Shauns Blog

In this article I’m going to show you how to create a HOT selling info product in one day, by only writing five paragraphs.

Anyone on the planet can do that. So without further ado let’s get started.

What we’re going to do is utilise other people’s hard work to create our very own unique products. Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? However this is a very real strategy that the top-gun e-book publishers use time and time again to create HOT selling products in lightning quick time.

Go to goarticles. com.

You see most web site owners write articles and submit them to article directories so that they get free publicity for their sites. At the end of each article is a link back to their own web site with a bit of information about their site for example. These site owners want people to take that article and market it to other people so they get visitors to their site without spending a cent on their marketing. This is perfect for savvy entrepreneurs who are willing to spend a few hours of their time in order to profit for many years to come.

What we can do at go articles. com is type in a niche in the search bar at the top right (make sure it’s on article content rather than search by author). Type in your niche market. So for example type in dogs , of fishing or whatever subject you are interested in You’ll get thousands of result related to what you have searched for. Now what I want you to do is simply trawl through the results finding at least seventy quality articles related to the dog or fishing or whichever market now copy and paste them into word or some kind of word processing application.

As I’ve said make sure these really are good quality articles. If you create an e-book using any old rubbish you’ll get a sky-high refund rate and it will all have been a pointless exercise. Do it right from the off and you’ll set yourself up for success.

If you can, try and tie all the articles together in one sub niche. For example a sub niche of dogs might be training your dog. So you could find articles on stopping your dog from barking at night, toilet training that kind of thing. The same for fishing, it could be ice fishing of fly tying Use a bit of imagination when using this method.

Email Article Authors

You mustn’t use any articles without the authors’ permission, that’s plagiarism and could land you in very hot water. Remember the majority of articles will have been submitted so the author can get visitors to their site without spending a dime. However you don’t want to breach any copyright laws. To avoid this email the authors of each article. Explain to them that you are creating an e-book aimed at their niche market, and that you would love to include their article in your e-book and that you’ll include a link back to their site and information about them. Also ask them if they have any other articles you could include.

You can expert around seventy percent of authors you contact to be delighted you’re going to include their article in your book. All you need to do then is discard the articles from authors who you haven’t heard from or who won’t let you use their article.

Put the articles in an order that makes sense and create a contents page. Use the titles of the articles as contents topics. You could even create chapters aimed at solving certain problems people in your niche have. So for example if you were creating an e-book on golf you could create a section on improving your golf swing, a section on the mind game of golf and so on. All the articles would make up separate chapters.

Finally write a short introduction and conclusion. This only needs to be a few paragraphs. Explain what they can expect to learn from your e-book and make sure you sign off using your name. You will instantly establish yourself as an expert in that particular niche. You can also link to your back end products at the end of the book to increase your sales.

Finally you need to turn it into an ebook to sell. Go toprimopdf . com and download the software. Don’t worry it won’t cost you a cent. Once it’s downloaded all you need to do is in your word software hit file and then print and then select primo PDF as your printer. Voila. You’ve just created an e-book using other peoples’ hard work. This whole process can be done in just a few hours. Obviously you may need to wait a day or two for the article authors to get back to you but apart from that you’re all set! Anyone can use this method to create more e-books than you’d ever be able to sell.

That’s a great method right? I mean it won’t cost you anything to create a product, yet you could sell hundreds if not thousands of copies and keep all the profits using other people’s hard work!

Paul Jackson is an information publisher specialising in helping people start their own home based business. You can read up on how to create your own info products in one day without writing a single word by going to: - www.lightningnichecashtactics.com http://www.lightningnichecashtactics.com

USATODAY.com - Thirsty for more business during the worst slump in its history, Starbucks will try to lure more customers by offering two hours of free AT&T Wi-Fi a day.

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Consider a ‘Prospecting Certification Course’ for your Sales Managers… “What’s in it for you?”

The last thing a sales manager wants to do is to go through a certification course in ‘Sales Prospecting’. They’ve been there and they’ve done that, or they’d not have been promoted to a sales manager level. After all, that’s up to the sales rep. That’s why they are hired on. In fact, I recently asked a Vice President of Sales in a competitive industry if he’d be open to looking at a ‘Sales Prospecting System’ for his sales managers his remark was “That’s what we hire sales reps for. If they don’t do it, we fire them and find some that will.”

Well, by definition, I guess that’s fair. Because if you take a look at any outside sales representative job description, you’ll see experience criteria listed such as: “Excellent cold calling and lead generation experience,” or “Must be able to identify Target Prospects and maintain an appropriate activity funnel,” or “Must meet or exceed activity standards.”

So why should a sales organization consider establishing a prospecting certification course for their Sales Managers? In order to consider this argument, let’s first take a look at standard criteria within a sales manager job description:

“Responsible for managing Sales activity for new and existing Account Executives”

Now let’s break this job criterion into individual elements and look at it as a professional Investor would look at a ‘Business Case’. Here are some synonyms for the word ‘Responsible’:

· Accountable
· In charge
· To blame
· Liable
· Guilty
· Answerable
· Dependable
· Conscientious

I don’t know about you, but if I understand the King’s language here, I am beginning to feel I have some ‘Skin in the game’ as a sales manager already. Let’s investigate a little further by pulling out the phrase ‘managing sales activity’.

There are (2) different ways to manage. You can choose to ‘Supervise’ or you can elect to ‘Organize’. If 100% of your sales team is 100% effective at professional prospecting; meeting or exceeding the necessary activity standard, ’supervising’ will do the trick. You’re dismissed.

But to the extent that they are not is the extent you will need to ‘organize’, put in order a best practice prospecting system to support new sales appointment activity. (Or start over like the sales executive fore-mentioned.)

Now let’s peel back the phrase ‘new and existing account reps’.

In a sales manager dictionary, ‘new’ means ‘New-hires’ and ‘New-hires’ reflects ‘Ramp-to-quota’. Simply put, the quicker a new-hire ramps to Quota the better for both parties; the new-hire and the sales manager. Both get more credit, earn more recognition and receive more commission. And what is the most important facilitator in getting a new-hire sales rep to Quota in the least amount of time?

It’s making sure they secure the necessary amount of new appointments. It’s the fuel in the tank. The quicker they do that, the quicker they will ramp to quota with the proper mentor support of course.

And that brings us back to the leadership choice between choosing to ‘Supervise’ versus electing to ‘Organize’.

Here’s a (1) rep ‘Hard-number’ example.
Average New Hires per Year: 1
Monthly Sales Quota: $7,500
Average Term Agreement: 24 months
Current Average Ramp-to-Quota: 5 months
Improve Average Ramp-to-Quota: 4 months
Average ‘Sub-Quota’ Revenue per Month during Ramp: $2,800
Annual ROI: $112,800

In this example, reducing the time it takes for (1) new-hire sales rep to achieve Quota by only 1 month returns back to the sales manager $112,800 in additional sales revenue.

The other and sometimes forgotten performance silo within the term ‘New-hire’ is sales employee turnover. Most sales employee turnover occurs with the first 8 months of bring a new sales employee onboard. My studies also tell me that 90% or more of that turnover is directly related to low sales activity; not setting enough new appointments to meet the quota ramp criteria.

Using the same model as above, let’s look at what’s in it for the Sales manager to promote a Prospecting system to reduce new-hire employee turnover.

Number of Sales Reps: 10
12 Month Turnover Rate: 40%
Average Salary: $25,000
Recruiting Costs/Rep: $1,000
Training Costs/Rep: $1,800
Monthly Sales Quota: $7,500
Improve Turnover Rate To: 30%
Revenue Ramp-up Costs: $60,000
Total Annual Cost: $178,533
Revenue Production Loss: $63,000
Saved Reps: 1
Annual Savings: $44,633

Reducing annual turnover for just (1) new-hire sales rep returns back to the sales manager $44,633 in additional sales revenue and recovered costs. Multiply that out by your own sales employee turnover number.

Now back to our sales manager job description criteria of “Responsible for managing sales activity for new and existing Account Executives.” Let’s investigate the term ‘existing account managers’ and what managing sales activities by ’supervising’ or ‘organizing’ means to our career.

First of all, what percentage of your existing sales team is reaching or exceeding quota each month. Of the percentage that is not, what percentage of them are not achieving quota due to sub-par sales activity? When you uncover that sales performance number and understand the ramifications to revenue result, you will move another notch closer to your ultimate answer of ’supervise’ or ‘organize’.

Secondarily, what percentage of your sales reps time is spent on securing new business appointments?

JDH Group clients spend on average 50% of their weekly ‘hourly rate’ on prospecting. For a sales rep working 45 hours per week, that’s over 22 hours dedicated to front end activity. If you decided to ‘organize’ a prospecting system, become certified in it and help others with it, would that drive that number down? Will that allow your sales team more time to pursue higher-value, solutions-based selling opportunities?

One definition of ‘Best practice’ is the sum of everything everybody in your sales organization knows that gives you a competitive edge in the market place. Putting in place a ‘Prospecting system’ with best practice components and elements, becoming independently certified to it as a manager/leader and mentoring it throughout your sales team will ensure that nobody is left behind.

And enabling your sales team to share knowledge and insight stimulates ‘Targeted’ sales activity that will drive new business and help you reach your desired results more often.

As a Sales manager, are you a ‘Supervisor’ or an ‘Organizer’? When it comes to achieving revenue results for new and existing sales reps, this article will help you decide which side of the fence you should be on… because there is no middle ground.

Jeff Hardesty is a National sales speaker, Sales performance improvement consultant and the Developer of the X2 Sales System®, a blended sales prospecting training system that teaches sales professionals the competency of setting targeted C-level business appointments.

Reuters - Yahoo Inc executives dismissed a search-advertising deal with Google due to antitrust concerns, one day before Microsoft Corp made its takeover offer earlier this year, according to court documents made public on Monday.

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Martial Arts are becoming more popular as the years go on and they do provide us with the skills that we need in order to protect ourselves form others. However, when it comes to kids and Martial Arts, some parents are wary of whether or not a Martial Arts school is for them. How do you know if your child will like the school and just how do you know it will teach them all of the right things?

Martial Arts and What They Teach Our Kids

There is a misconception that Martial Arts schools teach our children to fight. Obviously all Martial Arts consist of some kind of physical activity, but it is purely taught so that our kids can protect themselves against harm.

In a world packed full of danger it is always a good idea to get our children to be able to look after themselves. At the end of the day there is only so much a parent can teach their child but once they get out into the open world, they are literally on their own. That means that they need to be able to protect themselves and Martial Arts schools do help them to do that.

Now, there are obviously going to be some kids who just want to cause trouble. However, generally Martial Arts are only learned by those who are serious about the practice. All Martial Arts require some form of focus and kids who are just out to cause trouble and fight all the time will not be able to stick with Martial Arts for long.

Martial Arts schools never teach children to fight. If anything they teach the opposite, as using the skills that you have learned through Martial Arts to just simply fight, is opposed.

So just what are Martial Arts schools teaching our children then? Well, they teach them to look after themselves, to stay focused, to have a higher self confidence and overall to keep calm. There is definitely nothing sinister going on and Martial Arts classes are extremely safe to leave your children in. You just have to make sure that you find a good school and that you do not get sucked in by the many fake Martial Arts schools out there.

Overall Martial Arts schools are good for our kids and they do not teach anything dodgy. If you do have a child enrolled in a Martial Arts school and you are not particularly happy with the attitude they are developing, then you should really consider swapping schools. It is all a matter of doing your research and finding one to suit you and your child. You should eventually find one and you can rest safe in the knowledge that your child is bettering themselves and learning to become more protected against the world.

James Liu

AP - A star prosecution witness cried Monday as she alleged at R. Kelly’s child pornography trial several three-way sexual encounters with the R&B superstar and the alleged victim, some of which she said Kelly videotaped.

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More and more web developers are ditching tables and coming round to the idea of usingCSS to control the layout of their site. With the many benefits of usingCSS, such as quicker download time, improved accessibility and easier site management, why not?

The problem with CSS

Historically the main problem with using CSS has been lack of browser support. This is no longer the case as version 5 browsers, which all have good support for CSS, now account for over 99% of browsers in use.

Instead, the problem is that browsers can sometimes interpret CSS commands in different ways, causing developers to throw their arms up in the air and switch back to pixel-perfect table layouts. Fear not though, as you learn more about CSS you’ll gradually start to understand the different browser interpretations and realise that there aren’t really that many.

How browser detection using CSS hacks works

The way browser detection using CSS hacks works is to send one CSS rule to the browser(s) you’re trying to trick, and then send a second CSS rule to the other browsers, overriding this first command. If you have two CSS rules with identical selectors then the second CSS rule will always take precedence.

Say for example you wanted the space between your header area and the content to have a gap of 25px in Internet Explorer, or IE as it’s affectionately known. This gap looks good in IE but in Firefox, Opera and Safari the gap is huge and a 10px gap looks far better. To achieve this perfect look in all these browsers you would need the following two CSS rules:

#header {margin-bottom: 25px;}

#header {margin-bottom: 10px;}

The first command is intended for IE, the second for all other browsers. How does this work? Well, it won’t at the moment because all browsers can understand bothCSS rules so will use the second CSS rule because it comes after the first one.

By inserting a CSS hack we can perform our browser detection by hiding the second CSS rule from IE. This means that IE won’t even know it exists and will therefore use the first CSS rule. How do we do this? Read on and find out!

Browser detection for Internet Explorer

To send different CSS rules to IE, we can use the child selector command which IE can’t understand. The child selector command involves two elements, one of which is the child of the other. So, html>body refers to the child, body, contained within the parent, html.

Using the example of the header margin, our CSS command would be:

#header {margin-bottom: 3em;}

html>body #header {margin-bottom: 1em;}

IE can’t understand the second CSS rule due to the html>bodyCSS command so will ignore it and use the first rule. All other browsers will use the second rule.

Browser detection for Internet Explorer 5

It may seem strange at first to send different CSS rules to different versions of a browser, but in the case of IE5 it’s very necessary. This is due to IE5’s misinterpretation of the box model. When specifying the width of an element in CSS, padding and borders aren’t included in this value. IE5 however, incoporates these values into the width value causing element widths to become smaller in this browser.

The following CSS rule would result in a width of 10em for all browsers, except IE5 which would give it a width of just 5em ( IE5 would incorporate two sets of padding and border, on both the left and right, when calculating the width):

#header {padding: 2em; border: 0.5em; width: 10em;}

The solution to this problem? Perform browser detection and send a different CSS rule to IE5:

#header {padding: 2em; border: 0.5em; width: 15em; width/**/:/**/ 10em;}

IE5 will use the first width value of 15em, 5em of which will be taken up by the two sets of padding and border (one each for the left and for the right). This would ultimately give the element a width of 10em in IE5.

The 15em value will then be overridden by the second width value of 10em by all browsers except IE5, which for some reason can’t understand CSS commands with empty comment tags either side of the colons. It doesn’t look pretty but it does work!

Browser detection for Internet Explorer on the Mac

Quite simply, IE on the Mac does strange things with CSS. The browser’s become somewhat obsolete as Microsoft aren’t going to be bringing out an updated version. As such, many web developers code their CSS-driven sites so that the site works in IE/Mac, although it may not offer the same level of advanced functionality or design. Provided IE/Mac users can access all areas of the site this is seen as a suitable way of doing things.

To hide a command using the IE/Mac CSS hack7 is simple, and involves wrapping a set of dashes and stars around as many CSS rules as you like:

/* Hide from IE-Mac \*/

#header {margin-bottom: 3em;}

#footer {margin-top: 1.5em;}

/* End hide */

IE/Mac will simply ignore all these commands. This CSS hack can actually be quite useful if there’s a certain area of the site not working properly in IE/Mac. If that section isn’t fundamental to being able to use the site, you can simply hide it from IE/Mac like so:

#noiemac {display: none}

/* Hide from IE-Mac \*/

#noiemac {display: block;}

/* End hide */

The first CSS rule hides the entire section assigned the noiemac id (i.e.

Browser detection for IE 4 and Netscape 4

Version 4 browsers have limited and somewhat erratic support for CSS. Making a CSS layout in these browsers, whose market share has now slipped well below 1%, can be extremely challenging. It’s become common practice nowadays to completely hide the CSS file from version 4 and earlier browsers. This can be achieved using the @import the @import directive to call up the CSS document:

Version 4 (and earlier) browsers will display a non-styled version of the site as they can’t understand this @import this @import directive.

Conclusion

On the whole, modern browsers have very good support for CSS - certainly good enough for you to be using CSS to control layout and presentation. Sometimes however, certain page elements will appear differently in different browsers. Don’t worry too much if you don’t know the reason why - if you can fix it up with these CSS hacks then your web pages should look great across all browsers!

Ian Roberts - Programmer at www.roscripts.com http://www.roscripts.com .

AP - Young adults experience news fatigue from being inundated by facts and updates and have trouble accessing in-depth stories, according to a study to be unveiled at a global media conference Monday.

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We all want a great looking Betta that won’t die on us after just a few days. Here’s a quick guide to help you find that healthy Betta.

First of all, make sure it’s alive! I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen dead Betta’s sitting on pet store shelves.

Body

Look for bumps, or lumps of any kind anywhere on the body. A healthy Betta has smooth scales along its body. Any loose or missing scales are signs of sickness or previous trauma. A swollen stomach is also a clear sign of a sick Betta. If you notice any white patches anywhere on the body you’re probably seeing fungus.

Fin and Gills

Although this may sometimes be difficult to tell at the pet store where many Betta’s are stored in tiny bags or boxes, take a look at the fish’s fins and gills. Betta fins should be able to expand fully with no holes, discolorations, or tears.

The Gills should be smooth with no discoloration or lumps.

Behavior

Bring your hand toward the Betta, without taping the bowl or poking the bag the betta is stored in, but just close enough and make sure the Betta is alert. Healthy Betta’s are alert and react to your movements. They may or may not flare at your movements.

Color

Unhealthy Betta’s appear pale in color and may have discoloration along their face or body.

Keep in mind that this is only a guide. It’s important to remember that a healthy Betta will only stay healthy if you treat it right. After you purchase that Betta it’s up to you to keep it healthy, otherwise, your new Betta will end up on a magical journey down the toilet.

Tho Le is an author and enthusiast of Betta fish. You can find regularly updated betta tips, news, and information on his betta fish blog:

AP - Jury selection has started for the murder trial of a British man accused of killing his wife and infant daughter in Massachusetts.

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Canada Day, originally known as Dominion Day, is the anniversary of Canada’s independence from Britain. It is celebrated on July 1st, is a national holiday and is a great opportunity to have fun as a family.

Here are some things your family can do to celebrate Canada Day:

Fireworks celebrations are held in many locations to celebrate the holiday. Scan the newspapers to find out when and where they will be held. Often there are other events such as live music and craft shows before the fireworks show. If there are other family attractions nearby that you would like to visit, leave early and make a day of it.

A tour of historic Canadian places makes an educational Canada Day activity. If your town or one nearby has a good town website, it can be an excellent source of information about nearby historic places. Tours are often available for a small fee. Learning about your country’s history is a worthwhile way to spend the anniversary of its confederation.

Family outings are a Canada Day tradition. A picnic in the park is a great family activity for the day. Pack some sandwiches, drinks, and snacks. Load up frisbees, tennis racquets, and other sports equipment. Then head off to the park for a day of family fun.

A family camping trip would be a wonderful way to celebrate. It takes some planning, but camping is truly fun for the whole family. Be sure not to forget the insect repellent, sunscreen, lots of outdoor toys, first aid supplies, and plenty of food. Then take the camper (or tents if you really want to rough it) and head out for an adventure.

Bike trips through scenic areas are a nice way to celebrate while enjoying the country’s natural beauty. Canada is home to many bike trails, and Canada Day is a good opportunity to take advantage of them. If you don’t know where the nearest trail is, check with your local visitor’s center or do an online search.

Canada Day crafts are a creative way to commemorate the holiday. Many Canada Day festivals offer the opportunity to do crafts, but you can also do them easily at home if you wish. You can find plenty of ideas online for everything from handprint Canadian flags to maple leaf hats to Mountie door hangers.

Canada Day festivals are jam-packed with activities that the whole family can enjoy. But you don’t have to go to a festival to have a fun day. You can stay home and have your own celebration, or participate in outdoor activities that allow you to enjoy the abundant natural resources that the country has to offer.

Alice Seba

AP - After a year as the Palestinian Authority’s prime minister, Salam Fayyad is pessimistic about a peace deal with Israel, saying the accelerated construction of Israeli settlements largely strips the negotiations for Palestinian statehood of meaning.

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A healthy dog is easy to recognize - lively eyes, energetic, and with a shiny, bright coat. As a dog owner, you should understand the importance of how to get your dog healthy and how to keep him in that condition.

Let’s begin with the most basic ingredient - food. All animals need water and food to exist. From a human perspective, we realize balanced food intake is the only way to get a quality diet and to stay on top of our game. Dogs too require the same consideration or they face malnutrition. To ensure our much-loved pooches get proper nutrition, they need a diet rich in minerals, vitamins and doggy nutrients. This is very simple for us to do since the majority of today’s brand-name dog food is complete. A dog food’s price does make a difference, as the cheaper brands tend to be less nutritious and contain too much cornmeal.

Just like us humans, dogs can overeat and become overweight. In the wild, this problem never happens since an out-of-shape animal can’t fend for itself and doesn’t stick around very long. The only time an obese animal is found is when it’s domesticated. Although some kind-hearted pet owners think they’re making their pet happy if little Tito is eating lots and lots, these owners are actually shortening their pet’s lives and putting them at risk for respiratory problems, arthritic pain, diabetes and heart disease. These obese pets also are more likely to pass away if they need to be put under anesthesia for surgery. (Unfortunately, this is also true for obese people.) Thus, feeding your dog the correct food in the correct amount is ultimately the most important way to show how much you care for your pet.

The condition of a dog’s fur, skin and stools need to be addressed. Dogs can get ill from tics and fleas. Flea collars aren’t always good at keeping away these pests. Instead, use a good powder or spray. Make sure to use these correctly according to the instructions. If a flea problem does arise, it’s vital that you attend to it right away. First, clean the spots that the dog regularly lies around. Every time that you vacuum these areas, immediately empty the vacuum bags. Also, wash the dog’s bed every time he lies in it. These steps will prevent further outbreaks from the fleas and their eggs nested in your home’s carpet and fabrics.

Ticks like to jump aboard your dog while you walk him in the country. After every walk in the woods, check your dog’s coat. Also, inspect your dog’s stool for visible signs of worms like roundworm, whipworm, tapeworm and hookworm that attack a dog’s intestinal tract. It’s still important to stick to a worming schedule since not all worms can be seen by the naked eye.

These practices are easy ways to make sure your dog is healthy. You can also do other measures to increase your pet’s health such as regularly visiting your veterinarian and giving your pet vaccinations on schedule. In this caring manner, you’re helping your dog live a long, healthy and comfortable life.

Copyright 2006 Sally Ricco. All rights reserved. Sally Ricco’s site Pet Dog Health - an informative site about common and serious dog health problems. More details at www.petdoghealth.com/ http://www.petdoghealth.com/

AFP - A Japanese man puzzled by food mysteriously disappearing from his refrigerator got a shock when he found out a woman had been living in his home for months without permission, police said Friday.

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If you are in the market for fine German wine and food, you should consider the Pfalz region of southwestern Germany. You may find a bargain, and I hope that you’ll enjoy yourself on this fact-filled wine education tour in which we review a local Gewuerztraminer.

The climate in the Pfalz region is so mild that some of its farmers actually raise lemons and figs. It has been called the Tuscany of Germany. While Pfalz is far from Tuscany, it is just over the border from the famous French wine-producing region of Alsace, also known for producing fine Gewurztraminer wines. Sooner or later we will review one (or maybe more) Alsacian Gewurztraminers for our series I Love French Wine and Food. Did you notice the difference in spelling between the German and the French grape?

The Pfalz is quite narrow and about 80 kilometers long, right along the Rhine River. The best vineyards belonged to the Church until Napoleon redistributed them. The region contains some 25,000 vineyards with an average size under a hectare (about 2.5 acres). With such small vineyards, most owners are forced to take on additional work to make ends meet. While Pfalz was once the number one German wine producing region, it now ranks number two in both total wine production and vineyard acreage behind its northern neighbor, Rheinhessen.

Approximately four out of five local wine bottles are white. The two top grape varieties grown here are Mueller Thurgau, a German developed hybrid, and the often noble Riesling. Local red grape varieties include Portugieser and to a lesser extent Pinot Noir, better known by its German name, Spaetburgunder. About 10% of Pfalz wine is classified as basic table wine, over 70% as middle quality QbA wine, and the remainder higher quality QmP wine.

The German Wine Road crosses the Pfalz region. Virtually anywhere you go on this road you can find something worth seeing, worth tasting, and I daresay worth eating. Be sure to visit the city of Speyer. While today’s population is only about fifty thousand, Speyer was a major center in the Holy Roman Empire hosting many Imperial Diets, huge parliamentary assemblies. From 1030 to 1061 a series of emperors built the Kaiserdom (The Imperial Cathedral), which was expertly restored more than fifty years ago. Just across from the cathedral you will find the Palatinate Historical Museum. Other museums to visit include the Technology Museum, Sea Life in the old harbor, and the Wine Museum that features a 1600 year-old glass wine amphora, perhaps the oldest wine bottle in the world.

Before reviewing the Pfalz wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Keschlebreih (Chestnut Soup). For your second course enjoy Kalbsnieren (Veal Kidneys). As a dessert indulge yourself with Kerscheblotzer (Cherry Cake).

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Darting Gewuerztraminer Kabinett 2005 10.8% alcohol about $14

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. With such a German name, it’s surprising that Gewuerztraminer is still a minority in the vineyards of the country. Kurt Darting has created some of the Pfalz’s finest examples. The wine has classic lychee, grapefruit and spice tones. A perfect partner for intense, flavourful dishes such as chicken vindaloo.

My first pairing was with turkey meatballs, potatoes, and sautéed vegetables in a moderately spicy tomato based sauce. The wine was round, light, a bit sweet, and not very acidic. While the vegetables’ sweetness intensified the wine’s sweetness, happily the wine never became cloying. I tasted apples in the background. I tried the Gewuerztraminer with chocolate covered candied orange peels. While the wine was round it was somewhat disappointing. As always, I don’t blame the wine for failing a stab in the dark type pairing.

My next trial was canned tuna doused in Harissa, a Moroccan spice, cold roasted potatoes, and a cold vegetable medley. The wine was sweet and tasted of honey without being at all cloying. I did taste the lychee that I was supposed to taste. The wine had pleasant acidity. You might consider canned tuna and honey-tasting wine to be a marriage made in Purgatory but I rather liked the combination. I think it would have been even better if the Harissa lived up to its promise as a fiery spice. For dessert I had homemade biscotti slathered with high-quality apricot preserves. The Gewuerztraminer became pleasantly acidic to match the dessert’s sweetness.

The final meal included whole-wheat pasta with a commercial spaghetti sauce to which I added sautéed brown mushrooms and red onions. I sprinkled lots of ground Parmesan cheese on the mixture. The wine was really sweet, considerably than before. Its sweetness was a good match for the tomato sauce’s sweetness. Steamed asparagus with a generous sprinkling of onion powder and a fair measure of cayenne pepper formed the delicious side dish. This combination rendered the wine more complex than previously. It balanced the spices well. The wine was weak with a fruit juice based candy.

And now come the cheeses. The first pairing involved a goat’s milk cheese called Palet de Chevre from the Poitou Charentes region of central-western France. It was a goat’s milk cheese unlike any that I have ever tasted. Frankly it looked and tasted like a somewhat runny Camembert. The wine was definitely honeyed with this cheese. I did not find the combination particularly enticing. Not being able to find a German cheese other than another Limberger, no thank you, I bought a Gruyere, a Swiss cheese without the holes. The pairing was virtually the same. Honey. Once again, no thank you.

Final verdict. Nothing special. This wine was sufficiently disappointing that I won’t be buying it again. While I am partial to other German white wines beside Rieslings, I was not impressed by this particular offering.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine German or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His major wine website is www.theworldwidewine.com http://www.theworldwidewine.com which links to his other web sites.

AFP - A delegation of retired US diplomats met dismissed Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya in the besieged Gaza Strip on Sunday as part of a Middle East fact-finding mission.

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During my years as a literary agent for both screenwriters and book authors, I received query letters by the thousands. Even small literary agencies are so overwhelmed by the influx that young, inexperienced interns weed through query letters from prospective authors before the agents even see those few diamonds in the rough with a chance at getting published.

So how do you become one of those agent-represented diamonds (or, at the least, get agents to request your full manuscript)? I could advise you at length, and will in the future, but for now here are ten query letter tips–some dos, some don’ts–to get you on track toward the representation and publication of your manuscript. These apply to letters directly to publishers, too–but make sure the publisher accepts submissions that don’t come through agents.

1) Leave out the bells and whistles.

Your words count, not your ability to suck up. (That counts only in person.) Your query letter should appear professional and mature: It should not be on pink stationery covered in hearts and flowers. It should not include candy-would you eat food mailed to you by a complete stranger? If you include a chapter of your manuscript (and don’t include more unless they ask), refrain from binding it in any way. The agency will only get annoyed when they try to photocopy it. Put that effort into the prose of your letter, and agents will want to see the prose of your book.

2) Proofread it.

That does not mean use SpellCheck. It means you and your friend and your friend’s friends should read it for typos and incorrect grammar. A single mistake will land it in a literary agent’s recycling bin.

3) Include a SASE (stamped, self-addressed envelope).

Why not make it as easy as possible for them to respond? It’s common book industry practice, and you’ll appear unprofessional and/or cheap if you don’t.

4) Include a synopsis, but keep it brief.

If an agent is going to represent you, they’ll need a pitch to throw at potential publishers. Both species have short attention spans. Give them the important and unique stuff about plot and characters, not a scene-by-scene rundown.

5) Do your homework.

Consult the Jeff Herman Guide, the agency’s website, or any other reference that tells you what types of books they’ve sold. If they specialize in chick lit and romance, don’t bother pitching your political thriller–or, if you do, play up the love story within it.

6) Type.

Seems obvious. But you’d be amazed at how many people handwrite query letters. Perhaps they think it’s more personal and will make them stand out. It isn’t, and it won’t. It’ll just make the agent doubt your professionalism and strain his/her eyes trying to decipher your handwriting.

7) Get the agent’s name right.

You’d also be amazed at how many letters I got addressed to someone at a different agency, or with my name spelled wrong, or the name of my agency spelled wrong. Carelessness is not impressive. And while agents know you’re pitching your manuscript to other agents, they don’t want to feel as if they’re getting a form letter.

Don’t make it a form letter. Sure, it takes time to personalize, and you don’t need to go overboard and ask how Literary Agent Smith’s three daughters are, but this is another way homework can help. Find a book they’ve represented that’s similar to yours and tell them you truly enjoyed it. One sentence–then go into the form letter part.

9) Don’t compare your manuscript to bestsellers.

It’s not The Da Vinci Code meets The Devil Wears Prada. It’s not the perfect vehicle for Harrison Ford and Nicole Kidman. If you want, mention other books by way of genuine comparison, or suggest an actor to help paint a picture of a character. But leave out the overblown marketing predictions.

10) If you’ve written 18 unpublished manuscripts, don’t say so.

That’ll only make agents ask why none of the 18 have been published. On the other hand, if you’ve had as much as a short story published in your college’s literary journal, mention that. Published = good. Unpublished = irrelevant.

Lisa Silverman is a freelance book editor and works in the copyediting department at Farrar, Straus and Giroux, one of New York’s most prestigious literary publishing houses. She has also worked as a ghostwriter and a literary agent representing both book authors and screenwriters. She founded www.BeYourOwnEditor.com http://www.BeYourOwnEditor.com in order to provide writers with free advice on both writing and the publishing business.

Reuters - Belgium’s InBev NV is close to securing a $50 billion financing package to enable it to launch a takeover bid for Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc , maker of Budweiser beer, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

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If you are having some trouble in the bedroom, you may be feeling a little discouraged. This can be a hard time for you and your partner. If you do not like the way that your partner is making love to you, you need to do something about it. This is after all, one of the most important parts of your relationship. You need to make sure that you both are satisfied both emotionally and physically as well.

You will want to have the most pleasurable time with your partner when it comes to love making. You need to be honest and up front with them so that they can change something to make it better. This is the only way the situation will get better and you can be happier with all aspects of your love life.

You simply have to talk with your partner so that you can get it all out in the open. You need to make sure that you are keeping the lines of communication open between the both of you so that you can get the problems sorted out. Maybe it is just a matter of needing something new and exciting in your love life.

What do women look for in lovemaking, and why?

Women want to have sensitivity. Most women want to have their partner completely connected with them so that they know that they are loved. No woman wants to be in a relationship that is based solely on her sexual activity. They want more than just that. They want to have an emotional and physical bond with their mate as well.

It is important to have the before and after in lovemaking. Women want to have the bonding before and the talking after. They want to know that they are special and that their mate is as attracted to them as they are to the other person. It is important to have the special connection that is found between lots of happy couples.

What turns women on, and why?

Women are different from men when it comes to love making. They want to have the special bond together with their partner. When two people are in love and they want to be together, they will have to spend time with each other and getting to know about the other person. Women want to have excitement and energy in their lovemaking. They want to have that spur of the moment fling every once in a while and at the same, they like to be romanced.

It will depend on the woman and what she really wants in her love life. Women are different and there will be different preferences for each of them. When it comes to love making, the woman and the man need to figure out a way to meet the needs of both. For a healthy and loving relationship that is going to last, it is very crucial that both partners are getting what they need in the love making process.

You can try putting some romance and spice into your love life. Do not be afraid to try new things and if it is not something that works out, then at least you know and you gave it a shot. You will never know unless you give it a try.

How can I tell my partner I don’t like the way he makes love to me without hurting or offending him?

When you are simply not happy in the bedroom, you need to find a way to be open and honest with your partner. You may not want to end the relationship because you have other special bonds with each other and you have put a lot of commitment into this relationship.

However, you need to be ready to stand up for what is important in your lovemaking. You have to make sure that you are talking to your partner on a regular basis. Being honest is better than holding it all inside. You want to open up the lines of communications so that there can be a change and both of you can be satisfied and go on with your special relationship.

You must carefully explain to the other person how you are feeling and what it is that you want exactly. You should not be embarrassed about this situation and in fact use it for a good lesson. You need to be able to tell your partner anything so that you can feel comfortable and have an open and honest relationship.

Usually when you are in a loving and caring relationship, you will find that this is easy to take care of. Your partner will want to make you as happy as they can and the same with you. If your partner does the news badly that you are not happy with the love making in the relationship, maybe it is not meant to be and you should move on. However, if you are in a serious and committed relationship, you can work through this problem just as you would any other situation that can come up between couples.

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AP - The Detroit Red Wings wrecked the Pittsburgh Penguins’ home-ice advantage and gave themselves a shot to hoist the Stanley Cup in Hockeytown. Jiri Hudler snapped a third-period tie for the Red Wings, who rallied from an early deficit to beat the Penguins 2-1 Saturday night and grab a 3-1 lead in the finals.

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