5 Top Ways to Survive a Refunds Nightmare

As an online merchant, one of the things you should be wary of is celebrating after making a sale. You do not know it yet but one of your customers may be contemplating getting a chargeback or demanding a refund. When you do get a customer who is demanding for a refund, do not give in instantly. You might be surprised but more than half of all the refunds demanded were not because of credit card fraud or faulty products. Most of these refunds are demanded by unscrupulous customers who bought your products or e-books with the full intention to make copies of these and refund their original purchases. Although it is more difficult to settle refund issues on online products like e-books and other downloadables, below is a guide on surviving refunds and minimizing them:

1. Use the money back guarantee to your advantage.
Almost all customers who have inquired about money-back guarantee policies have the full intention to use them, often immediately after downloading the product and making copies of it. So if anyone contacts you or your staff through your website, email address, or phone about the existence a money-back guarantee and how it is effected, you and your staff should answer all inquiries politely, but offer no additional information. Most importantly, get this “potential customer’s” name and address and BAN him or her. Prevention is always better than empowering a refunder waiting to happen.

2. Collect pertinent information and verify authenticity.
Before effecting a potential customer’s purchase, take the time to collect important information like names, valid email addresses, phone numbers, and postal address. Make it part of your purchasing procedure to have customers verify their given information before effecting the sale. This reduces chances of refunds claiming identity or credit card theft. For added protection on your part, ensure that you use a secure and efficient payment and information system.

3. Provide accurate product details, pictures, and relevant information.
Most refund claimants say that product dissatisfaction was their motive for demanding a refund or that the product they received or downloaded was different from the one they paid for. Avoid this mess by giving accurate descriptions of your e-books and other product downloads. Offer excerpts, chapter summaries, audio clips, or software demonstration. This may seem like a huge effort but it can provide you with protection should the customer decides to demand a refund based on the given reasons above.

4. Require customers to read your terms and conditions before making their purchases final.
Ensure that your terms and conditions provide you with thorough protection against unscrupulous refunds. Make your terms and conditions visible in your website, your product, and in the delivery email. Have a delivery tracking software to track whether the downloaded product or e-book was actually delivered. Set a strict time frame for refunds and enforce it.

5. Join a credible and secure internet marketing and affiliate network that allows you to control refunds.
Internet marketing and affiliate networks do more than increasing your traffic and generating more sales. Most top players in this industry like Click2Sell.EU affiliate network ( http://www.click2sell.eu ) offers ways by which you can manage orders efficiently and promptly. By signing up for a merchant account and using the Orders Management section, you can view the details of the purchase like the product sold, customer’s name and address, payment option used, amount paid, place delivered, and purchase status. Aside from this, selling your product through an affiliate limits the validity of the download link to ensure that the customer cannot share your products with other people. An internet marketing and affiliate network provides you with an extra layer of protection against unscrupulous refunds. Moreover, such affiliate networks allows you to fully control refunds. You can refund the money to your customer whenever you want or feel it is necessary. This way you could save yourself from a real refund nightmare after a successful product launch.

More articles from this pro: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Egidijus Andreika

Relevant Website Content is the Key to Getting More Traffic to Your Site

Obtaining high quality targeted traffic to your website has never been as challenging as it is today. There are several different ways to advertise your website all with varying results. This article will discuss a brief history of advertising online, current advertising techniques and why website content is so important. To understand the best way to advertise online and increase your website’s traffic today first you should learn about the history of advertising on the internet. In the 1990’s when the internet was still young the most effective way to advertise online was through banner ads. By 1996 companies were advertising through Juno’s new ad supported e mail service and Webconnect started to offer accurate measurement tools to advertisers such as URL tracking. (http://www.worldata.com/wdnet7/articles/the_history_of_Internet Advertising.htm) It has been said that in 1998 Amazon was the first to launch a successful affiliate program. They invited webmasters and retailers to link to their website in exchange for a commission. This was the beginning of the still popular advertising method of link exchanging. That same year Larry Page and Sergy Brin introduced Google to the World Wide Web. This new search engine technology was designed to analyze these back links which were considered votes for a website. The “votes” determined how the page was ranked in the Google index. (http://www.searchenginehistory.com/#google) Today there are over 66 million websites on the World Wide Web and a lot more ways to advertise your site than there was just a decade ago. Companies use everything from pop up ads, banner advertising and even ads that interrupt online games and other interactions. Advertisers are always looking for easier, faster and less expensive ways to promote their products and services. The cost of regular postal mail has increased over the years making electronic mail the better choice. Email advertising can result in a better targeted audience. Customers who receive the email message are interested in what the advertiser has to say; therefore they click on the link. There are also several downsides to this form of advertising. In order for email advertising to be effective you have to have a well designed lead capture page. Along with this you must use a reputable auto responder service that obeys all the spam laws. This can get complicated because you also have to advertise your lead capture page. Banner advertising is very simple and can be effective if your banners are placed on relevant websites. But this method is also very expensive. Banner advertising can cost you as much as $20-$50 per thousand impressions which could run you anywhere from $2,000-$5,000 per month. A lot of companies today use pop up ads as a way to get traffic. But with the increasing popularity of pop up blockers pop up ads do not attract as much traffic as they used to. The most effective way to get highly targeted traffic to your website is by getting indexed by the search engines. Relevant back links will help you with your search engine rankings but if you do not have good content the links will not matter. For example, when someone types something in the search engine such as “Dodge Trucks” that searcher will more likely click on a website with information on that particular brand, not just “Trucks.” If you are selling Dodge trucks it would benefit you to have an article about that particular brand of trucks. This will help the search engines to index your website and you will get more return visitors. There are two different ways you can get good website content. The first way is by writing your own articles pertaining to your online niche. You can then add them to your website or blog to increase your traffic. Or you can submit them to free article sites like this one with a link to your website. Either method will give you more targeted traffic. Advertising online has come a long way since simple banner ads in the 1990’s. Webmasters, companies and affiliate marketers have a wide variety of different ways to get their message across online from email marketing to pop up ads. But they can get complicated and expensive. To avoid these issues the best way to get traffic to your website is by having accurate content. Relevant website content will help the search engines index your site and visitors will like what they see and return for more information. Writing your own articles and subscribing to articles previously written are two great ways to get content for your website. For more information on this topic visit: http://www.privatelabelarticles.12w.net
More articles from this pro: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?CL Talbert

A Smooth Design Process For Your Flyers

Now that you have planned what you want to do with your flyer printing project, it’s time to put everything you have planned into paper – that is, it’s time to create your flyer printing design. The design process is very important as it is the time that you put into words and visual representation all that you want your flyer printing project to be in the end. It is during the flyer printing design process that you finalize and polish all the elements you want included in your print flyers. It is during the design process that you get to be as creative as you want. But there are problems during this time that you need to be wary of so that you’ll be able to get the flyer printing results you desire. In order for your flyer printing design process to go smoothly, here are the five steps to follow: 1st Step – Organize, plan and budget The first thing you need to do is set up a budget for your flyer printing project. It should include the writing, designing, editing, proofreading, pictures, photography or stock images, selecting the paper stock, flyer printing, folding, binding, labeling, and even the distribution process. And then set your flyer printing deadline. All that goes into the production of the print flyers should determine your deadline. And each of the sections in your production process should have their own deadlines as well. In order to set your individual deadlines, begin with the day you want your target clients to get a hold of your flyer printing pieces. Then work your way back to the design stage. But don’t forget to leave extra time for corrections and editing and other such stuff so you will have plenty of time for surprises. 2nd Step – Design Brief Provide yourself a design brief that clearly identifies your ideas, objectives and budget. This would be easier if you know who your target readers are and your main purpose in doing your flyer printing project. It would also make it easy to customize your flyer printing project (the design, fonts, graphics, and color) according to the target market you have. Moreover, a design brief would also help you stay within your budget and deadline. Hire a professional or consult with a designer or your flyer printer to help you conceptualize your flyer printing project. It would do you more good than harm to get other people who know the industry and are willing to help you out with your flyer printing project. 3rd Step – The Layout When you’ve chosen where you want your flyer printing project to go, use a professional software program to help you put into document your concepts and ideas. Compile all your text and your graphic images and develop that flyer printing project you’ve planned for. 4th Step – Proofread, edit, check Check everything that you have put down in your flyer printing design. Proofread every word, phrase and sentence you’ve written. Hire an editor or a proofreader if you must. Go over your contact information and make sure that all the numbers are in the right order. And make sure that your flyer printing design is well coordinated with your flyer printing copy. Correct and identify the captions that appear in each of the illustrations. The bottom line is to review and edit everything so that you won’t have to do it again when you put your flyer printing project to press. Final Step – Transfer your flyer printing project in ready-to-print disk and give it to your flyer printer for reproduction. Always remember to get a preview of your finished flyer printing piece to finally check your flyer printing project.
More articles from this pro: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Janice Jenkins

A Few Mistakes to Avoid When Designing Your Web Site

Be aware of these common pitfalls when designing your site: •The home page does not quickly tell you what the Web site is all about. You should be able to visit the home page of any Web site and figure out what the site is about, what type of products it sells, or what it is advertising within five seconds. •The poor use of popup windows, splashy advertising, splash pages (pages with neat animations and sound but which you have to watch for five to ten seconds before you are taken to the real Web site), and other Web design features that draw interest away from your Web site, products, and/ or services. •Poor Web site navigation. This includes broken hyperlinks, hidden navigation, poor wording of navigational links, links that take you to pages with no links, links that take you to the same Web page, and pages with no links back to the home page (always include a link back to the home page so that regardless of where site visitors are, they can find their way back home!). •Believing that because you have a Web site, you have a marketing campaign or overall marketing and advertising strategy. You need to understand that your Web site is not your marketing strategy. Your Web site is just a part of your overall marketing strategy, depending on your business goals; for example, if you have a successful restaurant but want to advertise and promote your business on the Web. Creating a Web site is great, but if it is not promoted and advertised, no one will ever find it. By passing out business cards with your Web site URL embossed on them, you are using a traditional marketing campaign to promote your Web site. If you offer a downloadable/ printable coupon from your Web site, you are successfully using your Web site as part of your marketing strategy to meet your goal of increased restaurant sales. •Failure to attain Web site relevance and content updating. There is nothing more dissatisfying to a Web customer than visiting a Web site that is grossly out of date. Incorrect pricing, products no longer available, dated content, and ancient advertising all signify to the Web site visitor that your devotion to your Web site is suffering greatly. Cramming your pages with non-relevant material will detract the visitor from getting the point of your Web site (the five-second rule mentioned earlier). •Avoid too many text effects. Forget flashing text, reversing text, gymnastics text, or other eye-popping and dizzying effects, which do nothing more than annoy your site visitor. Don't create a "loud" Web site that contain so many blinking, flashing, twirling, and spinning icons, text, or graphics that visitors are overwhelmed by the effects and under-whelmed by the site content. •Limit the number of graphics on your Web site so that you don't overwhelm your site visitors with "graphics overload." Don't use animated GIF images on your Web site. These were cool ten years ago, but in today's professional environment, they are just another "loud," annoying distraction that site visitors don't want to see. •Don't use Microsoft's themes (built-in design templates) when creating a Web site with Microsoft FrontPage. While FrontPage is bashed on a regular basis, we stand by the fact that it can be used to design great Web sites. •Don't incorporate frames into Web site design. The use of frames within a Web site will drive customers away faster than anything! •DO incorporate the proper Web site design elements to ensure that your Web site is ready to be found by search engines.
More articles from this pro: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Shonda Miles

5 Hot Tips for Fast Success with Adsense

Once you’ve used Google’s Adsense program for a while you will begin to learn from the mistakes you made in the past. This will allow you to clearly see which of these mistakes kept your site from reaching its full earning potential. Making a mistake is not bad in the sense that you learn from it. However that is not all. By telling others about it, you also give them the benefit of learning from your mistakes so they don’t have to make the same mistakes. The following is a list of the top five mistakes made by people who use AdSense. Pay attention to them so that you can see if any of them apply to your contents. If it is, you must stop and make an effort to fix such errors as soon as possible.The first big no-no that everyone seems to be doing at one point or another relates to breaking the rules. Google's AdSense is a great program but it comes with a few set rules you need to respect.Probably the most important of these is to refrain from creating "artificial clicks" by all means possible. Never click on your own links, ask your friends or close ones to click the links and never, by any means have your content encouraging the visitors to click the links. If you do this you run the risk of being permanently banned by Google from its Adsense program, and this will definitely hurt your pocket.Failure to comply with Google's terms could have your AdSense account suspended. And this is why this rule is the most important of all. It may mean the difference between life or death for some people.The second thing users often get wrong is having a bad color palette for ads. Many times this happens because the publishers aren't knowledgeable with changing default color palettes. Others just can't seem to spend enough time in changing those defaults. Having bad ads that stand out is will keep people from clicking your ads. On the other hand having something which is clearly visible yet distinctive will encourage more clicks.The third mistake is the positioning of the ads. Getting this right and you are likely to skyrocket your adsense profits. Get it wrong and you’ll hardly get any click-throughs.This fact is mentioned in a lot of places on the web and Google mentions it. Google can provide you with statistics which illustrate what positions work particularly well on your website.The fourth mistake is using banner ads with AdSense. 480x60 type ads are a sure way to drive visitors away as most Internet surfers have developed a natural resistance to such means of advertising.The fifth mistake is not taking care of the site running the ads. Because ultimately it doesn't matter how cool the site is itself. If the content is not updated regularly and if it doesn't have many daily visitors it will probably never earn you any serious AdSense revenues.So those are the most important five mistakes people make while using the AdSense program. But of course if you don't like me to dwell on the negatives, here are the top five things you should do to ensure your AdSense ads are constantly bringing in that revenue.Never break Google's policy. Don't encourage visitors to create "artificial clicks" on your website regardless of who it is or for what reason. Make sure your ads have the right colors and blend in well with your site. Also make sure they're positioned in the right places so as to attract as many customers as possible. Always try to avoid using banner-like (480x60) ads unless you really know what you're doing and constantly update your site’s content.So by paying attention to these points and applying them you should be raising your AdSense revenues in no time.
More articles from this pro: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Jimmy Roos

Toronto Boat Tours By Bus & Boat Company

Toronto Boat Tours By Bus & Boat CompanyThe Bus & Boat Company offers Toronto’s most comprehensive land and water tour. Your sightseeing package includes a scenic city tour aboard a classic British Double-Decker Bus and a boat cruise through the beautiful Toronto Islands. The Bus & Boat Company is bound to turn in to real, your fantasies of Toronto boat tours.To enjoy an altogether new experience of Toronto boat tours, just join us at the base of the CN Tower and let our experienced guides show you Toronto. Once aboard the double-decker bus, sit back and allow our drivers to chauffeur you through the city’s diverse neighborhoods.We can assure you of a really wonderful and extra pleasurable experience of all the Toronto boat tours, you have ever enjoyed. Once at Harbourfront Center your guide will bring you to the boat. Enjoy a glass of wine from our licensed cash bar as we wind our way through the Toronto Harbor and into the lagoons and canals of the islands. In the Toronto boat tours offered by us, watch for the famous bird sanctuary, yacht clubs and marinas. From our outdoor deck marvel at the beautiful city skyline while our informative guide fills you in on the history, present and future of Toronto’s incredible waterfront. The Toronto boat tours organized by The Bus & Boat Company are simply unforgettable. We host a full licensed bar and optional dinner buffet. Once aboard, enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail on our outdoor deck as we cruise the beautiful Toronto Harbor. During the Toronto boat tours offered by The Bus and Boat Company, once inside the lagoons and canals of the Toronto Islands the Captain will invite everyone downstairs for a sumptuous buffet dinner. A three-course, full-service, sit-down dinner is also available upon request. Such is a glimpse of Toronto boat tours offered by us.After you have enjoyed the completely mesmerizing experience of Toronto boat tours, a double-decker bus will pick you up again and return you to the CN Tower, the whole tour taking about three hours to complete, but possibly a lifetime to forget.A captivatingly wonderful experience of Toronto boat tours is just a phone call away. To book your tickets for Toronto boat tours, please call our day tour reservation line at 416-410-0536. You may also purchase your tickets on the bus or the boat. We accept cash, Visa, Master Card, American Express and Traveler’s Cheques.
URL: http://www.articleorange.com/articles/1660/1/Toronto-Boat-Tours-By-Bus--Boat-Company/Page1.html

Arizona, a prime state for golf enthusiasts

The state of Arizona has long been recognized as a premier destination for golf lovers. According to Phoenix golf source, metropolitan Phoenix has over 185 golf destinations, which includes public, private and resort golf courses. With so many top-notch Arizona golf course options right in our beautiful desert backyard, there is a golf course to fit every golfing enthusiast’s needs. With an average of over three hundred days of sunshine in a year in the “Valley of the Sun”, a Phoenix golf course or a Scottsdale golf course is the perfect playground to enjoy the sport and the many amenities offered in the surrounding communities. Just a short drive east of the Phoenix area, one can enjoy the scenic high desert views that a Tucson golf course can provide at one of their many world-class luxury resorts.Phoenix golf courseRed sandstone arches might be the background scenery enjoyed during an excursion at Sedona Arizona golf. One of the most dramatic Arizona putting greens, the breathtaking views enjoyed in this unique area of our state make this a golfing experience not to be missed.The use of synthetic grass and artificial turf on many Phoenix golf greens is environmentally beneficial as controlling water usage is critical in our desert environment. In the summer, when the temperatures outside sometimes reach 120 degrees F, indoor putting greens become a popular venue for those wanting to escape the heat but still enjoy their favorite pastime.The quality and design of the golf courses in Phoenix and the surrounding areas of the state are recognized worldwide. The community is home to professional events including the PGA Tour FBR Open held in February at The TPC of Scottsdale, the LPGA Tour’s Safeway Ping in March at Superstition Mountain, and the Nationwide Tour Gila River Golf Classic held in Chandler during the month of October. With the population of the Phoenix metropolitan area increasing significantly every year, the golf industry in the valley of the sun will only continue to grow.
URL: http://www.articleorange.com/articles/1662/1/Arizona-a-prime-state-for-golf-enthusiasts/Page1.html

Diet your way to a longer life?

Lately, people are searching for the fountain of youth, but not with facelifts or Botox. They are turning to their diet to help them live longer. Research on monkeys, rodents, fish and even insects has shown that if calories are cut below what the animal would normally choose to eat, they actually live longer.A recent study at Tufts University shows that people who restrict their calories do not just live longer, they are healthier. In an animal study conducted, the animals actually aged biologically slower. Their hair has gone gray less quickly. Their hormones have stayed at their youthful profile and their immune function has stayed good.So what is the theory behind this research?With fewer calories, cells throughout the body appear to die more slowly and repair themselves more easily. Research on fruit flies and rats has shown that a 30% reduction in calories can lead to 30% longer life, according to the National Institute of Health.There are 2 simple “drug-free” ways to help you to maintain a moderate diet and keeping your weight down:1. Eat slowly. Or take a break in the middle of your meal, go outside and have a fruit juice.Theory: By the time you return to your meal, you will find that you are no longer hungry. It takes some time for the body to digest the food and send the signals to the brain that you are already satiated. Giving your body enough time to make this neural connection will prevent you from overeating.2. Wear a shapewear.Theory: Shapewear are specialized medical grade garments that compresses at a particular pressure that is optimal to blood and lymph flow.Shapewear meant for cellulite purposes may resemble a pair of undergarments or a pair of tights, and will help to reduce cellulite by improving lymphatic drainage and eliminating water retention. Shapewear that compresses around the abdomen can also act as an “appetite suppressant” as you are less likely to feel hungry.So is there really a fountain of youth in eating less? Well, there certainly appears to be a small fountain. Given the genes we have got, we can certainly do our best to have a healthier lifestyle by choosing to eat wisely. As the old saying goes, “you are what you eat”. So it is really up to us to choose to eat well and live well.
URL: http://www.articleorange.com/articles/1666/1/Diet-your-way-to-a-longer-life/Page1.html

The History of the Tea Cosy

The History of the Tea Cosy
The tea cosy is a common every day object that probably doesn’t seem very interesting. But it comes from Nobel origins, and was not only brought about to keep the teapot and its contents hot, but to also extend social activities. Pretty hard to believe isn’t it, of a small knitted item that resembles a woolly hat? The history of the tea cosy begins when tea was first introduced to Britain in the 1660's, when King Charles II married Catherine of Braganza. Catherine brought to court the pleasure of tea taking. Of course the importing of such a luxury item was very costly and a pleasure only the aristocracy could afford until 1750 when tea became Britain's National drink. Colonialism and the ever-increasing empire meant that more exotic goods were being brought to Britain more often and more cheaply. But it is probably the Duchess of Bedford who brought about the popularity of the tea cosy.In 1840 the Duchess of Bedford established the activity of 'Afternoon Tea', an event that became so British that we still refer to four o'clock as 'Tea time'. During this era ‘well to do’ ladies didn't work, so the introduction of afternoon tea was a welcomed occupation. Unlike today, afternoon tea was a rather posh affair; the best china (usually fine China tea services imported from China) would be used and fancy cakes and pastries would accompany the tea. Usually invited guests or unexpected visitors would join in taking afternoon tea.The tea party would be served at a table, often in the garden during the summer months. The matriarchal figure would pour everyone’s tea and in her absence another would step in which is where the term 'Shall I be Mother' originated.Afternoon tea was not only a happy pastime and a mini social event, but it was also a time for networking and keeping up to date with aristocracy gossip and topical news. Of course with all the chatter at teatime the teapot would get cold. This, at times, would have cut short some tea parties, giving reluctant guests an excuse to leave instead or sending for a fresh pot of tea. And so, the tea cosy came about. A warm little jacket to keep the tea pot piping hot and so extending teatime.Visit http://www.teacosyfolk.co.uk for quality, hand knitted, woollen, character tea cosies. Tea Cosy Folk tea cosy designs are exclusive to http://www.teacosyfolk.co.uk and not only look charming but also keep the tea piping hot ready for the second cup of tea.
URL: http://www.articleorange.com/articles/1659/1/The-History-of-the-Tea-Cosy/Page1.html

Tips to Help Balance Career and Family

Whether you are male or female, a mom or a dad, balancing career and family can be really difficult. When you're a woman, though, the choices you have to make seem especially difficult and the responsibilities all the more great. For some reason, women are guilt-ridden with their career decisions and the choices they make about working while trying to raise their children, providing nutritious meals for their family, keeping a respectable house and keeping their husbands happy. Last on the list, of course, is finding some time for themselves. So how does a woman find time to actually feel happy with her daily activities while keeping up with all of the responsibility? First, take time to smell the roses! Literally, you can take time to smell the roses but you can actually do this with no flowers in sight. Every day, try to look around and appreciate what you have, taking in the sounds of your child's laughter, the wag of your dog's tail, the special glance of your husband as you tell a funny joke. Sometimes, the knowledge of what you have on your plate for the day will feel overwhelming, but a little perspective goes a long way. It may be a cliché and a very tired phrase, but it truly does work. People tend to get lost in the mundane, day-to-day "functioning" instead of really living their lives. For example, next time you are worried about fitting in your exercise with your child's play date at Little Gym, forego the Little Gym and head out with your son or daughter for a run. Strap the little one in the jog stroller or if he or she is old enough, ask them to put on the running shoes with Mommy and head outside! Once outside, you can literally stop to smell the roses. Just a few minutes of gratitude a day will work wonders for your soul and automatically make your life feel more balanced. Along these same lines, try and give yourself some "me" time once a week. Once a week may not seem like much, but if you really allow yourself to soak it in and enjoy the time spent, it will make the stress of all of the rest of the hectic days melt away. Take a good block of time on a Saturday or Sunday - 2 hours, maybe - and mark this time in your calendar in pen, not pencil. Keep a standing appointment with yourself, and honor it as you would any other. Think you are too busy on a weekend to do this? You will feel much more productive the rest of the weekend allowing yourself this little ‘refresher', rather than trying to cram some time in on a random Tuesday or other weeknight. For this special time, you can book a massage or a facial at your favorite spa. Take a couple of hours to go window shopping at your favorites stores, by yourself or with a friend. Take in a matinee with a couple of girlfriends. If your husband is willing to fly solo on a Saturday night, you can even book a girls' night out once in a while and truly let loose! Even if your budget doesn't allow for these activities once a week, you can lock yourself in the bathroom with a good book, a bubble bath and a nice glass of wine and feel good about your time alone - you deserve some! Probably the most obvious way to balance career and family is to incorporate your family into what would otherwise be "work time". If you have a short commute to work, for example, perhaps you can drive your kids to school each morning instead of having them take the bus. In the alternative, you could have your morning cup of coffee at the bus stop with them and spend a few minutes chatting about their day and what they plan to learn in school as you sip your cup of Joe and breathe in the morning air to mentally prepare for your own day ahead. If you normally exercise in the morning and leave the house very early, switch your workout time to lunch and leave the office to go to the gym, eating at your desk when you get back. You will have more time with your family each day and get a healthy break from your pile of papers to boot. You may need to get a little creative with your schedule, but there are definitely ways to help balance career and family. Sometimes an extra few minutes each day or a once-weekly good block of time can go a long way in helping restore your peace of mind and help you feel less harried.
visit : http://www.articlecity.com/articles/family/article_2724.shtml

Statistical Process Control (SPC) Software: The Past, Present and Future

Remember the first time in school you used a calculator instead of paper and pencil to add, subtract, multiply or divide? It made the job so easy, it almost felt like cheating. The technology freed you to focus on the problem rather than the mechanics of arithmetic. Statistical process control (SPC) methods have been applied in manufacturing process control since the early 1930s. Over the decades, countless hours were expended plotting charts with pencils on graph paper. Then computers arrived and, like the calculator did for the schoolboy, freed the engineer to spend time analyzing the process instead of focusing on the formulae. Over the years SPC software has matured in functionality, making statistical analysis quicker, more powerful and more flexible. The driving force has made the software easier for the practitioner to use. SPC software will continue to develop in ways that eliminate unnecessary steps, freeing quality practitioners from rote tasks and enabling them to focus efforts on improving the manufacturing process. The Past SPC software can show real-time control status of all data collection stations plant wide. As access to computers in the manufacturing environment grew, along came the first wave of products that automated the tasks associated with statistical analysis. Although they provided the tools for engineers to analyze the manufacturing process, these systems were difficult for many practitioners to use. They required tedious data entry and a Ph.D. statistician's knowledge to configure the software and analyze the data--a combination of tasks and abilities not easily married. Furthermore, obtaining interpretable results was a process completed long after the production run being analyzed had finished. This delay complicated the task of addressing process problems that continued to change--and probably resulted in additional process variation--in the interim. The Present Many timesaving features have since been added to advance SPC software usability. These software systems leverage other technologies such as automation standards and Internet access to simplify and integrate tasks--making administration, data collection, statistical analysis and reporting easier for today's practitioners. Administration Today's SPC software is designed to make the setup of parts and processes easy to accomplish. Common graphical user interface features such as tree views with drag-and-drop functionality dominate the market. These features reduce the repetitive tasks of separately creating items with only minor differences and instead allow for copying and duplicating similar components and then assigning unique parameters. The introduction of communication standards across various platforms takes this ease-of-administration approach even further. Now SPC software can be configured to automatically obtain and update parts, processes, specifications, nominals and other pertinent information from values stored in other enterprise software systems such as manufacturing resource planning, manufacturing execution systems and human machine interface. Not only does this eliminate the effort spent re-entering and updating configuration information in multiple packages, it saves the effort expended tracking down entry errors that occur when the process is done manually. Data Collection Today's SPC software can automatically collect data from other enterprise software systems. As with the time-saving benefit for administrative tasks, this capability reduces the need to configure and maintain separate data collection interfaces and eliminates re-entry errors. Current SPC software also has used communication standards to simplify the time-consuming job of connecting the system to data collection devices. Advances in software masking functionality permit out-of-the-box connection to a wide range of digital devices. And with dynamic masking capabilities, SPC software can automatically react to changes in device output and adjust to collect the specified data. This flexibility frees the practitioner from the tedious chore of administering SPC software every time there is a change to a device's output. Real-Time SPC Analysis Today's SPC software products are designed to collect data, produce charts and alarm in real time. This enables shop-floor operators to receive statistical feedback as close as possible to the point of production. Alarming capabilities include notification of supervisors, managers and other personnel responsible for maintaining and improving the production process. Immediate feedback and alarming enable all parties to begin problem solving and root causes analysis immediately. Eliminating the delay between a special cause and detection can reduce the investigation and corrective action effort by empowering quality practitioners with useful production feedback at the moment of a problem's inception. Current development in SPC software includes the ability to provide supervisors with dashboard-style status indicators of all collection operations in the plant. Snapshot views of production status on a single screen allow busy supervisors to manage by exception instead of manage by walking around. Such SPC software systems aggregate and prioritize production information for the supervisor, reducing data-gathering demands. Reporting One of the most time-consuming tasks in applying statistical methods to a manufacturing process is developing relevant and understandable reports to form the basis for decision making. Modern SPC software makes the job easier by providing built-in report templates that can organize and deliver reports focused on the key characteristics of a process. Moreover, reports that are needed on a regular basis can be scheduled and automatically generated based on then-current production information. This is a time saver for those responsible for communication among quality team members. Finally, the effort previously expended producing and distributing charts to various users and locations is reduced by leveraging the Internet. A Web-based SPC report with hyperlinks to various types of analyses can easily be distributed to multiple persons, teams or facilities. The Future Future SPC software development will follow the trend to eliminate cumbersome, low-value tasks and generally make SPC systems easier to administer and use. Describing the particular form such future development will take is speculative, but the combined capabilities of intelligent and expert systems is one possible way SPC software could evolve to address new challenges. Intelligent systems emulate the human ability to learn from past experience and to make reasoned decisions and take action based on those experiences. Expert systems rely on a knowledge base to build models to diagnose, advise and act on real-world problems. Intelligent and expert systems are already deployed in control technology for manufacturing processes. It is not a great leap to believe that these technologies will profoundly change the nature of SPC software. There are many ways in which intelligent and expert SPC systems would enhance the effectiveness and simplify the work of quality practitioners. On the most superficial level, these systems would learn from previous SPC configuration to logically reorder the system to make future administration easier. For instance, such systems could recognize which devices are being deployed and suggest effective collection methods and preferred connection approaches based on past experience. But the administrative assistance offered by intelligent and expert SPC systems would run much deeper than that. Such systems could save countless hours helping determine how to monitor the process. Building on the history of previous production successes and failures, SPC software could select key parameters to track when to set up new parts or processes, and determine the most effective way to chart and report on those parameters. The software itself could anticipate problems and alter monitoring methodologies to adapt to changes in the manufacturing process. The impact of intelligent and expert systems would perhaps be greatest when it comes to interpreting process statistics and acting on that analysis. There is not enough time in the day for the quality practitioner to thoroughly analyze the mountain of information generated from each production run. SPC software with learning and knowledge-based capabilities, coupled with computational power, will provide insights into the process beyond what the practitioner alone could achieve. With the advent of intelligent and expert SPC systems, the computer can transcend the earlier comparison made to a calculator. Such systems could not only assume or simplify menial tasks currently performed by the quality practitioner, but will also become a readily available and trusted source of expert guidance and advice. Of course, the future developments suggested here may never come to pass. Nonetheless, it is almost a foregone conclusion that the SPC software of tomorrow will be more intelligent and capable of simplifying many jobs that burden today's quality practitioner. The future of SPC software is what frees those practitioners from time-consuming, low-value tasks and enables them to more easily obtain the analytical results that inform business decisions.
URL: http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4063.shtml

How to More Effectively Convert Your Accounts Receivable into Cash

Converting accounts receivable into cash is a critical process in the development of a healthy cash flow. While booking a receivable is accomplished by a simple accounting transaction, the process of maintaining and collecting payments from your customers requires a steadfast commitment to a systematic process of Accounts Receivable Management. To more effectively convert accounts receivable into cash it's essential that the credit and collection process be highly efficient in order for you to shorten the accounts receivable cycle time. The accounts receivable cycle starts with a sale (credit sales) which in turn creates a receivable (monies due your company), and then, ultimately converts into cash. The length of time that it takes your company to complete this cycle, from sale to accounts receivable to cash, is the collection period. The shorter the collection period, the less time cash (capital) is tied up in the business process, and thus the better for your company's cash flow. Try to limit outstanding accounts receivable to no more than 10 to 15 days beyond your credit terms. If your credit terms are net 30 days, then the collection period should not extend beyond 45 days. Keep in mind that average collection periods do vary because of industry standards, company policies, or financial conditions of the customer. Comparing your company's actual days of collection to the average days of collection within your industry is a wise business practice. Benchmarking your actual days of collection to that of your target days of collection (no more than 10-15 days over credit terms) is also advisable. Your company's average collection period is calculated by using an Average Collection Period Ratio. The ratio is referred to as an Activity Ratio; it measures how quickly your company converts non-cash assets to cash assets. Average Collection Period (ACP): ACP = Accounts Receivable / (Credit Sales/365)) A high Average Collection Period implies that your company may be too liberal in extending credit to your customers and too lax in the collection process. A low number of days in your collection period could imply that your credit and collection policies are too restrictive. This restrictive position may be repressing your sales. Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio (ART) is an accounting measure used to quantify your company's effectiveness in extending credit, as well as, collecting its debts. This ART Ratio is considered a Liquidity Ratio; it measures the availability of cash to pay debt. Accounts Receivable Turnover (ART): ART = Net Credit Sales / Average Accounts Receivable A high Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio implies that, either your company operates on a cash basis, or that its extension of credit and collection of accounts receivable is efficient. A low ART Ratio implies that your company should re-assess its credit policies in order to ensure the timely collection of monies due from the accounts receivable ledger. A key requirement for effective Sales and Accounts Receivables management is the ability to intelligently and efficiently manage your entire credit and collection process. Greater insight into a customer's financial strength, credit history, and trends in payment patterns is paramount in reducing your exposure to bad debt. While a comprehensive collection process greatly improves your cash flow, your ability to penetrate new markets and to develop a broader customer base hinges on the ability to quickly and easily make well informed credit decisions and, to set appropriate lines of credit. Your ability to quickly convert your accounts receivable into cash is possible if you execute well- defined collection strategies. Credit Process: The initial requirement of an effective credit management process is to have each company that you plan to do business with, complete and sign an Application for Credit form. Your Application for Credit form should include, the "terms and conditions of sale," space for the prospective customer to provide information on company background, a list of principal owners with their percent of ownership, three to five trade credit references, and the name of their bank(s). It is important to personally review with the prospective customer their projected product purchases - in both dollars and in units. This review helps to initially assess the amount of credit necessary to purchase the projected products. This review also helps to determine inventory requirements based on a projected sales forecast Collection Process: An efficient and effective collection management process includes well defined policies and procedures that facilitate a more expedient, sale–to-cash cycle. The collection procedures require "attention to detail" and should include: • Billing: Preparation, recording, and delivery of invoices as soon as the product/service is delivered or installed. • Statements: Preparation, recording, and delivery of follow-up statements that indicate aging of outstanding balances. • Accounts Receivable Aging Schedule: Preparation and distribution of an Aging Schedule that lists all of the customer accounts that have outstanding balances. These outstanding balances are then categorized into 4 categories of time: 1 to 30 days, 30 to 60 days, 60 to 90 days, and over 90 days. • Telephone Calls: Placement of courteous and professional telephone follow-up calls to customers with past due, outstanding balances for the purpose of establishing a date of payment. • Collection Letters: Preparation, recording, and delivery of collection letters with an urgent message that demands payment and provides details of the action that will be taken if payment is not received by a certain date. • Recording Payments: Posting of the amount of payment to the appropriate customer account. If possible, it is advisable that the person performing the collection duties not be involved with the posting of payments. • Deposits of Collected Funds: Preparation of the deposit ticket, along with accompanying funds, should be deposited in the bank on a timely basis. Factoring as an Option Very simply, factoring is short-term financing that is obtained by selling or transferring your Accounts Receivable to a third party - at a discount - in exchange for immediate cash. In most cases, the third party, a factoring company, audits your accounts receivable to determine their collect-ability. If the factoring company feels that your receivables are bona fide then, they will offer to purchase the current ones at a discount. A factoring company may also, under the right circumstances, purchase your future receivables at discount off the face value of the receivables. The percentage discount depends upon the age of the receivables, how complex the collection process will be, and how collectible they are. Once the factoring company collects a particular receivable, they will pay you the remaining balance of that receivable's face value, less their fee. Fees vary widely from one factoring company to another. So, it is recommended that you do your due diligence before engaging the services of any particular company. Factoring fees are not insignificant when compared to the amount of interest you might pay to a commercial lender. For this reason alone, you should view factoring only as a short-term solution rather than a regular outlet for collecting your receivables. Many businesses, that need an immediate infusion of cash in order to survive and/or to bridge their cash flow gap, could benefit from the process of factoring accounts receivable. Since failing businesses regularly turn to factoring as a last resort, factoring may be viewed by many people as a negative. Although factoring may be a great way to generate cash quickly, you should consider the perception that factoring may convey to your customers and to others in your industry. Your good judgment here should dictate if your company could benefit from the quick cash flow that factoring provides, or whether or not it would be just adding to your company's financial burdens. Shortening the accounts receivable cycle time generates the healthy cash flow that is required to sustain your company's growth and prosperity. Copyright 2008 Terry H. Hill: Terry H. Hill is the founder and managing partner of Legacy Associates, Inc, a business consulting and advisory services firm. A veteran chief executive, Terry works directly with business owners of privately held companies on the issues and challenges that they face in each stage of their business life cycle. To find out how he can help you take your business to the next level, visit his site at http://www.legacyai.com To download a copy of this article, click on this link:. http://www.legacyai.com/Article_Convert_A_R.html

Apartment tips -- find a Great Apartment in Austin in One weekApartment tips -- find a Great Apartment in Austin in One week

Apartment tips -- find a Great Apartment in Austin in One weekSearch all Austin apartments and get a $107 - $1107 cash rebate.Apartment shopping in Houston is easy when you organize the process. This article will help you find a great Austin apartment at a great price. It will also make the Houston apartment shopping experience less stressful.Day OneAustin apartment shopping requires many decisions and some information on you. You'll quickly need to decide what unit type, unit size, unit amenities, property amenities and which area of town are right for you. You'll need information regarding your rental history and income when you complete the apartment application. Organize this information at the beginning. It will make completing the apartment application less stressful and will impress the staff at the apartment.Day TwoApartment shopping is a process of narrowing the options. In day one, you selected the type of apartment and the area of town. Use a high-quality online apartment search service to further narrow the apartment options. Be sure to use an apartment search service which has all apartments available in Houston. Some of the Austin online apartment search services only have information for 5 to 20% of the Houston apartments available for lease. It simply is not realistic to find the apartment which best fits your requirements when only considering 5 to 20% of the available apartments.The Austin online apartment search service should also allow you to narrow your apartment search by geographic area, rental rates, unit type, unit size, unit amenities and property amenities. Attempt to narrow your search to five or 10 apartment projects by the end of day two.Summarize these in a one-page table. Put the name of the apartment property across the top of the page and the features important to you along the left column. This will provide a simple but meaningful reference of the apartments are considering.Day Three Call the apartments which best fit requirements. Gather information from the on-site staff by phone. Focus on getting the information you need, rather then answering the questions they want to ask. Be polite but the firm. Have a list of questions for the features which are important to you. You'll want to include items such as application fee, deposit, first month's rent, monthly rent, any move in specials, unit amenities, property amenities and any other apartment features which are important to you. In addition to listening to what is said by the apartment staff, listen to how they say it. Are they knowledgeable, polite and attentive? Does the apartment staff give the impression of a professionally run apartment complex? Narrow your list to two or three Austin apartment complexes on day three.Day Four Meet the on-site apartment staff and tour the apartments on day four. Before going to the apartment office, drive around the perimeter of the property. If possible, drive through the property. Is the property clean and well maintained? Does it meet your minimum standards? If not, drive to the next apartment complex. Visit the apartment office. Is the apartment office clean and well organized? Is the apartment leasing staff friendly and appropriately dressed? In addition to the model apartment, ask to see your apartment unit. (It might not be as nice as the model J) Also ask the leasing staff to give you an extensive walking tour of the apartment courtyards. Is the property well-maintained? Is it clean? Ask about their maintenance policy. Are there any work orders which have been outstanding more than one week? Does the property have a regular courtesy patrol? If there are limited access gates, are they typically working?Finally, ask about the financial details for the apartment complex. These include the application fee, deposit, first months rent, and the monthly rent. Make sure you understand the offer or special they are proposing. Ask if there is a look and the lease special if you sign a lease tomorrow.Day Five Decide which apartment is best for you. Finish negotiating the lease terms. If two or three apartments are acceptable, call each and ask for their best offer if you lease today. Select an apartment property and negotiate the lease. The lease is a legal agreement. You should read it. Don't be bashful about asking questions for portions you do not understand. The lease was written by an attorney for the benefit of the apartment complex. If items in the lease do not seem reasonable, ask if they can be changed. In many cases, portions of the lease are negotiable.Congratulations, you have used an organized process to select an apartment which fits which best fits your criteria. You have also been a careful shopper and have probably gotten a great deal.
URL: http://www.articleorange.com/articles/1668/1/Apartment-tips----find-a-Great-Apartment-in-Austin-in-One-week/Page1.html

Measuring Lubricant Quality

Is there anything in today’s society that isn’t measured? We measure opinions, water quality, temperatures, economy, growth, statistics, speed, age… this list can go on and on. Americans love to measure their cars. We measure its speed, power, shine, age, distance traveled, its fuel consumption, even the loudness of their sound systems. We measure power through units of horsepower, a unit invented by James Watt, the creator of the steam engine. He concluded that the average horse can lift 550 pounds at the rate of one foot per second, which is 745.7 watts. Our fuel economy is measured by miles per gallon, or mpg. This is measured by the distance a car can travel on one gallon of gas. In countries that use the metric system, this is measured by kilometers per liter. One factor that directly correlates to your mpg is your mph, or miles per hour. Mph is the measure of your speed. This is measured by calculating how many miles you can travel in an hour at a given rate of motion. Like with economy, in metric countries, this is measured by KMH, or kilometers per hour. Another measure used in the automotive industry is your engine’s rotations per minute. This is a very important measurement actually, because a car’s engine is designed to perform at its peak at a specific range of rpm's. Also, this is used to calculate shift points and fuel economy. If an engine’s rpm's get too high, it can lead to engine failure. Why is this? Because some parts of the engine just weren’t designed to operate at those speeds and, also, because of the lack of oil getting to those parts, which is why performance cars need quality oils. As a matter of fact, we have measurements for oils as well. One of the most basic measurements of oils is the volume it takes up. Usually, oil is sold to the consumer in quarts, which is a quarter of a gallon (32 oz.). But before oil gets to the store shelf, it is sold in much larger quantities. Crude oil is measured by barrels. A barrel of crude is 42 gallons. This crude oil is then refined and made into different products. The crude oil that is processed into motor oil is then sold as drums, or 55-gallon units. Most automotive service stations, especially lube shops, buy and use the oil out of drums. But the average consumer, who has no need for 55 gallons of oil, usually purchases oil by the quart. But as I mentioned earlier, performance vehicles require high-quality oil. How do we know how good the oil we put in our cars is? Well, we have a measurement for that, too. To help us better understand what to test for in the quality of motor oil, we need to understand the most important functions of that oil. At a glance, it seems obvious: Motor oil is there to lubricate and cool the engine. How the oil goes about accomplishing that very important duty is more complicated that one may think. Your car’s oil is stored in a reservoir called the oil sump, or pan. In that area, a pump resides, where it sucks oil from the reservoir and pushes it through all of your engine’s passages that carry lubrication to the internal moving parts. While that oil is lubricating, it is also absorbing heat, cooling your engine. The oil is then cycled back to the sump, where it cools and starts the cycle again. In the early age of motor transportation, motor oil was actually made of the byproducts left over, after the crude oil had been processed into whatever else it could be. The oil was dirty coming off the shelf, compared to today’s standards. The filtration systems were less than adequate, if existent at all, and oil changes were very, very frequent. As technology progressed in the automotive industry, the oils had to adapt to be compatible. During the Vietnam War, jetfighter crew members came to rely on the performance provided by synthetic oils. Synthetic oils flow better through the lubrication system and perform their functions better than conventional petroleum oils. One such crew member, a pilot named LTC Albert J. Amatuzio, brought the benefits of synthetic lube to the commercial sector and developed AMSOIL, the first synthetic motor oil that surpassed American Petroleum Institute certification requirements. Comparing Conventional Oils to Synthetic Take a jar and pour milk, water, and cooking oil in it. Let it sit for a few hours, and you will see that each type of liquid has separated and formed its own layer. Your motor oil is made with a very advanced form of the same process. Crude oil is refined, or separating the oil from the impurities within it. The different molecular structures are separated by weight producing different products with different characteristics. Since a specific weight doesn’t belong solely to one type of molecular structure, there is a large array of impurities hanging out with the desired molecular compounds, which is a hindrance to performance. The only way to completely eradicate impurities is to chemically design and produce a pure product. Yes, a pure product. The purity is achieved by using chemicals and their reactions to molecules to obtain only the desired product. The molecular uniformity of oil produced this way greatly reduces friction, which, in turn, improves fuel economy and engine longevity. Take temperature. For instance, when it is hot, synthetic oil does not get thin, and the performance of your oil is not affected. When it is cold, conventional oil thickens because of impurities, called paraffin. Synthetics have no impurities. So How Do We Measure the Quality of Our Oils? There are standards put forth in the oil industry by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) that must be met to receive certification. The ASTM was created in 1898 and has become an association recognized worldwide. They currently have over 130 technical committees covering industries like metal production, oils, and environmental. They have devised standards that oil companies meet for performance in specific areas or lubrication. Using an oil that is rated by the ASTM standards is important, because 20% of consumer-level oils perform below the standard for which they state they perform. For example, the ASTM D-5293 Cold Crank Simulator Apparent Viscosity Test tests the ability of the engine’s starting capacity at cold temperatures. Low-temperature viscosities make starting the engine in cold weather easier, due to the retention of its designed flowability. Cold-temperature viscosity is detrimental to cold weather starting because the battery is already weaker than it is designed to be, due to the frigid temperatures. Another test is the ASTM D-97. This test measures the pour point of oil. The oil’s pour point is the coldest temperature at which the oil will still flow. The ASTM D-4683 is the High Temperature, High-Shear Viscosity measure. What this measures is the ability to sustain the viscosity of the oil in higher temperatures when being exposed to high shear. A higher score in this test means that your engine's most stressed and heated parts will stay protected even under severe conditions. ASTM’s D-4172B Four Ball Wear Test includes three fixed balls immersed in a lubricant, with the fourth ball rolling on the three with a specific pressure. The performance of the oil is measured by the scarring on the surface of the balls. Obviously, the less severe the scar, the better protection offered by the lube. When oil is sloshed around and shaken, air can become trapped in the oil, causing it to foam. Air is then carried through the lubrication system and can cause damage, because air doesn’t have lubricating properties. The ASTM D-892 standard is the measurement of the oil’s capability of resisting foam, or excessive air trapped in the oil. One thing that many consumers do not consider is the oil’s flash point. The flash point is the temperature at which the oil ignites with a flame. This is determined by the ASTM’s D-92 Flash Point and Fire Point test. The fire point is much like a flash point, except the ignition must burn for at least five seconds. Synthetic lubes are far superior to conventional petroleum oils because of their high flash and fire points. The SAEJ1321 Joint TMC/SAE Fuel Consumption Test Procedure – Type II is the test that measures fuel consumption. In a test that was conducted using trucks that delivered freight cross-country, it was decided that the switch from conventional to AMSOIL synthetic lubricants improved fuel economy by 8.2%, when a truck typically can consume 100 gallons in a day, which is about a $24-a-day savings. Finally, there is ASTM’s D-5800 Noack Volatility test. This tests the oil's resistance to boiling at high temperatures. At high temperatures, oil boils off, resulting in a loss of oil and also leaving sludge behind. The D-5800 Noack Volatility test measures oil’s resistance to boiling off, causing engine oil loss and creating sludge. Synthetic oils perform better in all of these tests than their conventional counterparts. You would think that with all of the performance benefits of synthetic oil, that they would have already replaced conventional oils. The only hindrance to that fact is price. When you compare the price of an oil change using conventional oils, the difference might be as high as $50.00. The initial impact the price of synthetic oil has usually provokes people into sticking with their cheaper conventional oils, not realizing the long-term savings of synthetics. In the long run, using synthetic oils actually saves the consumer money, especially when you consider fuel consumption, engine repairs, and most importantly, oil life. Most people know they need to change their oil every 3,000 miles or three months, whichever is first. With a synthetic oil, that is not true. Synthetics hold up much longer due to the way they are designed and produced. They do not have the impurities that break down conventional oils and degrade performance. When you consider the long-term price of oil, using a synthetic is the only sensible choice available. Choosing the best motor oil for your application is very important. Some oils perform better in hot weather, others in cold. Synthetic oil is the only choice that will outperform conventional oils in every measurement. Visit: http://www.synthetic-motor-oils.com

A PRISONER OF BIRTH

It was supposed to be a very happy night for Danny Cartwright and the love of his life, Beth. As they were enjoying an evening out, Danny got down on his knees and proposed to Beth. Beth’s brother, Bernie, was also on hand to celebrate the big night.Everything was going fine until four men, who had too much to drink, started to throw insults Danny’s way. There is a big fight and Bernie is stabbed to death. The four men, Spencer Craig, Lawrence Davenport, Gerald Payne, and Toby Mortimer, all state that Danny was responsible for the killing. Since these four are graduates of a very fine university and have good jobs, there words were believed. Danny, on the other hand, is a nobody so he is charged with the murder.Danny, of course, did not have the money to hire a good lawyer so he got one that he could afford. You can just imagine what happened to his lawyer up against a very good prosecutor. Danny is convicted of the crime and sentenced to twenty-two years at a maximum-security prison. His goal is to escape from prison, get revenge on these four men and prove his innocence.Is Danny able to succeed with this goal?First of all, you should be warned that this is a long book – almost 500 pages. With that said, the book is fast paced and it is well worth the time it might take you to read it. Jeffrey Archer sets the scene for the reader and you will have fun trying to put it all together. You will feel yourself really rooting for Danny as you go along hoping that he will be able, through his determination, to get even. There are many surprises in store for the reader and you will find a surprising conclusion. A Prisoner of Birth is highly recommended.
REVIEWED BY NANCY EATON
URL: http://www.bestsellersworld.com/reviews/archer-a_prisoner_of_birth.htm

HEART-SHAPED BOX

Looking for a ghost story that’s miles above the rest? Look no further than Joe Hill’s perversely twisted page-turning Heart-shaped Box. It’s a book with genuine thrills, shocks, and scares that will make you see the wisdom of the saying "caveat emptor." Rock singer Jude Coyne, collector of the macabre, didn’t heed this warning that translate to "Let the buyer beware," and bought a man’s ghost through an online auction. It wasn’t some friendly ghost, like Casper, but one hell-bent on seeking revenge, the ghost of Craddock McDermott.He’s come back from the dead, sold by his step daughter, the harpy-like Jessica Price, who has set up the auction knowing that Jude won’t be able to resist and will buy the ghost. Jude, through his assistant, Danny, opts to end the auction by paying one thousand dollars and buying it outright. He gets sent the dark, Johnny Cash type suit that Craddock was supposed to have been buried in, mailed in a black heart-shaped box. It was the man’s favorite suit, and Craddock’s soul travels with it to Jude’s house to enact what Craddock plans to be a bloody revenge for Jude’s destroying his family by loving and leaving his daughter, Anna, who returns home, and slashes her wrists in a bathtub, bleeding to death.Jude has a long history of having sex with and dumping his teenaged female Goth fans, whom he generally refers to, not by their names, but by the states they come from. For instance, Anna he called Florida, and the one he is currently living with he refers to as Georgia. He thinks calling them by their real names will make them too real, too human, and will cause the inevitable future break-ups with them to be more difficult for him.Craddock had been an expert at psychological warfare and hypnotism in the military. He uses these skills against Jude and Georgia, trying to convince Jude to murder her, or for her to kill herself. He attempts to fill them with dread, and the feeling that their deaths can’t be prevented by anything they do, so they should just give in and "ride the Night Road" with him. Killing Jude isn’t enough for Craddock; he wants to everyone who helps or loves Jude to also die. His voice still has the same hypnotic power it did in life--he persuades Jude’s assistant, Danny, to hang himself, and almost succeeds in forcing Jude to commit suicide by breathing in exhaust fumes from his Mustang. It’s only his dogs’ wild barking and Geogia who save him.Heart-Shaped Box is a book that’ll haunt you long after you put it down. It’s a modern ghost story that reminded me of Stephen King at his best, with books like The Shining, one of my favorites of his works. Too many ghost stories are frankly kind of lame, and don’t live up to their promised thrills and chills. Heart-Shaped Box, on the other hand, lives up to the promises and hype, and it’s a book I highly recommend to anyone who loves thrillers and horror novels
REVIEWED BY DOUGLAS R. COBB
URL: http://www.bestsellersworld.com/reviews/hill-heart_shaped_box3.htm

TWISTED

While recuperating from an injury received in the line of duty, former FBI Special Agent Sloane Burbank is now working as a consultant. She uses her special skills to train law enforcement and private organizations in crisis resolution. Sloane receives a call from a childhood friend’s mother who informs her that her daughter is missing. Sloane could not refuse this case because the mother was devastated. There is one small problem. Her ex-boyfriend, Derek, is the FBI agent in charge of the case. Derek really thinks this is a cold case since it has been a year and nothing has happened. Derek is now assigned to the Asian Criminal Enterprise Task Force and has been busy trying to capture the leader of a Chinese gang. Many more women are beginning to disappear and Asian prostitutes are being murdered. Derek soon realizes that he and Sloane are dealing with the same villain. Everything starts to heat up when Sloane becomes the next interest of the crazed person. Are Sloane and Derek able to stop this twisted person before Sloane becomes the next victim?When I receive a book written by Andrea Kane, I know this is going to be a great read. Every book I have read by this author keeps me up late at night turning the pages. The thing that really makes this novel interesting is the little notes the crazed killer writes throughout the book to let you know what he/she is doing at the moment. The best part is the reader will be kept guessing until the end. The author does give a few clues to the reader but not enough to give it away. This is a chilling book and one that is hard to put down. I am always impressed by character descriptions and this author does an excellent job. The reader will be able to visualize what each character looks like. Twisted lives up to its name. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride and a great read!
REVIEWED BY NANCY EATON
URL: http://www.bestsellersworld.com/reviews/kane-twisted.htm

BOOK REVIEW: RED LAND, BLACK LAND:

Did you ever wonder what everyday life is like in Egypt? How did they build a pyramid? What do they eat? How did they dress? Barbara Mertz has revised her Egyptology classic Red Land, Black Land. This book will give the readers detailed information on what is normal, everyday life for an Egyptian. If you ever had any questions about this subject, this book is sure to answer them. Barbara Mertz takes the reader to many of the places we might have wondered about. She tells the readers what is like to be in one of their homes. We are told in explicit detail about their jobs. The reader will learn so much about their temples. We also get to see the everyday life of a commoner and a royal.One of the things that impress me when I’m reading a book is the descriptive detail of the author. Barbara Mertz does an excellent job that gives the reader a vivid picture of what she is talking about. She does such a good job at it that you will feel like you are right there looking at the details.This is not a difficult book to read. Red Land, Black Land is an interesting read, rich in history and detail of ancient Egypt. One might think that a book like this might be boring but believe me it is just the opposite. Be sure to add Red Land, Black Land to your reading list. It is a great read and you will learn some very interesting facts.
URL: http://www.bestsellersworld.com/reviews/mertz-red_land_black_land.htm

BOOK REVIEW: THE ANATOMISTS

Harken back to an older, gentler time, when body snatchers roamed the graveyards of England, plundering newly-buried coffins for their "treasures" of bodies for the anatomists at medical colleges, and when people would go to any lengths to cover up murders in a greedy attempt to inherit vast fortunes. Gentler? Okay, so I used a word for dramatic effect--so sue me! But, getting back to the review at hand, if you are a fan of historic mysteries, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Poe’s detective hero and master of ratiocination Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin, you will definitely get a lot of enjoyment from reading Hal McDonald’s novel, The Anatomists.The "anatomists" and amateur sleuths of the book are anatomists themselves. They are Jean-Claude Legard and Edward Montague. Jean-Claude takes on a Sherlock Holmes or Dupin type of role to that of Edward Montague’s narrator and sidekick character role, which he fulfills in a way that would bring a smile to Doctor Watson’s face--if Watson wasn’t fictional, that is. The only methods to obtain the necessary cadavers for medical students at the time in England was to either pay someone to dig one up, or to do the dirty work for yourself. The body that the teenage body snatcher, Jimmy, obtains for them at the cost of four guineas, though, isn’t the body which was supposed to have been in the grave, and the intrepid Jean-Claude suspects foul play.The book is very entertaining and suspenseful, though the plot and the reasoning of Jean-Claude sometimes gets somewhat convoluted, as with Doyle’s tales of Sherlock Holmes, and Poe’s, of Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin. While you will appreciate the "logical" reasoning out by Jean-Claude to try to ferret out the culprits, you might sometimes feel like strangling him or doing some other kind of bodily harm to him because he seems to be so smug and arrogant, as Holmes does, upon occasion. Whether because of his Holmes-like attributes or despite them, the chess-playing Legard is a interesting and engaging character in his own right:
"There is a murderer roaming the streets of London. And we are going to catch him - checkmate - before he can kill again."
The stalwart duo discover that the man’s body that Jimmy procures for them has a mark on the back of his neck, indicating that he died from having been stabbed in the brain. Also, when they visit the All Soul’s graveyard to investigate further, and read about their exploits in the next day’s newspaper, they learn that the identity of the body believed to have been stolen that night from the empty coffin is Mrs. Alfred Darcy.This strange turn of events leads Jean-Claude and Edward Montague eventually to the grand oriental-inspired estate of the deceased Sir Alfred Darcy, now in the possession of someone claiming to be Philip Worthington, the brother of Abigail, the more recently deceased Mrs. Alfred Darcy. Who killed the man who had been in the coffin, and why? Why would someone have switched the body of Mrs. Darcy for the man’s corpse?For that matter, where are the current whereabouts of Abigail’s body? Jean-Claude develops carefully reasoned, logical explanations for his theories, but the problem is that just because an explanation seems to fit, that doesn’t always mean it’s the only or correct one. Still, it's fun to read his theories, and try to out-deduce him. Check out The Anatomists, a book you won’t want to put down if you’re a fan of Holmes and Dupin and enjoy period mysteries.
REVIEWED BY DOUGLAS R. COBB

URL: http://www.bestsellersworld.com/reviews/mcdonald-the_anatomists.htm

Symptoms Of Mesothelioma

Symptoms Of Mesothelioma
The long latency period attached to mesothelioma means that the symptoms of this disease can take many years to manifest, making both diagnosis and effective treatment very difficult. And even when the symptoms do become evident, which can take several decades, the symptoms are so generalised and non-specific that they could be put down to any number of more common diseases. This makes it hard for even experienced doctors to make a quick and conclusive diagnosis with mesothelioma patients. The symptoms of this disease can often be confused with pneumonia during its early stages.
Some of the most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma (which is the most common form of the disease) are shortness of breath and chest pains. This may be accompanied by a persistent cough, and all of these symptoms stem from the build up of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. This is known as pleural effusion. This type of the disease starts in the chest cavity and can then spread to other parts of the body. Pleural mesothelioma sufferers may also begin to display severe breathing difficulty, weight loss and fever as well as trouble swallowing and even swelling of the face and neck. Some patients may also develop a rasping voice and start coughing up blood. However, there are other patients that may not show any significant symptoms at all.
The symptoms for patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma (a rarer form of the disease) are slightly different. This type of the disease starts in the abdomen and can spread form there. Patients of peritoneal mesothelioma can display abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting. They can also suffer breathing problems, and chest pain in addition to these symptoms. These symptoms result from tumours that lean against the abdominal wall. Bowel obstruction, anaemia, fever and problems with blood clotting may also affect peritoneal mesothelioma patients.
The rarest form of this disease is pericardial mesothelioma, which starts in the cavity surrounding the heart. With pericardial mesothelioma, the tumours grow in the tissues that surround the heart and can spread from there. Pericardial mesothelioma sufferers may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent coughing and palpitations.
As the disease moves into the later stages, the symptoms for all types of mesothelioma become more acute and obvious, although they can still often be put down to another illness. It is therefore important for patients to inform their doctor if they have been exposed to asbestos at any point – or even if they suspect they may have been exposed to asbestos. This will enable the doctor to make a more informed diagnosis rather than basing his diagnosis on guess work. It is also important not to ignore any of these symptoms, especially if they are experienced over a long period. Many people can be exposed to asbestos inadvertently (e.g. through the clothes of someone that has worked with asbestos) so it is important to visit your doctor should any of these symptoms manifest.
With pleural mesothelioma being the most common form of the disease, the symptom associated with this form of the cancer are the most common ones that are displayed by patients. However, it is important to be fully aware of the symptoms for all three types of mesothelioma, particularly for those who have worked in high risk professions where they may have been exposed to asbestos.
Most people who have worked with asbestos in the past do not begin to show symptoms of mesothelioma until thirty to forty years later. By this time, the disease is already spreading and with the delay in diagnosis, makes it impossible to treat in many cases before it is too late. However, the cause, effects and symptoms of mesothelioma are now becoming more widely known by professionals and lay people. This awareness, coupled with the current clinical trials that are being carried out by a variety of organizations gives patients the hope that an effective treatment will one day be available for all stages of the disease.
URL: http://mesotheliomakiller.com/Symptoms_Of_Mesothelioma.html

Mesothelioma Foundations And Charitable Donations

Mesothelioma Foundations And Charitable Donations
As the number of victims affected by mesothelioma rises, it has become more important than ever to carry out extensive research into this cancer as well as educate others about it. As there is currently no long-term treatment available to mesothelioma sufferers, all that victims can do is hope that some day a breakthrough will be made by researchers and medical experts. However, this research costs vast amounts of time and money, and without appropriate funding can be very difficult.
This is where mesothelioma foundations come in. These organizations exist to help the victims of mesothelioma as well as work towards one day eliminating the disease – or at least making it non-terminal. Government funding for mesothelioma barely scratches the surface – only a few million dollars have been allocated to mesothelioma research over a period of several years. Therefore, many of these organizations rely heavily upon public donations.
So, what sort of things do mesothelioma foundations do? Well, these foundations carry out excellent work, although they clearly have to work within budgetary constraints. They work towards funding trials and research into treatment of this cancer; they help to support and educate patients as well as offering them advice with regards to treatment; and they aim to provide quality information that helps sufferers and their families.
Many breakthroughs have been made thanks to the dedication and hard work of the professionals at mesothelioma foundations. Treatments that offer a life extension of several months have been discovered, blood tests that help to speed up the diagnosis of the cancer have been developed and medication that can help to shrink the tumour is being investigated. With better funding, these foundations could support even more research giving the world a better chance of finding an effective long term treatment or cure for mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma patients do not have the luxury of time. They cannot afford to wait around for appropriate funding. That’s why these foundations work hard to raise funds, so that they can then go on to support research projects which could help to give hope back to the victims of this deadly disease. However, with so much research and testing to be done and such limited funds, these organizations need all the financial help that they can get.
For those interested in helping mesothelioma organizations to reach their goals, there are several ways in which you can help:
The first one is the most obvious, and that’s by making a charitable donation to your local foundation. This can be in the form of a check, in cash, or if you prefer to donate on a regular basis many foundations can set up a direct debit or standing order so that the money goes directly from your account each month.
Perhaps you’d like to do a little fundraising yourself, in which case doing something like a sponsored run – or anything for which people would sponsor you – could prove effective. You could raise a fair amount of money which could ultimately help to change the lives of millions of people.
There is also another way that you could help, and that’s by volunteering to assist the foundations in one of a number of ways, which could include anything from helping with research to providing support and friendship to patients.
Mesothelioma foundations will benefit from all the additional support that they can get, whether it is financial or otherwise. If you feel you can assist in any of these ways, you should contact your local mesothelioma foundation and ask about making a contribution of applying for a volunteer’s position.
Whichever way you decide to show your support, you will be helping in the vital quest to eliminate this deadly cancer
URL: http://mesotheliomakiller.com/Mesothelioma_Foundations_And_Charitable_Donations.html

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a mineral that can occur naturally in the environment, and is also used by man in a range of products. This material was once widely used in many places, but as the dangers of exposure to asbestos began to come to light, this all changed. However, for many people it was too late, as the damage had already been done. This is because asbestos is responsible for a number of side effects, which can cause anything from discomfort to death. Asbestosis and pleural plaques can result from exposure to asbestos, and more notably so can mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that can take many decades to develop but only a matter of months from the onset of symptoms to kill.
Mesothelioma is caused by ingesting or breathing in loose asbestos fibres, which can then cause scarring and ultimately can lead to this cancer. The cancer can affect the lung, chest, or abdominal cavities, but it also has a very long latency period, which means that it could be thirty years or more before the person even realizes that they have contracted the cancer because this is how long it can take to manifest. The onset of symptoms can take up to fifty years or more in some cases, but once the symptoms have manifested the lifespan of the person can be as short as several months.
Between the 1950s and the 1980s, many people – mainly men – worked in industries where they were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis and for long periods of time. This mineral was so widely used because it was cheap and because of its fire resistant properties. Because the effects of the mineral were largely unknown except for in certain circles at the time, workers did not question the lack of protection or concern displayed with regards to working so closely with asbestos.
However, it is thought that many companies and manufacturers were aware of the deadly effects of this mineral from as early as the 1920s. However, their failure to provide oblivious employees with protection against the effects of asbestos resulted in many people contracting this cancer, and only realizing thirty to fifty years down the line just as they were settling down to enjoy their retirement.
Some of the workers mostly likely to come across asbestos on a day to day basis and therefore most at risk included as insulators, plasterers, electricians, mechanics, bricklayers, carpenters, and other tradesmen. This is because these professionals worked closely with materials and products that contained asbestos. Also at risk were the families of these workers, as they could often ingest or breathe in asbestos fibres from the clothes, skin, or hair of the worker, and this could lead to the same effects.
Millions of workers have been exposed to asbestos over the years, and the unlucky ones have discovered several decades later just what an impact their work had on their health. Many of the cases of mesothelioma coming to light today are in men, as it was mainly men that worked with asbestos several decades ago. These workers are now finding out that they have this cancer and other asbestos related disorders, as the symptoms finally manifest.
The dangers of asbestos exposure have now been far more widely recognised. However, millions of people worldwide have been exposed to this mineral. For these people, living life can be like living on borrowed time, and each year, thousands of new cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers are diagnosed.
This figure is likely to increase over the next ten years or so, and many more middle-aged and elderly people could find that they have been harbouring this deadly cancer for the past few decades.
Although it is now known that asbestos exposure is responsible for malignant mesothelioma and other forms of cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and other respiratory and health problems, this mineral can still be found in insulation materials in many places worldwide, and therefore continues to hold its deadly reign over mankind.
URL: http://mesotheliomakiller.com/Asbestos_Exposure.html

What Is Mesothelioma?

What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that is becoming more and more common. Affecting the mesothelial cells that make up the mesothelium – the outer lining that protects the body’s major organs such as the heart, stomach and lungs – this form of cancer is a direct result of regular and unprotected exposure to asbestos. The symptoms and the latency period of this disease mean that it is difficult to diagnose. Treatment for mesothelioma is still being investigated through clinical trials and research, but as a rule it responds poorly to the treatments that are currently used.
The people most at risk from being carriers of this cancer are those have worked with asbestos over the past thirty to fifty years. Because of this, the disease is most common in men between the ages of sixty and seventy as this is the group that commonly worked with asbestos during those years. Because of the lack of protection and regulations in those days, these workers were constantly exposed to the dust and fibres from the asbestos, which caused the cells of the mesothelium to become abnormal. However, because the disease takes decades to develop fully and manifest, many of them were oblivious to this until thirty to fifty years later. It is these men who are now lodging multi-million dollar lawsuits against the unscrupulous companies that exposed them to the dangers of asbestos, even though they were aware that it could cause harm to the employees.
There are also other people at risk from the disease; namely those who have had regular contact with a person who has worked with asbestos. Because these workers regularly carried dust and fibres on their clothes, skin and in their hair, they fibres and dust could be ingested by family members, who were then at risk of developing mesothelioma, respiratory problems or another asbestos related disease.
The organs most affected by mesothelioma are the lungs and the surrounding tissue. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the type affecting the lining of the lungs, is the most common variation of this cancer with symptoms which include breathing and swallowing difficulties, coughing, shortness of breath, fever and weight loss. The abdomen is another area affected by this cancer, and this variation is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is not as common as pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include nausea and vomiting, weight loss and loss of appetite, fever, bowel obstruction and pain or swelling of the stomach area. The last variation of the cancer is pericardial mesothelioma, which is where the cancer affects the heart and the tissue surrounding it. This variation is a rare one, and symptoms can include palpitations, breathing difficulties, and persistent coughing.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are very common to a number of other diseases which are more well-known in society. Therefore, it is not unusual for the patient to be misdiagnosed when he or she goes in displaying any or all of these symptoms. People who have worked with asbestos should always let their doctor know this so that the doctor is more aware and more conscious of the possibilities in the event that the symptoms do manifest. A speedy diagnosis is important to the effective treatment of mesothelioma, and without being aware of the facts your doctor may not be able to make the diagnosis as quickly as he would if he is aware of the situation.
Although there are treatments for mesothelioma, they do not have a high success rate particularly on patients in whom the cancer is in its later stages. The faster the mesothelioma is diagnosed and treated, the more chance of success, which is why it is important to get as fast a diagnosis as possible.
Current treatments for mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy, palliative therapy and chemotherapy. The National Institute of Cancer along with a variety of other organizations and sponsors are currently conducting research into mesothelioma and carrying out clinical trials to try and find a treatment that will not only be more effective but will enable the successful treatment of the disease even in its later stages.

URL: http://mesotheliomakiller.com/

England Hold Firm Against Irb's Campaign for Change

England Hold Firm Against Irb's Campaign for Change The debate over law variations has created a schism between north and south in world rugby, writes Paul Rees
The International Rugby Board put out a statement this week supporting the experimental law variations, which are being used on a trial basis in the Super 14 series, with high-profile southern hemisphere coaches wheeled out to say what a positive difference they had made. It was a drawing up of battle lines. With the exception of Scotland, France and Italy, the home unions have yet to be convinced but the IRB wants the ELVs to grace this land from next season. Pressure is being exerted and England are trying to mobilize the opposition. They see the variations as an Australia-led attempt to mangle union and make it more like league by weakening set-pieces and rendering rucking and mauling redundant. The Board claims that the Super 14 trial has not made the game fundamentally different, that set-pieces are virtually the same in number as before, that the scrum remains an important element, that contest for possession is increased and the ball is in play for longer. It stresses: "Players should determine the outcome of matches, not the subjectivity of match officials." Dream on. A report in the New Zealand Herald this week, reviewing the latest round of Super 14 matches, centered on displeasure in New Zealand about Australian referees and complaints on the other side of the Tasman about Kiwi officials while they were united in their displeasure with South African whistle blowers. "The latest round of the Super 14 brought an array of fractious observations about referees," ran the article, before listing them. Laws introduced on a trial basis will almost inevitably lead to disputes initially, but the ELVs, far from making referees and their assistants less subjective, are making them more so, especially when deciding whether to blow for a penalty or a free-kick. Most offenses under the ELVs command the latter, foul play and off-side being the main exceptions, but there is a provision for persistent infringing. Some referees have higher tolerance thresholds than others. The decision to look at the laws was made after the 2003 World Cup. England's success in Australia, based on a strong forward platform, was not well received by the host nation who had got to the final thanks, in part, to referees not allowing teams to exploit the Wallabies' weakness in the scrummage. There was nothing wrong with subjectivity then. The ELVs have been used on a trial basis in various parts of the world, but mainly the south, since 2005. The IRB wants to trial them in Europe next season before a vote is taken on whether to introduce some or all of the variations globally by November 2009, in line with the Board's policy of not changing laws within two years of a World Cup. The Board's council meets in Dublin on May 1 when a proposition will be made to trial the ELVs globally for a year from the following August. The Super 14 has not adopted three key variations; sacking the maul, allowing uneven numbers in a line-out and handling in the ruck; while two that it has, not allowing a player to kick directly into touch from his own 22 if the ball has been played back to him by a colleague and making back lines stand five meters back from a scrum, have proved popular. The council needs a 75% majority to get the trial extended globally. That means it needs 20 of the 26 votes around the table. The Sanzar nations hold two votes each, along with each of the four home unions and France. Italy, Argentina, Japan and Canada have one each, as do groups representing Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Oceania. England are leading the opposition and have the support of Wales and Ireland. If Canada votes with them, the seven votes would be enough to scupper the proposal, but such is the way of rugby politics that some of the ELVs are likely to survive. The Board will attempt to allay fears that rugby union will cease to be a game of all shapes and sizes because the variations will effectively depower the scrum and various statistics will be reeled off. One shows that the scrum has been the biggest source of tries in the Super 14, replacing turnovers, and that with many more free-kicks now being awarded, teams who are strong up front have greater opportunity to exploit that advantage and with backs required to stand five meters back, there is more space to run into, as long as referees and their assistants ensure that back rowers stay bound. One argument for allowing hands in the ruck is that, last year, teams taking the ball into the breakdown recycled it 95% of the time. Trials with the new ruck law have brought that down to 85%: the greater the contest for possession, it is argued, the less tight forwards will be found clogging the back line because they will be needed at the breakdown. It still has to be shown that there is a need for change. There is a big divide between south and north with the former desperate for television money and willing to do anything to get it. The game in Europe is in rude health and the quality of attacking play in the Guinness Premiership has probably never been higher. The ELVs are reflecting that split and May Day in Dublin will not so much be a debate about how the game should be played as who holds the sway.
URL: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/188675.html