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In a child, back pain is different from back pain in adults. Particularly in children under age 4, it indicates a serious underlying problem, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says.

You should see your doctor if your child has back pain, the academy says, especially if accompanied by any of these other symptoms:

Fever.

Weight loss.

Feelings of weakness or numbness.

Difficulty walking.

Pain that extends through one or both legs, or if it prevents your child from sleeping.

Issues with the bowels or bladder.

Here are several steps to take in order to properly determine whether the fixer-upper house that has caught your attention deserves a seal of approval or a thumbs-down sign:

“Location, Location, Location” is Still the Mantra

It doesn’t matter if you’re investing in an apartment, a condominium unit or in this case, a fixer-upper home. When it comes to real estate property, the mantra you still have to recite to yourself is “location, location, location”. Continue to base your decision on location factors: Is it a corner lot? Is it near important establishments? Is it in a well-ordered or peaceful neighborhood?

Make a Thorough Search

Not all fixer-uppers are advertised as such. It’s important for you to make the most extensive search possible. Besides encircling properties listed in the classifieds that fit your budget, drive around the city as well and be alert for “For Sale” signs stuck on posts. Let your friends and acquaintances know about your interest in buying a house as they may be able to point you to the right direction. Be sure to consider foreclosed properties as well.

Hire an Inspector for a Day

If you’ve found a fixer-upper that makes your wallet feel it has found its soul mate, hire an inspector to accompany you for a tour of the house. Make sure that you give him sufficient time to explore every inch of the house; this will enable him to give you a full evaluation and a thorough appraisal of the property later on.

How Much Do You Plan Buying It For?

The great thing about fixer-uppers is that their presently distressed conditions enable investors to buy them for a lower price than what’s usual. Experts advise investors however to purchase fixer-uppers only up to 20% below its future market value (once everything has been renovated) and no more than that.

How Much Do You Plan on Spending?

Now that you’ve bought your dream investment, you can start making changes around the house. But first, plan each change thoroughly. Browse online for contractor listings and have several contractors provide you with their estimates on the house. Check with the appropriate agencies about zoning requirements and other laws that may affect your plans for the house.

How Much Do You Plan Selling It For?

Now that all repairs and remodeling have been completed, you can finally compute the probable selling price of the fixer-upper once everything that needs repairing has been fixed. Again, keep in mind that fixer-upper homes are usually priced at affordable rates.

Lastly, be ready to negotiate. Only billionaires tend to accept the initial purchasing price of any item.

Linux is an operating system (OS), like Windows.

Think of there being two general types of software: operating system software and “other” software.

The “other” software consists of several types of software programs, including: application software programs (like word processors, spreadsheets and email programs), utility software programs and server programs.

All of the “other” software runs “on top of” an operating system, such as Windows or Linux.

You boot a computer system with operating system software so you can run application software programs, like a word processor, spreadsheet, email, and browser.

Windows and Linux Operating System (OS) Functionality

When you boot a computer with an OS, like the Windows OS or Linux OS, the OS allows you to do tasks like:

run application software programs, like a word processor, spreadsheet or email program
save data files to your hard disk, like a letter, memo or report
retrieve data files so you can edit them
send data files to print

Windows Software Programs and Linux Software Programs

In Windows, you can run lots of different application software programs. There are custom software programs and off-the-shelf (common) software programs. These programs allow you to do everything from running your bowling league to typing up a letter.

The same is true for Linux. There are thousands of custom and common Linux software programs.

Linux Tips: You can download several Linux distributions (versions), including thousands of Linux software programs and get Linux free! Then you can run Linux to get Linux training. As part of your Linux training, you can watch Linux video tutorials - to get easy Linux training and learn Linux!

The Windows Office Suite and the Linux OpenOffice Suite

Windows has a popular and common collection of programs named the Office suite. The Office suite consists of several programs, such as a word processing program called Word, a spreadsheet program named Excel and a presentation program named PowerPoint.

Linux also has a popular and common suite of programs called OpenOffice. The word processor is named Write, the spreadsheet is named Calc and the presentation program is named Impress.

Linux Tips: You can download the free Linux OpenOffice suite of programs and run this suite of programs in Windows!

Using Windows Desktop Systems and Linux Desktop Systems

On a Windows computer system, you boot to a Windows desktop. From the desktop, you use menus to select and run software programs and there are icons you can double-click on to run programs. The desktop allows you to run programs and organize your work.

The same is true of Linux. You can also boot a computer system to a Linux desktop and use menus and icons to run Linux software programs, and organize your work.

Linux Tips: There are several Linux desktops to choose from, such as the GNOME and KDE desktops. Each Linux desktop has the same functionality (menus, icons and organization), but has a different “look and feel”.

Linux video tutorials are an excellent way to continue your Linux training. Just watch a Linux video to see a popular Linux concept or command being described - and then do the steps you’ve just seen - to work with Linux yourself!

In more than 20 years of copywriting for both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) clients, I have found mid-size and large B2B clients to be generally easier to work with, and more professional than B2C. (I do not recommend working for small business in either B2B or B2C.)

In my experience, B2B companies tend be more “corporate” and less entrepreneurial in their thinking and procedures than B2C companies. For instance, B2B clients are more likely to use creative briefs, meet deadlines, and pay on time.

The marketing departments of B2B clients also tend to be more sophisticated in their approach to marketing; this is nice for the copywriter who wants to have more say in testing, offers, and other elements of a response campaign.

The more process-driven a marketing department is, the easier it is to get winning promotions, as well as information on the results of promotions, work samples, and other data that helps a copywriter build his business.

Winning a B2B Client

Because B2B clients are by nature more oriented to “professional” processes and thinking, the copywriter who wants to win their business must also appear professional. Here’s what you’ll need in order to successfully approach a mid-size, large, or enterprise-level B2B client:

• Professional-quality letterhead, envelopes, and business cards are a must. You don’t have to be exotic or fancy; graphic designers need flash and dazzle but copywriters don’t. Don’t fret about design…but do make sure your most basic business tools look professional. If you can’t afford a designer’s help, opt for simple and straightforward.

• Know what you stand for. It pays to create your own unique selling proposition (USP). These days both B2C and B2B clients want to know why you are the best copywriter for them. Once you determine what sets you apart, you should create a tag line that appears on your business cards and letterhead.

For instance, the tagline I helped one of my coaching students create is “Helping your build and maintain profitable long-term customers.”

• Go to a niche market. Related to the advice above, you will do well to go to a niche market for which you have a connection…a point of differentiation that sets you apart. Many experts will tell you that you can find your point of differentiation in your work history. But this is only partly true.

With my coaching students I regularly help them discover what makes them unique and special not only in their work history, but in their passions, and their talents.

For instance, one of my students wanted to use her literary talent to sell her copywriting; so we carved out a unique copywriting market that would appreciate - and benefit from - the power of her written talent for story telling.

• You must have a Web site. And it had better be professional. A professional Web site for the corporate market must exhibit obvious elements of good lead-generation.

The elements of a good lead-generating Web site are many; however, for the purposes of this primer, I will touch on the most important four elements:

1. Your Web site must have “you” orientation. It’s not about you, it’s about them. Your Home Page headline must acknowledge a pain of your audience, and offer a solution. One example from one of my coaching students: “Are you a software marketer looking for a steadier stream of qualified software leads?”

Contrast this with this “me oriented” Home Page headline of another copywriter: “Bill S., Freelance Advertising Copywriter.” Even the lead-in sentence was me oriented: “I’m an advertising copywriter, which is why my website utterly lacks graphics.”

2. Your Web site must have an offer. Direct marketing without an offer is not direct marketing. If you are a copywriter who wants to make a great income, then you must let your potential clients know that you will bring in more than you cost.

You offer should in some way convey that. In lead-generation, which is what your freelance business depends on, one of the best offers you can advance is free information in the form of a report, or other valuable information product.

3. Your Web site must have either a very clean, orderly, and simple but sophisticated design…or it must be designed by a graphic designer.

If designed by a direct response designer, your Web site will exhibit signs of high level branding and direct response design “magic”…all of which will impress a B2B audience.

An aside: In my experience, Webmasters are excellent at what they do, but they do not have direct marketing graphic design skills - even though they usually think they do!

If you’re going to build your Web site yourself, take the time to learn about direct response design; otherwise, invest a small sum in having a direct response designer create a design template that you can follow…or have her design the full site herself.

4. Post samples. Samples are the equivalent of showing a portfolio. For new copywriters, this is a tough one. But there are lots of ways to work this to your advantage.

First, understand that no potential client wants to see more than three samples; then understand that you can post a “spec” sample that never mailed; and third, know that you can even post a sample that was never entirely finished…

If, for instance, you did a critique of a potential client’s campaign, you can post that critique on your Web site - as long as you gained permission to do so.

A note on testimonials:

Yes, they’re important. But I was lazy in this department. Instead, I concentrated on getting response rates and writing case studies of my winners. Not having testimonials on my Web site never hurt me. However, one day I wanted to diversify into coaching and other copywriting related pursuits…and then I became concerned.

So my advice to you is to be vigilant about collecting testimonials. The moment your client says something positive about your work is the moment to say “can I quote that?”

• You must have business processes. Once again, because of their professional nature, B2B companies work best with copywriters who use fee agreements, creative briefs, meet deadlines, and nail down exactly what it is they’re expected to do (right down to the size and fold of the brochure), put it in writing, and then do it.

Many copywriters work without fee agreements, “set in stone” timelines, and like the “handshake” approach to doing business.

But not only is this a sure path to disappointment, it’s also a red flag to corporate clients that the copywriter is insecure, a poor business person, or both. Having a clear process for how you do business will not only make your business more profitable, but it will make the B2B client more confident in your abilities.

• Be a salesman. Whether their marketing is lead-generating or order-generating, B2B clients are very efficient at salesmanship and closing. Don’t shy away from mailing sales letters to them and then following up. They do it, and understand that it’s “just business” to be on the receiving end.

In fact, I’ve found it much easier to market to B2B companies than B2C. If you’ve done a good job of targeting - you’ve created a niche or USP that matches you with your target - then you should enjoy at least a 1% conversion rate to your marketing efforts. B2B companies are generally accepting and interested in your call, as long as you’ve done your homework to determine why you’re the best copywriter for them.

With the Harry Potter juggernaut chugging merrily along, almost anyone worth their weight in bat wingtip soup has dived into the fray of hot, bubbling pottering action. And that includes drug dealers no less! Heck, they aren’t about to miss out on a good thing!

Not to be left out of the Harry Potter drama-rama, New York drug dealers have started peddling ecstasy pills engraved with Harry Potter book and movie images. One can only speculate that their train of thought must progress along the lines that the success of the runaway Potter behemoth must surely rub off in some way on their products, even if in only some miniscule manner; after all, in Potter Universe, small magically transforms into a respectably impressive amount in Muggleworld.

That said, it is evident that these guys aren’t too savvy when it comes to demographics. Even if utilizing super-elastic mind-stretch, it’s hard to picture the average Harry Potter fan cavorting and gyrating wildly in some hip nightclub, as the image of their idol slowly fizzles to sweet dreamy nothings deep inside of them.

Still, anything is possible, especially when it comes to the Potter phenomenon. Some people feel it is their divine entitlement to have a slice of that not-so-free Potter pie. Take the case of the 20-yr old bodybuilder from the UK. I think that he took the saying “Ask and ye shall be given” a wee bit too literally.

In June of 2005 Bodybuilder X somehow helped himself to two copies of “The Half-Blood Prince” before its official release and tried to sell them to a newspaper reporter from The Sun using a rather persuasive argument–the business end of an imitation gun.

As you can probably guess our erstwhile bodybuilder didn’t get too far in his marketing and leverage scheme, despite ambitiously expanding the campaign to include threatening and blackmailing Harry Potter UK publisher, Bloomsbury.

At his trial in spite of an impassioned defense argument that included gems such as: “There was a marked change in Bodybuilder X’s personality as he pursued his body building interests. He was taking steroids to an almost unsupportable level”

Bodybuilder X was sentenced to four years as a guest at one of her majesty’s less luxurious retreats, where he will have ample time to ponder on future business ventures while furthering the pursuit of bodily perfection, but this time without the unsupportable support of steroids.

So what’s the moral of this affair? Your guess is as good as mine. But one thing is certain. It’s getting harder and harder to discern the rather fine line between fact and fiction in this magical realm.

There’re many who claim that this whole Harry Potter saga is a diabolical plot of the devil and an insidious campaign manufactured by those with a leaning towards the

Does it really matter if you’ve got a speech written that you’re sure is mind-blowing? Well, to be honest, it does. It takes a lot more than just matter to fire up an audience. You need to grab them by their eyes and ears as well as their minds.

The visual sense is the first that comes into play, so your appearance is crucial. While looking great is a great advantage, dressing great can win the day, too. Clothes really do make a man, so the accent should be on elegance, preferably understated.

While prejudices do tend to subtly influence the audience, good grooming and an immaculate appearance, down to clean hair and nails, could help a speaker make an impression that counts. A public speaker needs to exude vim and vigor and good health sends out a message that’s strong and sure.

Gladstone, Lincoln, Webster, Everett, SpurgeoN… the list of men who fuelled oratory with robust health is long. A perfect balance between exercise, diet, sleep and vacationing should be maintained. This translates into a mental vigor that conceives and organizes subjects well and presents powerfully. This is especially essential from the pulpit so that every sermon goes forth full of energy to revitalize and refresh the souls of the listeners.

Last but not least is the power of elocution. Speakers must be trained in the art of voice modulation and pitch. They must practice, practice, practice till their voice comes out clear and strong. The world’s greatest orators from time immemorial have all used the power of their voice as a well-honed, persuasive tool to awaken emotions, to change perceptions, to incite, to calm, to feel, to think.

Cicero and Demosthenes were rigorous in their training for years. From the time he was young, Henry Clay would read out from a book, sometimes in a forest or a field, sometimes in a barn with animals for his audience. To this early discipline he felt he owed his subsequent success. Chatham preferred practicing in front of a mirror. And Curran who stuttered, worked his way through constant practice to become an eloquent forensic advocate. Beecher let all the vowels rip through different pitches in the open air and he had at his command an instrument that could convey any thought or feeling.

Of equal importance in elocution skills is posturing. The eyes, face, arms, hands, body and stance can be trained to be used with control and skill in order to elicit the right response. Yes, an overall attention to how one looks and sounds does make for a better speech.

Many people have experienced the aggravation of having found spyware on their computer. Many have gone through considerable trouble to wipe the malicious software off their computer knowing that it might reveal personal facts about them to be used for the purposes of advertising or even malicious intent such as financial theft through password stealing or identity theft.

Products like Spyware can have their users though. Technology has allowed employers, parents and adults to keep track of what’s going on within their own computer.

Adding a Spyware program can give an individual peace of mind knowing that they can determine exactly what’s been going on , on their computer. This program can run discretely in the background on your computer providing only you with the information you need to give you peace of mind or information to help you make important decisions in your life or in your business.

Employers who want to ensure their staff members aren’t spending the company’s resources and using paid company time to do personal business or business that could interfere with the productivity and reputation of the company have the ability to monitor their computer system to ensure that this is not happening. This can help employers ascertain who among their staff is productive and who spends company time surfing the Internet or playing video games.

Parents who want to ensure their children’s safety or find out what their teenagers are doing online have the ability to install software that monitors exactly what’s happening and notify them of every move made on the computer. This can be very reassuring in this day and age where the Internet is a playground for pedophiles or illegal activities.

Individuals who are suspicious about their spouse’s behavior within the computer also have the ability to track exactly what’s going on, what’s being said and what’s being downloaded. Passwords can even be tracked so that you can find out every keystroke that’s been typed on your computer. If your spouse hides their computer activities within passwords or spends a lot of time late at night online but you feel there’s more going on there than they are being forthright about.

Most would say that Spyware type programs exist as burdens to computer users but many who have purchased computer monitoring software would say that it can bring you information to help in your business, your parenting and bring peace of mind or truth to your marriage.

The air we breathe, the water we drink and ultimately, the sun that shines upon us everyday are considered by most a real bless. But we are rarely aware that because of our disregarding attitude the water is now polluted by tons of petrol, the air is filled with gas, and the Sun that brought life on Earth is burning our planet through the holes in the ozone layer. For this reason, more and more persons are now joining programs that help to maintain the health of our planet and, consequently our very own.

In the first place, all the big companies that use or product chemical substances must be advised and moreover, made by strict laws to carefully manage the chemicals. By doing a simple mistake, one can pollute an entire river which will logically lead to poisoning hundreds of people who consume fish from that river of who even drink water from it. This kind of accidents happen frequently but nobody takes them seriously whatsoever. The existing laws are not so strict in many countries and, as a consequence, the companies that let such accidents happen are not punished as they should.

Secondly, whenever we look on the crowded city streets we see hundreds of cars that leave behind them a real cloud of smoke. Well, that smoke is not at all harmless. Along with the smoke that is raising from the towers of the different factories that provide the electric energy it can cause many damages in the ozone layer, thing proven by the holes that have been discovered. Also, another major negative effect is the very well known “Greenhouse effect”.

What you have read above are just few of the damages that mankind caused to his own home planet, either by not knowing , or by not caring. However there are also many persons who do care, who start health and hygiene programs. It has become a fashion, but it is nothing bad in it. Moreover, it is rather a reason to be happy and optimistic for the future, for a cleaner planet for the next generations. Some institutions offer services for health assistance, assurance and consultancy. Most of them try to treat every client individually, giving them personalized solutions and advices at not very high costs. Only specialists know how to handle toxic and dangerous chemical products so it is more than advisable to hire such a company in your business.

As a conclusion, we must admit that our lives are surrounded by gases and polluting substances which could actually bring real disasters if managed without proper instruments and carelessly. In order to keep our planet alive and healthy, and also to make our lives healthier, our existence less endangered, every each of us should at first revise the attitude and behavior towards Earth, and then make others do this too. Joining programs regarding environmental issues is a very good thing to do, along with letting the specialized persons to handle toxic substances. We should take care about our home planet’s health as we take care of our own health because this is the ultimate home we all have.

Trade leads, or business leads, by national or international business services facilitate different functions, reduce transaction time and costs, reduce supplier costs, generate new business contacts, and increase sales. With the explosive growth of the internet today, importers look for import trading leads globally for quality products, and exporters look for global export trade leads to sell their products. International trade leads come around quite frequently and in most cases, instantly.

In this age of anytime, anywhere communication, import export trade leads are made easy to find with a host of online business services offering international trade leads. Post a request for import or export trade leads and interested business parties can instantly view it around the world. When a potential business partner expresses interest in doing business with you, the interest is immediately communicated to you in the form of an email or an SMS message. The time needed to make contacts with business people around the world is reduced to less than ten minutes. All it takes is ten minutes to get a new contact, but as in all business, trust is earned only with a lifetime of effort.

Basically trade leads, import trade leads, export trade leads, and international trade leads are simple advertisements with buying or selling offers for products or services. Before the advent of the internet, trade leads took much more time to find due to tasks such as frequent visits to the Chambers of Commerce, Export/Import regulations and promotion agencies of different countries, brainstorming sessions, postal newsletters, and advertising in business publications. It is also very hard to ensure that the advertisement or offer reaches the potential buyer or seller due to the limited reach of trade publications.

The lightning fast import export trade and turnarounds of international trade leads does not ignore business practices. In fact, an online search can be used to find out what others have to say about a specific import or export business. In short, you do not have to rely solely on the company’s profile listing on a bulletin board or the marketing material on their website.

It is not only sellers that post online trade leads. Buyers too benefit from posting their ads because sellers will be looking for pre-qualified buyers. If the buying offer of a company or an enterprise meets the products or services of a seller, the chances of a confirmed sale and a long lasting business relationship is almost guaranteed.

The elements of successful international trade lead posting include:

Clarity – clearly state what you offer or what you intend to buy.
Brevity – use enough words to describe the products.
Be informative – clearly state the terms of the sale, shipping and the present location of the products or the destination if you are the buyer.
Links to your product page – provide links to your website where interested buyers or sellers can learn more about the trade lead.

Having taken the right steps, international business leads can come effortlessly. With one or more business websites and listings at a professional international business service portal, finding trade leads has just been made easier.

Looking for Christian fundraiser ideas? Here are ten ways to raise funds with a Christian approach or focus, even more if you include fundraising events as well as selling products.

Christmas trees
A great fundraiser at Christmastime is selling Christmas trees, wreaths, poinsettias, and other holiday decorations. Simply setup a tree lot in your church parking lot, staff it with volunteers, and promote it with large signs well down the road.

You can also offer Christian-themed ornaments, decorative yard art such as wire-framed angels pre-decorated with twinkling lights, door wreaths with bible messages, etc.

Garden sale
A garden sale makes a wonderful spring fundraiser. Emphasize your Christian theme with peace lilies, Easter lilies, and other plants symbolizing peace. Flower bulbs and wildflower seeds are always good sellers, plus you can make arrangements with a nursery for flowering shrubs such as azaleas.

Mulch or pine straw are also good revenue producers. You can even sell Father Dom’s Duck Doo Compost, an organic fertilizer that supports a good cause.

T-shirts
Many church youth groups sell message t-shirts that appeal to today’s youth. These can be custom produced by a screen print company or ordered in bulk from national t-shirt companies. Expect to pay about $8 plus freight for shirts selling in the $12-$15 range.

Christian music
CD sales of Christian music groups are another easy way to raise funds. Focus on top selling groups and look for compilation CDs that feature hit songs from a variety of musicians. That way your music will have the broadest appeal. Take orders in advance and expect to pay 50% of retail price plus freight.

Auction
Hosting an auction is a fun way to raise money for your favorite cause. Seek donations from local businesses and ask everyone in your group to also ask their personal contacts. the more items donated the more you’ll raise. To attract an even larger crowd, publicize your event well in advance with a press release.

Yard sale
A yard sale or rummage sale is another easy fundraiser. Put the word out to get as many items to sell as possible. Have it on a Saturday morning in a church parking lot and use road signs and newspaper classifieds to draw a big crowd. You can even turn it into a monthly event during good weather.

Music concert
A Christian-themed music concert can be a great family night or you could do the same thing for a teen audience. Be sure the groups you bring in have the right sound by asking for tapes or CDs. For bigger groups, you can pay a fee or give them a share of the ticket sales.

Fundraising bricks
Many church groups do landscape projects with laser-engraved fundraising bricks. Design a sidewalk, meditation garden, or outdoor patio fountain and incorporate the use of message bricks. Sell individual bricks that people can inscribe with a name and message of their choice. The bricks are surprisingly affordable and priced right, the project will raise amazing amounts for your cause.

Discount cards
Contact local Christian businesses for inclusion on a discount card for families. These usually retail for $10 and expire after a year. If you supply the advertisers, you can get the cards printed for $1 each which means huge profits. Sell these to supporters or to the general public with a sales table outside a grocery store or other high-traffic location.

Christmas carol-grams
Instead of going door-to-door caroling, assemble some talented singers, print up some flyers offering Christmas Carol-grams, and you’re in business. Arrange to have a quartet deliver holiday cheer to a loved one’s office, nursing home, hospital room, etc. Make sure your singers take flyers with them because this is a great word-of-mouth fundraiser!

That’s all the space I have in this article for Christian fundraiser ideas. Look for the companion article coming soon on Christian fundraising events.