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For all my myLot friends - I would like to share some advice that some of my friends on myLot told me about. I thought I'd share it with you, since it can really multiply your earnings on myLot. I have been informed that, when you post/reply to discussions, if you write at least six lines, you will be paid a higher amount for that, than if you were to just write one or two lines. If you can keep your sentences short, then six lines is not a lot ! So friends, try to keep this advice in mind for your future discussions and the money start to add up quicker than it was before.


Thursday, March 31, 2011

The stool dilema

    When one of my relative who had shifted to a new town recently, the first thing he did was rent an apartment close by to the place where they had gotten a job a short while back. The first thing that I noticed when I visited their place was how bare, dull and boring everything looked. The indoor area especially looked so bleak, dreary and so drab. They really hated the look of the bare surroundings and the empty areas. Since nobody really has any idea on what to do to spice up the looks, I was called up for some advice. We ended up buying something cheap yet decorative for the patio and it seemed to do the trick.

    After filling it up with all types of furniture, it started to look just right. We went through the checking once more through every area with different furniture combinations and went through all types of ideas and finally everything seemed to click. But after giving it some thought we realized that everything was just right. After spending many days going to different places and looking at all the different setups at other people houses to get some ideas, we all realized that the one thing which was missing from his place was some classy looking yet affordable furniture.

    He really didn’t want to splurge on something expensive so went to a place which stocked a wide variety of choices at decent prices and he was thrilled at the range the site offered. Everyone gave their own suggestions, but he managed to find something on his own. We finally bought a few pieces of furniture as he simply loved this product considering the fact that he simply hated the run off the mill variety items offered at most stores. No more boring sitting areas anymore and now he can spend more time there without worrying about anything. We had never realized how convenient and versatile these handy items were until the salesperson explained all the different uses it can be used for.

    Later on I was told that they needed to choose from a range of casual chair items and bought Modern Counter Stools and my buddy was thrilled at finding one at a good rate. Now finding the right store is not really an easy job so it took us some time before we found the right one at an online shop which dealt in selling the right type of tables. After going through the different places we finally ended up contacting one which suited his budget and went back completely satisfied that we had made the right choice. Before heading home, we managed to buy a few other items to make life easier in their new home. Read more...

      Tuesday, March 29, 2011

      The chance encounter (Prelude to Death at the fireplace)

        As soon as I entered the Kicking Mules joint, the smell of the food made my mouth water and the stomach grumbled demanding its share. A smoked filled dimly lit room greeted me and I could hardly see the crowd inside. The only light the room got was from the fireplace at one end and a few scattered bulbs hanging on the wooden pillars near the door. The fireplace light flickered and threw shadows all over throwing my mind in more turmoil than it was already. The crowd was soon forgotten and the tick tock of the clock was the only sound heard for awhile as I was lost in my own thoughts.


        After looking around a bit, I spotted Jane in one corner waiting for her food and drinks. Her hat and Uzi were lying on the table in front of her as she wiped the sweat of her forehead. The deep tan and wrinkled skin on a large built woman seemed to tell its own tale it seemed. She seemed to be in deep thought and I hesitated to speak as I neared her. Gathering my wits, I said “Good to see ya here my friend. So, how goes things in your end of the woods?””Alls well as can be” She said. Looking past her, I saw that she had come alone. All I could see was a dense forest cover across the street and the street was empty except for her and her armored truck. I told her that I was pleasantly surprised to see her as I had not seen anyone of my friends for many long years I ordered my drink, plate full of the daily special and started my hunt for a seat near Jane to plant my weary body on.

        I had known Jane since childhood, yet she was always the type that kept to herself and mingled only when she wanted to. Today was one of those days which reminded me of my childhood days when the fireside talks and camping trips used to last from dawn to dusk. Time flew by as the food was finished, drinks ordered and drained to the last drops and the food joint emptied out till there was no soul in sight yet it seemed like we had not caught up on our lost lives. The joint slowly started to shut down and we were forced to seek refuge upstairs in the bedroom.

        I had come here to forget my past and I had never expected anyone I knew to wander down this long forgotten road which had drawn me like a street light draws a moth many long years back. Time had moved on as I lost myself in one nameless town after another until I finally found some peace here from my troubled past. It seemed like everyone had forgotten about me as I grew up and went my own way, made new friends along the way. Coffee was offered and gladly taken as we exchanged stories of our travels around the country once more. Curiosity got the better of me and I had to ask how I was located even though I tried my best not to leave any trace behind. I was told how I was asked about in every bar, highway stops and any other places that served travelers. She met a dead end at every place until a few people after a bit of persuasion mentioned that they had seen me around these parts. Like a blood hound, she finally tracked me down to this place and it unlocked those memories that I thought I would never experience again. She told tall tales about her travels around the country just like old times and I told her of mine of this enchanting place which seemed like paradise on earth. The trail of blood and gore that was left behind become legendary and somehow she always evaded the long arm of the law.


        The old clock hanging on the wall down in the hallway boomed as the hand struck ten. It startled me out of the deep thought I was in and I only realized this by the fact that the juke box had stopped playing the same old songs I had heard for the last many years and the lights were shut off except for the place where we were lying on bed. The clothes were scattered all over the room. The little diversion turned minutes into hours. The bed sheets were soaked and I hunted for a new set before the maid came in the morning to chide us for making such a mess. I turned my head to look out the window. I saw that there it was partly cloudy sky; a full moon seemed to look down at the land as if looking for something. The star lit night made me wonder what my future holds.

        “You still awake?” I asked as I ran my fingers down her bare arm. Taking a deep breath, she shook her head she mumbled in the positive. Not able to find neither my pants nor shirt, I walked around the bed to stretch my legs hoping that the curtains were drawn and hoped to find my way back home before I fell asleep here. Looking out the door, I saw that the street lights showed empty streets and the town seemed deserted except for the few drunks who weaved through the roads and the stray dogs that were busy chasing a few cars that passed through the town main intersection woke me out of the half sleep daze I was in.

        Pulling up a chair next to the bed, “You know about it right?” I asked Jane. “Ayup. You know how small the town was. How could I miss it as it was the talk of the town. The phones were buzzing for many days. It’s shame ain’t it? ” She said after some thought. “What are ya going to do about it?” She asked. “Something soon. I reckon if I don’t wrap it up soon, I’ll meet the same fate as the one I deal to others. A botched up job which becomes public sends shivers down my spine. Death before dishonor.” Came back the reply in a whispered tone. There was turmoil in my mind as I looked over my shoulder and into the growing darkness thinking about the times I tried to lose myself in nameless towns and forget my past. I still feel hollow inside due to the failure and the fear of its discovery. I guess I’ll never be able to get another assignment nor respect amongst peers again.

        .
        We went silent for awhile with each one of us lost in our own thoughts. The talk shifted to other things. There was something on her mind but she held it back. I let things be as my mind floated back to a bygone era which I seemed to have forgotten till now. I saw myself in my mind’s eye travelling down one interstate highway after another and before heading off to safe houses after another finishing off my targets and marking them up as kills in my diary. My sun burned gaunt face turned towards the window as the harsh winds that refused to die down swept through the mind. The creaking and swinging branches outside the window startled me out of the dark thoughts I had fallen into.

        The darting uncertain eyes soon acquired a spark in them like some decision had been made. Lifting the Uzi and aiming the muzzle at me, she calmly informed me that my time had come and error/omissions need to be corrected. With a gasp, I toppled backwards wide eyed and sweat started to soak my shirt. The eyes which was hard and gritty a moment ago suddenly turned into an evil glint as my lungs started to burn and the heart was pounding do hard that it felt like it was going to pop out. I felt intense pressure in my back, I shrieked out in pain as I felt my body shaking and my vision began to blur. After a moment, I crawled to my knees and finally stood up. Spreading and stretching the huge wings, I started to flap them till, I started to rise into the sky. Flapping my giant wings, I hung effortlessly hung in the room as I clenched and unclenched my heavily muscled hand and arm while I drew my flaming sword and swung it in an eight pattern for awhile. An evil glint appeared in my eye and I started to laugh hysterically and the manic laughter rang through the town.


        The power had come back as the house lights flickered on. The street lights flickered down below in the valley and all that could be seen were empty streets and the town seemed deserted except for the persistent stray dogs that were still preoccupied in chasing a few cars that passed through the town main intersection. The moon was rising higher and higher and sleep was overtaking me. The shadows were getting deeper and deeper and an unfinished business needed to be wrapped up. Throwing a blanket over Jane who had fallen asleep, I somehow managed to slip under the sheet and I fell asleep as soon as I turn off the light. A new day awaited and honor to be reclaimed. Read more...

          Thursday, March 24, 2011

          Death at the fireplace

            I guess I had been sitting here for what seemed like many long hours. The cigar which seemed like it was lit just a moment back was just ashes and a burnt out stub was left. Grinding it into the ash filled try which was now overflowing, I got up to stretch my aching muscles. I wheel myself to the window which faces the road. The total darkness felt so soothing and I felt at home in the pool of darkness that this ageless house offered.

            The curtains are drawn, yet the twin suns were already burning away the last remnants of the morning and rudely intruded into the darkness of the room. Stepping away from the harsh burning light, I peeked outside and saw that it was raining heavily yet the city life was in full swing as the yellow school bus was picking up kids. A city bus slowly wound its way through the streets and finally to the intersection near the solitary house which I now resided till I had to move on. The people who were in a rush to reach office hurriedly boarded the bus and spewed out people coming back from the graveyard shift. The streets quickly became empty as it rounded the corner, switched on its afterburner and disappeared into the horizon. The few people who were seen on the sidewalks were rushing through the open spaces either trying to reach home after disembarking from the city bus or trying to clean out their driveway of the debris thrown by the wild winds before the sun reaches its peak and they turned into crispy taters.

            It was one of the hottest summers which we had in the decade. Even from inside the room, one could feel the hot blistering winds whenever it used to barrel down towards the plains from the ever encroaching desert as it find its way through the wilting trees and shakes them till all the leaves on them had fallen down. The strong hot winds used to shake the house so hard that it felt like it might crumble any moment. The dust and debris covered city casting magical brown light upon the land. The street and homes slowly started to wear a deserted look even though the sun hasn’t risen much higher.

            Looking up, I saw the blazing suns slowly disappear behind a cloud, there was a slight crackling hum, one could feel the static and smell ozone in the air. The house starts to shake and shudder as it is buffeted by what seemed like the unending storms. The storm passes and the utter silence which seems to permeate through the walls amplified my own breathing. The ground shook a bit and I heard a heavy sound of boots rudely stomping on the wooden flooring which seemed to be coming towards me. The sound came closer. The sudden rough knock in the door startled me and brought me out of the thoughts I was in. A strong earthy smell permeated the room and the sound of shrieking crows filled their ears. Reddish yellow light spilled into the room as the resident gargoyle hissed at me to tell me that the breakfast was ready and asked if I was coming down or not. I growled at him to head on downstairs and I’ll be there in a bit. Looking out the window one last time before I left, I saw the harsh burning sunlight had disappeared and greenish light filtered through the curtains.

            After what seemed like a lifetime, I finally made my way downstairs. The empty table, broken furniture, rotting curtains and the constant scurrying sounds of the rats hidden behind the walls could not keep my mind from feeling a little uneasiness I was feeling from the unfinished business at hand. The whistling sound of the kettle wakes me out of the dark thoughts that I had fallen into. Teleporting between planes even if it was work related always wore me out and I never knew where I would end up while exiting this place and in what condition. With some effort, I got out of the chair and headed off to the kitchen to see if something could be done to shake the lethargy out of my system. Grabbing the kettle, I pour some coffee into my mug to banish the thorn from my mind and plan out the method by which it can be removed.

            It’s another bare room just like the rest of the house. The floor boards creaks every time I put my foot down, there were cobwebs in the ceiling and the lone window was grimy from eons and eons of existence. It mattered not much to me as it was just another rest house while travelling between different planes of existence which gave me the shortcut I needed. Pulling aside the tattered curtain, I rubbed the window to peek outside once more. The hustling, bustling city scene was gone. A green sky which seemed to surround the whole house greeted me above and I saw infinite number of endless shifting realities each displaying their wares before blinking out.

            I wondered if this was the worst solar storm of the millennium. It won’t be safe teleporting in such condition as I really didn’t want my atoms scattered all over the multiple universes. I guess it would be next to impossible finding a taxi going past the house on this bitter storm. I called up the taxi services once again for a quick pick me up which seemed like a better idea as a major storm was headed this way and the corridors were already starting to wear a deserted look.

            I looked at myself once more in the full length mirror and combed my hair before stepping out into one of the hallways. The space lanes and the cluster of shops which sat on the numerous rocks wore a deserted look even though most of the shops were open waiting for the late evening weekend rush. The few aliens who were seen on the sidewalks were rushing through the open spaces either trying to catch a passing by space taxi or trying to figure out which pile of debris was theirs. The magnetic tow trucks seemed to be hovering everywhere and were seen using their tractor beams pulling the ships out of the craters and the dead ones to the nearest black hole. A few sirens were heard on the lanes and I guess someone needed some help. The giant plows were lazily moving down the space lanes using their magnetic beams to push the debris off to the. The hazard filled area slowed down our journey and I was getting sick of the constant slipping and swaying of the taxi.

            The constant chatter of the taxi driver kept my mind away from the grim weather. Xeno turned one of his heads towards me and talked just about everything under the sun. I really seemed to enjoy the monologue which consisted of how awful the taxi union were, the food joints, who bashed whom last night at the bar and how his wife always used to whack one of his two head and gave him an ear full for coming home late. Pretty soon, the suffocating cluttered feeling turned into a comfortable one and I must have dozed off.

            The taxis horn and the jovial cheeky remarks woke me out of the slumber. As we neared our destination, the taxi started to shake as it exited a worm hole and skipped over a magnetic cross currents. We finally spotted a giant piece of land on another nameless piece of rock floating in space. Barreling down head wards at high speed, the taxi made its way towards it before it disappeared once more. The taxi started to heat up and turned beat red. Soon it turned into a huge ball of fire. I start to notice the continent getting larger and I start to see mountains, rivers, lakes and huge forests. Xeno finally turned on the nitro pack which is strapped in the rear and accelerate downwards at an even greater speed as he really want to make an impact on the people and the surroundings.

            After what seems like floating for many eons in total darkness, I open my eyes and see lush green forest cover through which the sun is peeking through. My body is aching really badly and all bones seem to be broken. Nervously, I move my fingers, toes and become really relieved that no serious damage is done. Crawling out of the craft gingerly, I notice that I am in a really deep crater probably created by the impact. Over to one side, I notice a long stretch of road heading off towards the city. The taxi finally managed to hover out of the deep crater, I hopped in and strapped myself down once more as we started to fly towards the silent city to wrap up the loose ends. Lightning flashed across the sky, thunder boomed and a sudden downpour caught us unaware. The journey slowed down to a crawl as the road turned muddy and the ship started to short circuit. Pulling off to the side, repair work is undertaken. The damaged hydrogen fuel cell thrown out, burnt wiring ripped out new power core inserted and wiring replaced. The craft lights up like Christmas lights once more and we start to glide down the muddy roads once more. All the power lines leading to the town seemed to be knocked out and none of the houses down in the valley showed any sign of activity. Not a soul was in sight and even the stray dogs were nowhere to be seen. The rain died down as quickly as it had started, yet it seemed like there was another storm was brewing just over the horizon. You could feel it building up and in the bones which seemed worse than this one.

            A brightly lit old double story house loomed ahead of us as we rounded a corner and it seemed no different than the others next to it. The journey was almost over and I felt that the time had arrived to wrap up the unfinished work. Holding my trench coat firmly to my body, I got out of the taxi and ran towards the steps. My body became heavy and I seemed to miss a step due to the gravity as soon as I stepped out.

            The door opened just as I was about to knock and a group of people seemed to rush out almost knocking me over. Their jaws dropped to the ground, eyes grew wide as they saw the space taxi launch itself back into space sending a dust cloud everywhere. Leaving the dust covered people outside; I wandered inside to see a dimly lit hallway which led to a sitting room. Off to one side, I saw a coat room where I wandered into to bid my time.

            As I peeked out of the coat room and into the sitting room, I saw that there was a blazing fire in the fireplace. There were a few empty chairs near it waiting for their occupants. A dry cough, the sound of a match stick striking against its box and the smell of cigar told me that someone had arrived before me and there were others making themselves comfortable. I had seen this man somewhere else before and remembered that he always sat closest to the fire place as he liked to throw the wood in there and watch it pop and sparkle a bit before it caught on fire. He was soon joined by others and the numbers slowly swelled until the small room filled up.
            I had been coming here for many long years to watch these strange people tell tall tales to each other. The grandfather clock down in the hallway boomed and the hand had struck twelve. It startled me out of the deep thought I was in and I realized that the time had arrived to do the deed which I had come for.


            Pushing aside the coats and umbrellas, I walked past them and soon I found my way to an old weather beaten door that I knew from before. My mind was ablaze as my hand went to the door knob and started to turn it slowly open. Pushing the door open, I saw the sitting room bathed in the red light emitting from the fireplace. The ceiling had disappeared and I saw huge twin suns while six moons were seen circling the sky. Strong winds started to tug at me and I struggled to hold my place. . Every so often a meteorite would get pulled downwards and disappear in a blaze of light. A giant storm was brewing on the horizon as lightening flashed and thunder roared.

            My lungs started to burn and the heart was pounding do hard that it felt like it was going to pop out. I shrieked out in pain as fatigue slowly overtook me as I felt my body shaking and my vision began to blur. Waking up after what seemed like many eons, I crawled to my knees and finally stood up. Spreading and stretching the huge wings, I started to flap them till, I started to rise into the sky.

            Flapping my giant wings, I hung effortlessly hung in the sky. The beings down below whose time had come felt hypnotized, lost in the bottomless pits which were like endless blur of stars and seemed to draw them deeper inside. My arm arched back and I started to recite the names of long lost and forgotten Gods. The wind began to howl and thicken around me. Wisps of smoke broke away and started to squeeze the life force out the living down below. The space taxi was hovering over the house and it could hardly be seen in the near total darkness. A haze appeared over each body and disappeared into my extended hand. My job was done I started to flap my wings slowly and glided out of the house and into the space ship above. Ever so silently like the gentle winds, it powered it way out of this solar system and beyond.


            Time passes by and after what seems like another lifetime, I find myself walking up to the window of the space port which faces the space city. The hardened plate glass clears a bit as I approach it and the view is as bleak as my inner self. The numerous suns and the distant stars blink and shine as they cast their dim light which gently finds its way into the room.

            As a meteorite belt circles a giant gaseous planet down below and this space port sits on a barren rock floats in space following the other rocks around the planet. It seems so out of place. The building shakes and shudders as it is buffeted by the solar storms and it sends a shudder down my spine wakes me out of the deep thoughts that I had fallen into dreaming the dreams that I always ended up dreaming. Coming back from the long haul had worn me out and I wanted to unwind before heading out once more. With some effort, I headed off to the cafeteria. Grabbing the coffee jar, I pour some coffee into my mug to banish the cobwebs from my mind and to see if I can pick up the threads of the dark dreams I was having once more.

            I dug deep into my pocket to find a bag of salted peanuts and a partially smoked cigarette. Looking out the window once more while I munched on the nuts and finished off my smokes, I wondered if I should head down to the pit or head to my room and go into deep sleep for the interplanetary travel.

            So I headed of to the crowded lounge where I end up sipping a lit Molotov cocktail without singing my whiskers, I noticed a really strange sight. There was a huge crowd gathered in one corner of the entertainment lounge. The crowd slowly parted and I saw a strange sight. There was a piano floating on top of a fire pit while an alien started to recite a mind numbing poem while beckoning me while another one at the opposite end gestured for me to go there. Time flew by faster than the fasted winds only to be broken by the dispatchers’ message that a new job had been assigned to me. Feeling a little saddened yet realizing that I must go, I wandered off to the deep sleep chambers to start my adventures anew. Read more...

              Tuesday, March 22, 2011

              Get ahead of the rest by email marketing

                Sometime back, one of my buddies decided to quit the company where he was working and get into his own business as he saw a lot of opportunity in this field and he also had acquired a lot of experience in the buying and selling business. No matter how hard he tried, he could not locate the right tools to make his business a total success as the right communication tools were missing which he needed to get in touch with the customers across a wide area. The web site which the company was using extensively to keep customers updated was not great as the quality was so poor that it ended up giving a really bad impression. Attracting new customers, retaining existing ones was getting increasingly difficult and many of the customers were not happy as they ended up not doing business with us. Going through all the options available to us, we discovered that the inefficient company promotional methods which had used to before was the bottleneck. Looking at the choices available, we discovered a solution to our problem.

                Many things go into making a company a success. email marketing are extension of the business when they want to expand their business. It becomes an extension of the office when the sales force is trying to highlight the company’s strong points and they have the opportunity to make new sales leads, meet new prospects, reconnect with existing clients and showcase their products and services to a specific audience. These should prominently mention company strong points, while also quickly painting a picture as to what the company is all about. This ensures branding corporate identity and helps prospective clients to become more familiar with the company image. However, a company which participates in this type of marketing should not only focus on branding, but also on the products, services, and/or support as well. So, choose the one which will draw the customers to you instead of your company chasing them down

                The crisis management guys arrived just in time to see what crisis was brewing in our office at this time. Upon checking, it was found out that there was not any major defect with the existing system we were using. We put the decision to replace it and moved on to the next generation company promotion system. The whole system was overhauled in a jiffy and at an affordable price also. Read more...

                  Monday, March 21, 2011

                  Designers logos made easy

                    Anyone who is looking for something different and unique to impress others might have a tough time in finding what they are looking for. When quality is of prime importance choosing the right company to provide the right set of postcards can make a difference. Once you know the type and size of postcard you'd like to get printed, you can get a quote from a vendor for the quantity you have in mind. The vendor will need to know how many colors and what picture/graphics your custom printed postcard will include and whether you will be submitting artwork, such as a logo design. Some companies have a solution for all printing needs and their impressive certifications speak for themselves. With impressive credentials, you know you can expect top-notch, unparalleled work when you choose a company to provide the logo designers that you need. The next time you need to order logos for promoting your business, be sure to ask around for a quote from a few different companies and compare the prices. You can submit your request directly through the websites and you can expect to receive your quote within a short time. With standard delivery, you can expect turnaround of your order within a reasonable amount of time in most cases. Read more...

                      Promoting ones business

                        Sometime back, one of my buddies decided to quit the company where he was working and get into his own business as he saw a lot of opportunity in this field and he also had acquired a lot of experience in the buying and selling business. No matter how hard he tried, he could not locate the right tools to make his business a total success as the right communication tools were missing which he needed to get in touch with the customers across a wide area. The web site which the company was using extensively to keep customers updated was not great as the quality was so poor that it ended up giving a really bad impression. Customers were not happy and they ended up not doing business with us. Going through all the options available to us, we discovered that the inefficient web site which had used to before was the bottleneck. Looking at the choices available, we discovered a solution to our problem.

                        The kind of situation that usually drove customers away was not receiving the correct information or being able to interact with the customer support service in a timely manner and nothing seemed to go right as something or other was going wrong. You see, the one major event which made us realize that we needed an overhaul was when last year we had to consolidate all the different records, total up our profit and loss and finally print out a lot of reports. Initially everything seemed to work just right until the customer complaints brought it to our notice. It was a high stress time and everyone panicked. So, we made a frantic phone call to the company which took care of all the paid search marketing solutions.

                        The crisis management guys arrived just in time to see what crisis was brewing in our office at this time. Upon checking, it was found out that there was not any major defect with the existing system we were using. We put the decision to replace it and moved on to the next generation web site system. The whole system was overhauled in a jiffy and at an affordable price also. Read more...

                          Thursday, March 17, 2011

                          Getting noticed in a crowd

                            Sometime back, one of my buddies decided to quit the company where he was working and get into his own business as he saw a lot of opportunity in this field and he also had acquired a lot of experience in the buying and selling business. No matter how hard he tried, he could not locate the right tools to make his business a total success. The web site which the company was using extensively to keep customers updated was not great as the quality was so poor that it ended up giving a really bad impression. Attracting new customers, retaining existing ones while increase website traffic was getting increasingly difficult and many of the customers were not happy as they ended up not doing business with us. Going through all the options available to us, we discovered that the inefficient company website which had used was the bottleneck. Looking at the choices available, we discovered a solution to our problem.

                            Building a website in the earlier years is quite different than the methods employed today. These days, the majority of visitors to your site will come from search engines which refer more than 90% of all search engine traffic. Using paid search marketing helps in enhancing the company views in the ever increasing net space which is so overly crowded that it is impossible to see the new start up and these are now an extension of the business when they want to expand their business. One must also try to use organic search engine optimization approach which will ultimately create a higher quality site that will not only garner traffic from the search engines, but will make your site optimized for years to come, regardless of how search engine algorithms change. So, choose the one which will draw the customers to you instead of your company chasing them down. Read more...

                              Cool with Geothermal

                                The heat pump utilizes a loop of refrigerant sucked through a vapor compressed refrigeration cycle moving heat either in or out. The source of heat is actually much more stable and continuous than air based heat which tends to be less controlled. The other benefit is that a geothermal heat pump can also be used to pump the heat out of your house for instant cooling during hot weather. Geothermal heat pumps are also more economically friendly and can reduce the effects of pollution, electricity, and global warming.

                                geothermal air conditioning works as a loop which is installed underground to a depth where the ground water is a constant 72 degrees. Since most people keep the temperature of their homes around this range, the temperature of air going into the house does not need to be heated or cooled very much at all. This saves a quite a bit of energy.

                                geothermal cooling uses two different methods to implement the cooling process: water-to-air systems or water-to-water systems. Water-to-air systems replace central air conditioning systems by using a liquid coolant to transfer the energy into the air that can then be blown throughout a structure. Water-to-water systems use a large system of liquid spread throughout the building that is cooled, keeping the area at a stable temperature. The water-to-water system has the bonus of working very effectively at heating as well. The main advantage of using geothermal cooling is that it does not use fuel or chemicals to regulate the temperature. Central air conditioning devices use materials that can be harmful to the environment. They also create carbon emissions that pollute the atmosphere. Read more...

                                  Monday, March 14, 2011

                                  Satiating the hunger

                                    The sudden back and forth swaying startled me away from some nameless dream I was caught in. The sun was just peeking over the horizon and the passing landscape outside the train window was covered in a fine mist and the sun bathed it in an orange light which slowly turned into yellow. Pulling the heavy curtains shut as quickly as possible, I suppressed the painful scream that was rising from my throat. Tilting my hat back and wiping the day old sweat off my brow, I looked down into the valley through the open crack between the window and curtain and saw a dust cloud swirling crazily and throwing debris all over. Looking at the meandering river which flowed next to the tracks, the river looked so cool, refreshing and it seemed to call me out. I wanted to pull the emergency chain, hop off and walk barefoot on the green grass and slip into the river to drive away the coiled up stress. Rivers always had a free and untamed look to it and it always seemed to hold me under a spell whenever I ventured near.

                                    Wanting to lose myself, I had boarded any train I could find that was just passing thru it seems. Feeling a little sore from falling asleep in the padded chair, I stood up and started to wander down the aisle to break the monotony. I eventually found myself in the kitchen box where the cook and his assistant were doing the dishes and getting ready for a new day. I grumbled about having some coffee and chow before I headed off to the dining area which was empty at this time. Minutes seemed like hours and a coffee jug and a hearty breakfast appeared before me. Grabbing the coffee jar, I pour some into my mug to banish the cobwebs from my mind and to see if I can pick up the threads of the dreams I was having once more.

                                    I finished of the last remnants of the food and gulped down the coffee before it got warm. It was getting late, the sun was rising higher and higher and it was time to get ready before the next stop appeared. I found my way to the small cubicle which they called the restroom and took a moment which seemed like an eternity to wash off all the dust, grime and sweat off me. The weariness fell off me and I felt refreshed. Looking at the mirror while the water dripped off my head and face made me realize where once stood a young man now I saw a white haired wrinkled man who had the haunted look in his eyes. I sat awhile by the window and smoked the remaining part of my cigar. By the time I ventured back to my seat, countryside replaced the dry dusty lands. The river had disappeared off into some other direction and heavily populated roads were seen running near the tracks. The sounds of long haul trucks were heard humming nearby and a lonesome train horn went off somewhere in the distance reminding me how far from home I was.

                                    My life seemed like one of those never ending journeys which had been long and hard. The gentle swaying lulled me down the oft travelled memory lanes and all I can see is a dusty winding road broken every so often by an oasis. The hard journey has taken its toll on me as I tried to carry the burden which seems too much for it. Sometimes I felt like I was another one of those mules which people sometimes run across in some nameless town whose inner fire had died while navigating this parched land. I was waiting for the one last gasp of breath before toppling off to the other side.


                                    A soft hiss and then a cough from one of the kitchen guys who was taking orders for dinner brought me out of the thoughts I was in. Light spilled onto my face from the high intensity torch as one of the gargoyles who had occupied this timeless train stomped impatiently once more to hiss at me that the lunch was ready and asked if I was coming down or not. I told him to head on over and I’ll be there in a bit.

                                    Looking out the window one last time before I left, I saw the town which was just rolling into view was quite deserted. After what seemed like a lifetime, I finally made my way to the dining room to have my fill before getting off the train and see if I could lose myself in some nameless down without failing this time. The constant chatter of others at the table could not keep my mind from feeling a little uneasiness I was feeling.

                                    Not having much of a hunger, I nibble at the food and eventually stop pretending that I am hungry. Staring at the still full plate, I realize that I am an old man now and many countless years have flown by, yet the time which has flown by was so different from the one I lived now. Time and age which might have dulled my memory yet I remember one event like it was yesterday. Some events remain buried for what seems like many long years, yet flood the mind when something happens to release the memory. With a heavy mind and heart, I wander out into the memory lane which was dimly lit except for a few pools of lights that seemed to flicker every so often.

                                    Time started to move on ever so slowly like thickening molasses in a cold winter day. The meandering river throws me back in time to an era long forgotten. Gasping for breath I started to drown in time. One after the other, memories start to sweep past me. The dark thoughts flowing like a raging thought sweeping me into the hunt looking for the fish for whom the net is cast.

                                    The sound of the screeching train whistle drew me out the dark thoughts I was floating in. I slowly came to the senses like a snake waking up from deep sleep. The bone deep weariness fell off me and I slowly started to felt refreshed. I sat awhile by the window and smoked the remaining part of my cigar as the town grew nearer. Electricity poles, town lights and small houses started to dot the moving landscape.

                                    The stiff muscles from the long journey slowly started to loosen up. I stretched myself and ran my hand across my face and thought of getting a shave and a bath before getting off the train. I needed some more food to fill my empty stomach but that will have to wait a bit as the kitchen was now closed and the lone kitchen crew member was in a foul mood it seemed. Heading down the aisle to drive away the boredom, I noticed that it was late in the evening and the train was dead empty. A few flies buzzed around and the place was as listless as the food which I had attempted to eat earlier. The few people who were huddled in the corner whispered amongst themselves. There were occasional shouts, a few angry words and the worked up men were seated down once more when told to hush up. The train came to a full halt at another nameless dead town. A few porters were seen idling away their time in the far end of the platform playing a card game and stray dogs chased the rest till all disappeared around the bend. Heading out the door, I glanced back wondering what new adventures were in store for me as I hit the road once more.

                                    Looking upwards as I stepped out, I noticed that the sky was starting to cloud up and a torrential downpour might happen anytime. The winds from the north were already rocking the city and hardly anyone was venturing outside. The streets and the shops wore a deserted look and most of the shops were closed even though shops around the station stayed open till late everyday to cater to the crowds that disembarked from distant town to make a livelihood.

                                    I was pacing back and forth across the platform waiting for the taxi to pick me up. The taxi finally arrived though very late, yet I was glad to see it arrive and didn’t bother to chew the driver out for making me wait in the awful weather as it was my own choice to stand there in the first place. I checked my bags once more before I zipped them a final time and told the driver to put them in the trunk of the car. The constant chatter of the taxi driver kept my mind away from the grim thoughts. The driver introduced himself as Tom who talked just about everything under the sun and I really seemed to enjoy the monologue which consisted of how awful the town was doing, the mysterious disappearance of people, the food joints, who bashed whom last night at the bar and how his wife always gave him an ear full for coming home late. Pretty soon, the suffocating cluttered feeling turned into a comfortable one and I must have dozed off.

                                    The taxis horn and the jovial cheeky remarks woke me out of the slumber. The old abandoned boarded up warehouse loomed ahead and it seemed no different than the other building sitting next to it. The sun was sinking deeper into the horizon, the moon was just starting to peek over the horizon and it seemed like my hunger was growing stronger by the moment. The weariness was growing on me and I felt my eyes growing heavier with each passing minute. I tried to shrug it off yet its hold on me was getting stronger with each passing moment. I sat awhile gripping the seat tight, yet the vortex was dragging me deeper into itself. Sleep was overtaking me and I fell unconscious as soon as the sun sank below the horizon and darkness grew upon the land.

                                    The darkness began to clear as I groggily regained from the memory less sleep. As I regained my senses, my eyes focused on the blood soaked driver seat. The eyes started to rove around the small front area until they suddenly stopped on man who seeing the gaze upon him started to whisper all the names of the different Gods he knew. I saw a few spots of red on the heavily built man which I assumed was food until I got closer. The deep red stains on the floor in the far corner of the left hand side door made me wonder what I had done and yet the hunger grew in me stronger with each passing moment. Squirming backwards, he kept begging me to let him be as it will bring only ill tidings to all while he started looking for an escape till I reached the very edge of the cab while his fumbling hands tried to unlock the door. The only response he heard was harsh laughter, a snarl and a swift punch in the abdomen. Not being able to back any further, he started to push himself up with his back towards the windshield while grimacing in pain. Like a shark closing in for the kill, the circle drew smaller and smaller. The last sounds I heard before abandoning the cab after pushing it into dense undergrowth was the blaring of the taxi cb radio demanding to know where the cab was. Holding my hat firmly with the blood stained gloves, I got out of the taxi which was now lying in a ditch in the far end of the junkyard and ran towards the steps.

                                    One of the dock gates was open and light outside was burning bright. Each warehouse had two docks and a side entrance. Pulling the cap down firmly with the bloodied gloves, I found myself inside the only safe house I knew. The warehouse was dimly lit except for a few pools of lights that seemed to flicker every so often. I eventually found my way to the sitting area where I went straight to the laundry section to dump the clothes in the heavy duty machine to wash off the blood soaked clothes and the bath area to scrub myself clean. I had not been this way for many months. The only one I trusted was the half vampire who had lived here for ages. Coffee was offered and gladly taken as we exchanged stories of our travels around the country. I always loved coming here for many long years whenever the opportunity presented itself. It had become a routine habit which I had never skipped no matter how bad the weather and provided me with an opportunity to lie low till the storm passes. We spent our time telling old man’s stories that seemed so surreal and maybe it might be due to the fact that this place seemed older than the hills.

                                    Time used to stand still in this place and one only realized that it had flown by the fact that the logs in the small fire place had burned down to cinders and cold was creeping back into the room. The grandfather clock down in the hallway boomed and the hand had struck twelve. It startled me out of the deep thought I was in. The tobacco in my own pipe had burned to ashes and I got up to leave as it was late.

                                    As I drove off, I turned around a final time to look back and wondered when I’ll be back at this place. I was getting old and I just cannot do these long hauls much longer. My mind always ended in turmoil as if stuck in a loop whenever I left such meetings as if I had decided the right course in life by choosing the so called immortality and becoming only a night walker. The journey back home seemed longer than the start. I passed through a few dead towns and many dying towns. The empty dark streets devoid of all life sent had made me travel further and further from the warehouse always looking for new blood to feed on. The only thing common to all the towns I travelled through was the emptiness in the town and in people themselves. The streets and the shops usually wore a deserted look even though some of the shops were open waiting for someone to walk in yet knowing that no one will dare to venture out of their houses once the sun sets. The few people who were seen on the sidewalks were rushing through any opening either trying to catch an elusive bus or a taxi and trying to find any imagined safety they could find without becoming the next meal. The palatable fear emitting from the town made my hunger even stronger yet I resisted its call. The tow trucks were seen pulling the cars out of the ditches and the dead cars to the service centers. Every so often a police cars rushed passed to answer some call of another missing person who was never found. Read more...

                                      Saturday, March 12, 2011

                                      Providing a safety net

                                        Life is precious and it cannot be quantified by any method. Yet, if something goes wrong and the family is left without the bread earner then it will face very serious financial crisis. In order to avoid these situations, people should purchase some sort of income insurance product to protect themselves from these crisis moments. Though Human life cannot be valued, a monetary sum could be determined which is based on loss of income in future years.

                                        The life insurance products provide a definite amount of money to the dependants of the insured in case the life insured dies or is unable to lead a productive life during his active income earning period or becomes disabled on account of an accident causing reduction/complete loss in his income earnings. World Financial Group products provide a definite amount of money to the dependants of the insured in case the person becomes incapable of providing the care to his/her family during his active income earning period. There are various types of insurance products to meet everyone’s needs. Choosing the right product can be a bit confusing for the layman. There are a number of life insurance products which offer protection and also coupled with savings. There are a number of life insurance products which offer protection and also coupled with savings. Consult your advisor for more information and making your family’s future more secure. Read more...

                                          Wednesday, March 9, 2011

                                          The sorcerer cat

                                            It was a lazy Sunday afternoon as two old men sat on their porch, smoked the last of their cigarettes and finished off their beers. Looking upwards, one could see nothing but a few stray clouds as they floated past the bright mid afternoon sun and seemed to blind the viewer with its light. Tilting the hat back and wiping the sweat off their brows, one of the men looked down the valley and saw a dust cloud approaching. Whoever it was, the dust cloud was just passing thru it seems. No one ever stops at this place as it seems all but forgotten unless it was hired help or if they wanted something from the Smith folks.


                                            The shrill cry of the hawks which circled over the corn fields ebbed and rose seemed never ending, yet seemed to break the deadening monotony of the silent field. The field was almost ready to harvest, yet the hired help hasn’t arrived yet. Shielding his eyes, Fred grumbled about the slim chance of rain and how it might ruin their harvest. Looking across the field and into the barn, they decided to check the harvester, tractor and the trucks to see if they were up to the task.

                                            Firing up the harvester was easier than the tractor which refused to cooperate. The starter coil needed to be replaced and pistons were worn out. After loading the truck with drums for diesel, they headed off to town to see what can be done. Driving down the road towards town excited both men since trips down there were rare and it gave them an opportunity to stock up on essentials and get in touch with other old timers at the hardware store. Time flew by and the huge farm fields came to an end and the truck soon started to follow a lonesome river. Looking over his shoulder, Fred realized that the river looked so cool and refreshing and he wanted to walk barefoot on the green grass. The river looked so free and untamed and it seemed to call him out so strongly that truck seemed to hesitate for a moment.

                                            Looking at the darkening sky, they resisted its call as a storm was heading there way and the wind pick up. There was a huge sand storm heading my way and lightning flashed in the sky and one could hear thunder all around. The sky had turned jet black as they started to drive towards some safe spot. As the truck rolled down the road, the wind died down and there was a growing darkness that did not seem good. There was utter silence all around and neighing of a herd of horses was heard as they galloped further into the valley and into the mountains.

                                            After travelling what seemed many long hours, the town lights grew brighter with each step. The valley below was bustling with activity as it was one of the main trading hubs. Fred began to wonder loudly why he even bothered to listen to Jim to get out of the house today knowing fully well how chaotic the traffic is at this time. The stop and go traffic was driving him nuts and the vehicular pollution making them dizzy. Pulling off to one side as the start/stop traffic was getting on their nerves and they decided to wait it out.

                                            Looking off to one side, they saw a cluster of houses on a slight rise which overlooked a park. A huge Maple tree near the park away caught their eye. It was an old one. Probably as old as the park in which it was situated and if it could talk, it might have a tale or two to tell the passerby. Looking at it with envy, they wondered how much their life would be different if they could leave all this behind and live in a house in the country side where there are no trappings of modern life.

                                            The cluster of houses, if they could be called a town wore a deserted look as if most of the people had gone to office and only the elderly and children were left behind. Most of the door and windows were closed and the white lace window curtains were drawn also in most houses. Only one or two doors were open where a small group of people could be seen sitting in small groups either chatting away, playing some game or simply enjoying the autumn sun. A huge forest was on one side which was far older than the town itself seemed to call one and all with its soft whispering of comfort and forgetfulness in the cool comfort of the dark forest.

                                            The town itself seemed quaint as if frozen in time. Both guys swore that they had never seen such type of houses anywhere and they resembled English houses from a bygone era. Getting out of the car to stretch their tired and cramped legs, they decided to walk down the dirt path and into the town as the life here looked so different from the city life which they were so used to. A soft breeze started to rustle the fallen leaves and ruffled their hair ever so gently, yet died down as quickly as it had risen.

                                            As they wandered down the dirt path which followed the town houses, they eventually found themselves at the end of the colony. There were dried leaves all over the place and a crunching sound was heard as they walked across the path. Nearing the faded bronze gate which has a lion head emblem, a gentle wind rustles through the dried leaves and opens the gate. Sitting down on a green bench under the huge maple tree in the park which was surrounded by a boundary wall, they finally noticed quiet neighborhood the neighborhood was.

                                            While looking around the compound, they noticed a cot on one side under a shaded area. A strange sight made them scratch their head as Fred asked out loud “Why is the cat staring at the wall?” The bearded cat seems to be seemed to be in a deep trance as bodiless voices whispered deep dark secrets in their minds. They called out and the voices died as quickly as they had appeared. No one could make out what was happening as total darkness still engulfed them. After what seemed like eons, the bodiless voices seemed to chase each other through the shrubs, weave through the trees and finally disappear some distance away. As the voices fade away, both men began to wonder how they escape it to find their way home.
                                            Hearing their voices, the feline slowly turned its head towards them and started to growl ever so softly. It slowly shut the old tattered leather bound book which it had been flipping through. A pair of greenish yellow eyes blinked and one of the thick hairy paws began to twitch nervously and it started to move forward as if on a hunt. They felt themselves being deeper into a vortex. There was a slight hum and one could smell ozone in the air. The reality shimmered and flickered in and out. The helpless duo kept looking away from the vision of the alternate earths would surely drive them mad. Slowly, they started to become unsure which was theirs and which wasn’t. Somewhere in the distance, a door creaked open and then slammed shut real hard. A strong earthy smell permeated the room and the sound of shrieking birds filled their ears. The ground shook a bit and they heard a heavy slithering coming towards them. The sound came closer yet they could not see what was approaching. They doubted that their senses must have been imagining and their eyes are playing tricks on them. The eyes wandered back to the steps and all they saw was a swirling black cloud intently staring at them before it started its rush.
                                            The shrill cry of circling hawks on the hunt and the sound of a glowing toad going Ribbid Ribbid on a bicycle wound its way through the dirt tracks broke the spell and the men realized that it was late in the afternoon. The dark sky with the sickly yellow moon was gone and the sun was burning away the last remnants of the dream they were caught in. Startled and badly frightened at the sight, they stood up suddenly toppling the park bench back and breaking the spell they were engulfed in until a few moments ago. The evil glint in the greenish yellow eye which was there a moment ago receded and upon rubbing their eyes they saw a cat hop off the cot, dash over the boundary wall and into the dense forest. Startled, they realized that they weren’t sitting in a lush, well maintained city park which in reality was an abandoned one surrounded by crumbling walls, broken gate and a rotting broken play ground by the corner.

                                            Not wanting to linger in this haunted area anymore, they traced their footsteps back to the car located on the main road. As they retraced their footsteps, they see the same houses and yet they seem more alive than the last few hours. They walked slowly back towards the houses and the sound of activity was evident even from a distance. The sound of children playing in the streets and smell of food was gently carried over to general area and lifting their spirits a little bit.

                                            The remaining journey was uneventful. The tank was near empty when they pulled into what seemed like another deserted gas station. Feeling famished, both of them wandered into the bar and a smoked filled dimly lit room greeted them and they could hardly see the crowd inside. The tiredness slipped out of them as they heard the boisterous sound emitting from one corner of the room. The smell of the food made their mouth water and the stomach grumbled demanding its share. Time flew by and the work wrapped up as quickly as possible. It was soon time to return home and they quickly wound their way through the dirt roads till their farm was in sight. Read more...

                                              Monday, March 7, 2011

                                              Sell a website

                                                After gaining a lot of internet based experience selling all types of products, I decided to start my own business as I saw unlimited potential as long as the right tools were used. So my hunt began to narrow down the right set of tools to make my new business a roaring success as I needed to get in touch with the readers across a wide area. To start my online career, I was looking for someone to sell a website at reasonable rates which can be modified to suit my needs. It was a long hard search since I really did not know the right sites to explore nor did I know if their asking price was fair or not. Instead of building a business on a fresh site, I decided to modify an existing one to suit my own needs as it required less work. I think I had made the right choice about opting for a internet businesses for sale might be a better solution for me since these will be easier to setup and I would not require to modify it too much.

                                                I needed a solution to simplify the needs of the website, so I decided to contact a business broker to hunt up a business for sale. The brokers will always come with best offer both for the website quality and also prices. I realized that by using their service, people can save time and energy especially for those who need an established website that already has certain rank. Internet is a powerful tool and can help any business grow and prosper if the right tools are used. Choosing the right site is the first and most important step in starting this net journey. Choose wisely and your business will be a total success. Read more...

                                                  Increase website traffic

                                                    No matter which medium a company chooses to sell its product, they simply cannot ignore the ever growing power of the internet. It has a far wider reach than any other medium and it is also more affordable.

                                                    If you want to really push your products and get them noticed by the end user, then try using a search engine optimization company which might prove effective in pushing your product. Blog advertising has become extremely popular these days and companies try to reach out to anyone with a blog so that the blogger can do a write up for the advertisers. After using this service for some time, I have realized how much potential it has for the people who want to join this business as they only have to writes about the advertiser's products or services and then also links back to the advertiser's website, thereby giving more power to the advertiser's link popularity.

                                                    organic search engine optimization is another option used to create a higher quality site that will not only garner traffic from the search engines, but will make the site optimized for years to come, regardless of how search engine algorithms change.


                                                    After doing some research, I have noticed that it works because blogs are essentially gathering places for people who can influence other peoples opinion and whose readers consists of informed consumers. It is not just a particular segment that read blogs but rather a wide range of people from different segment of society. The trend these days is to use blog advertising for new launches, new products, newsmakers, etc. as more people become followers of blogs and are therefore easily influenced by the material contained in it which can be used to increase website traffic. Read more...

                                                      Businesses for sale

                                                        I simply love the online business model and it is the best suited for me. Perhaps the best part about an online venture is that you can get into one quickly and inexpensively whether you buy an existing one or start one from scratch. Buying an internet business for sale can prove to be a perfect way to get into a business with tremendous upside potential. An online company can truly provide you with a high-margin operation that does not have any of many of the problems that traditional brick-and-mortar businesses face every day.

                                                        If you're buying a businesses for sale that is already well established and that it has the potential of producing profit if it is not doing it already. It's almost like a guarantee that you'll get your investment back within a reasonable period of time and then start to make profit every year. When you come up with your own idea, there's no way to know for sure if you'll even get the ball rolling and if the risk you've taken in your initial investment will be recouped or not.

                                                        If in some distant future, you would like to dispose of your internet business, then you should get in touch with business brokers who have your best intent in mind when going through the purchase or selling of websites. Just like you would not pass your business on to anyone, he or she will not, either. Once an advertisement for your domain is created, the broker will speak with prospective website business owners. The person or party that assumes ownership of your website should not alter the course of an already successful business and also have a plan for the future of the website, including an approach to expanding the online business. Read more...

                                                          Saturday, March 5, 2011

                                                          The brooding forest

                                                            The old castle sits on the edge of a hill overlooking a forest that seems to stretch from one horizon to the other. The hill itself is in the midst of trees and it is the only thing besides the path which leads to the distant town on the edge of a cove which breaks the monotony of the dense green forest. A stream which emerges from the forest runs across its edge and finally into the distant horizon. A long forgotten farm field runs parallel to the stream facing the forest.

                                                            The castle itself is many centuries old yet others say that it’s old as time itself. It was passed from one generation to the next without fail even through the hard times and no one really knew who actually built it. It’s been whispered in hushed tones that the original owners fled the northern puritanical states to escape the witchcraft trials and settled here to start afresh.


                                                            The castle always had a dark forbidding look and no one ever came to these parts. The people who were brave enough went back blabbering strange tales of creatures that should not have existed and the odd footprints found near the edge of the forest, the stream and around the hill. These people slowly retreated to the edge of the town forever banished and labeled as madmen. This old crumbling building always magnified my fears and made the stories I heard about them in the taverns more vivid. The dark pools of shadows appearing in the oddest of places seemed to slither and move. I always used to hurriedly run past them before something crawled out and dragged me back inside.

                                                            On dark moonless nights, sometimes I used to hear the all too familiar growl of a wild cat on a hunt. At other times, something used to come all the way to the door, bang on it hard before letting out a howl and retreating once more into the darkness. Sometimes I used to hear a scratching at the window even though there was no tree nearby nor any way for a person to reach so high. Time moved on and I slowly got used to these disturbances. Yet, there was one incident which I have not yet forgotten even though many long years have passed by.

                                                            I had gone to some event which I simply cannot remember now. Time flew by and the day soon turned into night. I was so caught up in having fun that I was one of the last few to leave. As I left the building, I looked up and saw that the wind was picking up, and the sky clouding up. It seemed like rain was imminent and I wanted to reach the safety of my home instead of being stranded on some lonesome highway in the dead of night.

                                                            During my journey back home, the sky cleared up a bit and looking up I saw a full moon emerge from behind the clouds. The pale dirty yellow moon hanging from the sky seemed to glare at me like it wanted vengeance for some crime I had committed. It started to make me feel uneasy whenever I saw it emerge from behind the clouds as it seemed to follow me around and started to glare at me as if giving me some dark curse. Rounding a bend, the car suddenly sputtered and died on me. Turning the ignition key didn’t help and the unexpected car problem in some back road surrounded by a farm field added to my woes.

                                                            Looking down the stretch of road, all I see is a lonely stretch of land where nothing could be seen for miles upon miles. I’ve been through this area many a times yet something was different. I could feel it in my bones, but I could not put my finger on it. I felt like a leaf caught in the gently flowing river called time which gets swept along vainly struggling to find it own path as it gets swept along at ever increasing rate until all control is lost.

                                                            A breeze rustles the tree branches and gently ruffles through my hair as if it wants to say something. Off in the distance, I hear the sound of a man barking orders to someone. Looking towards the source of the sounds, the trees slowly disappears and a lush farm field appears in its place. I see a horseman in middle of a farm field where numerous people are working. I stand there hypnotized as one scene after another unfolded before me. The field was plowed and the plants sowed. The field was flooded with water and weeding was carried out. The plants grew bigger and soon it was harvest time.

                                                            A great crowd led by a man on a horseback gathered in the field for the harvest. The harvest had started, yet the horseman with the help of hired army was having difficulty in controlling the human herd. Off in the corner, I could see a few people who huddled in the corner whispering amongst themselves. There were occasional shouts, a few angry words and the worked up men were seated down once more when told to hush up. Heading closer to the field, I glanced ahead wondering what was in store for me and the events that led me to this place were indeed a dream or was it real.

                                                            A few drums were heard and the sound reverberated back and forth. My eyes scanned the deep dark forest, ran through the barren plains and back to the road from where I had come from yet the disembodied drum sound seemed to have no source. My eyes wandered back to the image ahead wondering what it all meant and what kind of danger it implied. The drums which seemed to pound continuously for some time suddenly went quite. Every one froze in their feet’s and looked up and realized that the pounding of the drums had stopped.

                                                            An arrow flew out from the dense forest cover and thumped on the horseman’s head. I whirled around to face the forest yet nothing could be seen except the dense leave cover and my eyes wandered back to the arrow. Everyone froze in their tracks as a one of the guards pulled the feathered arrow out and a few of them ran into the forest to chase the one which sent the group a warning. A few leaves rustled as the figure which seemed to have been watching them melted back into the forest from where it had emerged. A loon cry was heard and the leaves rustled on their own it seemed. The sound of a broken twig and the stray foot print left on moist river bed were the only signs of someone running away from them. A few moments later, the sounds of yelling men could be heard from the forest and it soon turned into shrieks.

                                                            The forest became silent once more. Something came over the men in the field as they started to overpower the guards whom went down one by one. The clothes that the bonded labors wore now seemed alien and peeled off in the same manner a snake sheds it skin. They merged back with the past once more and drove away the demons that had haunted them all their lives. They gathered whatever they could lay their hands on and merged back into the forest as silently as the whispering winds. A river of blood flowed through the lands for many days. The town as well as the castle burned till nothing was left except for ashes and the few remaining survivors fled to other safe harbors.


                                                            Many moons passed by and in the dimly lit taverns, the customers many of whom huddled in the corners and nursed their beers furtively whispered amongst themselves the tale of the town that used to border the edge of the hill and extended many miles into the forest. It was an ever losing battle with the forest as many people simply disappeared when clearing the area of trees around the hill or the forest simply reclaimed the town over a period of time until the hill remained as the only open space. Seeing the dying town, it was finally decided to shift it to the outskirts and start afresh. Time moved on and a new one slowly came up. Things seemed too quieted down a bit for many years until one stormy night many long years back, the hard taskmaster was dragged off his horse, ruthlessly dismembered by the unseen forest dwellers who disappeared into the forest yet the body was never found Read more...

                                                              The Portugese vacation

                                                                It was sheer luck that I discovered that I really needed help to plan out my vacation with the minimum amount of stress. I needed the best deal in town and while keeping in mind location of the hotel. This will surely help me to save transportation cost between the different locations which I want to visit during my stay. In the long run, the transportation costs can be quiet substantial. Therefore, if one does a bit of smart budgeting then they can free up some cash and utilize it on some area like entertainment, etc. When I mentioned this to my fellow office workers who had just returned from a vacation, they talked about Villas in Portugal. During my search, I discovered that France is an incredibly versatile holiday destination; from winter skiing holidays in the French Alps, or summer beach holidays visiting the French Riviera on the Mediterranean.
                                                                The first thing we did was sit down and made a list of what I wanted to do on my vacation. I simply love skiing and I wanted to go down a few slopes during my vacations. This became one of the main criteria for looking for the vacation spot.

                                                                It is really important to get away for a short while every so often in order to recuperate from the daily hassles and the coiled up stress within us. It does help in replenishing the pool of inner calm, helps to reestablish the missing equilibrium and for a great getaway weekend with my family for some fun in the sun, relaxation while wandering around the great city and looking at all the sights before the last days of summer are gone. Or maybe we would just do a short trip to a nearby city and experience it then enjoy the hotel pool and the lack of things to be done. A few weeks away would means total enjoyment and that sounds very relaxing to me. The totally different environment which one finds at new locations is always exciting for everyone and at any age. What can be more fun and exciting. But remember that you have to enter this contest in order to be able to win, go places and live out your dreams. Read more...

                                                                  The tour de france fun way

                                                                    Every year around this time, it is the same dilemma. It is the time when I can go on my annual vacation with my friends to new locations and this year I just cannot figure out where to go and where to stay. There are too many hotel choices yet it is difficult to make a right choice since I do not have much information available to make a proper choice. I needed a comparison chart so that I can compare hotel prices and choose the one which one fits my budget after I have decided my destination. The main factor in deciding one hotel over another is that the hotels near the venue will get more preference than the ones further away.

                                                                    It was sheer luck that I discovered that I really needed help to plan out my vacation with the minimum amount of stress. I needed the best deal in town and while keeping in mind location of the hotel. This will surely help me to save transportation cost between the different locations which I want to visit during my stay. In the long run, the transportation costs can be quiet substantial. Therefore, if one does a bit of smart budgeting then they can free up some cash and utilize it on some area like entertainment, etc. When I mentioned this to my fellow office workers who had just returned from a vacation, they talked about villas in france. During my search, I discovered that France is an incredibly versatile holiday destination; from winter skiing holidays in the French Alps, or summer beach holidays visiting the French Riviera on the Mediterranean.
                                                                    The first thing we did was sit down and made a list of what I wanted to do on my vacation. I simply love skiing and I wanted to go down a few slopes during my vacations. This became one of the main criteria for looking for the vacation spot.

                                                                    It is really important to get away for a short while every so often in order to recuperate from the daily hassles and the coiled up stress within us. It does help in replenishing the pool of inner calm, helps to reestablish the missing equilibrium and for a great getaway weekend with my family for some fun in the sun, relaxation while wandering around the great city and looking at all the sights before the last days of summer are gone. Or maybe we would just do a short trip to a nearby city and experience it then enjoy the hotel pool and the lack of things to be done. A few weeks away would means total enjoyment and that sounds very relaxing to me. The totally different environment which one finds at new locations is always exciting for everyone and at any age. What can be more fun and exciting. But remember that you have to enter this contest in order to be able to win, go places and live out your dreams.

                                                                    A perfect vacation might not seem an important to a layman initially, but a right choice will make you feel terrific and maximizing the enjoyment once you land there. Choose one of the packages offered which will make your trip enjoyable and makes the memory last a lifetime. It may take some work hunting for the right hotel to choose the package from, but your trip is worth the trouble. On an ending note, try to remember that where ever you decide to do, it is the right company which makes it all the more worthwhile. So, go ahead and try out their packages and be a little adventurous. After all, it’s all about having fun also. So, in the end we ended up booking our holiday plan now for stays between the lean months so that we can enjoy some of the world's most exciting cities from around the world at bargain rates. So, go ahead and book your trip today and have the time of your life without being stressed out. Read more...

                                                                      Hunting for the right storage solutions

                                                                        Moving to a new city was not too difficult as I had imagined even though it did take up a lot of effort and my life was a bit disorganized until I got the house in order. Living alone made me realize the importance of keeping my computer in good running order as I was told that it will help me keep organized and up to date. So, I changed my computer usage style and started to look at the various solutions offered for it.


                                                                        So, on a dull weekend I started to surf the television channels, browsed through newspapers/magazines for backup and recovery options. I was hopelessly lost at the various options available so I called up friends but nothing seemed to give me the answers I wanted. So, I fired up the computer and logged in to the net and started surfing randomly and trying to find something which might catch my eye. I needed something different. That is when I stumbled upon solutions which suited my needs as I would want to store my valuable data on another site. This information dealt with all types of topic connected with computer related items especially the hardware solutions and I was totally floored with the detail given and it totally knocked me out. One of the tools like the storage Milton Keynes which I opted for can help any organization in cutting unnecessary costs and using the freed up funds for more productive things in their organization Read more...

                                                                          Wednesday, March 2, 2011

                                                                          Caribbean Hotels

                                                                            The vacation time is almost upon us and the routine is getting to me. I would love to run off to some pleasant spot to spend my free time. I was hunting around for some affordable vacations when I discovered a travel agent who mentioned there were quite a few good value all inclusive vacation packages and he was sure that something could be found to fit my budget. I was given a few of the better value vacation packages and destinations options and it took us some time to narrow down the choices to a manageable pile. I decided to look for a vacation package in Jamaica.

                                                                            After going through the different brochures which were shown to me, I simply loved the Ocho Rios area and there were many Ocho Rios hotels - and there was a great resort in the nearby tourist town of Runaway Bay that had a great golf course. This resort has a 22 mile of beachfront location.

                                                                            Further down the same coast at Trelawny is the Rio Bueno Resort, an award winning resort that replicates a Jamaican seaside village. This resort occupies many acres and has its own au naturel section. Also in Trelawny is the Trelawny Bay Resort which is a great resort for families and couples alike.

                                                                            On the west coast there is the well known Negril Jamaica beach and there are choice resorts located right on this world famous white sand beach.

                                                                            All of these resorts have all inclusive vacation packages which have something to please everyone. What really got me hooked to the idea of visiting Jamaica was the great resorts and the all inclusive packages. I was informed that these include all meals, drinks, snacks, entertainment, and a variety of land/water sports. With all of this included, and since tipping is not allowed at these resorts, your wallet will be as full when you leave as it was when you arrived.

                                                                            So if you are like me, you probably agree Jamaica hotels looks like a vacation spot with much to offer anyone looking for a good value and fun vacation. So go ahead and plan out your next vacation in style and still get the best value for your money. Maybe I will see you there? Read more...

                                                                               

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