Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
During my years of teaching Ive been wondering what to do to improve math education. My own teaching philosophy is simple, but throughout the years it has proven to be effective. While the groups I have taught have been diverse, there are certain consistencies in their responses, particularly, students appreciate a clear and sound explanation of a difficult concept, and experience the greatest growth when they have the chance to express themselves by asking any questions they might have and feel comfortable in class. My first objective in any class is to create a safe atmosphere for learning. That involves encouraging students to express themselves freely, but respectfully.
It is always extremely important to set the tone during the first classes, telling the students what is expected from them, and what can they expect from me as a teacher. Learning the students’ names is a very good start to creating a personalized experience. Some students feel very intimidated by being in a math class, and treating them individually helps to bring them into the group, as well as to convey a sense that they are not just bystanders, that I care about their individual progress and am there to help them with their specific needs.
Secondly, there is no substitute for good teaching. The key to success is to teach well. Its very rewarding to receive positive feedback from students about the quality of your teaching. I think its very important to find a way of seeing math concepts that appeals to students. Being able to translate difficult concepts into something that they can digest is a must. Still, every class is a new challenge, and some old tricks of the trade might not work all the time. We as teachers have to be prepared to adapt to each class and use our creativity and intuition to help the students learn.
Third, I think it is fundamental to be dynamic and entertaining. Math can be dense sometimes, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring or tedious. Being dynamic means to be proactive and receptive. We need to be proactive by taking the initiative to show
the students new perspectives they didn’t imagine before, and we need to be receptive in order to adjust our techniques to make them the most suitable for the specific needs of a group of students. It is a fact that every group of students is different, and each group needs different approaches. Flexibility is the key.
Fourth, I like to challenge students, with achievable tasks that can build their confidence as they stretch beyond their comfort level. I like to encourage them to do things they didn’t think they could do. I have noticed that the students find tremendous satisfaction when they achieve something that they didn’t think they could achieve. To see that is really rewarding. That’s one of the biggest payoffs of a teaching career, to see the students find unexpected talents in themselves.
Teaching mathematics requires great sensitivity and perceptiveness. There are people taking math classes who have no interest in the field at all, and take the class only because it is a requirement for their major. It’s also common to find people who are very frightened of how hard math can be. These are instances in which the teacher must convey to the student that even though math can be challenging, it is like any other subject, and is accomplishable through discipline, persistence, and hard work. These students’ preconception of math as difficult and abstruse is often their biggest stumbling block, and as a teacher I help them to break down these mental barriers by providing alternative ways of looking at problems until the information “clicks.”
Positive leadership is the key to making students feel that they can get a lot from the class they are taking. It is our role as teachers to let them know that math is an incredibly exciting field and that the possibilities are endless. But it is also our role to show them that achievement does not come for free and effort is a primary factor in the formula for success. I feel that we have the tools now, more than ever, to make teaching a very rewarding experience for both my students and ourselves.
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Anorexia is a very common neuropsychological disorder that has a very high incidence in the young population. Anorexia is not just an eating disorder, it also involves many addictive behaviors and the development of various phobias related to food and being fat. Anorexics develop inaccurate perceptions of their physical appearance and they often see themselves as fat, regardless of how much they actually weigh. Anorexia is a very complex disorder caused by multiple interrelated factors. Although in the past anorexia was thought to be a purely physiological disorder, recent studies have revealed that it occurs on the premises of neuropsychological dysfunctions. Certain environmental factors also play a major role in the development of anorexia and the disorder seems to occur due to poor adaptation to the requirements and the ideals imposed by the society.
In many cases, anorexia is developed by teenagers who come from very restrictive, demanding families. Children raised in a cold, insecure, non-functional familial environment are very exposed to developing anorexia. Young people who originate from dysfunctional families often suffer from depression, emotional insecurity and low self-esteem, features that can facilitate the development of anorexia or other types of eating disorders.
Despite its pronounced environmental valences, anorexia is not entirely a psychologically-induced disorder. Medical scientists also suspect certain genetic factors to contribute in the occurrence of anorexia. Various studies have revealed that most patients have a family history of the disorder, suggesting a pronounced hereditary character of anorexia. Scientists believe that the genetic predispositions to this type of disorder can be easily transmitted from one generation to another. Hence, people who have blood relatives with anorexia are also at risk of developing the disorder.
Although anorexia can occur in both sexes, the disorder has the highest incidence in the female gender. Anorexia is very common in adolescents, but it can also affect very young children or adults. Despite the fact that the disorder can occur in virtually any ethnical group and culture, anorexia is a common problem in Western society. The high prevalence of anorexia among people who belong to well-developed socioeconomic groups confirms the pronounced influence of environmental factors in the development of the disorder. The excessively promoted topical ideals of beauty and the pressure exercised by modern society upon the young have a great contribution in the occurrence of the disorder in teenagers.
The categories of people exposed to the highest risk of developing anorexia are: teenagers, athletes, people with carriers that require maintaining a slim body (models, actors, dancers), people with a family history of the disorder, people who come from dysfunctional families and people with emotional problems (low-self esteem). Overweight children and teenagers are also very exposed to developing anorexia. People who suffer from anorexia may in time also develop bulimia, a similar type of eating disorder.
People who suffer from anorexia need a lot of help and support in order to overcome their condition. Although people with eating disorders need to show a lot of ambition and cooperation in the process, anorexia can be effectively overcome with the means of psychiatric therapy.
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Should the person experience some muscle pain which lasts more than 2 or 3 days, there is a strong chance that one has arthritis.
Arthritis is a common disease that affects millions of people worldwide. This can be felt in the persons joints, skin and organs inside the body. Should the person feel anything wrong, it is advisable to go straight to the doctor.
Doctors have discovered that there are over 100 types of arthritis. Given the number, the doctor will not be able to know which one is affecting the person without an examination.
There are 2 common forms of arthritis. The first is rheumatoid arthritis which is considered a chronic disease. There is inflammation in the joints caused by cartilage damage. Anyone who has this will suffer long term joint damage that will lead to chronic pain and disability. Pain is usually felt when waking up in the morning and will gradually disappear during the day.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a problem that will not go away. This happens in three stages. The first is swelling. The second is the rapid division and growth of cells. The third is when these cells release enzymes that will eat the bone causing the joint to lose shape until the person will not be able to move it anymore.
Since this is systemic disease, it can spread and affect other organs in the body. The best way to prevent is from happening is detecting it early to prevent the person from being disabled.
This can be treated with proper medication and therapy. There many drugs available that the patient can use. Some drugs offer pain relief to reduce the inflammation. Others can just do one function.
The second is called osteoarthritis. This happens more often than rheumatoid arthritis but unlike the first, there is no inflammation present. The cartilage in the joint is damaged and will eventually degenerate. Pain will slightly be felt when the person gets up but this will hurt later on during the day.
Osteoarthritis can either be primary or secondary. When it is primary, it is often associated with age. It is similar to a car where the parts have to be replaced due to wear and tear. Doctors consider this to be normal as people grow older.
The secondary type is often associated with something else that has caused this to happen. Some of these factors are an injury that took place, heredity, obesity and bone density.
Osteoarthritis can be treated with medication, exercise, weight control, joint protection, physical and occupational therapy. This is done to relieve the pain and slow the progression of the disease.
Both of these are caused by different things. The common thing between these 2 types is that joint pain can happen anywhere in the body.
Given the many medications available to treat this disease, the patient has to be aware of the side effects of each before choosing which one to use. The doctor should explain these to the person in order to make the right decision.
Arthritis and its different forms will not go away. Since this is an insurable disease, the best thing that the doctor and others can do until a cure if found is to help the patient ease the pain the slow the growth of the disease.
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Home equity release methods have gained popularity in recent years. Most experts advise using this method because it has been proven effective. Some people saw the value of their homes double in the mid-90s. Home equity release is the subject of this article.
Many retired people use the equity in their homes to enhance their weekly income.
You should understand that if you use your property with the home equity release, you cannot leave it to your family.
If you want to conduct a home equity release, there are certain steps you need to keep in mind.
1. Doing your homework you can use the internet as your resource. It is important that you conduct background research in order to be aware and informed of the scheme. At least you will know the basic rules that you need to follow and the possible alternatives.
2. Consult a legal expert legal connotations are quite confusing so a legal expert is necessary to make things clear for you.
3. You should speak to an independent financial adviser if you new to the home equity process, an independent financial adviser will be very helpful to you. If you unclear about something this is the perfect chance to ask so that you will not get confused as the scheme goes on. Talking to your adviser is essential so that you will fully understand the process.
4. Talk it over with your family – you might be using their inheritance so it is best that you talk it over with them and find out if they are willing to take the scheme and if it matters to them. You should make sure that there is harmony with the arrangement.
5. Choose the best provider you should look around and make sure that you are happy with your provider and that he is a member of SHIP. If he is a member of SHIP, it will be of your advantage.
6. Provide an application- there are certain proofs that you need in order to be identified. This will include your marriage certificate and the appropriate details of your home buildings insurance.
7. Legal process a solicitors job is to protect your interests and make sure that it is not violated.
8. Valuation process- the provider will be the one to arrange your home for valuation. This will be the basis on how much money they will give you.
The schemes may seem different but basically most of them work by giving you a home equity release and loan on the value of your property. With this method you will receive the loan as cash which is usually received on a monthly basis. Occasionally, it can be in a lump sum, and you can continue to live in your home. The company that gives you the money for the loan will recover it by selling the property after you sell your property or after your death.
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
You may think after all of the talk lately about carb reduction that you need to avoid eating carbohydrates. But the exact opposite is the case. The kinds of carbohydrates you get from fruits and vegetables are a necessary basis of your daily diet. Instead of helping you pack on the pounds, they actually help you to burn fat. They are also a major source of fuel for your body, especially your muscles, brain and nervous system.
Carbs occur in two types: simple and complex. They are broken down into glucose, or blood sugar, which is metabolized by your body for energy. Glucose not immediately used by you is stored in your muscles as glycogen, but if your body has an excess of glycogen, it is converted into fat. However, because carbs prime your metabolism, you need them in order to burn fat. This is one of the major reasons you must not starve yourself and eat too few carbs. You must eat a good intake of complex carbs, such as those found in fruits and veggies.
Simple carbs, such as those found in candies and sweets, and also fruit, are turned into glucose quickly. These are the kind which can add to your weight problem. Complex carbs, such as those found in brown rice, veggies, legumes (peas, beans and lentils., and whole grains breads and cereals are digested and thus used at a much slower rate, giving your body time to prime its metabolism.
There are four calories in each and every gram of carbohydrate. Nutritionists say that 50% of your diet should consist of complex carbs. Simple carbs are high in calories but low in vitamins and minerals. These are the so-called empty calories that you find in sodas, deserts and other such sweets, and to some extent in fruits — especially fruit juices and fruit juice drinks. You should be getting your major carb intake from whole fruits, whole grains and vegetables.
Good high carb veggies are peas, peppers, pumpkin, radishes, spinach, squash, succotash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and turnips. Succotash, sweet potatoes and green cooked peas are the highest in carbs. You need several servings per day of complex carb foods such as these to maintain your energy levels and keep you from getting those sluggish feelings that make you feel sick and tired.
By eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day, you will be boosting your health through better carb consumption. The National Cancer Institute recommends that you have fruit juice — or better yet fresh fruit every day for breakfast. You should have a fresh fruit or vegetable snack every day. You need to stock up on dried, frozen and canned fruits and veggies. You must make these foods visible and easy to access throughout your daily routine. And you have to sample the delicious spectrum when it comes to the many different colors and varieties of fruits and vegetables.
You will get your five a day if you eat one cup of dark, leafy greens, one half cup of red tomatoes, one half cup of yellow peppers, six ounces of orange juice and one half cup of blueberries. This is only one example of how you can consume five a day of fruits and vegetables to keep your complex carb ratio up. Please notice this includes only one serving of fruit juice. Various nutrition experts state that you should eat whole, fresh fruits more often than drinking fruit juice, which keeps those simple sugars from adding to your weight problem.
This is because simple sugars are more concentrated in fruit juices than in whole fruits. You should eat at least two cups of fruit a day, in a variety of fresh choices, such as one small banana, one large orange and one quarter cup of fresh or canned apricots or peaches. Also, eating fresh fruit adds more fiber to your diet and helps flush toxins from your system better than only drinking fruit juice does.
You should also eat plenty of dark, leafy green veggies, which are among the best foods for you. Eat broccoli and kale, as well as mustard greens and spinach. Also, you should eat orange veggies such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and winter squash. For peas and beans, among the best are pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, split peas and lentils. Foods such as these are extremely healthy, low in fat, and terrific for raising your energy levels.
Eating fruits and veggies will also greater lower your risk for cancer. Researchers at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University have made top ten lists of the best antioxidant (anti-cancer) fruits and vegetables. Here are some of the most antioxidant members of the fruit and vegetable families of foods:
1) Fruits: prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, plums, oranges, red grapes and cherries
2) Veggies: kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, beets, red bell peppers, onions, corn and eggplant
While the average American seldom gets as much as two servings of these good foods per day, nutrition experts say that five to seven servings a day need to become a staple of the ordinary American diet. You can easily sneak these into your familys eating patterns. Try serving raw veggies at every meal, and take advantage of packaged, prepared veggies. Put veggies into your breakfast and lunch, and start each family dinner with a mixed green salad. Serve a salad entre dish once per week, fill your spaghetti sauce with vegetables, and begin ordering a weekly pizza with an extra serving of healthy vegetables.
If we were to eat more veggies and fewer processed foods, we as a country would lose weight, clean out our clogged arteries, balance our blood sugar and shut down a large number of hospitals in the process. This would roughly solve Americas growing health and obesity problems in a nutshell.
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Do you have potpourri and essential oils coming out your ears? If so, you may want to consider using them to make simple sachets as gifts. Sachets are great for tucking into bureau drawers to make your clothing smell wonderful and also can be used in closets.
To make a sachet, you will need muslin, ribbon, and some potpourri. Cut a four inch by eight inch piece of muslin. Fold it in half with the right sides together so that you make a four inch by four inch piece. Sew the two side edges and turn the muslin sack right side out.
Next, fill the sack two thirds of the way with your potpourri. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Then, gather the top edges of your sack and tie them off with the ribbon. If you will be giving the sachets to people who will be hanging them in closets, make a hanging loop in the ribbon. Otherwise, make a pretty bow. Add decorative elements such as fabric flowers, buttons, or bits of lace to dress up your sachets.
If you want to make the sachets a bit fancier, you can use decorative cotton fabrics or even lace to make your sacks instead of using simple muslin.
For a fun variation on the sachet, make scented kitchen hot pads as gifts. You can use store bought hot pads or make your own. If you use store bought hot pads, open a few inches on one seam and add a few drops of essential oil or herbs and spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. Then, sew the seam back up. When a hot plate of food or a cup of tea sits on the hot pad, the warmth will release the scent.
Whether you make sachets or hot pads as gifts, you will be able to give useful presents that smell fabulous.
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
PHP is high in demand these days and there are many people and companies, big and small scale both, are using PHP as a programming language to develop business applications. The reasons are simple because it’s highly secured, economical and gives a variety of developmental environments to create applications of all size and variety. But so that you can make the most out of the features and opportunities it gives to develop high end applications you would need a qualified PHP Programmer who understands the nuances of the language and is capable of developing applications of any kinds.
There are various reasons of why you should think of hiring a PHP programmer because a professional programmer brings along a lot of benefits, which can really prove to be a boon for your business. The first and foremost is the professionalism they bring in the working style which is always a plus point when it comes to the kind of competition there is in the market. A well-trained and experienced PHP programmer would have the understanding of what is required to create a high quality application in addition to other technical expertise.
If the PHP programmer has any professional working experience then he would also know how the market works and what kind of demands clients come with. They would have the hands on experience of communicating with the clients and handling the pressure that comes with the job. Communication is the key when you are dealing with clients directly as it needs strong skills to manage their demands and create a lasting impression so that they build a rapport with them and make sure they don’t loose the client for future deals.
And if you decide to hire a PHP programmer then hiring from India can give you a lot of additional benefits. PHP programming in India is booming in the current market and there are plenty of resources available at the most affordable price. There is no dearth of quality PHP programmers and so you will not only get a large number to choose from but you can also save up a lot as the hiring charges are comparatively less due to various other reasons like currency exchange, large availability etc.
So if you are thinking of getting PHP application development done then hire a PHP programmer for the best results and that too hire from India as the PHP programming industry in India is booming a lot.
He is expert PHP programmer at IndiaNIC software development company, having enough experience in the IT industry. We have expertise in PHP application development & open source web development. So hire developer at competitive rate.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhimanyu_Sharma
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
I was traveling around St. Patrick’s Day and while I ate dinner and enjoyed some Irish music I saw a promotional T-shirt for Guinness beer announcing the holiday. It was a very stylish T-shirt, but it was the tagline that I loved the most. It read:
Celebrate like you mean it.
I haven’t been able to get that phrase out of my mind since.
Organizational leaders think about celebrations a lot. Maybe not the type Guinness was thinking about with that tagline, but they definitely think about them. They think about what, when, where and how to celebrate. Sometimes they get it right. But far too often they don’t.
Celebrations are important, but even more important is handling celebrations appropriately.
Of the four points mentioned above (what, when, where and how to celebrate), what to celebrate and how to celebrate it are the most important for you to consider. But first, let’s start with an underlying principle – why to celebrate in the first place.
Why to Celebrate – Consider the Underlying Purpose
There are at least three great reasons to celebrate in your organization:
to commemorate results and efforts.
to recognize people accomplishments and contributions.
to appreciate people.
When you think about these purposes, especially in an organizational context, it makes it easier to think about when to celebrate.
But before we get more specific about that, think about the last five times you arranged or participated in a celebration, and what the expressed purposes were. And, perhaps more importantly, what are the situations when you didn’t celebrate that, using the purposes above, you could have?
When to Celebrate – Consider your Reasons
Read any book on team building, employee engagement or project management and you will read that celebrations are important. You can easily find lists of reasons to celebrate that usually include things like:
Celebrate when you . . .
Reach a goal.
Achieve a milestone.
Gain a major Client.
Release a new product.
Win an award.
These are probably obvious times to celebrate (in part because so many experts have reminded us). Most organizations do something at these types of “big achievements.” And yet when you consider the stated purpose above, there are so many other situations when you could celebrate. What if you celebrated when:
People worked exceptionally hard?
People delighted a customer?
People lived your organizational values in a unique or important way?
People deserved thanks?
People reached a milestone, even if the project isn’t complete yet?
Each of these lists could be longer – but please notice a critical difference. The first list is about completion and success, the second is about people. The first list is the obvious times to celebrate; the second list might be more of a surprise and have greater meaning to those being celebrated.
Successful celebrations occur in part when you are celebrating for the right reasons, and when those reasons are perfectly clear to those involved in the celebration.
How to Celebrate – Consider Your Attitude
Ever been to a celebration that flopped? Chances are it wasn’t about the cake, punch or surroundings. The single biggest reason why celebrations flop is because people are just going through the motions.
Like when the leader arrives late, makes a proclamation then rushes back to his or her meeting.
Or the purpose for the celebration isn’t clear.
Or it has been postponed three times.
These are all examples of celebrations becoming perfunctory and without any passion. And in the end, these “celebrations” hurt engagement, morale and energy more than they help.
If you want successful celebrations you must be real and genuine about the reason for celebrating. You must be gracious and thankful for those involved. Your comments must be heart-felt, and you must be present – really there in the moment – sharing in the celebratory feelings of the event.
There is another article that could be written (and I”ll probably write it) about the ways to do the celebration, because not all celebrations are (or should be) created equally.
However you do it, in the end, the biggest key to any celebration’s success is all about the slogan from that T-shirt. If you want your celebrations to be meaningful, celebrate like you mean it.
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Potential Pointer: It isn’t about the venue, the theme, the budget or even the food. When celebrating events and accomplishments in your organization, what matters most is that you clearly want to celebrate! So, celebrate like you mean it.
Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive your free special report on Unleashing Your Potential go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Eikenberry
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Your Title is Key
Grab them at “hello” by starting with an event title that captures the key benefit of attending “Eliminate 80% of Registration Hassles with Online Registration.” If you get their excitement flowing right away, they will seek out reasons to support that feeling instead of being skeptical as they read on.
“How others have benefited from attending this event:”
Testimonials are a great way to give credibility to the benefits of your program. Collect and publish testimonials from past attendees about what they gained from attending your event. Create a section in your event summary titled “How others have benefited from attending this event:” You can make it easy for past attendees to share their thoughts by calling or emailing them and asking “What did you get out of this event?” When they respond, ask if it is ok to share it with others.
“Dont take our word for it, talk to past attendees”
Take your testimonials one step further by offering to provide names and phone numbers of past attendees. When someone provides you with a stellar testimonial, ask them if they would be willing to share their experience with others, and if it’s ok to share their email address or phone number. Having references shows confidence to your prospects and enables your happy attendees to do the selling for you.
“What you will miss by not attending?”
One of the most powerful motivators for people is to tell them what they will gain from attending or what they will miss if they dont attend your event. These lists work so well because it tells your prospects that you understand their pain and have knowledge that could make their situation easier.
This is an example from a management seminar…
What you will miss by not attending:
* Knowing what do when your employee is preoccupied or distant
* No longer feeling like an outsider with your co-workers
* No longer feeling trapped between needing to report to your boss and not wanting to micro-manage
* Understanding alternatives to letting someone go
* Knowing how to reduce anxiety related to rumors
“No question goes unanswered.”
Eliminate any remaining doubts your prospects may have about value by telling them that they will get ALL their questions answered. Mention that you will follow up after the program is over to answer any unanswered questions.
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
As their children grow up, every set of parents has a different idea as to what should be the main focus of their upbringing and how they should spend their free time, especially when it comes to extra-curricular activities. Some parents place a huge emphasis on academics and want their children doing extra reading or working with a tutor. Other parents are heavily into sports and want their children to focus on sports. Some parents simply want their children to be children and don’t push them in any particular direction at all.
In most cases, schools give children at least some opportunity to participate in a team sport. Along with the team sports that are taught during physical education classes, there are usually a few varsity sports teams that will represent the school while competing against other schools in the area. In addition to this, most communities have a few organized sports leagues that children can be active in.
In my opinion, participation in team sports is vital to healthy social, physical and emotional development. Participating in a sports team exposes children to a range of challenges in a team environment where they are forced to work with others, rely on others at times and also to encourage or root for others on their team. All of this leads to the development of a cooperative mindset. Now although all of this sounds ideal, I am aware that it does not always work out this way. Some times a child might be a ‘ball hog’ and refuse to pass the ball, or want to score all of the goals themselves. But with time, even this child learns at some point that they must work with others if they want to see true success.
Some kids just love sports and have a natural tendency towards them. There is very little that a parent could do to stop a child like this from participating in sports. Other children are quite nonchalant about sports, and some children even hate sports. A variety of factors can influence the way that children feel about sports. Sometimes they are shy or insecure about the abilities yet with a little encouragement they will get out there and do fine. At times, a child may have a physical attribute that they are conscious or overly conscious about that stops them from doing a sporting activity they would love. I encourage parents to find at least one team sport that their children can become involved in. Not all team sports have to be high impact activities or ‘popular’ sports. A swim team is great for a child that is not boisterous or overly physical. Some schools have sailing as an extra curricular activity which again falls outside of the typical team sport.
I believe that team sports teach children not only how to compete, but how to compete fairly within structured boundaries. This is an important life lesson and the skills and the disciplines that they learn in sports will definitely last them a lifetime. Team sports will teach children how to communicate, since most team sports require children not only to talk to each other while the activity is taking place but also how to plan strategies for an upcoming event and how to debrief or review things that have happened in a game. Perhaps most importantly, team sports teach children how to succeed and how to fail since inevitably throughout each season of their sport their team will do both. With every win and loss, children learn coping skills. These again are important skills to develop in a child and they will last them throughout life.
Susan Roberts writes freelance for a number of different companies including KS Child Locate on locate child mobile [http://www.kschildlocate.co.uk/how-we-can-help/locate-child-mobile/]. She has many years experience working with teens and families and also publishes on HubPages on subjects such as “My Childhood and my Children’s Childhood“.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_T_Roberts
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Writing effective technical and industrial product press releases for online media sources can significantly increase your Web site’s exposure.
by Conrad Bailey, Industrial Marketing Consultant
The most common and negative traits online press releases have, is most of them are poorly optimized for search engines, value-less and just downright boring. No wonder so many Web site promoters complain about getting poor results from their press releases. They’ll blame the media, the media’s audience and even the competition… but the real problem is almost always the press release itself.
Call it what you want, a press release, news release or media release, it really doesn’t matter because if it lacks richness in value, relevant keywords and of course, newsworthy content, it’s not even worth distributing. I don’t care how many media sources you send it to, if it fails to reach your target market, nothing else really matters.
Forget Branding and Start Selling
The biggest myth in public relations and in the advertising industry in general is the “need” for branding. Just ask any competent direct marketer about branding, and you’ll get your answer. Branding is for deep pocket corporations that have unlimited funds to throw around… or should I say throw away. Branding is just a poor excuse for what I call simple minded marketing that offers little if any measurable ROI.
Case in point: Did you know the word Coca Cola is the second most known word on the entire planet only after the word “Okay?” Yet, it does not stop the Coca Cola company from being one of the most aggressive advertiser’s in the world. From television and radio commercials, to sporting events and bulletin boards, Coca Cola appears to be everywhere.
With such a huge marketing budget, some people might call all that promotion a form of branding. But I beg to differ, because a closer look at their commercials will tell you they are always marketing to a specifically targeted audience, mainly consumers between the ages 17 to about 35 years old. Why you ask? They are strategically creating new generations of coke drinkers by utilizing clever customer-centered marketing on its widest scale. Obviously, their marketing campaigns go much deeper than just branding. And the same approach should be taken when you write press releases.
Writing An Effective Headline
The headline of a press release is directly responsible for 50% off its success or failure. It is the first words of the release the editor reads, so it better be darn good. Take your time and come up with a headline that offers a solution to a specific problem. Or perhaps ask an open-ended question to build curiosity and generate immediate interest. The best headlines are client-centered messages that express value and/or indicate a solution that people in your target market are dealing with.
The Advantages Of A Sub-Headline
Your press releases should always include a sub-headline or lead paragraph that briefly but accurately explains what the release is about in a manner that indicates why it’s newsworthy.
A sub-headline is often the difference maker in whether or not an editor or prospect will decide the rest of the material is worth reading. Just remember, you must avoid all marketing hype and focus on the news you are providing that hopefully expresses value to the editor’s audience.
The Body of The Press Release
Writing technical and industrial product press releases is not exactly an art like many PR people claim. Just like everything else, you’ll get better with practice. The key however, is to constantly look for and analyze press releases published in various publications… ideally the ones submitted by competitors in your industry. This will give you a good idea of the press releases different media sources that serve your target audience publish.
With a little research you can also learn which press releases online are getting the best results. Many news distribution sites (see examples below) have thousands of press releases marked or listed by popularity. It’s easy to learn which releases are currently generating the most interest by the clicks and/or views they are getting. Thus, you can use that information to create a similar but completely different press release that will generate as much or even more interest. At the very least, by analyzing the press releases your competitors are putting out, you’ll spawn a lot of good ideas for writing highly efficient material.
Some Press Release Writing Tips To Keep In Mind
Keep it brief, no more than a single page (about 240 words), 4 to 6 paragraphs with no more than 3 to 4 sentences each;
Remember, you are writing for the editor, as well as your target audience and also the search engines… all of which happen to have different needs;
Write about the facts just like a journalist’s would. Avoid all sales hype completely or the editor will reject your material;
Always include keywords throughout the release that naturally ‘flow’ with the copy. Avoid the negative SEO tactic of keyword stuffing;
Each paragraph should be newsworthy enough and factual-oriented in such a way that it could stand alone as its own press release if it needed to;
The closing paragraph should offer a brief description of your company’s profile, target market and corporate capabilities;
End the release with an editorial contact as well as a company contact person’s name, telephone number and email address.
Distributing Your Press Release
First and foremost, you should submit your press release to the many free PR distribution sites available. Most of them also offer paid submission options that can dramatically increase the distribution. Here are my 10 favorite press release submission sites that we have received the best results from. Listed in no particular order.
www.prweb.com
www.arrivenet.com
www.pr9.net
www.1888pressrelease.com
www.prleap.com
www.sbwire.com
www.prfree.com
www.przoom.com
www.sbwire.com
www.pr.com
Online Trade Publications
There are a lot of media directories available online, some are free and others are quite expensive. One of the ones I use is Gebbie Press All-In-One Media Directory at Gebbiepress.com. They offer a comprehensive selection of trade magazines you can access directly from their site free-of-charge. You’ll certainly find some publications that serve your target market… make sure to send them your press release.
I also have extensively used the publications portal Publist.com to locate hundreds of trade magazines, journals and newsletters all over the world. Yes, that directory is free as well, but I have found it needs to be updated, a number of publications on the site are no longer in circulation. Nonetheless, I’m sure you’ll find the site useful for locating print and electronic trade publications that are ideal for your press release.
You’ll also find hundreds of pre-selected trade magazines and publications for industrial, technical and engineering fields on our partner site at, www.IndustrialLeaders.Tradepub.com.
Just ‘Google’ the ones that interest you to locate their Web site or simply request a free subscription. New trade magazines are added on a regular basis.
About The Author
Conrad Bailey is co-founder and vice president of www.IndustrialLeaders.com, and author of the popular Co-Op Industrial Advertising Blog at: http://www.IndustrialLeaders.com/blog/
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
It can be more than a little discouraging to start making retirement planning calculations. Youll usually find that to achieve the annual retirement income you want, you need to be saving a lot more than is practical.
Suppose, for example, that you use a program like Quicken or Microsoft Money to determine that your retirement savings should equal to $5,200 a yearwhich is the same as $450 a month. (This savings amount will produce roughly $15,000 a year of retirement income if you save for 20 years, increase your savings with inflation, and earn 9 percent.)
Okay. That’s great information to have. But practically speaking, where do you find this money? Well. first you want to get the free money that’s available.
The first source of free retirement money
While $450 a month seems like a lot of money, you may be able to come up with this figure more readily than you might think. Say, for example, that you work for an employer whos generous enough to match your 401(k) contributions by 50 percent. In other words, for every dollar you contribute, your employer contributes $.50.
In this case, you need to come up with $300 a month to have $450 a month added to your retirement savings. To make this calculation, you divide the monthly savings amount, $450, by 1 + the employers matching percentage, 50%. The formula $450/(1+50%) equals $300.
The second source of free retirement money
Also suppose that you pay federal and state income taxes of 33 percent and that you can deduct your 401(k) contributions from your income. In this case, the actual monthly out-of-pocket amount you need to come up with equals $200, not $450. To make this calculation, you multiply your share of the needed monthly savings, $300 in this example, by 1minus the 33% marginal tax rate, which equals 67%
In this case, the actual amount you need to come up with on a monthly basis equals $200 because $300 times 67% equals (roughly) $200.
Sometimes, most of your retirement savings money can come from others
Admittedly, $200 a month is still a lot of money. But its also a lot less than the $450-per-month savings you need to add to your retirement savings. In fact, most of the money in this example you need to save comes from other sources!
The preceding calculations argue for two tactics when saving for retirement. First, if an employer offers to match your contributions to something like a 401(k) plan, it will almost always make sense to accept the offerunless your employer is trying to force you to make an investment that is not appropriate for you.
TIPIf you do want to contribute $300 a month to a 401(k) plan and need to reduce your income taxes withheld by $100 a month to do so, talk to your employers payroll department for instructions. You may need to file a new W-4 statement and increase the number of personal exemptions claimed.
Second, any time you get a tax deduction for contributing money to your retirement savings, its almost certainly too good a deal to pass up. As described in the preceding example, you can use the income tax savings because of the deduction to boost your savings so they provide for the desired level of retirement income.
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Colbie Caillat was born in 1985 in Newbury Park, California. Colbie grew up in Malibu, California where her music influence stems from her father Ken. He co- produced two of the biggest albums in history, Fleetwood Macs Rumors and Tusks. Ken Caillat now runs his own record label. She learned a lot about music from Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. When Colbie was 11 she wanted to pursue a serious career in music after she heard the Fugees version of Killing Me Softly. She entered her first talent show singing the song that inspired her to sign up.
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Franchised operations in India.are increasing by the day. Being geographically vast and culturally diverse, India offers the most favorable franchising environment. While companies benefit by having many profit making outlets in different parts of the country, franchisees in India benefit by being able to generate good returns with little investment and risk involved. Entrepreneurs are making the most of Indias franchising market and growing economy by becoming successful franchisees. Indian franchisees can now choose from a plethora of international as well as domestic franchising companies. There are numerous attractive franchising options available in various sectors.
Ever since the franchising boom in the nineties, there have been many success stories. Franchisees in India helped many businesses grow and establish, while also gaining immensely from their business ventures. Examples of international franchises that have been successful in India include food and beverages giants such as Subway, Mc Donalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken among others. Indian companies that have benefited from franchising include names such as Barista, MRF, NIIT and Apollo hospitals among others. Its not just the bigger companies; smaller international and domestic companies also look for franchisees in India. The capital required for such ventures would be smaller when compared to highly reputed companies. The downside however, is that the risks are more, since you cannot ride on the popularity wave generated by the reputed companies.
Depending on your choice of business, you can either work from home or from an outside location. The initial capital you may require to start a franchising venture will depend on the type of business and the franchisors requirements. Most home-based franchise options are suited for work-at-home women. Cosmetics, healthcare products, services, home business household products and e-commerce ventures, make for convenient yet rewarding franchising options. Franchisors provide training and support and your business can gain from the image and professionalism of the franchising company.
Franchising allows entrepreneurs to have their own business, without many of the risks associated with a start-up business. Franchising also offers you great income and a flexible work style. But, as a potential franchise purchaser, you need to carefully consider the finances and risks associated, prior to starting your business. Read Franchise Plus to learn about the benefits, profits and risks associated with franchising in India. We help you make an informed franchising decision for a successful franchising venture in India.
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
Everyone is always afraid of messing up another players cards. People look around like a lost child at the fair wondering if they hit will the rest of players at the casino blackjack table get angry. They wonder if I stay will the casino blackjack dealer get 21?
Here are 5 quick facts you have to know about casino blackjack.
Fact #1 They casino games are designed to beat you! Blackjack is no exception, the casino will win your money if you stay too long or if you are uneducated about the game of blackjack. So it does not matter if you hit or stand if you play blackjack too long you will lose!
Fact #2 In order to give yourself a fighting chance of winning at blackjack, you have to know Basic Strategy. This is what is on all the little cards you always see people sneaking a peek at when they are at the blackjack table. Memorize the basic strategy and if you are caught like a deer in headlights when you are at the blackjack table ask the dealer what you should do, not another player.
Fact #3 If you are not sure how to effectively play your blackjack cards, you should definitely play at one of the lower limit casino blackjack tables. Players there are generally on the same playing level as you would be on and it will be more about the fun than winning a million dollars at blackjack.
Fact #4 If you insist you know what you are doing and decide to play blackjack at a real casino table, and you do realize you need a little guidance so you swallow your pride and ask the casino blackjack dealer what you should do, listen to his/her advice. Do not by any means deviate from the blackjack dealers instructions. They deal hundreds of thousands of hands yearly, they know what they are doing. Regardless of the outcome of your blackjack hand please do not forget to tip your blackjack dealer for the advice. The blackjack dealer does not have to help you win but if you show your gratitude by throwing the blackjack dealer some tips or tokes as they are called (short for token of appreciation) you might just find that the blackjack dealer will help you more often. Besides it is just good karma! * Some casinos frown upon asking the blackjack dealer how to play your hand so make sure you are not breaking any rules.
Fact #5 This is a big stress reliever, it will leave you in a state of mind that will allow you to have fun and make money. The other players will not give you your money back if you do miss play your hand in hopes that the rest of the people at the blackjack table will win. So do not ask them if they want you to hit or stand. It is your money play it they way you want to. Observe a reasonable etiquette but at the end of the night if you are broke do you think they are going to buy you dinner because you held your 16?
So remember blackjack is not a team sport! It is a casino game that will beat you every chance it gets. Arm yourself with knowledge and learn how to bet to maximize your chances of walking away with your money.
Bryan Fulton comes from a family full of casino industry professionals, from casino managers, and dealers to special event planners, and slot host organizers. He has worked at many different styles of casinos from the old world era riverboats of South Carolina to the luxurious mega resorts of fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada! Bryan has years of experience in all the casino table games, he has dealt over a million hands (and counting) of blackjack, roulette, craps and the carnival games. His skills have landed him highly paid jobs in some of the busiest casinos around. Bryan Fulton has been featured on the Travel Channel’s Vegas Dealers II in which he is seen demonstrating various dealing techniques. He has been called upon to train many of the new hires that casinos bring up through the ranks internally. Bryan Fulton has personally coached thousands of customers on effective playing strategies as well as his secret winning strategies.
Visit: http://www.roulette.bryanfulton.com for more strategies and tips.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Fulton
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
There is an inherent challenge in finding and selecting TV Mounts, online or off-line, that will enable you to attach your television to the wall or to the ceiling.
Often times, the limited space in your home or office, will require you to employ creative organization techniques in order to be able to decide the most appropriate placement of your television, within a room.
In doctors’ offices, restaurants, day cares, and other offices, it often makes the most sense to utilize a ceiling mount configuration for the placement of the TV. In any environment where it is important to separate the TV from interference by the public, in the operation of the television set, a ceiling TV mount frequently offers the best solution.
Even in the home, TV wall mounts and TV ceiling mounts frequently offer the best solution to the consumer. Before the days of flat-screen TVs, placing a television in the kitchen often meant that the consumer would be required to give up precious cabinet space or shelf space to accommodate the television.
However, with the recent development of thin flat-screen televisions, it has become possible to mount a television to a wall, in some cases to utilize a TV Mount that employs hinges, which will enable the consumer to move the television so that it may be viewed from any location within a room.
TV Mounts have been utilized for the mounting of televisions in nearly every room of the home, including the bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, dining areas, and living areas.
Outside the kitchen, the most frequent placement of televisions. in the home. utilizing TV Mounts has been in the living area. With the introduction of Plasma, LCD, and DLP televisions, the desire and the ability to mount televisions to the wall in a common living space has grown in lockstep with the development of new technology and selection.
Also driving the interest in wall mounting televisions is the size of the televisions being purchased. Only a couple decades back, the largest televisions a consumer could buy were 36 inches. With the development of projection TVs, 60 inch televisions became mainstream and part of everybody’s Christmas wish list.
With the large demand for big-screen projection TVs, television manufacturers began doing the research into developing TVs that could produce a nice picture, but overcame the number one flaw projection TVs. That flaw in projection TVs was not in the quality of the picture or in its cost – the flaw in projection TVs was the astronomical size of these televisions. Far too often, the placement of a projection TV in somebody’s living room was enough to reduce the comfortable living space in a room. Unless the consumer lived in a mansion upon the hill, the projection TV had the capability to swallow any room that it was placed into.
Different manufacturers went different ways in the development of new televisions that would deliver a great picture, yet require a smaller footprint in a room. Some manufacturers pursued plasma TVs, and others invested heavily in LCD TVs. Out of the gate, Hitachi developed one of the best plasma televisions in the marketplace. At the same time, Sony was pursuing the development of LCD TVs. To this day, Sony is responsible for developing the most popular and highest selling LCD televisions in the marketplace. Samsung took a different track, by pursuing the development of the DLP TVs. DLP televisions have not yet gained the same level of acceptance that plasma and LCD televisions have gained.
With the development of plasma-display TVs and liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions, came the ability for consumers to wall-mount their new televisions.
You might assume that the television manufacturers would have designed their televisions in such a way that a standard wall-mounted bracket could be used with all of the TVs, from one manufacture. If you were to assume such a thing, you’d be sadly disappointed.
There are cases where a particular TV Mount can be used with a variety of television models. But those kinds of TV Mounts are the exception, rather than the rule.
It is possible to find TV mounting brackets that are defined as compatible with specific television models. In other cases, the definition of how a TV mount can be used will be dictated by the size of the television. In this second case, the TV mount will suggest that it can be used with, for example, a 17 inch to a 24 inch television at a particular style. For ceiling mounted TVs, most are designed to accommodate a tube television. For wall-mounted TVs, TV Mounts can be purchased for nearly every television currently available.
It is often in your best interests, to have handy the model number of your television set when shopping for a TV mount for your home or office. In the event that you are unable to find a specific TV Mount for your television, then you should have handy the measurements of your television to enable you to find a more generic TV Mount.
If you find the selection of TV Mounts to be more challenging than you would like, visit my website shown below to see if I can offer you any help for your specific television mounting challenges.
Coalton Cassady writes for the http://maxroo.com/ website, which is dedicated to helping consumers learn what they need to know to be able to make educated and intelligent decisions about their purchases. One topic he has tackled that is of great interest to many consumers is TV Mounts, used to mount televisions to the wall or ceiling. Learn more at: http://tvmounts.maxroo.com/
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Coalton_Cassady
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
The gifting market is a $253 billion market, meaning that almost 1% of the money spent on retail is to buy a gift. This is great news for the gift professionals everywhere. With several major gifting holidays, and many other gifting occasions throughout the year, opportunity is knocking at your door.
But how do you get started?
Here are some basics needed to start a gift basket business:
First, you need to do your research:
-who is your competition?
-who is your target market?
-who are your potential customers?
Write a business plan: this will help you put your goals and ideas into a clear format, and serve as a place to go back and check how you are doing.
Write a marketing plan:
-how are you going to attract your potential customers?
-will you profit from corporate clients, foot traffic, or a combination of ways?
Once youve done the above, choose a business name, get your business license and Tax ID.
Take time when you choose your business name: when you first start, you may want to have your name included in your business name, or even a “cute” name, but later on, as you get corporate customers, you’ll realize that your name has a great impact on how your customers perceive you. If your market is “new moms”, by all means use some name they can relate to, but if you plan on getting corporate clients, give it a professional name.
Next step would be to get insurance for your business: yes, it’s costly. But not having one could be devastating to your company’s financial future, or, if you are set up as a Sole Proprietor, your family’s financial future. Business insurance is very important, and one of the costs of doing business.
You are now ready to order your inventory, and start your first prototypes.
Next, get a business phone line. And it’s important that only you or one of your trained staff answer the phone. Many of us start in our homes, to be home with our kids, and that is wonderful. But if your kids are screaming in the background, don’t pick up the phone: while another mom could understand your predicament, the busy assistant of a large company will probably not want to put up with that.
Once your are all set for business, you’ll want to get a website, so that your clients can order on line if they choose to do so. In the last few years web design costs came down a lot, so it’s not as expensive as in the past.
These are just the first few steps to get you started. Have fun and never stop learning.
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
So, What Is ‘Inside The List’?
You have no doubt heard the saying “The money is in the list”, well this product claims to teach you how to set up subscriber lists and how to market to them in order to get the cash rolling in!
The pair who have written this book are also responsible or the highly respected ‘Beating Adwords’ and ‘Wealthy Affiliate’ membership site. I know for a fact that his pair use these techniques to generate incomes in excess of $30,000 a month. The question is have they managed to translate there considerable knowledge into ‘Inside The List’? Read On!
So, Does Inside The List Actually Work?
Anyone with a decent amount of experience knows how to build an opt-in list, so why should anyone want to part with there hard earned in order to read about it? Well, it is the techniques that Inside The List teach for selling on to all those potential customers and turning them from subscribers into paying customers. Creating solid customer relationships that you will be able to sell to again and again, enabling you to generate instant cash at will. Inside The List achieves all of this and more. Some of the stuff in there was an absolute revalation… seiously!
I know that for some of you the thought of building your own customer base may seem a bit complicated, but don’t be put off. The methods can easily be adopted and put into action by beginners. Everything that you need to know is in this book. Inside The List even includes web page templates for those without web page design skills.
Bottom line Caiden… Should I Invest In Inside The List?
If Your looking to make sustainable and, once set up, instant large sums of cash then there is no better way of doing it than owning your own opt-in list. So, as there is no better opt-in list resource currently on the web than Inside The List it most definatley comes highly recommended. All that is required is that you implement the methods yourself to reap the benefits, after all they can’t do the work for you!
Thanks For Reading
Caiden Felix
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
Il existe de ces sparations ou l’autre cote a dcid que nous ne lui convenions plus et il nous l’a dit gentiment ou tout du moins prudemment. Et il existe de ces sparations ou personne n’a prvenu personne. Ou personne n’a demand a personne. Et le pire c’est que cela arrive dans tous les domaines. En amour. En amiti. Au travail. C’est certainement la vie. Toute sparation est comme une petite ou une grande mort. Alors pourquoi souffrir et faire souffrir encore plus et se sparer sans aucune explication?
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
Most baseball fans thought that this year would be like any other in the AL East – a two-horse race between the reigning super powers in the division, the Yankees and the Red Sox. However, as we approach June, one team is hanging in right with the two favorites and the other two are not out of it yet. This is partially due to the Yankees and Red Sox having somewhat disappointing seasons so far, but regardless, the race could be interesting all the way into October.
Boston Red Sox
Currently:
The Honeymoon season after The Curse was finally vanquished is in the books, and Red Sox fans are hungry for another title. After a drama-filled offseason, the team sits in first place as of this writing, and this is due to an all-around solid, if not spectacular, team effort. Offensively, Mike Lowell and David Ortiz rank in the Top Ten in the AL in several categories. and others are holding up their ends. On the pitching side, Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett are off to strong starts, and the team is ranked 3rd in the AL in both BAA and K/BB.
Outlook:
The team has remained consistent, and if Manny Ramirez turns it on and their other players continue on course, this appears to be the team to beat in the AL East.
New York Yankees
Currently:
The Yankees are staying within striking distance of their archrivals, and theyre doing so with a patchwork outfield due to injuries. Derek Jeter is off to a scorching start, and although Jason Giambis batting average isnt great, he is supplying power and his OBP is outstanding. Young 2B Robinson Cano is beginning to fulfill his promise. The pitching has been decent despite the struggles of Randy Johnson, but Mike Mussina is throwing like an ace.
Outlook:
If the Yankees can get healthy, and Gary Sheffield appears to be close to returning to the battered outfield, Randy Johnson can regain his form and the team string together some wins, the Yankees will be there in the end, as always.
Toronto Blue Jays
Currently:
The Blue Jays are nipping at the heels of the Yankees due to strong starts from young players like RF Alex Rios and veterans like Vernon Wells. Overall, Toronto is doing it with offense, as they lead the AL in team BA and OPS, and rank in the Top 5 in nearly every other offensive category. Outside of Roy Halladay, the pitching has been mediocre at best, but the staff is relatively young and has lots of upside.
Outlook:
If the offense keeps its torrid pace and the pitching comes around in the second half of the season, this division will involve more teams than the Red Sox and Yankees.
Baltimore Orioles
Currently:
This is a team thats staying within shouting distance of the division leaders with two things: Miguel Tejada and overall power. Tejada is having a monster season, sitting in the Top Ten in the AL in seven different offensive categories. As a team, the Orioles are near the top of the AL in home runs. Their ability to manufacture runs, however, has been limited because of the absence of 2B Brian Roberts, the leadoff hitter whos set to return after missing several weeks with a groin injury. In his absence, the Orioles leadoff men are hitting only .198. The pitching, other than Kris Benson, has been a disaster.
Outlook:
If Roberts can help by putting men on base for all the home runs the team has been hitting, the Orioles will score even more. Otherwise, the team needs to find some pitching, as winning 10-9 games is not a successful long-term formula. Despite all of this, the Orioles are far from out of it at this point.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Currently:
The Devil Rays are showing signs of life after years of dismal results. The team is getting offensive firepower from young players like Johnny Gomes and Ty Wiggington, but not one of their regulars is batting over .300, which is why the team overall is last in the AL in BA. The teams MVP right now, and the player most responsible for the Devil Rays remaining competitive, is pitcher Scott Kazmir. Hes only 22, and his ERA is a miniscule 2.39 as of this writing.
Outlook:
If the team can hang in there while their young nucleus continues to mature, the Devil Rays could be playing meaningful games late in the season, which will be a welcome change for local fans.