Content Maker Network Blog

Hair Drug Testing

Myths vs. Reality

Myth: Hair drug testing is good, but not a common variety of drug testing, because it is so expensive.

Closed: drug tests are so far more pricey rather than a standardurinalysis–we’re talking dollar bills to cents here–and is a more groundbreaking form of drug testing, so most employers choose for a ordinary urine drug test. Psychemedics, the companythat makes hair drug tests in the United States, has been quite victorious at depressing the monetary value and increasing awareness, but a whole shift from urine to hairhas a ways to go.

Myths: There is little difference of opinion between a urine drug test, and hair drug testing.

Truth: Quite untrue. A urine drug test is better, cheaper, widely available, and at this point, an accepted process of drug testing. Hair drug testing is not as invasive–making it perfect for confidential spheres of testing, such as student drug tests–than its similitude.

Open: Hair drug testing shall detect drug metabolite exposure and/or illicit drug use frommany ages past.

Reality: Indeed, hair drug testing will expose drug “use”–direct andindirect exposure–for up to seven years. The hair strand is analyzed analogous tomeasuring the years of a tree by its internal ring structure. Body hair is likea Velcro for all things ingested from your diet, the air you breathe, and yes, to any banned substances. This is a tremendous benefit of hair drug testing, butalso places a greater moral dilemma: is exposure real “use”?

Myths: Hair drug testing can be overcome by trimming your head.

Truth: While remaining empty of hair may appear to make sense when placed witha drug test that uses hair as its specimen, alas for you, no, it will not function.I mean, it is not like one could go out, steal a Gilette razor, shave the head, and pass hair drug testprotocol simply because your bald! No, seriously, the examiner will simplyclip some body hair. There is zero way to shave your path out of a hair drug test.

When you think of advertising for a website, what comes to mind usually are search engines, link exchanges, seo optimization services, banner advertisements and mailing lists to mention a few, these online promotional methods play an important role in the success of an online business. however, an often overlooked strategy in generating awareness of your site is offline advertising using traditional methods for promotion which can be an incredibly powerful means to drive traffic and increase brand credibility.

The more chances your target market has of seeing your web address, the more likely they are to visit your website. By recognizing the value a website can bring to your business and marketing it effectively, you are giving it the best chance to succeed. This will not only increase traffic but could also generate new sales and increased revenue as a result of the information and services you offer online.

Some of the most effective offline advertising methods worth investing in to drive people to your site are print media, promotional media, signage, TV and radio. All have the power to promote your online presence effectively but all will require effective graphic design which will promote a uniform and professional branding identity with the use of logos, colour and style unique to your business that will reinforce brand and encourage customer loyalty, This brand identity will be the cornerstone of all your marketing and promotional activity creating a positive impression and familiarity which will be key to growing your ecommerce business.

Print media offers many methods of marketing your site from telephone directories and newspapers to supermarket receipts but some of the most cost effective mediums to begin with can be got at your local colour printing shop such as letterheads, postcards, business cards, compliment slips, leaflets, posters, envelopes, invoice/delivery stationery, calendars, menus and vouchers. You should ensure by first requesting a proof that your web address stands out clearly and is legible. No matter which method you choose, there are some guidelines you can follow to turn your potential customers into online consumers. Offer special incentives for visiting your site, more information, discount coupons, reduced prices when using online ordering are a good start. This will make your customers feel like they will actually gain something from checking out your website.

Promotional media and signage includes everything imaginable and presents a wide choice of options for exposure ranging from fridge magnets to trains, but some of the most commonly used are vehicle advertising, banners, caps, T-shirts, mousemats, stickers, pens, exhibition display stands, keyrings, mugs and large colorful outdoor signs. It is also a good idea to strategically use this method of advertising to coincide with events such as trade fairs and shows associated with your business by promoting your site with ideas like t-shirt giveaways and the fact of having your sign written vehicle parked outside.

If you really want to splash out, radio and television are a very effective means of advertising and rates here vary with population and time slots, but in the case of radio it is important to include your name, address, telephone number and selling message but be sure to ask listeners to visit your site and repeat your URL often. In the case of TV advertising make sure your URL is prominently displayed in your commercial to account for large and small screen sizes. Similarly, for both television and radio advertising, just like print tell them what they’ll gain by visiting your site.

These are some of the more popular methods of offline promotion but they are by no means exhaustive, some other economical alternatives are having your web address on your answering machine, computer screensavers and using local community information boards, but any offline idea that is properly targeted, imaginative and memorable will generate traffic, produce sales and increase profits for your business.

(c) Copyright 2006, Tim McCarthy. All rights reserved.

D-Signs, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland.
Signs, Printing and Display

One of the tried and true organization and time-management tools is the trusty old “to do” list. I was trained to diligently put one together at the end of the day for the following day, and whatever tasks I failed to complete, to carry it forward. This system has worked well in helping me prioritize and focus. But I have also heard many of my colleagues complain about having too much on their list, and feeling very discouraged and overwhelmed by the sheer number of items on their “To Do” list. To help ease the overwhelm, I want to introduce the concept of the “Stop Doing” list.

I first read about the “Stop Doing” list in “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. He stated that one of the commonalities of the companies who were able to propel themselves from being just good to being great is that they all looked at what they were currently doing that they needed to Stop Doing. I am implementing this idea in a slightly different way, but I think a “Stop Doing” list can actually help your productivity and effectiveness.

So how do you decide what goes on your “Stop Doing” list? Here’s what I suggest you do.

For the next week or two, each time you work on your “to do” list (and if you are not using one currently, I strongly recommend you start), or blocking off time for specific tasks in you planner, ask yourself this question: “does this task add value or generate positive results for me and my organization?” If the answer is no, it should go right on top of your “Stop Doing” list.

If the answer is “yes”, ask yourself a second question: “am I the best person to do this task?” The first question tells you whether you can eliminate a task. This question tells you whether you can delegate a task. I know for solo-business people, you automatically think that you have no one to delegate any tasks to. But actually, that might not necessarily be true. Today, there is a whole network of virtual assistants who can handle a myriad of administrative work for you. Some accept work by the hour, and some accept work by the project. If you are interested in this resource, check out www.assistu.com

For some people, you may have to then overcome your resistance to delegating. I’ve heard many of the reasons. Do these sound familiar?

• “By the time I explain it to someone else, I could have done it myself.”

• “I can’t trust somebody else to do it right.”

• “It costs too much money.”

Some of these are completely legitimate concerns. However, before you dismiss the idea, consider the following:

• Is the task repetitive so that the up-front time investment to train someone is actually worth it 3 months down the road?

• Are you the most qualified person to complete the task, or could someone else do it in less time with less effort for better results?

• If you didn’t have to do the task, what would you choose to spend that time on, and what impact will that have on your business, or your life?

So, after considering these tough questions, add your delegated task to your “Stop Doing” list as well and send them elsewhere, and I guarantee you will feel better.
Even though I wrote this article for people struggling with overload at work, the same approach can be applied to create a “Stop Doing” list for home. Think of the possibilities – you can delegate laundry, and cooking, and yard work, and cleaning, and what else?

Seriously, the current state of our lives is that there is generally too much to do and not enough time. So, go through this exercise at least once and see what you can shed from your “to do” list. If you like the results, then establish a routine and do this every 6 months or a year. The point is that you want to spend your time on high impact tasks, and work that you enjoy.

© 2004 Inez O. Ng

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Do you need some structure and accountability to propel you forward? Personal Coach Inez Ng has worked with professionals and entrepreneurs to transform their aspirations into reality. While focusing on specific areas, her coaching positively impacts all areas of her clients’ lives. Learn more about coaching with Inez at http://www.RealizationsUnltd.com

If you are a mom at home on a diet, you will probably related to a frequent situation I encounter as a weight loss consultant. Many of my clients with children are able to keep to a healthy eating plan through most circumstances except two. It all starts to go astray when the kids come home from school, or when they are preparing school lunches.

It’s no surprise really. Kids love snacks we buy from the supermarket, and parents love them because they are quick and easy to throw into the lunchbox or for kids to grab from the shelves in the pantry. Small bags of chips, tasty bite size crackers, sodas and the like. No problem. Except when it comes to mom’s weight loss program. Mom loves them too!

These products are high in fat, high in energy and high in refined sugars. And after one, two or three nibbles it is possible to wrack up an unwanted 500 calories. This single act will probably stall your weight loss or even worse!

To stop your kids from sabotaging your weight loss efforts, here are 20 snack ideas for kids that will do far less damage to your weight loss program if mom nibbles (just a little).

1. Chop up tinned pear or other fruit in natural juice and set in 200mls of low calorie jelly. Make up into individual disposable plastic containers with lids.

2. Cut up crisp vegetable sticks with dipping sauce – ranch, peanut (satay), sweet chili or tomato.

3. Cut celery sticks 6-8 cm, fill with cottage cheese and top with sultanas or chopped nuts.

4. Combine a mixture of low fat hard cheese cubes, nuts and dried fruits in plastic wrap or a lunch bag.

5. Roll up thin slices of carrot and celery with grated cheese in a slice of cold meat. Secure with toothpick. Slice the carrot and celery with a vegetable peeler for really thin slices.

6. Cut oranges into quarters and freeze on trays. Put into plastic bags for a fruity ice block.

7. Meatball surprise. Next time you are making meatloaf, double the quantity and make a batch of meatballs. These are great in lunchboxes cold. Add a slice of pineapple with a toothpick to each meatball. Add dipping tomato sauce if required.

8. Mini quiches….make a batch of crust-less quiche and cook in muffin tray. Each ‘muffin’ will be a wonderful healthy snack for kids.

9. Chilled fruit surprise – slice a combination of strawberries, bananas, kiwi fruit, watermelon, grapes or in season fruit. Place in small resealable plastic container. Top with apple juice; do not overfill. Seal, freeze. When packed in lunchbox, will keep sandwiches cool and prove a refreshing treat on a hot day.

10. Rice cakes spread with mashed avocado, mashed banana and cinnamon, or try mashed avocado, sliced tomato and sprouts.

11. Chopped hard-boiled egg served with low fat mayo, salt, pepper on a crisp bread.

12. Leaf wrappers: wrap a cheese finger, celery stick and carrot stick in a lettuce leaf. Wrap in foil and place in lunchbox. Contents will be kept moist.

13. Yoghurt tub.

14. Baby Bell Cheese and low fat cracker.

15. Creamy dates: slice dates lengthways, remove stone. Fill with Philadelphia cream cheese (low fat).

16. Quick sausage rolls: wrap a skinned (good quality) sausage in several sheets of filo pastry. Brush pastry with beat egg to glaze. Cut into desired lengths. Bake in moderately hot oven for 15-20 minutes. Rolls can be frozen.

17. Same as above but use fresh chicken breast strips and cut to 2″ – use tomato or favorite dipping sauce

18. After school hot snack attack: Spread a round of pita bread with tomato paste and herbs. Top with tomato, ham, mortadella, add onion, sliced mushrooms or pineapple. Sprinkle grated low fat hard cheese over pita bread. Grill to make a tasty pizza. If no pita bread is available, substitute a crisp bread.

19. Fruity kebabs: place bite size pieces of fruit in season on kebab skewers.

20. Pop top sandwich tuna tin, crisp bread, sachet of mayonnaise. Kids can put their snack together at school so that it doesn’t go soggy.

Remember fresh is best both for yourself and your children. By substituting these ideas for some of the prepackaged snack food and cookies your kids eat you will be doing both them and yourself a favor.

(c) Copyright Kim Beardsmore

You are free to publish this article in its entirety, without changes as long as the Copyright and Author’s Bio, remain in place and the URLs and links remain intact and working.

Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. Tons of recipes, articles, resources, free newsletter and more to help you lose weight and keep it off forever. Estimate your healthy body weight or receive a free weight loss consultation at http://www.weight-loss-health.com.au

Strollers offer a wonderful and convenient service to parents and caregivers. The first priority in choosing a stroller should be safety.

To prevent tipping, choose a stroller that has a wide base so even when your child leans over there is no chance of the stroller tipping.

If you purchase a stroller that includes a recliner position check the stroller to make sure the stroller does not fall over backwards when the child reclines.

Remember to use the stroller seat belt at all times.

If your stroller has a basket, use that for purses and bags rather than hanging these items over the handles. The basket on your stroller should be placed over the rear tires.

To prevent accidental folding of the stroller always use the locking device. The brakes are used to limit the rotation of the tires when the stroller is at a complete stop.

Make sure you do not accidentally pinch your child’s fingers when folding or unfolding your stroller. Be conscience of where those little hands are at all times.

If you are using a jogging stroller make sure you use the safety strap that fits around your wrist. This can help prevent the stroller from getting away from you.

When you are in a parking lot make sure that the stroller is always next to you while unlocking the car. Put the child into their car seat before storing the stroller.

Before you cross the street, position the stroller completely out of the street and make sure you are safely on the curb.

Check your stroller to make sure it is completely opened and in the locked position before putting your child in it. A good habit to get into is pushing down on the seat with your hand to make sure it safe for your child.

When stopping on a hill, always remember to set the brakes on your stroller, even if you are just stopping for a moment.

Providing information, reviews and shopping tips to find the best jogging stroller for you and your baby at http://www.happystrollers.com . Stroller news, reviews and thoughts for families at http://www.happystrollers.com/serendipity/ where your comments are welcome too.

If you’re finding yourself going through entire days without achieving anything. If you’re tired at the end of the day but can’t remember the last time you did something important – then this article is for you.

It’s very easy, when you’re starting your company, to lose track of time.

I, for one, can spend hours thinking about what I should do next without actually doing anything. I find it very easy to amuse myself by myself – but that doesn’t help my company at all!

The question is, how do you stop yourself from wasting precious hours in your day?

How do you get things done?

The first thing you should do is create a list of important tasks that need to get done for each day. So, before you go to bed each night, spend some time writing down just SIX things that are important to do the next day.

I personally don’t mind if they’re personal goals or business goals. As long as I do at least SIX things each day that bring me closer to achieving my goals in life.

So, for me, a typical list might look like this:

1. Practise guitar for 1/2 hour

2. Invoice clients

3. Buy accounting package

4. Spend 2 hours on Project X (Where Project X is the name of a particular project I’m working on

5. Automate web site subscriptions

6. Re-write salesletter for front-page

It looks pretty easy doesn’t it? It isn’t. It takes a lot of discipline to get just 6 important things done each day.

When I first started doing this, I had a lot of motivation to get these things done, so my business grew in leaps & bounds. The problem is that I eventually got demotivated and started losing track of my time.

I started spending hours just reading email, posting on forums and generally doing things that weren’t helping me achieve more!

Until today, that is. I’ve started a new “plan” to ensure I don’t mysteriously “lose time”.

It’s a simple plan really. All you need is an exam pad and a pen. Then, down the left of the front page, write down time slots in half-hour increments like this:

06h00
06h30
07h00
07h30
08h00
…
…
21h00
21h30
22h00

Then, as each half hour passes, quickly jot down in a word or three what you spent it doing.

This is going to help you see where all your time is wasted and will also give you something to answer to. If you’re checking up on yourself every half hour (by jotting down what you’ve done), you’ll find yourself more disciplined to do the things that count.

This is a very basic technique taught in many time-management classes, tapes and CDs and it works wonders. I never tried it out until now but if you do it, and you’re honest with yourself, you’ll quickly find out why you’re not getting any REAL work done!

Those 2 techniques together have helped me grow my business much faster than my previous self would have.

When you’re an employee – you don’t mind wasting a few hours here and there but when you have to put food on the table each month, suddenly your hours start being your most important assets!

I hope this helps you! Good luck

Norio is a young South African entrepreneur that enjoys teaching others the things he has learnt to make running his business easy & profitable. He runs a small business site for South Africans at http://www.small-business-hub.co.za

This top 5 cannot be seen to be unequivocal, it lists my top skiing resorts in the Alps. Other people could opt for Chamonix, Flegere and Courchevel but this list are my number one snowboarding domains.

1. Les Deux Alpes, France ” Brilliant for all standards and infamous for its combination of summer and winter skiing with an excellent snow record. It is one enormous skiing resort where you’ll feel at ease.

2. Chamonix, France – Situated at the foot of Mont-Blanc this town boasts fantastic skiing such as Les Grand Montets (1235 m ” 3000 m) and the linked areas of Br©vent / Fl©gre (1030 m – 2525 m) whilst providing a sense of adventure that won’t disappoint.

3. Sestriere, Italy ” Friendly family skiing resort renowned for its pistes that are connected to the Milky Way. A great place to visit with fantastic snow reliability and a range of slopes with some tougher pistes for the more experienced skier.Val dIsere, France ” One of the most famous resorts in Europe for the experts, it is no surprise that its often a busy place. However, even beginners can find something here as they have pistes for all standards and abilities with the huge area linked to Tignes.

4. Verbier, Switzerland ” With its four fantastic valleys and over 240 miles of slopes, this is a resort more for the experienced skier looking for a challenge. Exploring its off piste and moguls are just some of the things that make it worth your visit.

5.Kitzbhel, Austria ” the 5 main skiing areas around the resort have plenty of slopes catering to the needs of everyone – this ski resort is one to try out. Contrary to the easy going nature of most of the courses Kitzbhel contains one of the most challenging world cup circuit courses in the world,the Hahnenkamm.

Sure, one will probably continue to put away one’s hog in the front of the garage. Then again, one will most likely think that, in acting so, you’re facing large risks. Strong heat, smut or soil can only decline the life span of your chopper also, let’s confront this; stealing or maybe floods are unfortunate misfortune. Just the things you may lead submit thinkable danger. Deliberate about the practicality of your car stall with the misfortune of dings or maybe knocks, even while protected. One cannot only hold back or possibly dodge as your teen is pulling the car into your barn for yet the 1 st time. Go aggressive! Watch over the new belongings and establish room in the car port by exploiting motorcycle storage solutions available at a nearby local self storage building. chopper storage can’t solely promises the protection of the hog, it may also provides ease of entry with more security. Many storage companies set forth drive up & drive out gates, enabling you to take advantage of each fine day’on a whim.

With a motorcycle storage facility unit you yourself will often breath worry free knowing that the hog will most likely be safe as well as be secure 365 On a first rate storage facility, you can control entry to one’s self storage facilities rental so persons should only be sure that your motorbike is out of harms way whenever it will be in a storage unit space. Click here for more information.

One cannot Underrate the Value of enduro Winter Self Storage.

Harley winter storage is a necessity for those frigid seasons and valuable moped parking plays a meaningful role in the protection of the enduro. When with every vehicle, the catalogue for care will be long-winded. Just when folks would scrub the motor, clean the chain, switch your oil, install a battery trickle charger & purge your fuel; obtaining great motor bike winter storage will be only as meaningful to the overall life-cycle of one’s moped. When the person is searching for self storage facilities for hog keep an eye out for climate controlled self storage buildings or solutions to certify the utmost conservation for one’s enduro.

chopper self storage solutions are also unquestionably worth the expense. Take precise care of your resources so that you will most likely own a peace of mind understanding that you will most likely be able to love your moped’for a lot of time to come.

Telephone headsets have played an essential role when it comes to communications. They are used both in the workplace and at home.

Headsets are typically attached to a phone system, either mobile or landline. They are also plugged into personal computers to be used in several applications.

Here are some advantages of headsets over the typical headphones, mobile phones or telephone handsets:

1. Headsets offer a “hands-free” option when communicating.

Typically, this is used for talking over the phone so that both of the user’s hands will be free to do other things.

You can see headsets used in the office, where the receptionist accepts incoming calls and uses the computer at the same time.

Almost all headset models available in the market now can be plugged into any compatible telephone system, or individual handy, mobile or landline phone.

With this convenience offered by headsets, they end up being an essential tool especially in the workplace.

2. Headsets have ergonomic benefits.

As compared to the traditional handsets which lets you tilt your head at a certain angle to cradle the earpiece, headphones help maintain good posture.

It lets you sit up straight because it frees up your hands. Headsets also save space, you can just hang it on your desk instead of taking up an entire area in your desk to help free your office of clutter.

There are also wireless types which do not tie you to your desk.

3. Headsets may be used for various PC applications.

Headsets may be used as another means of communications. Search engines now offer “voice chat” where you can speak with the person that you are chatting with.

Call centers and other business establishments use this as their major means of communications and an essential tool in their business.

Once a telephone headset is attached to a telephone system, it can work alongside a personal computer which has a USB port or an audio socket and a sound card. This would result to various applications in business.

For gaming and multimedia pruposes, a good quality headset is also a great investment.

When purchasing a headset that will best suit your needs, try to check on the following:

- Sound quality

Headsets should produce a good sound quality Since it is used for communication purposes, you should not compromise the sound quality of the set that you will buy even for a hefty cost.

- Microphone quality

Headsets are made up of two major parts: the earpiece and the microphone.

There are brands which have a device installed in the microphone which cancels outside noise.

These microphones actually filter the sound coming out of your mouth to be better received on the other end.

Make sure that the microphones would not be susceptible to feedbacks which will produce unnecessary noise on the background. This will further improve speech accuracy on the part of the speaker.

As long as you have a headset which has a good sound and microphone quality and the brand that you will buy is reliable enough, then you can go ahead and use it for the application of your choice.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides headphone resources on www.about-headphones.info.

Often people fall on hard times and stop paying on credit cards. After a while the account may go to an outside debt collector who might offer a settlement of the debt for 30-40% of theoriginal sum. Once this is paid, the debtor often thinks the matter is closed, but it is not! It is very likely that the creditor will issue a 1099-C. This is a notice to IRS of the forgiven debt. If the debtor does not address this on his return he may get an IRS bill a year or two later with penalties and interest.

A foreclosure on a home may also result in a 1099-C from the mortgage lender if the property is sold for less than the amount of the loan. In this instance, a person loses their home and may also face a tax bill. Usually, the bill comes many months after the tax return was filed as a result of an IRS document matching program. This “under-reporter” notice brings grief to the taxpayer.

The key issue is whether or not the debtor was insolvent. If they were insolvent, it may not be taxable depending on the circumstances. There is an “Insolvency exclusion.” You are insolvent when, and to the extent, your liabilities exceed the fair market value of your assets. So it is possible none of your forgiven debt is taxable or it is possible that all or only a portion of it is includable in income.

If you get a 1099-C, don’t ignore it. Have a tax professional do your return and they can help you determine how much of the 1099-C is taxable. If you get a letter from IRS on a 1099-C you left off your return, get help ASAP. Otherwise, IRS might file a Federal Tax Lien and take action.

Look for a CPA, Enrolled Agent, Accredited Tax Advisor, Accredited Tax Preparer, or Tax Attorney to help you with serious tax issue. You may call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 for help as well. Websites you can check out include: www.irs.gov;
www.naea.org; www.nsacct.org; and www.exirsman.com.

James Robert Coleman, E.A., A.T.A.
Enrolled Agent & Accredited Tax Advisor
Member: National Association of Enrolled Agents
Former IRS Revenue Officer, GS-11
http://www.exirsman.com