Archive for the ‘end panic now’ Category

Hi there I know the title to this article is much easier said then done and am sure many others including myself found out the hard way.

I wrote this for the people who have just started out in the business, the people thinking about joining a business and the people have had bad experiences from the online business industry and had there fingers burned.

I started looking at internet businesses a few years ago, like alot of other people I was browsing the internet and a work at home business opportunity popped up on my screen saying join us we made 1000’s in weeks (you know the one am on about a couple on the beach or on a yacht with big cheesy grins) online simple, and I thought why not I will give it a try? DISASTER!!

I looked at a couple of opportunities before I finally decided which one I was going to join (funnily enough it was the one that popped up on my screen originally), now I am sure that I am not the only one that has experienced this, but before you join a business your upline or sponsors are calling you every 5 minutes to chat with you and let you know how amazing this opportunity is, once in a lifetime the best thing since sliced bread, then once you sign up and hand your money over thats it they vanish they are impossible to get in touch with, and the few times I did get hold of them they was about as useful as a handbrake on a canoe!

This was a time where I needed them most, myself like alot of people who join the industry I did not have a clue how to run a successful business and market it online, all the help and assistance I had been promised was quickly fading into the distance!

I was growing increasingly frustrated and decided to take action if I was going to make any money I was going to have to do it myself. At the time I thought to make money I was going to have to spend money, but in this game if you dont know what doing your money can disappear fast and to compete with the top players it costs a fortune!

Unfortunately I lost every penny I put into it ended with a lot less cash then I started with (broke as a joke) and ran away from my business with my tail between my legs.

If you dont know what your doing with this business it can come as quite a shock because there are so many things into account and its not as easy as some people make out.

There are so many ways you can run a successful business with out hardly spending anything through various free advertising, blogging, forums, article marketing the list is endless.

In this industry you have to crawl before you can walk take it one step at a time and you will get there in the end otherwise you throw all your money and your dreams down the toilet.

Your probably thinking why I did keep on plugging away at the work from home industry chasing the impossible dream, to be honest I couldnt answer that maybe am crazy am sure my girlfriend thinks so! After a few more failed attempts I was ready to throw in the towel I had been left battered and bruised enough times when I stumbled on my next venture with

My Internet Business

Ashley Turner
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/dont-be-overwhelmed-by-internet-marketing-681337.html

For sufferers of acid reflux, learning how to treat it is vital. Medication for acid reflux is important to be able to deal with it and to continue with a normal life that isn’t controlled by the condition.

There are some medicines that you can get that are only prescribed by your doctor and some that you get for a price over the counter from a pharmacy. There are plenty of options that you can watch out for and finding the best medication for acid reflux for you is easy if you know how.

There are three types of drugs that you can get to treat your condition - H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors (PPI) or promolity agents, all of which have their own ways of remedying the acid reflux in their own ways.

Some of these can be bought from a pharmacy and some will need a prescription and one of the best ways in which you can work out the types that will be perfect for you is to visit your doctor or physician and see which ones they recommend.

H2 inhibitors are generally obtained from a pharmacy and are perfect for those that are looking for medication for acid reflux that is only on a minor or moderate scale. For those that are suffering quite considerably however, PPI’s or proton pump inhibitors may be the right medication for acid reflux.

These will need to be prescribed from your doctor and can have side effects and because of this, there will need to be regular check ups to ensure that the medication is working and also that you are not suffering from other affects that are not necessary.

It can sometimes take a little bit of time and changing of medication to treat the acid reflux but in the end, the patient will get and find a way to deal with the condition and return to normality.

Medication for acid reflux is important to ensure that the sufferer is not in pain when they do not need to be. The symptoms are very often described as a burning sensation and this can cause a great deal of pain when the problem is not resolved.

It has the ability to quite literally stop people in their tracks and prevent them from operating and going about their normal day as if they normally would. For some people, the acid moving up the oesophagus can interfere with their breathing due to the irritation and this by itself is actually rather dangerous and panic provoking for anyone that has to deal with it.

There is a valve at the bottom of the oesophagus which is meant to prevent the acid from travelling to places that it shouldn’t but for those that are suffering from acid reflux, it is not working in all the right ways that it is meant to. This is where the medication for acid reflux comes in and can stop the acid from moving where it is not wanted and therefore reducing the heartburn sensation.

Alvin Hopkinson is a leading health researcher in the area of natural remedies and acid reflux cure. Discover how you can get rid of your acid reflux for good using proven home remedies, all without using harmful medications or drugs. Visit his site now at http://www.refluxremoval.com

Alvin Hopkinson
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/medication-for-acid-reflux-finding-the-best-ways-to-treat-acid-reflux-708440.html

December 2005 was a different time in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic. At that time, the Punta Cana and Dominican Republic real estate markets were experiencing what some would consider atypical growth.

Demand was far greater than the supply, a thriving influx of international buyers, lowest interest rates in the history of the Dominican real estate market, both US dollars and Dominican pesos, national and international economic stability, high rental income, mega tourism developments sprouting like wild flowers, international financing, bonds were issued, free favorable press, and tourism numbers at an all time high. Buyers were looking for anyone developing or selling near the tourism hubs of the island.

Those were the good ol’ times! It was about being in the right place at the right time.

Many considered that there was no reason for the Punta Cana and Dominican Republic not to be known as the “Home of the World”; however, it was also emphasized that it was imperative for the real estate industry to take some necessary measures in order for development to continue in an organized fashion.

Fast forward to the end 2008. Today, the real estate industry is also experiencing a completely atypical situation, which unfortunately can’t be called positive, but can’t be called negative either. It is going back to what is considered a normal, standardized real estate market. Supply and demand more in balance than in years past.

Any real estate developer can tell you that it is not normal to sell an entire development in less than a year. Normal would be for at least two years to sell a small to medium size development and perhaps more time on the larger more ambitious developments within closed gated communities. Of course, it is normal to think that things are cooling off after coming out of the “BOOM” we have been experiencing for the past few years. Instead of cooling off, I would call it business as usual, going back to normal, supply and demand in equilibrium!

At the moment it is important to sit down and analyze the “foundation” of our market as we take the necessary corrective measures based on lessons learned.

First, let’s look at the foundation. Why the Dominican Republic? Why Punta Cana? What makes us so special? Why are Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic relevant investment markets? Why alternatives for second home buyers? Why should it be considered ideal places for retirement?

• Excellent geographical location that allows us to have year round tropical climate. The cold countries remain cool.

• We continue to have some of the best white sand beaches and turquoise colored crystal clear waters

• Legal Framework – No Restricitions for Foreigners, Equal Ownership Rights

• Economic Stability

• Social Stability

• Personal Safety, Dominican Republic crime rates are low in comparison to other Caribbean Neighbors

• Modern and adequate transportation and telecommunications infrastructure (airports, seaports, highways, telephone, internet). There is room for improvement, but we are headed in the right direction.

• Extensive complementary offer (water sports, golf, restaurants, grocery stores, resorts, casinos)

• Ecotourism

• The Dominican People – Always friendly and hospitable!

Beyond these points, we must recognize that there has been encouragement for foreign investment by the local government. Foreign direct investment more than doubled in 2008, according to statistics from the Center for Exports and Investment (CEI-RD). Investment in 2008 totaled US$2.35 billion, for a 55.1% growth from 2007.

Just last week, December 12, 2008, Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez broke ground for US$1.4 billion dollars VistaCana Resort & Country Club in Punta Cana. President Fernandez and the project’s main promoter, Salvador Termín headed the groundbreaking ceremony, with Tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia also present. Mr. Termin spoke about the world crisis we are experiencing, and emphasized that they have prepared themselves for the crisis. “We have decided to continue to invest, since that is what we do. We believe in the Dominican Republic since it continues to be a safe place to invest with lower risks in comparison to other places around the world”.

Venezuelan investors began construction of the tourist complex on six million square meters of land. The complex will have 6,000 residences, a 100 room business hotel, a 27-hole golf course and a 180,000 square meter artificial lake integrated to the beach area, and built at a cost of arond US$1.4 billion dollars. This will bring 20,000 new jobs to Punta Cana when concluded.

President Fernandez said “this development is proof that within the global crisis that we live today, foreign companies like the developers of VistaCana, testify that the Dominican Republic still has economic and financial security for world wide investors, developers and end users alike. 1,500 homes have been purchased by an investment fund for North Americans retirees out of Washington D.C. plus more than 200 units sold to individuals.” President Fernandez added that in addition to VistaCana, just last week he was in La Romana for the groundbreaking event for the mega development Playa Nueva La Romana by Spain’s Grupo Piñero, owners of the Gran Bahia Principe Resorts. This represents US$2.5 billion dollars in foreign investment. In addition, in the coming days, President Fernandez will be alongside the Prince of Monaco, in the groundbreaking ceremony for Punta Perla located in Cabeza de Toro near Punta Cana, with another US$1.6 billion dollars in foreign investment from the U.K.

That is a total of US$5.5 billion dollars of foreign investment in the month of December alone for the real estate industry. These are big numbers from world wide known companies and investors that have very deep pockets to conduct feasibility and market studies. They have decided that the Dominican Republic is the safest place with the best investment opportunities in the Caribbean and perhaps the western hemisphere.

In addition to encouraging foreign investment, local government has achieved:

• Enactment of new laws that attract retirees and baby boomers. Incentive for pensioners and annuitants

• Reduction of taxes related to real estate

• Firm decision to improve communication infrastructure to the tourist areas

• Efficient and better system for the approval of new developments

• Public sector working hand in hand with private sector to help develop joint activities aimed at strengthening the real estate industry.

We can say that without a doubt we have a solid foundation for sustained growth in the real estate industry; however, no longer is location, location, location the most important part of deciding where to buy real estate in the Dominican Republic. Investors and buyers alike are looking for security, security, security.

First and foremost, the security and safety of their investment. Investors and buyers understand that property acquired in the Dominican Republic is not going to suffer the effects of devaluation that other world markets have experienced. This is for several reasons:

• Historically in the Dominican Republic property values have always tended to go up and never down

• The Dominican Republic does not have a secondary market for the marketing of securities where good and bad mortgages come together. We all now about the USA mortgage mess that has property values on a downward spiral.

• Given our past experience with the banking system, the mortgages could be considered “healthy”, meaning that the market value of the property exceeds the value of mortgage.

Second, security of ownership rights, of course. Foreign buyers are guaranteed the same rights as those available to Dominican buyers.

Third, security of return on your investment. Real estate-tourism products have the potential to generate revenue because they can be rented to employees in the tourism sector and also because each day is further developed the so-called “residential tourism.” Refers to those tourists who prefer to rent a villa or apartment to take a more familiar experience and learn more about the area of access.

What do we need to do as industry leaders and real estate professionals?

• Find end users: Avoid clients who seek an immediate capital gain. This refers to buyers/flippers who have neither the intention nor the ability to close on the real estate transaction. The best way is to ask for a significant down payment that the buyer/flipper will lose if decides to walk away from the real estate transaction.

• Pre Qualify Buyers: Provide the buyers with the proper forms and contac information for pre qualification with local banks. This will prevent from future headaches in the future.

• Perform target marketing plans for buyers and investors required for the particular development.

• Carry out strategic alliances with government institutions to promote the Dominican Republic as a tourist destination, not just a real estate destination.

• Join forces with high profile tourism developments for further commercialization of the Dominican Republic.

• Be aggressive in marketing products in more than one way: create alliances with international real estate agencies, non traditional advertising, speaking engagements, eMarketing, and so on.

The most important thing is to understand that we have a good product. We are in a cycle of the market where change is inevitable and considered normal. There is no need to panic. Punta Cana and the Domincan Republic have become world destinations. We still have many great years of selling Punta Cana real estate and Dominican Republic real estate. We just need to roll up our sleeves, continue to work with ethics, be honest, creative and pro-active. We have no doubt, sooner or later Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic are destined to become the HOME OF THE WORLD!

We expect many good things to come in 2009 and are very positive that we will make a difference and separate ourselves from the rest of the crowd.  With the alliances that we are forming with real estate agencies from around the world, we will definitely position ourselves as the #1 real estate company for developers, buyers, sellers and investors that are looking for the right company to assist with buying or selling real estate in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic. Hope we can be of assitance in 2009!  We will help you find the right home in Paradise!

La Costa Destinations International Realty provides detailed information about Punta Cana real estate, resorts, hotels, beaches, golf courses, weather, and the Punta Cana international airport. Dominican Hospitality & Market Knowledge with American Business Standards. Your #1 source for Punta Cana realty. Visit http://www.GoPuntaCanaRealEstate.com, home to the best realtors in the Dominican Republic.

Scott Medina
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/punta-cana-and-dominican-republic-real-estate-what-to-expect-in-2009-686762.html

Breast cancer is a scary and frightening condition to have to face. There is no real way to avoid it and there is only a slight chance of reducing the risk of getting breast cancer later in life. Women are advised to go for regular checkups with the doctor for proper screenings and check their breast themselves. This means that if you do have the unfortunate chance of getting breast cancer you will have caught it early and your chances of survival are so much higher.

So, after you went to the screening you were called back for a follow up with the doctor, so what now? You went for your follow-up visit. The mass is malignant. Right now you may still be in shock, but soon this will turn to fear. If you found the lump yourself and have waited a week or longer to get any answers you are probably in a full-blown panic. There are so many questions. Where do you turn? Where do you run? Well, take a minute, take a breath, and do a little bit of research. It could save your life and maybe your breasts.

In the terror of this moment you probably want to run to the nearest oncologist for your prognosis. That’s fine and good, time is of course of the essence when it comes to cancer treatment. But please, do not feel chained to the first doctor to whom you are referred. Your primary care physician will probably make an appointment for you and you should keep this appointment, but in the mean time sit down with your biopsy report and call someone who really cares.

There is nothing to say that your oncologist will not care about you. But, he may care more about the dollars he will make off of you than he does about whether your husband is a widower next year. Oncologists are the highest paid physicians in America, they get paid whether you live or die, and many (not all) only see billing cycles, not patients.

Support is one of the best things to help with breast cancer; a good and strong support network will keep you going when you feel there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Speak to your friends, form relationships with women who may be in the same place as you are now and find some hope. There is hope for lots of women who have breast cancer. Chances are that you will be one of the lucky women who get to keep their breasts or keep their life.

Marlon Dirk
http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/breast-cancer-worries-718692.html

We are all programmed from an early age, both conciously and sub-conciously, to expect certain things to occur in life. High on the priority list is that we will have to work to earn a living, and that the salary will be used to pay taxes and a range of regular expenses that will simply never go away. So we MUST keep working continously until retirement - and maybe into retirement.

When that awful day comes when you are to lose your job it usually feels like the end of the world. Real fear of the future is a common reaction.  The loss of that regular paycheck brings panic.

Then there are all the other feelings of failure and concern. Here are a few emotions, which I too have shared on occasion:

“I will never earn such a good salary with matching benefits again.”

“I’m too old now. No one will hire me.”

“I’ve been doing the same job for nine years - I don’t know anything else.”

“There are simply too many unemployed people now who do what I do, and therefore it’s going to be almost impossible to get another job.”

OK. So there are some really negative thoughts.

Now let me highlight some of the immediate benefits that many people might experience.

Lets use  Jane as an example.  She has just lost her job as a computer programmer.  She has been earning good money and has enjoyed reasonable benefits including health care for 11 years. She feels completely lost at the moment because the chances of her gaining similar employment and salary seem somewhat bleak.

But here are some other aspects of Jane’s life. She’s been bored with her job for a number of years, and in recent years didn’t feel that her  skills were truly valued or tested.

She got on well with everybody at work, but didn’t care much for a couple of her bosses who seemed to regularly make poor decisions which impacted on her workload.

For the last two years she had been warned that cuts were coming due to outsourcing. The rumors of  possible termination dates came and went, but each time they were raised it caused her yet more sleepless nights and fears.

The periodic misery of life at the office was also not something that could be switched off easily once she returned home. At times she would feel compelled to moan to her partner about what was going on, to the point of tears on occasion.

In summary the workplace strains resulted in her losing her natural day to day sparkle and real zest for life. It was kind of like being on a ship and knowing that it is slowly sinking but you wan’t to remain dry for as long as possible.

So the immediate effect of the job loss is that many of those background worries and daily moans have now gone.

Now all the emphasis is on securing work for the future, and I have enjoyed reminding her of why she should be excited and feel positive.

Firstly there are literally thousands of potential career choices. Obvious ones to consider would be   retraining in computers (learning software skills that are generally in short supply), or perhaps consider pursuing her passions (.e.g. cooking  and languages).

Now here are some of those “hidden” skills that get overlooked in a resume, but a smart potential employer would spot in an instant.

She had worked for a major corporation doing a complex job for a long period of time - which demonstrates reliability, real skills, trust, and that she’s proved a team player.

She is also a great people person with a big personality  - and would be ideally suited to a job involving greeting or entertaining clients, or promotional work. That opens up a wide range of potential career choices.

Now that her old job is gone there is a golden opportunity to potentially move to another location where there is more work available, and/or to somewhere else that is simply more appealing - such as offering a cheaper cost of living, more space,  a warmer year round climate, and a better sporting or social life.

So it’s really important to re-evaluate your current real priorities and goals in life, as they may well be different now than when you first got that lost job all those years ago. Back when you started out buying a TV, furniture, a home, or saving for a new car may have been the obvious priorities. Now that you’ve probably achieved some ( if not all) of those goals what is it that you really want from life now?

Would you accept,  for instance, to earn a lot less money but be really happy in your new job? Such as turning a hobby into a business, or simply taking a job that’s a lot of fun? Imagine waking up in the morning and really looking forward to going to work. That really is the reality for many people.

Or let’s consider that your new aim is to make the same, if not more money, than you earned previously?

There’s no magic bullet here. In all these scenarios the chances are that you are going to have a period which could be weeks, months or even years (depending on the complexity of change being introduced) when you are going to have to “take a step backwards to move two steps forward”.

So in the “make the same amount of money” situation you need to look at what careers achieve that aim, the level and length of training required, and the eventual potential rewards. In other words short term financial sacrifices (and even some hardship) for long term gain.

Then there is the “I just want a safe job with reasonable pay and benefits” scenario, which many people are happy with. These days no job is entirely safe, but there are definitely sectors that traditionally have proved a lot more secure  than others… e.g. Government jobs, public transport, teaching.

Jane was not born to be a computer programmer. It was simply a job that appealed to her all those years ago. She can now decide to stay in that field, get a somewhat related job, or branch out in a completely new direction.

Moving your mindset away from the fear factor of facing the unknown is a real challenge, and Jane has found it, frankly, difficult. Her security blanket has been ripped away from her. But with encouragement and some positive and creative thinking she is starting to see some of the exciting prospects that could lie ahead.

In the short term Jane may have to financially struggle and take a temporary job to meet her financial obligations. But there is no real reason why she can’t replace what she once had with something similar or even much better in the years that lie ahead. Something far more satisfying that improves her quality of life on many levels.

nigel bellis
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/a-pink-slip-can-improve-your-life-705942.html

A general dictionary defines recession in many ways like, “A period of an economic contraction, an extended decline in business activity, a general global slump that will last several months or years,” and so on. Recession is a time when economic disasters start, stock markets go haywire, mighty organizations drop to their knees, jobs get cut worldwide, best practices become worst practices, and so on. And, not to be left behind, the media and management gurus also go high pitched with their own theories of why things failed, whose heads should roll, who should be lynched, statistical gymnastics, witch hunts, etc. During such times you may ask, why on earth do the so called business best practices that gave abundance and happiness till now suddenly became worst practices? For this people may say it is because the universe is a random, chaotic dance of meaningless happenings. This may seem true, because we see several personal and singular disasters that just don’t make sense. But, on an overall scale, underneath all the chaotic occurrences there are hidden reasons and purpose to all things that happen around. Coming back to the main topic, though economists, business leaders and rationalists often believe the creation (and elimination) of recession, meltdowns and global business downturns are completely under man’s control, it is not entirely true. There is actually a higher supernatural power in charge, and it is necessary to understand the hidden spiritual reason why mankind goes through phases of abundance and famine. Though rationalists and scientists may chew your head off for attempting such a non scientific explanation, it is also not possible to dismiss it entirely. Modern men fear turning towards religion and spirituality for answers because it attracts ridicule. Refusing to believe in the supernatural does not make it a lie. But if one is willing to set rational logic aside for the moment and look at any option that will give some answers, then you will get some explanations.

Science and rationalism may somehow explain how disasters happen in the universe, but it cannot explain why they happen. And that “why” reason is well documented in most religious books, but not easily available inside most management or economic books. Almost all religious books from centuries have explained why mankind goes through troubling times and disasters, but perhaps the best explanation of how and why recession occurs is given in the Jain mythology. According to Jainism the world goes through a relentless cycle of positive and negative phases called Sushama and Dushama, (and their combinations), which can be used to understand a recession.

A perfectly good phase is called Sushama Sushama (extreme happiness). This is the phase of a feel good factor when businessmen believe they are invincible, organizations make enormous profits, customers are in plenty demanding better and better services, willing to pay premium for goods and services, etc. People easily talk about fashionable things like the sky being the limit, firing on all cylinders, nerves of steel, etc., and keep doing things at a reckless pace. Businesses start believing they are capable of everything and start mergers, hostile takeovers, diversification, etc. Frequent success in one field also gives them a false confidence to try their hand in areas they are not experienced with. Businessmen and the public start believing that if one pours enough money, then anyone can become successful in any business. So individuals and organizations start developing many tentacles in the hope to give end to end service, or have a stake in every stage of the value chain, etc. For example, successful steel companies may start software industries, while software industries may try their hand in television sets, oil manufacturers start peddling agricultural products, etc., in the name of diversification. The mantra is growth, growth and growth.

Slowly a small tilt occurs and it enters into a phase called Sushama Dushama (happiness with some unhappiness). This starts because when things go higher and higher, common sense and moderation takes a backseat, and greed takes over causing the bubble to expand beyond what it should. This is a phase when businesses slowly start feeling the pinch with revenues going down, and entering into a phase of slowness.

Soon it enters into a phase of Dushama Dushama (extreme unhappiness) when the bubble finally bursts and everything starts going bad, a period which we call recession or depression. This is a phase where everything that was good earlier will seem now bad. The very factors that were bringing successes earlier will now bring failures. Best practices will now seem like worst practices. Suddenly every safe investment and practices become risky. The very foundations of every business thought and practice that worked so well earlier now gets ridiculed, questioned and insulted. All the business heroism will suddenly vaporize and people enter into a state of panic leading to abrupt cost cutting by putting sudden brakes on everything. The mantra now is freeze, freeze and freeze. This, in turn, will lead to a situation like a car pileup on a on a highway due to an accident. Mighty businesses fall down like nine pins and billionaires get wiped out for inexplicable reasons. The trigger for this phase often starts in rather mysterious and unpredictable ways like, for example, creating a 9/11, a dot-com burst, a bird flu, or a sub prime crisis that no one could have imagined or prevented.

Slowly, after some agonizing months or years, it enters a phase called Dushama Sushama (unhappiness with some happiness) where rays of hope start appearing again and things get better. Eventually things improve to good old days of Sushama Sushama, but only for a short period of time. And the cycle starts again as it is an eternal never-ending process, a law of nature that every human should accept. In short, these phases keep humans from becoming too confident and arrogant of their capabilities. There is no escaping from this mighty circle. It is nature’s way of moderating things, letting the steam out or throwing a spanner in the works when it is necessary to do so. In fact, if you observe closely such feast and famine cycles are already visible all around us. For example, flowering trees goes into full bloom and then slowly loses all its leaves and flowers, only to start all over again. And no amount of watering or fertilizers will ensure the flowers remain intact all the year round. Similarly, humans have to learn to endure periodic positive and negative phases, no matter how hard they try to avoid the negative phase.

Finally we can conclude this article with a couple of quotes that can teach us how to handle a recessions and meltdowns.

“If you are going through hell, keep going.” - Winston Churchill

“When humans are too happy, even the gods are jealous.” - Old jungle saying

Thejendra Sreenivas
http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/recession-a-divine-creation-698448.html

The heinous serpents of terrorism bit into the fabric of peace as the world witnessed the Mumbai terror attacks claim numerous souls. Every bullet that pierced through the fragile veil of life brought an end of a part inside all of us. One thing that hit me after the initial haze of distress made way to anger and then debate was the fact that the entire sub-continent has born the brunt of a few dehumanised people and one of the aspects that have been fractured time and again is the realm of cricket.

I take cricket because it is more than just a game in this part of a world, it is an extension of our life and any dastardly act of terrorism in our region is bound to affect the sport. We have grown up living under the shadow of cricket and a lot of things that we think and orate emanates from our love for the game which is a part of our day to day routine. What the perpetrators of the attacks managed to do was to cast a bleak shadow of terror on our life and the repercussions were for all to see with major tournaments being either postponed or cancelled.

The English team flew back to their homeland only to realise that it is not just a regional problem and almost every nation is infested with the disease of terrorism in some way or the other and the best way to tackle it would be by refusing to give into fear. Shakespeare rightly said that the show must go on and in these times of widespread hatred, it is the spirit of sports that can be a good deterrent to those who wish to cast lives with trepidation.

The moment the Champions League was postponed, ICL World Series called off and the England squad flew back to their homeland, we could see that the attackers had managed to strike us where it hurts the most.

The sub-continent prides itself when it comes to achieving feats in cricket and the very fact that the sport is suffering a backlash comes as a victory for the criminals.

India has constantly progressed as a powerhouse in cricket over the years and not just the T20 World Cup, overseas victories and the home series clean sweep affirm this fact, even the money generated from the game is huge. A lot of employment comes out from staging events here and it would all fade away if we fail to provide a secure ground for the players.

It is believed by many that the money is a major magnet for foreign teams to come and play here but there comes a time when no amount of money can lure someone to risk their life.

I heard a few people talking the other day and they were of the opinion that Indian cricket team should not tour Pakistan (as if our country is very safe?!!?) and even went to the lengths to assert that since some of the terrorists night be from that region, it would be right not to play against them.

The one thing missing from their mode of thinking was the fact that it is not just us and them, the entire sub-continent is plagued by this phenomenon and other countries would not tour any one of us if the situation persists. We must never forget that violence begets violence and we shall reap hatred if we sow it.

Cricket would definitely be affected by the recent unfolding of events and we will take sometime to return to normalcy but the swift decision by the ECB shows that we can keep faith in our security men and also sends a positive feedback to the world.

I can visualise matches that are set in the backdrop of guards and guns to protect us and the situation will gradually crawl back to where it was, at least for the cricketing world. The point when we seem to be headed back to normalcy is the point when we must be on our best guard.

There have been an array of terrorist acts in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh that have left the countries scarred and battered but just like the previous occasions, we have learnt to carry forward our progress and start afresh. If we give into the desires of a handful of mercenaries garbed in the mask of fundamentalism or other hollow claims, what good is freedom to us as we are displaying an inefficiency to maintain it?

We need to show the world that the sub-continent is void of any fear when it comes to facing a few cowards calling themselves avengers of injustice and trying to envelope their hollow sadism with the claim.

Cancelling a tour in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh will not serve any purpose, what needs to be done is to host the events just as we would normally do and ensure that they are carried out successfully with jam packed stadiums and let it be a symbol of our solidarity to the ones filled with hatred.

It is true that the safety of our sportspersons and the ones visiting us is paramount and any untoward incident is just not worth a game, however we can turn the situation on its head by taking it as a challenge to come out with solutions from our understanding of the situation amalgamated with the love of the sport that we possess. Shifting venues seems to be a possible solution right now and I have heard people debating endlessly that a neutral venue is a good option.

What we forget is that right now the terrorists are targeting security in venues as varied as the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to the Galle Stadium in Sri Lanka. For how long will we run away from these demons?

We must join together beyond boundaries and keep vigil, forget petty acrimonies and help the governments to tackle the problem. We can shift the venues till a point in time when they aren’t safe anywhere, we can cancel tournaments till the game fades away or we can simply take concrete steps to make sure that all are safe and set an example to all that if the world is falling in an abyss of terrorism, the cricket field is the utopia. Double up as not only a mere spectator but as a guard of humanity too. Keep watch active at a sub-conscious level yet enjoy the match as well.

It is not all that un-practical especially when multi-tasking is a thing that all understand and follow!!

Working in tandem with the authorities and devising new ways to combat the handful of enemies would be the right method to emerge victors in this war of humanity. We would be able to come out with the right anecdote to the poison of terrorism only when we stop blaming the ‘other’ for everything and take the onus upon us.

We have always used cricket as our therapy to life’s brunt and who says that we can’t use it as a method to counter terror.

It is simply selfish on our part to blame the government or the intelligence agencies (they have to get their act together at least now anyways!!) as it becomes the duty of you and me to do whatever we can to root out this evil that has emerged as a painful blob in our society. We have to ask ourselves this question…Are we willing to hide in our homes and let the homeland be burnt to ashes or do we have the courage to go out and drive the terrorists out of our soil by our unity and practical thinking. When the ways of a terrorist can be unexpected and unthought-of, why can’t the solutions be unique and effective from our end as well?

There will be apprehensions in the beginning and we might see tours being called off in panic but all that needs to be done is to beef up the security on a mass as well as a personal level. It’s just a matter of realising that the problem is as much as ours as it is for the ones in power and all of us need to do our bit in the endeavour to terminate any form of terrorism on our soils, be it Karachi or Hyderabad.

For more latest cricket news and updates browse through http://cricket.zeenews.com

ZeeBuddy
http://www.articlesbase.com/cricket-articles/cricket-and-terrorism-locked-in-an-eternal-war-676557.html

American has weathered more than a dozen recessions after the end of the Great Depression, but many financial analysts consider the tough economic times of 2008 and 2009 to be both “historic and extraordinary.” Although some will blame the lower lending standards pushed on financial institutions during Bill Clinton’s two terms, the fact is that the makings of the present crisis go back at least to FDR, if not all the way to the creation of the Federal Reserve Bank in 1913.

Despite government interventions in the economy, or ever perhaps because of them, the commonly heard phrase even now is that things are “likely to get worse before they get better.” It really is not dependent on who the President is or what he does. Experts are predicting “a serious contraction” of the economy that could ease possibly by the beginning of 2010. However, these predictions are being made by many of the same people who were behind some of the “bonehead” moves of the last decades. What can you really do to protect your investments?

Diversity plus understanding
First of all, the age-old advice not to put all your eggs in one basket is still good today. Your portfolio should be diversified, and with deliberation and thought going into it, not just diversification for the heck of it. If you think you will make some “easy money” by “flipping” real estate or buying the popular, high-flying stocks, you have come up with that idea about a year or two too late. The familiar mix is still a good one – some real estate, some savings, some bonds and some mutual funds (which are themselves invested in stocks, bonds and money market accounts). Now that’s diversified.

It is critical that you understand what you expect from your savings and investments. What is the goal, and what do want the money for? The purpose of investing should never be “to get rich quick,” but to provide income now or later, for current needs or retirement. Reconsidering your aims will help you to focus your efforts in the right places. In fact, one little known way to protect your investments is to change some of them, especially if your goals have dramatically changed. How sad it is that ongoing reviews of your investments and goals have become “little known ways” of protecting your investments!

Communication and calmness
Obviously, you need a good relationship with your financial advisor. Or perhaps this is not so obvious, since studies indicate that only half of even serious investors know their account executive by name. You need to know yours, and have a serious discussion about your goals, whether stable or changing, and get the information and advice you need to make the important decisions. Younger investors may accept a higher level of risk, but at any age you must balance potential return with the potential downside.

The closer you get to retirement, the less sense it makes to take on additional risk. No matter what your situation, of course, never take on more than you can handle, and make sure your financial advisor understands your overall investment philosophy.

If you have that good relationship with your advisor, and your have these conversations regularly, then you have tremendous incentive to keep calm, though others around you “may lose their heads,” as the saying goes. Among the biggest problems in tough economic times is the propensity of people to panic. However, panic has a hard time taking hold in an environment of rational discussion and common sense.

Cashing in your investments out of fear, with the plan to selectively buy your way back into “solid gold” investments, is a strategy doomed from the outset. Be very cautious about TV financial commentators telling you that “now is the time to buy” and that there are “bargains galore.” Skepticism is a little known way to protect yourself in this arena, as it is in so many others.

Patience and preparation
It is almost scary how little known it is that the main thing that makes a difference in all of these considerations is time. A down market may or may not be a great time to buy stocks, but the most important thing to realize is that gains take time to manifest. If you are not an experience online trader getting good, professional advice, don’t try to time the markets. Never think that you can pull off one “big deal” to make a “killing.” This is a formula for disaster.

Preparation, of course, is key. Whether you are trading stocks or taking the buy-and-hold approach, you need to be aware of what your money is doing. Even if you use a professional portfolio manager, you need to stay abreast of what your money is doing, and who is doing what with it, and when. Do not let total control slip from your fingers, but don’t micromanage unless you are handling your own trades and other financial transactions. Find a balance, look for underutilized approaches, stay on top of things as much as you can, and you will likely come out the better for it.

Going traveling? At PrimaPanama.Blog.com Sam Taliaferro offers valuable information on <a href=”http://www.primapanama.blogs.com/”>real estate in panama</a>, Panama tourism and where to purchase Panama property.

Samuel Taliaferro
http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/little-known-ways-to-protect-your-investments-in-a-recession-727918.html

Clemson Tigers are on a high! And why shouldn’t they be. The Tigers haven’t lost a match in the 14 games they have played at home, this season and are at 12th spot according to a ranking by Associated Press. The Clemenson Tigers is one of the four teams in the first division, yet to lose a match.

Clemson coach, Oliver Prunell is riding with the success of his team, which can be the best basketball team since 89-90 era, if they defeat Alabama. If the Tigers defeat Alabama then they will have 15 straight wins at their home court, a feat which was previously achieved in ?89-?90.

Tigers came from the back in two of the three games it played. But instead of panicking the team responded well to the strategies and the adjustments made by Prunell after the time outs. Against Miami, the Tigers had a poor start and were lagging 21-9, in the initial periods of the game, but after the time out, it was no stopping back for them and they went on a 15-0 run and took the lead which they never lost till the very end and won the match 91-72 victory. South Carolina’s early jubilation also lasted when the Tigers overcame the 14 point lead and winning the match 98-87. Clemson also conceded an early lead against Temple, Charlotte, Illinois, Liberty and East Carolina but ended up winning the game.

Prunell changed the strategy for the Tigers against Miami forcing them to the rim, which lead post players Trevor Booker, Raymond Sykes and Jerai Grant to control the game and attacked Miami with the press more. This lead the Tigers to have a season high of 22 turnovers out of which 16 came in the first half itself.

After conceding an early lead in the game against South Carolina, the Tigers made a comeback. Strategies made were perfectly executed and the team adjusted and passed more to Booker, plus they went from a full-court pressure defense to a quarter-trapping defense.

But now the Tigers have a tough challenge in the form of Alabama, which is playing as well as anyone in the country. The Crimson Tide are leading 10-3, and have won five straight games and defeated Georgia Tech in the last game with a score of 88-77. The Clemson Tigers will have to raise the level of their game and play really hard to continue their winning streak.

Alabama Crimson Tide is relying heavily on its guard Ronald Steele with 13.7 points per game, guard Sergio Hillman with 13.7 points per game and forward Alonzo Gee with 14.7 points per game. Alonzo leads the team in rebounds and steals.

Alonzo is big, has long arms and is very athletic. Prunell will have to make a game plan to check this Tide forward. The Tigers need to be well aware of his position on the court; he is great in running off and stealing the ball.

But the Tigers need not panic at such a crucial game; they are well equipped to ride over the Tide. If Prunell comes up with a strategy to defend Gee, then it is very likely that the Tigers will stick to it and pull off the game.

And that is exactly what the Tigers need to do to get themselves registered in the annals of the Clemson as the best team since 1989.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/aerobics-articles/clemson-tigers-tickets-men-this-is-not-the-time-to-panic-732882.html

Panic attacks and anxiety attacks can come on at a moments notice and can be one of the most terrifying experiences for even the strongest person. Thankfully though, where there is a problem in today’s world, whether it be mental or physical, we adapt ways to help cope and find a solution to it. So in the case of panic attacks tips, there is a wealth of information available to help cope with and live with your anxiety and panic.

So what can you do?

the severity of panic attacks can differ from person to person. Some people can have minor symptoms while others can have major symptoms causing the anxiety to literally take over. Fortunately though, there are things you can do to help cope with attacks which ever end of the scale you currently fall into. The biggest thing to remember though is to seek help and treatment as soon as possible so that the anxiety doesn’t run out of control which can happen quickly.

Now the biggest way you can actually do to prevent an attack is to find out what causes them to come on in the first place. This will be an easier exercise for some but harder for others, but is vital. By finding out the route problem and the reason panic attacks come on you can act to help prevent them. So if a phobia of some sort kicks off the symptoms or a situation such as a large crowd, by knowing, you can then act and avoid the certain situation that brings an attack on allowing you to prevent the attack happening.

But, this isn’t always the case and some things cannot be avoided. If you find you cannot avoid the source you can take steps to try and control the attack. To help control this you can try and take your mind elsewhere quickly. This can be a hard skill to master but helps anxiety and panic attack sufferers across the globe do it everyday. Some like to take a cold drink of water or have hot cup of tea allowing the mind to focus on something different. Others go to extremes like running 100 yards or whistling their favourite song. These small panic attacks tips can seriously take your mind elsewhere allowing you to squash the feeling and attack when it comes on.

As with everything though, the best way is always to try and treat the problem and thankfully anxiety and panic attacks can be treated and cured. There are many ways to do this and however severe your problem may be, there is a way out!

Ethan Grays
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/panic-attacks-tips-top-tips-to-help-cope-with-your-panic-attacks-705554.html