Monday 30 June 2008

Leisure Audio Books Reviewed

Leisure Audio books (LAB) is recently launched affiliate program that allows you to promote a wide range of downloadable Audio books from an online store of over 6000 titles, including business, self help, fiction, health and more.

You can sign up for a Leisure Audio Books account for free by visiting http://108492.leisureaudiosales.com Once you have created an account, Leisure Audio books will provide you with a link which you can use to send people to your own audio bookstore for a 15% commission on all sales.

If you aren't familiar with this new affiliate program, which was launched in June 2007, read on to get all your questions about Leisure Audio books answered.

What type of products can I promote with Leisure Audio Books?

As the name suggests, the Leisure Audio Books affiliate program allows you to promote a huge range of downloadable audio books in MP3 or WMA format. Categories include arts & drama, biography, business, crimes & thrillers, fiction, foreign language study, health & recreation, history, humor, juvenile, radio shows, religion & spiritual, self help and TV & Film.

How much do I get paid?

As a free Silver member you can earn 15% commission on Audio book sales. Upgrade to a Gold or Platinmum Member and that commission increases to 20% and 25% respectively. You can also promote the business opportunity and receive recurring commission on any members who upgrade to Gold or Platinum levels. The commission percentage on membership upgrades are 15% for Silver members, 25% for Gold members and 50% for Platinum members.

How am I paid?

Leisure Audio Books will pay any commissions due to you by Paypal in the first week of every month. If Paypal is not suitable for you there is the alternative of being paid by check for an administration fee.

How much is it to join?

It is free to join as a Silver member earning 15% commission. If you wish to upgrade to a Gold or Platinum level it is $12.95 per month for Gold and $24.95 per month for Platinum. Discounts are available when you first join or if you pay annually

Do I need my own website?

Having your own website is always an advantage, as with any affiliate program, but it is still possible to join Leisure Audio Books if you don't have a website. You could promote it on your blog, or advertise your affiliate link in your email signature, use classified or pay per click advertising or even tell your family and friends about your store.

What help & training is available for affiliates?

The Leisure Audio books back office has an impressive range of tools to help affiliates. There is an extensive faq, a promotional page with lots of suggestions on how to promote Leisure Audio books incuding sample emails, banners, business card templates, classified ads, squeeze pages, splash pages and more. There is also a section on "Getting Started" explaining exactly what you need to do to promote Leisure Audio books. If you want to promote specific areas of the store e.g. business audios only or self help audios only you can easily generate links for these areas, as well as graphical and non graphical links to specific products. Overall I was very impressed with the Leisure Audio Books back office. There is a lot helpful material there for affiliates.

How do I Sign Up?

You can signup to Leisure Audio Books from this link http://108492.leisureaudiosales.com

http://www.isnare.com/?aid=167334&ca=Entertainment

Saturday 28 June 2008

Plan For A Life Of Entitled Leisure

The transitions from employment to retirement can seem daunting; exposing many personal, social, domestic and financial uncertainties.

As a social institution, retirement implies the regulation of older workers’ withdrawal from the work force. As an experience, it refers to a multitude of life changes brought about by the decision to stop working.

The picture of retirement is changing dramatically. The process is radically different from that of our parents and grandparents short, and perhaps not so sweet, experience.

The traditional vision of retirement in our grandparent’s era was typically viewed as “an inevitable event,” around the age of 65, when one went abruptly from full employment to full non-employment. Work was predominantly physical, the body simply wore out, and retirement was usually a period of idleness, and in some cases declining health. It was a short period that began when they couldn’t work anymore, and ended when they died. The key to retirement during this era was simple: plan prudently and live frugally to ensure financial survival.

The twenty-first century version of retirement is rather different. We leave the workplace earlier; leave it part-time; leave later; leave and then return OR we follow the traditional model, and leave the workplace entirely in our mid-sixties. We are no longer required to pay attention to the demands of paid work; retirement is viewed as a long period of “entitled leisure.”

One reason that there has been a change in retirement is the increase in longevity, and an overall improvement in health.

There are two important variables to consider in regards to retirement, and the quality of a retired life; health and finances. With these in a positive place, retirement can be a valuable and enjoyable time of life. However, without the luxury of financial freedom, or good health, life might prove to be extremely burdensome.

The tragic demise of the United States’ social security system bodes poorly for those individuals who have not done well saving for their financial future, and the looming years of retirement.

Retirement Planning is a question of when to stop working, and how to spend one’s resources wisely; the way in which money is spent and saved will determine the retirement experience.

So make sure you spend some time preparing for the years after you leave the workforce. It could mean the difference between living a happy, fulfilling, exciting life versus a difficult, bitter, draconian one!

Have an opinion or a question you would like me to answer; write to me! http://www.CarlHampton.com

“Your” Money Matters by Carl Hampton
From the Author of “From Credit Despair To Credit Millionaire.”

http://www.isnare.com/?aid=136758&ca=Advice

Rocking Chairs: A Legacy Of Leisure

Rocking chairs are a common item we associate with mothers, gently rocking their babies to sleep. We also associate them with the elderly, leisurely enjoying the early morning or the sunset on their porch. Most rocking chairs are made with fine woods, and last for centuries. Rocking chairs are common family heirlooms.

Rocking chairs have become very common. They come in a variety of styles and designs. Some of them are painted and others have only the natural wood finish. You will find them for young children, backyard lawn furniture, elegant front porch features, and still used in nurseries for quiet times with your baby.

The older models of rocking chairs featured very high backs and thin slats. They were hand carved from quality wood. Antique rocking chairs are worth a great deal of money. The Gungstol and the Windsor were both introduced in the 1700’s, today they are worth thousands of dollars depending on the shape they are in as well as the type of materials used.

The early 1800’s saw the introduction of rocking chairs that didn’t have arms. They were well received by people who found them much easier to get in and out of. It was also easier to share the rocking chair with someone else. However, many people loved the first design, so the arm rocking chairs continued to be manufactured as well. Around the 1840’s, rocking chairs began being made with machines rather than by hand. The Salem rocking chair was introduced at this time, featuring a lower back.

Wicker rocking chairs were introduced in the 1860’s. They were cheaper than wooden rocking chairs, but they weren’t nearly as durable. They did sell well though because the wicker could be twisted into a variety of designs. One of the most valuable wicker rocking chairs from this era features an American flag that was weaved into the design on the back of the chair.

We have seen many varieties of rocking chairs through the years, and they are still well loved by people of all ages. You can purchase them at retail stores, furniture stores, and get them passed down to you from family members. Some manufacturers specialize in making custom, handmade rocking chairs. You can find out about them on the internet.

http://www.isnare.com/?aid=124172&ca=Family+Concerns

Friday 27 June 2008

Leisure Bicycle Tours Are The Way To Travel

any companies offer leisure cycling tours to locations around the world. This article summarizes how you should prepare for your trip.

There are many ways to enjoy travel in a foreign country. Most people think of renting cars, or taking buses or trains everywhere. But because people are following a different routine and are on vacation - they do tend to pack on the pounds. The way to ensure that you will not need to go on a diet after you return from your vacation is to go on a cycling tour. You'll be able to sample the local cuisine all you like, because you'll work off all those calories on your bike!

Cycling tours are offered for every level of bicyclist - from the beginner who might need a "pick up ride" after a while, to the experienced cyclist who can zoom up the hills as if they were weren't there.

Most European countries are extremely bike friendly. Bikes are expected to be on the roads, drivers are familiar with them and give them a wide berth. So it's very safe to bike in Europe. A lot of places in the United States seem to resent the very existence of bicycles, which is why it's always best to go on a cycling tour with like-minded people. You'll be biking through areas that are used to seeing cyclists.

Leisure cycling tours are designed for all different kinds of terrain - from flat and peaceful rides through the beauties of nature to the fitness challenging of the steepest of mountains.

If you'd like to go on a leisure cycling tour, the place to do your research is on the web.

When you're looking for a particular tour, you'll want to compare all the available amenities for each tour.

1) Accommodations. Are you going to be staying in hotels, or in campgrounds?

2) Are meals included? If so, which ones?

3) Will there be free refreshment stops each day?

4) If the tour passes by anything of historical interest, are riders given an opportunity to go look at any sites of interest?

5) Baggage transport. Who handles the luggage?

6) Is their a sag wagon? (This is a car or other vehicle which will come and "rescue" a tired rider or one who has had an accident of any kind.)

7) Do riders receive daily maps and cue sheets that are easy to read and follow?

8) In the evenings, is there someone around to clean your bikes, or is it up to each cyclist?

Depending on the state or country through which you're riding, most of these amenities are offered, unless you're on a budget tour. If you're going budget, it's best to be a very experienced cyclist and already know what you're doing.

Bicycling is a very popular way to see Europe. There are self-guided bike tours as well as the tours offered by companies. It's important to check out what kind of bikes they offer to ride, however. You'll want the best quality available.

Types of Tours

WomanTours is a company that focuses solely on offering bike tours for women. Most of the tours offered by this company take place in the United States, but at least once a year they do offer a tour overseas. You can go on an economy cycle tours of Hawaii, cycle through the Outer Banks of North Carolina, experience the majesty of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and much more. Their website even has a tour blog so you can see the fun that past cyclists have had on their tours.

Some of the major bicycle manufactures have a travel and adventure arm for their customers. For example, Trek Bikes has "Trek Travel." They offer six trip types: classic, explorer, family, family explorer, specialty and weekend tours, in destinations such as Asia-Pacific, Central America, Europe, and North America.

The "classic" tours are designed for riders of all abilities. The "explorer" trips put less of an emphasis on luxury - you'll be camping out in national parks, for example. Family trips are designed to have activities available for people of all ages. And Trek's specialty trips include being escorted by professional cyclists - for example "Classic Climbs of France with Kevin Livingston," or "Texas with Lance Armstrong."

If you're planning on taking a leisure-cycling tour, you must do your research. Find out how long the tour company has been in business, and try to contact some people who've been on those tours so you can find out if anyone had any bad experiences. It's always a good idea to contact the Better Business Bureau to see if anyone has lodged any complaints against them

A leisure-cycling tour is one of the best ways to see a particular region. The more you know and the more preparations you make, the more fun you'll have on your trip.

http://www.isnare.com/?aid=110946&ca=Travel

Is Leisure Associated With Travel Agency?

ravel agencies are the travel specialists which have revolutionized the world of traveling, add the flavor of leisure and comfort to it. They join hands with airlines, tour companies, hotels along with cruise lines so as to give door step services to the customers like hotel stays, transportation, tours, car rentals making traveling a more enjoyable, convenient and affordable event on passengers part.

These agencies cover every ambit of customers from tourists going for leisure time, to business travelers to commercial travelers, and in case of international travels provide information regarding passports, exchange rates of currency and visas. All the facilities like food, destination management, insurance, trade fair, air travel tickets etc are arranged in different packages catering to the needs of different kinds of customers.

They also inform their customers regarding tourist attractions, weather conditions, restaurants and other necessary details. These travel experts give full attention to the requirements of their customers and get in bonus loyal customers as these people hire them to seek services. They count upon them to make their traveling a hassle free experience!

Plans a remarkable outing!

A renowned travel agency outlines the trip bringing a vast array of exciting and innovative offers in the form of packages to the passengers that they can really relish and cherish from, because they understand everything about level of customer satisfaction. They assure to be always there to assist their customers during the trip, taking care of their needs and after the trip so that everything goes smoothly.

They truly act as mother looking after them and become happy when they find that they have a good time with the services they provide. Good Travel agents access all types of information and knowledge about the places that can be traveled and are in demand giving a wider choice to customers to choose from.

They prove to be the best insiders who give worthy travel tips of every sort ranging from family travels to business travels, air travels to packing and these tips immensely help to visit the city or country with great pleasure and convenience. As everything from budgets to bookings of everything are already fixed before going, so when we actually visit that place, we are free to enjoy without giving a single thought to any complication!

Pay less with a travel agent!

The amount of money paid is the quantum of comfort received because all the packages are planned keeping in mind different estimated costs so that one has a wide range to select from the options available.

But it holds true that they bring out the most reasonable costs to be incurred as they book everything from airline tickets to hotel rooms to tour guides in bulk which enables them to get good and heavy discounts from all these companies, and they pass on many of the benefits to the customers which is an added advantage.

So when going for a holiday then don’t forget to hire a travel agent to seek great services!

http://www.isnare.com/?aid=233030&ca=Travel

Thursday 26 June 2008

Organize For More Leisure

Who has not had their time and energy consumed by an organization or club? Let’s face it; many organizations are geared toward consuming every available hour that a person has to offer. Many organizations I encounter, from churches/religious groups, to charitable organizations, to volunteer groups, to clubs, most are kept running by a small number of persons who are extremely committed to the cause, and who work tirelessly to keep it going.

Observe most of the groups to which you belong and you discover a handful of people doing most of the work that keep the wheels turning. In the occasional sports club or leisure group I have been involved, it was one or no more than two people who kept the group corralled. If asked why members of the total group don't participate in the administration of the club, there unanimity: "I don't have time for the meetings."

What a delight it is to discover other models of doing business, to discover organizations that are designed for full involvement, but not consumption of its members.

This kind of organization is light on meetings and heavy on team delegation. Every once in awhile I come across this kind of group and there are keys to their effectiveness:

Lots of emphasis on team and small group responsibility- These groups put motivated people in charge of a task, give them support, and get out of the way. It makes for fewer meetings, and often more gets done. Small groups of three to four people tackling a specific task will almost always bring better results than a whole board or committee dealing with the issue.

Emphasize future programs and coming events vs. past happenings- Effective groups spend more time on planning the future, and less dissecting the past. There is always the need to evaluate, but the reason for evaluation is an improved future. Give me an organization focused on the future, and I will show you one that has great potential.

Do as much work by phone/email as possible- Many meetings can be pre-empted by the exchange of emails or phone call and coming to a group consensus without ever scheduling a time and place. Take advantage.

Set meeting end times and stick to them- It is amazing what can get done in a short amount of time when there is an expectation of an end time for a meeting.

Practice humor and joy as a part of meeting times- When you have to meet face to face, a meeting should be led with a sense of humor and with a light touch. People will come back to a joyful experience.

See if these hints might lead to more leisure in your life.

http://www.isnare.com/?aid=10080&ca=Business+Management

Workaholism, Leisure and Pleasure

The official working week is being reduced to 35 hours a week. In most countries in the world, it is limited to 45 hours a week. The trend during the last century seems to be unequivocal: less work, more play.

Yet, what may be true for blue collar workers or state employees – is not necessarily so for white collar members of the liberal professions. It is not rare for these people – lawyers, accountants, consultants, managers, academics – to put in 80 hour weeks. The phenomenon is so widespread and its social consequences so damaging that it acquired the unflattering nickname workaholism, a combination of the words "work" and "alcoholism". Family life is disrupted, intellectual horizons narrow, the consequences to the workaholic's health are severe: fat, lack of exercise, stress take their toll. Classified as "alpha" types, workaholics suffer three times as many heart attacks as their peers.

But what are the social and economic roots of this phenomenon?

Put succinctly, it is the result of the blurring borders and differences between work and leisure. The distinction between these two types of time – the one dedicated to labour and the one spent in the pursuit of one's interests – was so clear for thousands of years that its gradual disappearance is one of the most important and profound social changes in human history.

A host of other shifts in the character of the work and domestic environments of humans converged to produce this momentous change.

Arguably the most important was the increase in labour mobility and the fluid nature of the very concept of work and the workplace. The transitions from agricultural to industrial, then to the services and now to the information and knowledge societies, each, in turn, increased the mobility of the workforce. A farmer is the least mobile. His means of production are fixed, his produce was mostly consumed locally because of lack of proper refrigeration, preservation and transportation methods. A marginal group of people became nomad-traders. This group exploded in size with the advent of the industrial revolution. True, the bulk of the workforce was still immobile and affixed to the production floor. But raw materials and the finished products travelled long distances to faraway markets. Professional services were needed and the professional manager, the lawyer, the accountant, the consultant, the trader, the broker – all emerged as both the parasites of the production processes and the indispensable oil on its cogs.

Then came the services industry. Its protagonists were no longer geographically dependent. They rendered their services to a host of "employers" in a variety of ways and geographically spread. This trend accelerated today, at the beginning of the information and knowledge revolution. Knowledge is not locale-bound. It is easily transferable across boundaries. Its ephemeral quality gives it a-temporal and non-spatial qualities. The location of the participants in the economic interactions of this new age are geographically transparent.

These trends converged with an increase of mobility of people, goods and data (voice, visual, textual and other). The twin revolutions of transportation and of telecommunications really reduced the world to a global village. Phenomena like commuting to work and multinationals were first made possible. Facsimile messages, electronic mail, other modem data transfers, the Internet broke not only physical barriers – but also temporal ones. Today, virtual offices are not only spatially virtual – but also temporally so. This means that workers can collaborate not only across continents but also across time zones. They can leave their work for someone else to continue in an electronic mailbox, for instance.

These last technological advances precipitated the fragmentation of the very concepts of "work" and "workplace". No longer the three Aristotelian dramatic unities. Work could be carried out in different places, not simultaneously, by workers who worked part time whenever it suited them best, Flexitime and work from home replaced commuting as the preferred venue (much moreso in the Anglo-Saxon countries, but they have always been the pioneering harbingers of change). This fitted squarely into the social fragmentation which characterizes today's world: the disintegration of previously cohesive social structures, such as the nuclear (not to mention the extended) family. This was all neatly wrapped in the ideology of individualism which was presented as a private case of capitalism and liberalism. People were encouraged to feel and behave as distinct, autonomous units. The perception of individuals as islands replaced the former perception of humans as cells in an organism.

This trend was coupled with – and enhanced by – the unprecedented successive annual rises in productivity and increases in world trade. These trends were brought about by new management techniques, new production technology, innovative inventory control methods, automatization, robotization, plant modernization, telecommunications (which facilitates more efficient transfers of information), even new design concepts. But productivity gains made humans redundant. No amount of retraining could cope with the incredible rate of technological change. he more technologically advanced the country – the higher its structural unemployment (attributable to changes in the very structure of the market) went.

In Western Europe, it shot up from 5-6% of the workforce to 9% in one decade. One way to manage this flood of ejected humans was to cut the workweek. Another was to support a large population of unemployed. The third, more tacit, way was to legitimize leisure time. Whereas the Jewish and Protestant work ethics condemned idleness in the past – they now started encouraging people to "self fulfil", pursue habits and non-work related interests and express the whole of their personality.

This served to blur the historical differences between work and leisure. They were both commended now by the mores of our time. Work became less and less structured and rigid – formerly, the main feature of leisure time. Work could be pursued – and to an ever growing extent, was pursued – from home. The territorial separation between "work-place" and "home turf" was essentially eliminated. The emotional leap was only a question of time. Historically, people went to work because they had to – and all the rest was designated "pleasure". Now, both were pleasure – or torture – or mixture. Some people began to enjoy their work so much that it fulfilled for them the functions normally reserved to leisure time. They are the workaholics. Others continued to hate work – but felt disoriented in the new, leisure enriched environment. They were not qualified or trained to deal with excess time, lack of framework, no clear instructions what to do, when, with whom and to what.

Socialization processes and socialization agents (the State, parents, educators, employers) were not geared – nor did they regard it as being their responsibility – to train the populace to cope with free time and with the baffling and dazzling variety of options.

Economies and markets can be classified using many criteria. Not the least of them is the work-leisure axis. Those societies and economies that maintain the old distinction between (hated) work and (liberating) leisure – are doomed to perish or, at best, radically lag behind. This is because they will not have developed a class of workaholics big enough to move the economy ahead.

And this is the Big Lesson: it takes workaholics to create, maintain and expand capitalism. As opposed to common beliefs (held by the uninitiated) – people, mostly, do not engage in business because they are looking for money (the classic profit motive). They do what they do because they like the Game of Business, its twists and turns, the brainstorming, the battle of brains, subjugating markets, the ups and downs, the excitement. All this has nothing to do with pure money. It has everything to do with psychology. True, the meter by which success is measured in the world of money is money – but very fast it is transformed into an abstract meter, akin to the monopoly money. It is a symbol of shrewdness, wit, foresight and insight.

Workaholics identify business with pleasure. They are the embodiment of the pleasure principle. They make up the class of the entrepreneurs, the managers, the businessmen. They are the movers, the shakers, the pushers, the energy. Without them, we have socialist economies, where everything belongs to everyone and, actually to none. In these economies of "collective ownership" people go to work because they have to, they try to avoid it, to sabotage the workplace, they harbour negative feelings. Slowly, they wither and die (professionally) – because no one can live long in hatred and deceit. Joy is an essential ingredient.

And this is the true meaning of capitalism: the abolition of work and leisure and the pursuit of both with the same zeal and satisfaction. Above all, the (increasing) liberty to do it whenever, wherever, with whomever you choose. Unless and until the Homo East Europeansis changes his set of mind – there will be no real transition. Because transition happens in the human mind much before it takes form in reality. It is no use to dictate, to legislate, to finance, to cajole, to offer – the human being must change first. It was Marx (a devout non-capitalist) who said: it is consciousness that determines reality. How right was he. Witness the USA and witness the miserable failure of communism.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_57.shtml

Wednesday 25 June 2008

Businesses - Leisurely Dining Or Fast Food

It occurred to me the other day, that so many people today liken their businesses to the way they eat - fast. Think about it. All over the web we are inundated with... make $1000's of dollars a day, make $10,000 a month, make a million by the end of the year. Everyone is looking for the magic formula or the magic bullet to get rich quick...fast. They want their business to succeed in the time it takes to get their hamburger or chicken sandwich. No wait, no delay of gratification. I want it now, and I want it without having to work at it. I want to sit back and rake in the dollars, my way.

Those of us who have been on the web for the past six years, realize that just like the businesses we ran off the web, a web business takes time to grow. It is not fast food, but instead like an five course dinner. We start with the drink, the business idea, then go to the appetizer, the business name, mission statement and business plan, then the first course, formalized plan, the second course, the strategies to market our business, the main course, the everyday running of the business, and then comes the dessert, the moneys, we so richly deserve.

We know that it takes time to digest, and we have to go through several courses to get to the dessert. The dessert does not come first. One course builds upon the other, till you get to the end, however, this also allows us to savor our success. Going through the courses also allows us to take a good long look at things, so if we need to add a piece or entrée (make small or big adjustments), we can do so immediately.

If you want to run a successful business on or off the web, remember your business is not fast food, but rather a nice long leisurely meal. Take the time to digest it, and savor it over several courses, and your just desserts will be realized in the end, but the dessert does not come first.

Copyright 2001, DeFiore Enterprises.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_131.shtml

Retirement and Leisure Living: Historic New Kent County Virginia

Imagine New Kent County, Virginia, a quiet rural area located between Richmond and Williamsburg Virginia, as a place for retirement…

New Kent County’s rural scenery and serenity coupled with its proximity to Richmond and another historic town, Williamsburg, make it perfectly situated for retirement. New Kent County is also the home of Martha Washington, wife of George Washington and one of our founding mothers. There are many notable historic sites in New Kent County to visit, and one of the oldest Native American reservations, inhabited by the Mattaponi, is located here. Keep reading, because there are other attractions that make New Kent County a perfect choice for retirement in Virginia, too.

Brickshire Golf Community

In Retirement magazine readers voted Brickshire Golf Community as the best place to retire. It has all of the amenities retirees have come to expect from an exclusive community. The Brickshire features an 18 hole Curtis Strange Signature Golf Course. Retire to the Brickshire in Virginia and enjoy the Owners' Clubhouse and fitness center with a swimming and tennis complex, miles of walking trails and direct access to an Equestrian Center. With home sites that begin in the 60s, the Brickshire is a great deal for pre-retirement buyers and retirees alike.

Colonial Downs Racetrack

For the horse racing enthusiast, New Kent County is home to Colonial Downs Racetrack, a significant contributor to the 1 billion dollar horse industry in Virginia. This contemporary complex offers luxurious sky seating to groups and box and field seating to race enthusiasts. The extended Thoroughbred racing season now runs from mid-June through August. Harness racing is open for wagering from September through November.

Martha Washington’s Home and Other Historical Sites

New Kent County is upriver from Jamestown Island, the first permanent English settlement dating to 1607. The original town site is now a part of southern Williamsburg. New Kent was part of Charles River County, one of the 8 original shires the colony of Virginia was divided into in 1634. St. Peter's Church at Talleysville was established in 1678 and built in 1701. Martha Dandridge Custis – later Martha Washington – worshipped here and lived at the white house on the Pamunky River. The roads leading from New Kent to Richmond are some of the oldest in the United States. French, British, Revolutionary, Confederate and Union armies have marched over them en route or returning from battle. Providence Forge was one of the earliest settlements. It was the site of a colonial forge that was destroyed by Banister Tarleton in the Revolutionary War. The forge was forgotten until it was unexpectedly uncovered by a flood in 1868.

Easy Commute Between Newport News & Richmond

New Kent County is 212 square miles and is bounded to the north by the Pamunkey and York Rivers, and the Chicahominy River to the south. It is only 15 miles to downtown Richmond, and 45 miles to Newport News.

Native American Heritage in New Kent County

New Kent County was also home to two Native American tribes: the Pamunky and Mattaponi. Both have reservations in the New Kent County area, and during festivals are open to the public. The Mattaponi Indian Reservation was created from land which belonged to the tribe by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1658, and is one of the oldest reservations in the country. The Chicahominy tribe also inhabited the New Kent County area at one time, and the nearby Chicahominy River still bears their name.

Rural Area Rich in Agriculture

Yet this agriculturally rich area of Virginia remains true to its colonial heritage, with farming as a way of life.

According to www.newkent.net:

“New Kent has 64 farms and 16,392 acres of farmland. Nearly 30 residents call farming their principal occupation. Half of the farms have cattle, and a few have laying hens.

In addition, the County had 3,329 acres of corn, 2,919 acres of wheat, 5,041 acres of soybeans and 578 acres of hay in 1997, according to the most recent government statistics.”

A Mix of Rural Serenity and Urban Convenience

For those who wish to retire in Virginia, New Kent County can provide the right mix of peace and quiet and urban convenience to keep life interesting. With working farms in the surrounding area, a pleasant slow paced environment permeates the area. Bounded by scenic borders such as the Chicahominy, York and Pamunkey Rivers, New Kent is a place of natural beauty. Scattered along the river are authentic and replicated colonial plantation homes that testify to New Kent County’s enduring quality of attractiveness to the colonial settler and the modern day retiree.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_2591.shtml

Tuesday 24 June 2008

Business or Leisure – Make Sure You Get the Best Stay

“Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belt. We are about to land in a moment...” Well, you might think that you have reached your destination. But not necessarily the end of the journey. In fact, when you hop around places for business or leisure, there are plenty of reasons to worry about. Your stay being one of the main reasons. The moment you step out from an airport, the same reason always bothers you with never-ending questions. Where to stay? Where is it located? What is the price? After all, the entire experience of your trip counts on how good or bad your stay was. However, it doesn’t mean that you have no clue of what you are up to or where you are heading. But it’s about how precise you are in planning.

As this world is an amalgamation of various caste, culture, and creed… leading to many ways of life, you are bound to see different things the moment you land in a different territory. Of course, it is the reason that makes your journey always interesting – meeting new people, seeing new places, learning new culture, experiencing new cuisine, etc… Interesting, but definitely not at the cost of your comfort. Because you too have your own definition of life. And, what can be better than seeing the different colours of life, at your own comfort.

Leisure Travel

Nothing is as relaxing as going for a vacation. After all that hard work, you need to unwind yourself at least once in a year. Taking some time out from a boring monotonous chore is truly worth all the hard work. Or what is life without some special moments with friends, family or loved ones. About the backdrop, you can choose from what the world has in store for you. Come back to where you belong, awaken your senses with the magical touch of nature. Pump up your adrenaline with some wild adventures. Stay at the top amidst skyscrapers touching the sky. Indulge yourself with some non-stop entertainment, shopping, or just wonder around places…

Business Travel

Business travel is not like a vacation. Though, it might involve exotic locales, a variety of cultures and customs… travelling on business can be tiring and stressful, whether you go abroad for a meeting with a client or supplier. And you might be happier staying home until you get a stay no less than the comfort of your home.

So next time when you are heading for another business trip or leisure travel; follow these few tips to make sure that you have the best of time.

Study about the place

Before starting your journey, it always helps to have a good knowledge about the place you are going. A little research will definitely make a big difference. And of course, it surely will impress your client if at business trip.

Decide on your stay

Perhaps, it is the most important part of any travel. If you don’t decide well in advance, you might end up not wanting to remember about the trip ever again in life. In most part of the world, you will find plenty of crooks waiting to take you for a ride. To avoid all these annoying experience, plan your stay very precisely and most important of all use a large company with a good reputation for you booking needs. There are websites that may assist you in your quest of finding such companies by means of extensive visitor reviews who have rated companies on the basis of their own experience with them (e.g. www.reviewcentre.com, www.kelkoo.com or www.discount-search.com). Always book your hotel in advance. Make sure the hotel is strategically located. Check if the hotel fits your budget, without compromising on your comfort. Check where you will get the cuisine of your choice. But always try new cuisine (local), it might turn out to be quite an experience for your taste buds.

Shopping and entertainment

Business travel not necessarily has to be always boring. It all depends on how you manage your time. Once you sort out your busy schedules, you’ll definitely find some time out. But since you’ll have very less time, it’s always better to know where to shop or to go for some entertainment. And if you are on vacation, just stretch yourself and don’t rush, take your own time. But you should be aware of what is special or unique that you can take home. Don’t make the mistake of buying something that has been exported from your own country.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/travel_and_leisure/article_540.shtml

Hotel Reservation Options in New York for Business Travel or Leisure

It's a big island; we're talking Manhattan, the most vibrant of the 5 districts that make up the hustle and bustle of New York City. For many it's home and for many more it's a place you simply must visit. Whether it's necessary for business travel or just for the pleasure, it's a popular destination and one that must definitely be experienced.

Finding the right hotel in Manhattan can be challenging given the sheer number of options. The island hosts everything from 3 star hotels up to some of the greatest 5 star hotels in the world. For business travelers you may be in a position to afford to stay at one of the many 5 star hotels such as the magnificent Waldorf Astoria,The Plaza or one of the Ritz Carlton hotels situated around the park. There are many 5 star hotels all of which have world-class facilities such as ballrooms, conference rooms and special venues. Most of these are available to be booked, which will be sure to impress your clients or associates if you choose to utilize them on you stay in New York.

When staying in New York as part of you vacation, you'll find any number of great hotels to stay at both 5 star hotels if you can afford, or discount hotels. The important factor to consider when choosing your hotel reservation, is what your purpose is when you are visiting Manhattan. If you want to be close to the heart of the action which is the Times Square area and theatre district, you will want to choose a hotel that is close and convenient while still in your price range. In midtown Manhattan is the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, which on 7 th avenue makes it within walking distance of all the bright lights and action. It is also not too far to central park for a relaxing day out.

There are many Brilliant Hotels in New York and hotel reservation is easy whether for business travel or vacation travel, premiere and discount hotel bookings can be easily be done on the web through many trusted providers.

So go and enjoy it, because it's one of the world's great cities.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/travel_and_leisure/article_1998.shtml

Monday 23 June 2008

Leisure Kingdom Trampoline: What You Need to Know

You've decided that you're going to buy a trampoline. But which one? No doubt if you've started searching the web, you've come across many different styles and brands. In some respects the final decision will come down to the space you have available and your budget, it is still worthwhile reading up on all the different options available to you.

If you have started to do some searching you've no doubt come across the brand Leisure Kingdom. They make other products too (like bounce houses, inflatables, luggage and garden furniture) but are best known for their range of US made trampolines.

With the advent of many trampoline exercise programs and the marketing of trampolines to kids becoming more and more prevalent, it is important to select a trampoline that is safe and reliable while still maintaining the important "fun" factor that is at the centerpiece of the trampoline experience. The Leisure Kingdom trampoline offers a great, safe product that will help bring your family together in a fun and exciting way, maintaining good health and safety all in one giant bounce.

Product Features

In order to be familiar with the Leisure Kingdom trampoline and the possibilities that it gives your family, you need to be familiar with the specifics of purchasing one of these well constructed trampolines. The Leisure Kingdom range is available online at either a product specific site like trampolineUSA.com or a more general sites like Amazon.com and Nextag.com. These sites offer excellent service and great packages of information on the Leisure Kingdom product as well as other competitors' products so that you can compare the trampoline and services of different companies.

When it comes to a Leisure Kingdom trampoline you have two options - round or rectangular. Your selection will come down to personal preference and the amount of space you have available. The rectangular item is a standard size while the round trampoline comes in a number of different diameters from a small 3' rebounder to a full size 15' version.

Leisure Kingdom takes safety seriously and has Primary Keyword A available for all shapes and sizes of trampolines. But like anything, the greatest deterrent to injury is supervision and proper use. Be sure to follow all of the guidelines imposed by the safety regulatory body in your area and ensure that you use your Leisure Kingdom trampoline with the greatest of care to prevent serious harm.

Leisure Kingdom trampolines, being US made , are well constructed items with galvanised steel frames to protect them from rain damage.

One way that you can extend the longevity of your trampoline is by purchasing a trampoline cover to fit securely over the top when it is not in use which protects it from the damaging effects of the sun and rain. Leisure Kingdom covers are available for the 12' or 14' round variety. A cover will also prevent leaves and other garden extras from gathering on the surface and you could also use it to send a clear message to all potential jumpers when the trampoline is not available to be used.

As much fun as it is enjoying your trampoline in summer, you need to make sure that you don't neglect your trampoline over the winter months. If the area where you live is prone to snow then you might want to think about taking the trampoline apart and storing the components inside. Or at the very least standing it securely on its side so that snow doesn't accumulate on the top and weigh down and stretch the springs.

Whether you decide to choose a Leisure Kingdom trampoline or another brand, I'm sure that you won't be disappointed in your decision to make regular bouncing a part of your family's life.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/family/article_2065.shtml

A Magnificent Place of Leisure - Florida Key Vacation Rental

If you are planning for tropical vacation then Florida key is the perfect choice for holiday. Florida key can be considered as America Caribbean and similar to other island with all the amenities such as fishing, diving, sailing, kayaking and much more than this. The key places to visit in Florida Key are Key Largo, which offers finest diving and snorkeling. Another key place is marathon key, which is regarded as the heart of the Florida key. And, it will be absolutely right to say it as a “tropical paradise”. An affordable way to feel the tropical paradise is only possible when you accommodate in Florida key vacation rental while holidaying there.

Usually, Florida key offers various other places to accommodate such as hotel, motels but accommodating at Florida vacation rental is always preferred. As through Florida key vacation rental you can save an amount of money as they are cheaper as compared to other places of accommodation.

Not only, they are cheaper but they are also preferred just of the comfort level which it offers. In other words it perfectly gives an environment of home at the holidaying destination. It let you feel as if you are relaxing in your home town. It provides all the amenities which are served at home that is, television, music, kitchen, living room, dining room etc. And, if comparison is made between Florida key vacation rental and any hotel then you will surely find that vacation rentals are more spacious, comfortable and cheaper.

You can choose from any form of Florida key vacation rental that is from condos, villas, cottages, bungalows, apartments. The rates of all the form varies as per their size and location. The number of people who will reside at Florida vacation rental also matters, while determining the rates.

Florida key vacation rental can be booked either from an agent or traveling agency or even directly from an owner. Generally, it is seen that booking vacation rental in Florida key directly from an owner is cheaper as compared to cost when it is booked from an agent or traveling agency.

Today with the help of information technology you can locate the agencies or owner offering Florida key vacation rental. With the help internet you can also compare all the deal being offered. And at last, you can choose the one among them with competitive rates and off course which match your budget.

It is sure that this article has created an excitement in your mind, so now, don’t wait just pack your bags, book your vocational rental in Florida key and enjoy.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/travel_and_leisure/article_2475.shtml

Sunday 22 June 2008

Orange SPV M3100: An ideal business or leisure phone


The Orange SPV M3100 is a quad phone that is well designed and packed full of features. This Smartphone gives you access to word documents, create and edit presentations, you can share files through Bluetooth, connect to the internet and you can work as efficiently out of the office. The Orange SPV M3100 offers connectivity with multiple wireless bearer networks like networks including 3G, Wi-Fi and EGDE.

Other features include 2.3 mega pixel camera, loud speaker, USB port, 128MB RAM, etc. The sophisticated design of Orange SPV M3100 includes full sliding qwerty keyboard, The Orange M3100 is the World's first 3G Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone having a slim and compact design.

With the 3-way jog wheel, it is easy to control the M3100 with one hand. This offers you simple internet browsing and document reading. The phone comes with the ability to read Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF documents. You can transfer these documents to and from the phone using either the integrated Bluetooth or via USB. 3G Video Calling is one of the M3100’s many features along with multimedia player, Micro SD card, Internet Explorer and Email, MP3, MSN messenger, etc. The 128 MB internal memory provides ample storage for your essential and important documents, calendar and contact entries.

The Orange SPV M3100 has the latest Windows Mobile 5.0 software, voice calling, voice dialing, hands free function and blue tooth. It has a good battery life with 5 hours talk time and up to 10 days standby time. There are 2 cameras; a 2 mega pixel camera as well as the video camera for the video calling. The onboard memory has 64Mb with a microSD expansion slot giving the opportunity for extra storage.

In the end, we can say that the Orange SPV M3100 is more than a 3G phone and really an indispensable pocket computer.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/gadgets_and_gizmos/article_723.shtml

Saturday 21 June 2008

Leisure, Play, and Recreation

In today’s American society it is not uncommon for the average citizen to encounter a great deal of “free” time or time away from work. The average workweek has decreased significantly over the past 150 years. In 1850, American’s workweek average was nearly 66 hours (11 hours a day, 6 days a week) . Today’s 5 day weeks and 8 hour days have presented an increased gap in time available for leisure activities. So one might say that leisure is simply a matter of free time, others share different views. One such concept sees leisure not merely as a time block, but as a force, which is not only the germinating concept of art and culture, but a pause during which a participant gains glimpses of values and realities that he ordinarily misses in everyday life. Such a perception supports the proposition that the quality of civilization depends upon such a transmission of values, and the widespread distribution and use of leisure is a matter of great importance, culturally and economically, to a nation.”

Recreation’s definition, given by Merriam-Webster online dictionary is “refreshment of strength and spirits after work; also: a means of refreshment or diversion,” but this doesn’t nearly do it justice. The word itself holds a new meaning to whomever you ask, dependent upon their personal views, beliefs, values, but most importantly – their interests. Recreation to you may not mean the same to a Native American living in southeastern Alaska. His ideology, on the value of spending time, may focus more on family and nature. The culture and environment in which an individual develops and learns has lasting effects on the life that they will lead. This includes the recreational activities in which one participates.

As the country has evolved economically, technologically, and so on, so too has it evolved on its view of recreation. Not so long ago the purpose of hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, and skiing held a much different purpose. The way we were fed, clothed, moved from place to place, etc. were all very much a part of everyday life, not just a way to “unwind.” The accessibility of food, clothing, transportation and the like are no longer the responsibility of the individual hunter, trapper, or fisherman. These activities have taken on a new label in our society – sports. The competitive edge now fills the void where need of survival once reigned.

The sports that have been known throughout the ages have evolved and engulfed so many variations of the kind. “Sport within our society reflects a complex, multi-faceted, socioeconomic system. It also represents a tremendous diversity in participation from a child’s frolic, to unstructured and random play within the home, to the fulfillment of a dream in winning a tournament championship, to the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle through regular sport participation.” There are indeed many forms of sports and many levels and we all have our reasons for participating.

Some experts believe that recreational and leisure activities are engaged in simply as a way to alleviate the built up stressors that evolve in our daily lives. Play can be a safety valve for the excess energy in our bodies and becomes a natural outlet, soothing our physical and psychological well-beings. These theories, however, fail to account for the fact that most individuals do not partake in recreational activities as a means of relieving stress or recharging for the work week to come.

Why then, do people engage in activities on a regular basis? The answer is not a simple one, nor can it be fully addressed since there is such a multitude of opinions, professional or otherwise, on sports and recreation. There are, of course, many reasons why people keep coming back to the same gym for a pick-up game or take out the fishing boat weekend after weekend. Some may be: the love of the game, the adrenaline rush, the excitement, the exercise, the social interaction, etc. My reason for playing what I play, or doing what I do results from a combination of these factors and more like them.

No matter the reason, the motivation, or the cause, we all are participants of what we love. We have evolved along with the sports in which we’ve come to enjoy; and whether we play to win or play just to play doesn’t seem to matter. Rules and regulations can control your play on the court (i.e. dunking, spiking) but they can never control your love of the game – that is your own.

Yukic, T. (1963). Fundamentals of Recreation. New York, NY: Harper and Row.

Yukic, T. (1963). Fundamentals of Recreation. New York, NY: Harper and Row.

Bayless, K., Mull, R., & Ross, M. (1983). Recreational Sports Programming. North Palm Beach, FL: The Athletic Institute.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/recreation_and_sports/article_2591.shtml

Toys for Bigger Boys - Marine Leisure Trends, Personal Leisure Hovercraft

Mention the word hovercraft, and most people think of lumbering passenger craft capable of taking 100 passengers or more, but personal leisure hovercraft (Hov Pods) make hovercraft ownership possible, typically these craft are 2-3 seaters, around 12 foot in length, and capable of speeds of up to 50 mph. Fun for all the family!

Hovercraft offer a unique and liberating feeling of freedom, as you fly from beach to sea, or scoot over rivers and lakes; hovercrafting can be a very addictive hobby. Radio control hovercraft are OK too, but why let your pet hamster have all the fun? Leisure hovercraft take three adults and can reach speeds of up to 50 mph.

Hovercraft handle a wide range of terrain; imagine a PWC, snowmobile, quad-bike, boat, 4x4 rolled into one. Start the engine and you’ll rise about 8 inches in the air, as if on some anti gravitational levitation sci-fi vehicle. Bemused onlookers peek under your skirt to see where the wheels are; there aren’t any. Increase the throttle, and move forward on the cushion of air. You have freedom to float off, over any flat surface.

Launch at anytime, regardless of tide conditions. No need to worry about submerged rocks, manatees or coral, you have no propeller in the water to damage the marine environment, you’re as free as a bird to fly here and there, sliding, gliding, performing 180 turns or 360/7200 spins. Strong currents may impede the progress of boats, but hovercraft are not in contact with the water, so rise above that sort of problem. No need to check your depth meter, you have no propeller to worry about, just levitate and drive.

It is difficult to describe the immense sense of freedom hover travel provides, people expect a bump when travelling out of the water and straight up the beach or slipway, but there is no discernable difference. Hovercraft are very comfortable, you don’t slap into water, and jar your back like PWC riders do, you glide and side on your soft cushion of air.

Some liken the drive sensation to a sort of ride-on skateboard, but forget the confines of the skate park, find some grassy hills, or beach or desert sand dunes to play on.

Leisure hovercraft such as the Hov Pod are very versatile, able to drive in many different locations, great for exploring, hunting and fishing.

From a practical standpoint, the first benefit of hovering is being able to launch practically anywhere. No need to launch from a trailer down the slipway, boat fashion, just unhitch on dry land, no need to get your feet wet, just drive down the slipway or over the mud and sands to the sea. Upon your return, just drive up the slipway or beach.

No need to position the trailer under the craft, or wade into the wet stuff, just drive up and step out onto dry land. Some folk use hovercraft to reach waterfront properties, tidal or weather conditions can make island based property impossible to reach, and in winter conditions, the risk of using the wrong vehicle (PWC or Snowmobile?) could have catastrophic repercussions.

Small leisure hovercraft (Hov Pods) also have plenty of commercial applications. Rental operators hire them out to event organisers, or civil engineers and environmental scientists for taking mud samples. Hov Pods are very useful for rescue work, particularly mud, quicksand and ice. According to Wikipedia, even David Blaine has trouble holding his breath under water for more than 7 minutes and 8 seconds, so there is no time to lose while reaching mud victims; rescue boats are not practical; rescurers have to wade through the same mud the victim fell into.

It takes just ten minutes to understand the basics; you just use a normal handlebar for steering with twist grip throttle. Steer to the left or right, and the rudders will direct the air accordingly.

Once you have mastered the basics, the real fun begins. You can do 180 turns up the beach, or perpetual 360s, 720 spins and so on. As you can drive on both sea and land, you’ll probably want to combine both in a little beach hugging exercise. You can turn in graceful loops, or slide and glide where the mood takes you. You can access areas that are simply out of bounds for any other craft. SuperYacht captains use them as tenders.

Manufactured in Southampton, England, the Hov Pod is enjoying tremendous success and is now being exported all over the world.

For further information, please visit http://www.hovpod.com

The Hov Pod is designed and manufactured by Reaction International Ltd PO Box 617, Southampton SO16 4XL. Contact 023 8023 1111. Hov Pod is copyright of Reaction International Ltd. Images and further information can be downloaded from www.hovpod.com Contact Sales and Marketing Manager - Mike Glanville for more information. Email sales@hovpod.com

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/men/article_193.shtml

Friday 20 June 2008

Leisure Audio – A New Affiliate Ideas That Works!

I recently became a member of Leisure Audio Books, and I want to share my humble opinion with you today.

This is like nothing I have ever experienced before, I was shocked to find that is totally unique, never seen before, and I believe it to be revolutionary, and I'll explain why.

In my past experience, you join a typical program, they give you some cheesy promo tools, and they never say a word to you, they just expect you to go out and recruit as best you can on your own...

This is totally and utterly different.

First of all, the products rock, there's a huge selection of topics on virtually any niche you can think of... all delivered in licenced .wma or Real format, so anyone with a computer, an iPod, or mp3 player can instantly enjoy these fine audio books, at their leisure...

Second, you don't have to recruit, to earn nice money, you can simply sell these real products to real people, and they will be glad to have them to listen to...

Third, the commissions you can earn, are much higher than normal, and I really like that.

Fourth, it's so easy to set up a website and dominate any niche you choose, because the training is so good, it makes it easy to get started right away.

Fifth, I don't have any of the order filling problems, of offering a real product, Leisure Audio Books, has it handled, for me. Lucky me;~)

With Leisure Audio Books, I feel at completely at ease offering anyone hi quality hi fidelity products and the diversity is astounding! They have over 6000 titles meticulously sorted into 160 categories in a feature- packed store.

I had no idea know that there are at least 50,000 identifiable niche markets that can be independently addressed in the search engines for audio books! I do know now and I am out there selling... and for the first time it is working!!!

Plus it's a huge relief to have the experts, Rod and Kevin helping me succeed, I almost feel like I have a huge "cheat" over everyone else, because I'm a part of a caring organization, who really coach, and really train, and really want me, and you, to succeed, no matter what the skill level.

So, I would have to sum it up like this, if you're tired of an endless line of hype, smoke and mirrors, and you'd like to gain traction, start making a financial difference in your family's lifestyle, and have a legitimate, honest, real way to make money online...you owe it to yourself to check out Leisure Audio Books.

Don't believe me, I'm a happy member, and of course I'm biased, so do a check on Rod and Kevin, and I'm sure you'll find the truth is that they are for real, and these are great products that virtually sell themselves.

I recommend that you see for yourself - GO RIGHT NOW, and take in the information presented on the website.

http://4647.leisureaudiosales.com/

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/online_business/article_5286.shtml

Holiday Loan: Spend A Worry Free Leisure

Holidays allow us to be relaxed from the stresses and strains of everyday life. But these are expensive and not affordable to everyone. In this situation holiday loan provides funds so that you can spend a worry free vacations with your family.

Based on your requirements holiday loans are available in secured and unsecured forms. For large amount of money, you can apply for secured loan which requires security for the loan approval. Secured type has the benefits of low interest rate and flexible repayment terms. The loan amount mainly depends on the value of the property which generally ranges from £5000-£75000 to be repaid within 5 to 25 years. Unsecured loan comparatively comes with low amount but does not require any security against the loan. The loan amount usually starts from £1000 to £25000 for a term of within 6 months to 10 years.

Holiday loans are the cash advance to finance your holiday trips. You can take the money to spend for everything for your vacation .This fund covers all your holiday expenditures such as boarding, lodging, sight -seeing, shopping and other travel expenses.

Bad credit borrowers are also applicable for holiday loan. There is no prohibition to obtaining holiday loans with bad credit history like arrears, defaults, late payments or unpaid debts.

Holiday loans are available both online and offline. You may search the internet thoroughly to look for the best suited offer to you and then directly apply online. Also, applying is free of cost here and the loan application is with no obligation makes process easier and fast. So at the end you have less paperwork, less running around and less hassles in going for a holiday.

Keeping away from the same routine life, holiday loan helps people to enjoy the life with its all adventures and fun without cash crisis.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_9425.shtml

Thursday 19 June 2008

Wood Turning - Yesterday's Hobby Today

Wood working in general is becoming one of the fastest growing hobbies in the world and wood turning one of the fastest growing types of wood working. This is of course in keeping with the growth of leisure time in industrialized countries along with the need to fill that leisure time. As people become less satisfied with pursuits such as watching television and seek productive work with their hands, wood turning has for many become the activity of choice.

Historically, folks are in good company. While wood turning was the trade for many craftspeople, for the rich it became a fascinating hobby. Even the royalty of England, France and Germany enjoyed playing with elaborate and decorative lathes.

The lathe may be viewed first of all as a tool for making a great many practical products. Many of the parts of the popular Windsor style chair are made on a lathe, the legs, rungs and back spokes for most Windors, and the arms for some. Wood turners of the past would have made most of the implements for the common folk such as bowls, spoons, tool handles, candle sticks, and the like. The name Turner is found in many of our phone books in great number simply because every town needed a wood turner.

At the same time the rich may have dined on fine pottery and pewter while their servants used wood, but they also found time to play with the lathe. Often powered by a servant turning a great wheel they would make decorative and elaborate boxes and candle sticks among other objects more artistic than practical. Lathes became capable of not only turning an object but also decorating it with symmetrical cuts and patterns. The increased world commerce of the fifteenth century and onward made ivory and exotic woods with gorgeous colors available to the wealthy for even more elaborate turning.

In comparison with past history, the industrialized world of today is a rich world. People no longer have to work from dawn to dusk in order to survive. Many formerly costly products are readily available for low prices. The wood turner is no longer needed to produce common bowls and cups. Instead, the hobby turner of today as well as most professional turners, have become artistic turners producing works of aesthetic value from beautiful timbers of the world.

In a very real sense the lathe is a potter’s wheel turned on its side and is capable of making bowls, vases and other objects with great artistry. A block of wood is mounted and the wood turner is able to remove large quantities or small shavings of material to create what is seen in the mind’s eye. Restrained only by the need for things to be round, the possibilities are limitless as he or she draws in three dimensions. The day of the wood turner as artist has come once again.

Darrell Feltmate is a juried wood turner whose web site, Around the Woods, contains detailed information about wood turning for the novice or experienced turner as well as a collection of turnings for your viewing pleasure. You too can learn to turn wood, here is the place to start. Wondering what it looks like? Follow the page links for a free video.

There are several wood turning projects fully explained on the web site. In particular, a selection of beginner's projects may be found on the Beginner's Projects page complete with explanation and step by step photos.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darrell_Feltmate

The Leisure Minute

The battle for the leisure pound or dollar is only a skirmish compared with the fight that should be engaged for the leisure minute.

It was Benjamin Franklin in 1748 in Advice to Young Tradesmen first said that


time is money
and there is nowhere that this is more clear than the competition for consumers leisure time.

So what is leisure? If it was just the absence of work that would indicate that there is a large resource of leisure time available. Most people work for around 8 or nine hours a day, leaving the other 15 hours for leisure. The Oxford English Dictionary suggests leisure is


the time or opportunity for ease or relaxation
which is a much more scarce commodity. Given the pressures on modern life the amount of leisure time is actually limited to only a few a week, and whereas it was once certain to involve a day out to visit somewhere or something different, it is now just as likely to be at home surfing the web or shopping at an out of town mall.

The leisure minute is the proportion of leisure time that a customer spends on any given activity. There is an acceptance amongst those with disposable income that leisure time has a cost associated. The expectation of expenditure of leisure money is already in place. As such the spending of it becomes arbitrary and may be a relatively low involvement decision.

The value of leisure time to suppliers of services and products is illustrated when considering the cost of peak time TV commercials or ads on high ranking web sites. Having your product advertised in front of thousands of surfers or millions of viewers who are enjoying their leisure time is a valuable marketing tool.

If consumers are relatively cash rich and time poor, then the ability to deliver value for time rather than value for money is where the real added value is accrued. The amount of cash spent on each or any activity then becomes purely notional for the consumer as it was cash they had committed to spend anyway. It is the way it is spent that poses the questions.

How value for time can be measured is as yet unanswered.

Mike Cline-Hughes is Managing Director of Northern Strategy and Operations, a Management Consultancy working with Cultural and Heritage organisations. NS&O have a unique mix of commercial and not-for-profit experience and skills that sets them apart from others. You can read more about this at http://www.nsando.com or cantact mike at mike@nsando.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Cline-Hughes

Wednesday 18 June 2008

7 Steps to Managing Your Time Better

The internet is one of those things in life that borders on the verge of a good versus evil battle. It can be the greatest money making tool in existence, or the most malicious time waster. When people venture into the business of internet marketing, they often think it’s going to be a piece of cake. Most people who decide upon internet marketing as a business venture love the internet to begin with and want to unleash its evident power to their advantage.

Sometimes these web lovers are sorely disappointed because it seems that they work for hours upon hours and don’t get anything accomplished. That, my friends, is the nature of the beast!

If you intend to do business on the internet, you absolutely have to be disciplined in order to manage your time. Here are 7 steps to doing a better job of it:

1. Set work hours

It is so easy to waste time when you should be working and to end up working unreasonable hours. Internet work can seemly turn into an addiction overnight if you don’t set specific work hours and stick with them.

2. Schedule play hours

Don’t spend your work hours playing – surfing the net, visiting internet forums or participating in chat rooms. Set aside leisure time for such activities if you are prone to them.

3. Schedule communications

Set specific times during your work hours to open email. This should usually be the first thing and the last thing you do each work day. If you open your email periodically and respond to it, your work hours can be eaten up in a hurry! Turn off any indicators that tell you you’ve got new email.

4. Block the SPAM

Use a SPAM blocker to isolate or block SPAM email and keep it up to date. Use a separate email address for your business and personal email. Open personal email during your leisure time and business email during your scheduled communication time within your work hours.

5. Make a long-term plan

Make a long-term plan of what you wish to accomplish through your internet marketing. Having a vision with milestones and deadlines will keep you focused and working purposefully day after day.

6. Plan your days

Plan your days ahead of time with a “to do” list that ensures important things will get accomplished. Always plan a little time for unexpected interruptions or demanding little emergencies.

7. Kill the messenger

If you use messenger programs such as MSN Messenger or Yahoo Messenger, log out during your work hours. If you conduct business communications through the messenger program, open separate accounts or block contacts so that only your business associates that you need to be available to can contact you via the messenger program during your work hours.

Implementing these 7 simple tips will help you to master your time and will skyrocket your productivity!

Copyright 2005 Jason Tarasi

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