Screenwriting, Screenplays, Screenwriters ? Good Ideas for Stories

The principle for writing good screenplays begins with good idea generation and then the use of structure to extrapolate that idea into a coherent story.

Sources of Good Ideas

a) Ideas that push cultural boundaries work well. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, The Defiant Ones, On the Watefront and so on were all controversial in their time and still very watchable movies.

b) Ideas that tug at the emotions and arouse passions. Imagine the worst thing you would want to happen to you. What are you most embarrassing moments? What causes the most pain?

c) Cathartic events. Protagonists engage in conflict and challenge but the final act is always cathartic.

d) Aspirational and self-actualising events. Make the audience move toward their ideal selves.

e) Fantasy and escapism. Take the audience to a new place, we're tired of this world today.

f) Humour. What are the funniest, most ridiculous, most hypocritical, incongruous, bizarre, irrational moments of life.

g) Education and morality. Teach them something or show them how we should be.

h) Special people. Take us into the world of people we fear or admire. Show us the lives of people who have travelled to places we dare not or cannot go.

i) Romance and love. How sweet it is when we can get it.

j) Different people. Show us how different people live. Compare and contrast.

k) The power of the group. Show us how we are more intelligent, able and greater together than alone.

l) Ambition. Is it pleasure or poison. Does it fulfill or corrupt.

m) Friendship. How real are our friendships. Do we know who our real friends are. What happens when they betray us.

n) Intellectual cross pollination - search the media, information sources...

o) Simply choose a story and write a screenplay. Good ideas will come to you during the project - make sure you capture them.

Structural Templates

a) The classic template is the HERO'S JOURNEY, consisting of 106 sequences with more than 30 in the final act.

The Hero's journey can be reformed in an infinite number of ways:

b) The THREE KINGS, where the three rivals battle it out.

c) The LONE WOLF, where the Hero succeeds without he aid of allies, the Goddess or the Shape Shifter.

d) NO WAY BUT DOWN, where an anti-hero falls from grace and does not recover.

These topics are further discussed and Story Structure Templates and other Managing Creativity and Innovation products are available at http://www.managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

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You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com/

Using an e-Signature to Guarantee a Boost in Your Web Traffic!

Using an e-signature is one of the easiest, most effective ways to bring targeted visitors to your site. Many webmasters waste this great opportunity to advertise their site, and bring potential customers to their site.

An e-signature is really your personal internet signature which you leave at the end of every piece of writing on the internet whether it is an email, article or forum post. Check out my e-signature below:

====================================
100s of free ebooks and software products -
Go to - http://www.info-ebooks.co.uk
Email me: will@info-ebooks.co.uk
====================================

The aim of your e-signature should be to try and get people clicking on the link back to your site. Make sure you put your link in the signature where it is clearly visible. I suggest putting your link on a separate line from other text to make it easy for a viewer to know where to click.

Make sure you inform the reader where they're clicking to. Include a small description of no more than 20 - 30 words that informs the reader where they're clicking to and also sells the benefit of your site. Make it very clear how the viewer will benefit from your site if they click on your link.

Always include your contact information in your e-signature. People always want to know where to go if they have a problem or want more information. If they have to look around for your email, then they will be unimpressed and may pass on bad word about your site's service to others. On the other hand, if they can contact you easily and you can reply quickly with a polite, helpful email, then they will very likely pass on good words to their friends. Including your contact information also invites people to ask questions or find out additional information. This gives you a possible new prospect, a new email address, and valuable information about an outsider's views on your site which you could add to your FAQ page if it is a question, or a testimonial page if it is a positive comment. Leaving your contact information on articles you have written is extremely important. This will give publishers who might want to include you article in their ezine a chance to contact you. Publishers will not include your article if they can not contact you first.

Try to make your e-signature stand out. Although e-signatures are the one of the most neglected ways of advertising, there are plenty of other people who are using them to boost their web traffic. I've found that the "=" sign is an effective way of making e-signatures stand out. If you are sending emails regularly with an e-signature then try to change the border of your e-signature now and again. If people see a difference in your e-signature it will rouse their curiosity and make them click on the link.

An alternative way of making your e-signature stand out is to use 'P.S' like you would in a written letter. People are naturally curious and are always going to read that last little bit of an email or article, just to find out what else the writer has to tell them. I find that this tactic is particularly useful when writing an informative email to subscribers about updates on my site.

Overall, I suggest experimenting with your e-signature until you have it just right. Ask your friends whether they think it is effective and whether it stands out sufficiently. Just keep on trying new e-signatures out until you get the highest response rates.

For 100s of free ebooks and software about making and developing your internet site -

Go to - http://www.info-ebooks.co.uk
Email me - will@info-ebooks.co.uk

Where is Your Focus?

I have a long-term goal--a life-long goal really--to develop the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). I want to think His thoughts, to share His attitudes, and to see the world and its people as He saw them, as He sees them.

Jesus found spiritual truths in every-day incidents, like straining milk into a pitcher or setting aside a lump of dough to rise. I want to find such insights in the world racing past me, but I must confess that it doesn't often happen. I think this is because I do not yet see things often enough from a spiritual point of view.

One day recently, though, I was downtown, walking beside the train tracks, when something on the other side caught my attention--a person hurrying along who had a familiar face. I stopped for a moment to watch, and as I did, a commuter train whizzed by.

For a second I was annoyed that the train was blocking my view, but then I realized that I could still see the walker if I looked through the windows on both sides of the train and ignored the solid walls as they shot past.

Almost immediately I was struck with the lesson acted out before me. We sometimes try to examine eternal truths, like love, justice, mercy, humility, and just as we begin to identify the ways we connect to them, the commuter-train-busyness of life careens past, distracting us and blocking our view.

Only by concentrating and focusing on what is important can we regain our vision of the eternal. And then sometimes, our attention can be so set that we hardly even notice what whizzes and clackety-clacks just past our noses.

Paul put it this way, "We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18). Where is your focus today?

Copyright ? 2005 Steve Singleton, All rights reserved.

Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles on subjects of interest to Bible students. He has taught Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses Bible college, university, and adult education programs. He has taught seminars and workshops in 11 states and the Caribbean.

Go to his DeeperStudy.com for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore "The Shallows," plumb "The Depths," or use the well-organized "Study Links" for original sources in English translation. Sign up for Steve's free "DeeperStudy Newsletter."

Visual Science of Selling

Statistics state that 55% of people judgments are made based on what is seen visually, as opposed to 38% based on voice and the message you give. That means what you promote using images is the most important factor in making the right connection.

This observation makes the Internet the biggest opportunity to sell. It's been said that information is king, but in the world of the Internet, it's image. Here the visual presentations are the most usual method to promote your product/service. According to web development tools you have at your disposal photos, images, animations, movies to enhance your marketing strategies and create a professional sale system

There are thousands of authors out there teaching sales people on how to turn more prospects into customers, how to increase their sales, and convince people to buy. Almost all of their books state that creating an image of your product is the best thing you must do and this is nothing else but to recognize the importance of visual methods in sales process.

Here are some 'visual' tips that salespeople may use effectively in selling their products

Use images in your website. An image values more than a thousand words. Take care to not overload your web site with high tech gadgets. They can create a slow loading web page and distract people away from your offer.

Use text with descriptive terms and phrases in a manner that compel images in your customers, something like "see with your own eyes", "come and see our product", "red alert" and so on.

Make your prospects feel that they need the product, and help them visualize how much better their life will be after the purchase.

Get your visitors excited about your product by showing them how excited other people are about it. Tell them why they're excited and use images with satisfied people.

Provide testimonials on your site from your happy customers. When asking if you can publish testimonials, ask if you may also include and photo along with their endorsement. This will add more 'visual' credibility to your testimonials and further decrease any resistance your visitors may have to your sales message.

Keep people at your web site as long as possible. You may allow them to download for free e-books, movies, banners, signs and other visual materials These techniques are most effective when used in concert. They require effort and practice to be able to leverage their full potential, so take the time to study them. Apply these techniques to the weak areas and put the science of selling to work for you.

Valerian Dinca is the owner of the newest online business tutorial. Everything you need when you need it.

How to Boost Your Adsense Revenue?

By using this tutorial you will learn how to increase web traffic and click-through rates. In short you can increase your Adsense income by increasing Impressions, Click-through and Effective CPM. Improving your web statistics in any, or preferably, all of these three key areas will increase your Adsense revenue.

Increasing Impressions (Increasing web traffic)

Basically the impressions are the number of times your web pages with Adsense ads have been viewed. So it is directly proportional to the number or visitors to your web site. So, you can increase Impressions by increasing traffic to your web site. Learn our tutorial http://www.roseindia.net/webpromotion/webpromotion.shtml on web promotion, which explains how you can increase your web traffic. In short here are some of the best ways to increase targeted traffic to your web pages:

More web pages means more traffic. So, create more web pages, with relevant, laser focused content.

Increase the link popularity for your web site

List your website/s under relevant categories in more directories

Set up a directory of relevant sites on your website and accept relevant reciprocal links

Write articles relevant to your web site and submit in the article directories

Increasing Adsense click-through Even if your web site is receiving a lot of traffic, you will be earn only if your visitors clicks on the Adsense Ads and visits the advertiser web site. Clickthroughs are nothing but it is percentage of viewers who click on your Adsense ads. You can increase click-through by increasing the relevance of Adsense ads on your site, and by tweaking the format and placement of your ads. You can try different placements and colors of the ads, but be careful that the ads mixes with the content of your web site style.

Try to make the different pages with different kinds of content. And make sure that these content pages are very clearly focused. Then Google will be able to serve highly relevant AdWords to your visitors. And in this way your visitors will be more interested in the ads, which results in higher click through rates -- and more money for you!

Increasing Adsense CPM

You can also increase your Adsense income by increasing Adsense CPM. The effective CPM is a measure of your average earnings, per thousand clicks. The CPM can be increased by selecting topics (keywords) that attract high bids from Adsense advertisers in your web pages. You can use overture bid tool http://uv.bidtool.overture.com/d/USm/search/tools/bidtool/ to find the bid amount for your key words. On the internet there are a number of keyword research tools available, both free and paid, that you can use to find the high paid key words.

In short here is steps that you should follow to Increase your total Adsense revenue:

Develop your web site using high paying key words

Design layout of your web site and put the ads focusing on the maximum click-through

Promote your web site in search engines and get more traffic on your web site

http://www.roseindia.net/webhostingguide/howtoboostadsenserevenue.shtml

Who Are Your Kids Talking To Online?

Studies have shown that:

1 out of 4 children were sent pictures of people who were naked or having sex?

1 out of 5 children were solicited for sex on the Internet

50% of people have made phone calls with someone the chatted with online.

Do you know what strangers are saying to your kids?

What can you do to protect your children from unscrupulous people in the Internet?

Today's children, and specially teens, spend more time on the computer. Even though the Internet is nowadays the primary source of communication for them, it is also a dangerous place.

There are some unscrupulous people out there that would go to any extent to engage in indecent conversations and relationships with your children.

A study done with 1,200 teenagers revealed that 30% had been sexually harassed online and about 50% had conducted cyber love affairs, visited porn sites and read their parents' e-mails.

Curiosity can be very dangerous. Even though this is normal at their age, curiosity can lead to giving out personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, school names and more.

Since the other person talking to your kids cannot be seen, a 55-year old can pose as a 16-year old and win your kid's trust very easily.

I know that we, as parents, are not always watching what our kids are doing online but it's important to know the options we have to protect our children and avoid major problems.

There are blocking softwares that you can purchase to filter web sites containing sex, sexuality and other adult sites. You can also get a spy software that will let you know everything your kids are doing online.

These softwares will monitor instant messages, chats, emails, web site URLs and much more. Not only do you see what your child types online but what is said back as well. They monitor both incoming and outgoing activity. Additionally, your kids will not be able to get around the software programs by clearing cache or history because they get everything as it happens, including passwords.

These software programs run in total secrecy, and are very hard to find in the computer. They will not slow down your computer, or do anything noticeable to the user. In order to see the recorded information, all you do is enter your secret password and they will activate?but only for you.

These programs do not appear in the START menu, nor will they appear in the CTR-ALT-DEL Task Manager.

Protect Your Children Now.

Maria Estarellas is the webmaster for http://www.1mykids.com "The Complete Website For The Whole Family". Parenting Tips, Crafts, Hobbies, School Projects and Essays, Toys, Gifts, Clothing, Articles, Mortgage Tips, How to Start Your Own Online Business and More.

The Truth about C Reactive Protein and Cholesterol Lowering Drugs

You might disagree, but hear me out on this...

The drug companies know what they want you to think. They want you to think that the only reliable predictor for heart disease is an elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level, and the best way to decrease your risk to take "statin" drugs such as Zocor and Lipitor. Cholesterol-reducing medications are among the highest-grossing pharmaceutical products ever, so drug companies want to lead you to their medications. But an elevated LDL-cholesterol level is not the only predictor of heart disease. It's not even the best predictor--that honor goes to a little known test that looks for elevated levels of C-reactive protein.

What is C-reactive protein?

C-reactive protein is produced by the body during times of inflammation. Doctors are not exactly sure why some people have elevated C reactive protein and others have normal levels, but they do know that high C reactive protein is linked to higher rates of heart disease, stroke, heart attack, and sudden cardiac death.

Traditional doctors agree that a test for C-reactive protein is a better measure of a person's risk for heart disease than cholesterol. The New England Journal of Medicine reported in November of 2002 that elevated C reactive protein predicts cardiovascular problems better than elevated LDL-cholesterol. The American Heart Association agrees.

How Is Elevated C Reactive Protein Determined?

The test to determine C-reactive protein levels is quite simple. A blood sample is taken, and the sample is analyzed in the laboratory. It's a test that's neither expensive nor invasive.

Even though doctors agree that C-reactive protein is such a powerful predictor for heart disease, the simple test is not often offered to patients. Why? They don't ask for it. Commercial advertising (supported by pharmaceutical companies who make money from lowering people's cholesterol levels) leads patients to ask their doctors to prescribe cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. They rarely ask about C-reactive protein tests and remedies because it's not a big-money business.

What Home Remedies Treat High C Reactive Protein?

Drug companies that sell statin drugs know that they could lose money if people start worrying more about their C-reactive protein levels than they do about their LDL-cholesterol levels. They are quick to point out that studies show that the same drugs used to lower cholesterol will also lower C-reactive protein. However, these drugs are both expensive and dangerous. Muscle reactions have left patients severely disfigured, and even physicians are questioning the wisdom and efficacy of widespread use of statin drugs.

Happily, natural healing offers many ways to keep C-reactive protein levels in the healthy range. These methods can be used to lower elevated C reactive protein, or to maintain good heart health. Even better, natural methods for reducing C-reactive protein have been proven by scientists to be as good as or better than drug therapy at combating C-reactive protein.

Diet--Healthnotes Newswire reported the conclusions of one study that showed that making several positive changes to one's diet could significantly reduce C-reactive protein levels. Adding plant sterols, insoluble fiber, soy protein, and almonds to the low-fat, vegetarian diets of test subjects helped reduce C-reactive protein levels by 28 percent more than a control group fed a low-fat, vegetarian diet.

Other studies have found links between increased consumption of whole grains and reduced C-reactive protein levels. These studies show that subjects who ate more simple carbohydrates had higher C reactive protein levels than subjects who ate more complex carbs.

Supplementation--Vitamin and mineral supplements have also shown to be an inexpensive, effective weapon against C-reactive protein.

Niacin--Niacin is a B-complex vitamin that works so well to lower cholesterol and C-reactive protein that it is regulated by the FDA and available by doctors in prescription strengths. Consumers can also buy high-quality B-complex vitamins, which have many other benefits, from any health food store.

Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin E--Supplementing with vitamin E will reduce your C-reactive protein levels and enhance your health. Scientists have recently proven that combining vitamin E supplementation with coenzyme Q10 is even more effective, and can reduce C-reactive protein levels by as much as 30 percent.

Conclusions

It's still a good idea to make the diet and lifestyle changes that will lower your LDL-cholesterol levels. Reducing your intake of trans and saturated fats will help you live a longer life. If you're concerned about your risk of coronary disease, though, focus on you C-reactive protein levels. Ask your doctor for a blood test to determine your level of C-reactive protein. If it's high, talk to your physician about using diet and exercise, along with nutritional supplementation, to lower your C-reactive protein levels and your risk of heart disease.

References

"Comparison of C-Reactive Protein and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in the Prediction of First Cardiovascular Events." Paul M. Ridker, M.D., Nader Rifai, Ph.D., Lynda Rose, M.S., Julie E. Buring, Sc.D., and Nancy R. Cook, Sc.D. The New England Journal of Medicine. 347:1557-1565, Nov. 11, 2002.

"Inflammation, Heart Disease and Stroke: The Role of C-Reactive Protein." http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4648

"Dietary Changes Can Reduce Cholesterol and C-Reactive Protein as Much as Medication." http://www.newhope.com/news.cfm?news=1355.

Dan Ho is editor of both Nutritional Supplement Info Spotlight, and Beat Your Health Condition which offer unconventional and unique solutions for common health issues. Claim your FREE subscription to his newsletter now at Nutritional Supplements Info Newsletter.

Useful Tips On Buying A New Or Used Car

Buying A New Car: A new car is second only to a home as the most expensive purchase many consumers make. That's why it's important to know how to make a smart deal. Think about what car model and options you want and how much you're willing to spend. Do some research. You'll be less likely to feel pressured into making a hasty or expensive decision at the showroom and more likely to get a better deal.

Consider these suggestions:

Check publications at a library or bookshop, or on the Internet that discuss new car features and prices. These may provide information on the dealer's costs for specific models and options.

Shop around to get the best possible price by comparing models and prices in ads and at dealer showrooms. You also may want to contact car-buying services and broker-buying services to make comparisons.

Plan to negotiate on price. Dealers may be willing to bargain on their profit margin. Usually, this is the difference between the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) and the invoice price. Because the price is a factor in the dealer's calculations regardless of whether you pay cash or finance your car - and also affects your monthly payments - negotiating the price can save you money.

Consider ordering your new car if you don't see what you want on the dealer's lot. This may involve a delay, but cars on the lot may have options you don't want - and that can raise the price. However, dealers often want to sell their current inventory quickly, so you may be able to negotiate a good deal if an in-stock car meets your needs.

Trading in Your Old Car: Discuss the possibility of a trade-in only after you've negotiated the best possible price for your new car and after you've researched the value of your old car. Check the library for reference books or magazines that can tell you how much it is worth. This information may help you get a better price from the dealer. Though it may take longer to sell your car yourself, you generally will get more money than if you trade it in.

Buying A Used Car: Before you start shopping for a used car, do some homework. It may save you serious money. Consider driving habits, what the car will be used for, and your budget. Research models, options, costs, repair records, safety tests, and mileage through libraries, book stores, and web sites.

Before you buy a used car whether from a dealer or an individual: Examine the car using an inspection checklist. You can find checklists in magazines and books and on Internet sites that deal with used cars; Test drive the car under varied road conditions-on hills, highways, and in stop-and-go-traffic; Ask for the car's maintenance record from the owner, dealer, or repair shop; Hire a mechanic to inspect the car. Paying for the car: Most people do not realise that they have capital locked up in their property which could be used for buying that special car of their dreams.

Release the capital tied up in your home with a home owner loan. The loan can be used for any purpose, and is available to anyone who owns their home. Home loans can be used for any purpose such as, new car, home improvements, pay of store card or credit card debt and debt consolidation.

Home owner loans are available for practically any reason. One of the most common types of home owner loans on offer are debt consolidation loans where the objective is to reduce monthly outgoings to a more manageable amount. A UK Home Owner Loan is great if you want to raise a large amount; are having problems getting an unsecured loan; or have a poor credit history. Many lenders look more favourably on people who are home owners as this demonstrates a commitment to repay a large amount of money over a long period.

A UK Home Owner Loan is a cheap, low cost, loan secured on your UK home. It frees up the equity in your home for you to use on whatever you want.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Believe In Yourself And Become a Winner: Lessons from Hollywood

Copyright 2004 Priya Shah

A while ago I made it a point to watch the movie "Legally Blonde."

Not just for the bright, chirpy and eminently watchable Reese Witherspoon, but also because I loved the message it sent out.

If you didn't see the movie, all you need to know is that it's about a smart, fashion-conscious blonde who's told time and again, by her family and friends, that it'simpossible for someone like her to go to Harvard law school.

That she's just not smart enough and doesn't have what it takes.

In the movie, the character played by Witherspoon not only goes to Harvard law, but also through sheer determination and intuition, graduates at the top of her class.

Its just the sort of movie people love. Because it makes us believe that we too are capable of achieving anything we want to.

It reminds us how we often let ourselves, and others, underestimate our own potential.

And how we undermine our own sense of self, because of what we look like or where we came from.

But why just let it remain a movie, when it can be the story of your life...

Have you ever asked yourself what it is that keeps you from reaching your full potential?

From doing what you are inherently capable of?

For many of us, it's a lack of belief in ourselves. A lack of confidence in our own ability to succeed.

And because we believe we will fail, we usually do.

But there are people who have succeeded beyond all expectation - no matter what they look like, or where they come from.

One of my favourite role models who comes to mind is another Hollywood celebrity, Barbra Streisand.

Indeed, one of my favourite films of all time is her movie, "Yentl," about a courageous, intelligent woman trying to fulfill her capabilities, in the face of overwhelming odds.

"Yentl" was also the movie in which Streisand became the first woman ever to produce, direct, write and star in a major motion picture.

Streisand carved her own path, and broke the mould.

She showed how a woman with unconventional looks can make it in a field where beauty is more important than brains.

So, if you believe that you are less than someone, because of your lack of education, looks, talent, background or ability, take courage from her achievements.

They are an inspiration not only for women, but for everyone.

Because all it take is a belief. The belief that you can do what it takes.

Don't wait for someone else to give you an opportunity to prove yourself. Stop depending on others for handouts.

Don't wait for the right opportunity to fall in your lap. Because it never will.

All you need to carve your own path, is the confidence and the belief that you can succeed at anything you set out to do, no matter what the odds.

So start today. Choose a mentor.

Learn from the masters. Re-invent yourself.

Create your own opportunities and forge your own future.

Your belief in yourself, coupled with the courage to see it through, is what will carry you from a life of mediocrity and under-achievement, into a world where you can be the winner you aspire to be.

Priya Shah is the editor of the newsletters Be a Whiz at eBiz! and The Glutathione Report She shows you how to truly build multiple sources of income online with the Brilliant Team Home Business Opportunity

After the Kilt Sniggers - Comes the Tartan Question

I want a kilt - can I have it in Tartan?

Simple answer is yes.

The same as anything you buy for sustained use, you have a few choices to make. But nothing too taxing.

The most common misconception that people have is that if there is a particular tartan design they like that is associated to a specific family - or clan as they are called in Scotland - then they aren't allowed to wear it.

Well, not strictly true! Not anymore, anyway.

Understandably, if you are planning on dining or socialising with any severe traditionalists then you might be wiser to avoid wearing a clan tartan if you aren't actually entitled to by family connections.

But in the main stream - this isn't an issue that will affect most of us.

But there are other choices you need to be aware of, such as what weight of tartan kilt do you want?

The choices are light (6 - 12oz), medium (13 - 14oz) or heavy (15 - 18oz).

The light kilt is highly suitable for hot climates and for the more relaxed functions. The drawbacks to a light to medium weight kilt is that it won't "hang" and "move" like a medium to heavy weight kilt will do.

Bear in mind that the design of a kilt has the pleats to the back and moving forward to the sides. The front is a flat hang. The heavier the kilt, the more natural movement and straightness you will enjoy.

On average most people opt for a medium, unless they know they will be using the kilt for specific official functions or outings.

The specific mill from which your kilt is coming also has a small bearing, in that not all of them either stocks the design of tartan you prefer or make that design in the weight you want. One way to combat this is to determine the mill that you'd like your kilt to come from and then find out what specific selections they offer.

Another alternative is to have the kilt custom made for you - but that can be rather expensive!

Conversely - you don't have to have Tartan you know!

Gaining in popularity and awareness are the Irish and Welsh kilts. The Irish are more widespread with a wider range of choices and they come in plain tartan designs or just simple one color kilts.

It's far more common for an Irish kilt to reflect a particular county, city or state as opposed to a family or bloodline. There they wear it to emphasise their county of origin.

Choosing and wearing a kilt can be fun and dashing. Take your time with the choices to make sure you have one that you feel comfortable in and that gives you a personal sense of pride and you'll find you gain an awful lot more from wearing it than any pair of jeans!

Rufus Steele is a long time write-a-holic who now adds to his fun by writing for various websites.

You can read more of his kilts based articles on Good-Kilt.com

Credit Repair Companies and Credit Counseling

Let's be crystal clear, right up front. Paying someone to "fix" your credit is a waste of your time and money, since the negative issues that are temporarily removed from your file will only reappear again in a couple of months.

Be careful with credit repair scams.

Most "credit repair" companies really don't help. In fact, you can improve your credit more effectively on your own. By using credit repair companies, you may also be opening yourself up to identity theft, unsolicited emails, and direct mailings. Protect yourself; don't ever share your personal information with strangers or give up your right to handle your own financial affairs as you see fit.

Another important point: credit counselors only promise to get you out of debt, not to improve your credit. Some companies will have you send them a check every month, out of which they're supposed to pay your creditors for you. However, some credit counselors will often pay your bills late, which means that your credit report soon becomes filled with "over 30 days late" notations and your credit score drops even lower than it was.

"Debt negotiators," posing as non-profit organizations, can ruin your credit even further, advising you not to pay your credit card bills at all. They also charge upfront fees, maintenance fees, and monthly fees, all of which are supposed to be placed in a "trust" account. Then, after many months have passed, debt negotiators finally convince creditors to settle for less money than was owed, making yours an "uncollectible account."

That tactic not only ruins your credit, due to the many "over 90 days late" remarks and collections notations, but all the money you supposedly saved -- which was actually money you owed -- will be considered as income by the IRS! In other words, if you owed $20,000 and settled for $12,000, you'd be required to list the $8,000 difference as income!

Credit repair companies promise to help clear up your credit problems. They write letters to credit bureaus, stating that various listed information is false, so the agencies will remove that information while they investigate your account. During that time, the credit repair company sends you a clean credit report, thereby giving you the false impression that you now have good credit. But after you've paid off the credit repair company, you'll discover that all the negative items will soon reappear on your report.

Remember: only incorrect items must be removed from your credit report if they're proven to be false. If the black marks on your credit report are correct, no one can have them removed, regardless of what credit repair companies may try to tell you. Working with collectors to remove negative remarks is possible, but that's another article.

Some credit repair agencies can probably do a reputable job removing items that are truly incorrect, such as: items after a bankruptcy that should have been removed, double items, children's items on parents' reports, and paid-off items that still show past due. Some people really just don't like dealing with this kind of thing, so a reputable credit restoration company can help with these problems.

If you're seeking legitimate financial help to buy a home, the best place to turn is to a mortgage broker. They're the ones who can offer you the best FREE advice for settling credit disputes and problems, so when you find yourself in difficulty, consider using a mortgage broker as your credit counselor.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

Profitable Growth Is Everyones Business - A Book Summary

The days of ruthless downsizing and drastic cost cutting are long gone. Nowadays, companies have realized that the best way to earn profit is only through growth ? profitable growth. In this book, author Ram Charan provides 10 tools anyone can use to hurdle obstacles and achieve profitable growth.

These tools are:

1. Revenue growth is everyone's business, so make it part of everyone's daily work routine.

2. Hit many singles and doubles, not just home runs.

3. Seek good growth and avoid bad growth.

4. Dispel the myths that inhibit both people and organizations from growing.

5. Turn the idea of productivity on its head by increasing revenue productivity.

6. Develop and implement a growth budget.

7. Beef up upstream marketing.

8. Understand how to do effective cross-selling (or value/solutions selling).

9. Create a social engine to accelerate revenue growth.

10. Operationalize innovation by converting ideas into revenue growth. One of the most critical points discussed is the need for re-orientation of thinking. Most businessmen and executives think about growth as "home-runs" and more often than not disregard the "singles and doubles". Managers often look forward to the big breakthrough or the grand new product without realizing that home runs don't happen everywhere ? sometimes, they don't even happen in a decade.

Instead of aiming for that one grand home run, aim for singles and doubles. This is a surer and more consistent path. Of course, it is important to note that while aiming for singles and doubles, one should not exclude home runs. These singles and doubles come from an in-depth analysis of ALL the fundamentals of a business.

Another factor to be considered is the difference between good growth and bad growth. Managers should dispel the myth that growth in whatever form is a victory. Although growth (both good and bad) builds revenue, only good growth increases not only revenues but also improves profits and is sustainable over time.

Bad growth, on the other hand, lowers shareholder value. Unwise mergers and acquisitions are examples of bad growth. Price cutting to gain market share without cutting costs can also be detrimental to your company's health.

Here are some questions that can help you diagnose whether or not you are part of a growth business:

1. What percentage of time and emotional energy does the management team routinely devote to revenue growth?

2. Are there just exhortations and talk about growth or is there actually follow through?

3. Do managers talk about growth only in terms of home runs? Do they understand the importance of singles and doubles for long-term, sustained organic growth?

4. How much of each management team member's time is devoted to making effective visits with customers? Do they do more than listen and probe for information and then try to "connect the dots"?

5. Does the management team come into contact with the final user of your product?

6. Are people in the business clear about what the specific future sources of revenue growth will be? Do they know who is accountable?

7. Would you characterize your company or business unit's culture as cost cutting or growth oriented? If the answer is one or another you need to start doing both. Do people in leadership positions have the skill, orientation, and determination to grow revenues?

8. Does the company practice revenue productivity? Does it think through whether there are ways to more effectively use current resources to generate higher revenues?

9. How well does your sales force extract intelligence from customers and other players in the marketplace? How well is this information communicated and acted on by other parts of your organization, such as product development?

10. How good are the upstream marketing skills- that is, the ability to segment markets and identify consumer attributes- in your business?

About the Author:

Ram Charan is coauthor of the landmark Fortune article "Why CEOs Fail" and an adviser on corporate governance, CEO succession, and strategy implementation. He was named as Best Teacher by Northwestern's Kellogg School and as a top-rated executive educator by Business Week. He is author of Boards at Work, coauthor of Every Business Is a Growth Business, and a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review. (6/2000)

By: Regine P. Azurin and Yvette Pantilla

Regine Azurin is the President of BusinessSummaries.com, a company that provides business book summaries of the latest bestsellers for busy executives and entrepreneurs.

http://www.bizsum.com "A Lot Of Great Books....Too Little Time To Read" Free Book Summaries Of Latest Bestsellers for Busy Executives and Entrepreneurs

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(c) Copyright 2001- 2005 ,BusinessSummaries.com - Wisdom In A Nutshell

Should You Advertise on TV?

When people discover my background in advertising, the questions flow. One of the most frequent questions is "Should I advertise on TV?"

I can't answer that questions until I ask a number of questions first.

Do you have an advertising plan?

Are you working on a firm budget?

What are you trying to accomplish with your advertising?

Where are you spending your money now?

Usually by the 4th question the happy face is one of disappointment.

Contractors don't build a building without a plan, and you shouldn't advertise without a plan. The first action is to determine what your advertising is to do. Most small and medium businesses do not have the bucks for long term image, so we focus on a call to action or proclaiming benefits (not features)

Can TV do that? Probably. Can you afford it? Probably not. Local TV ads even in the smallest of television markets are expensive. You can buy cheap ads, but the cost is factored to the number of viewers. The cheaper the ads, the fewer the viewers. How many folks do you know glued to the tube at 545 AM?

You can get on TV with a package of Cable Ads, but beware the number of viewers and the shoddy production. Get my article "Cable Ads 5 Bucks" by sending a blank eMail to MailTo:CableAds@BigIdeasGroup.com

Some people in business beleive you haven't "arrived" until your business is on TV and billboards. Funny, I know of hundreds of businesses making big bucks that don't use either.

?2005 BIG Mike McDaniel All Rights Reserved Mike@BIGIdeasGroup.com BIG Mike is a Professional Speaker and Small Business Consultant with over 30 years experience, http://BIGIdeasGroup.com

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