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	<title>A Rare Think</title>
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		<title>A Beginners Guide To Procuring The Correct Electric Blankets</title>
		<link>http://rarethink.com/2010/03/09/a-beginners-guide-to-procuring-the-correct-electric-blankets/</link>
		<comments>http://rarethink.com/2010/03/09/a-beginners-guide-to-procuring-the-correct-electric-blankets/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:15:33 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Electric blankets come in a couple simply colours, and most are produced out of fleece or any other soft materials. Even if the heating element is turned down, these blankets will still keep you comfy. You can either purchase a blanket for its specific options or choose one that nicely suits the d&#233;cor in your [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Electric blankets come in a couple simply colours, and most are produced out of fleece or any other soft materials. Even if the heating element is turned down, these blankets will still keep you comfy. You can either purchase a blanket for its specific options or choose one that nicely suits the d&#233;cor in your bungalow.</p>
<p>Procuring an electric blanket is a cost saving substitute to leaving the heating in your accommodation turned up high. You will also save a lot of money on your annual utility costs. Furthermore, running the heating furnace extensively during the winter months can dry out the air in your apartment. This is very unhealthy for your skin. On the other hand, with an electric blanket you can simply turn down the heater at night. You will not have to give up warmth also, since these products will keep you nicely warm. Search online for an array of electrical products such as; electric blankets, <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=8">tumble dryer</a>s and dishwashers from leading brands.</p>
<p>Electric blankets are on sale in an array of sizes. If both you or your partner are a tad cold at night consider getting a double, queen, or king sized blanket. Yet, in a substantial number of cases, one person may prefer to have the bedroom much colder than the other. Instead of bickering over your flats night-time temperature, buy a small, twin sized electric blanket. The individual who likes to be warmer at night can get under it at night. This way, both of you can be comfortable at the same time.</p>
<p>In the past, electric blankets needed a significant amount of special care. For example, you couldn&#8217;t put them in the washing machine like a regular blanket and you had to make sure they didn&#8217;t overheat. Fortunately, blankets have improved significantly. Some models can be washed and dried. They also contain special internal sensors that prevent it from overheating. If your electric blanket gets too warm, then the monitor will cause it to switch off so that there is no risk of a fire starting.</p>
<p>However, electric blankets that are made nowadays are tremendously safe; you are advised still to take proper safety measures. If you want to fall asleep without worrying about turning down the blanket, look for an item that offers an automatic shut off or timer function. That way, you can set it and simply relax, knowing that it will just shut off after you fall asleep. If kids will be using your electric blanket, it is imperative that you supervise them. This is because kids have more sensitive skin and therefore a hot temperature for a grown-up can burn a child&#8217;s skin. If you follow one or two basic steps to make sure that you are safe; an electric blanket can certainly be a great way to stay warm during December and January.</p>
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		<title>An Essential Guide To Purchasing Mattresses</title>
		<link>http://rarethink.com/2010/02/09/an-essential-guide-to-purchasing-mattresses/</link>
		<comments>http://rarethink.com/2010/02/09/an-essential-guide-to-purchasing-mattresses/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:46:45 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Acquiring a mattress is definitely not something you have to do often, as a first-class item should last for several years. Before going online or a mattress outlet, think about some tips so that you make the proper investment for your specific requirements.
Innerspring mattresses are exceedingly popular. With a number of mattresses the quality is [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Acquiring a mattress is definitely not something you have to do often, as a first-class item should last for several years. Before going online or a mattress outlet, think about some tips so that you make the proper investment for your specific requirements.</p>
<p>Innerspring mattresses are exceedingly popular. With a number of mattresses the quality is due to the precise number of coils whereas many other mattresses use noticeably fewer metal coils but comes with a somewhat thicker wire gauge. The precise amount or thickness of the metal coils shouldn&#8217;t make a difference in the decision making process but the whole comfort of the mattress ought to always be a key priority.</p>
<p>Pillowtop mattresses are constructed to offer you the preference of a softer, plush bed. The pillowtop section is basically various layers of cotton with either wool or foam sewn to the top of the mattress. Don&#8217;t feel obliged to get a pillowtop mattress to get an improved sleep in particular if the cost is significantly higher than an innerspring. The exact same can easily be done just by putting extra mats on the top of the mattress.</p>
<p>The thickness of the mattress does not promise you will get a comfortable mattress. Countless manufacturers construct thicker mattresses to create a more attractive display item. Make sure to bear in mind that the thicker the mattress, then the heavier it will be. Will it fit through the doors in your studio bungalow? Will the headboard still be visible once the mattress is placed on top of the boxspring? Boxsprings are another supplementary cost when you are buying a bed. However, Boxsprings aren&#8217;t crucial for a comfy slumber. Instead, the piece could purely be avoided by placing the mattress on top of a platform. A number of Europeans do this and therefore do not use a boxspring whatsoever.</p>
<p>Lots of buyers shop for a solid bed if they have back problems. This has been proven medically pointless. Pains in the back instead originates from the structure of the body, posture and frequently how the individual is built. Don&#8217;t feel pressured to purchase a bed that promotes back pain relief.</p>
<p>Solid foam mattresses have recently become extremely popular but the high asking prices discourages a lot of buyers. The foam mattresses form into the profile of the body and can mimic weightlessness for a considerably more restful sleep. However, there needs to be a shielding sheet obtained as well to place over the mattress on top of a platform to lay the mattress on top of.</p>
<p>One important decision that must always be thought about is whether to get a warranty. By and large, warranties are to be had for 10 to 20 years and provide protection against stains, breakage and deficiencies. Since these problems mainly occur within the first fifty days after your purchase, think about signing up for the thirty to sixty day return or refund. Find a diverse collection of home and garden products including; mattresses, <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/Home+and+Garden/Furniture/Office+Furniture/SubCategory.aspx">home office furniture</a> and memory foam mattresses from leading brands online.</p>
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		<title>Dessert Tips: Enjoy These Pie Possibilities</title>
		<link>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/18/dessert-tips-enjoy-these-pie-possibilities/</link>
		<comments>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/18/dessert-tips-enjoy-these-pie-possibilities/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:19:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entertainment Online]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[(NC)There may not be a better dessert than a mouth-watering slice of pie fresh from the oven. But serving your pie with a dollop of whipped cream, or &#8220;a la mode&#8221; with a cool scoop of vanilla ice cream can dress up this treat. Add a dash more creativity and a humble pie becomes a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>(NC)There may not be a better dessert than a mouth-watering slice of pie fresh from the oven. But serving your pie with a dollop of whipped cream, or &#8220;a la mode&#8221; with a cool scoop of vanilla ice cream can dress up this treat. Add a dash more creativity and a humble pie becomes a true work of art that will have your family and friends coming back for seconds.</p>
<p>&#8220;You can make your own pie from scratch or serve one our new line of frozen &#8220;unbaked&#8221; pies -that look and taste just like they&#8217;re homemade,&#8221; says Chris Glowienka, spokesperson for Sara Lee. &#8220;Either way, here are some other &#8216;pie possibilities&#8217; to elevate this favourite dessert from delectable comestible to mouthwatering masterpiece.&#8221;	</p>
<p>&#8226; Make individual treats by cutting a baked and chilled pumpkin pie into bite-sized squares. Place a decorative toothpick in each bite.	</p>
<p>&#8226; Sprinkle the top of your apple pie with shredded cheddar cheese three to five minutes before the end of baking.	</p>
<p>&#8226; Break up apple pie leftovers into an ovenproof dish, cover with grated cheese and raisins. Microwave or run under the broiler until the cheese melts. Yum!	</p>
<p>&#8226; Remove the streusel topping from one of Sara Lee&#8217;s frozen, unbaked Dutch Apple Pies and place it in a bowl. Mix the streusel with raisins nuts, dried fruit, or a combination. Replace streusel topping on the frozen pie and bake according to instructions. For a festive holiday flourish, cool the pie, and then add whipped topping and cranberry sauce.	</p>
<p>&#8226; For a decadent &#8220;Pecan Sundae&#8221;, cut out a circle of pecan pie and top with a scoop of butter pecan ice cream. Drizzle with butterscotch sauce, pile on whipped topping and garnish with crust crumbles from the pie and top with a maraschino cherry. Eat it and weep.</p>
<p>- News Canada</p>
<p><b>About the Author</b></p>
<p>News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web. </p>
<p>News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial &#8220;fill&#8221; items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.</p>
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		<title>Your Identity Speaks Loudly&#8230;What Are You Saying?</title>
		<link>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/11/your-identity-speaks-loudly-what-are-you-saying/</link>
		<comments>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/11/your-identity-speaks-loudly-what-are-you-saying/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:45:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Promoting Brands]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rarethink.com/2010/01/11/your-identity-speaks-loudly-what-are-you-saying/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Your corporate identity is a graphic expression of who you are as an organization. It plays a major role in what sells your company and its products. Everything that identifies your business, including your logo, color scheme, and tagline, work together to create an image that your customers remember. Building a corporate identity that bolsters [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Your corporate identity is a graphic expression of who you are as an organization. It plays a major role in what sells your company and its products. Everything that identifies your business, including your logo, color scheme, and tagline, work together to create an image that your customers remember. Building a corporate identity that bolsters your business objectives is a subtle, yet important part of achieving business success.</p>
<p>How do you want your business to be recognized? What image do you want to call forth in people&#8217;s minds? You may choose an identity that is fun and wacky if you run a family fun center, or calm and serious if you operate a funeral home. The mistake many businesses make is to not think about it at all. Your company has a corporate identity whether you intentionally developed one or not. It can be difficult to turn an unplanned image around. And chances are, it doesn&#8217;t convey the image you need to boost sales.</p>
<p>The best identity plan is one that is strategically designed to answer the following questions: What is the essence of your company? What message are you trying to send to your key audiences? What kind of name represents your desired image? What is the look and feel of your logo? Will the color and texture of the paper you print your business cards and brochure underscore the image you want to convey? How about the voice you use to do radio advertising? Everything must work together consistently to reinforce your image again and again and again.</p>
<p>There are dozens of ways that you can carefully develop your identity and project your businesses&#8217; personality. Specific, intentional creative choices will deliver a desired impact. A professional designer can help take your corporate identity to the next level. He or she can also help you develop marketing materials to reflect your image. Here are some elements to consider:</p>
<p>1. Business Name: Your company name should reflect your business personality. It should also be concise, memorable, unique, and appropriate to your product or service.</p>
<p>2. Logo: An effective logo is visually simple and easily recognizable. It symbolizes the essence of your business. The shape of your logo expresses different meanings. For example, curves can signify an organization that offers supportive services. Straight, sharp lines can represent a company with a technological focus.</p>
<p>3. Typographic Identity: The font that you use should complement your logo. There are thousands of fonts to select from, choose carefully since each offers subtle visual elements that can reinforce, or detract from, your business image.</p>
<p>4. Corporate colors: Different colors elicit different emotional responses and further serve to enhance your identity. For instance, deep blues represent trust, while oranges and yellows are fun and playful.</p>
<p>5. Tagline: What is the most important message you want to deliver about your business? A tagline describes your business in a short phrase that can be included on your letterhead, business cards, brochures, and so on.</p>
<p>If you are just starting your business, carefully think through all of the identity materials you use to promote your company. And, if you have been in business for a while and your identity doesn&#8217;t represent your level of professionalism, consider revamping it. Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression. What does your identity say about you?</p>
<div style="float: right; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 1px; border-style: solid; border-color: white; background-color: white"><img height="90" width="60" src="http://ezinearticles.com/members/mem_pics/Wendy-Maynard_3846.jpg" border="0" alt="Wendy Maynard - EzineArticles Expert Author"></div>
<p>Wendy Maynard, your friendly marketing maven, is the owner of Kinesis. Kinesis specializes in marketing, graphic and website design, and business writing. Visit <a href="http://www.kinesisinc.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.kinesisinc.com</a> for more articles and free marketing wisdom.</p>
<p>Want to harness the power of kinetic marketing? Sign up for Kinesis Quickies, a free bi-monthly marketing e-newsletter: <a href="http://www.news.kinesisinc.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.news.kinesisinc.com</a></p>
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		<title>Improve Conversion Rates &#8211; Load Times</title>
		<link>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/10/improve-conversion-rates-load-times/</link>
		<comments>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/10/improve-conversion-rates-load-times/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:09:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commercial Affairs]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Your site is getting traffic, but conversion rates are horrible. Everything seems to be working, so what&#8217;s wrong? Your site may simply be to slow.
Load Times &#8211; Are You Driving A Ferrari or Moped?
Give some thought to the sites you have visited of the past few weeks. Were you willing to wait 20 seconds for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Your site is getting traffic, but conversion rates are horrible. Everything seems to be working, so what&#8217;s wrong? Your site may simply be to slow.</p>
<p>Load Times &#8211; Are You Driving A Ferrari or Moped?</p>
<p>Give some thought to the sites you have visited of the past few weeks. Were you willing to wait 20 seconds for a site to load or did you hit the back button? Why would visitors to your site behave any differently? They won&#8217;t.</p>
<p>Webmasters, designers and site owners universally access the web through high-speed connections. Because of this, it is easy to forget roughly 45% of surfers use dial-up connections. While your site may appear to load quickly on your high-speed connection, have you tried loading it on a 56k connection? The results can be shocking.</p>
<p>Sites that appear to load quickly on a high-speed connection can take forever on 56k. It is not unheard of to find a &#8220;fast site&#8221; actually takes 30, 50 or 80 seconds to load on a 56k. Sometimes, the load time is so slow the browser will actually &#8220;time out&#8221; and fail to show anything. If your site has this problem, 45% of the hits are worthless. Worse, those frustrated surfers are unlikely to try to access your site in the future even if you fix the speed problems.</p>
<p>How fast should a page load on a 56k connection? As fast as possible, but no slower then 25 seconds. If you can get 56k load times below 10 seconds, you can turn a negative into a competitive advantage. Surfers come back to fast sites.</p>
<p>Determining Load Times</p>
<p>The best way to determine the load time for your site is to actually use a 56k connection. While this solution isn&#8217;t particularly technical, it will let you see exactly what your prospects are seeing when they visit the site. You will be able to see what loads quickly and what appears slowly. This should let you isolate particular elements in need of optimizing.</p>
<p>Server statistics can also provide you with evidence of slow load times. Are users spending a lot of time on entry pages, but not visiting internal pages? Either you have poor content or a loading problem.</p>
<p>Finally, you can also use diagnostic programs to test load times. Typically, the programs will kick out estimated load times for dial-up, DSL and T1 connections. Make sure you test your home page and internal pages. Diagnostic programs are excellent tools, but don&#8217;t get lazy. Make sure you physically watch your site load on a dial-up connection. The experience will prove invaluable to improving your site and conversion rates.</p>
<p>Improving Performance</p>
<p>The steps needed to improve the performance of your site often depend on the nature of the site. A database driven site will have different issue than a graphic intense site. There are, however, universal factors that can be checked:</p>
<p>1. Graphics: Typically, browsers have to make a connection for each image on a page. The more you have, the longer the load time. Limiting the number and size of graphics can help.</p>
<p>2. Tables: If you use tables, try to break them up into smaller modules. Large tables can negatively impact load times.</p>
<p>3. Multimedia: If it flashes, explodes, spins or blinks, consider ditching it. Yes, it looks great, but is it worth 45% of your audience?</p>
<p>4. Size: Scrutinize the size of your pages. The bigger the page, the slower the load times. It shouldn&#8217;t be a problem if the page is comprised of text, but large pages with lots of code will load slowly.</p>
<p>Cheer up if you have a speed problem! Yes, you&#8217;ve lost a lot of business, but now you can fix it. Most of your competitors will never figure it out. That puts you ahead of the game.</p>
<p class="articletext">
<p class="articletext">
Halstatt Pires is with the Internet marketing firm &#8211; <a href="http://www.marketingtitan.com" rel="nofollow">www.marketingtitan.com</a> &#8211; a San Diego Internet marketing and advertising company.</p>
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		<title>10 No-Fee Resources for Climbing Your Family Tree Online</title>
		<link>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/10/10-no-fee-resources-for-climbing-your-family-tree-online/</link>
		<comments>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/10/10-no-fee-resources-for-climbing-your-family-tree-online/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:17:07 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[As the Webmaster of Genealogy-and-History.com, I&#8217;m often asked if it&#8217;s possible to find family tree data that doesn&#8217;t come with a price tag. My answer is yes! My favorite no-fee sites are:
1. FamilySearch.org This popular site now has over 1 BILLION names in its online database. Search by surname (last name), spouse&#8217;s name, parents&#8217; name [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As the Webmaster of Genealogy-and-History.com, I&#8217;m often asked if it&#8217;s possible to find family tree data that doesn&#8217;t come with a price tag. My answer is yes! My favorite no-fee sites are:</p>
<p>1. FamilySearch.org This popular site now has over 1 BILLION names in its online database. Search by surname (last name), spouse&#8217;s name, parents&#8217; name or place. Includes no-fee access to the 1880 United States census, 1881 British Isles and Canada censuses, as well as the Social Security Death Index.</p>
<p>2. USGenWeb.com Perhaps the best place for beginning American research. With a Website for every single county in the United States, this site provides no-charge access to items like county histories, biographies, court records, census transcripts, and historic photos. Each county site is managed by a volunteer, so the amount of information varies dependent on the volunteer&#8217;s efforts.</p>
<p>3. EllisIsland.org Want to find your immigrant ancestor? Head to this Website. No charge access to database containing 25 million ships&#8217; passenger records covering entry through the Port of New York and Ellis Island from 1892-1924. This site was first launched on April 17, 2001, and has received over 6 billion hits. </p>
<p>4. WorldConnect.Rootsweb.com Search more than 385 million names in researcher-donated files. Download ancestor and descendant results, view individual records and sources, and contact people who are researching the same surname. Although Rootsweb is now owned by Ancestry, this database has no-fee access.</p>
<p>5. Linkpendium.com More than 2 million links to genealogy resources. Includes links to both surname Websites, and regional resources by state. Includes links to mailing lists, clubs, message boards, personal surname pages, and cemeteries.</p>
<p>6. Geneasearch.com This fascinating site is loaded with genealogy records, including military rosters, regional resources, links to biographies and surname registries, and obituaries. In addition, you can request a no-charge lookup from the many volunteers associated with this site; the volunteers will look up your surnames in both genealogy CDs and genealogy books.</p>
<p>7. GenCircles.com Search and view millions of names that have been uploaded by other family tree researchersall without a charge. New policies have instituted a small fee for use of the &#8220;smart matching&#8221; technology, but all searches and viewing of data remain without a cost.</p>
<p>8. Interment.net No cost search of close to 4 million names in more than 8,000 cemeteries world-wide. If you are hitting a brick wall in your research, be sure to search for the surname on this site as you may find a burial notice in a state or area that you have not yet researched. Special collections include some National Cemeteries and flooded cemeteries.</p>
<p>9. CousinConnect.com Sometimes the quickest way to climb your family tree is to connect with other people who are researching the same names. This Website has more than 83,000 genealogy queries posted; these are posts by people who are searching for a specific surname. It&#8217;s possible you&#8217;ll find an Internet cousin or two on this site. Sharing research is an excellent technique for getting faster results.</p>
<p>10. OliveTreeGenealogy.com One of the oldest genealogy sites on the Internet, and filled with no-fee searchable databases. This site is huge (more than 1,7000 pages and almost 1,500 databases!) so take some time going through the site so you don&#8217;t miss out on any family information. Includes ships passenger lists, church records, military records, city directories, and links to Native American genealogy sites.</p>
<p> About the Author </p>
<p>Nancy Hendrickson is the Webmaster of <a href="http://www.genealogy-and-history.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.genealogy-and-history.com/</a> and the author of Finding Your Roots Online. Learn more about climbing your family tree with her dozens of no-charge artic</p>
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		<title>Online Jewelry Purchases Makes Life So Much Easier</title>
		<link>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/06/online-jewelry-purchases-makes-life-so-much-easier/</link>
		<comments>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/06/online-jewelry-purchases-makes-life-so-much-easier/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:32:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Jewelers Hall]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[This article was written to answer many of the most frequently asked questions on this topic. I hope you find this information helpful. Did you know that jewelry is just a click away?
Jewelry purchases are increasing in leaps and bounds with Americans spending over $50 billion each year on such items as jewelry and watches. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This article was written to answer many of the most frequently asked questions on this topic. I hope you find this information helpful. Did you know that jewelry is just a click away?</p>
<p>Jewelry purchases are increasing in leaps and bounds with Americans spending over $50 billion each year on such items as jewelry and watches. Instead of spending hours going through malls and scouting out the perfect earrings and necklaces, consumers can shop for jewelry in the comfort of their own homes. </p>
<p>When shopping for jewelry, it&#8217;s important to have an understanding of the fundamental materials and stones. The following information should be of help with your purchase:</p>
<p>Materials: Yellow Gold &#8211; Pure gold (24 kt. gold) is too soft to use in jewelry, so it is combined with silver to form a metal mixture consisting of 14 kt. gold. </p>
<p>White Gold &#8211; White gold is has no color and won&#8217;t tarnish, and is usually a mixture of gold and nickel. </p>
<p>Sterling Silver &#8211; Silver is too soft for use in jewelry, so silver is combined with 7.5% of other metals (usually copper) to produce sterling silver. </p>
<p>Platinum &#8211; A gorgeous silver-white color, platinum occurs as an alloy in nature. It&#8217;s tarnish-resistant qualities and durability make it a favorite material for fine jewelry. </p>
<p>Gemstones: There are a wide variety of gemstones in jewelry. There are everything from diamonds to garnets and emeralds to sapphires. Gemstones add glitter to all kinds of jewelry from earrings to rings. Numerous jewelers use simulated gemstones which offer the sparkle of the &#8220;real thing&#8221; at a far lesser price.</p>
<p>Birthstones: Jewelry that uses birthstones is an enduring favorite, specially when given as a gift. The following gemstones and colors are associated with each birthday month: January: Garnet (dark red) February: Amethyst (purple) March: Aquamarine (pale blue) April: Diamond (starlight) May: Emerald (light green) June: Pearl, White (pearlescent) July: Ruby (red) August: Peridot (pale green) September: Sapphire, Blue (deep blue) October: Opal (moonlight) November: Citrine (yellow) December: Topaz, Blue (sky blue) </p>
<p>Trends Having the latest jewelry trends is helpful when buying fine jewelry for yourself or as a gift. For example, this season, celebrities are wearing ear pins and ear cuffs both on and off the red carpet. . Whether made from gold or silver, ear cuffs add that pizzaz required to make you stand out and feel beautiful.</p>
<p>When choosing earrings or necklaces with gemstones, the key this season is to combine colors for maximum effect. For example, pair a deep blue with garnet, or purple with medium green.</p>
<p>Online Shopping When shopping for fine jewelry online, be sure to click on to a reputable site.</p>
<p class="articletext">
<p class="articletext">
Sintilia Miecevole loves jewelry and invites you to visit <a href="http://www.fejewelry.com" rel="nofollow">www.fejewelry.com</a> which has information and resources from diamonds, precious stones and gems to gifts and more. Be sure to visit <a href="http://www.fejewelry.com" rel="nofollow">www.fejewelry.com</a> for further information.</p>
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		<title>Music Mini Course: Learn The Basics Of Reading Music On A Keyboard Instrument</title>
		<link>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/02/music-mini-course-learn-the-basics-of-reading-music-on-a-keyboard-instrument/</link>
		<comments>http://rarethink.com/2010/01/02/music-mini-course-learn-the-basics-of-reading-music-on-a-keyboard-instrument/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:51:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[University of Music]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rarethink.com/2010/01/02/music-mini-course-learn-the-basics-of-reading-music-on-a-keyboard-instrument/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Welcome to the wonderful world of music. As you begin reading this Music Mini Course it is fun to realize that you are also participating in a very important cultural aspect from around the world which has been going on for centuries. Did you know that pianos in some form have been around for over [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Welcome to the wonderful world of music. As you begin reading this Music Mini Course it is fun to realize that you are also participating in a very important cultural aspect from around the world which has been going on for centuries. Did you know that pianos in some form have been around for over 500 years? Some of the first instruments of this kind were created in the late Medieval Period and were called clavichords. They had a very light, metallic sound because the small hand-pounded &#8216;hammers&#8217; were made of very light weight metal-like material. These hammers struck strings of varying lengths to create different tones or pitches. The next cousin to the clavichord was the harpsichord invented by Cristofori in Italy around 1450 A.D. This keyboard instrument had a mechanism in it called the plecktrum which &#8216;plucked&#8217; the strings and produced a slightly stronger sound than its predecessor. Whether you are playing an acoustic instrument, which is the closest relative to the history just mentioned, or an electronic keyboard, you are now participating in a centuries old musical art form.</p>
<p>SOME PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS: PIANO OR KEYBOARD?</p>
<p>Does it matter if you apply the information in this course to a keyboard or a piano? Certainly not. The only real difference is that a full size piano has 88 keys (counting both the white and black keys). Keyboards come in several different sizes. Some have 60 keys, some even less. There are also 88 key electronic keyboards and digital pianos that produce very realistic acoustic sounds. Whatever size your instrument may be, remember that the ARRANGEMENT of the keys and the ORDER of the KEY NAMES is the same on both instruments. Rest assured that your basic knowledge of the fundamentals of music can be done very effectively either on a keyboard or a piano.</p>
<p>Musical Terms</p>
<p>Begin your musical study by becoming familiar with these very important musical terms:</p>
<p>BAR LINE &#8211; A vertical line which separates notes into groups</p>
<p>DOUBLE BAR LINE &#8211; A set of two (2) vertical lines which stand for the end of a piece of music</p>
<p>REPEAT SIGN &#8211; Double bar with two dots at the end of a section or piece of music which indicates that section will be played twice.</p>
<p>MEASURE &#8211; The distance between two bar lines.</p>
<p>TREBLE CLEF &#8211; The S-shaped symbol which stands for notes played with the right hand. This is also referred to as the G cleff since this inner curve of the symbol rests on the G line.</p>
<p>BASS CLEF &#8211; The reversed C-shaped symbol which stand for notes played with the left hand. This clef is also referred to as the F cleff since the two dots beside the clef surround the F line.</p>
<p>STAFF &#8211; The five lines and four spaces of both the bass and treble clefs.</p>
<p>QUARTER NOTE &#8211; Musical symbol with solid note head and stem which gets one count of sound.</p>
<p>QUARTER REST &#8211; Musical symbol resembling a sideways W which gets one count of silence.</p>
<p>HALF NOTE &#8211; Musical symbol with hollow note head and stem which gets two counts of sound.</p>
<p>HALF REST &#8211; Solid half block sitting on third line of the staff which gets two counts of silence.</p>
<p>DOTTED HALF NOTE &#8211; Musical symbol with hollow note head, dot and stem which gets three counts of sound.</p>
<p>WHOLE NOTE &#8211; Musical symbol resembling a circle on the staff which gets four counts of sound.</p>
<p>WHOLE REST &#8211; Solid half block hanging from the second line on the staff which gets four counts of silence.</p>
<p>CHORD &#8211; Two or more notes played at the same time.</p>
<p>BLOCKED CHORD &#8211; Two or more notes from the same chord played at the same time.</p>
<p>BROKEN CHORD &#8211; Two or more notes from the same chord played in sequence.</p>
<p>INTERVAL &#8211; The distance between two notes on the musical staff.</p>
<p>FINGERING &#8211; Refers to which finger number is used to play a particular note (See Chapter Two: Fingering)</p>
<p>CURVED FINGER &#8211; Refers to playing with a rounded finger and on the tip of each finger. This is the best position of the fingers for playing piano or keyboard because it develops finger strength and independence.</p>
<p>INTRODUCTION TO THE WHITE KEYS</p>
<p>There are only seven (7) letter names used on the piano: A B C D E F G. It is interesting to note here that no matter what instrument you play, whether it is piano, tuba or violin, ONLY the seven letter names above are used in the entire realm of music! There are two very easy ways to visualize and remember the names of the white keys on your piano and keyboard. Remember, the note names on an electronic keyboard are the same as on the acoustic piano.</p>
<p>C D E   F G A B   C D E   F G A B   C D E   F G A B   C D E   F G A B</p>
<p>Understand  that the &#8216;CDE&#8217; note groups are always located directly underneath the two black note group. The letter name &#8216;D&#8217; in the white key always located directly in between the two black key note groups. ANY TWO BLACK NOTE GROUP on the piano has the letter name &#8216;D&#8217; as the white key located in between them.</p>
<p>KEYBOARD EXERCISE:</p>
<p>Go to your keyboard NOW and start to play all of the C-D-E groups from the lowest (bottom left) to the highest (top right) on your keyboard. Say C &#8211; D &#8211; E as you play each key.  The F &#8211; G &#8211; A &#8211; B note groups above are located directely beneath each three black note group on any piano or keyboard. Simply locate any three black note group on your piano or keyboard and realize that the F-G-A-B white keys are located directly beneath them. Directly outside of the three black note groups are &#8216;F&#8217; on the left hand side of the three black note group and &#8216;B&#8217; on the right hand side of the three black note group. Just fill in the outer &#8216;F&#8217; and &#8216;B&#8217; with G and A and you are done!</p>
<p>KEYBOARD EXERCISE:</p>
<p>Go to your piano or keyboard NOW and find all of the F-G-A-G white keys underneath each three black note group. As above, play slowly and evenly saying the letter names as you play the F-G-A-B groups from the bottom of the piano or keyboard (low left hand end) to the top of your piano or keyboard (top right hand end). Congratulations! You now know ALL of the white key names on the piano!</p>
<p>TREBLE AND BASS CLEF NOTE NAMES</p>
<p>Both the Treble and Bass clefs each have five lines and four spaces. Learning the actual note names of each line and space (the spaces between each line) is very simple. Please memorize the sentences below for the Treble Clef Line and Space Notes: Treble Clef Line Notes (starting from the bottom line and moving up) E G B D F Every Good Boy Does Fine (the first letter of each word helps you remember the order of the notes)</p>
<p>Treble Clef Space Notes (starting from the first space and going up): F A C E Just remember that the treble clef spaces spell the word &#8216;FACE&#8217;.</p>
<p>Bass Clef Line and Space Notes are as follows: Bass Clef Line Notes: G B D F A Great Big Dogs Fight Animals Bass Clef Space Notes: A C E G All Cars Eat Gas</p>
<p>Now you know all the names of the white keys on your piano or keyboard. You have also learned  the actual letter names of each line and space on both the treble and bass clefs. You are now on your way to the next level of piano education.  Be sure to memorize the information above and you will be ready to begin to learn to read music notation on the piano or keyboard.</p>
<div style="float: left; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 1px; border-style: solid; border-color: white; background-color: white"></div>
<p>Jan Durrant, Publisher and Music Teacher<br />
<a href="http://www.MakingMusicNow.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.MakingMusicNow.com</a><br />
muz@MakingMusicNow.com</p>
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		<title>RSS &#8211; The Making of a Feed</title>
		<link>http://rarethink.com/2009/12/31/rss-the-making-of-a-feed/</link>
		<comments>http://rarethink.com/2009/12/31/rss-the-making-of-a-feed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:16:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Wired Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rarethink.com/2009/12/31/rss-the-making-of-a-feed/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Everyday more and more websites, news services and blogs are adding RSS content. RSS is a method of syndicating content.The concept of aggregating content in one central location or repository is very appealing. Consumers have become tired of push technology, RSS allows users the flexibility to regain control of their content. RSS feed creators provide [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Everyday more and more websites, news services and blogs are adding RSS content. RSS is a method of syndicating content.The concept of aggregating content in one central location or repository is very appealing. Consumers have become tired of push technology, RSS allows users the flexibility to regain control of their content. RSS feed creators provide content without forcing it on consumers. In fact with RSS consumers are able to choose the content they wish to view.</p>
<p>How to Make an RSS Feed</p>
<p>RSS feeds contain what are referred to as &#8220;items&#8221;. The items are usually connected in some way and contain a common theme or other similarity.</p>
<p>The following feed <a href="http://www.notepage.net/feed.xml" rel="nofollow">http://www.notepage.net/feed.xml</a> contains eight items. The items are all SMS and paging related news articles that would likely benefit someone interested in the wireless market.</p>
<p>Each item contains:</p>
<p>title</p>
<p>description</p>
<p>link</p>
<p>The title and description should be written to describe the content and the link should reference the webpage that contains that actual content.</p>
<p>Like html, the xml file uses open and close tags to designate the title, description and link. Tags are enclosed in brackets , like standard html and the close tag contains a forward slash /.</p>
<p>The following is what an item in a xml file looks like:</p>
<p>The Title Goes Here</p>
<p>The description goes here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.linkgoeshere.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.linkgoeshere.com</a></p>
<p>As I mentioned earlier, an RSS feeds contains items and like the tags above, an open and close tag is used to distinguish between items.</p>
<p>The Title Goes Here</p>
<p>The description goes here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.linkgoeshere.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.linkgoeshere.com</a></p>
<p>Another Title Goes Here</p>
<p>Another description goes here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com</a></p>
<p>Now an RSS Feed is a series of items, these items are chained together to create what is called a &#8220;Channel&#8221;.</p>
<p>The Channel appears at the top of the file and tells people how the items relate to each other. Like items channels use title, description and link tags to describe its content. The open channel tag  occurs before the first item and the close tag  occurs after the last item.</p>
<p>The Channel Title Goes Here</p>
<p>The explanation of how the items are related goes here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.directoryoflinksgohere" rel="nofollow">http://www.directoryoflinksgohere</a></p>
<p>The Title Goes Here</p>
<p>The description goes here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.linkgoeshere.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.linkgoeshere.com</a></p>
<p>Another Title Goes Here</p>
<p>Another description goes here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com</a></p>
<p>Finally you will need to designate the file by indicating it is an XML file by inserting xml and rss defining tags at the beginning and  at the very end.</p>
<p>The Channel Title Goes Here</p>
<p>The explanation of how the items are related goes here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.directoryoflinksgohere" rel="nofollow">http://www.directoryoflinksgohere</a></p>
<p>The Title Goes Here</p>
<p>The description goes here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.linkgoeshere.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.linkgoeshere.com</a></p>
<p>Another Title Goes Here</p>
<p>Another description goes here</p>
<p><a href="http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com</a></p>
<p>When you save the file be sure to save it as an xml file.</p>
<p>Warning</p>
<p>If you create the file using Dreamweaver or a similar tool becareful that it does not strip out tags it feels are redundant. In order to be be an RSS feed your file needs at bare minimum that tags that were discussed above, and the file will not be valid if tags are stripped out.</p>
<p>I found a cool little free program that helped in xml file creation called First Object Editor <a href="http://www.firstobject.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.firstobject.com/</a></p>
<p>Validation</p>
<p>As my math teacher use to say, check your work! Once your file is complete and uploaded einter it into the feed validator at <a href="http://feedvalidator.org" rel="nofollow">http://feedvalidator.org</a></p>
<p>Syndication / Submission</p>
<p>If you&#8217;ve made it this far you are in good shape it is time to &#8220;syndicate&#8221; your content! Submit your RSS feed (the xml file you created) to sites just like you would submit a web page. Some of the more popular sites that accept RSS files can be found under &#8220;Post RSS Feed&#8221;</p>
<div style="float: left; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 1px; border-style: solid; border-color: white; background-color: white"></div>
<p>About The Author</p>
<p>Sharon Housley manages marketing for NotePage, Inc. <a href="http://www.notepage.net" rel="nofollow">http://www.notepage.net</a> a company specializing in alphanumeric paging, SMS and wireless messaging software solutions. Other sites by Sharon can be found at <a href="http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com</a> , and <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net" rel="nofollow">http://www.small-business-software.net</a></p>
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		<title>A Theatre Guide To Obtaining The Best London Theatre Offers Around</title>
		<link>http://rarethink.com/2009/12/28/a-theatre-guide-to-obtaining-the-best-london-theatre-offers-around/</link>
		<comments>http://rarethink.com/2009/12/28/a-theatre-guide-to-obtaining-the-best-london-theatre-offers-around/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:13:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[House Of Recreation]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[In order to get the best London theatre packages around, you must look at the benefits contained in the contract and make sure that the terms are exactly right.
Most likely the quickest way in which to find theatre show packages is to use the internet. Online you can find sites specialising in the purchasing of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In order to get the best London theatre packages around, you must look at the benefits contained in the contract and make sure that the terms are exactly right.</p>
<p>Most likely the quickest way in which to find theatre show packages is to use the internet. Online you can find sites specialising in the purchasing of London theatre show tickets merely by using major search engines like that of Google, Yahoo or Bing, or alternatively through online directories like DMOZ &#038; Yahoo.</p>
<p>These specific websites will normally let you to seek out deals based upon certain criteria such as the show you want to go and attend, the date, performance, book-in date, number of nights, type of room, and rail travel. The search engine will show all the theatre packages to be had that match your requirements together with price information.</p>
<p>As a rule the extent of the reduction will go up with the amount of people that you want to incorporate in your theatre package, since this permits the business offering the deal to reduce more whilst still generating a good profit. So, when you add rail travel in your theatre package you will obtain an appreciably better savings deal. </p>
<p>Always check to see if the organisation or website offers to better the prices of all its current rivals. Undoubtedly this is a clear-cut way of making sure that you are acquiring the best available deal from the plenty of theatre packages to be had. You have to make sure though that what you are comparing is the same in terms of benefits when considering packages. For example, only look at hotel and London theatre show packages that include the same shows, venues, and accommodation, with the specific options applied. For example, one theatre show package might well only incorporate a buffet lunch, whilst another might perhaps offer a continental dinner, all at the exact same place. Two London theatre deals might well appear very alike while in actuality one may well provide a liberal termination policy whilst the other doesn&#8217;t.</p>
<p>It is also necessary to confirm that the theatre packages are financially assured. Because service can differ from one theatre deal to another, it&#8217;s a good idea to find testimonials or to get several recommendations from previous customers. It is also important to check to see that the call centres offer a high-quality service and if theatre goers wishes are adequately met throughout their stay. With a small amount of effort you ought to be capable of discovering the best theatre and hotel deal around at present.</p>
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