Healthy Tips For Better Live » Conventional Wisdom

Web Hosting – Expensive Is Not Necessarily Better

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:58:09 +0000

So many times in life, you get what you pay for and as this is the case almost anywhere you look, it isn’t the case with web hosting. Web hosting doesn’t need to be ultra-expensive to be good and many times when you are paying an arm and a leg for your web hosting, you are simply throwing your money out the window.

Web hosting providers have become so numerous today that if you were to conduct an online search using the term, you would have to dedicate a week of your life to sift through the various companies in order to find out about all of them. What you will almost certainly find though is that many of the hosting companies out there are very affordable and some are very expensive. Normal thinking dictates you going with one of the more expensive hosting companies as their big price tag must mean that they offer a lot more service-wise, but conventional wisdom is not the best wisdom in this case.

Really, you only need to be sure that the web hosting company you decide to go with has:

• Fast Page Downloads: If your pages load slowly the likely result will be the visitors leaving in a hurry. Fast page downloads equate to more visitor time on your website.

• Fast Data Transfer: If you have pictures and or videos on your website, you also want those to load quickly. Like a slow page loading, slow data loading is also a visitor turn-off and will have them leave as fast as they arrive.

• Unlimited Disk Space: While you may not require a lot of space for your website at first, you may need more down the line. If you limit yourself, you may have to look for a different web hosting provider down the road and go through the hassles of switching hosting companies. It is better to know that no matter how big your website becomes, your web hosting company can handle it.

• At Least 99% Uptime: Even the most economical web hosting companies will offer at least a 99% uptime and usually more. This is important as your website doesn’t do you any good if it is down with problems.

• A 24/7 Customer Support Toll Free Number: If something should go wrong then you will want to be able to get the support you need fast. You can’t do that with a hosting service that only offers e-mail support or only offers customer support from 9am to 5pm Monday thru Friday.

If you look close enough you will find that most hosting companies offer this and more. So, with all things being equal, why would you want to pay more? You don’t have to pay through the nose in order to get great web hosing, all you really need to do is conduct a little research and make sure that the web hosting company you choose has the ability to grow with you as your needs will dictate.

Should You Feed Wild Birds In The Winter?

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 06:04:09 +0000

Winter weather will soon be here in many parts of the country, yet many of us enjoy our wild birds year-round. Should you continue feeding them in winter? What should you feed them, and how should you go about it?

The “conventional wisdom” has always been that you should feed wild birds in winter because their normal source of food – small seeds and insects – has dramatically diminished. But is the conventional wisdom correct? By attracting birds to our feeders, are we making them too dependent on a free source of food, and weakening their ability to find food on their own? Do we actually put birds at greater risk because of cats and flying into windows?

These are not easy questions to answer because there has been little research into the subject. However a three-year study of chickadees by the University of Wisconsin found that winter survival rates were highest among chickadee populations that were fed – but only during the harshest winters. During more moderate winters (and lower latitudes) there were no significant differences in survival rates and spring hatching rates between chickadees that were fed and those that foraged for themselves.

What if the feeders are removed? Can chickadees “remember” how to find food on their own? In a similar study, feeders were suddenly removed after conditioning the birds to feeders for many years. The birds immediately resumed feeding on their own. Again, survival rates were the same as for chickadees that were not used to feeders. While more research needs to be done, these studies indicate that feeding chickadees – and presumably, other wild birds – does not result in feeder dependency.

Some argue that feeders put birds at risk because of the presumed greater risk of predation. However, birds that eat from feeders eat more in less time than if they forage in the wild, giving them more time to watch for predators. You can minimize the risk to birds at your feeder by placing feeders where they are inaccessible by cats, and by adding tape or decals to your windows so birds won’t fly into them.

That’s the research. Now, if you do want to feed wild birds this winter, here are some specific things you can do to keep your wild birds well fed.

Birdscape your yard. Both deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs provide seeds and shelter. In the spring, they provide nesting places. Ornamental grasses also provide food and shelter for ground birds. Perennial flowers that have been allowed to go to seed can also provide food over the winter.

Provide a source of water. Wild birds need water, even in winter. Obviously, freezing is an issue, so a heater is a necessity. Also, birds like moving water, and water jigglers are available as well. Locate your bird bath where you can see it so you can enjoy watching the birds frolic in the water.

Selecting a Feeder. There is a huge variety of feeders on the market, but some are better than others. Steel, aluminum, plastic or glass feeders have an advantage over wood because they are easier to keep clean and will probably last longer. Look for feeders with metal components and feeding ports, as they will last longer than plastic.

The feeder should keep the food dry in wet weather. Feeders are available with domes or roofs that will help keep the food dry. If the feeder is a platform style (as opposed to a tube style) make sure there are drain holes in the bottom.

Squirrels and Raccoons are a constant problem, as they will empty a feeder, denying your wild birds their food. They will destroy a wood or plastic feeder by chewing though it, so the additional cost of a well-made feeder is money well spent. Some squirrel-proof feeders are quite effective, but proper installation is the real key to keeping moochers off your feeders.

Maintaining your feeder. The most important part of maintaining your feeder is ensuring that the food is fresh and clean. A huge feeder with a “ten pound capacity” is not necessary or even desirable because it is likely the food will spoil before it is eaten. Some very good tube feeders will hold a lot of food, but the purpose of the long tube is to prevent squirrels from hanging from the top, not for huge food capacity.

After a rain or period of damp weather, inspect your feeders and discard any food that has gotten wet. Wet food will coagulate in the feeder, blocking food from naturally dropping to the feeding ports. Also, wet food is a breeding ground for algae and mold that will discourage birds from eating and may make them sick.

Set up more than one feeder with different types of food – perhaps sunflower seeds in one, and finch food in another.

Your feeders should be installed to minimize the chances of predation. The primary preditors are cats, so the feeder must be installed so that cats cannot climb or jump to the feeding area.

Bottom line – don’t feel you are doing your birds harm by feeding them during the winter. Follow the above suggestions, and you can enjoy your wild birds all winter long.

18×24 Poster Printing and Advertising Strategies

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:42:05 +0000

It is easy to catch one’s attention using 18X24 poster printing. Just take a walk in the city you’ll see the evidence. There are even more posters in malls vying for your attention, especially with stores competing for attention in announcing sales and other promotions

Conventional wisdom dictates that the bigger the medium, the better the chances of getting media mileage. This proves to be true as more products and services are endorsed through 18×24 posters.

Through life, we rely heavily on visual materials to guide us through life. Media such as television and print ably helps us conceive ideas better, imitate models and the like. This is one of the strongest points of advertising, selling products with stunning images that will wow all kinds of audiences.

18×24 Posters and Advertising

If you’re thinking of advertising your products, you should know that it isn’t just a one shot deal. You have to continuously promote your products and services, such that your company and brand’s presence may be felt all throughout the year. This can only increase your sales activity more favorably.

o And while everyone cannot afford expensive production and air time costs for televisions or even billboards, you can always go for cheap poster printing.

o Even if you’re a small-scale business owner, you too can afford advertising through economical means. One of which is offset poster printing, using 18×24 posters.

o As said earlier, there is nothing like a huge-sized poster print to arrest your target market’s attention. Its presence alone makes itself stand out.

o Crowds can easily gaze at and read your poster. Big prints can be viewed near or far that both pedestrians and motorists can ably and easily take notice of your posters.

o You can place posters strategic locations such as high-traffic areas and you’ll see just how many people have become aware of your products in a day.

o Unlike television commercials which rely on people to switch on their television sets, posters can reach out to various audiences without requiring anything of them.

Poster Advertising Strategies

You always have to have a plan set-up when you print posters. You have to set your goals and get the results you need – be it for increasing the sales of a particular product or your whole store in general.

1. A good tactic to use is by increasing the quantity of your posters. Literally bombard popular places where crowds gather with posters holding images of your product or brand, to remind and prompt people to buy.

2. Quality, full color posters are more attractive to the eyes. Always go for full color printing.

3. Posters can also be printed on both sides and are useful in advertising indoors and outdoors. On your store windows, you can advertise to pedestrians and motorists as they pass by. Using the same posters, you can advertise more of your products to your customers while they are inside your store.

4. Posters can be pasted up or displayed on windows. But you can also hand them up on light posts, in hallway ceilings and the like. Follow the direction of your eyes and see just where your eyes land on when walking in the most populous places.

Use 18×24 poster printing to advertise your business. See to it that you only contact a color printing expert, so you stand to gain colorful posters too at wholesale prices. Make your business, brand and services stand out with 18×24 posters. Employ these strategies too so you know just how you can make full use of your posters.

Weight loss including phentermine is worth billions

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:32:15 +0000

Wherever you look, you are guaranteed sight of an ad for a weight loss product or service. It can be a careful pitch from a local aerobics class or an over-the-top claim for a “natural” product that you can eat as much as you like and still lose weight. This evidences a sad truth. As millions of us grow steadily more overweight, there are thousands of companies and tens of thousands of products and services that target us. The intention is to exploit our fears and insecurities, and so extract the maximum amount of dollars from us. This business is worth billions every year and, truth be told, the first thing that gets lost in the marketing is the truth. Although the FDA has a specific department tasked with policing the advertizing of all weight-loss products, it has been consistently underfunded and is completely unable to stay on top of the flood of ads that compete for our attention. Similarly, the majority of states have “false claims” laws that allow action to be taken against any seller or service provider exaggerating the quality, effectiveness or value of their product or service. But states are often reluctant to interfere in the “free market” and leave it to individuals to claim they have been cheated by the companies.

As an example of the problems affecting all of us, let’s look at the activities of Basic Research and ThinCare International. These two linked companies are based in Utah but sell online to all US states. Their sales pitch is simple. If you take two pills before your main meal, you will lose weight no matter how much you eat. Better still, this is effortless weight loss and guaranteed even though you never stir from the couch. Instead of the conventional wisdom, “No pain, no gain!” (or should that be loss?), there’s no need to exercise. The pounds just drop off your body thanks to the chemical wizardry of these companies. What has made this ad campaign so successful has been the presence of Jillian Michaels as brand ambassador. Ms Michaels appears on the reality show, “The Biggest Loser”, as a personal trainer to the contestants as they sweat and groan their way towards cash and other prizes for losing weight. In this role, her reputation depends on a clear and consistent message. If you want to lose weight, you have to be disciplined in exercising and eating healthy food. For her to endorse an “effortless” product therefore looks less than completely honest.

It is significant that the two companies and the FDA are already engaged in court battles. The companies allege the FDA is wrong in rejecting their “scientific” evidence of effectiveness. To that litigation, you can now add false claims actions in California and Utah. Of course, you can take the cynical line that everyone knows ads always exaggerate the truth. Anyone who buys a product based on the marketing deserves to lose his or her money. Except there comes a point when the law has to step in and say, “Enough!” It seems this point has been reached with these products. It will be for Ms Michaels to defend her reputation. All of which bring us to phentermine hcl which has quietly been selling for decades as the best of the real drugs designed to support weight loss. It makes no exaggerated claims. Its effectiveness is supported by real scientific evidence. When you buy phentermine online, you are buying a successful product. Honest!