute in New York, concurs. “The voice is created in the breathing, not in your throat.” She suggests that speakers, “Practice breathing into the belly, pushing it out like a balloon, holding it for five to 10 seconds, then letting air go out with a sound for five to 10 seconds.”

Another method she recommends for maximizing the voice on stage is “connecting with the audience and having an intention to reach them with every word you say.” Thompson advises, “What is your intention in giving the talk? Should they think differently, challenge something? Having that intention is more than 50 percent of the issue.”

Len Cariou, actor, singer and Broadway star of Sweeny Todd, shares how he maximizes his voice by exercising the lower extremities. He says, “By contracting the legs and buttocks, it focuses the tension in the lower body and frees the speaker to sustain the voice and speak freely.” Cariou says preparing the voice is also about articulation. “You should think of the sound of your voice as inhaling the words and letting them reflect in the space behind you. Vowels shape the voice. You inhale the sounds rather than projecting them. Good diction allows one to speak at any level of volume and be understood.”

RESOURCES:

www.voiceandswallowing.com

www.thevoiceworkshop.com

www.vasta.org

www.greatvoice.com

www.voicebank.net

www.tairesources.com

You don’t have to sound like James Earl Jones to have vocal impact. What is important, according to Susan Berkley, the famous voice of “Thank you for using AT&T” and author of Speak to Influence, is vocal transparency. “The voiceover artists who make millions of dollars pitching products on television and radio do not necessarily do so because of the quality of their voice, but because they know how to take the voice they have to enhance the message of the copy writer. I call this quality ‘vocal transparency.’” She explains, “To have vocal transparency, you must first have the best possible instrument you can, so there are no ’sticking points’ when people listen. Then, take the focus off yourself and place it squarely on the most important part of all: your message and your affectionate contact with the audience.”

Making a difference in the lives of your audience is done with your instrumentyour voice. With proper breathing, voice training and vocal hygiene, your voice will be strong, healthy and you’ll master true vocal power.

Diane DiResta is a New York State licensed and certified speech pathologist, speaker, coach and author of Knockout Presentations. Her company, DiResta Communications, Inc., works with organizations that want to communicate with greater impact in the marketplace and with individuals who want to communicate more clearly. Contact: http://www.diresta.com

Yachting as an activity, hobby or used as an industry instrument is extremely useful. There are also individual sailing & boating events which make it equally exciting and can be something that the total members of the family are capable to go and benefit from at the same time. One of the core weeks of the sailing calendar is the Skandia Cowes Regatta Week; this yachting event takes place annual & has been established since 1826 that makes it the longest running yachting event throughout the world. With more than 700 vessels & 7,000 opponents taking part, being monitored by well over eighty-thousand spectators every day Skandia Cowes week has achieved the status as one of the most important sailing corporate hospitality & public occurrence of the year.

The eight thousand five-hundred competitors encompass Commonwealth & world class expert sailors to recently qualified sailors. Still if you’re not contributing yourself, viewing the sailing, benefiting from the parties & live music, and to experience the unique feeling, makes it a one of a type yachting event.

With Ondeck Yachting, 2008 begins the opening of their brand new Regatta Division. Strengthen on their outstanding position within the yachting and sailing charter marketplace, this has seen Ondeck Yachting School, run several high-quality regattas for companies, they have just joined up with Britannia Sailing Events the principal organisers of industry events within the United Kingdom.

The track of the race itself will vary each day as features like that of the weather conditions, tidal surges and relative swiftness of each series of powerboat is taken into consideration. A ordinary Skandia Cowes Sailing Event has over thirty five commences a day for competitors of cruiser racers, one designs & keelboats; ending with over eight thundered powerboats. At some point in this period the Solent which is a significantly busy industrial channel, is chock-a-block with sailing boats of all sorts and is principally bright as a result of the boats spinnakers. As cited before as well as the yachting races the week contains a large number of onshore events like that of live comedy and cocktail parties. From private or commercial residential parties and nominally private sailing associations and boats, there are huge marquees set-up in the docks providing canapés & wine. Check out Ondeck’s website for the all the latest info on the 2008 Cowes Regatta.