1st Presidential Debate: Obama Lacked-The-Luster of a Commander and Chief

The first Presidential debate I asked... what will win over the American voter, substance, style or possibly both?

And the answer is BOTH - at least for Romney.

First, let me state that I observed the presidential debate from a non-partisan point of view. As a speaker coach, I was listening for clarity of thought as well as how each man expressed himself.

So, what exactly did Romney do that projected a presence that said, "confident, credible and congenial"? What happened to the dynamic and engaging persona that has contributed to Obama's popularity?

As the two men greeted each other, Obama's impeccable posture, determined stride, pleasant expression all said, "I am here to win". Romney, on the other hand, had a slight hesitancy in his walk and his face had a flash of nervous tension, as if he was questioning what was about to happen and recalibrating his strategy.

But all that as quickly changed and here's how...

One: Pace

The pace at which the two men spoke influenced each candidate's credibility. First up, Obama maintained a vocal pattern of saying 7 or 8 words followed by a pause. He was missing his typical vocal inflections that conveys passion and adding insult to injury, he filled each pause with an "ah". Bottom line, he didn't have his usual rhythm that engages an audience and the "fillers" made him sound uncertain, struggling for words. Not good for credibility.

On the other hand, Romney was articulate, clear and concise he was able to connect with his message and his audience. Romney spoke at a good clip and appeared to be in the moment, thinking about what he was saying as he said it. His ability to "think-the-thought" kept me engaged and wanting to listen, to understand his position.

Two: Facial Expression

After the initial hand shake, Romney kept a pleasant expression on his face. One commentator referred to it as a "half-smile". I am not sure what exactly he was doing but it worked - it made him look friendly, "familiar", someone I'd have as an associate or friend. This personable style made his stories about the people he met along the campaign trail (job hunters, people worried about health insurance, etc.) believable.

Another facial expression that Romney mastered was eye contact. He looked at Obama when talking with him, at Jim Lehrer when talking to him and he looked directly at the American public when talking to us. Did you notice that how he stayed engaged with his opponent when Obama was speaking? Smart.

Obama's strategy was quite different. When Romney was speaking, he typically looked down, rarely acknowledging his opponent. When it was his turn to speak, he directed his comments to Lehrer only looking at Romney when challenging him. But what was most surprising was he did not show that million dollar smile which can instantly put people at ease and provide an emotional connection with his audience. Instead he looked irritated and impatient. When he did smile it appeared to be forced rather than sincere.

Three: Physical Expression

The best presenters get everything working together - their words, body language and voice, are in-synch... aligned and supporting their message. Here again, Obama was off his game, even his gestures positioned him as the weaker candidate. Almost dismissive in his behavior, Obama kept is head down, gestures were small, tight to his torso - waist high and he would lean on one leg, causing his shoulder to slouch losing that winning posture.

Romney owned the room, he kept his strong stance and his gestures tended to be "larger", more expressive with the movement coming from his shoulder. Controlled and purposeful, these behaviors along with his direct eye contact proclaimed, "I am in it to win it".

Four: Structure

Right from the get-go, Romney was clear, direct and concise when he spoke. His responses provided structure to the debate. For example, he described his 5-step plan, his rebuttals included a preview of what he was going to say and then he addressed each topic, saying first... second... etc. Whether or not you agree with his politics, you certainly knew where he was headed and what he was talking about. Obama, on the other hand, appeared to wonder. I kept waiting for him to take back control but it didn't happen.

Round One Results

Last night Romney wasn't asking to be our next president, he was letting us experience what it would be like for him to be the president. While Obama felt like the default candidate.The results: Romney 1 Vs. Obama: 0

Effective AdSense Strategies For AdSense Beginners

What is the best strategy to use for Google AdSense? How can you make decent money as an AdSense publisher? There are a number of different ways to make money using Google's Pay-Per-Click (PPC) scheme but one thing they all have in common is that they require that you apply a little patience and are prepared to do some hard but rewarding work.

What is the best AdSense strategy to use?

Firstly due to the flexible nature of AdSense, there is no ideal way to make money using the scheme. You can make substantial amounts of money in a single blog or a huge website. You can make money by creating loads of different websites about different types of topics. There is no ideal AdSense strategy. However there are basic AdSense strategies you can apply to better the income generating potential off your AdSense websites.

If you are an AdSense beginner, you need to make sure that you become web savvy. To ensure that you make the most of Google's Pay-Per-Click scheme you need to know everything you can about the web. It doesn't mean that you need to be the ultimate web programmer but you do need to acquire a basic functional understanding of a few essential web-related topics.

Depending on your chosen AdSense niche and the type of site you've decided to create you can focus on a number of specific web technologies in order to gain a deeper understanding of the processes involved. Some of the more essential topics include:

Search Engines Social Networking Blogging and blog publishing HTML and CSS PHP or other web scripting languages E-commerce

The are many more different types of technologies that could be added to the list, but the above is just a small introduction to the many different areas of the web that an AdSense beginner needs to have a grasp off.

It is essential that an AdSense beginner learns everything they can about how the web works. From the basics of putting together a website to the many different ways of marketing a site and getting it noticed. The more an AdSense beginner understands about the environment they are working in the more they'll have in their armoury to improve the effectiveness of their AdSense campaign.

The best AdSense strategy to adopt in order to maximise AdSense revenue involves developing a good understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the web. The more information an individual understands about the web, the better their chances of succeeding with Google AdSense.

Enjoy the Wisdom of Quitting Smoking and Live a Healthier Life

Smokers know very well that choosing between the charm of smoking and a cancer-free healthier life is next to impossible. It is very shocking that around half of the cigarette smokers in the world die from cancer. But, it's more shocking that even after knowing this fact, youngsters are adding themselves as smokers rapidly. Don't they love to live a healthier life? Of course not; as per human psychology, we love to feel the happiness of the near-future more, than the pain of the far-future. In addition, it is nothing but the outcome of their immature thinking smoking is an appealing activity. Another important reason of getting addicted to smoking is mostly some obvious but unpleasant ups and downs of life, where they find themselves helpless to find out any solution. There are many other reasons that I don't want to go in-depth.

Before we go ahead to our main topic, let's go through some traumatizing information about smoking.

• Around 80% of the smokers worldwide belong to low and middle class families • Around 6 million people die every year from cancer caused by tobacco • There are around 4000 types of harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke • More than 70 harmful chemicals of cigarette-smoke cause cancer • The tar in cigarette raises the threat of lung cancer, bronchial disorder and emphysema highly • Chances of cardiovascular diseases go up for the carbon monoxide in cigarette • Almost 50% of the children of the world are passive smokers

Now, when we have gone through up to this part, can we expect that at least one reader (who is also a smoker) will quit smoking? I know, you are about to plan, but feeling nervous. Then, is there any way to get rid of this killer addiction? Yes, there are different ways that you can follow. But, the safest as well as most effective way is your determination to quit smoking. Remember, if you are smoking for more than one year or you take more than six cigarettes a day, you'll feel several difficulties, mainly craving and withdrawal syndrome, on your way. So, be determined first and follow the guidelines mentioned below.

• Gather Reasons: First of all, gather as many reasons as possible for which you want to quit smoking. It is very important to increase your will power that will bring you the ultimate success. • Don't wait for the 'Fine Morning': If you have planned to stop smoking from one 'fine morning', then surely you are far away from the fine morning. Stop smoking today - right now. • Don't Surrender: You'll feel craving very often at first. But, always try your best to stop yourself for the next 10 minutes, and involve in some distracting activity, especially non-critical or interesting, if possible; but never surrender. • Don't have 'Just One': Mostly during this period, every problem seems bigger and more complex and people plans to take 'just one' to overcome the situation. But, in fact, at the end of the day it becomes four or five 'just ones' or even more. So, strictly you have to stay away from taking 'just one'. • Avoid Triggers: You must have to avoid places or situations that may trigger your urge of smoking. For example, smoking zone, parties, bars, and even colleagues or friends, who smoke. • Physical Activity: A moderate level of physical activity will help you reduce the urge of smoking. You can also go for a walk in the morning or practice meditation under some expert's supervision that will help you feel the difference and keep motivated. • Get Help of Near Persons: Find persons, who will help you being determined through providing moral help; though, there is nothing more powerful than your willpower. • No Alternative: Often people take help of tobacco in other forms to fulfill the urge of nicotine. But, it should be strongly avoided as it will keep you addicted to nicotine, no matter through which form and soon you'll back to square one. • Take Medical Help: If you still feel cravings or getting strong withdrawal syndrome, don't ignore it - consult with your physician immediately. Often it may be serious for chain-smokers and persons with a long history of smoking.

Remember, everyday you'll find some situations, when you'll feel helpless to control the urge. But, you also have to remember that each time you defeat a craving, you are one step closer to quit tobacco.

Simple Words

The words, the thoughts, the processes go on and on.

As simple as it may seem to me I tend to feel that all words have their own meaning and not always the dictionary form.

A simple word takes the form of many other words as each individual person who hears it puts it through a transformation process.

A doctor can take a word and change it into a disease. A carpenter can take a word and change it into a tool.

Is it that no one is listening or is it that each person listens only to what they know currently?

Debates take a turn at each word that is change and looked at in a different way by the person listening. According to our knowledge we can take a prayer and turn it into a blatant statement of hatred or immoral intrusion.

We can take a statement that spews hate and turn it into a humanitarian effort.

The words that tell, the words that say, the words that we hear and acknowledge everyday make us what we are if we allow them to.

It is the definition as we see it and nothing more. Depending on how stubborn a person is the prayer, the hatred can be anything.

A long line of definitions and the end of any Thesaurus will change the meaning according to the word you pick hate can become love and loving can become despising. This is the way a person's mind can work and in the end it all blends into the way a person listens.

If all you know is hatred, it is not hard to imagine what love could be. Still depending on the words that you know it can turn itself into a field of flowers or the face of a monster.

Every word has a meaning and that meaning can be twisted and turned into so many different forms that it can take forever to get through if the person listening does not understand your meaning and what it means to you.

Human beliefs are a large part of the basis of the definitions that are out there. What could be simple and what is simple can, and at times can become complex and confusing.

Confusion occurs when a word we learned as a child takes a different form and we are unaccustomed to it being used in that way. Simple can be so much better but the world is complex and if the ones that hold the knowledge contained in a Thesaurus use it, the world can and will become the definition of what they believe in if only because no one can truly understand what is happening.

It will get to the point where not only will people not understand what is happening because they do not understand the use of the wording. But the other people will not understand because they have evolved to a place where simplicity means nothing.

It is everywhere and few see it.

It is in politics, they make wrongs right, according to the wording of laws and bills. It is in corporations as they justify the wrongs or the lies that they come upon every day. It is in the very fabric of the religions that will change what they need to according to what they want to believe in.

Simple, look it up!

Easy Ways of Finding Life Insurance Prices

An insurance policy provides the best alternative for when a breadwinner dies. There are several ways, which a client can use to get the best insurance prices. Any client with such an insurance policy can guarantee that his family does not suffer in case of his death. Other policies also allow the holder to pay premiums for the insurance, and have tax-free investment opportunities. This is because they build cash value during the contract period. Whole life insurance is the best example of a policy that builds cash value over time.

A potential client should find out different rate plans available for various policies. There are three main rate plans which are standard, preferred and preferred plus. Healthy clients get better rates as compared to sick or older ones. There are some clients who have minor health problems, they may get standard rate if their health is not in an adverse state. On the other hand, young clients with no history of substance abuse get preferred plus rates because they have no probability of dying. With this in mind, client should consider their health conditions before searching for life insurance prices from various companies.

Term life insurance prices depend on the contract period. The policy allows the client to choose the several years he intends to get coverage. The policy can offer coverage options between one year and 30 years. The client can name the beneficiaries who will get payment in case of his untimely death during the contract period. The policy offers some of the lowest rates in the market as compared to other forms of insurance policies. However, as time goes by and the insured person gets older, the premium rates increase. The difference between this policy and whole life insurance is that it does not gain cash value over time.

Term life insurance prices also depend on the calculations of mortality tablets. Many insurance companies use such calculations to decide the benefits pay out costs, as well as the insurance costs. There are some variations where some companies can ask the client to renew their contract if the contract period expires. Getting the best quotes also means that the policy holder avoids using his policy as an investment plan. This is because many policies, which have the option of investment, cost more than other plans available in the market. The clients should focus on the main goal of having a policy.

Using Film Speed Effectively (Black & White Film Thoughts)

It's hard to find sometimes but it's making a resurgence, black and white film. If you've never used this film now is the time to try it out. Here are some tips to using b&w film and what you can expect from the results.

1. Forget color. This is the hardest thing to do and the number one reason that you will not get good results with b&w film.

2. Look for contrast. Once you can ignore color look for contrast. You will want your image to have a bit more contrast than you would normally want in a color image.

3. Consider shooting situations that are more formal. Black and white film gives such a wonderful timelessness to an image and it's perfect for formal situations.

4. Keep your photos simple. Black and white film simplifies so don't fight it. Keep the images simple by keeping close to your subject or place your subject against a simple back drop.

5. Babies and pets look great on b&w film. Place the pet or baby on a white background and you'll be stunned at the beautiful results.

Black and white film creates a timeless simple look. It's wonderful for portraits and formal events. After shooting a few rolls of b&w you'll notice that you start to pay attention to composition of your image more, since you don't have to worry about color. If you're just learned photography try using b&w film for awhile it will help you teach yourself good composition. Think of light and dark, black and white, and good composition and you'll find that b&w film could be a whole new hobby for you.

Is Sandra Bullock Promiscuous?

Sandra has the long face which indicates she is assertive, belligerent, inventive, resourceful, and a leader. She feels fear. Works best independently, and has to learn self-confidence.

Forehead is domed and high. She is creative in her thinking, with intelligence. She had a good childhood and is close to her parents.

Her eyebrows curved, long low and elegant. She is informal with a quick mind and will live a long life. She likes her world to be peaceful and calm. She is a systematic thinker, with a delicate metabolism.

The large brown eyes are emotional and charismatic. The upper lid shows she has a strong need for bonding and intimacy. The lower lid shows she has a strong sexual appetite. Her eyes are pointed on the inside indicating an uneven fortune around mid life. The peacock shaped eyes show her emotions, charm, and jealousy. They are set far apart denoting she is tolerant.

The turned up high nose shows she likes to help, be of service, accepting, gullible. Her work needs to be emotionally satisfying. The closed nostrils shows she takes risks and is independent. She is conservative in her spending. The nose dimple indicates she had difficulty finding her niche in life.

The large mouth shows she is confident and an extrovert. The full lips indicate she is expressive, generous and sensuous. She has a great capacity for love. The lower lip is thicker showing she is a good speaker and persuasive. The mouth doesn't close completely, which is a sign of promiscuity. She has a straight lip line, which shows she is reliable and trustworthy.

The large ears are set back on her head showing she needs to work on her self-confidence. She is receptive and willing to listen.

The left side of the face (personal) appears guarded. The left eye looks stark, almost glazed. The right side (professional) appears more relaxed. The right eye is more open and receptive.

Getting the Right Level Of Critical Illness Cover For You

Taking up critical illness cover provides you with piece of mind. If the worst should happen, and you are diagnosed with one of the recognised serious illnesses, then your policy can pay out a monetary sum to cover both the initial expenses relating to your treatment as well as the ongoing costs incurred during your recovery.

However many people grossly underestimate the amount of critical illness cover they really need. Though you may consider that if you were ill you would only require your policy to cover any loss of income you incur, consider all the other activities that you carry out which someone may need to do on your behalf.

If you are a parent, then it may be the case that you will no longer be able to care for your children or take such an active part in their lives. If you want to ensure that your kids have as much stability and continuity as possible when you are ill, then you may need to find additional funds to cover childcare, transportation and even residential care should you need to spend some time away from the home for treatment.

For those that live alone or do not want to put the onus of nursing on a loved one, critical illness cover may also need to help with the financial cost of housekeeping, basic laundry and even personal care when you are unable to support yourself.

Once you have recovered from your illness, it may be necessary to change your lifestyle to ensure a continued and healthy future. If this means reducing your hours at work, transferring jobs or completely changing your career, the financial implications can be immense but the right critical illness cover can help.

An individual is five times more likely to rely on critical illness cover than the standard life cover taken up with the average mortgage. And though taking the first step in acquiring critical illness protection is a great way to start, ensuring that your cover is going to be sufficient when your situation changes is essential for your ongoing peace of mind and the security of your family.

Conversely there also a number of people who hold critical illness cover above the level that is strictly required. Individuals who have been oversold this type of protection will pay out higher premiums than they really need to, increasing their monthly costs unnecessarily.

Critical illness cover is a relatively cheap type of insurance and getting the cover right is essential to ensure you have everything you need if the worst should happen without surplus monthly costs that could affect your situation today.

To make sure you have the cover appropriate to you and are not either under or over insured, talk to an independent insurance broker about your needs and personal situation. They will be able to provide experienced and professional advice to ensure that you have the protection to keep prepared no matter what hurdles life may throw your way.

Protecting Data in Today's Fast-Paced & Uncertain Environment

Protecting Data in Today's Fast-Paced & Uncertain Environment Online server data backup and recovery takes hold   By Bud Stoddard, President & CEO, AmeriVault Corp.   Data, Foundation of Today's Business   Data is not only the foundation of businesses in all industries but remains a vital irreplaceable strategic asset.  But, this asset is threatened today more than ever, given the increasing threat of disaster resulting from the impending war and recent and potential future terrorist activities.  According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 93% of companies who experience a significant data loss will be out of business within 5 years.   As a result, data protection has become a critical component in an organization's disaster recovery and business continuity plans.  Today's disaster planning professionals are responsible for ensuring uninterrupted operation and immediate recovery of data.  Faced with increasingly narrow recovery windows and "zero tolerance" for disruption they will have no choice but to look outside the box for recovery solutions.  The ability of traditional disaster recovery and business solutions to fulfill corporate objectives in the overall business continuity scheme should be evaluated and a new methodology introduced.    With its ability to most quickly and efficiently perform backup and recovery, online backup is responding to the demands of today's businesses in these uncertain times.  Its no wonder a technology that used to be seen as unconventional and experimental, is quickly becoming mainstream.  IDC estimates that through 2006, rapid growth will continue in the area of remote backup.   Lawyer's Weekly, the nation's top source of legal information for practicing attorneys, has used online backup for years to protect their data.  "My feeling is that you're only as good as your last backup. Our company has many remote locations without systems administrators. As a result, we really have come to depend on online backup as a means of assuring that our backups are done on a daily basis at these sites," said Tom Bannister, Systems Manager, Lawyer's Weekly.   Data Management Evolves   Remarkable changes in the way businesses work, are being fueled by online and other electronic processes going on 24 hours a day.  Business processes are becoming more compressed, and business activities that took days now happen within hours or minutes globally. Companies without a strong foothold in technology will be disadvantaged when facing the evolutionary trend of business changes.  Disaster recovery and business continuity planning must change to coincide with the fast-paced and highly competitive business environment and offer protection against uncontrollable looming disasters. Continuity Planners must turn to solutions that are internet-based.   The recent SQL Slammer virus was a prime example of why contingency planning must change to keep up with technology-dependent businesses.  Although SQL Slammer's effect could have carried a more damaging payload, it brought down 13,000 ATM machines at Bank of America, making it impossible for customers to withdraw cash for an entire weekend and reportedly caused widespread damage at HP and even Microsoft itself.  The disaster recovery and business continuity planning industry was forced to take notice.   Myths About Online Backup   Whenever an innovative idea threatens to replace current solutions in day-to-day business practices, myths begin to sprout like weeds spotting your favorite golfing green. The uncomfortable reality is that many businesses today suffer from insufficient backup plans.  Data backup is critical for every company. Remember the last time you didn't suffer from backup headaches? You can't.   A new solution entered the market in the mid 80's but didn't launch until the World Wide Web phenomenon took off.  Only then did it catch the attention of IT professionals responsible for safeguarding mission-critical data.  Online backup or electronic vaulting, no matter the coined term, eliminates many typical backup headaches.  The ability to automate your backup and remove the data off-site to a secure vault with a click of a mouse button is now a reality. Online backup is the most innovative, cost-effective and reliable solution out there today. But dispelling the myths about online backup continues to be a challenge for companies offering this technology.    Myth One:  Online backup is too expensive.   Initially it may appear that way. Compare a tape scenario for instance. Hardware, software licenses, tapes, personnel -- and let us not forget basic human error, add to the cost of traditional back up procedures.  Additional costs accrue with traditional off-site courier service and tape solutions have large up-front and sometimes unexpected costs, while online backup costs are declining.  AmeriVault Corp.(TM) predicts a double-digit annual decrease in cost due to bandwidth and storage hardware pricing declines.  A small ten gigabyte user with daily backup would pay approximately $460.00 for traditional albeit partial service; while the same user would pay approximately $294.00 for complete, automated service. In addition, online backup technology utilizes a company's existing telecom lines.  A company can better justify the 24 x 7 cost of its dedicated Internet connection.  Online backup eliminates all these traditional cost factors. With total automation, local backup and off-site protection occur simultaneously.   Myth Two: Data is not secure on the Internet.   Online backup utilizes the same technology the U.S. Government uses for its security.  Encrypted, fragmented data is sent over telecom lines -- pieces of a puzzle in gibberish language.  Online backup vendors can offers clients a highly secure VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection.  This higher level of security ensures that all communication between the client and the vault is encrypted.  Online backup is actually more secure than storing unencrypted data tapes in a remote vault.   Myth Three: Online Backup can't handle a fortune 500 company's data.   Handling large amounts of data over relatively small bandwidth is a popular feature of online backup.  An initial backup or "seed" of the server's data is extracted.  The Delta Processing technology then seeks out updated portions of changed files.  Only the fragmented change of data is sent to the vault.  Large-volume and highly redundant disk storage systems store the data online.  Online backup providers service businesses with a responsibility to ensure that storage space is always available, no matter what the size.  To further data integrity, reliability and recovery, the massive amounts of data online are backed up to tape on a daily basis, and shipped to an underground vault for safekeeping.   An Inevitable Evolution   Despite the current myths surrounding online backup, unavoidably it is fast becoming the standard in the business of data backup storage.  Online backup has proven itself to be a fundamental component of disaster recovery and business continuity plans.  Traditional recovery solutions must be retailored to accommodate the new recovery and continuity alternatives available to businesses in this fast-paced and uncertain climate.  No longer can businesses rely on protecting their most important asset with inefficient methods.   Loss of data and disasters are inevitable, and so is online backup. The Internet has radically altered the global economy, and with it, the management of securing and restoring data.  Companies who wait until disaster strikes to implement more efficient means of backing up their valuable data, will become extinct like the dinosaurs who once roamed our planet. 

Service Equals Performance Equals Service

Restaurant service can be described as a "performance" of some kind involving two parties whereby one party is the benefactor and the other party is the performing party receiving some type of monetary payment. The value of the service depends on the personal experience of the benefactor. When I looked up "service" in Webster's, there it was #11 out of a total 31 definitions. The payment part was not included, but the key word mentioned was "performance."

As I relate this to restaurant's, it is so easy to see waiter service is excellent training for actors, since they are performing all of the time. There might be days when their energy level is low, yet they are still expected to perform on the show stage at night. It is not much different for the waitstaff whose livelihood depends quite a bit on how they look and act before many people per night. Waiter service is essentially a balance between the "look" and functionality. In other words, waiter service is half an art form and half a science. Even the word "performance" makes a lot of sense when relating it to other service fields such as medical, legal, financial and armed. In religion, they are called prayer services.

With increased human knowledge and modern inventions, the term "customer service" has evolved over time. Whenever a new technology is invented, an array of "services" develops making it accessible to the general public with success depending on product "performance" and the product related "service performance." Whether it is a bulb to make a room bright or a flying machine that sends people around the world faster, the need for developed services attached to new technologies does create jobs.

At the computer, we dial up our Internet "Service" Provider to gain access to the information highway. The instantaneous delivery of sorted out information within seconds is now the norm. Proper navigation "performance" (that word again) allows us to surf the World Wide Web streamlining information at our fingertips. " With improved search engine technology, the return of consumer searches has become more categorically specific. This proves better performance results in better service.

Take a look around, and you will notice service performances touch every part of our daily lives-many of which are taken for granted. As far as the foodservice industry is concerned, if you improve waiter performance, then you improve dining room service.

Magic The Gathering Card Buying Tips

In this installment of Magic the Gathering Tips, I want to get away from the playing aspect a little bit and concentrate on something that I feel is just as important if not more so... how you go about buying your cards. You may or may not care about the little tidbits you're going to read here, but at least be aware of this stuff.

Let's begin with the two basic ways that most people buy their cards, at least when they're first starting out. As time comes on, they may continue alone one of these paths, both of them, include other options or toss these completely out the window because they've found that there's a better way.

The most common card buying method for new players is buying individual packs. Why? Well, mostly because it's the cheapest method, or at least appears to be on the surface. But I'll get into more of that later on.

A pack of Magic the Gathering cards is roughly about $4 depending on where you live. Inside, depending on the set, you get 15 cards. Early expansions had a lot fewer, which is why I said depending on the set. Any new set you buy is unlikely to have fewer than 15 cards but who knows? The only thing constant in life is change.

By purchasing individual packs, a new player can slowly build his collection over time without spending a lot of money at one time. For many people, this is their only option, especially if their source of income is mom and dad's allowance each week. When I was a kid, if Magic was around, I would have gotten enough money to maybe buy 3 packs a week.

Another option, which is more expensive up front but actually cheaper in the long run, is to buy a whole box of cards. There are usually about 36 packs in a box depending, again, on the expansion. At $4 per pack, this would normally sell for $144 for a box. But, you can get a whole box, again, depending on where you live, for about $110. So as you can see, this is a $34 savings on every 36 packs. That's not too bad.

Those are your most common methods of buying cards, but they're not the only ones and, in my opinion, not the best ones IF you're looking to get the most value out of your purchase.

Ah, but what is value? This is something that each person has to define for themselves, which is why all I can say is that the "better" way is only my opinion. Buying packs or boxes may be better for what you're trying to get out of it. For example, some people just LOVE opening up a box of cards. And while it may not be the most economical solution, depending on what you're looking for, it is a LOT of fun.

But over the years I have found, since I always end up looking for certain cards, that buying packs and boxes is a no win scenario. To understand why, you have to understand the rarity system in Magic.

Every pack in the most recent sets contains 15 cards that are broken down as follows:

1 rare or mythic rare 3 uncommons 11 commons

Let's say I am looking for one rare card. Since we know that there are 36 rares in a box (1 per pack) my chances of getting that one card, if I buy a whole box, is 1 in 36, roughly. And that also depends on how many different rares there are in a set.

For example, in Magic 2013, there are 58 rares and 15 mythic rares. That makes 73 possible cards to fill up those 36 slots in a box of cards. So you're really looking at odds of 1 in 73 of pulling one specific rare.

Let's say that rare costs $20 on the open market and it takes you an average of 2 boxes of cards to pull that one card. That's over $200 spent, on average, just to get that ONE card.

Now, if you're looking for other cards in the set, you're going to pull some of those two. But most likely, unless they're commons and uncommons, you're only going to pull ONE of each of them.

What do you do if you're looking to play competitively and you need 4 of a certain card in order to do it?

Do you see how this starts getting expensive?

Sure, you can open one pack of cards, spend $4, and pull a $50 rare out of the pack. But the odds of that happening are stacked against you.

And that's just the point. Opening up packs and boxes is like playing the lottery. Sure, you might win, but more likely than not, you're going to end up spending most of your money on what's going to amount to 4 play sets of common cards that you can buy for 10 cents.

So what's the alternative?

What I do is buy the rares that I want on the open market, either through eBay or a dealer. Sure, I may pay $20 or more for one card, but if it's the card I need to put together a competitive deck, it's cheaper than hoping I get it through opening packs.

But what about the commons and uncommon cards?

You can purchase a complete play set of common and uncommon cards for about $40. I've done the math. In order to get a play set of both reliably, you have to open up at least 2 boxes of cards. That's $220. Sure, you get 72 rares but you have no way of knowing that the rares you get are going to be the ones you want.

Sometimes, if I really love a set, I'll buy one box just to see what I get like I recently did with Return To Ravnica. But ultimately, I ended up having to shell out about $300 for the rares that I wanted and I still don't have all the commons and uncommons.

And the larger the set, the harder it is to complete a collection.

The reasons why this is financially unfeasible are beyond the scope of this article. You need to do a lot of probability and understand exactly how the rares and mythic rares are distributed to "get" it.

Suffice it to say, most of my Magic the Gathering card buying is done on Ebay or through a dealer buying individual cards.

If you enjoy opening packs and boxes, go for it. But if you're looking for a specific card, you're better off buying it directly.

To YOUR Magic the Gathering Enjoyment,

Steven "Land Boy" Wagenheim

Understanding More About The POS Health Insurance

When it comes to choosing a health care policy, there are a lot of options to available in the market these days. One of these options, which have become somewhat popular in the recent times, is the Point of Service (POS) policy. The POS health insurance plans can be looked upon as a combination of the traditional protection and the modern coverage options. In the entire health industry, a POS insurance plan is a complete and well managed health care program, similar to the PPO (preferred provider organization) and the HMO (health maintenance organization). The composition of this insurance plan promotes the usage of physicians within a particular network of the providers. You are permitted to avail the services of clinics and hospitals outside the network, but the cost involved is usually high.

Selection Of Physicians The main advantage of the POS health insurance plan is that you have the flexibility for choosing the physicians from within or outside the network. Within the network means, the insurance provider has discussed the deals with the physicians at a standard price. Out of the network implies that, the physicians have not made any contract with the service provider.

Co-Payment As the POS plans offer both inside and outside network coverage, co-payment mechanism is very important to comprehend. Co-payment refers to a fee, which you have to pay for visiting a health care professional. The co-payment fee is quite low if you go for the in-network care as compared to the out of network services. Even though the POS health cover provides the flexibility of out of network coverage, the price connected disheartens the usage of this part.

Deductible It is yet another type of expense which the insured is required to deal with. The deductible usually refers to, paying a part of your medical bills before the insurance companies start dealing with the expenses. The amount of deductible mainly depends upon the level of coverage you have selected. For within the network care, a POS plan does not need any amount of deductible. Whereas, for the outside network, you are required to pay large amount of deductible before the insurance company actually starts paying your medical expenses. Upon purchasing a POS health cover policy; you should have complete understanding about the deductible in order to know more about your cost commitment.

Benefits Of POS One of the main benefits of choosing a POS plan is that you can choose from both the in-network as well as out-network providers and the capability of combining these two options. For instance, if you visit a doctor from within the network, then you have to pay the minimum amount of co-payment and avoid paying any amount of deductible. However, if you are already seeing a particular doctor, outside the network, you can continue to avail the services although the expenses will be comparatively high.

So, this was all about the POS health insurance plans. If you are looking for acquiring a health cover policy, having the flexibility of choosing the physicians inside as well as outside the network, then POS health insurance plan is worth considering.

Discovery in A Million Dollar Mistake

I have noticed that though my clients often have created a plan, many do not incorporate an understanding of themselves to execute it, and so it is not adequately customized. Unleash your ultimate success by developing a strategy that seamlessly integrates self-knowledge to increase profits and personal fulfillment. Imagine the results of integrating that into your day-to-day life? Can you logically deduce the potential benefits and act accordingly?

Like me, you probably get e-mails everyday telling you about a new product that will automate cumbersome parts of your business. However, it is very easy to end up with a ton of software and books and still find yourself struggling with the same root issues.

Look, if you are going to invest in yourself or your business you must examine the big picture, not just one part of it. Acting haphazardly can actually take you farther off course, away from your true aspirations.

It's akin to getting bogged down in the details. There is a middle point between bogged down in details and skimming the surface.

I highly advocate dealing with your relationship to self as a primary objective because it has multiple benefits on nearly every level. That is the key to unleashing the secret to your success. The place to begin is developing a strategy with your requirements and objectives at the center.

You might like to know that I haven't always emphasized this relationship with self, component in my consulting practice. For a while I thought it was too personal, but time and again I saw that it was at the root of why the initial plan didn't work.

The turning point came for me after I had been consulting with a recreational vehicles parts manufacturing company. The company had earned well over $1,000,000 in profit meaning they were definitely profitable, so all seemed reasonably well. That is until I got inside.

There were a lot of communication problems, production was six months behind, what was being produced was mostly rejected work, and this contributed to issues of lacking supply inventory, nonexistent company morale...

You get the picture. After conducting my assessment, going over the production and sales logs, I made my report. Since my focus is on thought leadership and relationship marketing this was the framework in which my recommended solution was offered.

The managing director was unwilling to see the situation as a relationship that was dying and he wasn't interested in "throwing anymore money at it". Long story short, within six months half of the key staff had left and the company only had one remaining account to sustain the business, so much for another year of multi-million dollar profits.

I wondered if it would have saved the company if I had pointed out that the director was at the center of the entire fiasco, fanning the flames actually. I saw enough of his personality drama to understand the tension I sensed from everyone working with him.

This was a lesson to me about what is at stake if I pretend not see what is glaringly obvious. If the client doesn't see it, then that explains why they hire me. But what I witnessed did not ignite the joy that led me to go into this line of work.

In my life that moment indicated the need for self examination.Change management was no longer just a matter of business, it had become personal. I needed to reignite or maybe just reconnect with the source of what made my services distinctive.

For the next couple of years the focus was on following my passion - working with people I most wanted to work with rather than those best positioned to hire me. This may seem extreme to some, but it was a necessary part of my personal re-orienting process. I decided to offer my services to people who were truly in need, but unlikely to get the kind help I thought I could offer due to limitations in resources.

One of the most memorable and meaningful engagements was having the privilege of assisting women with children as they transitioned from homelessness. I became part of a mentor team - this took project and change management to another level because my heart was so engaged in the experience. This was quite different from merely managing a process. The role that was most fulfilling was acting as a personal coaching to develop some essential life and coping strategies because it became clear quickly that a little help could go along way for someone who has never been encouraged.

Out of those coaching relationships several entrepreneurs were born. Empowered to seize their destinies rather than merely being manipulated by the choices of those around them, I witnessed how the relationship with oneself can heal a life and transform an organization.

I was privileged to benefit from the experience of others and I realized how much our relationships could mean during times of uncertainty and transition. This is as true at both the personal and professional levels. However, it is impossible to make real progress with anyone that is unwilling to make the changes required to improve a situation.That was the wall I found as the source of most organizational crisis - dealing effectively with the resistance was easier said than done, making band-aid solutions very appealing in the short term.

Perhaps it easier to take the leap once one has nothing left to lose, except one's life.

It has been my honor to work with a number of talented, highly motivated and inspiring people. As we come to the end of this tête-à-tête, I encourage you to remain aware of the importance of relationships in reaching or staying on top of your game and the value in beginning with the relationship you have with yourself.

What Is A QR Code And Why Should I Care?

Many of you would be surprised to know that this "cutting edge" technology we're exploring - Quick Response (QR) codes - was actually invented in Japan almost 20 years ago. Denso Wave Inc., a subsidiary of Japanese car company Toyota, created this digital device to track vehicles during the manufacturing process.

QR codes are simply a two-dimensional bar code that is encoded with information. They are a lot like the traditional bar codes you see on the sides of cans and other products but they contain 100 times more information.

A user can scan the code with a camera phone and access a tremendous amount of information, either directly from the code or by being linked to an information source like a website.

The two-dimensional nature of these codes means that they have a greater surface area allowing them to hold thousands of alphanumeric characters that can accommodate web URLs, text or other information like photos, videos, graphics and more.

QR codes can even dial a number or generate text messages! It's like having the ability to control your prospective customer's smart phone almost anywhere in the world!!

Now that you know the technical aspects of what a QR code is, you will need to learn the most important aspect of QR codes... the use of this tool as an effective marketing tactic.

QR Codes: A Marketing Tactic

One of the great misconceptions about the secret to business success is the belief that once you have a fantastic product or service to sell your work is done.

Sure, it's important to have something your market needs, but that's just the beginning. You have to find a way to make that information known to the types of customers who really want what you're selling.

This may sound simple enough but connecting with your target customer is actually one of the biggest challenges that you will have and will definitely take up a lion's share of your time and efforts.

Here's why it's so difficult to be heard and noticed in the marketplace: There are millions of people, just like you, directing their messages and promotions at your potential customer.

Of course, you too are a target customer for those companies that create marketing products, so you should be able to identify. With that said, you need to find a way to cut through all that noise and clutter.

This article is about a marketing product called a QR code. But there are many other marketing products from which you will choose as part of your marketing arsenal. The challenge again is determining what you will use.

This section will show you why QR codes should be among the tools you pull from your marketing toolkit to get in front of your target market.

Here is why QR codes are a good choice for the business marketer: They work! Consumers are responding to the scan codes they see and taking action to get more information about products/services promoted by these codes. According to the market research firm comScore, there are 20.1 million mobile phone owners in the U.S. and two-thirds of that group is scanning QR codes to learn more about a product.

Using PKI With the Cloud-Secure Web the Sophisticated Way

PKI is an abbreviation for Public Key Infrastructure. It is a comprehensive system aimed at providing digital signature services and public-key encryption. Purpose of a PKI is to provide management of certificates and keys. When an organization opts for public key infrastructure for management of keys and certificates, it establishes a reliable and safe networking environment. Furthermore, with PKI, a wide array of applications can take advantage of stipulated services.

What Makes PKI Inevitable For Cloud Computing With the prevalence of cloud computing, PKI technology heralds a new era of renaissance where computer to computer communications are more secure than ever before. PKI can be thought of as an arrangement which is directly responsible for handling issues like public key assignment and digital certificate. These digital certificates are issued by a certification authority which is the part of the process followed by the PKI. This process also involves the binding of validated user identities to public keys.

User identities are either verified by a certification authority or an individual registration authority is used. Once the user identity is issued, the certification authority uses a unique digital signature to seal and stamp the certificate. Since secure online network communications and online transactions are the most sought-after features cloud computing is expected to provide, it can only be made possible with PKI. Furthermore, PKI also provides a certificate holder authentication of his business identity.

How It Reduces Web Vulnerability There are several services that PKI is expected to provide to ensure its effective implementation. What makes PKI valuable for cloud computing is that it allows the use of digital signatures and encryption in multiple applications. At the same time, transparency is the most significant constraint on a public-key infrastructure which establishes that the cloud computing can be used optimally only when the users are not required to understand how the keys and services are being managed by the PKI. A handful of areas that comes under the jurisdiction of PKI for providing the desired services of certificate and public key management are outlined below:

· Issuance of key certificates;

· Repository of certificates;

· Revocation of certificates;

· Support for backup and recovery;

· Assurance of non repudiation of digital certificates;

· Automatic update of certificates and keys;

· Cross-certification service.

How It Works To Build Trust on Clouds PKI plays a vital role when it comes to building trust on cloud computing services. Some aspects that PKI brings to cloud computing are briefly listed below:

· Security When documents of confidential nature are to be communicated over the cloud, security is of paramount importance. Since PKI ensures secured signing by making use of digital signatures with a digital ID that can be accessed exclusively by that user, it implies comprehensive protection.

· Reliability Reliability offered by a service is a telltale of its capabilities, seamless implementation and high level of security. With PKI, review of quality, monitoring and development are aligned with cloud service, hence substantiating reliability.

· Open communications Successful communication is directly associated with trust and cloud services are require to respond and acknowledge the digitally aware end-users in the desired manner and this is what the use of PKI offers. With several ways of communication available, it is the responsive and prompt communication PKI streamlines that makes the real difference.