The truth about women

I grew up in a family of five – four sisters and me. My sisters doted on me from the get go. You see I was their little guy since I was next to the youngest girl. From an early age I realized that men and women are very much different animals and what my sisters gave me in experience was priceless!

I once read an article about women being prose oriented and men being object oriented. Oh, how true that article was! My sisters spent most of their time writing about their dream guy, talking on the phone, talking with each other, talking about each other, talking about their friends, trying on makeup, clothes, drawing, painting, studying actors faces (zodiac characteristics), planning this shopping trip, planning that party and reading romance stories by the boat load! All the while I had to escape with my friends to build the raft, fly the plane, shot the bow, make the gun, throw the knife, build the fort, climb the highest, blow up the bottle, throw 10,000 rocks at anything that moved and catch every living creature in our neighborhood!

Yes, I knew from my childhood that men and women are very different, but what I didn’t know was that my sisters would be my mentors in high school and show me the truth about women. Sarah, the oldest, would say “… and he wonders why she left him? The guy is a complete kiss a..! Anything she said he did! Oh, baby this and Oh baby that! What a dweeb! Tony, don’t you ever act like that around women! They will use you!”
Ah, my first lesson in women and at no charge. This went on day and night through out my high school life and after a while I caught on. This was priceless info and I was privy to it all.

One conversation between Cathy and Susan gave me an incite into the romantic nature of women that I never knew. “The way he looks at me makes me feel sleepy, Cathy told Susan.” “Sleepy! What the devil is she talking about?” I thought to myself, straining to hear from my room. “Yeah, said Susan, he has bedroom eyes. Very sexy!” Man, I knew that clown! He was about as sexy as a late notice! Wow! Where do they get this stuff from? Nevertheless boy, pay attention! You are in training and it is free!

So, never “kiss a woman’s a..” and you must have “bedroom eyes”. Got it! Those two bits of information, even to this day, seem to work for me. Maybe, not so dramatically as stated, but the simple truth is that women want a man to be a man. Here is where you loose your audience! What is the definition of “a man”? I’m rough, I’m tough and I can kick anyone’s a..! I don’t think so! That’s not quite what a real man is. Ok, let’s work on the definition, but what about those “bedroom eyes”? “When I look at women they cream!” Again, missing the point, needs more work.

After a few mistakes, I found out what really makes women tick and it may surprise you! “You don’t need to do anything to get the attention of a woman!” What the heck is that suppose to mean? Women, because of their nature and working countless hours on romance, are much more advanced in recognizing true manly traits. You cannot fake it guys! You can work out and buff up, walk around as though you own the world, make all the money in the world but never really bring it home for women! That’s why the rag tag guy driving the eight-year-old van around seems to get more girls than you do in your Lexus. I’ll grant you good looks and money will get you notice but you will never live up to the image of the man she designed in her early years unless you are that person! Women have a propensity for spotting fakes!

So, what are you telling me? That I have to become the image of the man she dreamed up? Yes, that is what I am telling you and you know why? Because it is in your best interest to be what you were intended to be! Through the brainwashing of society, men have compromised everything in order to keep up with society. Rather than being your own man, you are everyone else’s. I don’t mean you run around helping others too much. What I do mean is that you compromise what you know to be right at work and at home and women loathe that. They may not tell you at the time of the compromise, but they loose respect for men that do not stand on what they believe. Now, I didn’t say you had to be right! You just have to stand on a solid belief in order to attract women. Even the most dreaded dictators in the world attracted women, because they were committed or should have been!

So, what do you mean exactly? Great secret – It is not just major events that strike a women’s id, it is the daily things you do and say that affect her romantic feelings for you. Example, Jim needs his time to work on a job estimate but the house is a wreck so he cleans it for his wife and compromises his better judgment to avoid confrontation. Jim lets his wife’s brother use his equipment when he doesn’t really want to, just to make his wife happy. Jim does what his wife wants when she wants it without being the man he wants to be. Jim has compromised his position in his marriage and his wife, in a very short time, finds Jim less than romantic. Jim doesn’t understand and says “I do everything for her. Why does she act that way?” Sounds like the old ‘kiss a..’!

Romance is not compromising your principals! Romance is living life to its fullest, while being your own man. ‘Compromise’ is necessary at times, but useless compromise defeats romance! Making your point without shouting is romantic! ‘Grabbing the bull by the horns’ is romantic and telling your girl ‘no’ can be very romantic! Looking at her with those ‘bedroom eyes’ is romantic but standing your ground may be twice as effective. It may surprise you that she thought it was very romantic when you brought that stringer of fish into the house for her to clean because this was your intention when you left to go fishing this morning and you accomplished it!

The point is, that if you live your life the way you want and stand on your values most women will find you very attractive and truly romantic. Oh, and about those 'bedroom eyes' - Women look at your eyes to see their reflection. That is, if you are honest and truly like what you see in a women, your eyes will reflect what she is looking for - romance.

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The Meaning of the Thumbs-up Hand Gesture Around the World

Hand gestures mean different things in different countries. What is considered a cool sign may be a grave insult in another country. This article takes a look at one of the most common signs: the thumbs-up sign.

The thumbs-up sign consists of a closed fist held with the thumb extended upward. The most common interpretation of this sign is as a sing of approval (there is even a metaphor in English: The proposal was given a thumbs-up), but there are some countries where it may be an insult or where it will not be understood.

The origin of the sign is unclear, but one theory is that the thumbs up sign was used by the crowds to signal if a defeated gladiator should be spared, whereas the thumbs down would signal that he should be killed.

Let's have a look at different countries and what the thumbs-up sign means there:

Australia - If it is still or downwards, it usually means OK or alright (or agreement). Thumbs-up with a little upward motion can be a grave insult, depending on context.

Canada - The sign means alright or good. you can use it to signify approval.

China - OK, good.

Egypt - Perfect, good

France - OK.

Germany - Ok, well done, great.

Greece - Means great, good job, OK, congratulations.

Iran - Very obscene gesture.

Iraq - Very obscene gesture.

Ireland - OK, good.

Italy - OK, go or alright or used for hitchhiking.

Japan - Sometimes means ''good'', not widely practiced by adults.

New Zealand - Means like all good, or yes or anything positive really (when hitchhiking this gesture is also used but held right out so people in cars can see).

Russia - Well done, good.

Spain - All right.

Sweden - OK, great.

Thailand - Very obscene gesture.

Turkey - Not used.

United Kingdom - OK, good.

USA - Means ''great'' or ''awesome'' or whatever. Also used to sign approval, but stronger than an OK sign.

Please note that meaning of gestures varies among various parts of countries and also among cultural groups and between generations.

Happy travels!

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100+ Free Things to Do in Las Vegas

Almost everyone comes to Vegas to gamble. However, there are a heck of a lot of ways to entertain yourself in Vegas without gambling.

If you're after free things to do in Las Vegas, Las Vegas free shows, Las Vegas free attractions and Las Vegas Free Entertainment I have done the work for you.

30 free things to do in Las Vegas - be sure to keep reading to the end to download not 100 Free Things To Do In Las Vegas but 121 Free Things To Do In Las Vegas.

ALADDIN - They have a rain display where water falls from the ceiling into a reflecting pool below.

ANDERSON DAIRY - Dairy Tour

ARTS DISTRICT, DOWNTOWN - First Fridays

BALLY'S HOTEL - Light, water and sound show

BARBARY COAST HOTEL - Big Elvis

BASS PRO SHOPS OUTDOOR WORLD - the layout of this store is similar to a natural history museum. An extra special feature is the live bass aquarium.

BASS PRO SHOPS - Fishing demonstrations

BELLAGIO - They have an elaborate fountain show on every half hour and can be seen from the street or by standing on the casino's front porch. 1200 nozzles and 4500 lights are used. The Bellagio is also famous for its botanical garden. There are over 7500 flowers, trees and plants displayed and the atrium is changed six to eight times a year.

BELLAGIO - Stunning Bellagio hotel lobby

BELLAGIO - Chocolate fountain

BONNIE SPRINGS PETTING ZOO/OLD NEVADA - Less than half an hour west of Vegas you will find this extensive free petting zoo though donations are accepted gratefully! The whole place is like a recreation of the wild west of Nevada. There is a mining town (small fee), plus a miniature locomotive.

BOULDER CITY - Hoover dam

CAESARS PALACE - Caesar and Cleopatra walk around inside waiting for you to quiz them about historical events. There is also a circular aquarium at the far end. You can take a free tour every weekday to find out how the fish tank works and what the employees do to keep the fish happy.

CAESARS PALACE FORUM SHOPS - Every hour two fountains come to life. There are two shows. The first show features Bacchanal and the second show features Neptune. Very popular and crowded. To easily slip out watch near the back of the crowd. The show starts promptly on the hour.

CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER - Movies and popcorn.

CANNON AVIATION MUSEUM - This is located at the McCarran International Airport. There is a large exhibit about the aviation history of Las Vegas.

CHINA DATE RANCH - This is a small working farm with a huge selection of fresh dates and baked goods. The date palms have brightly coloured petticoat skirts which keep the birds away and the dates happy.

CHINATOWN - Just like many Chinatowns around the world. A great experience and lots of fun.

CIRCUS CIRCUS - The AdventureDome is free to walk around in though rides cost. The theme here is the Grand Canyon. From 11am to 12pm, every 20 minutes, a different circus act performs on the midway above the casino.

COFFEE ROASTERS OF LAS VEGAS - Find out everything you wanted to know about tea and coffee here. There are tours and classes - tours are free - and you also get to enjoy a free sample.

DESERT DEMONSTRATION GARDEN - A display of hundreds of desert plants and explaining how desert plants grow in the desert.

DESERT PASSAGE MALL - Harbor rainstorm

DESERT PASSAGE SHOPS - Entertainers

DON PABLO'S CIGAR COMPANY - Cigar Factory Tour

ED ROMAN GUITARS - Guitar museum

ETHEL M CHOCOLATES - now who doesn't like chocolate? They have a great tour showing how they make fudge, chocolate squares and more. The address is 2 Cactus Drive Garden and their site is www.ethelm.com. At the end you'll also get a free piece of chocolate.

EXCALIBUR - Aimed at children there are Court Jester performances and medieval acts

FASHION SHOW MALL - Fashion shows

FISHER SPACE PEN COMPANY - This pen has been on every single manned space flight since 1968. 711 Yucca Street, Boulder City.

FLAIR BARTENDER SHOWS - at various Vegas locations

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Popularity: How to be Liked & Popular in Relationships

POPULARITY IN RELATIONSHIPS

How to be liked, popular in social, casual, inmate relationships, friendships; what popularity is.

"I am popular, and people still don't like me!" screams a high school student in a discussion form. One advises: "Being popular means you're better than everyone else, so act like it!" Another complains: "People look down on me and my friends, because we're so popular!"

Popularity, even the meaning of do not know many. A glance at high school web-forms show it to be thought of as being rich, posh, an achiever, a show off -and a stigma to be regarded to be! That is far from even what it used to mean centuries ago: common.

Popularity is likeability; regardless of looks, wealth or position or intellect, being liked by other people.

A US president deemed more able and elected did not get the popularity vote -his opponent did ~another who when told someone was anticommunist replied "I don't care what kind of communist" did, also. A wealthier Italian news-media magnet was not popular with people, his rival was. A UK premier considered by women better looking didn't win the popularity vote -the older balding opposition-leader got the women's popularity vote.

Popularity isn't about being looked up to, looks, wealth -a fool and a genius, a weakling and a strongman, poor and rich, can be equally liked, enjoy personal popularity.

Popularity is not synonymous with socialising -you may socialise a lot, take part in all sorts of social activity, attend every party, but still not enjoy any popularity.

Being liked by others, popularity, have to do with one's attitude in one's socialising, interaction with people; the attitude that commonly, to the majority of the people, makes one somebody they like to deal or be with.

It's not being an angel or saintly, about views, opinions, likes, dislikes, preferences, but how one treats others.

People are like mirrors; popularity is based on that. If you stand in front of a mirror and make faces, that's what you get; if you smile, the mirror smiles back at you.

Popularity is respect based -not 'respect for authority', not in the 'yes sir' sense, but respect for others' right to be treated as they are regarded by people entitled to expect to be treated. This simply is being considerate in friendship and toward other people one deals with.

Being considerate is being sincere and helpful; or at least sympathetic, and if one can not be that either, then at the very least empathetic -understanding enough to respect others' right to their views, opinions, preferences ~for your right to same not to spoil theirs.

That is what respect for others means -but it makes you popular because it also makes others respect you.

People who must, do show respect for wealth or position; if they don't have to, here's their saying: Respect not even a king, if he doesn't respect you; but do respect also a pauper, if he respects you!

Let us look at it in literature, in verse (from a poem by O. Metiner - Birlik, 29 Jan 1993 -trnsltd.), about the popular Cypriot thinker-writer-poet the teacher, the late, Orhan Seyfi Ari - it tells it all:

His concern -so sincere!

Greatly respected everywhere!

Years spent -to illuminate!

More: hearts, his sultanate!

What's it saying? So respected, because he was sincerely concerned, helped -therefore popular.

Many fail in relationships with others, because they are not popular -popularity is not difficult. All one needs to do is to have regard in one's dealings to what people consider others entitled to expect.

That pays, and if you don't do that people think you are stupid, because you are not cashing in on it. But if you do, you do not become unpopular -you benefit, its psychological: a cop is nicer to you for speeding if you get out of the car. Why? Inside the car you are insisting on your territory -outside, recognising his status.

On such scientific experiments are based the gist of the experts' advice on popularity in relationships, below:-

To be considerate and become popular in relationships, be clever, use psychology to cash in on it: appreciate human nature in your relationships -which briefly is this:

One's major relationships, basically, are with people in four categories (the last three being interchangeable) with varying degrees of popularity: Blood relatives, e.g., parents or cousins -which one cannot choose; Intimate, e.g., spouses and lovers -which one carefully chooses; social, e.g., friends and acquaintances -some dearer than others; and, casual, e.g., work or class mates, the grocer, strangers -of necessity. (Within the last three one may become another.)

In all four relationships, each party in varying degrees feels protected by a physical personal space. Do not violate that personal space without permission -it makes people feel uncomfortable, your company disliked, you not popular: That personal space in the first two is about 1.5, in the last two 4 feet (45cm, 1.2m).

In all of these relationships people crave for something, depending the nature of the relationship, which makes the difference between being liked by them or not -popularity or unpopularity with them. In the first, blood relations, one craves for approval. In the second, spouses, lovers, expect understanding, affection, appreciation. In the third, social acquaintances, friends want popularity -to be liked by you. In the fourth, casual, others: co-operation. Showing these makes popular.

Here are some general rules about how to earn likeability, popularity, be famous, in these relationships:

The first two relationships, relatives, family relations or intimate relationships, have fewer such rules. This is because in matrimonial relationships, personal relations -steady emotional or sexual relationships, living together, boyfriends, girlfriends, lovers, habitually we take for granted or are caringly tolerant toward each other. We are more involved in these family or other intimate relationships. The constancy and importance of our dealings reflect others' personal likes, preferences more in close or intimate relationships, we know most.

Generally these earn one popularity in such intimate relationships: The elderly are somewhat set in their ways -popularity with them is appreciating that. In parenting, popularity with kids begins with empathising with them; if unsympathetic, still being understanding -to be popular with teenagers make them feel that you regard them not as children but as gown ups.

In male and female relationships these remembering these boost one's likeability, popularity: With men, one is more popular if one does not make them appear or feel week. Women like romantic compliments, and to be made to laugh. In intimate relationships all like constant reassurance, to be shown appreciation, frequent praise. In such relationships these make liked, fonder, popular.

The other two kinds of relationships, with friends and acquaintances, with others, involve different measures for popularity. Popularity in social relationships depends on standard rules of conduct. To be popular socially, remember: Social relationships often are not so important to people as their intimate relationships; just as you do, others also like appreciation, even flattery.

The generally applicable rules of being famously liked, popularity, in social, casual relationships are these:

Be a talker but do not bore ~also be a listener: give others a chance also to talk, to tell you about themselves. Appreciate the views of others, even if you disagree; do not criticise unnecessarily. To be popular, if someone wants to be clever avoid an inessential battle of wits. If it is important to you, do not spinelessly agree with the ridiculous; don't show up if unimportant -neither earn popularity. Be a sport if you have heard a joke before do not spoil another's fun or enjoyment. Do not be a stiff, join the laughter of a harmless trick on you. If suggesting something, ask if it is okay; show you value others. These make a famous personality, in social relationships earn one social popularity.

Popular friendships are special popular relationships. When confided in, do not betray confidences of friends. If depended on, do not allow yourself to be subjected to moral blackmail; but, if helping or consoling be positive and sincere. If your friend rejects your helpful advice it may be because of confusion, do not nag. If the issue is someone dear to you or to your friend try not to take sides ~never speak ill of someone dear to a friend, even if your friend does in anger (it passes). In unexpected visits don't stay too long -be considerate. Don't forget friends, keep in touch when they cannot; if away a phone call, letter, fax, email, postcard pleases - especially on birthdays, anniversaries ~ask how they are, show you care. These make famous with friends, boost your personal popularity rating in friendships.

It earns popularity with acquaintances to keep some distance; people dislike being taken for granted. In casual relationships it makes popular, it is expected, in one's dealings to be seen to be reasonable. If pursuing an interest, giving a stranger's role or status recognition gets co-operation -it's using psychology, cleverly cashing in on human nature, benefiting from popularity.

These tried and tested advice, tips on popularity, work.

It always works and earns popularity in relationships to always wear a smile; be fair, empathetic; show interest.

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Holiday Destinations by Flight Duration

If like me you're one of those people who love going on holidays, but cannot abide the whole flying experience, then this feature will be your new best friend.
Location, hotel, weather, nightlife – these are all major factors that we consider when planning a holiday. Although often overlooked, your flights play a hugely important role in your whole holiday experience as well. A bad flight or a flight that’s too long can be the difference between a fantastic holiday and an ok holiday.

ExclusiveLondon.co.uk has complied a list of holiday destinations by flight duration to help you choose the perfect holiday. If you don’t like lengthy flights, you may think you are just limited to holidays in France or Germany, but there are many destinations featured below that may be closer than you think. Flight durations are based on flights leaving from London, UK.

1 to 2 hours

Austria (Tryol, Salzburg)
Belgium (Brussels)
Denmark (Copenhagen)
France, North to Mid (Paris, Lyon)
Germany (Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg)
Ireland (Dublin)
Netherlands, The (Amsterdam)
Scotland (Edinburgh)
Spain, North (Bilbao)
Switzerland (Basel, Geneva, Zurich)

2 to 3 hours

Romania (Bucharest)
Hungary (Budapest)
Finland (Helsinki)
Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca)
Italy, North (Milan, Venice)
Latvia (Riga)
Lithuania (Vilnius)
Costa del Sol (Marbella)
Poland (Krakow, Warsaw)
Portugal (Lisbon)
Czech Republic (Prague)
Iceland (Reykjavik)
Netherlands, The (Rotterdam)
Bulgaria (Sofia)
Spain, Mid to West (Barcelona, Madrid)
Sweden (Stockholm)
Tunisia (Tunis)
Austria (Vienna)

3 to 4 hours

Bulgaria (Sofia)
Greece, North to West (Halkidiki, Preveza)
Greece, South (Kalamata, Athens)
Greek Islands, North to West (Corfu, Kefalonia, Skiathos, Zante)
Gibraltar (South of Spain)
Turkey (Istanbul, Anakra)
Madeira (Island South of Portugal)
Malta (Valletta, Birkirkara)
Morocco (Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat)
France, South (Marseille, Montpellier, Nice)
Norway (Oslo)
Portugal (Porto Islands)
Italy, Mid to South (Rome, Naples, Sicily)
Russia (Moscow, St Petersburg)
Spain, South (Seville)

4 to 5 hours

Azores Islands, The (inc. 2 hour flight from Lisbon, Portugal)
Canary Islands (Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife)
Greek Islands, East to South (Mytilene, Cyprus, Mykonos, Kos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes)
Egypt (Cairo, Luxor)
Jordan (Amman)
Syria (Damascus)
Turkey (Izmir, Bodrum)

5 to 6 hours

Israel (Eilat)
Africa, West (Nigeria)

6 to 7 hours

Africa, West (Gambia, Ghana, Senegal)
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh)
Oman (Muscat)
United Arab Emirates (Dubai)

7 to 8 hours

Antigua (St John’s)
Barbados (Bridgetown)
Bermuda (Hamilton)
USA, East (New York, Boston)
Canada, East (Montreal)
St Lucia (Castries)
Trinidad (Port of Spain)

8 to 9 hours

India, North (New Delhi)
India, West (Mumbai, Goa)
Pakistan (Karachi)

9 to 10 hours

Aruba (Oranjestad)
Bahamas (Nassau)
Bangladesh (Dhaka)
Botswana (Gaborone)
Cuba (Havana)
Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo)
Jamaica (Montego Bay)
Kenya (Nairobi)
St Kitts (Basseterre)
Tobago
Zimbabwe (Harare)

10 to 11 hours

Canada, South (Ottawa, Toronto)
USA, South East (Atlanta, Miami)
USA, West (California, San Francisco)
USA, North to West (Montana, Seattle)
USA, South (New Orleans)
Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo)
Argentina (Buenos Aires)
Cayman Islands (George Town)
Hong Kong
Grenada (St George’s)
Mexico (Mexico City)
Namibia (Windhoek)
Chile (Santiago)
South Africa (Cape Town)
Sri Lanka (Colombo)
Tanzania (Dodoma)
Zambia (Lusaka)

11 to 12 hours

Australia (Sydney)
Thailand (Bangkok)
Hawaii (Honolulu)
Japan (Tokyo)
Mauritius (Port Louis)
South Korea (Seoul)
Singapore
Venezuela (Caracas)

12+ hours

Fiji (Suva)
USA, West (Las Vegas)
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
USA (Montana)

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Savannah Georgia - America's Most Haunted City

In 2003, the American Institute of Paranormal Psychology named Savannah America's Most Haunted City. And Savannah is able to support the title. Ghosts, apparitions or paranormal activities have been reported at many of Savannah's inns, restaurants, private residences, and of course, cemeteries.

There are many magnificently restored buildings nestled around Savannah's twenty-one squares. Many of these buildings are stately homes supposedly still occupied by former owners. James Habersham has been known to roam around the Olde Pink House, now a restaurant, but formerly his home. Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, was born and raised in Savannah. Her parents, long deceased, are said to still roam Juliette's childhood home.

Savannah's Sorrel-Weed House, visited by The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) in 2005 as part of their SciFi Ghost Hunters Halloween special, is supposedly haunted. The story goes that Mrs. Weed caught her husband in a compromising position with one of the Weed's many slaves. Mrs. Weed, very distraught, ran back to her second-floor bedroom. After a long argument with her husband, she either threw herself (or was thrown) to her death from a second floor balcony. Soon after Mrs. Weed's death, the slave found with Mr. Weed was found hung in her slave quarters. Both women are said to be still roaming the grounds.

The Hampton-Lillibridge House was said to be so haunted, that Jim Williams (of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" fame) had an exorcism performed at this former boarding house. On countless occasions, residents and passersby have heard the sound of jazz coming from inside the home.

The Kehoes were a very prominent family in Savannah, as Mr. Kehoe owned the ironworks on the riverfront. The Kehoes built this fireproof, all-iron home and lived there with their 10 children. The Kehoe's heirs sold the house in 1930 and the property changed hands many times to include use for 65 years as the Goette Funeral Home. It is now a beautiful bed and breakfast where many of its visitors report supernatural occurrences such as a woman screaming, a nurse shushing visitors, the Lady in White making appearances, and several instances involving ghosts of children.

The list goes on and on!

So, what is it about Savannah that makes it so attractive to ghosts and ghost stories? Many people start with the fact that Savannah is literally built on its dead. Savannah was the first city in Georgia founded in 1733. It was established in the same location as the Creek and Choctaw maintained their burial grounds.

As the colony began to grow and thrive, it needed more room. Buildings were erected on the burial plots of the original colonists. Tombstones in cemeteries were moved to make room for sidewalks and roads. Places of worship were erected on the graves of slaves.

Second, Savannah has a very violent history. Many bloody battles and skirmishes were fought in Savannah. One of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution, the Siege of Savannah, where about 1200 men lost their lives in one hour, was fought in Savannah.

Also, the city has been victim to many city-wide fires, at least two yellow-fever epidemics and several hurricanes.

Third, Savannah has been a major port city since the days of King Cotton, so many a sailor has ventured through Savannah spinning a romantic tale or two.

Fourth, Savannahians are (proudly) an eccentric bunch, as were their ancestors, which adds history and volume to the ghost stories. Take the

Lastly, I blame the large amounts of Spanish moss hanging from the majestic oak trees. The blankets of moss look like ghostly shrouds and give the entire region an eerie look.

Whatever the reason, the ghost stories are endless, earning the Savannah the right to the title of America's Most Haunted City.

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Thai Wives and Girlfriends: a Few Stories

Anyone who lives in Thailand for a while hears stories about western men (or farang as we are known here) and the bizarre behaviour of their Thai wives and girlfriends. To those looking from the outside it is often a source of amusement. Sometimes it is just strange behaviour. Other times it is a shocking willingness to totally screw over their farang partners.

Some of the things these women do just make you laugh but there are other times they take your breath away with the sheer audacity of their actions; their ability to put aside any semblance of morals and just scheme away to their own ends. There are other times when it is just their plain stupidity that takes the breath away.

The following four stories all happened around my own little housing estate in Phuket where there are quite a few farang-Thai couples. These stories are just a small sample of the things Thai women can get up to.

Unreasonable Behaviour

A young European guy and his Thai girlfriend have lived in the house opposite me for the last three months. They are both very sociable and quickly introduced themselves. We sometimes share a few drinks in the garden He seems like an easy-going guy. She is very chatty and usually happy. She doesn't drink, smoke, gamble or take drugs which is a promising start for Thai girlfriend material.

The problem is she regularly goes completely off the rails. Every two or three days they have a huge argument. I say argument, but in fact it is usually only her voice you can hear screaming abuse. She throws things, windows get broken and then there are tears and drama in the street.

The upshot is usually that she packs her bags and declares she is leaving for good. A big show is made of this. She comes to say goodbye to us because she is never going to see us again. She calls a taxi and then stands outside her house shouting to her boyfriend that she is leaving for good.

He quietly stays inside and ignores the whole charade. The thing is we all know she isn't leaving. She may be back the same day. If not, she will return the next day somehow looking triumphant. In fact, this pretence of leaving has become so shallow that instead of taking her packed bags, she now makes a habit of hiding them in our house so she doesn't have the hassle of carrying them.

What are the arguments about? Some of them are the usual accusation that he is playing around with other women. Often, it is that he has spent money on something she thinks is wasteful. But it is HIS money! He pays her a generous allowance. When Thai women do this routine of trying to stop their farang boyfriends spending their money, it is not because they want to save him money. There is a simpler motive. The more the boyfriend spends, the less there is leftover for her to squeeze out of him.

This girl has already told my wife she has three other farang boyfriends. This is one of the things us westerners just don't get. It is not only that they play these games and deceive their boyfriends. They think it is something to boast about and if they can boast about it right under their boyfriend's nose, all the better. Why she thought my wife wouldn't tell me, I don't know. She probably assumes all Thai women deceive their farang partners and that my wife would be impressed at her cunning.

I wouldn't get involved in other people's relationships so I will not be telling this guy about the other boyfriends. Anyway, I don't think he is such a fool. He is returning to Europe this week and I doubt if he will be continuing his relationship with this particular Thai girl - but you never know.

Gambling

The previous occupants of this same house were a European guy and his Thai wife. He worked in Europe for six months a year and lived in Phuket for the other six months. He had been doing this for years and when he was in Phuket, they always seemed to have a good relationship. The problem was that for the six months he was away, his wife had to entertain herself and her vice was gambling.

Gambling really does seem to be a major problem for some Thai women. I know several of the Thai wives on our estate play a regular card game. They all say the same thing. It is just a bit of fun for small money. I have seen them play and it is not for fun. They get very intense, there is little conversation and although the stakes start small, they quickly grow. I have heard of women winning or losing as much as 30,000 baht in these 'fun' games.

There seems to be something in the Thai mentality that leaves them very open to gambling addiction. Perhaps it is their belief in lucky numbers and fate. Whatever it is, there is good reason why gambling is illegal in Thailand. It is an endless source of problems, especially for Thai women with money and time on their hands such as wives of farang.

So every morning this Thai woman set off for her local card game. Sometimes she would be gone for two or three days - they really can play that long. She had been doing this for years and I guess she wasn't losing too much. But then the problems started.

The first sign was when she started asking to borrow money. At first, it was only small sums that we were happy to give her. But then she wanted 10,000 baht. I knew this was a sign of a serious problem. She was chasing her losses. The only way she could repay the money was if she got lucky at cards so I refused her the loan.

Of course, there are other ways to borrow money in Thailand. Once one of these girls is on the slope she will keep sliding. Soon there were rough looking Thai men appearing on her doorstep demanding repayment. She sold her motorbike and started renting one instead. She sold jewelry and furniture but used the money to chase her losses and the loan sharks kept appearing. She started disappearing for a week at a time. It was obvious her situation was out of control. Then she was gone.

I don't think the loan sharks got her. She packed her bags in the middle of the night and ran. There were rumours about how much she owed and for those sorts of sums she would have to do a good job of disappearing. There were calls from her husband asking why he could not contact his wife. When he returned to Phuket, there was no sign of her. She had not returned to her family, or at least not that they would admit. She just ran away from it all, the debts and the marriage.

Pretend Pregnancies

A good friend of mine was very pleased that his wife was expecting their first child. His wife's sister was also pleased but for slightly different reasons. She wanted copies of the ultrasound scans of the foetus. She had an Australian boyfriend who she was siphoning like an old banger. She had already twice convinced him she was pregnant and needed medical expenses. Then of course, she had two miscarriages and so needed more medical expenses.

Now she was trying the same routine for a third time but he was proving a little harder to convince. He wanted to see the ultrasound scans. So what good fortune that her sister just happened to be pregnant.

My friend absolutely put his foot down. No way would he let his child be used as a tool in a Thai bargirl scam. It is one thing to stand back and watch these girls rip off their farang boyfriends. It is a totally different thing to play an active role in the deception.

Without a copy of an ultrasound scan, her bluff was called and she was caught out. The Aussie boyfriend dumped her. All kinds of drama followed. She had a Thai boyfriend and together they were living the high life. Without her benefactor, she quickly ran up huge debts. The Thai boyfriend left her. She got her mother to take out a loan. She defaulted on the loan and her mother spent two days in prison until my friend paid her bail - after all, she is also the mother of his wife.

So much drama and heartache that you think she might actually learn her lesson. And then would you believe it - the Aussie boyfriend decided to give her another chance. Now she is spending his money like water again and convinced that everything she did has worked out for the best.

Oh yeah, one other thing she hasn't told the Aussie boyfriend. He is very keen to start a family but she cannot have children. She is infertile.

Totally Screwed

All these previous stories fade in significance compared to what happened to this guy. I don't know him personally but I know his neighbours. He worked in Bangkok and came to Phuket at weekends to see his wife. Their relationship was already rocky and they were working towards agreeing an amicable split. They owned the house but there was still an outstanding mortgage.

One weekend he returned home to find it deserted. Everything of value was gone. He was confused and started looking for an explanation. He was soon given one by a bank representative who arrived shortly afterwards. The bank has repossessed the house.
"That cannot be," said this guy. "I pay the mortgage every month." The
bank guy explained - "that mortgage is with a different bank. Your wife took a second mortgage on the property and she has not paid."

The farang guy realised he was totally screwed. He started looking for a way out but there was none. Can I take over the payments? It is too late. I will get a lawyer! It is too late. We have been taking action for months. It is finished now.

In a blind fury, this farang guy started smashing up the house. The bank called the police and they arrested him. The house was no longer his property so he would have to pay for the damages.

Over the next few days, the full extent of his wife's treachery became apparent. She had not only taken a second mortgage on the property but also she had used it as collateral for a loan from the local mafia. She had taken the money and disappeared. There were now two banks and the local mafia arguing over who had claim to his house.

I had met his wife only once a few weeks before. She came around our house asking for a 100,000-baht loan. She said she would write up a contract and pay back 110,000 baht the very next week. Naturally, we refused this generous offer. She must have known even then that she had no intention of paying. She carried on doing the rounds until she found a sucker willing to give the loan. It was actually a local Thai guy she fleeced.

It is a small world. Another friend of mine recently met this farang guy working offshore. He was working all the hours he could get to pay off his debts. The bank with the original mortgage has insisted he must pay it off or they will have him blacklisted from Thailand. He still loves Thailand and his life here and does not want to be blacklisted.

Conclusion

I certainly don't want to generalise and say all Thai women are scheming or crazy. All four of these women had one thing in common; they had all worked in the sex industry. That is not to say that all Thai girls from the sex industry are bad. It is not even that all Thai girls who have never worked in the sex industry are good. However, on the whole this sort of behaviour is much more likely to come from women who have worked in the sex industry.

The tourist sector of the sex industry is all about extracting as much money as possible from the customers. The girls learn to lie, scheme and play their customers like a fiddle. They can take the same mentality into their long-term relationships. They are still playing the game and unfortunately, the basis of their relationship is how much money they can squeeze from their farang.

I do know plenty of guys who have great Thai wives. I would go as far as to say that the sort of stories above are the minority and most men who settle in Thailand find a great woman. The cultural differences will always cause a few difficulties and Thai women certainly do a few things we find strange. As long as both sides are willing to compromise then it can all work out fine.

This is not a purely Thai phenomenon. I know men who have been fleeced by women in their own countries. And the divorce rates in the west are so high that there is really no point in harping on about the number of failed farang-Thai relationships. This devious side of the Thai female is not a universal truth. However, these stories do seem to be more common here than elsewhere. I think it is mostly a by-product of the way many of these relationships started.

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Why Women Never Call You After a Date

Have you ever wondered why a woman never texts or calls you after you have been out on a date together?

I bet you start to think she hasn't had a good time, she doesn't like you, you are not good enough for her or she finds your company boring or not exciting enough.

Probably all of that.

I could start to tell you that one bad date won't affect the way she feels about you or how attracted she is to you, but I'd be lying. Especially if this is the first date you have with your new woman, it could all be over before it even really started.

A woman will make up her mind about you in a flash. Not intentionally, but sub-consciously! And not only women do that, men do it as well.

I mean, you made your mind up about her instantly. You decided that within just a few minutes or even seconds of seeing or talking to her that you felt sexually attracted to her.

So unless you made a good impression to start with she wont be interested in you.

Now what about the moments leading up to the date? Did you decide where to go or did you ASK HER?

Let me guess, you acted like the perfect gentleman and told her that she could decide … just to be polite, nice and respectful?

Oh dude, you have so much to learn about women, she was probably dreading the date from that moment on. She was attracted to you in the beginning, that's why she agreed to go on a date with you … but you just KILLED all the attraction within a second.

When you ASK a woman something like this, she will get annoyed at you. Why? Because you are not different from all the other guys she has dated in the past.

So after that false start, where did you go?

Dinner?

Movies?

Great, you are well on the way to becoming your towns most unattractive, unoriginal and most boring date. Listen, every guy takes a woman out to a nice restaurant or to the cinema. Did she sleep and eventually go out with all those guys? I wouldn't bet on it, so what makes you think you will have a chance if you do EXACTLY the same?

Think man, think: you have to be DIFFERENT!

Look, I will even admit that when you have been going out for maybe 3 months or so, taking your partner out to dinner isn't a bad idea, but for crying out lout don't do it on the first couple of dates.

Going to the cinema is pretty similar. Again, you hit a big cliche and what are you going to do? You can't talk through the movie and don't even think about pulling that lame arm over the shoulder trick. This isn't Hollywood, this is the 21st century … and yes it is just lame. (If you want to wrap your arm around her effectively, just do it by saying "c'mere…")

Oh, and another thing: Did you ask to kiss her?

If you did, then I should bitchslap your butt right where it came from. NEVER ask, just do it. Women don't like it if you put the big decisions into their hands. You are the man, and YOU have to lead and take charge of situations so the woman can follow.

So next time, take her window shopping where you can tease her all day long or go roller blading in the park. If you still don't know how to effectively kiss a woman, just stop talking, move your hand towards her neck and if she smiles and gets those shiny eyes…you can lean in and kiss her gently.

But if you delivered just another stereotypical date like every other guy, you will share the same destiny like all the other men she has dated: "You're a very nice guy and I had a great time, but let's just be friends"

To sum this up real quick: Why do women never call you after a date? Why should they … you were just like every other guy she has dated in the past: nothing else but boring. Why would any woman want to see you again?

Think about it!

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Creative Ways to Say I Love you to your Valentine

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and the florists and candy makers are getting their inventory ready. But what if you don't want to do the same old tired gift of red roses and chocolates? Or what if you want to add some interesting unique spark of your own to make this Valentine's Day truly memorable and unique for your loved one?

Here are some innovative and creative new ways to say I LOVE YOU:

- leave love notes in his/her car, purse, briefcase, refridgerator, taped to his favorite beer in the fridge, taped to the toilet seat - be creative! Remind your love throughout the day just how much you love them!

- find the one thing that your lover most despises (or procrastinates about) every week, and offer to do it for him/her for one month. Is it taking out the trash? Is it picking up the kids from soccer practice? Is it balancing the checkbook? Is it grocery shopping? find out what it is, and lift that burden from your lover for a whole month.

- surprise your lover with a secret getaway vacation.

- buy a star (or plot on the moon) in both of your names

- get a massage for both of you before an intimate Valentine's Day dinner

- write your very own handwritten love letter

- buy THE BOOK by KM MacKinnon >THE BOOK for your lover and talk about what past lives you think you've both shared!

- give a Get Out Of Jail For Free Monopoly card. As this would suggest, you are promising your love one that in the future, should they transgress in any manner (and you can set the limits of course!), they have one Get Out of Jail For Free card to free themselves from the trouble. Did they forget to pick up the dry cleaning and you have an important meeting tomorrow? Did they snap at you at the wrong time? Did they forget your anniversary? (for that they might need more than this card!) Anyway, you get the idea - and it's a way to let your beloved know that you love them enough to forgive them in advance for something they might do!

- hire a musician to serenade your lover at their work!

- serve breakfast in bed

- do something completely unexpected! :)

- map out new quicker shortcuts from http://www.mytrafficshortcuts.com for your love to use when driving to and from work

- write a personalized romance novel starring you both

- give a coupon book full of free massages, dinners, foot rubs, pick up the children, sex whenever wherever, you won't surf the net for one whole night etc coupons. Taylor make it to your relationship and life, and to your lover's likes and dislikes. This is always a real pleaser - but you have to make sure they use it - and you have to make sure you fulfill the coupon when they ask!

- give your lover a bubble bath

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

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Hybrid Cars Advantages and Disadvantages

Hybrid cars are considered as the car of the future. It is able to effectively conserve fuel and at the same time, it only produces low levels of toxic fumes. Because of these benefits, hybrid cars are now growing in popularity every single day. Many people are now considering getting rid of their conventional cars and purchase a hybrid car to help in cutting fuel consumption cost.

Hybrid cars have two engines for it to effectively conserve fuel consumption. It has the traditional gasoline engine and it also has an electric motor and batteries. The two engines work together in order to cut fuel consumption. With this technology, you will be able to cut fuel usage by more than half. Just imagine, with a hybrid car, you will be able to go more than 60 miles to the gallon. With this kind of savings, hybrid cars are definitely the car of the future.

Hybrid car owners virtually do not feel the increasing cost in fuel prices. This is the main advantage of the hybrid car. There are other advantages that a hybrid car can give you. Recently, the President of the United States has signed an agreement that hybrid car buyers will be able to enjoy tax incentives. This means that by owning a hybrid car, you will be able to save money on taxes.

There are other benefits that the government imposes on hybrid car owners, such as free parking, and free entry to car pool lanes. Some even offer discounted fees on toll gates.

The braking in hybrid cars is also configured to capture the energy released and uses it to charge the batteries inside the hybrid car. This means that unlike electric cars, hybrid cars do not actually need to be charged from your home electric outlet.

However, with all the advantages that a hybrid car can give you, there are also disadvantages. The main disadvantage of hybrid cars is that the retail price is quite expensive. Only people who have enough money can purchase hybrid cars. However, the twist in all this is that hybrid cars are actually cheaper when compared to conventional cars in the long run. If you compute the total fuel consumption of both cars, you will actually see that you can save a lot more money on hybrid cars.

The only thing is that hybrid cars are expensive right from the car lot.

Hybrid cars are relatively heavy because of the heavy batteries installed inside the car. This is why hybrid car manufacturers integrates smaller internal combustion engines and are constructed with light materials and should be aerodynamic in order to maximize efficiency. This means that hybrid cars can never really go fast.

Another issue about hybrid cars is that it is very risky in accidents. What makes a hybrid car work effectively is also what makes it risky if it ever gets involved in an accident. This is because hybrid cars stores high amount of voltage in its batteries. This means that there is a high chance of getting electrocuted when you get involved in an accident. This also means that it is relatively difficult for rescuers to get the drivers and passengers out of the hybrid cars because of the dangers of high voltage in the car.

These are the advantages and the disadvantages of hybrid cars. Car manufacturers today are now looking for ways to get rid of the disadvantages of hybrid cars. In the near future, you will see that hybrid cars will be lighter and also contains less risk due to high voltage dangers.

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Petrol Engine Versus Diesel Engine

The choice between Petrol cars and Diesel cars is highly debated right from the inception of these two engine types. There have been endless discussions on this topic among car enthusiasts across the world including India. This article is dedicated to comparing these two most famous engine variations.



Differences Between Petrol and Diesel Engines



The most distinguishing feature of the diesel engine is that it uses compression ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber during the final stage of compression. In a diesel engine, fuel is injected at high pressure into the hot, compressed air in the cylinder, which causes it to burn and no spark is required for this. Thus, “compression ignition" is done rather than "spark ignition". The petrol engine is known as a “spark ignition” engine.



The Petrol engine uses the Otto cycle in which a fuel/air mixture is ignited by a spark plug. The air and fuel mixture when ignited by a spark burns and thereby expands to force the piston down. In case of a petrol engine, fuel and air are pre-mixed usually before compression. Earlier the pre-mixing used to be done in a carburetor but now (except in the smallest engines) electronically-controlled fuel injection is used for this. The pre-mixing of fuel and air makes a petrol engine to run at a much higher speed than a diesel. However, it severely limits their compression, and thus efficiency.



Diesel engines offer better fuel efficiency when compared to petrol due to the fact that they have higher compression ratio. Another advantage is that, a diesel engine can be more easily turbocharged than a petrol engine because of the fact that if the compression ratio and the pressure in the cylinder are high during the inlet stroke, the mixture starts to burn to soon, while the piston is on its way up. The diesel engine has no fuel in the cylinder and thus allows the turbocharger to suck as much air as it can without creating any problem.



The higher compression ratio is helpful in raising fuel efficiency. Diesel engines are much more efficient than petrol engines when at low power and at engine idle. Diesel engines, unlike the petrol engine, lack a butterfly valve (throttle) in the inlet system, which closes at idle. This creates parasitic loss and destruction of availability of the incoming air, reducing the efficiency of petrol/gasoline engines at idle. This mechanism makes the diesel engine an attractive choice for many. Diesel engines are left idle for many hours or sometimes days in many applications, such as marine, agriculture, and railways. The engines are more efficient when compared to petrol engines of the same power. They consume significantly lower fuel and offer better mileage.



A diesel engine can relatively last longer, due to the fact that petrol destroys lubrication and diesel doesn’t. While all the above support diesel engines, a major advantage of petrol engines is that they are relatively lighter than diesel engines. Engine weight is an important factor which affects speed and performance of a car. This is one of the reasons why some of the fastest cars in the world run on petrol. It should be noted that even though diesel engines are heavier and make the automobile heavy, they have more torque.



Engines and Emissions



Diesel engines consume around 30% less fuel than petrol engines and this results in much lesser carbon dioxide emissions. The diesel engines produce virtually no carbon monoxide and are much safer than petrol engines. Tests done on car emissions reveal that while Nitrogen Oxides are higher in a new diesel engine when compared to a new petrol engine. But by the time they cover 50,000 miles or so, they are the same and after that the petrol engine produces more Oxides than the diesel engine. Hydrocarbon emissions contained in petrol engine emissions are considerably more than that in diesel engine emissions. However, diesel is certainly more dangerous from the point of view of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM). SPM refers to solid particles suspended in open air, such as soot generated by combustion of various fuels. They might cause respiratory problems because of their tendency to deposit themselves in the lungs. Though much has been done to improve the fuel efficiency and reduce emissions from the petrol engine, still more needs to be done.



In India, diesel is much cheaper than petrol. Ironically, diesel cars are more expensive than petrol cars.

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The World’s Worst Drivers – Car Accident Statistics From Around the World

Millions of Car Accidents occur worldwide every year, and the fatalities due to these accidents are also in the millions. Most of the time, it is somehow the driver who is responsible for the accident.

According to a Traffic Report by the WHO, road accidents kill more than 1.2 million people annually, and around fifty million people get injured or disabled. These numbers are increasing with the passage of years. Out of over 1.2 million worldwide, 90% of the deaths are caused in the countries that have low or middle level incomes. Globally, more than half of the total accidents that occur are with drivers between the age of 15 and 44 years, and the drivers in more than 73% of cases are males.

In the UK, the number of accidents has considerably decreased in percentage over the past four or five years. Recent reports show that the road accidents have decreased by one to two percent since the year 2006.

According to an estimate, the number of accidents every year in the US is more than six million. These accidents injure millions, while thousands of people are killed. The number of people killed in car accidents in the US is thirteen times that killed in the UK. However, this difference is not very dramatic as the US is 40 times the size of UK.

In the EU, the country with the highest number of Car accidents and fatalities is Italy followed by Poland. The UK also has a relatively high rate as compared to other EU countries. Around ten thousand car accidents occur in the UK each day, and most of these are the result of a mistake on the driver's part. Car accidents comprise more than 52% of the total accidents in the EU.

Out of the total accidents in the EU, 67% are in the urban areas and in 75% of the total accidents, the driver is male. Young drivers between age 18 and 25 are involved in more than 21% of the total accidents and fatalities. Research shows that most of the accidents occur due to reckless driving and intoxication. Other than this, there are large numbers of rollover accidents involving young adults and teenage drivers. The number of accidents due to intoxication is also increasing continuously. In the US, about 70 to 80 people die every day due to accidents related to alcohol.

In accidents in the EU and US, most the cars are insured, and Car Accident Compensation Claims can be made along with any Car Accident Injury claims. However, there are many countries where there is no insurance, and hence Car accident claims cannot be made. This is especially true for the low and medium income countries of Africa and Asia where accidents are in large percentages, and Car Accident Compensation Claims and Car Accident Injury Claims are not usually made.

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How to Paint your Own Motorcycle

Motorcycle and chopper painting tutorial

PAINT AND PREP SUPPLIES
Reducer
Plastic Filler
Flowable Putty
Epoxy primer
Epoxy Sealer
Base color Paint
Clear Coat
80,120,400,600,1500,2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper

IMPROVISED PAINT BOOTH
If you're like me, you don't have the luxury of a down-draft spray booth in your shop. Here's what I did. I cleaned out a storage room that's attached to the back of my shop. I lined the walls with white poly, and placed a variable speed fan in the window. I then went around with a roll of duct tape and sealed the perimeter of the fan to the surrounding poly on the walls. Now onto the lights. After the first time you try painting something, you'll quickly learn just how critical good lighting is. In fact when it comes to lighting, the brighter your paint area the better. A buddy gave me two four-tube florescent light fixtures, which I hung on opposite sides of my new spray booth. It's good to have reflective walls. Lining the walls with white poly not only saves your walls, but it's also quite reflective.

SAFETY
Before I continue, I want to stress safety. It's a very bad I idea to paint in a room that's attached to your house. In fact, it may not be legal in some jurisdictions. Also, paint fumes are not only super toxic, they're highly flammable. Make sure your fixtures are wired properly, and that your fixtures are fully encased with lens covers attached. Last but not least, make sure you have a good quality respirator with the correct filters for the kind of paint you're using.

PAINT EQUIPMENT
For tools you'll need at least two spray guns, a air regulator with a water trap, a compressor, and of course some air hose. As aforementioned, you'll need 2 paint guns... one for painting primer, and another for painting base and clear coats.

PREP FOR PAINT
Be certain your fuel and oil tanks are pressure tested and leak free before you start. Ideally, it's good to sandblast your metal parts, especially if they have old paint on them. If you choose not to sandblast, make sure to sand them really thoroughly and wipe them down with a non oil-based cleaner prior to starting the job.

The next step is to apply filler to the low spots and any trouble areas. It's a matter of personal preference, but I like to spray a coat of epoxy primer prior to spraying on the base coat. This gives a nice base for the filler to adhere to. Prepare your filler in small amounts (it sets up fast) and apply it smoothly and evenly onto your part.

After the filler has dried, sand it smooth with 80 grit and look it over for any low spots or chips, then fill and sand again. After the necessary rounds of filler and sanding are finished, it's time to prime.

Spray on a couple of coats of epoxy primer. After the primer has dried, get a spray can of black paint and very lightly spray it over your part. This is the guide coat. The light black coat will show any ripples, low spots or defects in your handy work. To repair the problem areas that the guide coat exposed, you'll want to use flowable putty instead of filler. Apply the putty in thin even coats, then smooth it down with 80 grit sandpaper (wrapped around a rubber sanding block). Once you get the high spots leveled down, smooth it down even more with 120 grit, then finishing it with 400 grit. You're now ready for the last round of primer. Once the primer is dry, sand it thoroughly with 400 grit to give it a toothy surface for the base coat to stick to. I like to spray on a coat of epoxy sealer just prior to spraying the base colour coat. In addition to providing a ideal surface for applying the base color, it also prevents any solvents from coming through and causing bubbles in your clear coat. Make sure to follow the paint manufacturers spec sheets with regards to mixing times, mixing ratios and painting temperature. Failure to following the instructions will cause you much grief...believe me.

BASE COAT/CLEAR COAT
Now comes the color coat. Lay down the colour coats as per your paint manufacturer's spec sheet. Next comes the clear. After the first round of clear has dried, wet sand it down with 600 grit. You'll notice rows of ridges appear in the clear as you sand. Keep sanding until the clear is even and the ridges are gone. If you're painting graphics on, now is the time to put them on. After applying your graphics, cover them with another round of clear. It may take one or more rounds of clear to completely bury the graphics. Be sure to wet sand flat with 600 grit between rounds of clear. After the last round of clear has been sprayed, sand it down flat with 600 grit like before. When it's nice and smooth, finish it off with 1500 grit. If you want to get it even more silky smooth, go for a final round of 2000 grit.

POLISHING
Now for the gratifying part. The final step is to polish it to a mirror finish. You'll need a variable speed polisher, a buffing pad, and some polishing compound. There are many different kinds of buffing compound available. Your local automotive supply store will be able to recommend a good one.

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Sample Interview Questions With Answers

Sample interview questions of the common type are listed below. Answers are included. But perhaps suggestions for tailoring your responses is a better way to put it, since specific answers are impossible to provide. Practice answering these sample interview questions out loud to yourself or ask a friend or relative to help you.

Don't feel that you have to answer right away. Interviewers know that you're nervous and expect you to think a bit, so do think carefully before you answer. But don't hesitate too long or it'll appear that you're stalling. Interviewers will ask open-ended questions to see where you'll go with them, so try not to ramble while you're thinking of a real answer.

Q.
Tell me about yourself.
A.
This is the dreaded, classic, open-ended interview question and likely to be among the first. It's your chance to introduce your qualifications, good work habits, etc. Keep it mostly work and career related.

Q.
Why do you want to leave your current job? (Why did you leave your last job?)
A.
Be careful with this. Avoid trashing other employers and making statements like, "I need more money." Instead, make generic statements such as, "It's a career move."

Q.
What are your strengths?
A.
Point out your positive attributes related to the job.

Q.
What are your weaknesses?
A.
Everybody has weaknesses, but don't spend too much time on this one and keep it work related. Along with a minor weakness or two, try to point out a couple of weaknesses that the interviewer might see as strengths, such as sometimes being a little too meticulous about the quality of your work. (Avoid saying "I work too hard." It's a predictable, common answer.) For every weakness, offer a strength that compensates for it.

Q.
Which adjectives would you use to describe yourself?
A.
Answer with positive, work-oriented adjectives, such as conscientious, hard-working, honest and courteous, plus a brief description or example of why each fits you well.

Q.
What do you know about our company?
A.
To answer this one, research the company before you interview.

Q.
Why do you want to work for us?
A.
Same as above. Research the company before you interview. Avoid the predictable, such as, "Because it's a great company." Say why you think it's a great company.

Q.
Why should I hire you?
A.
Point out your positive attributes related to the job, and the good job you've done in the past. Include any compliments you've received from management.

Q.
What past accomplishments gave you satisfaction?
A.
Briefly describe one to three work projects that made you proud or earned you pats on the back, promotions, raises, etc. Focus more on achievement than reward.

Q.
What makes you want to work hard?
A.
Naturally, material rewards such as perks, salary and benefits come into play. But again, focus more on achievement and the satisfaction you derive from it.

Q.
What type of work environment do you like best?
A.
Tailor your answer to the job. For example, if in doing your job you're required to lock the lab doors and work alone, then indicate that you enjoy being a team player when needed, but also enjoy working independently. If you're required to attend regular project planning and status meetings, then indicate that you're a strong team player and like being part of a team.

Q.
Why do you want this job?
A.
To help you answer this and related questions, study the job ad in advance. But a job ad alone may not be enough, so it's okay to ask questions about the job while you're answering. Say what attracts you to the job. Avoid the obvious and meaningless, such as, "I need a job."

Q.
How do you handle pressure and stress?
A.
This is sort of a double whammy, because you're likely already stressed from the interview and the interviewer can see if you're handling it well or not. Everybody feels stress, but the degree varies. Saying that you whine to your shrink, kick your dog or slam down a fifth of Jack Daniels are not good answers. Exercising, relaxing with a good book, socializing with friends or turning stress into productive energy are more along the lines of the "correct" answers.

Q.
Explain how you overcame a major obstacle.
A.
The interviewer is likely looking for a particular example of your problem-solving skills and the pride you show for solving it.

Q.
Where do you see yourself five (ten or fifteen) years from now?
A.
Explain your career-advancement goals that are in line with the job for which you are interviewing. Your interviewer is likely more interested in how he, she or the company will benefit from you achieving your goals than what you'll get from it, but it goes hand in hand to a large degree. It's not a good idea to tell your potential new boss that you'll be going after his or her job, but it's okay to mention that you'd like to earn a senior or management position.

Q.
What qualifies you for this job?
A.
Tout your skills, experience, education and other qualifications, especially those that match the job description well. Avoid just regurgitating your resume. Explain why.

Q.
Why did you choose your college major?
A.
The interviewer is likely fishing to see if you are interested in your field of work or just doing a job to get paid. Explain why you like it. Besides your personal interests, include some rock-solid business reasons that show you have vision and business sense.

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Resume Skills | Hobbies & Interests

Be honest. How many of you have one of the following in there?

Reading

Traveling

Music

Internet Browsing

If you do, you are only one of the 96% candidates out there.

Hobbies and Interests are something to talk about. It’s a window into your personality, that is beyond the standard work stuff. These are things you are supposed to be passionate about. You should be using this extensively to not just market yourself, but also to steer the direction the interview takes.

I will talk about how to manage the interview flow, but some other day. Today about your hobbies & interests.

Here are the rules:

Make them true. Have something you are passionate about. Something no one needs you to work upon, or do. Something that excites you, something that makes your eyes sparkle when you talk about it.

Make them Unique. As far as possible mention your hobby in a way that sounds unique. Use this as a lever for the interviewer to remember you. Don’t say reading, when you can say ‘classics’ or ‘Indian art history’ or something more specific. If it is music talk about genre, artist or just decade!

Make them demonstrable. You may like to think, but really that is not a hobby. If you put something like singing, be ready to sing in the interview. If you put something like dramatics, be ready to emote. Put something that can give the interviewers a little break from the monotony of taking interviews. If you say coin collection, carry a unique coin with you!

Make them relatable. Be honest at all times, but if you have more than one hobby, choose the one that the interviewers may be able to relate to. Yes, you read that right. This like all other parts of your resume needs to be customized according to the people you are sending it out to.

Get a life! If you don’t have a hobby or interest, get one! It’s not just something to talk about in a an interview, it is something to treasure and add value to yourself as an individual.

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How to Wish Happy Birthday in Different Languages

Whether it's your birthday or the birthday of some one close to you, it'll always be an occasion that remains the reservoir of happy memories, lots of laughter and wholesome family fun! Birthday is one of those occasions where the strong emotional bonds, warmth of heartfelt best wishes go beyond the barrier of language and sincere and cordial birthday wish always becomes successful in conveying with its true glory.

Other than the usual party, celebrations, good food and sparkling birthday gifts, it is a day when the spotlight shines on friends, relatives, parents and cheerful memories. It is the day when the birthday boy or girl is in his or her most emotionally vulnerable state. Feelings, thoughts previously unspoken, may be in fear of denunciation are expressed on this day as it is the perfect occasion to share feelings and emotions along with best wishes.

When it comes to wishing your loved ones on his or her birthday, originality and uniqueness is the key to make your dear one feel surprised and delighted. It's hard to put in to words what you want to express to the birthday boy or girl on that special day, but once you tell them how wonderful you feel on their birthday, the expression on their face with bright smile and cheerful look makes the day all the more special. To brighten up the birthday of your loved onesyou may be finding the right word to express your heartfelt best wishes can be a difficult task, so why don't you go beyond the barrier of language and wish happy birthday in different languages. It's sure to make your friend, relative or whoever is the birthday boy or girl, feel fascinated and really excited at this unique birthday wish. Even if it is the birthday celebration of a little kid, wishing happy birthday in different languages can be a quite an educating way of wishing someone happy birthday. Kids can learn those languages a little and feel fascinated in exploring more, consequently stirring their learning faculty in an indirect way. Here is a list which will help you to wish "Happy Birthday" in different languages of the world. So next time you are at a birthday party you can share the joy and excitement in different languages. It can be an amusing at the same time a unique learning experience for both of you.

Brazil: Parabéns a você! nesta data querida muitas felicidades e muitos anos de vida.

Chinese-Cantonese: Sun Yat Fai Lok!

Chinese-Mandarin: qu ni sheng er kuai le

Croatian: Sretan Rodendan!

Czech: Vsechno nejlepsi k Tvym narozeninam!!

Danish: Tillykke med fodselsdagen!

Dutch: Hartelijk gefeliciteerd! or Van harte gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag!

Esperanto: Felichan Naskightagon!

Farsi: Tavalodet Mobarak!

Finnish: Hyvaa syntymapaivaa!

French (Canada): Bonne Fete!

French: Joyeux Anniversaire!

German: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!

Greek: Eytyxismena Genethlia! or Chronia Pola!

Hawaiian: Hau`oli la hanau!

Hebrew: Yom Huledet Same'ach!

Hungarian: Boldog szuletesnapot! or Isten eltessen!

Italian: Buon Compleanno!

Japanese: Otanjou-bi Omedetou Gozaimasu!

Russian: S dniom razhdjenia! or Pazdravliayu s dniom razhdjenia!

Spanish: Feliz Cumpleaños!

Swedish: Grattis på födelsedagen

Taiwanese: San leaz quiet lo!

Thai: Suk San Wan Keut!

Ukrainian: Mnohiya lita! or Z dnem narodjennia!

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How To Be A Good Boyfriend

A man can easily learn how to be a good boyfriend. All it takes is a little bit of practice and determination to do it. Willingness is the key for any man to learn how to be a good boyfriend. Unfortunately not all men are willing to study and do what it takes to be a good boyfriend.

Most men foolishly adopt a ‘love me or leave me' attitude wherein they are too stubborn to admit their shortcomings. These are usually the type of men that bank on the frailty of most women, the kind of women who would rather die than be left alone without a man.

However, men of this character must be living in the dark ages, as many women today would not tolerate this type of behavior. The modern woman of today is more discerning. Any man who would want to be in a relationship with her would certainly have to brush up on how to be a good boyfriend in order to keep her interested.

Fortunately there are still a lot of men who believe in giving their best in a relationship. These men take the initiative in learning how to be a good boyfriend to their significant other. And in the end reap the rewards of their labor with a loving and satisfying relationship.

Learning How to be a Good Boyfriend

Learning how to be a good boyfriend has a lot of advantages not just for women but also for men. A man that makes an effort to learn how to be a good boyfriend can look forward to a better and stronger relationship with their partner. An appreciative girlfriend will most likely shower her man with more love and affection than before. In addition, there will probably be less nagging that will surely be a welcome respite for any man.

However if a man still experiences the same type of treatment even after learning how to be a good boyfriend then there is something wrong. It would be a good idea to assess the relationship at this point. Perhaps the man is not to blame and the fault lies elsewhere.

Keep in mind that there are some women in the world that cannot be content unless they are nagging or criticizing something. At this point, a man may want to think if the relationship is still worth pursuing or if it would be time to move on and probably find someone who would appreciate them better.

A Guide on How to be a Good Boyfriend

A good boyfriend knows how to keep his girlfriend happy. Satisfying a woman is a comprehensive plan that does not only involve the sexual aspect of a relationship. A good way to do so is to make her feel special by complimenting her on how well she looks.

Women do their best to look pretty for their man and a little flattering remark goes a long way to show her that her efforts are appreciated. It is also a good idea for a man to evaluate his own physical appearance. As a woman takes the time to look good for her man therefore a man should also look good for his woman.

To show respect for her and her family is a trait of a good boyfriend that every man should adopt. A well-mannered man is polite and nice to his girlfriend's family. Women are particularly appreciative of a man that accepts and loves her family. Communication is a vital part of every relationship. Women cherish a man who listens and pays attention to what they have to say.

There are no hard and fast rules on how to be a good boyfriend. And learning how to be a good boyfriend is not easy. The enthusiasm to learn must be present. It is also important to be comfortable and at ease with oneself when undertaking such an education.

Being true to oneself is an important part of the learning process. A man forced into learning how to be a good boyfriend can develop negative emotions that would not be healthy for the individual and for the relationship. If a man were not interested in learning then he would only be fooling himself and his partner.

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Funny Pick-up Lines as Conversation Starters with Girls

Initiating a conversation with an attractive woman is not always an easy task. In fast, it can be quite intimidating to a lot of guys. No, this article is not going to provide you with some humorous pick-up lines to use with women. Actually, listen to me closely when I say this- do NOT use funny pick-up lines!

Does the following situation sound familiar? You see an attractive woman standing with her friends. You want to meet her, but you have no idea what to say. So, you take the advice of your friends and use one of their funny pick-up lines. However, rather than engaging further in conversation, she turns the other way in disgust.

If you still haven't figured out what happened above, I will tell you. It was an poorly chosen conversation starter. Funny pick-up lines are not effective conversation starters with girls. You may find them funny, but they do not work with women. Instead, you should try a more natural way to initiate conversation when trying to meet women.

The goal is to avoid sounding tacky or cheesy. Below, I describe four ways you can initiate a conversation in a manner that comes across more naturally and not so "obvious."

First, a great way to start a conversation is to focus on a situation or event. Situational conversation starters are terrific ways to use the environment at the time to engage in conversation with a woman.

For example, if you notice a couple arguing and she spills a drink on him, you can go up to a woman nearby and joke about how great a couple they are together. Say something like, "wow, what a close relationship they have."

Secondly, a cliche pick-up line is far different from a genuine compliment. Complimentary pick-up lines are effective because woman love flattery and will be less likely to "walk away in disgust" after you just complimented her.

Keep in mind, though, that you should compliment a woman on something other than her looks. If she is attractive, she has probably heard similar compliments many times. Rather, try complimenting her on her fashion style or her dancing skills. The point is to make the compliment appear genuine and natural.

Third, just be yourself and act normally. Approaching a woman with confidence in your own personality and abilities will set you apart from the crowd. Your straightforward, natural approach may impress her far more than you anticipate, especially if guys continue to stick by the corny pick-up lines.

Finally, there is always the cocky-funny approach. It is, actually, a great way to meet women and build the attraction further. This method was created by David DeAngelo and involves approaching a woman with a slightly arrogant attitude while also trying to make her laugh.

The reasoning behind this approach is to build yourself up so that she wants to work for your attention, and you can do this by using opportunities in the conversation to tease her. It is effective because your intentions are not obvious. You give the impression that you are just focused on enjoying the conversation and making her laugh.

Now, funny pick-up lines may actually her laugh, but they really are not the best choice of conversation starters with girls. The next time you are trying to meet a woman, opt for one of the four methods above. You will find that they are much more effective at meeting women.

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Free samples without surveys: Freebies the hassle-free way

Free samples technically known as the freebies are a method used by the companies to judge the demand of their product or gauge the reception of their new product by the consumers just before they enter into a full-scale market launch of the product. They are the samples which can be obtained by the consumers either for free or at discounted rates and are made available on the internet for everyone.

Using free samples turns out to be a good option for many, obtaining them is not just as easy. Free samples are often associated with filling up a survey related to the product or the company which turn out to quite a hindrance for many. This is due to the fact that people generally do not want to reveal their identity or personal details on the internet just for obtaining this free sample or spam their mails with unnecessary emails from these companies about the latest offer or deals. People tend to go out of their way in searching for free stuff which might be available and when they have to fill up a survey to find out a disappointing deal at the end of it, it becomes very irritating. Moreover, divulging personal details such as contact number leads to annoying phone calls, which everyone wants to avoid.

Hence, to make the procurement of free samples easier, new sites are being launched which not only give all the information about the latest available options of various free samples but also let you obtain them without having to fill the surveys. Hence, now are available the free samples without surveys. One such site dedicated towards furnishing its users with the details of free samples, daily free offers, discount coupons, gift cards etc is http://www.freesamplesnetwork.com/. This site advertises various offers making it a one shop stop for its users with regard to the information on freebies. Free samples without surveys are available for goods like beauty creams, post cards, memo pad, entertainment stuff, food stuff etc.

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Tips On Playing Free Games At Online Casinos

Free games are some of the most sought after bonus items that you can find while playing in online casinos. In fact, many players have made a “hobby” out of searching for free games in the casinos. And of course, this can be quite rewarding as this would actually add to your winnings as well as be a delight in themselves.

Free game hunting in online casinos is actually quite very easy. All you need is to constantly watch out for updates that the casino will give out regarding them and also visiting forums aimed other casino related user groups for more info. In order to get the most out of your free games, you also need to know how to use them wisely.

There are several ways that you can get free games. The first is the easiest one to get. These are to try it games that casino websites offer to guests that enter the site. These are basically the same games as the ones offered by the casino in their regular runs, except that these doesn't offer any money winnings. In some instances, you instead get a set of points that you can use to play more free games in the site. While there is no money to get on them, they can still be useful in learning the basics of the games. Besides, players who only want to pass time would find them more suitable, since they are not required to sign up for an account and use actual money.

For those who do want to get some cash out of free online casino games, you need to sign up for an account to avail of the money games. However, you need not worry about this since the free can be second thoughts to that of actually playing the paid games (unless of course, you signed up for the sole purpose of getting free games). After you signed up, you will receive your sign up bonus. Often the sign up bonus is in the form of free games that you can play. In case that the bonus comes in the form of money, you can use them to bet in games, which may as well think as free. One thing to remember however, is that you won't be able to play them at once. You will often be required to deposit an amount on your accounts first or play a number of games before you can use them. However, as have been said before, this can be taken as a trivial matter.

During your whole stint with the casino website, you will also regularly receive free games as part of loyalty points given by the casino. This is the most common and varied free game that you will receive, since you get access to all the games offered. So you can be quite assured that they will keep on coming every time.

One thing to remember when playing free games is that they have a validity period, after which they become useless. Take note of these to ensure that your free games won't go to waste. Often, you may have to play them at on sitting to use them up.

In order to maximize your winnings in free games, keep them as take home money. In cases that you are required to play at least part of your wins, you can still keep the rest as take home. Also regularly withdraw your winnings from your account. This way, you can be sure that your money won't be going back to the casino.

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Social Networks – Why Facebook Is The Best?

Social Media is the new "in" thing in internet marketing and SMO(social media optimization) is fast growing its roots in internet marketing. Social media is the fastest and most effective way of sharing information, promoting products and increasing potential clientele. The main reason for the success of social media or for that regard social networks is that people tend to believe more on "word of mouth" i.e. real time feedback on products and services rather than traditional advertisements. There are literally thousands of social networks all aiming to provide its users a platform to connect, share and socialize with other individuals.

Facebook however goes a step further than this. The multi-oriented platform presents its users with a wide range of features through which they can not only connect and share but also promote their business and run campaigns for their products! Facebook is the leading social network at the moment with a user base of over 350 million! The numbers itself speak for the success and popularity of the social networking giants.

Facebook is loaded with many features which provide social media marketing experts the opportunity of expanding their reach to millions.

Some of these features include:

Facebook Applications: This is the most vital element behind the success of Facebook. Applications on the Facebook platform can do wonders when it comes to monetizing products and establishing brand awareness. Most multi-national organizations get services form professional Facebook application developers who create application for Facebook that are engaging as well as viral. Facebook Fan Pages: Facebook Fan Pages are a great way to build your company's online presence on Facebook. Interacting with clients, customers and Fans becomes a lot more fun with Facebook Fan Pages! Launching a new product? Starting a new service? Keep your fans updated with all the news. Post videos, pictures or just start a poll. The Facebook Fan Page is rich in features and Facebook Fan Page developers create custom looking and interactive fan pages so that it looks like your single page website!

Facebook Adverts:

Facebook Adverts are another quick and effective way of promoting your campaign and drawing users towards your products. The platform offers advertisement banners that can be optimized from regional targeting to age groups. You can select over a range of demographics so that your ad targets your niche audience better.

Facebook Connect:

Facebook Connect is a feature introduced exclusively for websites. With Facebook Connect integrated on your website you can easily communicate with and take advantage of the Facebook platform. Easy to use, Facebook Connect allows users to login to websites with their Facebook credentials therefore enabling them to share things with their Facebook network and posting news feeds and notifications on to their Facebook profile. Social Media has now become an essential ingredient in all marketing recipes and social networks such as Facebook are providing organizations, online agencies and entrepreneurs with a strong social networking tool.

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How To Make Money with Facebook Marketing

When Mark Zuckerberg turned his little college project into a worldwide phenomenon, he opened a lot of doors for internet entrepreneurs. Facebook marketing is more and more the go to strategy for businesses looking to interact with more customers and ultimately to increases revenues and profits.

Statistics tell us that the average Facebook user is connected to at least 60 pages, events and groups. And considering that there are more than 500 million Facebook users all over the world, think about how many potential customers your business could reach. Facebook's Ads System allows business owners to formally advertise their products and services.

Statistics also tell us that people are three to five times more likely to buy your product if their friends recommend it. It works somewhat like a chain reaction – once you've reached a particular group of people, each person in that group will tell their friends about it, and so on. Keep in mind that Facebook isn't just for kids – according to statistics, more than 30% of Facebook users are over 35 years of age, and the numbers are increasing.

Compared to Google, Facebook ad clicks are relatively cheap.

Warning! Facebook can be addictive! You may need to exert a considerable amount of self control. Avoiding Facebook however because you think it could be too time consuming means missing out on great opportunities offered by Facebook marketing. If you've successfully created a Facebook fan page, make sure you update it regularly and make it look appealing for potential customers.

Remember, Facebook marketing works only when you invest the time to make it work.

SUMMARY: Because Facebook is able to transcend geographical and cultural barriers, it's a good way to advertise products and services. Everyday, more and more business owners are joining the Facebook Marketing bandwagon because of the massive success many businesses are having.

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Greatest Song of the '70s

Forget about your traditional Top Ten Songs of the '70s. I'm going to use this blog post to tell you about MY personal favorites from the '70s. Everyone has their own musical favorites, and usually there is a memory associated with each one. I'm not sure if any of my all-time favorites ever made the "The Top 100 Seventies Singles", but if you weren't there to experience these songs for the first time on AM radio, your record player that boasted a pink carrying case with handle (I had one), or 8-track, then you're in luck. Listen for the first time (or again) via my links and enjoy.

1. Year of the Cat - Al Stewart (1976)


On a morning from a Bogart movie
In a country where they turn back time
You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime

She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running
Like a watercolor in the rain
Don't bother asking for explanations
She'll just tell you that she came

In the Year of the Cat....

I had to include the first couple stanzas here, because the lyrics of this song are genius. All you need to do is close your eyes and be transported to Casablanca, or the city and time of your choice. The music is truly magical, haunting. Close your eyes and climb on-board and see where this song takes you.

2. Strange Magic - ELO (1976)



In my opinion ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) is one of the greatest groups of all (my) time. It was a tough decision for me to decide between nominating Strange Magic or Can't Get It Out of My Head. Ultimately, I went with Strange Magic because my 8-year-old son heard me playing the song and asked nonchalantly if I knew that this was one of Selena Gomez's songs and that he thought it was pretty good. I informed him that this song was NOT Selena Gomez's. I didn't go into my heart-felt sentiments about the true strange magic of this song, its lyrics, the memories it brings back, or my allegiance to a band that combined my love for the classics with my love of rock-n-roll.

3. Poetry Man - Phoebe Snow (1974)



Honestly I can't comprise the proper paragraph to promote this song. I would be interested in hearing memories of those who were teens at this time. I have faint ones of this song as a backdrop and watching my Aunt descend the stairs and join her date in the foyer for Senior prom. I was a little girl then, and this song stamped such an impression on my life on that night some time in early 1975, that I still love it today.

4. Good Girls Don't (But I Do) - The Knack (1979)



She's your adolescent dream,
Schoolboy stuff, a sticky sweet romance.
And she makes you want to scream,
Wishing you could get inside her pants....

Hmmm...That harmonica and those honest lyrics straight from a teen-aged boy's mind...Maybe they don't stand up to time, but this one is a keeper in my book. Is there any such thing any more as a "good girl"? Well, let me tell you if you don't remember, there used to be in 1979. Biased to the male gender or not, this song is one of my all-time unforgettables. My parents had the 8-track "The Knack - Get the Knack" and I can't remember how many times I hit the 2 to replay "Good Girls Don't".

5. Hello It's Me - Todd Rundgren (1974)


I just know that when I hear this song now I become a little kid again. Back then it was just a popular song that I could fall asleep to in the back of my parents' car, feeling safe and protected and so very... immortal. Now when I hear it I really listen to the words and I can imagine what it would have been like to be 25 (like my parents) at that point in time. The simple words and yet complex meaning mesh with that memory of youth, the feeling that the "here and now" are forever and solid and immovable.

6. Strawberry Letter 23 - Brothers Johnson (1977)



This is one of those songs I had completely forgotten about until about a month ago when it played on my cable's '70s music channel. All the sudden I was in 3rd grade again. Jimmy Carter was president, I was proud of my bell-bottom jeans with the flowers my mom had embroidered on to the back pocket, I bought "Tiger Beat" regularly to see pics of Lief Garrett and Shawn Cassidy, and loved Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, The Waltons, and Little House on the Prairie. Saturday mornings were filled with Schoolhouse Rock, American Bandstand, and Land of the Lost.

7. Main Street - Bob Seger (1977)



Clearly, if this list were in any kind of order of importance, this song should be Number One. My young 20-something parents brought home this 8-track and my young, beautiful SAHM played it on 8-track over and over again, forever engraving its words into my brain, into my very being. This song is smoky, it's haunting, it's that kind of romance/obsession that can't be replicated. It draws to mind a movie all my own that I've played over and over.

I remember standing on the corner at midnight
Trying to get my courage up
There was this long lovely dancer in a little club downtown
I loved to watch her do her stuff
Through the long lonely nights she filled my sleep
Her body softly swaying to that smoky beat
Down on Main Street

In the pool halls, the hustlers and the losers
I used to watch 'em through the glass
Well I'd stand outside at closing time
Just to watch her walk on past
Unlike all the other ladies, she looked so young and sweet
As she made her way alone down that empty street
Down on Main Street

8. Lady - Styx (1973)



With each of my favorites that I've recorded here, I go to a different place. I can't believe this song was released as early as 1973, because it was such an integral part of my childhood, and I count it as one of the all-time greats throughout the entire decade. The piano acoustic, the simple yet stirring words (Lady of the morning, love shines in your eyes, sparkling, clear and lovely, you're my lady...). There are few songs that could woo the UNwooable...but this is a contender.

9. On the Radio - Donna Summer (1979)


Ha! Just when you thought I was sticking to the classic rock genre! Remember, this is coming from a "child of the '70s". One of the most memorable "movie" songs from one of the greatest movies ever "Foxes" (1980). Okay, so maybe by today's standards it's dorky and the chicks aren't finely chiseled and honed by plastic surgeons, but I believe this movie and this song personified all the teenage angst of that time. That's the only way I know to squeeze all of my experience with this song into a paragraph. I guess you just "had to be there".

10. I'm In You - Peter Frampton (1977)


I've saved the best 'til last. At one time this song was just a pretty tune that rose to favor with me because it came to personify those surreal days of my youth, like so many of the others I've listed here. But later in my life, as I've often gone to youtube.com for comfort and memories, I've searched for this song in and listened anew. "I'm in you, you're in me...i'm in you...you're in me...". Most people will never experience a love they can equate with this song, or even a memory. You just have to "get it". I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

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