Donnette

No new technology develops smoothly, and video conferencing had more than its share of bumps along the way before becoming the widely used communications staple it is today. The history of video conferencing in its earliest form goes back to the 1960s, when AT&T introduced the Picturephone at the Worlds Fair in New York. While viewed as a fascinating curiosity, it never became popular and was too expensive to be practical for most consumers when it was offered for $160 a month in 1970.

Commercial use of real video conferencing was first realized with Ericssons demonstration of the first trans-Atlantic LME video telephone call. Soon other companies began refining video conferencing technologies, including such advancements as network video protocol (NVP) in 1976 and packet video protocol (PVP) in 1981. None of these were put into commercial use, however, and stayed in the laboratory or private company use.

In 1976, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone established video conferencing (VC) between Tokyo and Osaka for company use. IBM Japan followed suit in 1982 by establishing VC running at 48000bps to link up with already established internal IBM video conferencing links in the United States so that they could have weekly meetings.

The 1980s introduce commercial video conferencing

In 1982, Compression Labs introduces their VC system to the world for $250,000 with lines for $1,000 an hour. The system was huge and used enormous resources capable of tripping 15 amp circuit breakers. It was, however, the only working VC system available until PictureTels VC hit the market in 1986 with their substantially cheaper $80,000 system with $100 per hour lines.

In the time in between these two commercially offered systems, there were other video conferencing systems developed that were never offered commercially. The history of video conferencing isnt complete without mentioning these systems that were either prototypes or systems developed specifically for in-house use by a variety of corporations or organizations, including the military. Around 1984, Datapoint was using the Datapoint MINX system on their Texas campus, and had provided the system to the military.

In the late 1980s, Mitsubishi began selling a still-picture phone that was basically a flop in the market place. They dropped the line two years after introducing it. In 1991, the first PC based video conferencing system was introduced by IBM PicTel. It was a black and white system using what was at the time an incredibly inexpensive $30 per hour for the lines, while the system itself was $20,000. In June of the same year, DARTnet had successfully connected a transcontinental IP network of over a dozen research sites in the United States and Great Britain using T1 trunks. Today, DARTnet has evolved into the CAIRN system, which connects dozens of institutions.

CU-SeeMe revolutionizes video conferencing

One of the most famous systems in the history of video conferencing was the CU-SeeMe developed for the MacIntosh system in 1992. Although the first version didnt have audio, it was the best video system developed to that point. By 1993, the MAC program had multipoint capability, and in 1994, CU-SeeMe MAC was true video conferencing with audio. Recognizing the limitations of MAC compatibility in a Windows world, developers worked diligently to roll out the April 1994 CU-SeeME for Windows (no audio), followed closely by the audio version, CU-SeeMe v0.66b1 for Windows in August of 1995.

In 1992, AT&T rolled out their own $1,500 video phone for the home market. It was a borderline success. That same year, the worlds first MBone audio/video broadcast took place and in July INRIAs video conferencing system was introduced. This is the year that saw the first real explosion in video conferencing for businesses around the globe and eventually led to the standards developed by the ITU.

International Telecommunications Union develops coding standards

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) began developing standards for video conferencing coding in 1996, when they established Standard H.263 to reduce bandwidth for transmission for low bit rate communication. Other standards were developed, including H.323 for packet-based multi-media communications. These are a variety of other telecommunications standards were revised and updated in 1998. In 1999, Standard MPEG-4 was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group as an ISO standard for multimedia content.

In 1993, VocalChat Novell IPX networks introduced their video conferencing system, but it was doomed from the start and didnt last. Microsoft finally came on board the video conferencing bandwagon with NetMeeting, a descendent of PictureTels Liveshare Plus, in August of 1996 (although it didnt have video in this release). By December of the same year, Microsoft NetMeeting v2.0b2 with video had been released. That same month, VocalTecs Internet Phone v4.0 for Windows was introduced.

VRVS links global research centers

The Virtual Room Videoconferencing System (VRVS) project at Caltech-CERN kicked off in July of 1997. They developed the VRVS specifically to provide video conferencing to researchers on the Large Hadron Collider Project and scientists in the High Energy and Nuclear Physics Community in the U.S. and Europe. It has been so successful that seed money has been allotted for phase two, CalREN-2, to improve and expand on the already in-place VRVS system in order to expand it to encompass geneticists, doctors, and a host of other scientists in the video conferencing network around the world.

Cornell Universitys development team released CU-SeeMe v1.0 in 1998. This color video version was compatible with both Windows and MacIntosh, and huge step forward in pc video conferencing. By May of that year, the team has moved on to other projects.

In February of 1999, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) was launched by MMUSIC. The platform showed some advantages over H.323 that user appreciated and soon made it almost as popular. 1999 was a very busy year, with NetMeeting v3.0b coming out, followed quickly by version three of the ITU standard H.323. Then came the release of iVisit v2.3b5 for both Windows and Mac, followed by Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), version 1. In December, Microsoft released a service pack for NetMeeting v3.01 (4.4.3388) and an ISO standard MPEG-4 version two was released. Finally, PSInet was the first company to launch H.323 automated multipoint services. Like we said, 1999 was a very busy year.

SIP entered version 1.30 in November of 2000, the same year that standard H.323 hit version 4, and Samsung released their MPEG-4 streaming 3G video cell phone, the first of its kind. It was a hit, particularly in Japan. Rather predictably, Microsoft NetMeeting had to release another service pack for version 3.01.

In 2001, Windows XP messenger announced that it would now support Session Initiation Protocol. This was the same year the worlds first transatlantic tele-surgery took place utilizing video conferencing. In this instance, video conferencing was instrumental in allowing a surgeon in the U.S. to use a robot overseas to perform gall bladder surgery on a patient. It was one of the most compelling non-business uses in the history of video conferencing, and brought the technology to the attention of the medical profession and the general public.

In October of 2001, television reporters began using a portable satellite and a videophone to broadcast live from Afghanistan during the war. It was the first use of video conferencing technology to converse live with video with someone in a war zone, again bringing video conferencing to the forefront of peoples imaginations.

Founded in December of 2001, the Joint Video Team completed basic research leading to ITU-T H.264 by December of 2002. This protocol standardized video compression technology for both MPEG-4 and ITU-T over a broad range of application areas, making it more versatile than its predecessors. In March of 2003, the new technology was ready for launch to the industry.

New uses for video conferencing technologies

2003 also saw the rise in use of video conferencing for off-campus classrooms. Interactive classrooms became more popular as the quality of streaming video increased and the delay decreased. Companies such as VBrick provided various MPEG-4 systems to colleges across the country. Desktop video conferencing is also on the rise and gaining popularity.

Companies newer to the market are now refining the details of performance in addition to the nuts and bolts of transmission. In April of 2004, Applied Global Technologies developed a voice-activated camera for use in video conferencing that tracks the voice of various speakers in order to focus on whoever is speaking during a conference call. In March 2004, Linux announced the release of GnomeMeeting, an H.323 compliant, free video conferencing platform that is NetMeeting compatible.

With the constant advances in video conferencing systems, it seems obvious that the technology will continue to evolve and become an integral part of business and personal life. As new advances are made and systems become more reasonably priced, keep in mind that choices are still determined by network type, system requirements and what your particular conferencing needs are.

This article on the "The History of Video Conferencing" reprinted with permission.
Copyright 2004 Evaluseek Publishing.

About the Author
Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer who loves her job because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world every day. Right now, she knows a little bit about almost everything, and a lot about video conferencing, renting a video conference facility, and which videoconferencing conferencing solution is best for small groups. She has two dogs who are spoiled and one teenager who is not. She does her video conferencing in pink bunny slippers.

Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles of the future will fight along side their human counterparts for a while, until eventually they will be so superior, that a human would not stand a chance. Of course CUAVs cannot beat enemy fighter pilots until they can modify their software and learn thru artificial intelligence.

Indeed, there is also going to need to be some redesigning of these systems and their flight control surfaces. Many UAVs has spoilers to help them steer, but for the CUAVs to be truly agile the CUAV Spoilers need to be re-designed to remain efficient without killing lift or unnecessarily creating drag to maneuver as this is a bad strategy. As things advance efficiency is the most important component to fluidity of motion and performance otherwise the CUAV cannot survive.

If a CUAV is damaged in combat then the US Navy cannot allow it to return and land on the ship, rather it should proceed into the target making itself a smart missile. Thus new flight protocol is needed, as to not endanger the ship or crew. This needs to be the new protocol until future units have better control systems.

Currently, I disagree with companies like Athena and defense contractors so worried about Brand Name that they might advise the US Military to try to recover and land VTOL CUAVS or STOL UAVs back onto ships or carriers. Yet, I realize with continued research and development these issues will indeed be solved and then it makes sense to safely recover such units. Nevertheless all these are issues which must be considered as new CUAVs enter our military ranks.

L. Winslow is an Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entreprenuer http://www.worldthinktank.net Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.

This is an excellent loan for those that are lacking the down payment required for other types of mortgages.

The 80 20 mortgage is simply two loans for 100% of the purchase price. It is a first mortgage at 80% of the purchase price with a 20% second mortgage.

If you are a conforming borrower, doing your loan in this manner will save you from having to pay mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance is almost always required when you have less than 20% down. But with the 80 20 loan you avoid this necessary evil.

If you are a sub-prime borrower, doing you loan in this manner will typically keep your interest rates % to 2.5% lower than doing a 100% one loan. A 100% one loan is simply one loan for the entire purchase price.

Many times you will have two choices when it comes to the second mortgage portion of the 80 20 mortgage. The second mortgage can either be a fixed second mortgage or it can be a line of credit.

If it is a fixed second mortgage. The interest rate is fixed for the entire length of the mortgage. Most fixed second mortgages are a 30 due in 15. Meaning that the second mortgage is amortized over 30 years, but is due in 15 years. Basically it is a balloon payment. Dont let this scare you. Statistically people refinance or sell their home every 7 to 9 years any ways.

If it is a line of credit as the second mortgage. The interest rate will fluctuate as the Federal Reserve adjusts the prime interest rate up or down. The benefit of going with the line of credit as the second mortgage is that the interest rate is normally much lower than the fixed second mortgages rate. It can be 2% to 5% lower.

If you are considering doing the 80 20 loan have your loan officer compare the two different options if you have both available to you.

You may also want to consider an 80 20 interest only loan. The interest only loan could save you hundreds of dollars in mortgage payments every month. This can help you purchase a more expensive home or keep the payments down on the home you want to buy.

About The Author

Matthew Allen is a mortgage consutlant with Action Brokerage Services, Inc. in Medford Oregon. He is also the author of "How To Buy A Home With Zero Down, Even If You Have Damaged Or No Credit" You can visit his website at http://www.realmortgageadvice.com.

For most if not all kids the change from elementary to middle school is a big deal. To begin with, transitioning students go from being top dogs at their elementary schools to the babies of the middle school.

And then comes the homework... I had no idea I was going to get so much homework or how I was going to get it all done. I imagined the endless nights that I would have to spend slaving over a piece of paper with pencil in hand while my parents ate pizza and watched my favorite TV show, Myth Busters, without me.

However, after my first few days in middle school, the homework gods showed me the way to unlock the secret of doing homework on the bus, after lunch and between classes, utilizing free time I never dreamed Id have.

Now, some kids would come home and say theyve done there homework, when they really didnt. But I wasnt one of them, because unlike elementary school teachers, middle school instructors warned students that if they didnt complete their homework they would be held back from field trips. And we all know field trips are what keep kids going, because going to school without being able to go on school outings is like doing chores, but not getting paid an allowance!

Something else incoming sixth-graders need to get used to is having an EXTREMELY HEAVY backpack. Middle-schoolers must have a binder, paper, five notebooks, pencils, six or more folders, colored pencils, a calculator, textbooks, a book to read, a lunch box if they arent buying lunch and anything else necessary.

When Ive griped to my well-meaning, yet naive, parents about the overbearing burden of an overloaded backpack, theyve said, You dont HAVE TO carry all that stuff on your back. Why not use a roller backpack?

To anyone but a middle-schooler, that doesnt sound like such a bad idea. Thats because its in middle school kids learn roller backpacks are in reality shoe magnets.

One time I hurt my back while roller skating and had no choice but to use one of those wretched rolling kick-me, packs. In less than one week, the pack was kicked so brutally, so many times that the metal handle bent to the point where I couldnt retract it. Imagine if there had been something fragile in there like my science project that I needed so I can go on the next fieldtrip. At this point, the transition between elementary and middle school may sound like a punishment. However, it does have its upside too. A few of the advantages of middle school are it makes creating new friends easy, strengthens bonds with old friends and brings kids one step closer to becoming adults although personally, I dont know if being an adult is any better.

Michael Moorehead, author of The Student From Zombie Island, just completed sixth grade at Kyrene Middle School in Kyrene Corridor.

When Michael J. Moorehead isn't writing, he's hiking, baking oatmeal cookies, playing video games and participating in Boy Scouts. His favorite animal is the polar bear, and he hopes to one day become an environmentalist. He's concerned about the plight of the polar bears and says he wants to stop global warming to save the majestic white creatures from extinction - but he will have to graduate from junior high school first. Michael lives in Tempe, Arizona, with his mother, a freelance writer and editor for the SanTan Sun News and Arizona Parenting magazine, and his father, an insurance property adjustor, who moonlights as a movie critic for the Wrangler News.

Mesothelioma is indeed one of the most talked-about diseases of this century. This is because more and more people are being afflicted by the ailment and there are lawsuits being filed linked to the diagnosis.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is developed in the mesothelial tissue, or the sacs that surround the body's internal organs. When unlikely matters accumulate in these tissues, a tumor may arise.

Mesothelioma is often diagnosed in the chest area. It is caused by the inhalation of asbestos, a construction material widely used in the past for insulation purposes. Because asbestos is disintegrative in nature, when exposed to air, it slowly breaks down into very fine fibers that also goes with the air.

When a person inhales the air that contains the micro-fibers of asbestos, the substance will proceed to the lungs and then to the sacs surrounding the lungs.

There are problems arising from the diagnosis of mesothelioma. Often, there are failures in proper and immediate diagnosis of the disease. A person will surely develop mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos for at least about a month or two. The problem is that mesothelioma does not abruptly and easily develop and manifest symptoms.

On the average, it takes about 20 to 30 years after exposure to asbestos before a person is diagnosed with the disease. Worse, symptoms usually show up when mesothelioma is already at the terminal stage. This is the cause of problems for mesothelioma patients who are aiming to seek compensation from asbestos firms.

Why lawsuits can fail

When a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, chances are often that he or she is already in the final phase of the cancer. That means, it will only be a year at the maximum for the patient to live. It is only after diagnosis that any mesothelioma victim can file a lawsuit.

You know how long litigation processes take. It will take at least more than a year before a lawsuit is taken to court or at least be given initial hearing. If the mesothelioma patient is only given a year to live, how would he be able to seek justice for the damage done to his health?

Often, asbestos damage lawsuits are junked or stopped after the complainant dies. Not unless the family of the victim will pursue the case, which would just be harder, more tedious and more costly, asbestos damage claims often fail.

Failure to diagnose mesothelioma on time raises much concern among potential mesothelioma victims. But how can justice be served to the victims? How can compensation be awarded appropriately to the patients?

If there are controversial legal cases getting into the headlines nowadays, they could be among those rare instances wherein the complainants lived up longer than the usual year-long life expectancy after the diagnosis.

Some patients live to pursue lawsuits

Not all diagnosed mesothelioma cases end up in death. Some patients, especially those diagnosed with epithelial malignant mesothelioma, can overcome or survive the disease. When these patients do, their chances of seeking proper compensation and damages against asbestos companies are greater.

The fact that their lives have been altered by mesothelioma also makes the case more inclined to be in favor of the complainant. The few numbers of asbestos firms worldwide have spent most of their corporate lives defending themselves against such lawsuits that most of these companies have already folded up and filed for bankruptcy.

That is another problem. If asbestos firms responsible for mesothelioma incidences in an area collapses, how can the patients be compensated? Luckily, some governments are mindful and responsible enough to handle such cases.

The governments either seize the company or assign administrators so the remaining assets would be spend to compensate existing and potential mesothelioma complainants. Several state governments in the United States and Australia are doing such acts to protect the interest of asbestos exposure victims.

Diagnosis of mesothelioma, or failure of it, often becomes problematic and stalled. But if you think you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, do initiatives to monitor your health and seek legal advice regarding the situation. Asbestos firms for their part, should be responsible in providing assistance and compensation to mesothelioma victims.

For more information on mesothelioma please go to:
http://www.greatmesotheliomalawyer.com/failure-to-diagnose-mesothelioma-lawsuit.html
http://www.greatmesotheliomalawyer.com
http://www.drnathaliefiset.com

Manuel Uribe, born in Monterrey, Mexico is not just any other ordinary man on the street. He holds the distinction of being the heaviest man on earth. He weights 560 kg (over 1200 pounds.) To get a feel of exactly how heavy he is, you need imagine an adult male, and another, and another, and another (this can go on for a little while more) He is almost as heavy as seven adult men.

Manuel Uribe, I take one day at a time. The doctors told me I had a choice. To choose life or to choose death. I chose life.

According to Duncan Kennedy, a BBC reporter, Manuel Uribe is surprisingly not depressed, rather he's happy,

At his peak, he weighed 560kg, or 1234lb, or 88st. That's half a ton. Small Japanese cars come in lighter.

I got a shock when I first met Manuel. He'd agreed to meet us at his home in Monterrey, northern Mexico.

I had expected him to be closeted in an upstairs bedroom, out of sight. But no. These days you could not meet a more engaging, funny and contented man.

And the cause of his new found happiness? His weight loss.

In the past year, Manuel has shed 180kg/400lbs off his body, thats almost equivalent to two full grown man climbing out of his body!

Lack of Discipline or a Genetic Problem The question here boils down to this, is it even possible to eat till a state where you end up weighing 1200 pounds? This man here is not a kid like 400 Pounds Jessica, he's a grown man who is aware of his doings and even has a supportive mother who cooks his meals daily for this bed-ridden soul.

Doctors think that there might be a fault in his genes which triggered the inflammation of his molecular structure, therefore causing him to gain weight uncontrollably.

We Dont Have an Explanation Dr. Jaime Gonzalez makes house calls to Uribe once a week. His goal: to help his patient lose 1,000 pounds. Uribe's legs and lower body are massaged daily to improve blood circulation. Amazingly, Manuel is perfect health despite his massive weight!

He has no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no triglycerides, and no diabetes. Simply put, he's a healthy man who is just, well, overweight.

The Zone Diet Everything Manuel eats now is calculated down to the last detail, literally. His nutritionist says that the diet focuses on controlling his hormones.

"It's about controlling his hormones," says Alejandra Garcia, one of Manuel's nutritionists.

A sample of Manuels meal right now includes a sumptuous bowl of fish soup, complete with large chunks of fish. Followed by this is a grapefruit, half an apple and ending it off with 18 peanuts. Yes, 18 peanuts.

I Choose Life Manuel Uribe, I take one day at a time. The doctors told me I had a choice. To choose life or to choose death. I chose life.

With his life getting back on track, Manuel now has a girlfriend and even wants to have children. He has his own website and has started a Foundation to spread the word that weigh loss for obese people is possible. He has also bought himself a giant massage machine to maintain the circulation in the legs as he can no longer close or move them.

Manuel says his aim is to get down to 120kg/264lbs.

Show your support to Manuel Uribe by dropping words of encouragement for him in our comments panel just below.

His battle to be normal has touched us and in time, we hope he will motivate you too!

You're also able to motivate yourself

Darcy is currently studying and researching into Sports and Exercise Sciences. He Co-Owns http://www.figurelicious.com Contact: Darcy at figurelicious.com
"Our body is like a delicate piece of art, every portion and every detail has to be sculpt carefully and patiently to get what we want" -Darcy

The word stun has a mysterious ring to it. It is synonymous with words like overwhelm, stupefy, and daze. What do these words really mean? In other words, what would happen to your victim if you touch him with your stun gun? What would happen to you if you stunned yourself? Could someone be permanently injured, or worse, die? To sum it up: What are the effects of a stun gun shock? These are all important questions questions with solid answers.

What is a stun gun?

As stun gun is a small hand held weapon that must be touched to the attackers body in order to be effective you dont shoot anyone. Immediately upon making contact, the stun gun delivers a high-voltage (generally 85,000 volts to 625,000 volts), low-amperage electrical charge. The electricity emitted travels through clothing and penetrates the skin. This means that you dont need to be all that coordinated to be able to use a stun gun the effects of a stun gun will be the same whether you touch a heavy sweatshirt, a muscular leg, the back of the hand, or anywhere else on your attacker.

And what about those results? You can expect the attacker to immediately lose control of his nervous system and his muscular system, causing him to hit the ground hard. Your attacker will not be able to sort out the thoughts racing wildly through his mind, reeling in confusion and the inability to control his movement. As excruciating as the attackers situation might be, he is temporarily disabled, not dying. Your attacker will be in this condition from five to fifteen minutes depending on how long you held the stun gun in place.

How long will the shock last?

According to the experts, a shock of less than a second will stop an attacker in his tracks. Three seconds will keep an attacker immobilized for up to twenty minutes or more. This gives you an opportunity to run and seek law enforcement as quickly as possible. To get the best results, you should hold it against the groin or upper shoulder area.

What if you stun yourself?

Because of the deliberate nature of putting your hands on the stun gun and pressing in very specific places to get the shock going, it is highly unlikely that you will ever stun yourself. And you cant get shocked by touching an individual who has been shocked the charge will not transfer to you. But if you do happen to shock yourself, you may be able to focus on only one thought. That thought should be, This is temporary. Since the length of temporary disability is directly related to how long you receive the shock, odds are in your favor that your immobility will last only seconds. This is because you will immediately drop the stun gun at the first recognition of being zapped. The effects of a stun gun can range from a "quick but effective scare" to a full on "drop them to the ground" shock.

Fred Cheney is the owner of Pro-Tech Products at: http://www.citizensfightingback.com

Pro-Tech Products specializes in providing personal security products and other self defense items. They carry a wide range of security products to help you to protect yourself and your family. If you would like to know more about how stun guns can help protect you from harm, check out: http://www.citizensfightingback.com/stunmaster.htm

If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern. William Blake

Via SEOBook, I was introduced to Frank Schillings domain-focused blog. Discovering the world of domaining from Frank and other domain experts like Jay Westerdahl has been an extremely eye-opening experience because until recently, I had viewed domain names solely as a component of the equation for attaining high search engine rankings. I intuitively knew that domain names had their own intrinsic value apart from the SEO process but I had never considered that I could make money from them just through mere possession.

Frank and Jay taught me that a domain name can be very valuable on its own without even taking into consideration any monetization I might do to it. By picking and holding onto domain names wisely, I can generate wealth while mostly ignoring the prevailing search engine algorithms. I could get targeted visitors to my website from people who type the name of my website into their web browser and I could earn money from these visitors either by placing ads on the parked pages or creating my own web pages that sell products relevant to the name. Furthermore, my ability to monetize the sites would only play a small part in determining the worth of my domains to a prospective buyer.

If I could register a generic, descriptive commonly searched word/phrase as a dot com domain, I have potentially acquired an asset that will be worth far more than what I paid for it.

I had made a few recent domain pickups but lacked a cohesive strategy for purchase. I was floundering around looking for some guidance that would allow me to make a bigger splash into this new (for me) internet marketing realm. Then, I had my Kubla Khan Moment

Instead of giving you a set of boilerplate domain name acquisition rules to follow, I think it would be more useful for me to provide you a diary of my initial foray into domaining. I encourage you to follow along with my story with your take-away being:

That you can go apply this process to a subject area of knowledge that interests you and participate in this exciting way of making money online.

That you go through my process in my specialty niche and if you see any good domains that I missed, you can grab them for yourself.

My First Time

Since becoming an internet marketer, I have kept current with the latest news involving lifestyle pharmaceuticals with the aim of selling them as an affiliate. I learned very quickly that I wasnt going to break into the Viagra / Phentermine marketplace as a major playerinstead, I focused on identifying drugs early in their research / testing phase that had potential to be big and formulated strategies to earn income from them well before they became available to consumers. One drug that caught my attention was Intrinsa, a testosterone patch used to treat female sexual dysfunction. Though approved in much of Europe, Intrinsa was not approved in the U.S. and as we speak, pharmaceutical companies are attempting to develop Intrinsa alternatives that will hopefully satisfy the FDA.

I stumbled across the following web page that discussed one such alternative and as I read this page, I had my domainer epiphany. I encourage you to read the content on the linked page so you can better follow my thoughts.

First, I looked at the headline that referred to MDTS (Metered Dose Transdermal Spray), a method of drug delivery that was unknown to me. I thought this product/process might have the potential to be quite important in the realm of drug delivery, which meant that perhaps I could conjure up a worthy new domain name from the presented information. If I could figure out what people would commonly call this device in a way that avoids its trademark, I could purchase a valuable domain name. MDTS was trademarked (and likely taken anyway as a domain) and the non-trademarked Metered Dose Transdermal Spray would be too long for many to type or remember. How about Transdermal Spray? I perceived that most folks searching for information on this device would call it a Transdermal Spray and since transdermalspray.com was available, I grabbed it.

Then, I focused my attention to the pharmaceutical itself. In generic terms, the product was a testosterone spray but testosteronespray.com was taken (and not likely my best choice anyway). Femaletestosteronespray.com was available but I thought that phrase sounded too clinical to be commonly used. Summoning all my perceptive abilities, I concluded that if this product were to hit big in the marketplace, no matter what its trademarked name would be, and considering the prurient nature of most people, it would likely be thought of as the Female Sex Spray. Since femalesexspray.com was available, I purchased it. If this product makes it to market successfully and become an effective treatment for female sexual dysfunction, my domain name could become much more valuable than the seven dollars I spent to register it.

Suddenly, I felt that I figured out a methodology from which I could smartly pick lifestyle pharmaceutical domain names. I then created two lists. The first list consisted of the top lifestyle conditions that would lead people to seek out a pharmaceutical. The second list would consist of pharmaceutical delivery agents: i.e. the form in which the pharmaceutical would be delivered to the patient. I would match terms from list 1 and list 2, and check to see what domains were available for purchase.

List 1: Lifestyle Conditions Chosen: Male & Female Sexuality, Male & Female Hormones, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, Smoking Cessation, and Acne. Not Chosen: Anti-Aging (due to diverse keywording).

List 2: Pharmaceutical Delivery Agents Chosen: Pill, Patch, Ointment, Gel, Cream, Lotion, and even (yuck) Suppository Not Chosen: Balm, Unguent, Salve, Oil, Liniment

Once I started combining phrases from List 1 and List 2, I was amazed at how many domains remained available that were common generic phrases that mapped well either to drugs in development that I knew about, drugs that should/could be in development that I didnt know about, or non-pharmaceutical formulations that could be sold in a high-end affiliate program. I then grabbed a whole bunch of domains and placed relevant advertising on these pages (complete list heredefinitely not family safe). Earlier, I had made up my mind to purchase 100 domainsin my enthusiasm, I probably selected some domain names that I should have left on the table.

It might be years before I know how successful my first domaining venture was. However, just by the fact that many of these domain names map well to potential blockbuster drugs in development, I feel comfortable that I had a profitable day. I know that if just one of these domains succeeds, I will have a huge ROI from my purchase. Most importantly, I have trained myself to view any marketplace through the prism of a domainer and translate real world opportunities into potentially valuable generic keyword domain name purchases.

Todd Mintz is the Director of Internet Marketing & Information Systems for S.R. Clarke Inc., a Real Estate Development and Residential / Commercial Construction Executive Search / Recruiting Firm headquartered in Fairfax, VA with offices nationwide. He is also a Director & Founding Member of SEMpdx: Portland, Oregon's Search Engine Marketing Association.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a fairly well-known disorder these days medications for IBS are advertised on TV and in the media, and thankfully it is now far less of a taboo to talk about your bowels.

However, this new awareness sometimes means that patients decide they have IBS without seeing a doctor. In fact it is impossible to self-diagnose IBS, because there are far two many medical conditions which can produce symptoms of diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain.

Because of this fact it is vital to get your symptoms thoroughly checked out by a doctor, especially if they are continuing for a long period of time or are interfering with your work or social life.

Even when patients do see a doctor, however, a significant number dont receive the correct diagnosis until their second or third visit, or until they see a gut specialist. It is vital to find a doctor who is willing to take the time to investigate any symptoms that dont fit with the IBS diagnosis, and who can ensure that you dont have one of the many medical conditions which can produce bowel and stomach problems.

For example, if you are a woman you could have endometriosis, a condition where tissue which usually lines the ovaries is found in other parts of the body. If the tissue attaches to the bowel then abdominal pain can be the result.

Just this week I received an email from a women who was told she had IBS, and then the doctors changed their minds after a laparoscopy to look for endometriosis.

It could be ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease, two inflammatory bowel disorders which can cause similar symptoms to IBS but need different treatments.

If you have celiac disease you will be suffering because you are eating the gluten in bread, cakes and pasta (among other foods), and all you need to do to feel better will be to cut out gluten from your diet.

You may have picked up an intestinal parasite such as giardia from foreign travel, or you could have fibromyalgia, a condition that can cause bowel symptoms but can also cause problems such as brain fog and muscle pain.

If you find that your symptoms are worse after drinking milk you may have lactose intolerance. And, of course, in a small number of cases it could be bowel cancer.

If your doctor has already diagnosed you with IBS, and you are happy with that diagnosis, then you can concentrate on relieving your IBS symptoms and not worry about these other conditions.

But if you have never been properly diagnosed, now is the time to go to your doctor and explain your symptoms clearly, because you will only receive the help you need if you know exactly what is wrong with your body.

Sophie Lee has had IBS for 15 years. She runs the website IBS Treatment http://www.irritable-bowel-syndrome.ws where you can find reviews of all the different treatments available for IBS.

An important part of any online business is doing keyword research and rounding up a list of important keywords to attract surfers to your site (think SEO). Whether it is for your pay-per-click campaigns or for creating content pages for your site, these keyword research tips will help you find targeted keywords.

Step 1 - Brainstorm You should make a list of all the obvious keywords that come to mind. Don't limit yourself and get all the related terms in on big list. For example, if I was doing a weight loss site, I would start with the obvious ones like;

weight loss diet-losing fat-exercise-healthy eating

Step 2 - Check the competition. With the list I just made, I would try each of them in search engines and notice the top ten sites that come up in the results. I would then check the keyword meta tag in the HTML source code. I would note every keyword and write them on my list. This is an important keyword research tip. Your are taking notice of your competition in order to beat them right?

Step 3 - Keyword list drill down. You now have a list to work with. It is now time to expand your search. Check out http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/ and use this tool to see how many searches every day there are for your keywords and note every related keywords that get at least 10 searches a day. You can also use Google keyword research tool. List every misspelled keywords also. Some people use "web site" while others type "website". Remember that hyphens are treated as space by search engines.

Step 4 - Sizing up the competition. You should have hundreds if not thousands of keywords on your list by now. Make sure you clean up your list for non-related terms. For example, If my weight loss site doesn't have anything to do with Atkins diet, ditch any keywords that include "Atkins". Use Google to see how many competing sites you have for your keywords. Just use quotes around your keywords to see how many phrase match you get. Notice how many competing results you get.

Step 5 - Prioritizing Your should now concentrate on using the keywords with less than 15000 competing results. Use those in your articles, content web pages, etc.

Using software for keyword research will save you a lot of time. some have an added feature that list the number of pay-per-click campaigns for those keywords. This is very useful when you want to see how much it will cost you for competing in this area.

Use every keyword that will bring you the most targeted visitors. You will find it is much easier to get on the first page of search engines with keyword phrases that have at least 3 or 4 terms.

After all this work, your keyword research tips will put you ahead in the search engines ranking.

Alain Tanguay is a home business entrepreneur that gets hundreds of targeted visitors each months. Subscribe to his free newsletter packed with useful tips at http://www.flashnetbiz.com

As many grains of sand at the beaches, as many stars in the sky, as many teaspoons of water you can pull from the ocean. That's how often opportunity really knocks. That's how many opportunities there are to earn legitimate money online.

Unfortunately, most people don't realize this or don't want to. Many times, people are very excited to start a new business. They make a plan, get all their ducks in a row, and go forward with a "gung ho" attitude. They are motivated at this point by their visions of financial independence and the opportunity of making all their dreams come true.

Now comes the work. It doesn't have to be hard, but it may take time and consistent effort. Many people will find that they have no desire to put in the time and were really hoping for a get rich quick opportunity. For them this is the end of their dream.

Others may last a little longer, but may back away at the first sign of rejection. Face it, not everyone is going to fall head over heels in love with your product or business opportunity, no matter how much you feel they should.

The people that stop at the first rejection, or awareness of the amount of work involved, usually will settle back into their normal, safe life. It's easier to say, 'you've got to be in the right place at the right time', or 'only the lucky ones get the breaks', or 'you don't get second chances', than to admit you made a mistake or didn't have the desire to see something through. That sort of attitude is bunk. The most successful people in life are usually the ones who have "failed" the most. The difference between them and the aforementioned, are that they never stopped going after their goals.

Just becuase one business didn't work out for you, doesn't mean the next one won't. Ok, now you've found your perfect business, but you've had thirty straight rejections. Maybe you've posted ads every day, 15 hours a day, for four weeks, and you are not getting the response that you desire. Don't stop now!

It's quite possible that the very next person you talk to will come into your business or that the last ad that you'd rather not post for the day will bring you your next sale.

There are an endless amount of opportunities for those with laser-like focus, belief, determination, and the ability to take consistent inspired action. If you want to win you have to be in the game, because there truly are more than one "second chances" and you really can earn legitimate money online!!

This content is produced by Raphael Grupico. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

To see how Raphael Grupico earns money online every day, please visit:

http://multiple-income-streams-i4d.eoltt.com and receive your FREE E-Book to

learn how to earn legitimate money online!

For many people, taking out a mortgage is quite possibly the single largest financial transaction they will ever be a part of. It is easy to understand how accepting the responsibility to pay back a loan of hundreds of thousands of dollars can be quite intimidating! It is not unusual for many would be first time home buyers to just simply avoid the whole process and continue renting a home or an apartment instead of purchasing their own home. Luckily, in most cases, this fear is the only thing keeping them from owning their own home. If this sounds like you, I have great news! You could be just weeks away from home ownership!

With just a little bit of information, knowledge, and guidance, even the most timid would be home buyer can be well on their way to overcoming any fear and on the road to making a home purchase.

In order to take out a mortgage you will need to prove two things. The first is your credit worthiness; the second is your ability to repay the loan. The better your credit, the easier the process will be. However, even if you think you have bad credit, you could be pleasantly surprised at what you can qualify for.

If you can, avoid making any large purchases until after you take out your new mortgage. You want to keep your monthly debt obligations as low as possible and be able to demonstrate to a potential lender that you have the ability to cover your current obligations (car loans, credit cards, etc.) as well as your new mortgage payment.

Obtain a copy of your credit report and review it for inaccuracies. Look for information that doesnt belong to you, information that is incorrect, or that is older than seven years of age. If you find any of these items, dispute them with the credit reporting bureaus. When you obtain your credit report, the information needed to dispute errors should be included with the report. Also, dont be afraid to speak with a mortgage professional right away. They can help you determine things you can do to improve your credit situation in the eyes of a lender.

Paying down debt is also a good idea if you can afford to do so. However, lenders like to see that you can manage debt, so dont be afraid to keep small balances on your credit cards. Many feel that utilizing up to 30% of your available credit is the optimum amount. For example, if you have a credit card with a $10,000 limit, you should have a balance of $3,000 or less. Also, dont close out old credit cards. Having old credit cards with zero balances demonstrates that you have the ability to have credit and not use it. Also, lenders and credit agencies like to see long established accounts.

Avoid changing jobs as the time nears for taking out a mortgage. If you do change jobs, try to stay in the same field or line of work. Lenders like to see two years of work history in the same field. Also, if youre planning on purchasing a home in a new area or state and then relocating and finding a new job, you will need to line up your new job up first before purchasing your new home. It isnt hard to understand why a lender will not lend to a person who doesnt have a job yet! The exception to this rule is if you have just obtained a new degree or certification. Time spent in college can count as job history once you have lined up employment.

While it is possible to obtain 100% financing and purchase a home with zero down, being able to put money into the purchase will help you obtain the lowest interest rates and best loan terms. The better your credit, the less lenders will require you to put down. With a credit score of 600, you have a good chance of qualifying for 100% financing. Below 600, you will need a minimum of 5% and as much as 20% of the purchase price for a down payment. Separate from the actual purchase price of the home, you will need between 2% and 5% to cover closing costs associated with the purchase.

In general, you will need to provide some or all of the following documents once you apply for a mortgage. Two months of bank statements or investment statements showing the money you plan to use for a down payment and for closing costs. Your most recent pay stub and W2 or tax returns to prove your employment and income. For those who are self employed, you will need to provide a business license or professional license. If applicable, you will need to provide copies of divorce paperwork as well. If you have already made an offer on a property, you will need to provide a copy of the purchase contract and receipts for any down payments or deposits you have already made.

Additionally, your broker or lender will provide you with an authorization form that you will need to sign granting them permission to examine and validate your credit and employment information.

The above should be taken as a general overview of what you can expect when applying for your first mortgage. With that being said, it is important that you understand that every single mortgage transaction is unique. If you are about to enter the process or are just wondering where you stand when it comes to qualifying, your first step should be contacting a mortgage professional. Dont feel ashamed or embarrassed if your financial past has some issues or hiccups that you would rather forget. Were all human and things happen.

Find a mortgage professional that you are comfortable working with. Dont work with anyone who makes you feel pressured or rushed. It should not be necessary for a lender or broker to pull your credit or take a deposit from you before they will agree to even speak with you about your situation. These are frequently just sales tactics to make you feel like you are tied into dealing only with them. Dont be afraid to walk away from anyone you dont feel comfortable with. Be honest with whoever you choose to speak with. If you dont provide them with accurate information, they wont be able to give you accurate advice. Also, if you dont understand something, dont be afraid to ask questions.

Now that you have some information on the mortgage process, your next step is taking action! Contact a mortgage professional today and find out exactly where you stand and put together a plan to get you moving! Regardless of your situation, odds are you are between 30 days and 2 years from owing your own home if you start now!

Contact MyRefi.com for a free no obligation consultation to see if you can qualify to take out a mortgageas a first time home buyer. In less than 15 minutes, we can either prequalify you for a loan or help you understand the steps you can take to put you on the path to home ownership. If you currently own a home, the same 15 minute or less free consultation can help you identify whether your current mortgage is the right loan for your unique situation. Whatever your goal is, home ownership, lower monthly payments, debt consolidation, or cash out, we are here to help.

Looking for a Mortgage In California? Visit California Refinance for all your California Mortgage needs.

Looking for some tips on improving your youth sports fundraising? Every youth sports league must fundraise to cover expenses and keep fees low. So, how do you raise more funds? Focus on these seven factors and you can easily double your results.

Product Selection

In youth sports fundraising, it's so important to select the right products to sell. The right selection is one that has mass appeal, an above average price point, and good profit margins.

Don't sell what's always been sold every year. Consider choosing items that meet the criteria below.

Product Price Point

Your product offering should be at an attractive price point. This means it should be neither high nor low, but rather right in the comfort zone that encourages people to open their wallets.

If you're selling a low-priced product, you are at a disadvantage because you aren't maximizing your revenue from each prospect. In this situation, try bundling a small quantity together and ask for more dollars.

For example, if candy bars are being sold for $1 each, put together variety three-packs or a family ten-pack. Get your prospect thinking bigger numbers. Many of them will step up to the bundle.

Product Profitability

It's important that your fundraising product has a high profit margin. Ideally, you'd like to make 80% or more if you can. This would be products like discount cards for two-for-one deals at fast food places.

Many standard items have a profit margin of 50% and that's OK. It just means that you'll have to pump up the volume to make the same net that you would with higher profit items.

If the product chosen is one with a lower profit range of say 40%, then it needs to either be a higher-priced item or it needs to be likely to inspire quantity orders from each prospect. For example, cookie dough is often in this range, but price points are $10 & up. Many families will buy two or three units.

Sales Script

Don't send your sellers out unprepared. Part of youth sports is teaching and helping kids with their sales skills goes a long way toward building self confidence.

Here's what to tell them:

1 - Make eye contact, smile and introduce yourself.

2 - Say one sentence about why you are raising funds.

3 - Say second sentence that asks for their help.

4 - Make sure that sentence includes the word "because".

5 - Extend sample item, catalog, or order sheet.

6 - Suggest a personal favorite item or bundle.

7 - Always ask for the order.

Prospect, Prospect, Prospect

Now that your kids know what to say, they have to have prospects for their sales pitch. You can't set sales records without having a large supply of prospective customers.

Have everyone make a list of their potential customers. Have them do it as a team exercise and make sure they write them down. It's very important to do this and to have each seller commit publicly to doing their part.

Have each seller stand up in front of their teammates and state how many prospects they have. Then have them make a commitment to raising a certain financial amount. Set minimum amounts and encourage competition by offering prizes for various achievement levels.

Location, Location, Location

Another way to boost your youth sports fundraising is by going where the prospects are. Your group can reach incredible numbers of people just by setting up fundraiser sales tables at entrances to high-traffic retail locations.

Grocery stores, home improvement stores, and mass merchandisers are all places where hundreds of prospects are available. Get permission well in advance from the store manager.

Set up a small table to display your fundraising product items. Staff your spot with two adults and two kids for each 90-minute shift.

Decorate the area with league banners and large-lettered signs explaining your offer. Your signs must inform them well in advance of reaching your display and sales table. That way, those interested in helping your sports team will be primed to stop and will be more receptive to hearing each youth's sales pitch.

Example:

"New Uniform Fundraiser"

"Tasty 3 lb. Cookie Dough - $10"

Imagine how many potential prospects there are at those locations who are completely outside your normal range of contacts. Now, go out there and sell them something!

Have Fun

Always make raising funds fun for the kids. Their emotions are subconsciously communicated to each potential prospect.

If they are smiling while cheerfully communicating your team's need and asking for help, then chances are good they'll get a favorable response.

If they're looking down and mumbling some garbled sales spiel, then chances are more people will pass on the offer. The way to get them involved is to have some competition going, have some fun activities built around the process, and have some rewards waiting for success.

For example, post a list at each team practice of the top sellers. Everybody loves to be recognized!

Do a fun activity just for those who help out by working the retail location sales table. Take the participants bowling or to a batting cage or a golf driving range. It'll bond fathers and sons and encourage increased participation.

Have a rewards party after the fundraiser wraps up. A simple pizza party or group picnic is sufficient. Just make sure that everyone gets recognized for pitching in.

Allow the kids time to run around and enjoy themselves. After all, isn't youth sports all about having fun?

Follow these seven tips and your team's fundraising effort will be a big success.

Kimberly Reynolds writes for national publications about school fundraisers, youth sports fundraising and nonprofit fundraiser events. Find more school fundraising ideas on her website, FundraiserHelp.com