Sports

Jamison ready to take Wizards alone with Butler and Arenas injured

The entire burden of defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs now falls solely on Antawn Jamison.

The reason behind he is out of the Big Three at Washington Wizards, two are injured and these days Jamison is the key player for the team.

Forward Jarvis Hayes said Jamison is the Wizards’ leading scorer right now and would have to be much more aggressive on offense. The other players’ main job so far is to make things as easy as possible for Jamison on the floor. Hayes expects things to get tough as teams will now target Jamison more than before.

Every player on the Wizards team has changed roles since Gilbert Arenas injured his knee and Caron Butler injured his hand. However, it seems that Jamison has been the most affected by injuries. He doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for time and finding open spaces as the opposing team’s defenders concentrate elsewhere. Jamison can no longer get a night off since his two teammates aren’t there to fill in for him.

Coach Eddie Jordan said that with Butler and Arenas out with injuries, Jamison would have to take on the added responsibility of being the passer, the setup man and also the scorer.

Jamison was in a similar situation for several seasons when he was with the Golden State Warriors. In fact, he managed to score 51 points in consecutive games in the year 2000.

He joined the Wizards in 2004 and has mostly played as the wise veteran against the impulsive young Arenas. These stats have been fairly consistent over the past few years. He usually scores 20 points and 8 rebounds in each game. In this year’s regular season, Jamison has averaged 19.4 points and 8 rebounds.

Jamison knows he can’t lead the Wizards alone. He said it was too much pressure and a player could get in trouble trying to do it because it was impossible to do the things that Arenas and Butler do alone.

For Game 1 against the Cavaliers, while Jamison knows he can’t beat them alone, his team will look to him for more points, rebounds and court leadership.

Relationship

Why do people hate?

As an author and Holocaust researcher, I appreciate a thorough examination of morality. Disgust, despair, and darkness exist within human nature. The victims of the Holocaust faced the most perfidious forces; deceit, brutality, cruelty, disease, starvation, and the death of loved ones were the daily companions of concentration camp prisoners. How is it that so many people accepted this horrible plan? How could millions more turn their backs on the immorality of exterminating an entire religious group? Therefore, we learn nothing about ourselves if we don’t examine this part of our psyche.

It is safe to say that a large part of the European population at the beginning of the 20th century did not like the Jews. Pogroms were ubiquitous and largely ignored by society, the police, and the military. In fact, in some pogroms against Jews, homosexuals, the mentally disabled and Gypsies, the police and the armed forces (Einsatzgruppen, Cossacks, etc.) cooperate. Jews were significantly distrusted, hated and ostracized. They were the butt of jokes and the subject of innuendo. The Jews did not represent any threat of a reasonable nature or definition to the Europeans. Jews amounted to about 2% of the population in Europe; they owned a small percentage of the money, had no influence on governments, and had no armed forces or militias. They couldn’t have been a threat to any potion from gentile Europe if they wanted to. So why did so many Europeans hate the Jews? How is it possible that so many people find it easy to hate millions of whom they know nothing about and have never met? Were they automatons, eagerly lapping up the propaganda nonsense offered by the Nazis? Or were they intelligent humans, with the ability to understand the nuances of their society’s actions and still come to the conclusion that the Jews were bad people who deserved to be rounded up, imprisoned, and annihilated?

We are complex beings. I believe that there is much more to us than the ever-present battlefield of good versus evil. Most of us are neither one nor the other, but both. We are beautiful and ugly, calming and frightening, brutal and affectionate; we love and despise. Unlike animals, humans are governed by moral principles and beliefs. We are not motivated by delusions of morality, but are governed by them. So what leads a person to look down on a stranger? Why do some people hate and fear those who are different in color, religion, or ethnic origin? Why do so many people find it easier to hate than to tolerate?

My gut tells me that some people pick up racism because they were taught to hate at a young age by their parents, siblings, relatives, friends, or any other part of their social network. At some point in their youthful existence, they learned to hate those close to them. And, many of them continue to hate without questioning the truth of their dislike. Being recognized as a fan makes some people popular with desired social groups. Research reveals that a high percentage of racists have little education. However, not all racists are ignorant or mentally slow. Some people with graduate degrees delude themselves with expressions of contempt for minority groups. The dark side is full of ignorance and deception. And while many people are taught to be intolerant as children, some pick it up later in life, despite having a tolerant social network in their youth.

Could we be a little different from the last vestiges of our primordial ancestors? Like many animals, humans originally had to fight and control others to maintain territorial superiority. Perhaps the need to be superior is an innate, biologically acquired mental mechanism. This suggests that Darwinism could be a factor, although it may be impossible to prove. Evolution teaches us that we live by the principle of survival of the fittest. Is human behavior dominated by an innate fear of others? Is social responsibility, tolerance, and compassion simply acquired aberrant social behavior, most often employed by liberals and religious alike? Are the best angels of our conscience nothing more than strange adaptations to our dark and natural instinct for survival?

I think it’s easier for people to hate because tolerance takes effort. Haters live with haters, in a community of malevolence. The more they hate, the more they are approved by their social group. Tolerance would mark the hater as the enemy, the enemy being everyone who is different. This is a never-ending vicious cycle, guaranteed to breed intolerant progeny. Therefore, we hate being recognized as appropriate by our peers.

But we can break the bonds of intolerance one person at a time, with education, conversation, and participation in all media. We can use social networks and Internet websites to our advantage. We can combat the innate fear of others by generating compassion for the individual, regardless of the environment. We can promote the value of each person as a unique entity, with unlimited potential, rather than a member of a social or religious class, with preconceived expectations. This is the tolerance of the individual soul. Only when we make the effort to understand and value the differences between us will we end racism and intolerance. Only when we accept the value of each person, regardless of their background, will our culture grow to be meaningful and rewarding.

Fear may be at the heart of racism and bigotry. We fear what we do not understand. We fear anyone who might be perceived as better than us. Therefore, we use the tools of intolerance to make ourselves superior to others. Our fear drives us to prove that we are better than the “others”. It feels good to be superior. However, for one person to feel superior, another must be subjugated. To feel better, we must dominate someone. The easiest way to dominate is to hate those who are not a threat. And it feels good to make them live in fear. We rationalize minimizing our fear by inflicting greater fear on the victim. If they are inferior, we must be better. We climb on their social corpse to feel superior.

Racism, hatred, intolerance and bigotry are the artifacts of fear. Eliminate fear and there will no longer be a need to use the tools of intolerance. This is our challenge. We must convince the haters that they have no reason to fear minorities. This is the greatest and noblest challenge of our generation. The reward of success is tolerance, respect and mutual recognition. We can share our planet together as equals. This will be our legacy.

But if we fail, our children will inherit a world dominated by the dark angels of our nature. If we fail, our progeny will be doomed to a life surrounded by fear, suspicion, hate, and death. We cannot end our generation sharing the same values ​​that our early 20th century European ancestors had. We can and must be better than that. We must evolve towards a tolerant society. The future of our children depends on it.

Tours Travel

Things to do in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Things to do in Colombo

Colombo is the commercial and business center of Sri Lanka. Combined with old commercial buildings and colonial and high-rise hotels, the city has a charm of its own. Filled with bustling shopping malls, offices, and bazaars, the city has many interesting tourist attractions and things to do. Famous for its strategic seaport, diversity, and cultural landmarks, the city has its fair share of attractions. Many range from those of cultural and religious importance, parks and museums, something for everyone. Various budget and star-class hotels also offer visitors a wide variety of accommodation options.

Among the many things to do in Colombo is to visit the National Museum. As the largest museum in Sri Lanka, it houses a significant collection of historical artefacts, some of which date as far back as the 4th to 5th century. The Museum’s library is of particular importance as it houses treasures of local publications dating back over 129 years. Its vast collections are palm leaf manuscripts on varied subjects such as folklore, astrology, architecture, etc.

Located near Lake Beira and over 120 years old, Colombo’s Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple is a popular tourist attraction that functions as a place of worship and a vocational training center. Visit this well-known temple and discover an impressive array of Buddha statues, the temple exhibits lavish architecture.

Colombo’s majestic stone building, the Independence Memorial Hall, commemorates Sri Lanka’s independence from the British in 1948. A must-see attraction in the city, an ideal place for visitors seeking serenity and elegance. The monument is packed with lavish symbols of Sri Lanka’s rich history and political freedom, as well as wooden carvings and imposing statues, including that of Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister, DS Senanayake.

When visiting the city, shopping in Colombo is a nice thing to do. For bargain hunters, the Pettah Bazaar is an ideal place. Shopping centers such as Majestic City, Liberty Plaza and Crescat offer an eclectic range of products and merchandise for visitors to enjoy. From handicrafts, books, leather goods, clothing and technology products, these complexes not only offer global brands, but also an avenue for entertainment, as some include restaurants, a movie theater and even gaming centers.

Sri Lanka is one of its amazing beaches. In Colombo, Galle Face Green attracts families, children, lovers and hikers looking for a relaxing stop. Attracting people of various cultures, ethnicities and ages, the green food stalls are ideal for those looking for a truly Sri Lankan-style snack.

Arts Entertainments

10 steps to send your tongue to heaven

In California there are oral sex classes where the learning process is carried out with the help of plums and sweets. In England there is a school where a young girl is acting as practice material. It would be great to attend one of those schools, but for those of us who don’t plan on putting that on the agenda any time soon, here are the ten simple rules, which are very useful when applied in practice.

1. Warm-up lap. The more energy and time you put into preparing your girlfriend for cunnilingus or oral sex, the more results your efforts will bring. A bubble bath with rubber toys (not a vibrator, just regular ducks!) can serve as such a preparation. Let her go into the bathroom and happily lie still. After a couple of minutes you can go in yourself, take off your underwear, yell: “Look who’s here” and jump into the water. Then start with light and discreet caresses: caresses, kisses and massages.

2. Once the underwear is gone. After drying off after bathing, proceed to create an intimate atmosphere. Everything like in romantic movies: candles, half-light, clean sheets. The essential condition of an orgasm is a long and correct foreplay. When she begins to passionately rip her clothes off, lay her down on the bed with determination, plant a long kiss on her lips, and then head south.

3. Science of the clitoris. We are not going to go over what the clitoris is and where it is located. We will just take note of the fact that girls are not mass produced in some factory, they are all very different and their sexual physiology is no exception. Some have the clitoris higher, others lower, others have the clitoris sunken into the folds of the skin, and others have it stuck out. In other words, there is no one universal approach for all girls. Obviously, sensitivity is also different for everyone: the deeper the clitoris is hidden, the less contact it has with the outside world and the more tender and complete it requires treatment. The main thing is not to attack a newly found clitoris like a five-year-old who has just received a transforming robot. Start with light movements of the tongue along the labia and around the clitoris, gradually contracting the radius of action until you are in the final stretch. When your tongue focuses on the clitoris, use one hand to caress your breast and the fingers of the other hand to slowly enter the vagina.

4. Power of silence. The best way to know if you’re doing the right thing is to talk to the girl. Of course, if you ask her, she’ll say, “Yeah, I feel great,” or she might not say anything. So ask him to take her hand in his and have her masturbate with her hand so that she can feel what moves and where she likes best.

5. Broaden horizons. A clitoris is not a magic button that guarantees an orgasm. Don’t focus too much on it, because it can actually be painful for her. There are many other interesting things down there. You need to enlarge the area of ​​application of the mouth and fingers. In fact, what we usually call the clitoris is actually just the head of the clitoris. The shape of the clitoris actually resembles the penis, except that its body is not outside but inside under the so-called hood. Feel the clitoris and squeeze it with the upper ends of the labia between your fingers. You will feel something like a wire – this is the body of the clitoris. Try jerking him off like you would your own penis, only much slower and more carefully. You will experience completely special and incomparable sensations that you are unlikely to have experienced before. Now you can legitimately demand a generous reward from her.

6. Language aptitude. Your tongue is a muscle, and just like all other muscles, it can get tired from intensive work. Therefore, you need training. Try to keep these exercises a secret from your girlfriend.

Exercise 1. Take a ripe plum and squeeze it between your palms. Try to break it and get the stone out with your tongue. Your tongue movements should at least resemble those you perform during cunnilingus. The goal is not only strength, but also skill.

Exercise 2. Take the “Tic Tac” drops, squeeze one between your lips and start sucking it into your mouth and let it come back. Your goal is to achieve maximum range of motion so that the droplet remains pressed between her lips at the same time. When you master this trick, add your tongue and lick the drop in circular motions.

Exercise 3. Squeeze any round lollipop between your teeth and try to pierce (or, to be more exact, lick) a hole in it with your tongue.

7. I will give you a slap. Many of us think that the clitoris can only be licked and rubbed. We wholeheartedly feel sorry for those boring and limited people. Put the palm of your hand on her pubic area with your fingers pointing down and gently tap on her clitoris with your index finger. This will cause a flow of blood and increase your sensitivity. Keep in mind that you can do it not only with your finger but also with your tongue. After 15-20 seconds change tactics. For example, separate the folds of skin attached to the clitoris, place your finger on the clitoris, and start turning it like a joystick. One more option that is also good for the beginning is to completely bare the clitoris and blow (or breathe) on it, after which you can continue with your normal procedures with your tongue or wet finger.

8. Come on! It’s time to show all the power of your tongue. Your muscles are very active and mobile, but very few people use their full capabilities. As a general rule, many people limit themselves to unoriginal movements of the tip of the tongue. You should try something different. Run the wide middle part of your tongue over your lips so that you can cover them completely. Go through several motions like that, and then focus on the clitoral area and massage it with the tip of your tongue. Now try alternating these movements. Gradually focus more and more of your attention on the clitoris. To diversify your entertainment program, flex your tongue as hard as you can and try to insert it into her vagina.

9. The main reflex. Remember exercise #2 with the “Tic Tac” drop? Time to use this trick on a girl. Separate the skin folds of the vagina as far as you can so that the clitoris is bare, take it with your lips and slightly pull it inward. Then, in the same way as described in exercise n. #2, add the tongue. The main thing is to be very tender and careful. Before this, of course, prepare it using the techniques from point 8.

10. Happy ending. Watch her hip movements. But just watch, don’t copy them. When moving, try to adapt to the rhythm of your movements and position yourself in the most comfortable and pleasant way. Keep doing the same thing with the same rhythm. Trade one move for another only when she is still. Do not grab her feet or anything with your hands, give her maximum freedom of movement. You can put your hand on her stomach: flexed abs are the first sign of the coming orgasm. At this point, she should forget about any experiments and continue doing what she has been doing up until now, at the same pace and in the same range. When she reaches the long-awaited orgasm (you’ll most likely feel it either from muscle contractions or deep breathing, or from moans and cramps), wait until it’s over and stop. She does not need to do anything else, otherwise it will cause her unpleasant sensations.

Now you can relax your tongue and stretch out on the couch. It’s your turn!

Business

Can a Maya student version be upgraded to a full commercial edition?

Autodesk’s Maya 3D software has long been a staple tool for producing the highest level of visual effects and animation for Oscar-winning movies, television shows, and video games.

Students looking to secure a commercial job after graduation these days generally need to show some familiarity with this software…ideally the more the merrier, as most businesses these days use Maya as their main software package, and many have it deeply integrated. in its own proprietary pipelines and tools, which means that the situation is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.

Students who take advantage of the current opportunity to purchase a copy of Maya Student Edition do well as they can improve their skills on the full unlimited version of the software, and do so at a deep discount (the student edition usually it sells for around $350).

However, several students are wondering if they also qualify for a discount later on if they want to upgrade to a full commercial edition of Maya software. Jumping from graduation to commercial work can be challenging, so any way to ease the expense of setting up as a freelancer is more than welcome… but can it really be done?

Upgrade Maya Student Edition to commercial license?

Yes, you’ll be pleased to know that there is a program available where current owners of a Maya student license can upgrade to the full commercial license at a massive discount of around 60%…in other words, a full commercial license The Maya license would normally cost around $3,900, but student license holders can upgrade their current license to a full commercial one for just $1,300.

This is huge and can be a real lifesaver for people who want to go it alone and start their own freelance business but are wary of the huge costs involved.

In fact, if you’re smart about it and don’t mind a little negotiation, the license could even be purchased with a down payment from your first customer before you start working on your project.

Such a big discount on the commercial student upgrade is a great incentive for students, especially in these economic times, and also makes buying the Maya student edition a sensible option in the first place, as you have access to these kinds of discounted upgrades. .

Home Kitchen

Give floors a classy feel with wood-look tiles

Wooden floors have always been part of classic interiors. Have you ever imagined that they will be modernized in the form of tiles! Of course, real wood is not cut into shingles; rather, the tiles are modernized to look like wood material. It is the constant need to style the home or office with a contemporary perspective that has given rise to durable imitations of wood. Its popularity in terms of dazzling and trendy house designs has grown over time. In fact, they are becoming an essential part of classy home interiors. There are a couple of designs that tend to captivate viewers.

Sierra Beige:

Very famous as the most popular designs in reclaimed wood. Here, the planks have been reshaped and brought back together with casual widths and lengths. Sierra Beige is known as an easy-care and workable porcelain wood tile that has a uniquely realistic wood grain shape. Along with this, a tile is also a great choice for accent walls and even a backsplash.

LeatherVintage:

Available in shades of deep cocoa brown ranging from beige with bold white stripes, it’s an obvious choice for adding rustic appeal to a room. Not only this, these tiles make their special place in contemporary or modern settings. Beautiful looks with bucolic appeal make it ideal for homes.

Ecological copper wood:

What’s great about Copper Ecowood is that its soft, neutral hue has been found to fit well with contemporary cottage-style homes and villas. Its subtle wood grain pattern is versatile and allows one person to use it anywhere in the home; be it the kitchen or any part of the room in the house. This tile floor has a matte finish and is embellished with a glazed coating for easy maintenance.

Gray up:

In the Greige Upscape, fresh saw marks can be seen as if they came straight from the mill. Being realistic on the one hand, they are in high demand and are exceptionally durable in terms of giving an aesthetic touch to the floor.

Natural Forest:

Easily accessible in a kit with 3 different sizes for a well-finished installation, the tiles are simply majestic in nature. They are known for being authentic and full of character. Plus, its medium brown hue matches various wall tones.

Sonoma Pine:

Known for its rich, luxurious outlook, Pine Sonoma’s golden brown hue is embellished with subtle graining, an incredibly realistic approach, and highly refined quality. And of course, it’s water resistant as well as fade resistant qualities make them extremely in demand.

Auto

Car rental in Nairobi, Kenya: without a driver, with a driver and unlimited mileage

Where I come from, we have a saying that “vehicles don’t go for dowry negotiations.” In other words, dowry negotiations are not a show. Her vehicle may break down and she may be embarrassed in front of her in-laws. Who wants a friend who disappoints you on that special occasion? In any case, life is not simple. As you know and I know, a car is not 100 percent dependent, as it can break down even on the most important occasion. However, breakdowns can be minimized or avoided altogether if the right decision is made from the start. The car to rent will depend on the destination and purpose. Is it for pleasure, family, business, transportation or to do?

Advantages of car rental:

Car rental is also known as car hire or renting a car is the best option if you want to visit various destinations in Kenya. Unlike organized safaris where routes and times are fixed, it allows for a high degree of flexibility and therefore discovery. Also, car rental means a higher degree of privacy, security and independence. Unlike group safaris that bring together people of diverse interests and backgrounds, car hire means your interests are not distracted.

Car rental in Nairobi.

The car to rent will depend on the destination and purpose. Is it for leisure, family, business, transportation, or just want to replace your broken one? If you travel to the interior of the country, a RAV4 will handle most roads. However, if you are thinking of northern Kenya, beyond the archer’s post, and Rumuruti, get a giant – Land-cruiser, not Prado SUV type, but a real one. Make sure you also get some new tires. However, if you are attending a business meeting, you can get an impressive hall. If you are going to take your pet out on a sunny day or at the beach, you can get a convertible. For transportation, there are small and large routes that include cleaning and shipping companies.

What are your car rental options?

In general, there are four rental options available to you. Self driving, chauffeur driven, 4×4, unlimited mileage and one way rental. The option to choose will depend on your preferences and prevailing conditions. If you feel uncomfortable when someone else is behind the wheel, go on your own. Autonomous driving is also recommended when a higher degree of privacy is needed. On the other hand, those who need more time to enjoy the scenery and relax are better off with a driver option. A local driver is also helpful when you are not familiar with local customs, languages, etc. In my opinion, a local driver is not only a valuable source of information, but also your security guard. He is your interpreter of the local arts which adds to the overall experience. A big advantage of using a driver is that, at most, he is only required to refuel the car. Any incidental cost that accumulates in the rented vehicle is the responsibility of the company.

Special car rental:

Security car rental is an item that is entering the market for a select few. Celebrity and valuables transportation is a different category altogether. For these two, you not only need special equipment (armored vehicles), but you may also require security services and qualified drivers. A good example is the elaborate security that is sought after when taking the world cup on a world tour. This category of car rental is available by special arrangement as it requires armed guards in some cases.

How to rent your car:

Purpose, Purpose and again purpose. Why do you need the car? This should always be in your mind. Once you decide on this, the first step is to make a showcase. The car rental market in Kenya is vast. International companies like Herz, Budget, Europcar are represented in Nairobi and Mombasa. Whether you go local or use multinationals is your own choice. But always keep in mind that at the end of the day the elements of budget and continuity will come into play. Do your research and narrow down your options to two or three agencies maximum and send them inquiries. Ask what is included in your rental options. Look at the fuel issue. Who is going to put fuel in the car? There are two options here. A car hire company may leave the responsibility of refueling to the hirer or alternatively they may do it for you. The best option is, of course, that the car rental company brings the car with a full tank and you return it with a full tank. Alternatively, they can bring the car empty and you return it empty too. If you let the car rental company pay for the fuel for you, you will end up paying a lot of premiums. Please note that if you choose to rent an empty car and return it empty, you will not be able to claim fuel on the car at the end of the rental. Refueling the car at car rental points can also be expensive for you. A better option is to buy enough to take you to the public gas station. In addition to the fuel issue, continuity is an important issue. How will the company react in the event of a breakdown?

Adventure and discovery:

In addition to fuel, the mileage option should concern you. Car rental is all about adventure and discovery. Remember that you are renting a car to be free of mobility restrictions. I personally will opt for unlimited mileage at any time. This option does not restrict you to a particular radius. It may seem expensive, but for adventurers, it’s cheap in the long run. Even if you want to stay within a specific radius, just look for unlimited mileage. Nairobi’s city center may seem restrictive, but an hour’s drive brings you to vast expanses of open space and coveted breathing room.

Car rental contracts differ from company to company. The normal procedure is to look for inclusions and exclusions. Take into account the mandatory insurance coverage and the extras or recommended coverage. Some coverages will include the passengers and leave the driver. In this case, you will need personal insurance coverage. Local insurance companies will be happy to offer you monthly travel coverage. AAR will offer travelers evacuation coverage in the event you need emergency medical care.

On the day of the rental, be sure to inspect the car that was delivered to you to avoid paying for major damage repairs before your rental. Some multinational companies have been accused of charging multiple unsuspecting guests for the same damage. Don’t fall for this trick. Check the body for teeth. Any defects must be noted. Check the tire threads and make sure they are not worn. Remember that you are responsible for any tire failure.

Rental Points:

Upon arrival in Nairobi, you can rent a car at the airport. One option is to contact your travel agent to have a car waiting for you.

Those going on safari are better off with a car rental option with insurance, driver allowance, fuel, and park entrance fees. So the guests will sit and enjoy without disturbance. However, if you are familiar with the country, you can go on a self-drive safari. However, it is always good to have company.

Insurance: Most cars will come with mandatory third party insurance. However, some companies will have full coverage. Ask your operator what insurance they are offering you.

driving

In Kenya, the rule of the road is keep left. At the roundabout, people coming from the right have free passage. Nairobi can be a nightmare for even the most experienced driver, but if you stay calm, you’ll arrive at your destination in one piece and in peace. Simply put, give way even when you don’t have to. The public transport driver, also called the Matatu driver, can be very polite and rude at the same time. He will bully you into giving in, but when things are not going his way, he is the first to give in. A small downpour is likely to turn Nairobi into a Jam city. My best advice at such times is to just kick back in his office and wait for the craziness to die down.

Car rental:

If you’re staying for a short time or your business doesn’t need to worry about routine maintenance and disposal, simply opt for leasing. However, be careful about the agreement you enter into. Some companies may sell you a car through the back door in the name of the lease.

Digital Marketing

Do It Yourself Yellow Letter Marketing

Yellow Letter Marketing Definition

Yellow lettering is a widely heralded marketing technique that boasts a 10-15% response rate. The premise is to handwrite a letter in red ink on yellow paper offering to buy or sell a product or service. Since this technique uses invitation-style envelopes and live stamps, most recipients will open it and read it rather than identify it as spam to discard. Also, since the letter is handwritten and personalized to them, it helps build rapport.

Materials and Cost Savings

One-time/fixed-cost items include a printer and a word processor such as Microsoft Office or openoffice.org (free download). As long as it supports mail merge, any word processor will work. In addition, we will use a digital scanner. Since we’ll only be using it twice, you might consider borrowing it from a neighbor or friend instead of buying your own. You will also need your marketing list complete with name, property address and mailing address. To create these lists, you can use an online service like listsource.com.

A do-it-yourself campaign can provide significant cost savings compared to many online yellow card services. To give you an idea of ​​the savings, a 1,000-letter campaign online can cost $1.40 per letter for a total of $1,400. Doing it yourself can be as cheap as $650 for a savings of $750. Note that I did not price raw materials, so you may be able to beat this by buying in bulk or finding a better deal. These items can be picked up for prices similar to the following at any office supply store such as Walmart, Staples, and Office Depot.

  • Color ink at $25 / 250 letters is $0.10 per letter
  • Invitation style envelopes (4 3/8 x 5 3/4) at $8.38 / 100 envelopes $0.08 per letter
  • Yellow Notepads (8 1/2 x 11) @ $10.88 / 600 sheets $0.02 per letter
  • First class stamps (for return service) are $0.45 per letter
  • The total cost per letter is $0.65 + taxes

The steps

First, I must say that this is a non-trivial amount of work. If I had to guess, I’d say I put in a solid 30 hours from start to finish to put out my first 700+ card campaign. Now that I have more experience with the process, I could cut it in half for a similar sized campaign. Without a doubt, you should consider the cost-benefit before you start. That said, this is a great option if you’re focused on keeping your marketing costs down, are just starting out, or have a tighter budget. You can multitask while printing and stuffing envelopes while watching TV. Given the savings, there’s certainly room to outsource this work to someone looking to make a quick buck. Alternatively, you can use this technique until you have closed a few deals. After that, your time is more important and you may prefer to use an online service.

1. Create a custom font

If you haven’t heard of fiverr.com, prepare to be surprised. The premise of the site is to buy various services for $5. Go to the site and search for “source” and then choose one of the service providers that has a good rating. Here is the workflow:

1) They will send you a template that you must print.

2) The template has a number of boxes for you to provide samples of your handwriting, including AZ, az, and special characters.

3) Once complete, you will need to scan the page and provide them with the resulting image file.

4) They will create your font and return it to you in about a day.

5) When you receive the font, you can install it on your machine by following its instructions. Now you can create and print documents using your handwriting!

A couple of things to keep in mind:

1) Try to introduce some variability in your font by using a less than perfect typeface; things like left, right, top or bottom justifying some characters and varied character sizes.

2) Make sure your font has a consistent slant so that any sentences you write flow well.

3) Try a thinner pen, like a ballpoint pen, and keep it handy so you can combine it in the future.

4) This pen does not need to be red, as we will introduce the color later.

Bottom line, try not to make your font perfect or it will have obvious CG font characteristics like comic sans (regular spacing between characters, all characters lined up perfectly, no errors).

2. Creating your Yellow Letter Template

Write, print and review some sample texts with your new font. If your source is credible on its own, you can skip step A and continue with step B. If it seems too synthetic, you can retry step 1 (for an additional $5) applying any comments you have. Otherwise, you will need to complete steps A and B to create your yellow card template. In either case, your finished product will be something like the following where [XXX] Y [YYY] they are automatically populated with data from your marketing spreadsheet.

Dear [XXX],

I am a real estate investor and I am interested in your neighborhood. I see you have a house in [YYYY].

If you are interested in selling, please call me at 555.555.5555. We’ll pay the closing costs and…

Best regards,

Don

A) Create the base for your template

The base of your template will be a scanned image of a yellow handwritten letter. To do this, I suggest that you first create a hard copy of your Yellow Card using your custom font. For the printed letter, be sure to leave space for the salutation (ie Dear [XXX] from above) and a full line for the property address (i.e. [YYY] from above). You will also need a sheet of yellow legal pad paper and a blank sheet of printer paper. First put the yellow paper on the table. Next, overlay the printout so that the text matches the lines on the paper. Finally, place the blank sheet of paper on top so you can copy the printed version using your handwriting. The purpose of this step is to match the font closely but to introduce additional variability to make the result more readable. You may need to adjust the pages several times so that the resulting copy matches the line spacing on the yellow paper. You may get better results by using a window so that the sunlight allows you to see the lines that make up the yellow paper and the letter you are copying by hand.

The next step is to scan this document with your scanner and create an image file that you can put as a background in your word processor. The best setting for the scanner is text mode (this preserves contrast by removing dust and other impurities). Also, set the scan dimensions to 8.5″ x 11″ so that the resulting image fills the space in your word processor and aligns perfectly with the lines on the yellow paper.

Open the image in your favorite graphics software and change the font areas from black to red. Finally, paste this image into your word processor and set it to go behind the text.

B) Mail Merge Settings

We have the basis for your Yellow Card. Next, you’ll need to add the property address and salutation placeholder fields so that the mail merge can substitute unique values ​​on each page. To do this, you’ll reference your spreadsheet that contains your destination campaign’s name, property address, and mailing addresses. For example, your greeting will say “Dear [XXX]” where [XXX] is the field that references the specific column in your spreadsheet. Using red text and its font, you can write this text and position it so that it is in the correct position in relation to the background image or other text.

Mail merge is such a vast topic that I suggest you do a quick search to find the many online resources (Google and YouTube) for setting up mail merge in Microsoft Word and Openoffice.org. Also, if you are using Openoffice.org and notice strange printing behavior, you should take a look at the solution needed if you print an odd number of pages.

3. Refinement

It should now try to print on your yellow paper. You most likely have alignment issues; these can be addressed in a number of ways:

1) Try adjusting the font size of the blank lines above your text. For example, you will have some blank lines before and after the greeting. Adjust the font size of these lines up or down to scroll the following text.

2) A less demanding method would be to adjust the top margin so that the textarea moves up or down.

3) You may need to adjust the paragraph or character spacing to match your document.

4) Remember that the image from step 2A can be adjusted up or down to align correctly.

5) Lastly, try setting the view (or zoom level) to 100% and then hold your yellow page up to the screen to see how close it is.

Make any necessary adjustments and try again. A couple of mistakes if you have an inkjet printer:

1) Do not overfill the paper feed as the page alignment changes as the number of pages is reduced.

2) Raise the rear stopper on the paper feed to prevent it from moving when the printer pulls out paper.

Health Fitness

lose weight by bike

Cycling for weight loss is a fun and enjoyable way to improve your health and feel better. Pedaling down a country road or through a city park awakens your spirit and awakens your senses.

A regular cycling weight loss routine can reduce your risk of serious conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity.

One of the strongest arguments for encouraging more people to cycle is that it leads to significant improvements in public health.

Cycling is also a good way to improve balance and coordination. It improves your general well-being and promotes mental health. Beyond the health benefits, it’s a nice way to get around.

Getting on your cycling bike regularly can also be an effective form of aerobic exercise. Cycling can also have positive effects on how we feel.

Moderate exercise has been found to reduce levels of stress and depression, improve mood, and increase self-esteem. It has also been found, in some cases, to relieve the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Benefits in strength and agility can also come from regular cycling. There are no real age barriers to riding a bike and people at almost any fitness level can start off slowly and gently if needed.

Physically active older people can reduce the rate of hip fractures with regular cycling exercise. Most of the negative things we associate with aging are not the result of chronological aging but rather a lack of physical activity.

A recent study found that even a small amount of cycling for weight loss can lead to a significant improvement in fitness. Aerobic capacity increased by 11 percent after just 6 weeks of cycling short distances four times a week.

Cycling is as gentle on your body as a sport can be. It’s a non-weight-bearing exercise, so it’s easy on your joints, even sore ones. It can be a wonderful way to exercise and lose weight without pain.

They say that once you learn to ride a bike you never forget it and that is true. Movement and balance come back to you very quickly. If you’re looking to get out more often and improve your fitness, riding a bike is the answer.

If you are looking to lose weight by pedaling, get on your bike and leave your worries and stress at home. Enjoy your trip. Just think that you could be at work instead.

Copyright © 2005 Treadmill Info.com All rights reserved.

Legal Law

Ironman Triathlon Watch Facts: They’re Collectible, Inexpensive, and Have a Fascinating History

Tea Timex Ironman Triathlon watch comes to mind for many when considering the purchase of a sports watch. Understandably, the triathlon model has been associated with sports since its inception in 1984.

The connection was cemented in 1986 when Timex became involved in the famous Ironman Triathlon sporting event. Timex very cleverly aligned itself with the nascent Ironman triathlon race in a coup by what turned out in hindsight to be a marketing genius.

The original Timex Triathlon watch name was replaced with the Timex Ironman Triathlon watch name, the water resistance was increased to 100 meters, some cosmetic changes were made along with the trademark name, and a new icon in watches was born.

Urban legend has it that when the original watches were brought to the first Ironman race to test the market, the watches literally ran away (excuse the pun). Every incoming triathlon wanted one of the originals, which created a shortage, which in turn fueled demand and hype. It was in those early days that the Timex Ironman Watch slogan “it licks, but it still works” was coined and the famous partnership between the Ironman Triathlon and Timex as title sponsor was born.

Since then, Timex has developed a series of Ironman triathlon watches ranging from fairly basic models with limited sport features to high-end, high-tech GPS and data link watches to meet the ever-increasing demands of the triathlon world. The basic Ironman triathlon watch still includes time, stopwatch (stopwatch), timer, event alarm, and three other alarms. More sophisticated models have GPS, lap timing, iPod interface, and the ability to upload and download data to and from your computer (data link)/

The first of the Ironman watches was worn by military and police personnel, as the watch was considered bulletproof and had a rugged look. That’s something the Timex Ironman and Rolex have in common (perhaps the only thing other than they both keep time), as Rolex watches were first distributed during World War I to enlisted men in the trenches.

In the early years, the “Ironman triathlon watch” was a men’s watch. Due to popular demand, a women’s version that was smaller and also suitable for teenagers became available in late 1984. These early Ironman watches have become collectible and a quick search on eBay or collector sites gives a good indication the prices they get.

The Ironman Triathlon watch didn’t change until the early 1990s when Indiglo was launched. This again proved to be a very successful marketing move that was quickly emulated by competitors. Indiglo’s electroluminescence was recorded by Timex.

Indiglo illuminated the entire watch face with a brilliant glow and dramatic colors, which was a vast improvement over previous glow-in-the-dark watch technology, where you could only see the tips of the watch hands and the numbers in the dark. INDIGLO technology also used less battery power than other backlit watches and was an immediate hit with consumers.

Later, when fashion changed, Timex made Indiglo more subtle with fewer flower colors. Indiglo remains a popular feature of Timex watches, particularly in the Ironman Triathlon range and Timex heart rate monitor models. The brightness of the watch face is a great advantage for athletes who train or play sports after dark.

The next big change in the Ironman triathlon watch range was the introduction of the data link and body link, which took the series to a new level of innovation.

The Timex name has often been associated with famous people and historical occasions. Timex watches look classless and are not subject to the status symbol positioning of more expensive watch brands. Timexes are often seen to be worn by the rich and famous and an often cited example is President Clinton who wore a favorite Timex. ironman triathlon watch during its opening (which he later donated to the Smithsonian museum). However, it is also true that President Clinton owned and wore a range of very expensive and elite watches during his tenure as President. Like Panerai.

The Timex Ironman Triathlon Datalink model 78401 adorned the arm of astronaut Daniel T. Barry on the space shuttle STS-72 Endeavour. Even George W. was known for wearing the durable, PR-friendly Timex during his time in office when occasion permitted. In another incident that made headlines, his Timex was mysteriously stolen from his wrist while he was in Albania.

A Timex Ironman Triathlon watch or any of the Data Link or 1440 series of watches are tough, durable watches with the respected Timex name behind them.

In recent years, other watch companies have given Timex stiff competition, however, Timex is a household name and is synonymous with good old-fashioned service and quality. Timex originally partnered with Walt Disney to produce the Mickey Mouse watch in 1933 and with their continued innovation and marketing wizardry, it’s hard to foresee that they’ll lose their reputation as the most trusted, reliable and affordable timepiece any time soon.