Sunday, October 26, 2008

Securing Services of Mesothelioma Attorneys

Mesothelioma is supposed to be rare. Sadly, thousands of people die from mesothelioma on a yearly basis. This is devastating especially to families who are left behind. They suffer along with their loved one just too ultimately lose him or her to the decease. Mesothelioma is one of the most devastating forms of cancer. Usually, when a person presents with this illness and is diagnosed with this type of cancer, their prognosis is usually very bad. At most, they have two years to live.

Unlike lung cancer, mesothelioma is actually caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. This is so sad because people are typically only exposed to asbestos just so they can feed their families. People who work in factories, mines and shipyards are those who are at major risk. Most of the time, the person afflicted with mesothelioma expects to die. This is why it is important that companies or employers of individuals exposed to asbestos are legally bound to implement measures to ensure their employees safety.

Most of the time, people suffering from mesothelioma have the legal right to compensation from their employers. This is where competent mesothelioma attorneys come in. If you hire an excellent mesothelioma attorney, you can generally expect million of dollars worth of out-of-court settlement. How much do these attorneys get from that settlement? Usually, attorney's fee ranges from 30 to 40 percent of the actual settlement.

The minute you are diagnosed of mesothelioma or anyone in your family is diagnosed of this disease, it is imperative that you immediately seek the assistance of mesothelioma lawyers or attorneys. There are states that impose conditions to qualify for compensation. This is why you have to immediately seek legal assistance to avoid being disqualified. Talk to several mesothelioma attorneys before you actually settle with one.

Earn Money By Blogging Through Smorty

Advertise on Blogs through Smorty

Bloggers have taken the Internet by storm. It is something that you cannot ignore. It is also a source of income for bloggers who get paid for blogging; and with the advent of paid post, you'd find people quitting their jobs to work as "professional bloggers". There are more than 5 million businesses including IBM and Microsoft that had jumped into the wagon and are running blogs as a way to reach more potential customers. Nowadays, blogging has become an effective marketing tool; and business owners recognize this truth.

Smorty for Bloggers

If you are a blogger, you probably are interested with paid blogging and you've probably heard of bloggers who get paid to blog. This is great especially if you love writing. In fact, there are people who quit their day jobs just so they can write full time. Some are earning thousands of dollars from blog advertising. If you're wondering how you'd be able to earn money from blogging, you definitely should check out Smorty.

Smorty is an automated system which connects bloggers with advertisers. All you would have to do is register with Smorty, provide them with your PayPal details, get your blog approved and you're all set. You would be given a list of topics to choose from and a corresponding deadline will be set for the topic you accept. Don't waste your time on just mere blogging if you could blog for money.

Smorty for Advertisers

If you are an advertiser, you're probably wondering what makes Smorty different from other online companies offering the same service. Smorty offers a listing of bloggers committed to meeting your advertising requirements. You wouldn't have to spend an insanely huge amount of money to advertise your product. Smorty screens bloggers to make sure that their work is up to the standards of Smorty clients. Advertise on blogs with Smorty if you really would like to get your market niche through blogging. Don't settle for the typical marketing strategies. Explore blog advertising through Smorty.

Payday Loan Settlement

It gets really frustrating, doesn't it? Paying off your payday loans. You almost wish you didn't take the loan in the first place. Are you trapped in that vicious pay-loan cycle where you keep securing a loan just so you could pay off an existing one?

You took that loan and I bet you said to yourself, "I am going to pay this off next payday." But now, you're stuck with loans and you're paying off one loan with another loan. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who find themselves in this situation. So, what do you do?

Things You Can Do

If it's too overwhelming, perhaps you can get some assistance in paying off your loans. I'm pretty sure if you're reading this that you need help to pay off your payday loans. Look for government representatives that would help you devise a way to pay off your loans. Also, look into your state laws. Perhaps, the state can help you payoff your loans. There are laws that would allow you to devise a payment scheme which you would be more comfortable with.

Pay Your Loan ASAP

If you take a payday loan, remember to pay that loan as soon as you possibly can. Avoid the "I'll pay the next time" attitude. This only gets you into more trouble with your loans. Pretty soon, you'd find yourself taking out more loans so you could pay the previous loans.

Consider Other Options

If your finances are pretty stiff, consider other money-earning activities that you can do in order to help you pay off your loan. If you have no choice but to get a loan, borrow from friends or relatives - at least you could avoid the overwhelming interest you'd have to pay if you get another loan from banks or lending companies.

How to Achieve Personal Success

You've probably heard of people seemingly possessing the Midas touch? Don't you love to touch things and have them turn to gold? There are people who touch a raffle ticket and they'd win a car. There are people who have the knack to turn up somewhere and they'd land a job. Have you heard of people who suddenly had the urge to invest some of their money in some stocks and the stocks soared suddenly high. These people may just be lucky, but they can also be very good at achieving personal success. If Lady Luck rarely smiles at you, what can you do?

Work for Your Success

You choose to be successful. It does not happen overnight. It takes a commitment. It requires a wholehearted dedication from you. You should have a definite goal and a plan on how to achieve that goal. You could have the most incredibly viable idea in the planet but if you procrastinate and find reasons why you ought not to pursue your idea - you cannot possibly expect to achieve success.

How to Achieve Personal Success

Trying to achieve personal success takes time. However, if you know how to go about working for it, you can achieve it. Here are some tips on how to achieve success:

a. Have a viable plan and do not hesitate taking the initial steps toward the completion of your goals. Do not dissuade yourself by procrastinating or giving yourself excuses why you shouldn't pursue your plans.

b. Learn to recognize opportunities and never let go of them.

c. Teach yourself how to move fast. Do not let opportunities slip by being slow. Do not be too hasty, however, that you end up committing mistakes.

d. Take care of your health. Make sure that you are emotionally, physically, mentally and even spiritually healthy. You can't expect to perform well if your body is weak. Give yourself time to recuperate and rest if your body needs to rest.

e. Avoid people who hold you back with negativity.

f. If you could look for ways to be able to get things done more quickly, do so and adopt these measures.

g. Never forget to communicate with people who could help you achieve your objectives.

h. Motivate yourself constantly by reminding yourself of your goals.

i. Create deadlines for tasks so you'd give directions to your plans.

j. Constantly challenge yourself to go above your capabilities and your limits.


Understanding Mesothelioma

What is Mesothelioma?

This was supposed to be quite a rare form of cancer but have increasingly begun to be a common type. But what can you expect? More and more people are exposing their health to dangerous chemicals just so they could feed their families. The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

What happens?

After prolonged and excessive exposure to asbestos, malignant cells gradually developed in the mesothelium. Mesothelium is the lining that usually protects and covers internal organs like the lungs, the chest cavity, peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) and the pericardium, the sac around the heart.

How do you get exposed to asbestos? First off, if your job involves working with asbestos or exposure to its particles, you have a great chance of developing this form of cancer. Your family is also exposed to danger. Your wife for instance could be exposed to the danger if she washes off the asbestos from your clothes.

What are the Symptoms?

It is highly unlikely for you to show symptoms of mesothelioma until after 20 or even 50 years of exposure. The warning signs, however, include:

a. Shortness of breath

b. Recurring chest pain caused by the accumulation of fluids in the pleural space in the chest cavity

c. Weight loss

d. Cachexia

e. Abdominal pain

f. Abdominal swelling

g. Bowel obstruction

h. Blood clotting

i. Anemia

j. Fever

k. Difficulty or painful swallowing

l. Swelling of the face and neck

m. Fatigue or anemia

n. Wheezing o. Hoarseness

p. Frequent coughing and blood in the sputum

You may exhibit some or all of the symptoms depending on the kind of mesothelioma the patient has.

How do you get diagnosed?

It is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma because the symptoms are fairly similar to other types of diseases. Usually, a long history of asbestos exposure raises the suspicion for this type of cancer. The patient shall be subjected to various exams like x-ray, lung function tests, CT scan, MRI, aspiration of chest fluid like pleural tap or chest drain. The patient may also be biopsied if cytology reports came back positive. His tissue may be subject to pathological study. He may be subjected to thoracoscopy as well. If the cancerous tissue is found in the abdomen, the physician may recommend a laparoscopy.

Can this be treated?

Sadly, the prognosis of patients positively identified with mesothelioma is poor. Conventional treatments do not seem to work well. The survival rate is a year at most after presentation. Surgeries are typically unsuccessful most likely because it is difficult to remove the entire cancerous tissues without damaging the internal organs or killing the patient.

Why Should You Hire a Mesothelioma Attorney?

Life can be harsh sometimes. You go to your 8-hour job and you go home dead tired. You do this routine daily and incessantly. You do this because you want to feed your family. All you ask from your employer is that he ensures your health. Well, you wouldn't have to worry about your health if you're not exposed to dangerous chemicals. But what if you are dealing with asbestos on a daily basis? You, my friend, need to be concerned.

Abestos Causes Mesothelioma

The sad truth is that asbestos is the cause of mesothelioma, one of the most dangerous forms of cancer. Dangerous because it is not too often that people recover from this form of cancer. Most of the time, once you present and you were diagnosed of mesothelioma, you would have a hard battle ahead of you. The prognosis is not good. At most, people suffering from mesothelioma barely live for longer than 24 months. They are seemingly fighting a losing battle.

Mesothelioma can either be malignant or benign. Frequently though, people suffer from malignant pleural mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is devastating. The cancer could spread rapidly to other vital organs like the heart, lungs and abdominal organs. When people are diagnosed of malignant pleural mesothelioma, they're life expectancy is considerably shorter - ranging from four months to a year at most. Although, this is greatly devastating, there are people afflicted with mesothelioma, even those diagnosed of malignant pleural mesothelioma, who still live for longer than 2 years with proper care and treatment.

Mesothelioma Attorneys

The minute that you are diagnosed with mesothelioma or a loved one is diagnosed with one, you have to think of getting the assistance of a mesothelioma attorney. Mesothelioma attorneys can help you protect your rights. You have a right to recover the cost of your treatment. You have the right to seek recovery of lost wages. You or your loved one deserves to be civilly compensated for your sufferings. You can protect your rights if you have the assistance of mesothelioma attorneys.

Choosing Your Mesothelioma Attorneys

Before you actually hire your mesothelioma lawyer, you need to meet up with several of them to make a proper decision on whom to hire. Not everyone is competent. You have to choose the person who can serve your interest best. There are a lot of mesothelioma attorneys who can even help you recover your losses and get compensated without having to go to court. Good mesothelioma lawyers will settle things extrajudicially so you would avoid the stress of going through a court battle.

Landscape Photography - A Guide For Beginners

What does it take to create the perfect picture? A great photographer would probably say, "Recurrence, consistency, unity, disparity, balance, irregularity, imagery, stark truth and a good dose of passion." These are the components of any perfect photograph and these are the same components needed for landscape photography.

Landscape Photography - A Surviving Passion

Landscape photography is not new. With so many beautiful things around you and with your camera on hand, it's difficult for a photographer to resist taking a picture. Many photographers are attracted to this type of photography. This is not surprising. You can trace the oldest landscape photo to as early as 1800s. The 19th century witnessed the boom of this photography field. Many photographers came out with the biggest awe inspiring photographs that now grace countless museums all over the world. And with the advent of digital camera, more and more people are acquiring passion for photography and are falling in love with landscape photography.

Preparing for Landscape Photography

If you are new to photography, you'd probably consider landscape photography as fairly easy. People think that this type of photography does not have the same restrictions and limitations like other types of photography. Unlike a fashion photographer, you don't need to waste your voice shouting instructions to your model. You don't need to find angles. Well, this is how people regard landscape photography. Ironically, experienced photographers would strongly disagree because to get a good landscape picture, you need two things - a great set of cameras and a sharp photographer's eyes. Without these two things, a scene would only look ordinary. However, with these things a plain view would look extraordinary.'
Before you start taking landscape photos, you need to take several things into consideration. You also need to equip yourself with the right equipment for landscape photography. Here are some of the things you need to get:

a. You need a camera and various lenses. Throw in lens shades as well to protect your camera and lens. Any camera is great for this type of photography; but to get the perfect picture, you should get digital SLR. When choosing lenses, picked wide-angle lenses because these capture more of the view.

b. Get yourself a supply of films and filters. Although everything is digital nowadays, it is a good idea to get yourself old fashion films. Nothing beats ISO films if you want to get clearer pictures.

c. Get a tripod. You may not think that this is necessary but it is. You'd be able to avoid blurry shots if you have a steady tripod.

Tips on How to Take Perfect Landscape Shots

If you want to get perfect landscape pictures, here are some tips to help you get those breathtaking shots:

• Be careful with your camera's position. Make sure it's leveled.

• Take note of the light. Make sure it'd flatter your subject.

• Opt for cable release and avoid your camera's timer function.

• Use lens filters when taking pictures.

• Consider the background in relation to the landscape.

• Choose the perfect time and weather for landscape photography.

There are a lot of websites where you can learn more of landscape photography. You only need to look for them.

Learn the Secrets From Photography Schools

With the advent of digital cameras, the Internet is now bombarded of countless digital photographs and amateur photographers. Perhaps, you have your own photo blog and you have joined a couple of photo sharing sites. But does this make you a photographer? Can you truly say, "I'm a great photographer," if you have received a couple of comments saying, "Nice photo!"

Learning fro Photography Schools

However, your passion for photography is certainly a key ingredient to becoming a good or great photographer. If you have the passion for capturing that perfect moment then you might just have a chance of becoming an artist and perhaps earn money from your skill. To learn faster and to learn the basics of photography, you should definitely consider taking classes. Fortunately, there are many photography schools online. Of course, you can always go to your local photography school. But if you want to save money on gas, why not go online and make use of that Internet bandwidth.

By going to a photography school, you'd soon turn your hobby into a profession. Perhaps, you can make a living out of your acquired-photography skills. Along the way, you'd learn more about your passion. You'd learn what kinds of photography interest you. Before you reach this point though, you need to learn from the expert and the service of experts is what photography schools offer.

Looking for Photography Schools

Perhaps, you can now open your favorite search engine and key in the words, "photography schools," you'd be amazed by how many schools there are online. You definitely would not have a tough time looking for a photography school. It doesn't matter if you're 18 or you're 80, you can enroll and learn photography. Just make sure, however, that you can trust the school you pick. It is a great idea to check on the expertise of the instructors. Check their portfolios. Are these anyway impressive to you? You should also check feedbacks on the school and its instructors. What do their students say about them? Make sure that you're confident with the abilities of the instructor before you enroll.

What You Will Learn

There are a lot of things that you can learn from photography schools. Here are some of the things that you'd learn from photography schools:

• You'd be taught to use your camera properly. You'd soon learn to distinguish between a regular camera and an SLR camera.

• You'd learn what lenses to use in particular shots so you'd be able to capture the image and give the subject justice.

• You'd also learn the various photography techniques.

• You'd understand what composition is.

• You'd know how to apply creative photography techniques.

• You'd learn various color use concepts. You'd learn how to use and play with various colors. You'd learn when to use black and white or when to apply color negative.

• You'd also learn how to control your camera and how to pre-visualize the outcome before you actually take the picture.

Of course, these are just some of the things you'd learn. So, if you love photography, why not enroll in a photography school now?

Learning About Photography Contests - Tips on How to Win It

Whether it's your first time to handle a digital camera or you're fairly adept with handling a digital camera, you would definitely like to join a photography contest. Of course, the thought is quite scary. Imagine submitting your "work of art" and have someone judge its merits. It could be devastating or discouraging especially if you thought you did a fine job. This is especially scary if you are a beginner. So, most beginners do not even dare imagine joining a contest. What they do not know, however, is that they could win a contest.

When you're a beginner, you probably do not even want to talk about photography contests. Photograph contests may seem intimidating for most photographers. Winning a contest validates your skill and makes all your efforts worth their while. You have to take the chance and leap. Perhaps, you should get your hands on books about photo contests so you could prepare yourself before you actually send in your photo. Perhaps, you could start with this article.

How to Join Photo Contests

Joining a photo contest is nerve racking but it is fun and exciting. Once you submitted your entry, there's no turning back. You are at the mercy of the judges. So, before you reach that point, you should make sure that you have a good chance of winning. Here are some tips on how to join photo contests:

a. Remember to follow photo contests rules. This is the crucial first step to winning. If you didn't comply with any requirement, you might end up getting disqualified. All contests have their own specific rules that you need to follow if you want to qualify. There are rules that may leave you scratching your head saying, "What is this? What does this mean?" Regardless of whether or not you understand the rules, make sure that you follow those rules to the letter. This is one of the first things you have to learn about photo contests.

b. Consider and choose your categories carefully. The one thing you'd learn about photo contests is that there are a lot of categories that you can join. Before choosing any category or sending out your entries, make sure that you have carefully studied and considered all categories. You have a better chance of winning categories with lesser entries as long as your photographs are good enough.

c. Conduct a research. Before sending in your entry. Look for the previous entries and winners. What kind of pictures work? What kind of pictures won the contest? This would give you an idea what kind of photos win, what quality is desirable and what subject matter attracts. Perhaps, looking at previous entries will give you an inspiration. So, the next time you go out and take a picture, you are directed by this inspiration.

d. Do not join all categories. One thing you should know about photo contests is that judges frown at an overzealous contestant. You'd come across as unsure of your work so you have to bombard them with your photos. So, just pick your best photos and then hope for the best.

What is a Chronic Yeast Infection?

Too often, you'd hear of women who are experiencing chronic yeast infection. You'd hear them saying, "I tried everything but the yeast keeps coming back!" Often, women feeling harassed and stressed out would wail at their physician, "How do I get rid of this infection?!"

The physician would probably asked, "Have you been taking the antibiotics? Did you stick to your no-sugar-no-carb diet? Have you been tested for thyroid problems?" Often, women would answer, "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

The Prevalence of This Infection

Unfortunately, many women suffering from yeast infection would find themselves cursing the infection on a monthly basis. It doesn't seem to go away regardless of what treatment and medications they have tried. It can be annoying and it can be quite stressful. Often, the symptoms cause severe discomfort that you'd find it difficult to work. The symptoms of this infection can also be signs of irritant vulvitis. So, women suffering from this infection are advised to visit their physician for proper diagnosis.

Diagnosis of this infection or other conditions is confirmed by a wet prep or candida yeast culture. These tests are advised to be performed after every reoccurrence. If the condition does not respond easily to anti-yeast treatment, a diagnosis of irritant vulvitis is considered.

Risk Factors of Chronic Yeast Infections

There are several factors that place a person at risk of developing this infection. One of these factors is an existing diabetes condition. People who are suffering from diabetes or those with abnormal glucose intolerance or are resistant to insulin are at major risks of developing this condition. Women who are taking oral contraceptives are also prone to developing this problem. People with HIV will likely develop this condition if their CD4 counts are lower than 100. Women who have been taking antibiotics or who have been in antibiotic therapy may also suffer from the same condition.

If you are not suffering from any of these conditions, yeast infection will likely clear up easily. However, there are women who suffer from this condition although they may not necessarily be suffering from any of the risk factors to developing the condition. These women are likely suffering from drug-resistant candida yeast infection. There are strains that pose a problem because they eventually develop resistance or tolerance to the drug. Certain medications only work for yeast infection only for a number of period or occurrence. The recurrence can also be blame to a certain strain of candida. There are times when mutational changes occur in candida subspecies after reoccurrence of infection.

Treatment for Chronic Yeast Infection

An effective treatment for this infection is butoconazole. This may be more effective than any other yeast treatment. Strains of candida that can cause reoccurring yeast infections are often resistant to fluconazole or terconazole. You can also try boric acid suppositories as a natural alternative treatment for this infection.

You can prevent re occurrence of chronic yeast infection. Weekly application of terconazole cream may lessen the chances of its re occurrence. There is no exact preventive treatment that applies to everyone. There are medications that may work for some but may not necessarily work for another. However, oral medications or intravaginal medications taken or applied weekly or monthly may help in relieving the symptoms.

Understanding Candida Yeast Infection

Candida yeast infection is the bane of many women's existence. You can't possibly imagine how much this infection affects many women's well being especially if it is chronic.

Candida Yeast Infection - What is It?

Curiously, Candida albicans are normal. They are present in women's bodies. In fact, they are present in men's bodies too. This infection, however, occurs when there is an overgrowth of fungi in the body. The same fungus also causes babies' diaper rash - if you could just imagine.
Typically, the yeasts are kept in check by the good bacteria that also resides in women's bodies. But if the normal balance between these good bacteria and fungi is disturbed, this results to this infection.

The Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of this infection generally start with vaginal itching. Actually, the typical symptoms of this infection start with itching. Eventually, the itching may be accompanied by thick, white and lumpy discharge that is fairly akin to the appearance of a cottage cheese. You'd most likely experience vaginal soreness and burning. You'd also notice skin redness or raised rashes on the vaginal area. Women who suffer from this condition will also notice burning with urination and pain with intercourse.

Other symptoms of severe infection may also include fever, chills, abdominal pain, back pain, shoulder pain, nausea, vomiting, foul smelling vaginal discharge, change in menstrual patterns and frequent missed periods. However, these latter symptoms may also be signs of a more serious condition because this infection can be a symptom of other conditions like HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. If you are exhibiting these symptoms, you should definitely visit your healthcare provider.

Is It Common?

If you're suffering from this condition right now, you are sharing the same problem with thousands of women all over the globe. In fact, 3 out of 4 women have at one time or another experience a bout of this infection. Yes, you are not alone.

If you are looking for information about this condition online and you've been reading articles about it, you've probably come across the words, "Candida Infection as a symptom of HIV". You're probably even more scared than before you first read articles on this kind of fungi infection. Do not despair. Unless, you're absolutely sure you may be at risk for AIDS, your malady is not serious. Yeast infection is 99% of the time not a symptom of a serious disease. It is also an easily treatable disease. It could make you feel quite miserable but you can easily resolve the problem with the right treatment.

Can men develop this condition?

This is not impossible. In fact, there are reports of men developing this condition. Usually, this type of infection in men is acquired through sexual contact. It is also painful and uncomfortable. It can also persist for a long time if not treated.

Treatment of Candida Yeast Infection

There are a lot of treatments or drugs available on the market. Most of these drugs are over-the-counter drugs. However, if you're infection is more serious than usual, you may require a stronger dose of antibiotics. This would, of course, require a visit to your doctor for prescription. Treatment for chronic infection would also require longer treatment. Some people need at least six months treatment before they'd see the improvement in their condition. There are people who opt for natural remedies which also work just fine.


Saturday, October 18, 2008

Statin Drugs and Cancer

Who has not heard of cholesterols these days? Everyone is being warned about the dangers of bad cholesterol and the need to take in more good cholesterol. This cholesterol talk is especially important when you speak of proper diet.

But what is cholesterol?

Simply put, cholesterol is a fatty lipid that is not susceptible of being dissolved in water. You can find cholesterols in certain parts of the body especially the brain, liver, reproductive organs, adrenal glands, and the spinal chord. Once cholesterol is synthesized, it signals the production of hormones and vitamin D3. Collection of bad cholesterol plaque builds up in the blood vessels and ultimately results in atherosclerosis – a primary cause of major heart diseases. It is common for physicians to prescribe statin drugs to patients who are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases due to high level of cholesterol in their body.

The Use of Statin Drugs – Muscle Breakdown and Cancer

Basically, you hear it everyday. Your doctor keeps telling you after every checkup, “You need to lower your cholesterol. If you don’t want to have a heart attack in the near future, you have to do something about your alarmingly high cholesterol.” And after your checkup, you’d end up with a bunch of prescription for statin drugs.

Unfortunately, there have been numerous reports on death resulting from the long-term use of statin drugs. In 2001, Bayer’s Baycol was removed from the market after reports of numerous deaths resulting from rhabdomyolsys, a condition characterized by collapse of muscle tissues. The condition was allegedly caused by the long-term Baycol intake. Doctors have also recommended the removal of Crestor from the market when the rhabdomyolsys has been reportedly caused by Crestor intake.

In 1996, the American Medical Association published a report on the findings of the cancerous effects of long-term statin drug use. Apparently, the use of cholesterol lowering drugs like fibrates and statins causes cancer to rodents. Further studies are needed, however, to determine if the findings are applicable to humans as well. However, it is advised that intake of these drugs should be avoided unless the patient is at high risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Other side-effects of long-term use of statin drugs include:

1. Poor attention span.
2. Decreased reflexes.
3. Memory loss.
4. Confusion.
5. Forgetfulness.
6. Disorientation.
7. Peripheral neuropathy.
8. Loss of sensation.
9. Muscle weakness.

All these symptoms have been primarily manifested by patients that have been regularly taking Lipitor, a very popular statin drug. What these people do not know is they are at a high risk of developing several life threatening illnesses from long term intake of Lipitor. These illnesses include cancer, heart disease, neuropathy, memory loss and depression. Unfortunately, it is not too often that doctors are able to diagnose these symptoms as problems relating to the drug itself.

Therefore, you should take note of muscle aches and weakness especially if your doctor cannot seem to diagnose the cause. It is advisable that you stop your statin drug intake immediately. Also, if you are regularly taking Lipitor or other statin medications, it would be best to take supplements that would protect your liver.

You can find numerous statin drugs in the market. Ironically, you don’t have to actually resort to these medications to regulate or lower your cholesterol. You merely need to adjust your diet and exercise regularly in order to lower your cholesterol. Your diet should mostly consist of fruits and vegetables coupled with proper water intake. With regard to exercise, you don’t have to go to the gym. Walking around the block would be a good form of exercise.

-- copyright not mine although I wrote this.

Learn the Secrets From Photography Schools

With the advent of digital cameras, the Internet is now bombarded of countless digital photographs and amateur photographers. Perhaps, you have your own photo blog and you have joined a couple of photo sharing sites. But does this make you a photographer? Can you truly say, "I'm a great photographer," if you have received a couple of comments saying, "Nice photo!"

Learning fro Photography Schools

However, your passion for photography is certainly a key ingredient to becoming a good or great photographer. If you have the passion for capturing that perfect moment then you might just have a chance of becoming an artist and perhaps earn money from your skill. To learn faster and to learn the basics of photography, you should definitely consider taking classes. Fortunately, there are many photography schools online. Of course, you can always go to your local photography school. But if you want to save money on gas, why not go online and make use of that Internet bandwidth.

By going to a photography school, you'd soon turn your hobby into a profession. Perhaps, you can make a living out of your acquired-photography skills. Along the way, you'd learn more about your passion. You'd learn what kinds of photography interest you. Before you reach this point though, you need to learn from the expert and the service of experts is what photography schools offer.

Looking for Photography Schools

Perhaps, you can now open your favorite search engine and key in the words, "photography schools," you'd be amazed by how many schools there are online. You definitely would not have a tough time looking for a photography school. It doesn't matter if you're 18 or you're 80, you can enroll and learn photography. Just make sure, however, that you can trust the school you pick. It is a great idea to check on the expertise of the instructors. Check their portfolios. Are these anyway impressive to you? You should also check feedbacks on the school and its instructors. What do their students say about them? Make sure that you're confident with the abilities of the instructor before you enroll.

What You Will Learn

There are a lot of things that you can learn from photography schools. Here are some of the things that you'd learn from photography schools:

• You'd be taught to use your camera properly. You'd soon learn to distinguish between a regular camera and an SLR camera.

• You'd learn what lenses to use in particular shots so you'd be able to capture the image and give the subject justice.

• You'd also learn the various photography techniques.

• You'd understand what composition is.

• You'd know how to apply creative photography techniques.

• You'd learn various color use concepts. You'd learn how to use and play with various colors. You'd learn when to use black and white or when to apply color negative.

• You'd also learn how to control your camera and how to pre-visualize the outcome before you actually take the picture.

Of course, these are just some of the things you'd learn. So, if you love photography, why not enroll in a photography school now?

Learning About Photography Contests - Tips on How to Win It

Whether it's your first time to handle a digital camera or you're fairly adept with handling a digital camera, you would definitely like to join a photography contest. Of course, the thought is quite scary. Imagine submitting your "work of art" and have someone judge its merits. It could be devastating or discouraging especially if you thought you did a fine job. This is especially scary if you are a beginner. So, most beginners do not even dare imagine joining a contest. What they do not know, however, is that they could win a contest.

When you're a beginner, you probably do not even want to talk about photography contests. Photograph contests may seem intimidating for most photographers. Winning a contest validates your skill and makes all your efforts worth their while. You have to take the chance and leap. Perhaps, you should get your hands on books about photo contests so you could prepare yourself before you actually send in your photo. Perhaps, you could start with this article.

How to Join Photo Contests

Joining a photo contest is nerve racking but it is fun and exciting. Once you submitted your entry, there's no turning back. You are at the mercy of the judges. So, before you reach that point, you should make sure that you have a good chance of winning. Here are some tips on how to join photo contests:

a. Remember to follow photo contests rules. This is the crucial first step to winning. If you didn't comply with any requirement, you might end up getting disqualified. All contests have their own specific rules that you need to follow if you want to qualify. There are rules that may leave you scratching your head saying, "What is this? What does this mean?" Regardless of whether or not you understand the rules, make sure that you follow those rules to the letter. This is one of the first things you have to learn about photo contests.

b. Consider and choose your categories carefully. The one thing you'd learn about photo contests is that there are a lot of categories that you can join. Before choosing any category or sending out your entries, make sure that you have carefully studied and considered all categories. You have a better chance of winning categories with lesser entries as long as your photographs are good enough.

c. Conduct a research. Before sending in your entry. Look for the previous entries and winners. What kind of pictures work? What kind of pictures won the contest? This would give you an idea what kind of photos win, what quality is desirable and what subject matter attracts. Perhaps, looking at previous entries will give you an inspiration. So, the next time you go out and take a picture, you are directed by this inspiration.

d. Do not join all categories. One thing you should know about photo contests is that judges frown at an overzealous contestant. You'd come across as unsure of your work so you have to bombard them with your photos. So, just pick your best photos and then hope for the best.

What You Should Know About Putting Up Photography Studios

If you've been taking pictures for as long as you can remember, you probably have people complimenting you on how great your photos are. So, you are probably considering starting your own business and setting up your own photography studio.

Setting up photography studios take careful planning. First of all, you need to create a checklist. So, you'd find it easier to follow through your plans. But what should you include in your checklist? What are you going to take into consideration?

Guide to Setting up a Photography Studio

Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up photography studios:

a. Set your goals. Before you even start planning, you should have clear-cut goals.

b. Define the type of photography service you are going to offer your clients. Photographers have different passions. Some photographers prefer landscape photography. Others like to do portraits. There are photography studios that work with children and babies. Others like to work on weddings. There are studios that do commercial work like magazine layouts. The more passion you have for your work, the better you would be at it.

c. Create a business identity. Choose a name and get people to take notice. You can choose to use your name or use a catchy business name that people would remember.

d. Determine where you're going to setup your studio. Are you going to setup your studio in a commercial area? Or are you considering working at home? Do you have all the necessary equipment you need? You don't need to have the most expensive equipment. This is not reasonable especially because you're just about to start a business. You should just have the right equipment so you can do your job well.

e. Choose your partners well. Photography studios have partners. Of course, you can't create albums or frames yourself. You need to seek vendors who'd do the other accessory work for you. Get your studio a good frame company partner. You should also check into vendors who would provide you with great discounts for your supplies.

f. Create your own business network. You can join organizations in your community. This will give you a chance to meet people with similar interest.

g. Market your business studio to clients. It is very important that you give consideration to proper advertising and marketing. You cannot wait for people to notice your business. You need to present your photography studio to people.

Photography Studios - What are Your Options?

When setting up photography studios, you have three options to choose from. First of all, you can choose to setup your business at home. There are a lot of advantages to this. First of all, you do not have to incur rent. You do not have to commute to work. You can deduct your work space from your tax.

Your second option is to buy or rent a photography studio. You'd be able to give your business more exposure. You'd have more space for your cameras, lights and other equipment. There are photographers who do not setup photography studios but choose to work on location instead. These are the photographers who like landscape photography or outdoor locations shoots. Your choice would ultimately depend on what kind of photography you choose to pursue as a profession.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

A Guide to Starting a Catering Business

Are you wondering what is required when you’re starting a home base catering business or just starting a catering business? Well, catering is certainly a profitable business. So, it is not surprising why you are considering starting up your own business. Catering businesses abound all over the country.

Catering as a Business

Often, people would resort to catering as a solution to food problem. Businesses holding conventions or seminars would pay for catering. Parties – even children parties – are catered nowadays. Catering has also become a symbol of affluence. Not surprisingly, if you’re successful at it, you could earn a lot of money. There are a lot of events that needs catering services – lunches, meetings, parties, and wedding receptions. Caterers would even find themselves catering a candlelight wedding proposal dinner!

As a caterer, you could earn as much as $160,000 a year. Well, this is what you could earn if you’re a city bound catering business. Not bad, right? That is pretty good enough reason to say goodbye to your 8 to 5 day job.

“But I’m living in a small town in Minnesota!”

People who live in small town America can also earn half as much as a caterer in the city. Of course, if you’re only doing it part-time, you can earn as much as $20,000 a year. Indeed, the opportunities for caterers abound. Not surprisingly, many people are wondering what they need in starting a home catering business.

Starting a Catering Business – Steps to Follow

Make that decision. This is crucial to starting a catering business. You need to have the passion for it and the dedication to your goal. Like most businesses, you’d meet problems and setbacks along the way, but as long as you stick to that decision, you’d make it.

1. Apply for licenses. Your local health department will come to check on your business to make sure that you are complying with the health requirements for businesses. You should also prepare to show your certificate of occupancy, tax license and business name license.
2. Create a work plan. You should make sure that your work plan is reasonable and doable.
3. Know your business accounting. Yes, you are going to pay taxes. You might as well learn the financial side of your business. You need to know the basics of bookkeeping so you’d know how the money is moving in and out of your operations.
4. Purchase your catering tools. Purchase the necessary cooking utensils. Also, get tables and chairs. Obviously, you’d need them for catering. Get a supply of decorative props – table cloths, napkins, vases and so on.
5. Promote your business. Like most businesses, you need to invest money on marketing and advertising. You need this to jumpstart your business. Some caterers start with their families and friends and then they’d cross their fingers. You would get more business if more people know it exists!
6. Learn as much as you can about catering. If you would like to learn about your business, you should get hold of a book that will help you understand the ins and outs of starting a home catering business.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Fraudulent eBay Buyers Exist!

You have probably read of articles telling people to be wary of eBay sellers. Indeed, there are many fraudulent sellers that you will find in eBay. However, there are as many fraudulent buyers as there are as many corrupt sellers. In fact, there are people who would argue that there are more unscrupulous buyers than sellers. Of course, if you would really look at the whole picture, fraudulent transactions only constitute a very small percentage. So, the fact that there are crooked buyers in eBay should not deter you from pursuing a profitable business. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should be careless about trusting potential buyers.

Sellers who take risks and shortcuts often fall victims to dishonest buyers. You probably have heard of an eBay seller who accepted a check and who had delivered the items or the goods before he or she even got the check cleared. Obviously, this is a bad and careless move. Unfortunately, there are many reports of such incidences. Also, if your PayPal does not reflect payments then it has not received any payment! Do not believe a buyer who insists otherwise. Be wary of deceitful buyers who would even go to extreme lengths just to convince you that payments have been transferred.

It is advisable to sell only to people within the same country. Of course, the market is bigger if you would sell overseas; however, the risks are also bigger. Money transfer and product shipment are difficult if you are selling to an overseas buyer. If you know how to sell to your home market, you can grow a profitable and sizeable business without needing to ship products offshore. You would be able to receive payments and dispatch items more easily. You will also be able to enforce actions against fraudulent buyers if you are both within the same jurisdiction.

If you are an eBay seller, you should be wary of the existence of fraudulent buyers. Of course, they constitute a small percentage but they exist and if you are not careful, you could end up losing a lot of money. Make sure that you can trust an eBay buyer before you ship any product. At least, make sure that you have received the payment before you dispatched the products.

The Guide to Outsourcing – Saving a Lot of Money

Nowadays, the Internet has changed how people do business. Do you need to transcribe anything? Are there some things that you need to encode? Are you too busy to update your blog? Why not pay somebody else to do these things? You don’t have to worry about the expense. You can always outsource the job. In fact, you can even outsource these jobs offshore.

Basically, outsourcing involves placing external entities or individuals in charge of some of your activities. This means that there is some movement of performance or control. Transfer could mean offshore transfer or not. Nowadays, there are many companies that are outsourcing jobs to offshore entities or individuals. Needless to say, offshore outsource entities and developers have been facing a growing and challenging market. Indeed, offshore outsourcing has grown in leaps and bounds.

Where to Outsource?

India has been a primary mover when it comes to outsourcing. Over the years, many countries like the Philippines and China have followed suit. With a wide array of choices when it comes to offshore service providers, companies can now strategically allocate and outsource jobs to various countries. These allow them to maximize their savings.

Of course, there are some factors that you would have to take into consideration when you choose an offshore outsourcing service. You may have to consider their infrastructure and the company conditions. It is very important that you consider several options before you settle for one. You could save a lot of money if you take time to weigh all your options. There are services that could offer the same quality of work for a lower cost. Of course, you need to make sure that the company is reliable and efficient. They should also offer fast turnaround time and good quality services.

Benefits of Outsourcing

There are actually several benefits to outsourcing. Of course, there is the primary and obvious advantage – cost savings. You can practically save up to 80 percent of your cost. In effect, you will also see considerable growth in your profit. Are you spending a lot of money on employee training? Are you providing a huge budget on Internet marketing? Unfortunately, these are wasteful expenses.
You can save a lot of money if you choose to outsource instead of training your staff for work that they will not even do. Imagine sending off your secretary to a creative graphic training course. It’s highly unlikely that she will come back and she’ll be ready to do all the graphic works for you. It’s even more unlikely that the same person could do SEO article writing for your website after she’s finished with an SEO training seminar. You will only be wasting your money. You could have saved a lot of if you chose to outsource and have trained and knowledgeable professionals do the job.

Actually, this is one of the many benefits of outsourcing. By sending out work to external entities, you get the services of skillful individuals who are highly trained to the job for you. Why settle for the haphazardly-made graphic work of your secretary when you can get a professional to do the job for a relatively low price? Not only will you be able to meet deadlines easily, you will also be able to make your customers happy. Chances are you will also retain more satisfied customers.

With all these benefits, it is not surprising that there are many people who are outsourcing work to offshore countries. Why pay a dollar when you can pay for the same quality of work for only 20 cents?

Work at Home and Gain – Gaining More Control of Your Life

Nowadays, you would often hear of people working at home and earning a living, doing something they love.

Advantages to Working at Home

There are many advantages to working at home. First of all, you wouldn’t have to deal with a demanding boss. You will be your own boss. You don’t have to observe working hours. You don’t have to wake up at 6 or 7 in the morning just to get to work by 8. You don’t have to worry about being late because you set your own working hours. You need not worry about leaving work anytime you want. You set your day off. You do not have to bother with dress code because you can decide what clothes are appropriate for you. You can choose to work for half a day or the whole day. You can even extend at night if you want to. Basically, if you work at home, you have more control over your career and your personal life. This is not something you can get from a regular job.

Work at Home Opportunities

There are actually many things that you can do from home especially if you have an Internet access. You can work as a freelancer or you can choose to work for a company. However, it is very important that if you choose the latter, you should make sure that you can trust the company you are working for. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous companies online. There are many reports of people who have regrettable experiences with dishonest and fraudulent companies. Remember that if a company sounds too good to be true, then it most likely is. As long you are working for honest companies, working from home can be infinitely rewarding.

There are many job opportunities available online. There are many people who make a lot of money from affiliate marketing programs. You don’t even have to have a degree or an experience. Of course, affiliate marketing may be difficult at first, but with a lot of patience and practice, you will eventually find yourself earning a lot of money from affiliate marketing.

If you are not comfortable with marketing or sales, you can still work at home doing other jobs you are at ease with. You can work as a writer, a virtual assistant or a transcriptionist. You can also try data entry jobs. These jobs do not require college degrees. Some jobs may require experience while others do not.

There are many websites online that allow freelancers to bid for jobs. You could price your work and get to meet people who would be willing to pay you the price. In time, you could increase your prices as you gain more and more experience. However, it is advisable that you offer below-market prices at first. You should also consider setting up a website. These things will help you attract more customers.

There are other things that you can do for a living at home. You can set up a business. If you love to cook, you can set up a catering business and you don’t even have to leave your own house. If you love carpentry, you can set up a carpentry shop right at your own garage. The possibilities are endless! You really can work at home. You don’t have to bother with an 8-to-5 job stuck inside a small cubicle. Why should you when you can enjoy all the benefits of working at home?

A Guide to Wholesale Reading Glasses Online Purchase


Buying wholesale reading glasses is cheaper. It is also more practical. There are many kinds of reading glasses that you can choose from and there are numerous retail outlets willing to sell various types of reading glasses in bulk. In fact, you can purchase wholesale reading glasses online.

Purchasing Reading Glasses Online

Many online retailers carry all kinds of glasses – bifocal, sun readers, full frames, folding glasses, no lines, semi frames, rimless and s on. If you are like everyone else, you probably are conscious about how you would look with your reading glasses on, so it’s really great that you will have a lot of choices if you opt to purchase wholesale reading glasses. Of course, that is if you are purchasing a bulk order for personal use. However, if you are running a business selling eyeglasses, you probably would like to have various types of eyeglasses in one bulk order as well.

When you purchase wholesale reading glasses, it’s always a good option to purchase online because you will be able to avail of cheaper prices. Since most online stores do not incur the same expense that brick and mortar stores do, they can afford to offer relatively lower prices to customers like you.

Choosing the Right Online Store

You are probably worried about purchasing wholesale reading glasses online. Admittedly, there are many illegitimate stores online. This is why it is very important that you practice caution when choosing and purchasing reading glasses online. You need to conduct a research and get people’s suggestions before you actually purchase your glasses. You should also consider registering with a drop ship directory. Of course, you also need to find online directories with the biggest and best company lists.

Before you actually purchase wholesale reading glasses, it is advisable that you ask for sample before you place your order. This way, you will be able to check the quality of the glasses and you would be able to see if they suit you. Be wary of a company that fails to send the samples promptly and efficiently.

Regardless of your purpose for purchasing wholesale reading glasses, such purpose will definitely benefit you. It is also cheaper to purchase the glasses online. However, you should make sure that you choose a trustworthy and reliable company before you place your bulk order.