Okay, you have purchased your new computer, and maybe some office furniture, now it is time to buy the PC accessories you need. One basic computer accessory that almost everyone will need at some point is a good printer. Epson printers offer good quality and a wide range to choose from.

Epson printers come as inkjet printers, photo printers, laser printers, point of sale printers, and all in one printers. Ink jet printers are probably the most widely purchased for home use. Epson printers range in price from $59.99 to $850.00. Prices vary depending upon printing speed, photo capability, ink types, and dpi. For basic home use, the Epson Stylus c68 printer should cover all of your basic needs, and is priced at $59.99 on the Epson website. This Epson printer prints well on paper and photo paper, and has its own individual ink cartridges, which can be a plus budget wise. In standard black text, it prints at speeds up to 17ppm.

If your Epson printer will primarily be used for photos, you may want to consider some of the more expensive models, depending on the quality pictures you want. Some of the higher end Epson printers can actually use archival ink, which is guaranteed to last for a long time, usually even longer than your regular prints from the photo lab. Many of these printers also print on ink jet CDs and DVDs, giving you more options to store your memories.

Epson also features a photo printer called PictureMate, which gives you prints that are comparable or better than your local photo lab prints. The pictures on this printer are said to last up to four times longer, and are stated to be water and smudge proof. On average, your prints will cost you around twenty nine cents each with this printer. If you are a serious photo person, this printer would probably work well for you, assuming it fits into your budget.

Laser printers from Epson range in price from $600-$700, and are Ethernet compatible. If you are running a business, and need a lot of basic black and white documents, a laser printer is probably the best, most cost effective option for you. Laser printers also tend to be much faster than ink jet printers, because they focus more on speed and quantity than quality. Some Epson laser printers also have built in fax machines, letting them serve as two pieces of office equipment in one unit.

Point of sale printers are widely used in large business and retail stores, and Epson is a common preferred brand name.

Many people like the Epson line of all in one printers, as they can do many tasks without having to buy different equipment for each task. These all in one printers are priced from $89 on the low end, to $400 for top of the line. Many of these Epson printers are able to print straight from the memory card of your digital camera, making it much easier to get the prints you need. Some offer both black and white and color copying capabilities. Other models also come equipped to send and receive faxes as well.

Basically, when you are ready to buy your Epson printer, you should think about what its primary function will be, and buy the printer that is best suited for that task and meets your budget. Epson printers come with good warranties, and Epson offers great tech support and customer service, which is always good, especially if you are going to be purchasing one of the more expensive models.

Copyright 2006 Peter Nisbet

There is a lot of controversy at the moment regarding the MMR vaccine, specifically the measles portion of it. Many parents are nervous about allowing their children to have the MMR vaccination due mainly, I believe, to its link with autism.

Most people have quite a fixed opinion I have found, though are unsure what the actual evidence is that they are believing. There is no shortage of information about MMR and autism, and it is easily found on the internet. However there seems to be a lot of junk science available, and those scientifically untrained may be unable to separate the junk from the real thing. They therefore tend to believe that which affects them most.

= = = = THE START = = = =

The whole debate started in 1998 when gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield, in association with others, claimed that MMR might trigger autism. Based on only 12 children, most of the others who authored the paper later retracted the findings. It was based on the possibility of the measles virus, given live as part of the vaccine, causing enterocolitis (bowel inflammation) and releasing toxins which attack the brain, causing autism.

Parents panicked, vaccination rates dropped dramatically and Wakefield cited data from California which showed the number of autism cases increasing 600% between 1980 and 1994. However, this also supports other evidence that autism rates are increasing: In fact that they were increasing before the introduction of MMR in 1988. During the period when the proportion of MMR vaccinations was fairly steady autism still increased, and continued to increase when the MMR vaccine uptake in the UK dropped to 60%. This is poor evidence to suggest a link.

= = = = THE PROBLEMS = = = =

What the autism studies have failed to take into account are:

* They are based on numbers and do not take population growth or changes in its composition into account.

* The cases in the original study were referred to the researchers, and there were only 12 of them, and did not represent the population.

* Diagnostic definitions of autism have changed over the years, and various studies have failed to take this into account. Minor symptoms have increasingly been diagnosed as autism.

* Children are now being diagnosed at an earlier age and so the cases must increase.

* No account has been taken of the increase of environmental pollution by chemicals and fumes.

A large study in Finland, involving 1.8 million people who received 3 million doses of the MMR vaccine over 14 years, found only a few reactions. It failed, however, take into account the background cases of autism normally expected of the general population. Nevertheless, it provides good evidence that the link is tenuous at best.

A recent analysis in the UK supports this, showing a steadily increasing rate of autism against a steady uptake of the MMR vaccine. So autism is increasing despite MMR remaining steady.

A study in Denmark, often quoted, showed an increase in autism in children who had the MMR vaccination. However, this has been used both by governments and other researchers to either disprove or prove the link. I have not seen the evidence but it must be flawed if it can be used by both sides.

A recent study in Japan, who withdrew the MMR vaccine in 1993 for other reasons showed that in over 31,000 children born in one district of Yokohama between 1988 and 1996, cases of children diagnosed as autistic by the age of 7 continued to increase from 48 to 86 per 10,000 prior to MMR withdrawal to 97 to 161 per 10,000 after withdrawal. This equates to:

* A 56% increase in autism prior to the withdrawal of MMR

* A 60% increase in autism after the withdrawal of MMR

Remember, all children in the Yokohama test were examined up till they were 7 years old, so age was not a factor.

This is the first study undertaken on what happens after the MMR vaccine is withdrawn and it suggests that the rate of autism and the vaccine are not connected.

= = = = THE FLAWS = = = =

The Lancet has recently admitted that the original paper by Wakefield would never have been published had it known certain facts. It has been alleged by a Channel 4 and Sunday Times investigation that Andrew Wakefield was being paid to carry out other studies by a group involved in a multibillion lawsuit against the MMR vaccines makers. Wakefield was backing this claim behind the scenes.

The investigation also alleges that there were a number of patents from him and the London Free Hospital for individual treatments involved, which were dependent on MMRs reputation being damaged and parents opting for individual vaccines. There has also been an unreported study from Wakefields lab which showed his theories to be wrong. The original study seems fatally damaged by these revelations, and Dr. Wakefield has not yet taken the step of attempting to sue Brian Deer who carried out the investigation.

The main problem with the MMR vaccine appears to be the measles portion. If this is the case why should a singles measles vaccine be any better than the MMR? This, in itself, has not been properly explained, and Wakefields vaccine patents seem to indicate something funny was going on.

There are two camps, and little between. Parents are caught between the two sets of information. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of politics involved in both camps. The pro-connection camp are talking about litigation and class action and the anti-connection camp, naturally, are trying to defend against this and governments are becoming worried. The real scientists are becoming worried that we may regress to the pre-1960s situation before any measles vaccine was available, and millions died from the diseases annually.

The potential legal situation is starting to affect the figures. Review of case records has shown that the childs history given by some parents changed after the publicity. Prior to the publicity some parents reported they were concerned about their children from an early age, normally before they reached one year. The current history for the same children now show the same childrens symptoms only occurring after the MMR vaccination. This is certain to damage future studies which even now are being accused by both sides of being slanted or biased one way or another depending on what side of the possible litigation you are.

= = = = THE FUTURE = = = =

There is now too much media interest and the bias which now seems to have flawed the initial study will continue to be the main subject of debate, rather than whether or not there is really a link, and this is potentially damaging to children. Children are being damaged: they are either being given a vaccine which promotes autism or they are being denied a vaccine necessary to prevent them contracting three serious diseases

It is of extreme importance that the truth come out, whether there are financial implications or not. Both sides should be forced to get together to come to a conclusion which helps the parents, not the lawyers or corporations or governments.

In the UK alone uptake of MMR has reduced dramatically and children have started to die again from measles. Once the current young girls grow up they will be almost certain to have problems with foetal abnormalities, unless they make sure they are immune to rubella prior to puberty. This is especially true now, with so many teenage births. The problem is that todays parents have never seen the era prior to vaccination, when deaths from measles were commonplace, when infant abnormality was common and young men dreaded the mumps.

Any parents who refuse the MMR vaccination must ensure that their child is immunised against these diseases with separate vaccines. They must not send their children to measles parties. Mumps and German measles (rubella) parties are OK since these diseases are not dangerous till puberty. Measles on the other is a killer disease, especially dangerous in young children. Of the 400,000 measles deaths worldwide, 25% are of children under 1 year. Almost 80% of measles deaths are from pneumonia: measles is a respiratory disease.

My own belief is that the MMR vaccine is not a specific problem. If there is a problem it lies in the measles virus itself, since it is that which is claimed by Dr Wakefield to cause the enterocolitis. The single measles vaccine will therefore have the same problem. In my opinion, the choice is not between MMR vaccine and the single vaccine, but between either vaccine and posssible autism, or no vaccine and the measles and possible death (and autism), not to mention all the nasty side effects such as hearing problems, meningitis and brain damage.

= = = = WHAT DO YOU THINK? = = = =

So, what is your opinion? Do you think that MMR causes autism? Would you let your child have the MMR vaccination when the time comes (13 15 months generally)?

CLICK on the link below and give us your opinion.

Talk of vintage watches and one name that springs to the mind immediately is Mido. Mido continues as a strong favorite among the watch collectors of the world today. Mido has been a name to reckon with throughout its history of over 80 years, with watches that are meant for watch connoisseurs and discerning users. It specializes in mid price range watches that offer something special and out of the ordinary. Mido prides itself with making timeless watches.

Midos history goes back almost 90 years to 1918, when the company was born. Mido was started on November 11, 1918 by George G. Schaeren in Biel, Switzerland. Mido is a Latin term that means measuring. Since its very inception, Mido has been in the forefront of technical innovation and timeless designs.

The next several decades that followed the birth of the company, saw Mido advancing both technologically and aesthetically. While path breaking innovations such as the first automatic watch, the first watch with unbreakable springs, the first center chronograph, the worlds most powerful winding mechanism, and the worlds smallest ladies watch hall marked the technological advances, Midos collaboration with luxury brands threw up unique and attractive designs like the Mido Bugatti.

In 1934, Mido introduced the Multifort model, the first watch in the market to have a self-winding movement. The introduction of this automatic watch for the first time in the market was a major milestone in the history of Mido. The watch was also shock resistant, anti magnetic and water resistant all firsts at that time. Mido reached yet another milestone in the same year when it introduced watches with unbreakable springs. This was also the first time that any company had introduced such springs in the market.

Mido was the first to introduce center chronograph (a watch with all hands arranged in the center) in the year 1945. In 1954 the company introduced the worlds most powerful winding mechanism. In 1967 Mido was recognized as the maker of the worlds smallest ladies watch.

With so many firsts to its credit and a history of innovations, it was small wonder that Mido was in the forefront for a number of decades. Midos first automatic, anti-magnetic and water resistant watch remained in the forefront for over three decades right through to the sixties. Another model, the Mido Robot was a symbol of robustness in the fifties. So much so that a famous comic strip of the period was dedicated to the Mido Robot and its adventures.

Mido introduced its commander model in 1959. This was a single shell watch, the first of its kind and a novelty at the time. The single shell case revolutionized the industry, and improved the life span of watches significantly. Mido commander has survived to this day, and is among the most highly recognized watches with several individual models. Among the models featured under this range is an 18 karat gold model. The range also includes chronographs and COSC certified chronometers.

In 1970 Mido introduced the Aquadura Crown Sealing system, an innovation that earned a place for it as the king of waterproof watches. The Aquadura crown sealing system uses a natural cork that is treated and shaped to ensure the water resistant characteristics. This is used to seal the crown, which is the part that is most prone to, and affected by, water leakage.

In the nineties, the Mido World Timer was introduced. This was a functional watch that could show the local time at any part of the world. The user had to just bring the concerned city to the 12 oclock position and press the crown to see the local time in that city.

Mido is today a part of the Swatch group, which is a vibrant organization with over 150 production centers all over the world. Most of the production centers are in Switzerland, with the rest spread over countries like France, Italy, Germany, Thailand, Malaysia and China. Swatch group also owns brands such as Omega, Longines, Rado, and many more.

There is a lot to know if you plan on repairing computers for a living. Even if you simply plan on moonlighting with a computer repair business, the amount of information you are expected to know can be daunting. Computer repair classes may make sense for you if you have both time and some money to invest in some training.

The first thing you’ll want to determine is what kind of training you will need. Do you need advanced training or are you looking for simple techniques? Knowing what kind of training you need can reduce the time it take you to find the right class for your training needs.

How much of a budget have you set aside for training? Most computer training takes money. The more advanced the training, the more money it will cost. The cost will also depend on whether you follow a course of study. For the computer repair industry, compTia’s A+ certification is the one most recognized. Most computer training centers will offer a course on A+ certification.

Other training that makes sense for a computer repair technician includes computer networks including compTia’s Network+, Microsoft’s MSCE certification and CISCO certifications. You could also benefit from computer security certification like compTia’s Security+, MCSE security, Cisco security and even an ethical hacking cert like CISSP training.

Know what you plan on focusing your energies on. If you plan on working for someone else, know what area you plan on concentrating on. If you plan on owning your own business, you should also know what your area of concentration is going to be. Don’t take the MSCE certification if you intend to focus your business on Linux based products. While this may seem obvious to some, I’ve encountered people who were confused on this issue.

Bottom line, choose a computer training firm that has been around a while and is known for their thoroughness and expertise. There is nothing worse than paying big bucks for computer training that fails to prepare you properly for the field. Do some research, ask some people in the industry. In the end, if you’ve done your homework, you’ll be fine.

In August of 1960, Enovid, the first contraceptive pill, was launched for sale in the USA. The mass-marketing of the drug was so successful that within one year of the products launch, over 1 million American women were using it. It was a revolutionary breakthrough in contraception. Pharmaceutical companies that made the drug promised to give women control over their reproductive cycle and free them from unwanted pregnancy. What the manufacturers failed to emphasize were the many and varied side-effects of birth control pills. Mental and physiological conditions experienced by women while using the Pill were downplayed by the pharmaceutical companies, and much of the literature accompanying the drug packaging inferred that many of these negative side-effects could not be directly attributed to the contraceptive pill.

There are lots of ways to start making money online, but all come with a cost. You can spend the time to learn about html, website design and scripts, and build your own website, or join an opportunity which gives you a sales site identical to everyone elses, but there is another way.

You can buy a turnkey business website. This is a prebuilt website which is all ready to take orders, and make you money, but can you really make money with these sites?

The simple answer is yes you can make money with a prebuilt website, and it will help you to cut a lot of corners in getting started in your own online business. With a turnkey website there is no need to learn all the geeky stuff behind the scenes, as long as you buy from a reputable seller, the site should be ready to update with your details in a simple admin panel, and start making sales.

There are a lot of different turnkey website packages available, and you’d need to do a little research to find out what is best for you. Do you want to own a sales site selling digital products, be an affiliate for another company with a prebuilt store updated from the main companies website, or do you want to try making money with Google Adsense?

Once you have decided what kind of website you want, you can then purchase a turnkey website which does what you want it to. Then your work begins. Unless you pay the extra for a site which is already developed, which could run into thousands of dollars, you will be buying a site which is all setup, but has no traffic. You will need to do the work to get a steady stream of traffic to your site, but this is the case with any business, you will need to bring in your potential customers. This will involve doing link exchanges, advertising and promoting your website address to get people to your site to turn into customers. An advantage of a turnkey site is that the copy will have been written by a profesional, so it should have a higher conversion rate than a site you built by yourself, making it easier to turn browsers into customers.

If you want a shortcut to owning a website business online, then turnkey sites are well worth looking into. Just make sure you know what you want before you purchase and don’t believe you will be able to buy a site, kickback and do nothing but watch the money pour in, you will still have to build your business the same as any other and put in some effort to get customers.

Q: Entrex has brought public market standards and disciplines to the private market. I understand the value of this to the alternative investment community. but what is the value to me as the owner of a private company?

- Craig Rutkai, business owner, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A: It’s the question I get more than any other. To answer, let’s start with what Entrex is.

In broad strokes, Entrex is a brand-new market for the alternative investment community. It takes the compliance standards and reporting structures that have long been a part of the public investing market and applies them to private companies.

Until Entrex, there was no way to compare apples to apples and no way of knowing what you were getting yourself into when investing in a private company. Entrex has brought transparency to the process of private investing, giving the alternative investment community a new place to put their money.

So how does this benefit you and others like you? In a word: capital.

Today, roughly 80 percent of private companies receive their funding within a 50-mile radius of their home office. Essentially this means friends and family, country club colleagues, regionally focused venture capitalists and fellow businesspeople. To say these avenues for pursuing capital are limiting would be something of an understatement.

But alternative investors are chomping at the bit to invest in private companies. They simply require the means to do so – an entity willing to do the due diligence so that they may find, research, track, manage and trade their investments. Entrex is that entity.

Whether you’re looking for capital, interested in being acquired or simply want to see how your business is valued for shareholders on a quarterly basis, Entrex can help. It brings private business owners’ need for liquidity and the alternative investment market’s need for fresh investment opportunities together in one place.

The revolution is beginning. You can be a part of it.

While believing that a lucky dress will give you the confidence to make a good impression during a job interview would seem like a harmless superstition, the same is true with the ritual of most mothers who makes it a point to always check and re-check if the flat iron had been unplugged or the oven was properly turned off before leaving the house. Many of us have little superstitions and rituals which help us become productive and produce positive results. However, when these rituals are taken to extremes and begin to affect normal daily functions, it becomes a problem.

When you charter a boat in Florida, youre treating yourself to the ultimate in vacation experiences. Whether you choose a sailboat, yacht, motor boat or catamaran, theres nothing like feeling the spray of the Atlantic on your face as you cruise around the eastern coastline, looking for just the right place to dock for a bit of fun.

If this sounds like your idea of the perfect vacation, then youll be happy to know that there are several establishments who are in the business of offering luxury yacht charters in and around the Miami, Florida area. After youve experienced one, you might just find yourself in the market for companies that offer luxury yacht sales, or sales of other types of water vessels.

Miami Yacht Charter Companies

Water Fantaseas Servicing the areas of Ft. Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami, this facility offers a variety of cruise options, including corporate charters, and an accommodation for special events. Among the many vessels that they offer, youll find luxury sport yachts, luxury motor yachts, party yachts, power boats, fishing boats, luxury mega yachts, luxury sailing vessels and catamarans. In addition to half and full day charters, they also provide term charters all of which can be seen by visiting their website at www.waterfantaseas.com. This outstanding organization offers the best in top-quality sea-going excursions for those who want something more out of their next vacation.

Biscayne Lady Yacht Charters Found online at www.biscaynelady.com, this boat chartering company will put you in the lap of luxury when you book a vacation on one of their charters. Whether youre interested in something for a corporate or social event, wedding or perhaps something a bit smaller, they have what it takes to outfit you with the latest in style at Biscayne Lady Yacht Charters. Among the amenities that their luxurious yachts include are three grand decks, the ability to accommodate up to 400 passengers, catamaran designed twin hulls, state-of-the-art interior and exterior design and lots more.

Florida Yacht Charters and Sales Serving Miami Beach, Key West and the Bahamas, the folks at this establishment offer charters and instruction, in addition to sales and service. For those who are interested in a more consistent yachting experience, they even provide the opportunity for boaters to join a fractional yacht sharing program, called SailTime Miami. Their full line of vessels, including yachts, sailboat, catamarans, trawlers, bareboats and motor yachts, offers a wide variety of crafts from which to choose, with amenities that will please even the most discerning of sailors. Visit their website at www.floridayacht.com for more information.

Carrousel Yacht Extraordinaire Whether your intention is to host a holiday party, reunion, anniversary, wedding, graduation, birthday party, business dinner or simply charter a yacht for your own personal get-away Carrousel Yacht Extraordinaire can accommodate your needs in a grand style. Cruise the Florida coastline to Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, Aventura, Miami and Miami Beach in one of the most luxurious chartered yachts of the day. Based in Miami, this chartering company offers a virtual tour of their top-of-the-line yachts by visiting their website at www.carrouselyacht.com.

By performing an online search, youll be able to find the right chartering service for you in virtually any waterside location around the world. Until youve experienced the luxury of a chartered yacht, youre missing the vacation of a lifetime. Whether you want to get away on your own, or with family, friends, business associates or former classmates, theres a vessel out there thats right for you, and a company that will do its best to meet the needs of your ocean-going party.

Nothing in life is as simple as it seems, so it should come as no surprise that the strand of hair that you found on your brush this morning is an amazingly complex part of your body. Hair begins appearing on the human body while it is still in the womb. By the time a developing fetus reaches 22 weeks old, there are already 5 million follicles on the body. Interestingly enough, that is all of the follicles that will ever develop regardless of how long we live. None will ever be added.

Hair Anatomy
Hair consists of a follicle, which is embedded in the skin, and the shaft of hair which appears on our body. The follicle itself consists of multiple layers with each layer having a specific function. The papilla lies at the base of the follicle. Capillaries are connected to the papilla and they supply blood to the cells which surround the bottom part of the hair strand called the bulb.

Surrounding the follicle are two sheaths, inner and outer, which are designed to both protect the hair shaft from damage, and to help it grow out in the proper direction. The inner sheath runs next to the hair shaft and ends at the oil (sebaceous) gland. The outer sheath runs to the gland and ends at the erector pili muscle. This is the muscle that causes our hair to “stand on end” when it contracts.

The hair shaft is comprised of three layers of dead protein cells called keratin. The innermost layer, known as the medulla, is not always present in every hair shaft. The second layer, known as the cortex, provides the bulk of the hair shaft. The hair color is mostly determined by the pigmentation contained in this layer. The outermost layer is called the cuticle. It is comprised of a series of overlapping cells. The hair’s luster and sheen comes from the cuticle.

How Hair Grows
Scalp hair grows at an average rate of six inches per year, or only .3-.4 mm per day. There are three distinct stages of hair growth.

- Catagen Phase
This transitional phase runs about two to three weeks. At any given time approximately 3% of your hair is in this phase. There is no hair growth during this period while the out portion of the hair root sheath shrinks and attaches itself to the root.

- Telogen Phase
This phase, known as the “resting period” is experienced by approximately 15% of your hair. Telogen lasts for around 100 days for scalp hair and significantly longer for other body hair.

- Anagen Phase
This phase defines a period of activity where the hair cells are dividing and new hair growth occurs. This phase can last for as long as two to six years. Shorter growth periods are indicative of people who have trouble growing their hair long.

Hair Growth Disorders
There are two hair growth disorders that affect humans. Hirsutism is a condition affecting mostly females. It is defined as a condition where excessive thick and dark hair growth is experienced in areas typically reserved for males. These areas include the face, chest and the areolae or area surrounding the nipple. Hypertrichosis is a condition which causes excessive hair growth in areas of the body where visible hair is not normally present. Both of these conditions are treatable.

If you have been doing business for a few years, you probably have heard about the benefits of opening a free credit card merchant account to expand the availability of your products and services. However, there are so many banks and other financial institutions competing for your business that you may be unsure which one to partner with in this exciting venture. One attractive option is to look for a free credit card merchant account offer.

Applying for a merchant account is easy and often can be handled online in a few moments time. However, it may be difficult to know which bank to choose. One may offer a lower transaction fee for credit card processing. Another may vie for your business by offering a no-fee installation of credit card processing equipment. But you could benefit more from a free credit card merchant account if the card does not come with hidden fees or limits.

Start by shopping for a merchant account with banks that offer low-interest rate credit cards or a no-rate credit card merchant account. If your favorite bank does not currently offer this type of deal, ask about one. Perhaps they will consider offering you a special deal if you are a valued customer. Otherwise, when considering a merchant account credit card from a relatively unknown institution, compare the terms of the card to those from other banks to make sure you get the best deal.

Sometimes a free credit card deal may actually hide or incur unexpected costs. For example, while you may not have to pay any up front costs when opening the account, like an application fee, you may be billed later for an annual membership fee that entitles you to use the credit card. Failing to pay this fee may result in the cancellation of your credit privileges. A free credit card merchant account should be free in every sense of its use, so ask about contingency fees or possible changes in terms later on as the economy shifts. You dont want to get comfortable using the card only to find in a few months that you are being billed for services you did not expect to pay for.

A free credit card merchant account can be just the thing to launch you into e-commerce use, however. You can use your credit account to purchase credit card processing equipment or other innovations that will upgrade your companys image to impress customers and draw in new clients. Or you can use your free credit card merchant account to experiment with other marketing techniques, attend conventions, or try a new line of merchandise or services.

If you have demonstrated skill in using business credit responsibly and in keeping with your business income and expenses, this type of credit card account may be just what you need to move your business forward and expand company interests or operations for your customers benefit. Check out all the terms and conditions when you apply to get the best free credit card merchant account.

What is the essence of a woman? This is one of the questions the judges asked during the 1994 Miss Universe competition. One contestant, Sushmita Sen, gave such a wonderful answer that she won the Miss Universe title that year. According to her, the essence of a woman is being a mother to a child and teaching him (or her) about sharing, caring and loving. Indeed, one of the main and most important roles of any woman is being a good mother to her children. However, not every woman is blessed with the ability to bear a child.

Stairlifts come in two main forms; straight and curved. If you stairs turn or are spiral then the likelihood an ordinary or straight stairlift wont fit and a curved stairlift will need to be fitted. It is worth noting that in some cases it may be possible to combine two straight lifts to overcome a turn, which is usually cheaper to install than a curved stairlift. If you staircase is straight then a straight starlift will fit. However, either option will increase you independence in your own home and remove any problems or concerns you have when climbing your stairs.

If you own a diesel powered vehicle, you probably appreciate the inherent qualities of this type of engine. More torque, better fuel economy, easier maintenance are some of the attributes of owning a diesel powered vehicle. Still, some motorists complain about the engines weak power, particularly when accelerating from a full stop. What you may not know is that a diesel engine can be tweaked to produce more power without harming fuel economy. Lets take a look at diesel engines and what you can do to squeeze out more power.

Thanks to the work of one man, Rudolf Diesel, we have a choice when it comes to driving. Besides hybrid or rotary engines, the chief way most vehicles run is via a gasoline powered internal combustion engine. However, with Diesels 1892 patent of the engine that bears his name, diesel power has played a significant role in powering buses and trucks across North America. Some passenger vehicles, particularly pick up trucks, are also diesel powered giving motorists an option to gasoline.

Diesel engines have the following advantages over their gasoline counterparts:

Diesels use air compression to create combustion versus the air/fuel mixture required by gasoline powered cars. This attribute means that diesel engines do not require spark plugs and thus do not have to be tuned up.

Diesel fuel has a higher fuel density than gasoline resulting in fuel economy increases of 20-30% over comparable gasoline powered models.

Diesel engines are cheaper to maintain as they have less parts vs. a gasoline engine. The lifespan of a diesel engine is also significantly longer.

If it is torque you need, particularly for pulling a boat, camper, or equipment, than a diesel engine has the advantage. A diesel engine is definitely slower especially when starting from a dead stop, but when climbing hills or going over bridges, your diesel powered vehicle can definitely handle the challenge.

So, why arent more vehicles built in North America diesel powered? A few reasons including:

Stricter emissions control standards. Diesel engines pollute more, so not many manufacturers have improved upon the technology to produce an engine that is environmentally friendly. However, several upcoming engines from VW and others may change all of that.

Not enough power. Yes, a common complaint, even with turbo diesels, is that the engines are not powerful enough. North American drivers are accustomed to getting on the highway with a minimum amount of effort. With a diesel engine, it can take as much as twice as long to get up to full speed.

Fortunately, several aftermarket product developers are helping motorists squeeze out more power from their diesel engines. Performance programmers, made for specific diesel engines, are helping motorists see a nice spike in horsepower as well as increases in torque. The beauty of some of these aftermarket parts is that they dont harm fuel economy. In fact, some claim to help improve it.

Yes, the number of diesel powered passenger vehicles presently on North American highways is presently very small; however with newer, cleaner and stronger engines on the way, you may soon find yourself opting for a diesel powered vehicle too.

Youth baseball leagues are up and running across North America, and around the globe. The game is very popular in Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, the Caribbean, and in South America. Millions of kids look forward to playing on their local teams. Its a chance to meet new friends, travel to other parks or cities, and to be on a ball team. Its the camaraderie that makes playing baseball a fun event.

The practicing however is often a different matter, especially catching baseballs. In what is a pretty easygoing sport, kids have to catch baseballs moving along a good clip. Theyll have to learn catching skills, such as fielding balls that will bounce along with ground unpredictably or line drives that move toward them at a high speed. They may be kids, but some can hit the ball very well. For the kid that doesnt know how to catch properly or doesnt have a very good glove, there are few more angst-ridden activities than catching baseballs.

Leather baseball gloves have been around a long time. If youve been to the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame, you may have seen some unusual looking antique gloves and wondered how they could have caught a baseball with them. For those of us old timers who have been around long enough to actually use some of those antique gloves, we can tell you that it was not easy. They were stiff, heavy, clumsy, and tough to manipulate with your hand when they were new, and it wasnt long before they wore out to a limp clump of hide that often let the ball fly right through it. Catching was an art, and stinging fingers and bruised shins were all part of the experience of playing youth baseball.

Youth Baseball Gloves

With those stiff or floppy youth baseball gloves, youd wonder why kids didnt give up on the game. Well, truth is, many youths wouldnt play baseball or gave up for that very reason. They didnt want to have any part of trying to catch a hot, bobbling grounder on uneven ground. Kids are the same way today. If its too unpleasant to use the equipment and play the game the way it is meant to be played, then they might think, why bother?

New Baseball Gloves and New Materials

Glove manufacturers today have designed them so theyre ready to play with. Instead of stiff, thick cowhide leather composing the whole glove, modern kids ball gloves are made of numerous materials including pigskin. Cowhide may be used where it is needed most, but these gloves are designed for comfort and performance. They almost feel like they can catch the ball themselves.

The design of youth baseball gloves is done with the childs hand eye coordination and physical skills in mind. The physical skill of an adult means adult gloves can be made differently depending on the nature of the position they play, and with more webbing to allow them to snare baseballs a little more easily. A childs finger dexterity and strength arent fully developed, so theyre not going to be able to use a glove with the skill of an older youth or adult ball player. There are gloves for young tots, something that couldnt be done decades ago.

Additional helpful features of todays youth baseball gloves, such as anti-microbial treatments, which keep bacteria at bay. Its hot in the summer and your childs hand will sweat inside the glove.

Franklin Sports Gloves

With the physiology and coordination of youth ball players in mind, Franklin Sports has designed a wide range of quality youth baseball gloves. Their leather ball gloves range in size and styles but all are designed for comfort in how they fit the childs hand and how the leather is stitched. The result is an outstanding ball glove that will feel like a natural extension of the childs arm. On models for older youths, the gloves are all leather with deep pockets and lengths up to 12.5 inches. Thats plenty of glove for making tough catches.

With a Franklin baseball glove, your child wont have the same frustration or soreness from learning new baseball skills. Perhaps theyll avoid the stinging fingers, summer sweat that sees smelly bacteria forming inside the glove, and bruised shins that take some of the fun out of playing. A good glove wont rid your child of those embarrassing moments when they miss a catch, but it will increase their comfort level. Theyll be able to relax and theyll be more confident that they can learn their fielding skills.

After 6 weeks in Canada and the finality that we were no longer on vacation hit with a thud we werent going home.

I’d served 16 years in the Royal Air Force (RAF), so saying goodbye to a safe job seemed surreal. The final Christmas and New Year, the emotional family farewell, even the one way flight – it all seemed totally unreal! We found it hard to believe that over 2 years of planning had actually come to fruition and we were starting our new life near Calgary. Well, it was true. I was starting my new job the next day and the temperature was a cool – 25C !

We had discussed living in Canada in great length after my wifes sister had moved to Edmonton with her Canadian husband and were enjoying a lifestyle we could only dream of. We tried a few DIY assessments to see if we would qualify but found ourselves 1 point short of the pass mark which was 70 at that time.

We decided that wed have to hire an immigration professional. When we opened up the Immigration Newspaper Canada News, the first advert we saw was Access Migration Services who offered a free assessment. We spoke to Kerry Martin and discussed our thoughts. We received the assessment in the post, filled it in and returned it the next day. Kerry decided that we had a good chance of qualifying and so offered us a no visa no fee contract and so the process began.

We were inundated with forms and questionnaires and set to researching thoroughly what it all entailed. I assembled my qualifications and sent them to IQAS in Edmonton for a Canadian equivalency. Then I contacted Transport Canada to see if my aircraft maintenance licenses were valid. They werent, but I would be able to sit some exams, provide my full career history and work for a minimum of 6 months in Canadian Aviation. It didnt seem too bad considering I was hoping to move continents! We had to send off for police checks from Germany, the UK police and the RAF police to prove we had no criminal records, once they were back we could submit our application.

It was announced that the Canadian Immigration visa system was changing; no-one knew what would happen or when it would come into effect. Kerry kept us informed and was very reassuring during a troublesome time. I had to put in my 18 months notice to leave as the Immigration authorities required an exit date from the RAF 17th Feb 2003 was the date we chose.

We watched the horror of September 11th unfold; the aviation world collapsed and with the rest of the RAF, I became involved in the Afghan War and the unstable world climate that followed.

We managed to spend two weeks at Andie’s sisters in Calgary during October 2001, fitting in quad biking, hiking, trips to Banff, and also viewing show homes. We were getting a feel for southern Alberta and its opportunities. On our way home the airline (Canada 3000) went bankrupt as we flew into Gatwick on it another bad sign for my future employment.

With the police checks complete, we sent the application off to Kerry, who returned professionally presented paperwork with supporting documents for us to sign and return with the High Commission fees. The new Canadian Immigration system was finally announced with stricter point scoring that was back dated to all applications received after December 18th 2001. Ours had arrived there on 19th December!!!! We wouldnt qualify under the new rules; Kerry reassured us that as the new system hadnt been ratified by parliament it wasnt set in stone.

The authorities backed down after threats of legal action by several Canadian Immigration Lawyers, the cutoff date was set as June 1st 2002. All applications processed before then would be under the old rules we were back in with a chance. In Feb. 2002 our file number arrived we were being processed; we waited to see if we were to be called for an interview, accepted or declined. The wait was crazy Kerry kept us busy with regular information mailings on Canada, the reassuring voice on the end of the phone was worth the fee in itself. Andies sister was also busy in Calgary phoning around to establish points of contact for me. I had started to look at other employment and began some project management courses. As with my aircraft maintenance licenses I soon realized that UK qualifications wouldnt readily move to the Canadian system. I contacted the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and found they had an impressive curriculum of courses including several Project Management offerings and some great technical pre-employment courses that had a good history of the candidates finding employment in the field of choice.

The call came out of the blue: we had been accepted subject to Medicals and were not being called for an interview! The nearest approved clinic was in Oxford, Andie phoned immediately, the first appointment was eight weeks. We put the house on the market we needed to know it was sold before we could plan on moving. If we failed the medicals we decided I would still leave the RAF and we would move away from the area. Andies parents would let us stay with them if we sold the house.

We put the house on the market at the end of June 2002 and had a buyer in 3 days. The date of sale was set for the 31st August and we would move out on the 29th. We couldnt believe our luck, but it wasnt to be all plain sailing! The clinic phoned first, they had double booked us and wed have to wait an extra two months. Andie had a bit of a chat with them and they finally agreed to squeeze us in as an extra appointment after a heated debate!

All 4 of us had to have medicals the kids didnt have x-rays or blood tests but we each had 40 minutes with the doctor, hearing and blood pressure tests. Even though there were no health issues as far as we knew I managed to stress about the whole deal and ended up failing the blood pressure test. Apart from the embarrassment, I had to have a cardiograph to make sure I was ok. This delayed the medicals being sent back by a week as the cardiograph had to be analyzed by a cardiologist. I didnt feel too clever!

We checked out the different shipping agencies. Kerry recommended PSS shipping – a family run business with a good reputation and a good quote. When we called to book we had almost left it too late. They managed to fit us in as we only had a relatively small load to ship. We agreed on a shared container for the shipping on a door to door service. They would arrive to pack everything on the 28th August. We just hoped the Medicals were OK!

While I was deployed away with the Air force, the house sale had stalled due to an argument between the lawyers! We couldnt sack them as then the whole process would have to start again and there would be no chance of us making a deadline for a currency transfer we had booked. There were large penalties for missing the date. We couldnt cancel the removals at such short notice either, as it too would incur large penalties. So we were facing moving out to Andies parents and leaving the house empty whilst still paying the mortgage, taxes and bills. On top of that the insurance was only valid for 30 days once it was empty and we were booked on flights to Calgary to go house hunting!

Eventually, Kerry phoned with the news that we were accepted and just had to sign some documents and send in our passports and photos to claim our visas. At last the relief of knowing took away the house nightmare for a day or two. The date was set January 11th 2003. There is only a 3 month window where the forms were valid so we decided to send the paperwork off once we had returned from Canada as the house drama was starting to become serious. We were about to set off to Canada for a month with the house sale still in limbo. We managed to gain assurances that things were moving behind the scenes and that all would be completed in time for our money transfer, all we could do was board the plane and hope for the best!

In Canada, we were recommended a local realtor (Estate Agent). He helped us find a plot of land and reputable builder to build the house of our dreams. We arranged a mortgage (with 35% down you dont need to have a job for approval) and agreed on the deal all that was missing was the cash! Eventually, the house sale went through, the money arrived into our Canadian bank in 72 hours. I was astonished (and thankful) at how the transfer went like clockwork. It was time to spend!!!! We went in to sign the house deal with the realtor and wrote out the house purchase agreement. The realtor handled all the negotiations on our behalf but always made sure we agreed to everything. We put down the 10% deposit needed to secure the deal (the rest is paid at possession) and put the house building process into gear.

The day after we returned, we gathered up our documents and photos and sent them recorded delivery to the High Commission in London. It would take approximately 3 weeks to process and then wed be on our way.

We researched and chose the shipping company for our Golden Retriever which would cost us more to ship than our one way tickets! These one way flights were booked for the 11th January 2003 and it seemed strange paying more to ship a dog than a family of four! The rest they say, is history!

Weve been here 18 months now and can honestly say it has worked out better than we had ever imagined. The first 8 months or so had more stress than I have ever had before and times were extremely hard but now we are settled its hard to imagine being back in the UK. The air is clean, scenery amazing and there is so much to do theres no spare time! The beer isnt too clever but you cant have everything!

I hope this will give you an insight into Canadian Immigration and inspire rather than disturb!! If you decide to give it a go good luck!

Let me throw a few statements at you and see if they sound familiar. By the way, hide your thoughts from me because Im going to try to read your mind and guess your answer.

Here goes

Its a numbers.game. The more people you contact, the more you will enroll.

You got to send out 50 magazines/info packs every month. Youre not serious if youre not on a [insert number] autoship for [insert tool name].

You can sift through 20 people in a few hours. Ask them if theyre interested. If not, move on to the next person.

Just send them out; these tools have a long shelf life.

Get the picture? Have you heard that or something similar before from your upline? Wait dont tell me. Let me guess. Hmmm Yep, you have.

This is an approach thats taught by many. I call it the throw mud at the wall and see what sticks approach. Ive tried it. Guess what? Maybe it was just bad luck, but the walls I picked were made from Teflon. Nothing stuck. Several thousand dollars later and my results were a spectacular zero, zip.

Why is that?

The MLM rock stars usually tell you, This is a million dollar tip. Well, what Im about to tell you is a thousands of dollars savings tip. So, listen up.

People DO NOT CARE about you and your wonderful opportunity. To them, youre just another one thats trying to either drag them into something or get your hand into their pockets.

Sending them tools that describe how wonderful your company and opportunity are serves just one purpose. It moves inventory and inflates the bank balances of the people who publish the tools. They love you, I promise.

At the other end of the chain, your prospects might send the tool back to you if you were smart enough to ask them to do so. Otherwise they just toss it in the trash. Your grocery money, in the trash.

Im known as someone who networks with other network marketers, just for the sake of networking.

Ever so often I get an email from someone where I can literally picture the new distributor jumping up and down, shouting, Look at my opportunity! Look at my opportunity!

Poor soul, she has probably sent that email to hundreds of people. Why? Cuz her upline told her so. She may have received back a handful of no thank yous and she has enrolled the grand total of zero new distributors or product customers for her efforts.

Even at a minimum wage, she has spent an awful amount in the time it took to send out all those emails, especially if she did not know about mail merge.

Also, what she didnt know was that her domain was probably close to being blacklisted as an origin of spam. That would send all her future emails straight into the junk mail folder where her opportunity can rub shoulders with bigger boobs, higher sex drive, free credit cards, and all those other fantastic offers that we all cannot wait to read about every day.

Wait, I digress

What do people care about?

They care only about their lives. They care only about their challenges, about their dreams if they have any left, and about their wants, needs, and dont wants.

Heres my million dollar tip to you. Youre wasting your time pitching your opportunity to people who dont care. Heavy rocket science stuff. Duh.

Dont even think about talking to someone about your company, products, or opportunity until you know what the person wants, needs, or doesnt want.

Once you know that, you can show the person how your company, products, and opportunity can give them specifically what they want, need, or dont want.

Then they will care, they will listen, and they will look.

“Wait,” you say, “that sounds like a lot of hard work.” Ever noticed the word work in network? Yes, network marketing is no different from any other business. It takes a lot of hard work to succeed.

I will devote future newsletters to several ideas and threads that I’ve raised here.

One last thought I want to share with you. Always remember, you are not dealing with prospects. You are not dealing with leads. You are not dealing with numbers. You are not dealing with entries on a list.

You are dealing with people. Treat them that way.

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Does this symphony sound familiar?

You are too!

Am not!!

You are TOO!

AM NOT!

YOU ARE ALSO!!

AM NOT!!

Familiar? It’s how kids argue. I’m sure you’ve tried this mode of arguing decades back.

Children, when pointed out that they are “xxx”, tend to retaliate that their accuser is also “xxx” The accuser then balks, because people hate having their arguments thrown back at them. It’s human nature and this demonstrates the Reflexivity Principle of Argumentation.

By applying a belief statement back to the person asserting it, we test the applicability of that belief within an equitable context. By equitable context, I mean that what’s good for the Gander should also be good for the Goose. This determines the universality of the statement. If, by throwing an argument back to its issuer, we observe a resistance, then this could indicate a presence double standards. This surely makes the argument IRRATIONAL, and NON-UNIVERSAL.

Let’s see this in play.

She says, ” You’re always with your officemates. Obviously you don’t like me anymore”

To counter this with Reflexivity , you apply her argument back to her by saying, “My dear, you spend at least 3 hours a day with your friends after work. Does this imply that you love me less now as well?”

She will then see the irrationality of her argument.

Let’s try another.

Mark says, “The Bush Administration wastes so much time bickering, debating and arguing. Obviously this country is going nowhere. Such a waste of time!”

So you come to the good ole US of A’s defense by saying, “I see…. so shall I assume that your business will never prosper either? Your Board spends a lot of time deliberating and debating. I observed that you, as Chairman, even seem to enjoy this and you goad them on! Now despite all that bickering, your company grows 10% per annum. Mark, I’m sure you’re already aware of the value of debate. Healthy deliberation illuminates multiple avenues of action. That’s what your Board does. That’s what the Bush administration accomplishes.”

Okay, let’s put this to practice. Someone brave, come to the front; volunteer 10 arguments.

Then let’s have someone else come up with ten counter arguments using this principle.

Have fun!

Oldest Health Benefit Provider Committed to Improving Health Care

75 years ago Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) was created to ensure healthcare for lumber and mining workers in the Pacific Northwest and hospital coverage for teachers in Texas. Now providing care benefits to more than 94 million Americans, BCBS is the oldest and largest health insurance companies in the United States.

With plans in all 50 states, plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, the BCBS Association serves as the trade organization for the 38 independently run local BCBS health benefit groups that serve 1 in 3 Americans. Using their clout to create a national presence, BCBS offers numerous community programs that are dedicated to education, research and collaboration. Programs related to research and professional development includes the Foundation on Health Care and the Academy for Health Care Management. Those associated with public education consist of labor outreach through the National Labor Organization (NLO), an educational campaign, focusing on the issue of performance enhancing drugs, called Healthy Competition and the PBS television series Second Opinion.

BCBS Foundation on Health Care

The BCBS Foundation on Health Care, which is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit group, coordinates health service research amongst numerous organizations across the nation. The Foundation acts as a facilitator between government agencies, colleges and universities and health plans. It sponsors both the Health Services Research Advisory Council (HSRAC), composed of nationally recognized health care experts, and the Health Services Research Alliance (HSRA), whose participating institutions are located in 25 states.

The HSRAC helps to identify key areas of and provide guidance in multi-plan health services research, offers input regarding how changes in the accessibility and delivery of health care may impact individuals, groups and communities and gives assistance relating to the funding and development of potential studies.

Organizations within the HSRA work collaboratively through the BCBS Foundation to provide key studies that are population and evidence-based. The Foundation is dedicated to creating important partnerships between various institutions, expanding funding opportunities and strengthening its presence in the health insurance and health care community. The group disseminates information relating to health care conferences, promotes data based studies relating to medical issues and works to improve the quality of services and their delivery.

Academy for Healthcare Management

The academy was formed when the BCBS Association and the American Association of Health Plans and Health Insurance Association of America (AAHP-HIAA) joined forces to offer online educational opportunities for professionals interested in broadening their knowledge of the challenges, priorities and procedures connected to managed care operations. Participants are given the opportunity to utilize up-to-date management concepts in everyday, real world situations, learning via instant response and assessment.

Course materials, which are regularly modified, provide students with information, principles and problems designed to solidify basic knowledge and expand upon advanced concepts and practices as they relate to the healthcare industry. Upon completing coursework, along with earning Continuing Education credits, students can be designated as a Professional, Academy of Healthcare Management (PAHM) or Fellow, Academy of Healthcare Management (FAHM).

National Labor Office

BCBS created the NLO over forty years ago, and they continue to fund it today. The NLO is the arm for labor outreach, which focuses on keeping union members abreast of health care developments, strengthening ties to organized labor and providing quality programs and services to the over 20 million union members and their families.

Primarily, NLO acts as a liaison between BCBS and labor, providing educational materials, developing relationships between various organizations and offering important information. Pending legislation, new healthcare products, developing trends, managed care and bargaining strategies are all addressed by the NLO.

Along with communicating with unions, the NLO facilitates the exchange of information and discussion of issues between union officials and BCBS senior officers. Together, they work to address concerns specific to each union, including developing a healthier working environment, defining value-related healthcare and supplying health plan analysis, reporting and design.

The NLO communicates with unions via newsletters, the web and informational meetings as well as through its central office.

Healthy Competition

The Healthy Competition program was developed by BCBS in response to the increased use and popularity of performance enhancing drugs by both professional and amateur athletes. Healthy Competition encourages those involved in athletics to safeguard their health and the integrity of their sport by competing drug free.

The program offers information related to drug use, sports and good health. It delineates profiles of the three types of performance enhancing drugsstimulants, blood doping substances and anabolic steroids. Healthy Competition supports research and education and promotes public awareness through various initiatives.

PBS Second Opinion

BCBS provides sponsorship for the 2005-2006 season of Second Opinion, the PBS series that engages various medical professionals in discussion of actual medical cases. The program attempts to broaden the publics understanding of medical issues, choices and procedures encountered in our complex and ever changing world.

BCBS is the major health benefit provider in America. It has grown greatly since its initiation 75 years ago. However, through a commitment to professional and public education and betterment, it continues to focus on serving individual groups, as it did when it first started providing benefits to teachers, lumbermen and miners.

Adrenal Fatigue occurs when your adrenal glands – 2 small glands that sit on top of your kidneys – become overworked and depleted. Your adrenal glands are responsible for handling the stresses of your daily life, whether that be physical stress, emotional stress, or psychological stress.

When your adrenal glands become overworked, they cannot keep up with the stresses of your everyday life. You then start to manifest the symptoms of adrenal fatigue.

Note that just because you have one or two of the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency does not mean that you have adrenal fatigue. However if you find you have the majority of these symptoms then you may want to investigate further.

You’ll want to learn some of the common causes of adrenal fatigue to see if you can identify with any of these causes in your own life. You’ll also want to see your doctor for a full medical workup and diagnosis of adrenal fatigue.

Here are the key symptoms of adrenal fatigue:

You’re Tired For No Explainable Reason

People with adrenal fatigue experience extreme physical exhaustion and they don’t have an explanation as to why (such as a strenuous workout). This isn’t just everyday tiredness it is extreme exhaustion.

You Gain Weight Easily – Especially Around the Middle

People with adrenal fatigue often notice they gain weight very easily. They especially notice the extra weight around the middle – and it’s very hard to lose it.

You Have Difficulty Rising In The Morning

Those with adrenal fatigue often find they feel tired when getting up in the morning – even with a full night’s sleep. They often need stimulants like caffeine and sugar to ‘get going’ both in the morning and throughout the day.

You’re More Susceptible To Flus and Colds

If you have adrenal fatigue, you may notice that you seem to be catching every flu and cold that comes within 10 feet of you. You’ll also notice that it seems harder for your body to bounce back from illness.

You Often Feel Overwhelmed and Run Down

People with adrenal insufficiency often feel run down and overwhelmed with the tasks they have to accomplish. They may feel as if they can’t keep up and do it all. (This can lead to other symptoms like depression and social withdrawal)

You May Crave Salty or Sweet Snacks

This may include high protein snacks like meat or cheese. Some people with adrenal fatigue can have an increased craving for salt. You might also notice an intense craving for sweets and fast carbs like donuts, chocolate bars, pastries, ice cream etc.

You Feel Better In A Less Stressful Environment

Many people with adrenal insufficiency feel better when on vacation. Their symptoms may even clear up entirely but then return when they go back to their normal lives.

You Are Troubled By ‘Brain Fog’ or Inability to Concentrate

This may include things like the inability to remember certain details, appointments, etc. This may also include a feeling of confusion or difficulty concentrating.

Increased PMS For Women

Women with adrenal disorder may find their periods become heavier and/or irregular. They may also notice increased PMS mood swings and/or food cravings.

Those are several key symptoms of adrenal fatigue. Other symptoms include:

Lightheadedness/Low Blood Pressure

Tendency to Tremble When Under Pressure

Reduced Sex Drive

Heart Palpitations

Nervousness/Raw Nerves

Poor Digestion

Feel Most Energetic in the Evening

Extremely Senstive To Cold

If you can identify with the majority of these adrenal fatigue symptoms you may want to read about the causes of adrenal fatigue to see if you can identify with any of them in your own personal life. You’ll also want to see your doctor for more tests and a complete diagnosis.

Adrenal fatigue can be overcome and you can feel better. Listen to your body, cut back on stress and treat yourself well.