rubber-rocket

by asterix611

Christmas Tree Farms Benefit the Environment

The Christmas Trees we grow benefit the environment.

Choose & Cut Christmas Tree Farms, such as Lovell Tree Farm, benefit the environment long before you take home the tree for the Holidays.

Real Christmas trees are a benefit to the environment from the time they are planted until after the holiday season when they can be recycled.

While growing,Real Christmas trees support life by absorbing carbon dioxide and other gases and emitting fresh oxygen. This helps prevent the earth-warming greenhouse effect.

Every acre of Christmas trees grown produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people. In the United States there are approximately 1 million acres of growing Christmas trees; that means that 18 million people a day are supplied with oxygen thanks to Christmas trees.

The farms that grow Christmas trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies, and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas trees are grown on soil that are marginal for other crop.

After Christmas, Real Christmas trees are often recycled and have many uses.  

Christmas trees are biodegradable — the trunk and branches can be used as mulch for gardens, parks or in animal stalls. The mulch provides a protective barrier for the roots of other plants and vegetation while preventing weeds from growing. The mulch then decomposes, providing the nutrients plants need to thrive.

Recycling programs are a fast – growing trend in communities throughout the nation. Ask the tree farmer where you purchase a tree.

Some communities use Christmas trees to make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially at beaches and on river beds. Sunk into private fish ponds trees make excellent refuge and feeding areas for fish.

Before recycling, Christmas trees can be used to make bird feeders, adding color and excitement to the winter garden. Utilize orange slices, suet, and seed to attract the birds. They will come for the food and stay for the shelter in the branches.

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS REMOVE DECORATIONS, ORNAMENTS, AND WIRES FROM THE TREE YOU ARE RECYCLING.

Written by and starring John Roberts. Directed by Clay Weiner. Edited by Jesse Reisner. DP Drew Denicola. A mom and her christmas tree

by rmforall@gmail.com

Why Small Business Owners Don’t Ask for Feedback from Customers

One of the most important things you can do as a small business owner is to find out what your customers really want from your company. Without customers, of course, you have no business. Your bottom line every month depends on whether they decide to give you their money, So, how well are you taking care of them – from THEIR perspective?

To find out, you need to ASK them. But I’ve found that many small business owners don’t make this a priority, for three main reasons.

1. They just haven’t thought about it. They don’t realize how important it is to ASK – and what they’ll learn.

2. They’re afraid of what they’ll find out if they DO ask. That’s understandable. The only kind of feedback many of them have ever gotten is when customers complain, so they may be afraid that’s all they’ll hear. But if they don’t get at the truth, they risk losing customers, which is very costly to a business.

Research from SCORE shows that for every customer who bothers to complain, there are 26 others who say nothing. The good news is that if you make an effort to remedy a customer’s complaints, between 82% and 95% will stay with you. Think about that for a minute. What money is your business losing by NOT finding out what the problems are and fixing them?

And in doing a customer feedback survey, you’ll find out what you’re doing well that they want you to continue doing. You may have blind spots about your strengths as well as areas for improvement.

3. Some small business owners think doing customer feedback surveys is too hard and complicated. Maybe you don’t know what kinds of questions to ask or how to set one up. But it can be easy, fast and automated with survey software that’s available today. Some programs even have done-for-you templates for surveys – like customer feedback, employee opinion and even individual performance – that make it easy for you to ask customers for their input.

The sooner you start asking your customers for their input, the quicker you can make changes to your business that attract and keep customers for the long-term.

by maxyphoto.com.au

The History of Corporate Video Production – Part 1

Before we look at the history of corporate video production, it’s worth taking a quick look into the future and predicting what we may see in 2011, 2012, 2013 and beyond.

My first corporate video prediction is the death of Blu-Ray in its present form. In fact we’ll see the death of all silver spinning media like CD and DVD. Solid-state memory like USB sticks, flash drives and such will become the media of choice for corporate video, where online video streaming isn’t available. This might sound hard to believe, but with the emergence of video platforms like the iPad, YouTube, Android and iPhones, the need for large physical media like disks will quickly diminish.

My second prediction is the massive growth of web video, at the expense of physical media. Every worthwhile corporate web page will want to have a video. And this will create a massive demand for more corporate video, which in part will be met by amateurs and video hobbyists, but as well as, the professional corporate video production company, now in business as the web production company – or simply – the video production company, or video production services.

My third prediction is the way we produce corporate video. There’ll be less muttering consultancy and more positive off-the-shelf corporate video products, like talking head videos, testimonial video, presenter video, 2-minute web marketing video and such. Now on with the history of corporate video:

Corporate videos have been with us since the 1970s and even before when film was used. The arrival of reel to reel editing machines heralded this new phenomenon within corporate communications. But a reel-to-reel studio back then could easily cost £100,000 to fit out, not including the tube cameras that could cost £30,000 upwards. These studios were primarily geared up for television production, and knocked out a few corporate videos almost as a sideline.
So naturally corporate video was the domain of the chosen few, the rich companies who could afford to have a piece of television all for themselves. Being a big budget affair right from the start, it wasn’t unusual to have wild animals, exotic locations or expensive TV personalities as part of the show. A £50,000 price tag wasn’t unusual. We know of one major client who spent £110,000 on a single training video, using flightcam shots amongst others – and it wasn’t even for worldwide distribution!

As the 80s progressed Sony, the main supplier of video and media equipment, started to bring prices of professional equipment down. Digital Video Effects (DVE) machines also dropped from £100,000 to a low end of £15,000. These allowed scenes to fly on, or appear in interesting ways, like circles and cubes. This price drop resulted in the growth of independent video studios that didn’t depend on television as their main source of income. The true corporate video production studio at last started to emerge. Typically an independent could produce most of a video in-house then maybe go to a TV studio for the final finished effects, the polish if you will.
Back then; a video would be edited in a local studio on a cheaper semi-pro format such as Hi-Band, where the completed video was made at offline quality. The offline was taken to the TV studio, frequently with a piece of paper listing all the edit points. The TV studio then compiled the offline at full online quality. This was a laborious and time-consuming process compared to today, but it meant that any company with an important message that needed to go on video could afford to do so.

Alongside this graphic PCs emerged, from high-end Sun workstations to the lowly Amiga, all capable of delivering that most important of video elements – graphics and captions. Graphics were a big breakthrough in corporate video as they allowed invisible things to be seen such as the inner workings of a machine or technology process; or with training videos, the key points to remember could be seen as captions, making the learning easier to remember.

Look out for my next article on corporate video production 1990s to the present day and beyond.

by The Library of Congress

Uniform Dating? Attract Him With Short E-Mails

Writing excessive e-mails would guarantee you a bye-bye to your prospect date in Uniform Dating. That’s a spoiler to your chances of getting a hold of that perfect uniform date.

Anyway, after your have created a great profile, the worse thing that you can do to get a one-way ticket to uniform dating limbo, is sending too-long e-mails. Gasp! What? You’re not supposed to write a novel?! Well, yes. You’re composing an e-mail and not an autobiography or essay. Emails should be simple, short and straightforward so as to keep your contact interested and asking for more.

In Uniform Dating don’t make it too long because you are not writing your life story nor are you writing out a theses paper to be passed to a professor. Reserve those heart-breaking, tear-inspiring, heart-jerking stories for when you finally have an offline relationship and meet in person.

Besides, shorter e-mails come off as confident and easy going, while long ones are bit of a a drag read. Shorter paragraphs are easier to read, avoid making lengthy ones. So keep your e-mails short and simple, avoid relating everything in just one go. End your e-mails in a call-to-action statement, this would encourage your contact to get in touch with you in a way. Before you start writing your e-mail, you must first read through your military single’s profile and create a draft and write down statements that implies you have read through his profile. Why? This serves as a guarantee that you have indeed read their profiles and are genuinely attracted to them. What’s more, they’d make a great filler for those awkward silent moments. If you share more interests it means you have more to talk about, right?

Composing long e-mails can limit your ideas on what to write in your next e-mails. Not only that, repetition can be possible, “did I mention that…” or “did I tell you…”, yes you have! And a million times in your previous e-mails. It can be quite annoying to your uniform single, since your out of things to say so avoid laying out all your cards.

Communicating via e-mails gives you more time to organize your thoughts and sort out ideas on what you would want to share with him, as opposed using instant messages or chatting. Besides, it will be more comfortable to the other person too, because they can take time to take in your email and “meeting” a stranger out of the blue. Enjoy writing the short catchy e-mails and let your personality shine through!

by Nitevision

Where to Place Fairy Lights

Fairy lights offer a beautiful and magical way to light up the home. They can be used in any room in the house and in a whole variety of ways to brighten the room, provide a lovely ambience and generally turn the house into a home. This article looks at specific ways in which fairy lights can be used in the home and outside it too, to make it the envy of all your friends. Read on to find out more!

Fairy lights are available for indoor use and outdoor use too. In fact it is even possible to buy lights that can be for both. These are the best type to purchase because it means that if you decide to change their position you can. Outside there are many places and many ways you can use them. At Christmas time you can outline the windows and doors of the house to turn it into a magical place. You can also hang lights in all the trees. White lights can be used if you want an elegant look, although coloured lights look fantastic too. Because you can buy battery operated lights, it doesn’t matter if there are no plugs nearby to plug in the lights. This means you can wrap lights in the branches or trees or place them wherever you want. If hidden within the branches of a tree, they can provide a starlit canopy under which you can sit and entertain guests. It may be cold however, so a patio heater might be necessary! Even the very smallest of outdoor spaces can be brightened up with lights of some sort.

Roof terraces can look beautiful with a lights display. Fairy lights around the table or within a plant can provide a true party atmosphere. There are rope lights available that can be used to light pathways or be wrapped around tress for a summery, holiday feel. There is no end to how the outside of your home can benefit from fairy lights of some kind. If you are having a themed party, then specialist party fairy lights can be bought and strung up. Nothing creates a better party atmosphere than small twinkling lights, or novelty lights at a fancy dress party. You can have a lot of fun providing a lighting scheme for your garden or outside space.

Inside the home fairy lights can be just as fun. In the kitchen they can look sensational when draped along shelves or hanging down over the cupboards at Christmas. The only word of warning is to make sure you can still open all your drawers and cupboards easily! In the sitting room they can be used as the main light source in the evening. Nothing provides a more atmospheric mood then fairy lights in the room. You can use them up the banisters of the house and throughout the bedrooms too. Your children will love having fairy lights in their room. There are coloured lights available that look especially good at Christmas time and there are even lights that come in particular casings such as stars or angels. Fairy lights are much safer than candles but can provide that same low level lighting that really makes a house a home. That is why they are so popular and can be found in houses across the world.

Fairy lights can be used throughout the inside of the house and all around the outside too. If you want to have a home that you enjoy relaxing in then you should definitely invest in a few types of fairy lights. If there are no plugs to use then you can purchase battery lighting which works for many hours. Whether it is rope lights or battery operated fairy lights, you should buy online for the greatest choice and best prices.

Related Fairy Lights Articles

by Laughing Squid

Wega Espresso Machine

Wega espresso machine is an equipment for making a cup of coffee. With a cup of coffee will make a good mood and working to become fluent in the daytime. Coffee can relieve stress at work, rest time and can help to make the right decision.

If you like to drink coffee then you need to have a good machine for making coffee that you need in all places. You have to be careful shopping to buy a good machine. Best coffee machine in my opinion is Wega coffee machine because the machine helps you to make a cup of coffee every time you want to drink coffee.

Wega espresso machine you need to consider to purchase one of many wega coffee machines on the market today using wega espresso machine Wega espresso machine review has a good feature to be bought asseparate details

In addition, espresso machines consist of a variety of package options needed for espresso and cappuccino. The main component in the package such as chocolate shaker, plates, cups, coffee beans and frothing.

Prospective buyers will be demonstrated by those with their professional staff who are trained to show the features of Wega espresso machines using wega espresso machine. Manual cleaning is also described so as to make customers aware of maintaining machinery and equipment clean and in working order. There are two type of Wega espresso machine mainly consists of two main categories: The Espresso Profesional and Commercial Espresso.

Type feature professional Wega Faema E61 espresso is considered because its reliability, high-quality goods, large boilers and equipment valued so large that this type as the best mo

Espresso Machine

Wega espresso machines can be purchased as separate items.In addition,  espresso machines can also be brought in various packages required to have a cappuccino and espresso.

Packet includes primary components such as chocolate shaker, plates, cups, coffee beans and froth that comes out.Wega also their professional training so that prospective

Purchasers can have presentation of how to use wega espresso machine and what its features. Cleaning the guidelines In addition to stated clear so that customers always pay attention to machinery and equipment are kept clean.

Generally, an espresso machine designed for home or office (not for commercial use).If you buy a commercial espresso machine for example a coffee shop.For food service business, some zoning boards will require an espresso machine has NSF certification.Espresso machines that only have NSF certification is a two Pasquini espresso machine.This machine can handle handle a large volume of commercial espresso machines

Besides you use the espresso machine to make a delicious coffee you need to know the details of wega espresso machine parts,so you know if there is a light engine trouble.
Pasquini espresso machines can be used in low-volume environments such as bakeries and beauty spa, where espresso is your side business, even if you want to be able to satisfy your customers.Usually certain requirements that need to be made by your zoning board for those of you who are not really going to sell espresso

Other Wega espresso machine that gives a satisfying features and excellent quality are Wega Sphera, Nova2 Wega, Wega Atlas, Atlas2 Wega, Wega Polaris, Polaris2 Wega and other type.

by Bishwo Ghimire

WeDoRecover Drug Addiction Treatment

Drug addiction is a condition which is widely misunderstood in society today. The effects of substance abuse are far reaching, impacting negatively on not only the addict, and all those close to them too.

Because addiction begins with a choice to pick up the substance, most people blame drug users completely for their condition and show very little empathy, which adds to the stigma and compounds the problem.

What may have begun as a bad choice can escalates into a vicious downward spiral of loss of control of the substances the person’s addicted to, until the drug addict cannot break free, but needs professional help and support to break out of the cycle.

It becomes almost impossible to simply give up drugs and both professional drug addiction treatment and community support may be necessary.

Why Do Drug Addicts Keep Using Drugs?

Most individuals who become addicted to drugs believe in the beginning of their drug using careers that they can give it up at any time. Most often they’ll attempt to give up on their own without getting professional help and drug addiction treatment.

Some may find a measure of success, however many people fail to reach long term recovery. Substance abuse which has been ongoing generally results in the brain altering to new patterns which continue even after the person stops using drugs.

The changes in the brain can result in behavioural consequences, such as a loss of control of drug use even in the face of the negative effects.

Intense cravings for drugs can be triggered from things like work related stress, family issues, mental illness, pain caused by medical problems, old friends from drug using days, and environmental reminders of drug abuse. (places, smells, objects, etc.) Sometimes the individual is not even consciously aware of the trigger.

It is advisable for an addict to consider treatment for giving up drugs. Help is available and participation in treatment is beneficial to recovery in addicts, even severely addicted people.

Drug Addiction Treatment

Drug addiction treatment depends on the type of drugs being used, the length of time they have been used and the characteristic of the addict. The best treatment usually has a mix of treatments and services. The purpose of the treatment is to help those who are addicted to stop their lifestyle of drug abuse.

Treatment can take place in different settings and forms and it can be done over different lengths of time. The best treatment is that which is developed individually for a person. Addiction is prone to relapse, so treatment should be long term and have follow up group support when it is completed.

Drug addiction treatment which is most effective usually combines behavioural therapies (individual and group therapy) and medication which is monitored by medical staff trained in substance abuse. Many drug addicts also suffer from other health problems and have issues to deal with regarding family, work and social problems. All of these also need to be addressed during treatment.

Different medications help to ease the patient through withdrawal of different substances. These need to be monitored by professionals as most drug addicts use more than one substance. Sometimes antidepressants or other such medications need to be administered as well.

Along with the medication, therapy is essential to help people with motivation and to teach ways to cope with cravings. Therapy also guides patients on how to avoid future drug use and prevent relapse or deal with relapse if it happens. Therapy also deals with all the relational dynamics which the person deals with in life including family, friends and work colleagues. A combination of group therapy and individual therapy is usually effective.

Is Drug Addiction Treatment Effective?

The purpose of drug addiction treatment is for the patient to change their lifestyle of substance abuse and return to productive functioning in society. Research has shown that most people who receive long term treatment for drug addiction recover and fit back into society in an improved way. Individual treatment, however, depends on the severity of the addiction, the appropriateness of the treatment and the relationship between the patient and the treatment centre staff. With regard to relapse, drug addiction relapse follows a similar pattern to that of other chronic disorders like diabetes, asthma and hypertension.

Drug addiction should also be seen as a chronic disorder, like diabetes, which can be managed successfully. Treatment deals with the effects of drug abuse on the brain and allows the patient to return to a productive drug-free lifestyle. Of course, relapse is always a possibility, as with most chronic disorders, however it does not mean that treatment was a failure. Successful treatment generally requires continual monitoring and modification, where necessary.

Drug addiction treatment is the best way to reach recovery and improve the lifestyles of addicts and all those close to them. The ideal scenario would be where society supports the recovering addicts and the general negative mindset of the public changes to one of understanding and empathy, seeing addiction as a chronic disorder which needs treatment.

Short video on heroin addiction. Produced by Friedkin Digital for Wiley & Sons, Inc. Part of a companion series for a university level textbook, “Abnormal Psychology” 11th edition by authors Ann M. Kring, Sheri L. Johnson, Gerald C. Davison, & John M. Neale. Additional footage courtesy of Greg Scott Sawbuck Productions DePaul University …dedicated to the memory of his sister, Julie. © Copyright 2009
Video Rating: 4 / 5

by d_vdm

Lake Stanley Draper

Lake Stanley Draper and Lake Hefner are the two popular lake destinations in Oklahoma City, and one of the three major urban water bodies in the city along with Lake Overholser. Built in 1962 and drawing water from Lake Atoka and McGee Creek Reservoir, Lake Stanley Draper was named after the former Chamber of Commerce director. The lake is home to marinas, fishing piers, picnic areas and skiing opportunities on open water.

Covering around 2,900 acres, Lake Stanley Draper in OKC features an average depth of 34 feet and is 98 feet at its deepest point. Located near I-240 between Midwest Boulevard and Post Road in southeast Oklahoma City, the lake’s dam on the south side is a popular fishing destination as are the covered piers around the lake. Fishing and boating permits can be bought from select Wal-Mart and Conoco locations, Bass Pro Shops, Academy Sports & Outdoors, and the OKC Zoo. Daily fishing permits cost , while annual permits are available at .

Motor boats, jet skis and sailboats are allowed on the lake. Most boat ramps are located on the west side of the lake. Daily boat permits are available at , while annual permits cost . The other recreation options include ATV and dirt bike riding at the Cross Timbers Park, skiing at the lake’s open water, and camping at any of the above 50 campsites available. The marina features boat storage and camping sites. Swimming is the one activity that’s prohibited.

OKC hotels offer shuttle services to all important destinations in the city, including Lake Stanley Draper.

Related Draper Articles

by Matt @ Taipei

Being a Member is More Than Just Having a Plastic Membership Card

Being a member of a particular group gives a person a feeling of belongingness. Whatever group the person is in, the feeling of being accepted is invaluable. More often than not, membership groups have membership cards to prove that each of them is a certified member.

Membership groups are prevalent today. There are just so many rising groups from student groups, political groups, civic groups and even church groups. These groups usually have membership cards that they can show to prove they are members of the group. The membership card, usually made of plastic cards for durability, is the physical proof of the membership.

But more than just the plastic membership cards, each member must strive to build involvement and real membership to the group. The plastic card is the physical proof while involvement is the membership proof. Here are some ways to help build real membership:

Each member of the group must be encouraged to get involved. A group is not a group if not all its members are getting involved. There should be open communication among the members.

If there are newsletters or publications, each member should receive one. This will make the members updated about the group.

Always recognise the contributions and involvement of each member of the group. This will help motivate the members to further get involved. The more involvement is recognised, the more the members will want to get involved.

In order to expand the membership group, each member must strive to invite more prospective members. The prospective members must qualify the requirements set by the group.

New members must be welcomed. They must feel that the members of the group are happy to have them.

These are some ways to make members of the group get involved. As a member of a group, it is not enough that you have the plastic membership card. Anyone who has met the requirements of the group can have that plastic card but not all will be true members of the group.

Remember that membership is more than just a plastic card that you can display in your wallets or card holders. True membership means getting involved and becoming a real member whom other members can relate to. If all members of a group are involved, there is no doubt that the membership group will continue to expand and stay strong as a group.

Thank you for watching. My videos are slowly being publicized. Thumb(:

by Wootang01

It is Fun and Easy Way to Learn With Educational Board Game!

Getting children to learn has long been a dilemma faced by today’s teachers and parents. How do you make something like the industrial revolution interesting to an eight year old? It’s hard, but have always been intrepid folks out there who try their hardest to make the act of learning fun and entertaining for children. Educational board games are one of the most effective ways of doing so, and there have been a lot of really good additions to the market over the years – board games, memory games, and puzzle games that challenge a child’s brain and give them a fun reason to learn.

These board games come in all shapes and sizes. For those looking to get a game for their child that will trigger some intellectual stimulation, it’s only a matter of choosing a topic or field to work with. School age board games are not only tailored for the skill level of your child, but the interests they might have.

For as young as children aged 1 and up, there are games that challenge them to recognize and remember different shapes, colors, and objects. By enhancing their cognitive ability through a fun memory game, you are giving them a head start on learning when they get older.

For the older children out there, the options immediately diversify. There are exciting puzzle games like Dinosaurs and Things that won’t even seem like learning to a child intrigued by the giant lizards of eons past. History has a habit of being dry and boring when taught from a text book, but a board game in which the information might sneak up on a child and be exciting is the perfect way to make them want to learn.

For the math crowd, there are many options. Fraction, multiplication, and division playing card decks are available as well as various memory games. The educational board games on the market are so varied that no matter how your child learns, whether it is visually, audibly, or hands on, there’s a game out there to help them.

Sitting down and playing a board game with your children is one of those activities that families have been doing for years, often on a set night, in a big group. It’s a great way to spend some time with your loved ones after a long, stressful week and unwind. At the same time, you can help your children develop stronger logic and problem solving skills and have fun while doing it.

There are school age board games for children of all ages, in topics ranging from history and math to geography and literature. Whether they know it or not, an educational board game is the best way for you to sneak up on your child with a good dose of mind expanding fun.