Monday, June 16, 2008

Do I Have to Go to My Prom?

By Kelly Jones Dawn Asked: Hello. OK here is my situation: I have been trying to decide for a long time whether or not I should go to my school’s prom. We only have 50 something kids in our grade, and I don’t like a lot of them, and I didn’t think it would be fun to be stuck in a fancy environment with these few people, dancing with them and everything. I think that instead of bonding, I would feel uncomfortable. Right after I had decided not to go, a friend from another school asked me to his, and I said yes. I’m excited about that because I really like him and the boys from his school, and I won’t feel out of place since I know a bunch of them, and half the people there will be from outside of the school anyway since it’s an all boys school. Anyway, my friends were relentless and said that I have to go to mine as well, to “be with the grade one last time” although I’ll see them at the senior dinner, graduation, etc so that’s not even true, and because I “don’t have anything better to do.” Well maybe I don’t, but that’s not the point. I invited a friend from outside of school, but we didn’t finalize it yet or anything because he might not be allowed, and now I am regretting asking him and saying that I’d go at all. Even though a bunch of people are bringing dates from outside of school, I feel like people are making a big deal out of it. One girl said she can’t wait to see what my date looks like (she didn’t say she wanted to meet him, she just wanted to know what he looked like randomly), and another who I hardly know told one of my friends to take a picture of him when she met him. So the deal is that I think he’d be uncomfortable in that environment, and I think I would be too. So I don’t want to bring a date from outside of school for that reason, I don’t want to be like everyone else and pair up with a random school boy I don’t know/like just to have a date, and I don’t want to go alone although I know it’s okay to, since everyone will have dates and I’ll feel left out. I also don’t feel comfortable dancing with/around the people from my school since they’re so judgemental. I’m really sorry to make this so long, but I needed to talk to someone about it. My best friend is hounding me to go, and I will ignore her in the end if I have to, but I can’t find anyone to talk to because my whole school is so obsessed with it. Please give your opinion on what I should do, and how I should handle my friends depending on whatever I choose to do. Thanks so much. Blushgirl Says: I am not going to tell you what to do. It seems like everyone around you is already doing that and the last thing you need is another person trying to control your actions. From your letter, it is clear to me that you do not want to attend your prom. If this is how you really feel, then why put yourself or your date through an uncomfortable situation? I can understand why your parents want you to go. They are likely remembering their proms, and they don’t want you to miss out on an important event. Unfortunately what they seem to be forgetting is that “you” are not “them” and maybe going isn’t the right thing for you. As I see it, you have several options. You could go to your prom and be uncomfortable. You and your date could make an appearance at your prom for just a few minutes, then leave and do something you would rather do. Or, you and your date could forget about the prom all together and just spend the evening doing something you would enjoy more. The first option is probably not going to be your best choice. You clearly do not want to attend your prom so why put yourself through a whole evening of discomfort? Your other two choices are clear. If you think that you could stand making a VERY short appearance at your prom, and leaving after a few minutes, then that might be your best solution. This would certainly make your parents and friends happy. But wait…. your first consideration here is what will make YOU happy. I know it is difficult when the people who love us try to control what we do. They are doing this out of love for you, but it can be difficult just the same. This is your prom, your night, and your life. You are the only one who can make this decision. You will spend the rest of your life making decisions that will affect how you feel, act and relate to others and situations. We all have to face this daily. My point is, make the decision that is best for YOU. Don’t worry about what other people want you to do. Search your heart and you will know what to do. Trust your feelings and instincts. As far as handling your friends, simply tell them how you feel, and the decision you decided on, and leave it at that. You don’t owe them any further explanation. It is your decision, and your life. I spent a lot of years trying to please other people and I was always miserable. I wasn’t doing what was best for me; I was trying to make others happy. When I finally started doing what was best for me, I found happiness. Only you can decide what makes you happy and comfortable. I am not telling you not to go to your prom, and I am not telling you to go. Instead I would like to ask you to spend a few hours alone, thinking about what is best for you. Then make your decision based on what you want, and not what everyone else wants. This is an important event in your life. Choose to do what you will remember fondly. If that means spending it doing something else, then that is fine. Make your own memories, just like your parents made theirs. Then in a few years when you look back, you will smile, because you will have done what was best for you. I wish you all the luck, joy, and happiness life has in store for you. - Kelly Sometimes we need a little helping hand to deal with emotions that keep us from living life to its full potential. There is a wonderful psychological technique that I learned a few months ago, that can take you from where you are right now, to a completely different place you may only have dreamed about. That technique is called EFT, which stands for Emotional Freedom Technique. You owe it to yourself and your life to check it out and you can do that here by scrolling to the end of the article: http://www.blushpersonals.com/advice/do-i-have-to-go-to-my-prom.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Jones http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-I-Have-to-Go-to-My-Prom?&id=566523 budget finance pay day loans low interest personal loans compare payday loan without a bank account unsecured bad credit personal loans
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Sunday, June 8, 2008

Garden Composting Tips- The Art of Composting

By Carlo Morelli Even a composting neophyte can create top-notch compost with the right recipe. Akin to cooking, composting is half art, and half science. Awareness of these basic factors will help you getting started. Just like a chef demands high quality ingredients, successful composting needs the best ingredients too. Good materials for composting include these: grass clippings, leaves, plant stalks, hedge trimmings, old potting soil, twigs, vegetable scraps, coffee filters, and tea bags. Bad composting materials include: diseased plants, weeds with seed heads, invasive weeds, pet feces, dead animals, bread and grains, meat or fish parts, dairy products, grease, cooking oil, or oily foods. To prepare compost, you need organic materials, microorganisms, air, water, and a small quantity of nitrogen. Organic material is what you are trying to decompose (see above for Dos and Donts). Microorganisms are tiny forms of plant and animal life, which break down organic material. A small amount of garden soil or manure supplies adequate microorganisms. The air, nitrogen, and water offer an encouraging environment for the microorganisms to produce your compost. You can add enough nitrogen to the compost with small amount of nitrogen fertilizer., which can be purchased at hardware stores or nurseries. Air is the one ingredient which you cant have too much of. Too much nitrogen can kill microbes; too much water causes insufficient air in the pile. If microorganisms have more surface area to feed off of, the materials will decompose faster. Chopping your organic materials with a machete, or using a shredder or lawnmower to shred materials will help them break down faster. The compost pile is your oven. Compost piles catch heat created by the activity of millions of microorganisms. The minimum size for hot, fast composting is a 3-foot by 3-foot by 3-foot. But piles wider or taller than 5 feet don’t permit enough air to reach the microorganisms at the center. Your compost piles microorganisms work their hardest when the materials have about the moistness of a wrung-out sponge and as many air passages. The air in the pile is usually consumed faster than the moisture, so the pile should be turned or mixed up now and then to add more air; this maintains high temperatures and controls odor. Use a pitchfork, rake, or other garden tool can to turn materials with. Carlo Morelli is a writer at OnlineTips.org, where you can read about the best soil composition for roses and wrought iron balusters. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carlo_Morelli http://EzineArticles.com/?Garden-Composting-Tips–The-Art-of-Composting&id=130674 pay day loan lenders in ga sba loans 33404 cashadvancenetwork payday loans international loan agencies with personal loans for caribbean
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Wednesday, June 4, 2008

How to Grow Basil

By Hans Dekker Today there are sprays, scented candles, plug-ins, and even discs that promise to freshen your air by putting a variety of aromas into your home. However, when you know how to grow basil, you can have enough variety of fragrance to package your own potpourri! The most commonly grown basil is the annual, ocimum basilicum that carries a minty fragrance that smells like well, it smells like sweet basil. In addition to having a wonderful fragrance, sweet basil is an essential ingredient in soups, stews, pesto sauce, and just about any tomato dish. Knowing how to grow basil is a must for every herb gardener. You can grow herbs both indoors and outdoors Basil comes in over 160 varieties that, in addition to the sweet basil fragrance, offer other aromas like those of lemon, licorice, and cinnamon and foliage colors that range from emerald green to royal purple. Learn how to grow basil and you provide a treat for you eyes as well as an aromatic treat for you nose. Generally, when just learning how to grow basil, youll want to start your plants from seeds. Until basil stems are nearly mature, they are quite fragile and easily broken and bruised so transplanting young basil cultivars can be an exercise in futility. Luckily, basil is one of the cultivars that can be seeded directly into your garden and in fact, if you reseed your basil plot every three weeks, youll have fresh basil all summer long. Basil is a low-maintenance plant. Although it prefers full sun, it will grow in partial shade. Once seedlings are established, basil is also drought tolerant and will actually provide better flavor if you dont fertilize it! One tip you should know about how to grow basil and preserve its full flavor for culinary use is to pinch off flower spikes as they form. Part of the fun of knowing how to grow basil is the many different ways to preserve it after harvest. You can harvest your basil anytime by snipping off its leaves as you need them and they turn many ordinary dishes into delicacies when used fresh. Basil can also be dried by snipping some stems and hanging them in bunches together. Air-drying basil in this way is a great way to add its aroma to your kitchen! When your basil bunches are completely dry, you can crumble the leaves and store them in glass bottles. Basil can also be preserved by freezing. Freeze small quantities of fresh basil in plastic bags or chop the leaves and freeze them in water in an ice cube tray. Basil is an easy-growing herb that is full of possibilities for home dcor, fragrance and culinary use. In addition, its as well suited for container growing as it is for direct seeding into your garden. Learning how to grow basil is a sweetly satisfying part of gardening, no matter what variety you choose to grow! You are free to publish the above article in your ezine or website, provided credit in the form of an (HTML clickable) hyperlink is given to the author. Hans is an enthusiast gardener and one of the authors of the “How To” section of http://www.gardening-guides.com and http://www.patio-furniture-ideas.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hans_Dekker http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Grow-Basil&id=32304 a list of pay day advance loans in snellville georgia christmas faxless cash advance michigan people loaning money short term loans 1000
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Friday, May 30, 2008

Unsecured Loans with No Credit

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Julie_Mann]Julie Mann Lenders label individuals with no credit history as ‘high risk’. Being considered ‘high risk’ can be the ‘kiss of death’ when it comes to getting approved for unsecured loans. Why? Because unsecured personal loans require no collateral. So, the lender loaning you your money is trusting you that you will make timely payments. This is not a personal issue of trust, it is a credit issue. Lenders do not want to lend unsecured loans to people with no credit or bad credit, period. By now you are asking yourself, ‘How do I turn my no credit history into a positive one so that I can apply for a personal loan?’. Easy! Being labeled ‘high risk’ makes it hard to get approved for certain types of loans and credit, but not all. Did you know that car loans are one the best means for building credit? How? When you take out a car loan, you are securing your loan with the car that you are financing. If you don’t make the payments, you lose the car. So, lenders are much more inclined to provide car financing to people with no credit before they approve an unsecured personal loan. Another great way to build your credit history is to apply for a credit card. There are a few credit cards available that are specifically designed for people with no credit and bad credit. Be careful! You don’t want to put yourself into debt with use of your new credit card. You want to make a few charges a month, that you can afford to pay for once you receive your bill. Utilizing and paying for a credit card will help build your credit very quickly. A third means of building credit is to put some utility bills in your name. This means having the phone, electric, gas and/or water bill put in your name, making you responsible for the payments. Again, you want to make the payments on time, every month! Doing so will also help build your credit fast. If you follow two of the above suggestions, you should be able to build a non-existence credit history into a good credit history in about one year. Then, when you need a little extra cash for a vacation, shopping, etc., you can apply for and hopefully get approved for personal loans. Julie Mann is the webmaster/marketer of [http://www.choicepersonalloans.com/]Choice Personal Loans. Choice Personal Loans specializes in providing [http://www.choicepersonalloans.com/]unsecured loans with no credit. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Mann http://EzineArticles.com/?Unsecured-Loans-with-No-Credit&id=108410 free secured personal loans with bad credit johnny paycheck syndrome cash advance payments payday candy bar receipes
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Nokia N95 - Get More Power

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Adam_Caitlin]Adam Caitlin In the competitive digital mobile world where lots of options are available before the consumers, its really difficult to stand out. And that’s the reason why leading mobile companies are painstakingly introducing mobile phones that could help users in every respects. In the same fray, Nokia, the world leader has launched a new mobile device in its N series portfolio, the Nokia N95. With the launch of the Nokia N95, the company has again hit the mobile industry. This portable computer empowers high technology and cutting-edge design. The device comes packed with unparalleled multimedia applications, productivity tools and all Smartphone features that you can expect in the latest mobile device. Boasting a 5.0 mega-pixel camera with Carl-zeiss optics, multimedia players, advanced messaging and more its a complete mobile device for everyone. What’s more, the handset is powered by 3G and HSDPA technologies. Built on dual slider mechanism, the Nokia N95 looks very attractive. This unique design is very user-friendly as you can access multimedia as well as keypad instantly. Slide open the phone in either direction and get instant access to your favourite music tracks or phone features. The latest device also offers GPS navigation feature enabling users to search locations and routes through GPS mapping. Explore local as well as new destinations through GPS technology. Featuring a large 2.0 inch colour display the phone provides an intuitive interface for watching videos, GPS locations and other high-end phone features with ease. The Nokia N95 support Symbian OS enabling users to download new software applications. And, with quad band network, the device always keeps you stay in touch with the world. 3G enabled device offers high speed mobile internet as well as fast data transfer capabilities. Connect and share data through Bluetooth, Infra-red Pop Port in no time. Moreover, browse the internet on WAP, XHTML and HTML platform. The Nokia N95 also supports expandable memory card download songs, videos, images and other important documents. Slide open the phone and explore all the features that are hidden inside. [http://www.mobilerainbow.co.uk]Mobile Phone deals [http://www.mobilerainbow.co.uk/pay_as_u_go.asp]pay as you go mobile phones [http://www.mobilerainbow.co.uk/alldeals.asp?id=401]Nokia n95 Adam Caitlin is expert author of Telecommunication industry. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Caitlin http://EzineArticles.com/?Nokia-N95—Get-More-Power&id=607533 el paso bad credit new car loan second chance personal loans unsecured loan for people with bad credit new york payday loan
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

When Water Meets Tea

By Terry Calamito The best possible water to use for infusing tea is well water. But here are the alternatives for us city folk: Tips for a pure brew: * Tea leaves love spring water, so use it if you have it available. This is my first choice because it is the next best thing to well water. * Use purified or filtered water. Don’t use water directly from your tap unless you live in an area where tap water is drinkable. Your tap water may be absolutely fine for other things like boiling pasta or steaming veggies, but could have contaminants that will make your tea taste funny. The easiest solution for most people is a Brita pitcher with a built-in filter. They are widely available. * Run tap water for 30 seconds before putting into your kettle (assuming your filter is attached to your faucet). This oxygenates water that has been sitting in your pipes. * Distilled water does not make good tea. It does not have its minerals and can make a flat-tasting pot of tea. Use the best water you can in your teapot and you are halfway to a divine infusion. Temperature, Quantity, Timing Just as important as water quality is water temperature, amount of tea, and timing your steep. I recommend beginning with the rule of thumb for your type of tea and start experimenting from there. When I began, I had no idea idea how to brew and I over steeped green tea many times. (I pour undrinkable tea into my potted geraniums. They love it and it doesnt go to waste.) Your green or white tea will get bitter fast when it meets too-hot water. This is one of my pet peeves in establishments using scalding water for their tea service. Use a candy or meat thermometer to measure the temperature (at least in the beginning). Green/white tea * 160 175 F (70 - 80 C) * Steep for 1-3 minutes Oolong tea * 180 190 F (82 - 88 C) * Steep for 3-5 minutes Black tea * 212F (but dont let it boil too long) (100 C) * Steep for 3-5 minutes The quantity of tea you put in your teapot will make a difference. In general, I put approximately 1 teaspoon and a slight bit more per cup of water in a Yixing Teapot or my grandmothers tiny Brown Betty. (Both are clay pots, one unglazed and one glazed.) More tea equals a stronger brew. A stronger brew may be desirable when cooking with tea, making iced tea, or it may just be your preference. Longer steeping equals bitter green or white tea. Black tea can handle longer steeping. Its up to you! copyright 2006 Terry Calamito TO USE THIS ARTICLE KEEP RESOURCE BOX AND LIVE LINK INTACT. Tea Educator and Healthy Lifestyle Advocate Terry Calamito publishes the fr*ee online mini-course “Start Sipping.” If youre a tea lover or just want to increase your knowledge about teas health benefits and maybe slow down a little to have a cup, subscribe for free at http://www.switchtotea.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Calamito http://EzineArticles.com/?When-Water-Meets-Tea&id=188268 need a 35000 dollar debt consolidation loan with poor credit loans with no credit check no fax loans when buyer does not get loan commitment does seller keep earnest money
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Monday, May 19, 2008

Way To Go, Carnie!

By Jeff Cadwell I really want to acknowledge former Wilson Phillips star, Carnie Wilson, for her bravery. This weekend I watched the fourth season of VH-1s hit reality TV Show Celebrity Fit Club. Carnie chose to sign herself up to be part of the All-Star cast after giving birth to her daughter, Lola, last year. For most of her life, she admits that she was morbidly obese. It has been almost seven years since Carnie had gastric bypass surgery. Bariatric or gastrointestinal (gastric bypass) surgery alters the digestive process. This type of operation can be divided into two different types: restrictive and combined restrictive/malabsorptive. Restrictive operations limit food intake by creating a narrow passage from the upper part of the stomach into the larger lower part, reducing the amount of food the stomach can hold and slowing the passage of food through the stomach. The malabsorptive process excludes most of the small intestine from the digestive tract so fewer calories and nutrients are absorbed. After Carnies daughter was born, she worked hard to get back to her goal weight of 145 pounds. Unfortunately, within this time, she gained back 40 pounds. She is hoping a televised diet and fitness regime will motivate her towards success. According to the Star Pulse News Blog, Carnie shared, “It took me nine months to lose 15 pounds. That was really frustrating … you just want to give up. It was one step forward and two steps back.” Personally, I must respect Carnies choice to talk openly about the struggles people go through after weight loss surgery. So many people feel that having this surgery is the easy way out. However, because Carnie is once again losing weight in the publics eye, fans are able to witness the new struggles that she will have to bear in order to lose her postpartum weight. As a person who has gone through this type of surgery, I work with many of my life coaching clients on coping with their continuing challenges with food. Together, we explore the reasons behind their food addictions, negative body image and low self-esteem. Undoubtedly, the fight continues long after we are post-surgery. This show will be a catalyst to show the public that we, as gastric bypass patients, have the same weight loss challenges as the average person. Yes, we might have undergone a life-saving procedure but in the end it was, and still is, our choice as to how we approach diet and exercise going forward. Yes, we can gain weight and struggle just like anyone else. Carnies testimony confirms this. Copyright 2006 Jeff Cadwell Positive Coaching Jeff Cadwell Maximum Life Coach 714-669-2928 http://www.jeffcadwell.com “Welcome to the beginning of the New YOU!” I am a Life Coach who is passionate about empowering people to live more robust lives -physically, emotionally and spiritually. My specialty is people who are considering or have had Weight Loss Surgery. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Cadwell http://EzineArticles.com/?Way-To-Go,-Carnie!&id=278749 personal loans rates pay day loan lenders lafayette bad credit bankruptcy car loan image of paycheck
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Sunday, May 4, 2008

Extreme Dating - How To Make Your Dates Unforgettable

By Magnus Pua Most peoples idea of a date is going for a drink, or even worse, dinner and a movie. Thats a guaranteed forgettable date, because for both of you itll be just the same as all the other dates youve ever had. People tend to behave on dates like they are following a script; Meet up, and be all nervous for the first hour or so while you stress about whether or not the other person likes you. Then for a while you stress about whether or not you like the other person. Sooner or later you relax and find that you have some things in common. You start to feel comfortable as you realise why you agreed to go on the date in the first place. Then at the end of the night comes the all important kiss goodbye, or if youre lucky, an invitation to spend the night. Youre walking her back to her place, she knows whats coming and isnt sure enough whether or not she likes you, so shes planning how to avoid an awkward moment. Breaking away from the script is the key to eliminating this situation. So for starters, why call it a date at all? It can be a big deal to ask someone out on a date. Asking for a date puts pressure on someone to admit their interest in you, but they may not know they are interested until after youve spent that time together. On a date, both sides are always constantly evaluating whether or not they like the other person and how much interest to show. So dont call it a date, its much easier to just arrange to hang out. That way you avoid the whole drink, dinner, movie thing and particularly that awkward kissing moment at the end of the night. The more places you can go to together, the better. If you spend all your time together in one place, no matter how much you enjoy each others company, itll seem like it all drags on a lot longer than it really does. But if you go to several different places you wont believe how much fun youve had together in so little time. If you really must go out for dinner, go to a bar for drinks first, and have dessert in a different restaurant to where you had your main meal. Turning up to the nicest restaurant in town just to have dessert is fun, and it shows that youre prepared to go a bit further to make sure she has a good time. Comedy Nights are probably the best places to go for an evening out with a girl youve just met. You get just enough time to talk and get to know each other, and when the night is over you are still left wanting to spend more time together. If its a decent comedy night, the comedians are doing your work for you, making her laugh and have a good time. Afterwards you can head off to a quiet bar, preferably with sofas. Never take girls to night clubs if you want to get with them. There may be competing males there, and you dont take sand to the beach, do you? Evening meetings put girls on their guard. They know you are angling to get them home after the date and this gives them opportunity to think about it and maybe deliberately decide not to on the first date. So how about the afternoon? If you meet at 2pm, if anything happens then its unplanned, and spontaneous. Youre actually much more likely to end up in bed together a few hours later than if you meet up in the evening. Youll also be less tired Afternoon dates are much more likely to be memorable. Museums and art galleries may seem boring, but that just gives you opportunity to talk, and actually they can be very inspiring places. Fresh air and exercise, always makes people feel good, and they will attach those feelings to whoever they are there with. So walks in the country park, corn fields, along the canal towpath are perfect. Childrens play parks are one of my favourite places to take girls. Especially if neither of you have been to one in years! You can push each other on the swings, race each other to the top of the climbing frame, and see who can spin the fastest on the roundabout. If you can find a park that isnt inhabited by homeless people and drug users at night, going after dark is even more fun. Inviting a girl to go shopping is a great idea, as long as you avoid any looking at clothes. If you catch her looking at a luxurious ball gown in a window that shed never actually buy, encourage her to live a little and try it on - and then tell her she looks beautiful in it. But otherwise, clothes shopping is a no no. If youre out around town there are much better ways to spend your time, like playing with puppies and kittens in pet shops, fooling around in toy shops, sitting on sofas in department stores testing the widescreen TVs, and so on. Every town has at least one caf famous for its hot chocolate, ice creams, or tea cakes, or something. Plenty of skyscrapers have caf restaurants with amazing views at the top. A bit of imagination in choosing the venue for your mid-afternoon snack goes a long way. A final tip is to let the girl choose where you are going. Girls like guys who take the lead, but write three possible destinations on pieces of paper and fold them up, and then let her choose. Dont even write the names of the places, just the street address. She will think this is the most romantic thing shes ever heard of. If you cant think of three different places, just write the same thing on each piece of paper, and only show her one, it will have the same effect. Magnus runs www.bristollair.com, a free collection of essential dating articles for men. Related articles: How To Act On The First Date. Magnus has traveled the world learning from the best pick-up and dating gurus. 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Friday, May 2, 2008

How To Deliver Compelling Opening Statements

By Susan Trivers You are delivering your opening statement for a trial youve long worked towards. One by one the jurors rivet their eyes on you, and they begin to nod in rhythm with your cadence. They maintain eye contact with you as you look carefully into their eyes. You sense that each of them is paying attention to you with their whole being. You have made an incredible first impression. How well does this description reflect the reality of your opening statements? If this is more wishful thinking than reality, you can learn how to make it happen for you. If lawyers read the transcript of their openings, theyd be surprised to hear what really came out of their mouths a lot of jumping around, legalese, and assumptions that jurors know what the lawyers are talking about. Lawyers are doing a million and twelve things before trial so when it comes time for the most important piece of it their opening they unfortunately wing it. The result is a jury that is confused, not compelled by your story. There is a better way and it includes two necessary ingredients. One is advance preparation theres no way around it. The second ingredient is working with an expert which is no different than professional athletes working with a coach. When you approach opening statements in this way, you will see that theres a way to focus on the facts so that the themes arise organically, enabling you to craft and deliver a compelling story. When you approach it this way, you will be surprised at the clear road map you provide not only for the jurors, but for yourself. A properly prepared opening statement will help you clarify your entire trial strategy so you know where you need to go with each witness who takes the stand. The following key elements will help you transform your opening statements into compelling stories and crystal clear roads maps during your greatest opportunity to connect with the jury. 1) Working with outside experts who can truly be objective. (Not support staff, spouses, in-house counsels, or clients). 2) Incorporating the practices used by professional speakers 3) Scheduling ample time for preparation 1) Bringing in objective outside expertise You need two specific experts. The first is a trial consultant and the second is an experienced executive speech coach. The trial consultant whose specialty is trial research will drive you to the transcendent issue that will unite jurors, no matter their inherent differences. Once you have identified this issue, the trial consultant will help you organize the facts to give you a crystal clear roadmap of your entire case. Youll know the strengths and weaknesses of your case and the order in which to call your witnesses. Youll know where to start, where to make stops along the way, and the final destination. You must be clear about your case in order for the jury to be clear about your case. When you articulate the compelling story that is corroborated by compelling facts, you help the jury gain clarity. Your trial consultant will approach the case with the objectivity necessary to clarify the trial strategy that will impact the whole trial. Then she will help you craft an opening statement that doesnt get weighted down in legalese and excess verbiage. 2) Incorporating into your opening statement the best practices used by professional speakers Your second outside expert, an executive speech coach, will show you how to incorporate the best practices of persuasive keynote speakers into your opening statements. A keynote speech kicks off a meeting, conference or convention. It sets the stage for the days to come. It raises the energy level and the commitment to the cause. You want to do the same with your opening statement. Your speech coach will help you craft the content of the opening statement using the trial strategy you have worked out with the trial consultant. Youll learn how to put the audience of jurors first, by appealing to their self-interests. Youll articulate the strengths of the case in language that resonates with the lay people who are in your jury. Youll increase the impact of your delivery with vocal variety, physical movements and gestures that will make your opening statement clearly remembered for the duration of the trial. When you work with an executive speech coach, you will realize that to be a great speaker, capable of convincing strangers to the justness of your cause, you dont have to be dramatic, flashy, or take acting courses. With the proper practice and training, you will get powerful results while being true to your own personality. 3) Scheduling ample time for opening statement preparation Not enough time is the excuse that keeps us all from doing what we need to do. When not enough time dictates preparation strategy, the results are predictable. You have experience with opening statements and you know the law and the facts of the case. You tell yourself you can jot down some notes a day or two before trial, and count on your prior experience to get you through the opening statement. If you want to confirm the downsides to this approach, just start reading some trial transcripts of opening statements and you will see how easy it is for an experienced lawyer to speak in what sounds like pure stream of consciousness. What does legal stream of consciousness look like? You present the facts in an incoherent order You rattle off one legal term after another You intimidate the jury You anger the jury You bore the jury Your personal style makes a negative impression The jury reads something in your face and body language that makes them distrust you You lose the audience of jurors in the first few minutes and spend the rest of the trial fighting to get them back Your trial consultant and executive speech coach can take you from the initial outline of the case through the creation of a clear trial strategy, the crafting of your opening statement and rehearsals to incorporate outstanding speaking style in 5-6 hours. If you start this a couple of weeks before the trial you will be able to make time for your discussions and practices, and get to the courtroom ready to make a favorable first impression that stays with the jury through deliberations. If youve been doing the same things over and over, with some success, you might wonder if you really can do better. Do you really need outside experts in order to create an objective, crystal clear trial strategy and craft and deliver your opening statement? Consider the following: You may have spent years working the case. You know the ins and outs in great detail. This intimate knowledge is the most important reason why an objective look is so valuable. Your trial consultant and speech coach will force you to explain many things you assume and could take for granted. Youre under extreme pressure and severe public scrutiny, both of which cause stress on you. Stress is a barrier to the clear thinking and confidence you need to be effective with your opening statement. People get used to living with unsolved problems, such as your typical opening statements. Just because your typical opening statement is comfortable doesnt mean it is the dynamic opening statements your case needs. People arent really aware of the impression they make, and are often afraid to learn things about themselves. Outside experts will reflect back to you things that may make you uncomfortable Imagine yourself, confident in your content and delivery, speaking to the jury at the opening of a trial. You are not putting everything at risk, you are not going to muddle through, you are not going to turn the jurors off with an abundance of legal talk and arcane details. You are going to show the jury body language, facial expressions and gestures that capture them. You are going to take them on a journey from the start to the finish, using compelling stories animated by vocal variety. You will look them in the eyes, and have them looking back at you. You will give them images and ideas that they will carry with them throughout the trial. They will be nodding and leaning forward, demonstrating with their own body language that you have connected to them. When you finish, you will sit down with the confidence of a job well done and you will have earned the confidence of the jurors for the coming days or weeks. Thats the way to begin a trial. Susan G. Trivers, MBA, speaker, executive speaking coach and author of The Red-Hot Guide to COOL SpeakingCraft and Deliver Presentations that are Creative, Original, Outsized & Liberated. She brings audience-focused principles of speaking to professionals and executives who need to be more attractive, magnetic and memorable to their audiences. Learn more at http://www.susantrivers.com Carolyn S. Koch, J.D., is a trial consultant and the principal of Jury Solutions LLC, a trial consulting firm in Fairfax, Virginia. At Jury Solutions, LLC, we use reliable methods to uncover the truth about your case, warts and all. Whether our approach helps you seize victory or avert disaster, we can promise you a clear-eyed strategy that will help you make the best possible decisions for your case and client. More information is available at http://www.jurysolutions.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Trivers http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Deliver-Compelling-Opening-Statements&id=313693 connecticut debt consolidation loan review uk bad credit unsecured credit cards can medical bills go on your credit report bad credit apprvale
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Sunday, April 27, 2008

Legal Terms - A Quick Guide

By Richard Chapo Legal issues and problems are stressful, complex and inevitable. If you get wrapped up in legal issues, it sometimes helps to understand the lingo being bandied about. Legal Terms Contract: An agreement between two or more parties in which each party agrees to provide something in exchange for the other party doing the same. Typically, one party provides money while the other provides a service or product. Contracts can be oral or written, but oral contracts are difficult to enforce. Copyright: The legal right attached to literary, musical, dramatic or artistic works. Copyright automatically attaches to the piece in favor of the creator of it. To sue for copyright infringement, the creator must file for an official copyright from the Library of Congress. Intellectual Property: A product or idea that has tangible commercial value. Examples of intellectual property include copyrighted works such as books, patented items such as a product design and a trademarked item for a brand. The word Amazon is not considered intellectual property. When applied to the Internet, however, the word is intellectual property as it refers to a brand for an online bookstore. Non-Compete Agreement: An agreement whereby one party, typically an employee, agrees not to use information learned during employment in subsequent business efforts for a set period of time. In some states, non-compete agreements are extremely difficult to enforce. An example of a non-compete agreement dispute is the current litigation between Microsoft and Google over Kai-Fu Lee. Non-Disclosure Agreement: A contract binding one party to a duty of confidentiality in regard to certain information provided by another. An NDA typically is executed where one party wished to discuss a business venture with another and the discussion necessarily requires the disclosure of sensitive information. Trademark: A name, label or symbol identifying a product or web site. Trademarks are filed with the Patent and Trademark Office and restricted to a class of products or services. Amazon is a trademarked term for Internet services, but not for general references such as ecological discussions. Obviously, this is a relatively short list of legal terms. If your issue is not mentioned, you can search on the net to find an answer. Richard A. Chapo is a San Diego business lawyer with http://www.sandiegobusinesslawfirm.com - providing legal services and legal advice to businesses in San Diego, California. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo http://EzineArticles.com/?Legal-Terms—A-Quick-Guide&id=72074 electronic rent to own bad credit ok consolidation debt how to improve your credit score credit score changes for 2008
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