Are you tired with spots? Can what you eat really afflict you with acne? Many of us have heard the stories of greasy foods or too much chocolate giving you spots. Do you really have to watch what you eat?

Actually, there are many acne diet myths out there and most of them stem back to an inaccurate medical study that was taken back in the 1960’s. This study put the blame on greasy foods and chocolates for afflicting teenagers with spots. However, more recent studies have dismissed the link between food and acne. Acne occurs when your pores clog up deep down which grows into a mild infection, not because of some food you’ve eaten.

However, there are some people who experience mild allergies to specific foods, and some trace minerals and additives in our foods might see the spots appear. However, if you have any reason to believe that a specific food is causing your spots, then try cutting that food from your diet for a few weeks. Then attempt to eat that food once more, if you break out in spots yet again, then you could well be allergic to it and just by cutting down that food, you have found yourself a useful acne treatment.

Also, foods which are strong in iodine will produce spots. You’ll find that seafood like shrimp is high in iodine, though you’d have to eat an awful lot of shrimp before you broke out in spots! You’ll also find that the growth hormone that’s in most milk (anything that isn’t organic) as been shown in a recent 2005 study to produce hormone production in individuals, and these hormone shifts are known to make some individuals see spots! Our hormones stimulate oil production, which aids in the clogging of our pores, which all leads to acne treatment!

If you are using diet to control your acne, then consider starting with a regular skin care treatment, then look to make some diet adjustments. When you are looking to clear up your skin, try sensible things such as a healthier diet and removing suspect foods from your diet. Just remember that there are quite a few scientists who don’t think there is a link between your diet and your skin’s appearance, but it might be a help to you.

It’s that time of year again for a lot of us. Here are some tips to make your moving day less painful, both mentally and physically.

1. Lighten the load. Dispose of as much as possible before you start to pack. Donate to charity, have a yard sale or throw out.

2. Use the same size boxes. They will be easier to stack both while you are packing, and in the truck. No more spending time trying to figure out how to get all those different sized boxes stacked so they won’t fall over.

3. Use smaller boxes. Then you won’t have big heavy boxes that will wear you out fast. You, and your moving team will be able to keep going without struggling.

4. Use a good quality tape and tape gun. The couple extra bucks will save you tons of frustration.

5. A couple of wardrobe boxes are always a good idea. They keep your clothes clean and ready to hang. Plus, you can throw boots, shoes, and purses in the bottom.

6. Before wrapping your figures in newspaper, put them in a plastic shopping bag. It will keep them clean. A paper towel will work with smaller items.

7. Always write the room the box goes into on the outside of the box so your movers or helpers can deposit the boxes without you having to play traffic cop all day.

8. Write a description of what’s in the box so you can find things easily. If you are using recycled boxes (always a good idea), tape a sheet ofpaper on the outside to make a nice clean readable label.

9. When packing clothes, sheets, towels and such, put a plastic garbage bag in the box first, then place the items in the plastic bag. This works for pots and pans too. Then you won’t have to rewash them when you unpack. Throw a fabric softener sheet into the bag of clothes and linens before you close it up to keep them smelling nice.

10. Pack the items you will need the first night in separate boxes and label them so you can get to these things right away without having to go through 20 boxes trying to find things when you’re already exhausted.

11. Make sure the beds get set up, and other heavy items are in place. Other things can be moved around later.

12. Old fashioned as it may be – let the guys worry about the furniture. Take the girls and let them help you get the cabinets and drawers washed out and your kitchen set up. Then, once the truck is empty - everyone can easily sit down, relax, and have some pizza and beer and conversation.

13. If you packed well, the clothes can go right in the drawers. The sheets and towels can go right into the linen closet. Hanging clothes can go right into the closets. Depending on how ambitious you are, the entertainment center can be set up and books put in bookcases.

14. Take a break - the rest can wait for a little while……Rome wasn’t built in a day.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carole can show you how to keep that new home really clean right from the start. Get your copy of Secret Confessions of a Clean Freak and find out how you can easily keep your new castle gleaming.
http://CleanFreak.CommonSenseLiving.com

The overwhelming task of eliminating your debts can often seem like an uphill battle. Without the knowledge and expertise of a professional on your side, unfortunately, the odds are not in your favor. In order to reduce your debt, you have several options; however, if you want to maintain a “good credit rating”, you have to pay you bills on time; anything else will cause your credit score will suffer. With that being said please consider the following:

Option 1 - Consumer Credit Counseling

Consumer Credit Counseling companies were originally established to help credit card company’s recover revenue from clients that were falling behind on their bills. Choosing to use a Consumer Credit Counseling service can have negative effects on your credit that last up to 10 years. These services are also considered Chapter 13 Bankruptcy by most lending institutions. The bottom line is that Consumer Credit Counseling companies work for the creditors and banks.

By using their services, you will end up paying back your full debt, plus interest. These companies do not always provide financial relief as consumers often find out.

Option 2 - Debt Consolidation Loan

Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul is no way to get out of debt. It is however, the premise behind debt consolidation programs. Debt consolidation programs require that financial institutions provide consumer loans based on items of equity. For example, a home equity loan is used to “combine” your debts into a single monthly payment, which can often take 10 to 20 years to repay depending your on financial situation. This may seem like a viable solution in the short term, but missing payments on a secured loan could cause you to lose your home or the collateral you pledged. Many people who decide to go the debt consolidation route find themselves worse off than they originally were. It is not a good idea to exchange your unsecured debts for secured debts.

Option 3 - File Bankruptcy

While bankruptcy may seem to be the most expedient method for removing your unsecured debt, it is not, by any means, the best answer. A bankruptcy will remain on your credit record for 7-10 years and seriously affect your ability to rebuild your credit. Even after a bankruptcy has been removed from your record, you are still required to disclose it on forms and applications; even applications for employment. If you fail to answer this question truthfully it can be considered a crime. Additionally, certain types of bankruptcy can require a court-appointed trustee to control and oversee all aspects of your personal estate. Bankruptcy can have an adverse affect on your credit rating and lifestyle long after the legal matters are over. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. Bankruptcy is an option that should only be explored as an absolute last resort to solving your financial problems.

Option 4 - Debt Negotiation and Settlement Programs

Debt settlement programs provide their customers with a viable
solution to an otherwise complex problem. By helping eliminate your current debt, Debt Settlement programs allows you to regain control over your financial affairs and allow you to become debt free within a reasonable time frame. Debt settlement is fast becoming the only true option to financial recovery! However, I will say it again, even in Debt Settlement you have to pay you bills on time; anything else will cause your credit score to suffer.

Debt settlement is not a Consumer Credit Counseling Service or a
consolidation loan. Debt settlement is a legitimate and legal way of solving your debt and credit problems without the need for bankruptcy. Detb Settlement programs were designed to lower your current debst by 40-60%. Traditionally, this is accomplished by negotiating approved payoff amounts with your creditors. A Debt Settlement program can typically be completed within 36 months or less and eliminate most, if not all, of your current debts.

Alan Barnes
IAPDA Certified Debt Arbitrator and
President and CEO of Debt Regret
http://www.debtregret.com

The Prodigal Prince Fred, (Tasmanian Fred, Royal Spoiled Brat)

THE SETTING Luke 15:11 “There was a man who had two sons.

Far away, long before children had beds, There lived a Tasmanian
‘Devil’ named “Fred” Prince Frederick the Fifth, Son of
Frederick the Fourth Who ruled the Tasmanian Kingdom, of course.

King Frederick was noble and goodly and nice The Tasmanians
loved him- from mooses to mice They also loved King Freddy’s
nicely son “Ned” But oh how they hated that nasty Prince Fred.

Prince Freddy was snooty and cocky and smuggly He hung with his
“gang”, “The Tasmanian Thugglies” They loved to break furniture,
quarrel, and fight And steal kiddies’ candies on Halloween night.

They’d cruise through the countryside hooting and howling
Kicking the kangaroos, shooting and scowling Scaring the
children asleep in their beds And thumping the night owls on top
of their heads; they’d

throw rocks through windows and break into stores They’d put
piles of doo-doo by people’s front doors And laugh at the look
in the nice people’s eyes When they stepped out and stepped in
Fred’s “poo-poo surprise.”

And the townspeople said, “For these prattles and pranks We’ll
break out our paddles- PRINCE FRED NEEDS A SPANK!”

And oh how they spanked him- they swatted and popped him But
Prince Freddy liked the attention it got him - His horrible
habits would not go away So he pranked every night and got
spanked every day.

Luke 15:12 The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me
my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between
them.

But what Fred only knew was that he had grown weary Tasmanian
teasing was boring and dreary He’d broken or messed up most
everything there And he ached for a change- a breath of fresh
air.

So he said “hey King Daddy-O, gimme my Money I ‘m sick and I’m
tired of you, Neddy and Mummy I’m gonna go where the grasses are
greener The girls are much cuter, the cows are much leaner We’ll
conquer the world, my Thugglies and me THEY’RE my real family-
They love me, you’ll see.”

King Frederick wiped a big tear from his eye, said, “Dear Son
Freddy, please don’t say goodbye” The world is a jungle, cruel
and abusing You’ll get bamboosled, you’ll get a bad bruising.

But Freddy shouted, “Quiet, you looney old man Just gimme my
money, as fast as you can!”

King Frederick thought “I don’t owe him a thing” But I’ll follow
the counsel of Cousin King Sting Who said “Sometimes love is to
let people be” for “If you love someone you must set them free.”

King stood up and said, I’ll give half of my kingdom Then Fred
will see just how much I love him (But Freddy just stood looking
bored and half-sick And said “good enough, Daddy, -let’s make it
quite quick!”).

Out came the servants with barrels and trunkets Silver by
truckloads, Doubloons by the buckets Deeds for the land, for the
houses and castles Clothes with gold hats zippers and diamonds
on tassles.

And when finally they’d loaded the loot and the booty Prince
Fred turned around with a shout super-snooty “Good riddance,
Good King, and Tasmania too I’ll conquer the world, just like I
conquered YOU!

THE SQUANDERING Luke 15:13 “Not long after that, the younger son
got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there
squandered his wealth in wild living.”

So Fred bought a ship and a giant Jalope The Thugglies and some
of the girlies came hopping They sailed off to Greece, to Italia
and Thebes Germania, San Pedro, the Isle of Saint Dweebes
Morocco, Swahili, Israeli, Bombay Calcutta, Cape Cod, Albakerkie
and Spain The Thugglies all cheered “2,4,6, and 8 Freddie’s the
Thugguly we ‘preciate We really love you, not just for your
money- You’re every boy’s buddy, and every girl’s honey.

They sailed to Cape horn where the Africans dance Got drunk on
bamboo juice and wet in their pants (They drove the Jalope all
through the Sahara ’til it broke down in the hot desert weatha’)
They Flew on a flybird to HulaHuLoo And swiggled and swayed like
the hulahoo’s doo They took a fast train to Bermuda for fishing
And snork’ling and swimming and winnihee wishing Then off to
Arabia seeking the carpet- The magic one- and when the found it
Fred bought it They rode like the wind on a magical flight So
close to the stars they could kiss them goodnight And they
laughed and they sang and they never once worried … Til they
ran out of gas in Pougkipsee, Missouri Starving and thirsting
from singing and lauging They searched out a truck stop for
eating and gassing They ordered hamburglers and ice cream and
coke- That’s when Fred said with a gasp- “Friends, I’m broke!”

His ‘friends’ said, “Hey, Freddy-O, you must be jokin’” Fred
said “I’m not…” and they started to choke him “Why have you
brought us out here to Missouri?!”- they cried and they cried
’til their vision was blurry.

They beat Fred that night ’bout the head and the shoulders
Kicked him and pelted him hard with small boulders, Then pooled
every cent they’d embezzled from Fred Hopped a bird home and
left Fred for dead.

PIGS Luke 15:14 After he had spent everything, there was a
severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

When Fred awoke in the ditch the next tuesday, Angry and dizzy
and battered and bruisedy Seeing he needed some doct’ring and
nursing He wobbled and bobbled back into Poughkipsee.

‘These people will serve me as soon as they see My royal
credentials, my choice pedigree I’m Frederick the Fifth, Son of
Frederick The Fourth Heir to the crown of Tasmania, of course!’

“Tasmania!”, they laughed, “why it sounds to me Like this boy’s
been eating the wackety weed! He thinks he’s a Prince, but it’s
clear, he’s a fake (disgrace) From the thuggardly look on his
uggardly face He’s nothing but trouble, repair bills, and grief
Poughkipsee has no need for this little thief!”

Luke 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that
country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. Luke 15:16 He
longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were
eating, but no one gave him anything.

So Fred limped down the road, saw a farmer named Rooflus (fat,
bald, and sweaty and dirty and toothless) Who said, “You can
feed all my pigglies, you dooflus!”

So Fred slept in the barn with the hogs in Missouri Where
roachies and rats and reegreechies would scurry So dark and so
cold in the yuck and the storm He’d hug to the hogs in the mud
to keep warm.

And up with the sunrise Ol’ Rooflus came screaming “TIME TO SLOP
HOGS- STOP YOUR SNORING AND DREAMING” And oh- how Fred hated to
wake up each day For he dreamed of his soft bed, back home, far
away.

Then Rooflus would swat with his sluggardly-stick Fred’d jump
for the bucket of schloppettyschlick, full of sloopage and
scumdredge and leftover lardy, rotten vomatoes and chunkies of
barfy.

Fred got so hungry his tummy would gurgle When he’d spy a bitey
of uneaten burgle Floating about in the schloppetyschlick But
Rooflus said “NO SIR, NOT ONE LITTLE BIT” For hogs need to eat,
they are useful and tasty But you’re good for nothing; you’re
stoopid and lazy .

And the only thing Fred was the Prince of was pigs (But the pigs
ate much better than Fred ever did!)

REPENTANCE Luke 15:17 “When he came to his senses, he said, `How
many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am
starving to death! Luke 15:18 I will set out and go back to my
father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and
against you. Luke 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your
son; make me like one of your hired men.’

And slowly, sneaking as if by surprise an idea began growing
behind Freddy’s eyes ’til one day he came to his senses and
said, “If I stay with these hogs pretty soon I’ll be DEAD!” The
servants that work for my Dad eat like Kings And all I can eat
is regreechichies and squings And moldy old swatches of
schlochettyschlick Left where the piggelet’s tongues couldn’t
lick.

So I’ll hike back to Father and beg for a job ’cause I’ve got
experience slopping these hogs! Of course he won’t let me back
into the house Since I spent all his money out being a louse I’m
no longer worthy of being his son But I’m great with the hogs- I
can get the job done.

EATING HUMBLE PIE Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father.

So Fred ran away from Pougkipsee and Rooflus Hitchedhiked a
wildebeest down to San Lucas Stowed away in the gut of a whale
named Jonah Til the whale barfed him out on the beach of
Pomplona! He ran in a rickshaw to Katmandudu Nambibia, Naples
and Kalamazoo.

After 7 long years of swimming and running (It takes a long time
without daddy-o’s funding) Fred saw the land he’d remembered in
dreams- The shores of Tasmania- sparkling and clean.

FATHER WELCOMES HIM: “But while he was still a long way off, his
father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to
his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Now King Frederick feared that young Fred had died But day after
day, the King strained his old eyes Peering through periscopes
over the hills Praying that Fred would come home to him still.

And that day, the greatest day, what did he see? Floundering
Freddy afloat on the sea The King ran like an antelope, threw
out a raft Pulled Freddy onto the beach with a laugh.

Luke 15:21 “The son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against
heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your
son.

Freddy coughed up all the seaweed and water said, please don’t
kill me, but hear me out, Father I’ve sinned, I’m a joke, I’m a
heel of a schmuck I’m mother’s worst nightmare- bait for bad
luck, so Just let me live in the shack with the peasants
Slopping the hogs, or dressing the pheasants I’m no longer
worthy to be called your son But I’ve learned to slop hogs- I
can get the job done!

Luke 15:22 “But the father said to his servants, `Quick! Bring
the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and
sandals on his feet. Luke 15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill
it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. Luke 15:24 For this son of
mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So
they began to celebrate.

King said, “Son, we’ve no hogs, we’re Tasmanian Jews But you’re
home alive- That’s the greatest of news!” “So bring him my robe,
put my ring on his hand Let’s throw a party all over the land
Strike up the band let the hoopla abound For Prince Fred was
lost; HOORAY, he’s been found!”

OLDER SON GETS MAD: Luke 15:25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in
the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and
dancing. Luke 15:26 So he called one of the servants and asked
him what was going on. Luke 15:27 `Your brother has come,’ he
replied, `and your father has killed the fattened calf because
he has him back safe and sound.’ Luke 15:28 “The older brother
became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and
pleaded with him. Luke 15:29 But he answered his father, `Look!
All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed
your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could
celebrate with my friends. Luke 15:30 But when this son of yours
who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home,
you kill the fattened calf for him!’

But Fred’s brother Ned wasn’t dancing with glee Ned sat there,
lips pouting all pitifully Saying, “Hey daddy-o - I’m as nice as
can be- But when did you throw a big party for ME? I worked and
I slaved and busted my buttocks While that little twirp spent
your loot like a dumb-ox.

FATHER GIVES MORAL Luke 15:31 “`My son,’ the father said, `you
are always with me, and everything I have is yours. Luke 15:32
But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of
yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

“But Ned”, said the King, “You’re already with me What’s mine is
all yours, far as eagle eyes see So come on! Let’s party, let’s
rock & get down ’cause Fred, left for dead, is alive and in
town!”

And this, goobs and gurls, is the way God loves you Whatever you
say, sin, bamboozzle or do, When you come running home with your
arms open wide God says, “Come on in, love! There’s a party
inside!”

© Copyright 1989 Troy Nilsson You may reprint this story in
whole or in part if you: 1) Notify Troy Nilsson of the use, 2)
Prominently include credit “© Troy Nilsson of NilssonMedia.org”
with the used material.

For the longest time, people would just walk into a computer store and buy
a PC because that is what everyone else seemed to be using. With the success of the
iPod people are beginning to take notice of Apple and their very eye catching
products. Now there seems to be a choice, which computer is best for you? Mac or
PC?

I’m going to say right off the top, my Personal Computer of choice is a
Mac. This
doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t use a PC or that a Mac is right for everyone.

Firstly so we all understand, PC stands for Personal Computer. Is a Mac a Personal
Computer? You bet, since most people refer to Windows based Computers as PC’s.
We will use the term PC to describe a Windows based Personal Computer and we will
use Mac to describe Apple’s OSX-Unix based Computer.

Whenever I help someone find the best computer for their needs, I like to ask a lot
of questions.

Here are a few questions to consider.

1. What are you going to use the computer for?

2. Do you have a computer geek in the family that is going to help
you
with setup, questions and problems you may have, or do you want to be
independent.

3. Are there any specific programs that you must be able to use,
how
important is software compatibility?

4. Are you the creative or business type?

5. How concerned are you about Security,Viruses and Spyware?

6. Will Design and Styling be part of your buying decision?

7. How important is Gaming to you?

How do these question help me determine which Computer System to
recommend?

Lets start with Question 1.

What are you going to use the computer for?

It’s very important to first find out what this computer will be used for. Is it going to
be for very basic uses such as Internet, email and Word Processing or will you be
using it for a home business or for creative tasks like Graphics and Design. There is
no cut and dry which is better here, in this case a basic user could go with Mac or
PC, The business type may be leaning towards a PC, and the Graphics and Design
person should start considering a Mac.

Question 2.

Do you have a computer geek in the family that is going to help you with
setup,
questions and problems you may have, or do you want to be independent?

This is an important question because if you have a Geek in the family, more then
likely they prefer one system over the other, if you want their approval and support
you may need to purchase the system that they use.

On the other hand, do you want to be self sufficient? If so then you have the
freedom to choose the system that you like best. If you are not overly computer
savvy the Mac offers the quickest learning curve with the least amount of technical
understanding to be self sufficient.

Question 3.

Are there any specific programs that you must be able to use, how
important is
software compatibility?

Does your business require specific software programs for real-estate, database,
design or education? Not all programs are cross-platform, meaning they may only
run on PC or Mac but not both. This could greatly effect your purchasing decision.
One note to make here is that a Mac can run a Virtual PC program that allows you to
install Windows and Windows based programs. This allows you to run PC programs
on a Mac but they will run at a reduced speed because of software emulation.

Question 4.

Are you the creative or business type?

A common perception is that PC’s are best for business and Mac’s are best for
creativity. There is definitely some truth to this however both PC’s and Mac’s are
capable of either. It may come back to compatibility if you are working closely with
others.

Question 5.

How concerned are you about Security,Viruses and Spyware?

Viruses and Spyware are here to stay, but did you know the Viruses and Spyware
that can bring your PC to its knees will not even slightly affect a Mac? This is due in
part to the Mac’s Unix based operating system. The reason for this is Viruses and
Spyware are programs for PC’s, PC programs will not run on a Mac. This doesn’t
mean a Mac can’t get a virus but is much more unlikely since it would have to be
written specifically for the Mac and it’s very robust Unix security.

Question 6.

Will Design and Styling be part of your buying decision?

Without question Apple makes some very stylish computers! This is prevalent when
ever you watch a Movie or TV show. Mac’s are in almost every scene where a
computer is scripted. Style isn’t just about looks, it’s also about making a product
that is usable and simple yet full of features that you really need.

Question 7.

How important is Gaming to you?

Maybe you are purchasing your computer as a gaming machine. Hands down the PC
would be the best choice for this. Make sure you balance all of your computer uses,
you may not have as much time as you think to game with all of the other great
programs available. You can always purchase a console game like the XBox 360 and
destroy your friends from the comfort of your couch.

More to Consider…
I wanted to mention some of the strong points to each system.

PC:

-Extensive selection of software and hardware to choose from.

-Very competitive pricing on hardware and software as a result of a multitude
of
companies selling PC’s and their related programs.

-Full compatability with virtually all accessories.

Mac:

-Very tight integration between hardware and software due to Apple designing both
aspects.

-Extremely user friendly and stable.
-Lots of Pre-installed software programs for todays digital lifestyle called iLife. iLife
is a suite of fully integrated programs that make it easy to use digital cameras,
digital video editing, audio and music.

-Mac users are the most product loyal customers in the industry, that’s got to
say
something!

Todays computers are becoming closer and closer in speed and what they can do,
compatibility between PC and Mac is almost seamless. I recommend you go to a
retail store and talk to a qualified sales rep and give both systems a test drive with
an open mind. The right computer will reveal it’s-self to you…

Author-Michael Kaye

DigitizMe.info

http://www.digitizeme.info

Get you free Computer and Technology eBook:

http://www.digitizeme.info/free.html

Families do not communicate primarily by language. That might surprise you, until you consider that humans bonded in families for millennia before we even had language. Even today, the most sensitive communications that have the most far-reaching consequences to our lives occur between parents and infants through tone of voice, facial expressions, touch, smell, and body posture, not language.

Though less obvious than interactions with young children, most of your communications with your older children and with your husband also occur through an unconscious process of emotional attunement. You psychologically and even physically tune in your emotions to the people you love. That’s how you can come home in one mood, find your husband or children in a different mood and, bam! – all of a sudden, out of nowhere, you’re in their mood. Quite unconsciously, you automatically react to one another.

Emotional attunement, not verbal skills, determines how we communicate, from our choice of words to our tone of voice. If attuned to a positive mood, you are likely to communicate pleasantly. If you’re in a negative mood, your words will be less than pleasant.

Now here’s the really bad news. Due to this unconscious, automatic process of emotional attunement, your children are painfully reactive to the walking-on-eggshells atmosphere between your husband and you, even if they never hear you say a harsh word to one another.

Everyone in a walking-on-eggshells family loses some degree of dignity and autonomy. You become unable to decide your own thoughts, feelings, and behavior, because you are living in a defensive-reactive pattern that runs largely on automatic pilot. No fewer than half the members of these unfortunate families, including the children, suffer from clinical anxiety and/or depression. (“Clinical” doesn’t mean feeling down or blue or worried, it means that the symptoms interfere with normal functioning. You can’t sleep, can’t concentrate, can’t work as efficiently, and can’t enjoy yourself without drinking.) Most of the adults lack genuine self-esteem (based on realistic self-appraisals), and the children rarely feel as good as other kids. They are ten times more likely to grow up to be resentful, angry, or abusive adults. If the family is violent, children are ten times more like to become abusers or victims of violence as adults. They are also at increased risk of alcoholism, criminality, mental health problems, and poverty.

The most common symptom of children in families who walk on eggshells is depression. But the signs can fool you; childhood depression looks different from the weeping, withdrawn, or sullen adult version. In children the disorder resembles chronic boredom. Children normally have high levels of interest, enjoyment, and excitement. If your child is not interested in the things in which children are normally interested, lacks enthusiasm, and is seldom excited, he or she is probably depressed. Another common symptom of these children is anxiety, particularly worry about things that children do not normally worry about, like how their parents are going to get through the evening with each other. Many kids have school problems, show aggressive tendencies, hyperactivity, and either over-emotionality — anger, excitability, or frequent crying that seem to come out of nowhere — or the polar opposite: no emotions at all. In the latter condition, they can look like little stone children; you could slice up a puppy in front of them and they wouldn’t care. They have turned off all emotion to avoid the pain of walking on eggshells.

One piece of research on children in abusive families might startle you. Witnessing a parent victimized is usually more psychologically damaging to children than injuries from direct child abuse. In my own family, that was certainly true. I have only the faintest memories of child abuse – a small hole in my skull and a knocked-out front tooth – but I have vivid nightmares of seeing my mother ignored and dismissed as well as demeaned and terrified. Seeing a parent abused is the more profound form of child abuse.

When it comes to the more severe forms of destructiveness, purely emotional abuse is usually more psychologically harmful than physical abuse. There are a couple of reasons for this. Even in the most violent families, the incidents tend to be cyclical. Early in the abuse cycle, a violent outburst is followed by a honeymoon period of remorse, attention, affection, and generosity, but not genuine compassion. (The honeymoon stage eventually ends, as the victim begins to say, “Never mind the damn flowers, just stop hitting me!”) Emotional abuse, on the other hand, tends to happen every day. So the effects are more harmful because they’re so frequent.

The other factor that makes emotional abuse so devastating is the greater likelihood that victims will blame themselves. If someone hits you, it’s easier to see that he or she is the problem, but if the abuse is subtle – saying or implying that you’re ugly, a bad parent, stupid, incompetent, not worth attention, or that no one could love you – you are more likely to think it’s your problem.

All Forms of Abuse Have in Common a Failure of Compassion

Whether overt or silent, all forms of abuse are failures of compassion; he stops caring about how you feel. Compassion is the lifeblood of families and failure of compassion is the “heart disease” of a family’s emotional life. It actually would be less hurtful if your husband never cared about how you feel. But when you were falling in love, he cared a great deal, so now it feels like betrayal when he doesn’t care or try to understand. You feel as if he’s not the person you married.

It may not seem it from your day-to-day interactions, but your husband probably loves you. His emotional reactivity indicates that a strong bond still stirs the guilt and shame that, tragically, he blames on you. The fact that he loves you is both good news and bad news. Love by itself is so focused on how we feel that it masks the differences between people. The very intensity of love can make the person you love seem like little more than a source of strong emotions. In other words, it seems to him that you cause his emotions. If he feels good, you’re on a pedestal; but if he feels bad, you’re a demon.

Compassion makes us sensitive to the individual strengths and vulnerabilities of other people. As he learns to feel compassion under stress, your husband will see that you are different from him, with your own temperament, sensibility, experiences, longings, hopes, and dreams – all of which he probably did see when you were falling in love and his level of compassion was naturally high. Love by itself buries differences in the shadows of how strongly we feel. Compassion shines light on our differences and lets us appreciate and sympathize with loved ones. Love without the sensitivity of compassion is: rejecting (of who you really are as a person), possessive, controlling, and dangerous.

Dr. Steven Stosny has demonstrated his highly successful recovery program on such national television programs as “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “CBS Sunday Morning,” and CNN’s “Talkback Live” and “Anderson Cooper 360” and has appeared on numerous radio talk shows. He has been quoted by, or been the subject of articles in, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Chicago Tribune, U.S. News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Mademoiselle, Women’s World, O, The Oprah Magazine, Psychology Today, AP, Reuters, and USA Today. His website is http://compassionpower.com

The use of Echinacea on wounds, infections, snake bites, insect bites and stings is beyond the miracles of modern medicine ever. It boosts the immune system about 30% to help the body’s own T-cells fight infection and rid itself of poisons. It contains a natural antibiotic which is comparable to penicillin.

Used as a mouthwash will get rid of canker sores, painful teeth and swollen gums. I have advised many of my subjects to use a combination of Echinacea and Golden Seal as a cure for strep throat. The results have had immediate effect and the streptococcus was gone within a few days.

Combine in equal parts. Put about a tablespoon of the powder in a muslin cloth tea bag and steep in boiling hot water for 10 minutes. Using it as hot as you can stand but not too hot to scold the tonsils, gargle for about 5 minutes at least 6 times a day of not more. This will treat the strep and soothe the throat but most important of all it will eventually release the pus sacs, in tact, at the back of the throat. When you spit out the liquid after gargling you will spit out the pus sacs as well. You may do well to put 1 or 2 drops of the liquid in each ear. This will help the itching go away. Continue use for about 10 days.

Echinacea tea can be used for colds, smallpox, measles, mumps and arthritis.

Put about a tablespoon of the powder in a muslin cloth tea bag and steep in boiling hot water for 20 minutes. Remove tea bag and drink very warm, about 6 cups a day throughout the day. You will notice that urination is more frequent and may be a darker color than usual. This is normal don’t worry, its cleansing the system. You may also notice that if a slight fever is present, that it will be lessened if not gone.

If fever or symptoms persist with anything for more than three days, it would be wise to consult a physician, as other problems may be present.

About 1-1/2 X 2 inches in size and made of muslin with a cotton string. One tea bag can be used at least three times. So, after each use put it in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge. Discard product but do not discard the tea bag, wash it and reuse it.

My neighbor has a black lab named Abby. She is the sweetest old gal at the age of 14. The other day she got into a tiff with the other neighbor’s dog and acquired a gaping hole in her leg. My neighbor didn’t realize she was wounded until the fur on Abby’s leg started coming off in clumps. All he had on hand at the time was a bottle of capsulated Echinacea pills to treat the wound until he could take Abby to the Vet.

I told him to clean the wound with peroxide saturated cotton, let dry and empty 1/2 of the powdered Echinacea pill inside the wound, spray it gently with water to moisten, wrap and leave on until the morning. The next day when he removed the wrap, pus came out in a stream and you could see the swelling in the leg go down. He drained the wound for about 10 minutes then repeated my instructions. As the wound was too deep, Abby was unable to get stitches, so the wound was left to treat. He repeated my instructions reapplying fresh Echinacea twice a day. By the third day the wound was practically closed with the scab forming and the infection was gone. He was truly amazed at the Healing Power of Echinacea and quite frankly, so was I.

It gets a bit confusing and all too often you lose vital links and bits of information. This article will show you in simple terms, how I organize my files and stuff, it may even give you some ideas that you can use with your current system.

This is just what I do, and it’s written for those of us that aren’t
super wizz internet geeks.

A Directory is something in your computer that looks like a manilla envelope. It’s often called a folder.
You use these as you would a huge manilla folder (in real life), because you can put so many pages “Files” in them, you can also put other “Folders/Directories” in them, this makes a “sub directory” or “subfolder”.
First, I’ll assume you can do the basics or else you wouldn’t be reading this.
Go in “my documents”
Click on “Make a new folder” and call it “Internet Business” this folder is now a sub folder of “my documents”.
SAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH YOUR INTERNET BUSINESS IN “internet business” according to the subfolders we are about to make.

Second, Open “Internet business” and click on “new folder” as you just did in “my documents”. Now you will be making subfolders of “Internet business” go ahead and make as many as you can think of!
These will get you started!
“Mailing lists”, “Loginsfo”, “web building Stuff”, Affilliate referral urls”, “Click ex referal urls”, “Affilliate Banners”, “Click banners”, “Draft articles”, “Email letters”.

In each of these folders you’re going to place “files”, I use note book for everything now. When I started I was using excel and word.
But the problem with using them is that they are too big and too slow, especially when you are trying to do 10 different things at once.
Using “notebook” will save space on your hard drive and is a lot more “light weight” so it’s faster and speed is everything!
It also gives you some experience that will come in handy later when you start writing “html code”.
That’s probably a good subject for another article.

Finally, now you should have a directory set up with lots of empty folders, and files.
Simply save everything you come across in one of the sub folders of “Internet business” and if you need to you can create more sub folders of “internet business” or subfolders of the subfolders, etc.

That’s one simple way to keep all your important information.

I sincerely wish you good luck and happiness

Bill Boyd

The above article was produced by Bill Boyd as of one of the many training and mentoring projects that are part of the activity based training programs provided for free at: http://www.internetprofitmentor.com
Go there now take action! It’s free!
Over 12 hrs of videos for those Audio/Visual learners.

Any parent whose baby has suffered from colic can tell you that
colic is one of the most excruciating experiences ever
imaginable. Nothing is worse than seeing one’s baby in pain and
not being able to help take it away. Finding relief for colic
quickly becomes a top priority. There are many different colic
remedies that may come to the rescue for your particular baby.
Each baby is unique and may only respond to some or a
combination of colic remedies. Unfortunately, parents may have
to use the old trial and error method to determine which provide
the greatest amount of relief for their little colic sufferer.
One thing is certain, the days of waiting it out are long gone
for those determined to find an answer. There is no need to
suffer needlessly along with baby. If you have tried all proper
feeding and burping techniques and baby is still crying, try the
following list of the most effective remedies available:

#1 Music / Sound - Traditional lullabies,
classical music composed for infants and heartbeat/womb CDs are
very popular external remedies that relax many babies suffering
from colic. You can find some particularly good ones at the
Slumber Sounds web site. Some parents have had great success by
placing baby in car seat on top of running dishwasher, washing
machine, dryer or near running vacuum cleaner. A gentle
shhhhhhhing sound in the ear can work magic, as can soft
whispers and humming or singing.

#2 Diet - Bottle fed babies with colic may show
improvement if switched to a different formula, such as soy. The
mothers of breastfed babies may have to pay close attention to
their own diet to make sure that babies are not having negative
reactions to certain foods. Try eliminating the following common
culprits one at a time for a week to see if there are any signs
of improvement for baby: dairy, caffeine, chocolate and
gas-producing foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage,
onions, peppers, melons, tomatoes, citrus fruits, beans and
peanuts.

#3 Gripe Water - Be sure to check the
ingredients before buying a gripe water. Many claim to be
natural but include artificial ingredients and preservatives.
Colicky infants’ digestive systems certainly do not need any of
these potential irritants. Some gripe waters are not very
helpful. There is a new, very effective and safe gripe water on
the market, which you can purchase online at Colic Calm Gripe Water.

#4 Warm Aromatherapy Bath / Massage - Add a few
drops of lavender to a warm bath and follow with the soothing
touch of massage. Focus massage on the tummy area to relieve
painful trapped gas. You can research baby massage techniques on
the web or pick up a book on the subject. A good one to try is
The Practical Art of Baby Massage by Peter Walker. You can buy
lovely lavender, chamomile and fennel massage oils specifically
designed for baby massage on the Web. There is also a popular
baby massage tool called Snukkles which may work well for
you.

#5 Swaddling - Babies are often soothed when
swaddled or held close to a parents chest and heartbeat since
they are reminiscent of the comfort and safety of the womb.
Newborn babies are soothed in nurseries with swaddling.
Techniques on folding soft, stretchy blankets are easy to learn.
Find instructions and diagrams online or pick up a book/
magazine on the topic. A good ready-made wrap to try is
SwaddleMe. It is easy to find on the Web.

1. USE POP-UPS
Pop-ups are one of the most common methods you can use to capture email addresses and build your email list quickly and with ease. Simply construct a web page containing code for a form and set the page to open (pop up) when visitors ENTER OR EXIT your site.
Make sure the pop-up offer is something that`s valuable enough to motivate visitors to take time to give you their contact information. Your offer can be a complimentary report, download, or ebook that arrives instantly through your autoresponder to their email inbox when they give you their email.

2. OFFER A FREEBIE
You have to give in order to get. If you want people to offer up their email address, you`re going to have to offer up an incentive. Nothing works better than something that`s complimentary (you spell that F-R-E-E). You can give away no-cost reports, books, software, or even sample pages of a book.

3. USE POSTCARDS
If you have a mailing list that contains snail mail (street) addresses, convert it into an email list by sending out a postcard and inviting people to VISIT YOUR WEBSITE to receive a gift of some kind — a report, a discount coupon, etc. Visitors don`t have to pay in order to receive their gifts, they simply need to enter an email address.

4. SUBSCRIBER BOX ON EVERY PAGE
This is a clever trick that so many people overlook. Put a RESPONSE FORM ON EVERY PAGE of your website offering a newsletter or other freebie. This will increase the number of email addresses you capture exponentially.
Why? When search engines index the pages of your website, a visitor may come directly to a page other than your home page. If you only have a subscriber box on your home page, you`re missing the boat, not to mention the thousands of visitors who bypass your homepage.

5. CONTESTS
Contests very often prove to be a good way to generate traffic and buzz for your business. Create a contest and put a form on your site or in a pop-up box. The entry “fee” is their email address.

6. DISPLAY YOUR AUTORESPONDER ADDRESS
Most people give their website link when they place solo ads, ezine ads, or other marketing messages. To be one step ahead of the game in collecting email addresses, LIST YOUR AUTORESPONDER ADDRESS instead of your URL. This way you can capture email address and funnel them into your follow-up sales letters.

7. JUST ASK
If you`re chatting with a prospect on the phone or a potential customer stops by your place of business, don`t be shy: ask for an email address or business card (which usually includes their email address).

If you would like to subscribe to my entire series of helpful articles and my FREE internet home business tips and website marketing secrets newsletter with hundreds of moneymaking tips and tricks. Just go to my website, “How to Start Online Business” . Enter your contact information and click the “Free Signup!” button. Your privacy is guaranteed.