VoIP will allow users to user their broadband connection to make
phone calls over the Internet. The widespread use of VoIP has
caused a revolution in the phone industry.

With the VoIP service giving users the chance to make phone calls
over the internet it is easy to see why this has rocked the telecom
industry.

VoIP at present is becoming the most cost effective way to make
long distance telephone calls. Before VoIP telephone service providers had a strong hold on lucrative and 99% of the time over priced long distance services.

Due to the introduction of Voip the long distance calling market has began to open to up to competition. The main reason for this is that most Internet users will begin implementing VoIP. The main reason being that VoIP is the most cost effective way to make long distance telephone calls.

VoIP Development Process

Over the last 10 year VoIP has been slowly developing. In the
early days computer users were able to talk to one another through their computers. You were only able to do this if you had a
voice enabled computer with good Internet connection and you would need to have a software program installed on your computer.

The main advantage to this was that it allowed user to be able to
contact anyone from around the world for free aslong as they had the same setup as you.

The disadvantages to this system was that sound quality was
never great, broadband was not being widely used and the user
you were trying to contact would have to be online.

Today’s VoIP has made these problems a thing of the past.

The two things that were required to make VoIP technology appeal
to the wide spread market have been accomplished.

Broadband is now a widly used internet service. This allows users
to have a stable internet connection that can always be on.

Secondly the VoIP industry has been able to develop a simple and
inexpenisve way of integrating the IP network (aka Internet) with a traditional telephone system.

What this means is that VoIP users are able to use their own
telephone to call anyone else in the world who has the traditonal telephone connection.

Traditional telecom companies such as Qwest, AT&T and Bell have
developed their own type of VoIP technology. This has given consumers a huge number of choices. Now anybody anywhere
with a boradband internet connection is able to call anyone
anywhere in the world who has a ordinary telephone connection.

Why VoIP Will Save You Money

The major advantage of VoIP is the low cost, with no significant
decrease in voice quality.

1st, a VoIP subscriber doesn’t require a traditional phone line.
Instead, you are assigned a phone number by your VoIP provider.

Prices for these calls can be as low as $9 per month. 2nd, virtually all VoIP subscribers will buy a “bundle” of services that includes unlimited incoming calls and unlimited long distance calls to anyone in a defined geographic area. As an example, VoIP unlimited calling plans to anyone in the US or even Canada will only cost around $20 per month.

Third, virtually all VoIP service providers offer free bundled features that virtually all traditional telephone corporations charge for. These include free voicemail, call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, three way calling, speed dialing.

VoIP provides better flexibility and portability

An additional important benefit is the flexibility and portability of VoIP phone service. With VoIP your individual telephone number is programmed into the converter that acts as a bridge between your internet connection and your regular telephone.

This has many important benefits. As already mentioned you don’t
want an actual land line. Instead your telephone number is
assigned to your converter (not to your geographic land line). So
you are able to take your converter with you anywhere in the
globe, plug it into any available broadband connection, and
immediately you can employ your regular number to produce and
receive calls.

This flexibility also lets you select a number in an area code where virtually all of your long distance calls originate. For instance, if many of your friends, family, business associates or even customers are calling from a specific city that traditionally involved an extended distance call for them, you may pick a number in that area code and immediately turn all their calls to you into local (free) calls for them.

The benefits of VoIP are many, and the savings can be incredibly
important. So it’s no wonder that VoIP has turned into the hottest telecom technology of the decade. Informed consumers and
businesses around the globe are adopting this technology at a
phenomenal rate.

Visit Our Home Page At http://www.voiptesting.ws/voip_articles.html To Learn Even More.

Find out more about different voip services by visiting VoIP Phone Company

Bluetooth

For those of you not familiar with the term, Bluetooth refers to a wireless protocol (or set of rules) designed for short range electronic applications (usually less than 30 feet in distance). Although the technology has been around for several years, Bluetooth support for PC users has been limited due to hardware manufacturers focusing on the more traditional 802.11 wireless network protocols (wifi). In reality, Bluetooth and wifi achieve different purposes and each has its pros and cons.

Cellular Telephone Bluetooth Headsets

The cellular telephone community has long embraced Bluetooth technology, developing and refining numerous wireless devices. One of the more popular Bluetooth applications for cellular telephones has been cordless headsets which enable users to leave their telephone in their bag or pocket while still being able to make and receive calls. Bluetooth headsets are generally very lightweight, worn over one ear and achieve talk times from 1-4 hours before needing a recharge.

Bluetooth PC Headset?

So if cellular telephone users have warmly embraced Bluetooth headsets, why not the PC community? At the time of writing, this author knows of no PC hardware manufacturer who has designed a Bluetooth Headset primarily for use with a PC. However, there is nothing to prevent a PC user from using a cellular phone Bluetooth Headset with their PC. Keep in mind though, these headsets were originally envisioned for cellular phone use and may need a bit of ‘tweaking’ before they’ll perform as well as ‘corded’ headsets on your computer.

USB Bluetooth Adapter

Unless you own a relatively expensive notebook PC, odds are that your computer doesn’t natively support the Bluetooth protocol. If this is the case, you’ll need an ‘Adapter’ or ‘Dongle’ in order to make your computer ‘Bluetooth enabled’. Bluetooth adapters are generally very small (a few inches long) and insert into a vacant USB port on your computer. When purchasing an adapter it’s critical that you buy one that supports the ‘headset protocol’. The headset protocol is merely a set of rules which enables your Bluetooth adapter to communicate with and make use of Bluetooth headsets in its vicinity. If your adapter does not support the headset protocol, no amount of ‘tweaking’ will get your headset working with your PC. Adapters generally run between $20 - $80 USD and can be purchased at most PC retailers.

Buying a Bluetooth Headset

Bluetooth headsets for cellular phones are generally very expensive when compared with conventional ‘corded’ PC headsets. Depending on where you buy your headset, you could spend anywhere from $20 to $200+ USD. If you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive headset that’ll simply enable you to make wireless VoIP calls using your PC, I recommend looking on Ebay. Although prices vary considerably on Ebay between merchants for similar products, overall they are considerably less expensive than purchasing the same headset from a telephone store. A word of caution about Ebay though; ensure that you read the fine print associated with shipping costs. Some Ebay merchants advertise Bluetooth Headsets for $5 USD however the real cost quickly rises to $35+ when you account for their often exorbitant shipping charges.

‘Pairing’ the Headset with your PC

Once your computer is ‘Bluetooth enabled’ and you’ve obtained a Bluetooth headset, you’ll need to ‘pair’ the headset with your computer in order to use it for VoIP applications. This is usually just a matter of setting your headset in ‘discovery mode’ and allowing your PC to ’search’ or ‘discover’ Bluetooth devices. The steps needed to enable discovery mode on your headset and adapter will vary between devices and should be clearly explained in the documentation accompanying your devices.

Adjusting your Audio Settings

Depending on your hardware and operating system, you may need to make adjustments to your audio settings after the headset is ‘paired’ with your PC. In the Windows operating system, this will involve accessing ‘Audio Properties’ through the ‘Control Panel’ and setting the audio and voice devices to your newly paired Bluetooth headset. Again, adjusting these settings should be covered in the documentation accompanying both your headset and Bluetooth adapter.

Once you’re up and running, you’ll wonder why you didn’t adopt this wireless headset solution sooner. The freedom to wander away from your computer whilst maintaining voice over Internet conversations is something you’ll come to appreciate and love.

Nathan Smith

Nathan is the owner of bluetoothpcheadsets.com which contains information about using Bluetooth Headsets with computers (PCs) and netphonedirectory.com which deals specifically with PC to Phone and PC to PC VoIP.

Nathan Currently lives in New Brunswick, Canada

The Property Index site has a vast range of property for sale in America, view the range online.

Regardless the fact that PropertyIndex.com is really a new kid on the block corporation, (they were incorporated only in March 2007), they have quickly established expert status. In point of fact a extraordinarily accessible corporation specializing in looking after and guiding any person proposing to buy, sell, rent etc. property in many parts of the world. What they pledge to do is to be of assistance to you to locate precisely what you are calling for quick and, further, without hassle. Property is easily available all over the world these days, unquestionably the hippest area being real property available in the United States. It should be straightforward to list a slew of the great real property you can purchase in the United States, the argument for investigating realty here is a combination of the houses and apartments on the market and the good chance of being able to live right amid this vibrant, fervent and vigorous population.

It is one of the most favored regions these days, and with the overall attractiveness and agreeable sunshine surrounding you, how can you say no? Property in the United States is steeped in history, art and culture, this part of the world is and has always been home to a good many civilizations. Some 25-30 years back there was merely a tiny number of Britons who are looking for real property in the United States. Just ask any person who has relocated to the United States and they will confirm it. There’s many people who would will view it as a craze and others will view it as a that’s more or less a fetish… People intending to move over here may range from newly weds keen on an exciting challenge to pensioners who are looking to enjoy themselves and have a break.

Note, though, that you may encounter some difficulties when buying real property abroad: expectably there are dozens of procedures to bear in mind when strategising, surveying or buying and completing. If you miss out on but a single minor step that is liable to escalate wide-reaching difficulties as well as, critically, a financial trouncing. Obviously and expectably with this favored place, real property might well be high-priced in this location and that is purely owing to the expanding market demand. Yet, property buyers are somewhat spoilt in terms of choice in such a place so great in terms of sun soaked scenery. It presently has the whole ball of wax a client could possibly itch for, and lots more.

Many believe there is life on Mars and many do not know what type; whether it be microbial life, complex life or the biggie intelligent life. Recently this thought and discussion re-emerged in an online think tank. When a fellow think tanker contemplated regarding life on Mars and stated perhaps there is and then suggest such a life form could be a; “temperature resistant armored lizards that dig their way through an extensive network of underground caves?”

Indeed this could be possible a shelled creature underground working off CO2 rather than oxygen like on Earth. Here are some other thoughts;

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=e1d2c877173b25a24db1a5dbfee636b0&showtopic=1505

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=e1d2c877173b25a24db1a5dbfee636b0&showtopic=121

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=e1d2c877173b25a24db1a5dbfee636b0&showtopic=120

All interesting topics indeed. The conversation and discussion was taken up a notch with the fellow thinker stated; “I’ve seen how the media hype affected plans of NASA’s Mars observation with the whole “Alien Face” hoopla.”

Yes, well remember there is good synergy there with some 14 million “Coast to Coast AM” radio show listeners, several books out and NASA needs to re-unite itself with mainstream “Hollywood” and make things of “public interest” as most people are more concerned with what hair styles “Paris Hilton” is wearing than the forward progression of the Human race in the future of space. I say put Paris Hilton in an F-15, take her up in SpaceShip One and let her go to the Alabama Space Camp for NASA. And film the whole darn thing.

Whatever it takes to mainstream the Space Race, because this is what dreams are made of and as I study my ancestors who came over on the Mayflower and the founding of some of the greatest civilizations in human history, I see a lot of possibilities if we will simply commit to boldly go without the bureaucracy and BS. Just Do It, borrowing a thought from Phil Knight. So, consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Here’s the point: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is accomplished.

The point is simply stated for businesses, non-profits and associations. Many concentrate their public relations effort on newspaper and radio exposures or funding management’s favorite special event.

This when they should be driving an action plan that persuades their key external stakeholders to their way of thinking, then moving those important outside audiences to take actions that help their departments, divisions or subsidiaries succeed.

This difference in emphasis can turn into real trouble for managers who work hard to achieve their operating objectives.

Why not meet with the public relations people assigned to your unit and make sure they buy into a blueprint for PR success like the one above: the results might amaze you. How about prospects starting to do business with you; membership applications on the rise; customers starting to make repeat purchases; fresh proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; community leaders beginning to seek you out; welcome bounces in show room visits; higher employee retention rates, capital givers or specifying sources beginning to look your way, and even politicians and legislators starting to view you as a key member of the business, non-profit or association communities.

You can create those kinds of results when you do something positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that MOST affect your business, non-profit or association?

When you use the promise of PR to deliver external stakeholder behavior change - the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives.

And when you persuade those important outside folks to your viewpoint, then move them to take actions that help your department, division or subsidiary succeed.

If this is the kind of PR you need and want, list those outside audiences of yours whose behavior helps or hinders you in achieving your objectives. And list them according to their impact on your operation.

If experience is any guide, you probably don’t have access to data showing how most members of that key external audience perceive your organization.

Truth is, hiring professional survey people to monitor those perceptions can be expensive, so you and your colleagues will have to do it yourselves. Interact with members of that outside audience by asking questions like “Have you ever had contact with anyone from our organization? Was it a satisfactory experience? Are you familiar with our services or products?”

Listen carefully for negative statements, especially evasive or hesitant replies. Watch for false assumptions, untruths, misconceptions, inaccuracies and potentially damaging rumors. Any of which will need to be corrected because we know counterproductive perceptions usually lead to negative behaviors.

Of course you want to correct such problems before they create negative behaviors. So you select the actual perception to be altered, and that becomes your public relations goal.

Fact is, your PR goal without a strategy to show you how to get there, is like catfish without the lemon and tartar sauce. That’s why you must pick one of three strategies structured to create perception or opinion where there may be none, or change existing perception, or reinforce it. What you want to do here is insure that the goal and its strategy match each other. It wouldn’t do to select “change existing perception” when current perception is OK suggesting a “reinforce” strategy.

Here is where writing talent is needed. Someone on your PR team must create a compelling message written in a way that can alter your key target audience’s perception, as called for by your public relations goal.

You can always combine your corrective message with a product or personnel announcement and increase message credibility by not highlighting the correction itself.

The corrective message should have several attributes, clarity for one. Be specific about what perception needs clarification or correction, and why. Your facts must be accurate and they must be persuasive, logically explained and believable if the message is to hold the attention of members of that target audience, and actually move perception your way.

Now you pick your “beasts of burden” - the actual tactics you will use to carry your corrective message to the attention of that external audience.

There are plenty of communications tactics available including letters-to-the-editor, brochures, press releases and speeches. Or, you might select others such as radio and newspaper interviews, personal contacts, newsletters, or group briefings, always making sure the tactics you select have a record of reaching the same audiences as those that make up your target stakeholders.

You’ll want to be ready for queries about progress by again monitoring perceptions among your target audience members. Using questions similar to those used during your earlier monitoring session, you will now watch carefully for indications that audience perceptions are beginning to move in your direction.

We are fortunate in the PR business that we can always put the pedal to the metal by employing additional communications tactics, AND by increasing their frequencies.

So what IS the point? Consider using an aggressive new public relations blueprint, like the one at the top of this article, that targets the kind of key stakeholder behavior change that leads directly to achieving your operating objectives.

Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net. Word count is 1020 including guidelines and resource box.

Robert A. Kelly © 2004.

About The Author

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks to business, non-profit and association managers about using the fundamental premise of public relations to achieve their operating objectives. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communi- cations, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Columbia University, major in public relations. mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net. Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com

There are various reliable training centers on the World Wide Web that allow business owners to actively participate to various professional Business Improvement Programs. Such professional training programs account for a wide range of features including business management, innovative sales and marketing strategies, as well as long-term business planning strategies. Solid Business Improvement Programs are aimed at debating both the basics and the subtleties of proper business management, accounting for all relevant aspects regarding profitability, the customer-employee relation, the development of strategies for achieving short-term and long-term goals and so on.

The extended curriculum provided by professional Business Improvement Programs renders such training courses appropriate for any business owner, regardless of the previous level of training in the branch. While inexperienced business owners can rapidly assimilate valuable information regarding proper business management and marketing solutions, well-trained business owners can further enhance their knowledge and acquire a set of innovative strategies for boosting the profitability and the longevity of their business.

A complete Business Improvement Program can actually guarantee success in virtually any type of business. Considering the fact that all businesses share similar characteristics, following common patterns of development, a reliable Business Improvement Program can enhance the potential of any business, regardless of its nature, size and market position. Structured on multiple levels, Business Improvement Programs rigorously explore and debate a wide range of subjects related to business planning, management, and development, familiarizing attendants with the entire process of running a business.

Professional Business Improvement Programs are taught by the best professionals in the branch, allowing attendants to acquire vital information regarding proper business management. The training programs are well-structured and contain comprehensive materials, stimulating and facilitating the process of learning. Unlike self-study oriented programs, professional Business Improvement Programs involve active participation, allowing attendants to interact with both “business coaches” and the other trainees. In addition, people who participate to Business Improvement Programs are encouraged to freely express their ideas and confront their opinions with other business owners. Business coaches offer prompt and extended feed-back, ensuring that all participants understand the issues discussed during the program.

It is important to note that Business Improvement Programs are not solely focused on theoretical courses. Professional programs often include seminaries and laboratories which are aimed at developing a set of practical, managerial, negotiation and interaction skills and abilities, crucial in the process of achieving and maintaining a successful business.

By attending to a professional Business Improvement Program, business owners can rapidly assimilate a complete set of knowledge and practical abilities, vital in the process of management. With the help of such training programs, business owners can effectively increase sales by implementing new marketing strategies and by attracting new potential customers to their business. Thanks to their proved efficiency and reliability, Business Improvement Programs are recommended by thousands of business owners worldwide!

As the price of oil and electricity continue to climb, many of us are looking to the sky for the answer. Some homeowners however are turning to the installation of the solar power equipment that will allow them to exploit the energy of the sun to provide energy for their dwellings.

When electricity prices were low, it was unnecessary to justify the upfront cost of cash required to install photovoltaic equipment, solar water heaters and similar equipment. The reason was simple to understand - it would simply take too long to recoup the cost of the equipment in the form of lower energy bills.

The recent rise in energy prices changes this dynamic quite a bit, however. As energy prices continue to go up, the amount of time required to recoup the upfront cost goes down. In addition, a number of state and local tax incentives make it even easier for homeowners to go solar and save money right away.

The dynamics of this economy have now changed though. The costs of installing solar panels is still high, with a typical two kilowatt installation of solar panels from OVR Solar costing in the region of £10,000 / ($20, 000) in most cases, but special tax incentives and long term energy savings can help homeowners recoup those upfront costs faster than ever before.

Encouragement for our governments is now forthcoming. This tax savings can help eligible homeowners recoup some of the costs of installing solar panels and solar water heating systems up front, in addition to the energy savings they will enjoy down the road.

Many states also provide special tax incentives for homeowners who install eligible solar panel and solar water heating systems. The specifics of these tax rebates and tax incentives vary from state to state, but many states provide at least some level of tax relief for homeowners who install and use energy efficient systems.

The amount of time required to recoup the entire cost of a solar panel roof installation will vary according to a number of factors, including the cost of the materials and installation, the availability of tax rebates, tax breaks and other incentives, and of course the price of traditional forms of energy.. However, as the prices for heating oil, gas and other forms of traditional energy continue to soar, demand for solar installations will mirror this growth.

Take the first step to energy self sufficiency with OVR Solar.

Posters are one of the earliest forms of advertisement. They derived their name from the posts (dividing roads for general public and the horse carriages) to which paper pamphlets using lithographic stone printing were pasted. Posters have been used as a means of visual communication, advertisement and propaganda. They help in creating awareness, inspiring people and mobilizing support or loyalty for a cause. Apart from their functional aspect, posters have gained popularity as a unique and inexpensive form of creative expression, often with immense aesthetic appeal. It is precisely because of this that posters have become prized possessions and collectibles. Posters are also inexpensive decorative items, especially for the young.

Posters come in numerous types, categories, sizes and editions, and an infinite variety of categories. Banner-sized posters, bus stop posters, window cards, half sheets and six-sheet posters are a few among the various sized posters that abound in the market. Many posters are experimental; some are rare promotional posters like door panel posters, lobby cards, screening tickets, heralds and promotional cards. Some posters are press posters from press kits, slides and still kits, electronic press kits, campaigning book kits and ad sheets.

Posters are used for a variety of promotional and communication purposes, and there are some that qualify as collectibles. Deciding on what is a collectible is purely an individual decision. However, there are a few standard parameters that are taken into consideration while deciding the collectible value of a poster. The demand for a particular poster, its age (issue) and the condition of the particular poster (undamaged and unstained) are a few of the standard parameters applied. Limited editions are also valued by many people.

Posters are usually found with individual companies and distributors. NSS History, NSS Tags and Demise are a few of the companies that operate as poster distributors. Movie posters are also distributed by studios. Nowadays, some posters are auctioned as art pieces. Art posters even make it to museums. There are many online options for those who aspire to be or are collectors.

Posters provides detailed information on Posters, Nature Posters, Movie Posters, Art Posters and more. Posters is affiliated with Old Movie Posters.

When you have trouble sleeping, do you reach for sleep aids to cure your insomnia? You are not alone. But the consequences of chronic sleep aid use can be devastating to your health. Not only can sleep aids cause depression, new research has shown that some sleep aid users can develop an eating disorder from taking sleeping pills!

“One woman gained 100 pounds before finally realizing that Ambien was at fault…Sleep-eating can occur spontaneously or in association with other drugs, so Ambien may not be the only culprit. But the researchers think that there’s something about Ambien that leads to sleep-eating in some people. Presumably only a very small percentage of users are susceptible, but with millions of Americans taking Ambien every year, the sleep-eaters could number in the thousands.”

Source: New York Times Editorial, March 14, 2006

It’s amazing the ripple effects a single behavior can have on the rest of your life. It’s like that with organizing, too. Once you start rearranging your time, space and stuff, the ripple effects can lead to remarkable improvements in your overall energy, happiness, and even your health! I have witnessed powerful positive transformations in my clients’ lives as well as in my own life as a result of becoming truly aware of the stuff that surrounds us and why it’s there. The process of organizing requires that you make some tough decisions and become clear about your values and purpose.

The very act of taking charge of your stuff to make it work to support your true intentions is empowering. This is especially true in bedrooms. Many people view the bedroom as a place to put everything they don’t want other people to see, or as a multifunctional space. They watch TV, exercise, work and more in the bedroom. The ripple effect of this is often insomnia, stress and related health problems. Getting clear about the purpose of your bedroom, and organizing it to support your intention will have dramatic effects on how well you sleep.

I was a chronic insomniac who took melatonin every night to help me sleep. Using a combination of organizing principles and Feng Shui strategies, I kicked the sleep aid habit and now get the best sleep of my life! Here are my top tips to help you get the sleep you need to stay energized, happy and healthy.

1. Take things that don’t support sleep and romance out of your bedroom.
   The purpose of your bedroom is ultimately to support you in distressing and recharging you to be ready to deal with life. It should serve you by helping you relax and sleep well. If you aren’t sleeping well, take a good look around your room. Do you have a computer or work desk in there? Exercise equipment? TV? Telephone? And if you have them all in there, it’s no wonder you have trouble sleeping! They don’t do anything to help you relax or get to sleep. Find new homes for them. Taking telephone out of our bedroom made a big difference for me. If you need to have one in your bedroom, at least turn the ringer off. Sleep is too important to let wrong numbers or telemarketers wake you up!
2. Clear the clutter!
   If your bedroom is full of clutter, your mind will be cluttered too. If your mind is cluttered, it’s impossible to relax and sleep. Without a clutter-free foundation, the tips below won’t be as effective. So start with the floor and the surfaces in your room. Later, go deeper into closets and drawers. Clear out the things you no longer use and donate them to someone who can use them. Put things in their proper home. If they don’t have a home, make one for them. Throw out or repair anything that is broken. Finish things that are undone or get rid of them. Put your laundry in the hamper. Better yet, take the laundry out of the room and clean it! Clutter is stagnant energy. Clearing clutter is the foundation to releasing stuck energy and getting a good night’s sleep.
3. Give everything in your room a home so you can KEEP it free of clutter.
   One of the most common sources of clutter in the bedroom is clothing you’ve worn, but it’s not dirty, so you don’t want to put in the hamper yet. Designate a space for your “gently worn” clothing. This can be hooks placed on a door or inside your closet; a special drawer; a wardrobe shelf; a coat rack, or even a chair — just keep them neat and don’t use the floor or your bed! To maintain a clutter-free room, things need a home where it will be easy for you to find them again, AND where it will be easy to put them away. If you have drawers, but never put things in them, get rid of them. Use shelves or a wardrobe instead. If you don’t have one, get a table or nightstand with a drawer or a private decorative box to keep near your bedside. Keep all your incidentals contained — like earplugs, lotions, tissues, lint brushes, scissors, etc. so they don’t contribute to clutter. If you have a lot of junk on your dresser, sort like with like, and put it away in one of the drawers. Use drawer dividers to give each thing a home. Designate a drawer or shelf for purses. Be creative. You don’t have to do the things the way everyone else does. The only rule is that things need a home so they don’t become clutter.
4. Dust!
   Keep your bedroom as well dusted as you can. Excess dust in your room makes it harder for you to breathe. It can cause allergy symptoms and seriously disturb your sleep. Keep dusting wipes in a utility room near your bedroom so that you can easily dust frequently. Especially if you have pets. Remember, don’t only do the surfaces! Many people let dust collect under beds, furniture, on curtains, etc. for months and sometimes even years. Do in-depth dusting 2-4 times a year and you will sleep much better.
5. Position your bed advantageously.
   In the practice of Feng Shui, placement of objects is essential to encouraging positive energy flow. You should be able to see the door from your bed, but not have your bed directly in front of the door. A power position in the room allows you to feel more secure and sleep better overall.
6. Change the sheets!
   Your sheets can be a source of your insomnia in part because they collect dust. But they also absorb your energy! Sounds a little weird I know, but it’s true. Think about it. You spend 6-8 hours a night in them. And, don’t you usually sleep best when you have nice clean fresh sheets? If you don’t believe me, try it anyway! What could it hurt? Make sure you change your sheets at least once a week, but for some people who are very sensitive to energy and dust, every 3 to 5 days works much better. If you have trouble sleeping, color could be part of the problem. Sheets in soft, restful colors like white, soft green and blue are the most relaxing.
7. Do a comfort and ergonomics check.
   Are your pillows the right ones for you? Is your bed soft enough to not cut off your circulation during the night? Are the colors in your room soothing? Does your alarm clock wake you up gently or do you hate the sound of it? I found it much easier to wake up once I started using a “dawn-simulating” alarm clock.
8. Let the light and air in.
   Refresh the energy in your room daily. Open your blinds and let the natural light in. If you can, air the room for at least 15 minutes as well. Fresh air is a great way to help you sleep better. Don’t you always find you sleep great after a day outdoors?
9. Start a nighttime routine and unwind at least 1-2 hours before sleep.
   Don’t work just before bed! Don’t do bills or watch the news or any other things that can cause you stress just before bed! So many people watch the news in bed, or take work-related reading into bed with them, and then wonder why they can’t sleep. Instead, choose activities that won’t get your adrenaline going or stress you. Start by preparing for the next day. Make tomorrow’s To Do list, pick out clothes, gather things you need to take with you, brush your teeth, hair, etc. Then relax. Create your own list of relaxing bedtime activities such as take a leisurely walk, stretch, do yoga, do easy light household chores like picking up, read easy-on-the-mind books and magazines, watch light TV, listen to relaxing music or whatever relaxes you. Then when you feel sleepy, roll into bed! If you try to sleep before you feel a little sleepy, you’ll just toss & turn.
10. Watch what you eat.
    Are you snacking on chocolate, soda, or other foods that may have hidden caffeine in them after dinner? Are you eating sugary foods or foods with lots of chemicals in them before bed? What you eat, and when you eat it can seriously affect your sleep. If you snack before bed, choose whole, unprocessed foods as much possible! Nuts, fruit, raw veggies, and homemade low salt popcorn are far better choices than candy, chocolate, ice cream or other dessert foods. Plan ahead to avoid snacking on junk foods before bed.
11. Use earplugs.
    If you have a partner that snores, or even if you yourself snore, stop waking yourself up! Using earplugs changed my life and saved my marriage. Not only do I snore, so does my husband! We both used to wake ourselves and each other up constantly. Now, we both sleep much more restfully. It takes a little getting used to, but the rewards are well worth it. I can even sleep in hotels now! I recommend the soft foam type of earplugs. If they are too big, you can trim them to size.
12. Keep a pen and paper by your bedside.
    If you can’t sleep, often it’s because your mind is racing. Perhaps you are getting lots of ideas to solve a problem at work, or you are worried about a meeting tomorrow. Whatever is rolling around in your brain and won’t stop, you need to get your thoughts on paper so you can get them off your mind! This helps clear your mental clutter so you can rest!

These tips will get you well on your way to organizing your life so you can get a good night’s sleep! If you can’t do them all alone or aren’t sure which are right for you, get help. Your sleep is too important. It affects your physical, mental, and even spiritual health. It’s not worth risking your health with the chronic use of sleep aids.

Sweet Dreams!

Ariane Benefit, M.S.Ed., is a professional organizer, coach, author and speaker with over 25 years experience helping people and businesses reach new heights of performance. She has written over 80 articles which can be found on the popular “Neat Living Blog: Neat Ideas for Life” at http://www.NeatLiving.net and at http://www.OrganizingForHealth.com. She also publishes the “Neat Living Newsletter.”

Ariane has coached hundreds of individuals to reach their goals and consulted with many of the Fortune 500. She resides in Bloomfield, NJ with her husband, Alan and three adorable Maine Coone cats. When not helping people organize their lives, she enjoys gardening, entertaining, traveling and riding her motorcycle. She can be reached at 973-429-2100 for private consultations and coaching. Visit her on the web at http://www.NeatLiving.org.

After determining the level of working capital, a firm has to decide how it is to be financed. The need for financing arises mainly because the investment in working capital/current assets - that is, raw materials, work/stock-in-process, finished goods and receivables - typically fluctuates during the year.

Although long-term loans partly finance current assets and provide the margin money for working capital, such assets/working capital is virtually exclusively supported by short-term sources. When talking about small business loans, it is necessary to understand the term “trade credit”.

Trade credit refers to the credit extended by the supplier of goods and services in the normal course of transaction/business of the firm. According to trade practices, cash is not paid immediately for purchases but after an agreed period of time. Thus, trade credit represents a source of finance for credit purchases. There are no legal instruments or acknowledgements of debt, which are granted on an open account basis.

A variant of accounts payable is bills/notes payable. Unlike the open account nature of accounts payable, bills/notes payable represent documentary evidence of credit purchases and a formal acknowledgement of obligation to pay for credit purchases on a maturity date, failing which legal action for recovery will follow. A notable feature of bills/notes payable is that they can be rediscounted and the seller does not necessarily have to hold it until maturity to receive payment.

However, it creates a legally enforceable obligation on the buyer of goods to pay on maturity whereas the accounts payable have more flexible payment obligations. Although most trade credit is on open account as accounts payable, the suppliers of goods do not extend credit indiscriminately. Their decision as well as the quantum is based on a consideration of factors such as earnings record over a period of time, liquidity position of the firm and past record of payment.