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Which is the Right For You? Private Annuity Trust, Charitable Remainder Trust, or 1031-TIC

We wrote a lot about how a PAT or a CRT or an ICT-1031 can be rights of others, but how can we decide whether it is better for you? There is some things you need to think about when choosing between these three options:

1) are in place in your life where you want to accumulate Activities or not does not distribute desideraez? If you have to accuformulate toujourscherche activities, in May you want to use a vehicle for ICT-1031 generating income and capital to save income tax, why not relinquish control of assets, as with one or PAT CRT. A PAT and a CRT monitor can distribute and monitor the activities.

How do you know if you have to try to gain or Distribution of current alternatatif? If it is possible that its action in the QSU is sopravvivere alorsest probably in a distribution phase of their lives. Let me give you an extreme example Clarify. I have a friend whose grandfather died at 85 years. At his death, The man left the entire $ 20 million for his company, 92 years, wife of almost 60th The work of my friend is her grandmother survived. E 'in a Distribution phase of their lives. It 'hard to be old with a large amount of Money, however. As another example,  so that a widow, ETN suo'90, although will be able to leave behind his family, not really Able to deliver the goods. Approximately 15 years ago when she and her husband when in anni'70, were around $ 2 million in goods. I imagine that, given their age and the amount of money you had, you should begin to distribute their products. So they did. They had to stop the distribution of activity, however, when her husband is mortho A slow death by cancer in their first 80. Health care in recent years, His life eaten a large piece of dough. In addition, dopoquesta death, his widow was able to take care of themselves, they moved to an assisted living. Has Lived in these structures over 10 years. A significant spesesalute, but not in these health problems - in fact, nograndes Disease - not vVenez few years. Due  use almost all their Property itself. This is not a distribution phase of their Life.

As you can see, which can sometimes be difficult to determine whether in your financial life, but must take into account the age, health and family medical history and the value of its assets and the likelihood that continue to appreciate genergia age or income.

2) What type of business Want to sell?

A 1031-TIC operation functionsiona only real investment Properties. You can not sell your house or for the use of a second home. You can use commercial or rental of residential property. If you try to sell commercial property or other illiquid assets in May apprécié PAT CRT or a better job For you. As I have already dettoanteriorlosposterior teeth in a securities may be sold through a PAT, but not if it is a limitada a 401K or IRA.

3) income is needed now or later in retirement?

1031-A in relation to ICT in general generate revenue immediately, but there are properties such as land the possibility of recognition, no inventory. A PAT and a CRT can provide immediate income, ingresosderivados a trust, but can also be Delayed. In the case of a PAT, the receipt of income Maietta wait have 70 years.

4) Do you have enough free spacequestions to be Taxes?

If you have a mass sufficient to be subject to tax, a May PAT or a CRT work better for you than a 1031-TIC. With the PAT or the CRT, assets are considered for tax purposes RIMOSA to see real estate on your behalf A loss of control of that. Given that the activity is no longer on your company, it is not be subject to tax at your death, although in the case of a PAT, thecontents of the trust in May to their heirs. It must also gift tax, transfer tax and generation skipping taxes.

5) You want to defer capital gains for the rest of your life or is it acceptable to the diferenciausione The burden for the rest of vonostra life?

In 1031 - the structure of both TiCl CRT the ability to defer capital gains tax for the rest of your life. A PAT Ripartire the taxes for the payments it receives from She.

These are just some of the things you want to take into account when considering on to defer their capital. There are many other things tomary mind, and I can walk like anyone interessanteed options & considerations.

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Hancocksjewellers: Enjoy the Flavor of World Class Diamond Jewellery and Diamond White Jewellery

Almost all the people in today’s world like to get along with fashion. They use various things to look fashionable. In spite of the accessibility to the large number of things diamond white jewellery is the most preferred ornament among them especially among the women section to look stylish. All of us know that all women are fond of diamond as well as other forms of jewellery some way or the other.

Diamond jewellery and diamond white jewellery is available at various places in the market. But, it is important for us to recognize the authentic diamond jewellery from the fake ones. Many a companies fools the innocent customers by selling them impure and   fake jewellery products. You should be aware of such fraud companies and try to avoid such companies.

If you are interested in buying real and genuine diamond white jewellery or any other type of jewellery, Hancocks Jewellers is just the perfect place for you. Now, you must be thinking why should you buy it from Hancocks Jewellers?

There are several reasons behind it. Some of the reasons that will help you deciding that why people trust Hancocks Jewellers jewellery especially  for buying diamond jewellery and diamond white jewellery are as follows:

1. Status in the Market: It is one of the premier jewellery companies in the market. It has been in the business of jewellery production for more than 148 years now. They have got this status by working efficiently and effectively year after year.  Through there hard work, they have made a place in the hearts of the customers, which is most important feature of the company.

1. Elongated Beauty of Products: As we all know all jewellery items have their own and special look. But among all the jewelleries, diamond white jewellery is exceptionally beautiful and renowned for its glow and shine. Hancocks Jewellers have laid down strict rules and regulation regarding the quality and pureness of the product. They maintain a very high standard of their jewelleries and gives special care to each and every aspect of all the jewellery items.  The beauty of the diamond jewellery or any other form of jewellery lasts for several years due to the pureness in the product and also due to employment skilled craftsmen.

1. Extra Ordinary Collection:  The collection of jewelleries on this online store is absolutely gigantic. There are large varieties of jewelleries like bracelet, rings, earrings, necklace etc. on this online store. It contains wide varieties of diamond jewellery including diamond white jewellery. Apart from the vast collection, the jewellery manufactured here also matches with the hottest trends in the fashion.

1. Excellent Services to the Customers: As we all know that company is now working for more than 148 years now. To maintain the goodwill in the market for so many years is a daunting task. There have never been any complaints from the customer of Hancocks Jewellers regarding the quality of the products.

These are some strong points behind the continuous increase in strength of the customers of the company. You can also become the customer of the company and enjoy the benefits. One thing is assured that you won’t feel cheated after purchasing the products of the company.

About the Author

Hancocks Jewellers, the famous name for exclusive diamond jewellery as well as magnificent white diamond jewellery .

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Canvas Attributes and How They Relate to Making a Good Business Decision About Which Digital Inkjet Canvas your Company Should Use

As inkjet canvas continues to gain popularity in the fine art and photographic digital printing industry, the multitude of available brands and varieties will persist and eventually flood the market in an attempt to take advantage of this increasingly desirable consumable. Current market research shows that inkjet canvas is selling three times more than inkjet paper, which historically, has never been the case. This swing in market trends suggests that art consumers are impressed by the aesthetic appeal and novelty of digitally printed inkjet canvas as it is a relatively new, yet logical medium for fine art reproduction. As an entrepreneur running a printmaking business, selecting an inkjet canvas that will be the foundation for your reputation and long-term success amid the array of possibilities, can be a daunting if not impossible undertaking. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of the printmaker to understand and test inkjet canvas to source the highest quality to ensure sustainable-revenue and the integrity for their business. Therefore the purpose of this article is to provide printmakers with the proper tools to evaluate inkjet canvas based upon empirical data and measurable attributes; in an attempt to produce higher-quality, more-archival, and ultimately more sellable fine art inkjet canvas prints.

In order to properly evaluate inkjet canvas for your printmaking business, several criteria must be evaluated and considered. This criterion can be broken down into four primary categories: aesthetic appeal, longevity, production/business practicality, and brand association. Testing multiple brands and types of inkjet canvas is the best thing you can do for your business, your customers, and the fine art industry as a whole. That being said, the first thing you will need to do to get started is purchase sample material from several leading inkjet canvas manufacturers. Let this article be the guide or checklist to walk you though the important evaluation process. Aesthetic Appeal

This category has been listed above all others because it is the single most important factor for evaluating your primary, “house” inkjet canvas. The fact is that this is the fine art industry and whether you are the artist, a gallery owner, a publisher, or a printmaker, the ultimate universal goal is to sell art. Art is predominantly sold as a result of its aesthetic appeal and the emotional derivative of the image presentation. In other words, the better your prints look, the more your artists will sell, which will naturally result in more printing business. If the artists that you print for are confident that you are reproducing their work in the most visually appealing manner and this is reflected in their print sales, you can be sure they will continue to employ your services. On the other hand, if the artist decides to shop around or happens to come in contact with an alternative printmaker who is obviously producing superior inkjet canvas prints, the artist will be gone in an instant. The only way to be certain that you are producing the most visually appealing inkjet canvas prints, is to test several different inkjet canvases for color gamut, Dmax (optical density), resolution, texture, and weight. Let us carefully consider each of these attributes individually.

Color Gamut – In this increasingly competitive industry simply offering great color reproduction is not enough. You need to offer the best color reproduction. Although precise color gamut measurement tools, such as a Colorimeter or spectrophotometer can and should be used if available, the naked eye is usually enough to distinguish a superior inkjet canvas. Print a color target, which consists of several individual color patches, on each inkjet canvas that you are evaluating. Use these targets to compare each individual color to determine which inkjet canvas produces the best color gamut. It is also recommended to print the same, colorful image on each inkjet canvas and see which produces the most vibrant colors.

Dmax – Dmax is a measure of maximum density of an image’s color but more specifically its black density. Again, the most precise measurements can be taken with a densitometer, but the naked eye will suffice if this equipment is not available to you. When discussing paper and inks, Dmax is commonly defined as the blackest black possible. Black density is arguably the most discernable characteristic in evaluating the quality of ink, paper, inkjet canvas, and even printmakers themselves. Therefore achieving the blackest black possible should be the most critical concern for every fine art printmaker. In this increasingly competitive industry, as with color gamut, offering great blacks is simply not enough. You need to offer the blackest blacks possible.

Resolution – This refers to the smallest discernable dots or pixels, commonly measured as dpi or dots per inch. In relation to fine art reproduction, it is a measurement of the “fineness” of detail in a printed image. Resolution is a crucially important attribute because without “fineness” and detail, image quality is compromised. No matter how accurate your colors are or how dense your black may be if the image appears blurry up close instead of clean and crisp, you will have significantly decreased your chances of selling that print as it will negatively affect its overall perceived value. This will inhibit the artist from obtaining true market-value for his/her work, which will cause you the printmaker to lose business to a competitor who uses a inkjet canvas with superior resolution. It should be noted that inkjet canvases with excessive texture can also compromise resolution and should be avoided. The drastic peaks and valleys in the inkjet canvas texture can cause ink to “bleed”, or run, which will blur minute aspects of a printed image.

Texture – The optimal texture of inkjet canvas is one that will exude a natural inkjet canvas look, without compromising resolution or reducing the amount of viewable angels in which the art can be appreciated. The latter is caused by any type of glossy finish on a highly textured inkjet canvas. The result is a “sparkling” affect caused by light reflecting off of the glossy peaks and valleys of the textured inkjet canvas. Sparkling inkjet canvas prints no longer take on the qualities of an original painting which causes art consumers to perceive them as cheap reproductions. In an industry driven by quality and aesthetic appeal, cheap reproductions won’t sell and will be detrimental to a printmakers’ reputation. All in all, even if a inkjet canvas is a clear leader in color gamut, dmax, and resolution, it may have excessive texture which alone can compromise quality. Therefore, printmakers should test for excessive texture. This can be accomplished in two ways. First, print images with extreme detail and look for a lack of image cleanliness and crispness up close. Second, use a semi-glossy or glossy post-print protective coating and look for sparkling when light reflects off the coated surface. It is important to keep in mind that texture is primarily a subjective attribute of which everyone will have a differing opinion. As a printmaker, it is wise to advise your clients to make a texture decision based upon objective information that will improve the sale-ability of their prints rather than attempt to source unique inkjet canvas textures to appeal to every artist’s personal preference.

Thickness & Weight – These are completely subjective attributes that do not contribute to the visual appeal or the sale-ability of any inkjet canvas print. For their own reasons, usually related to their artist/customers, some printmakers have a tendency to place value on how a inkjet canvas “feels”. To the artist or printmaker (not the art consumer) perceived value can be associated with a heavier weight and thicker inkjet canvas. The fact is that it costs more to manufacture a inkjet canvas with a heavier weight and thickness, but neither weight nor thickness has any contribution to the visual appeal or longevity of a inkjet canvas print. The higher cost is simply not justified.

Once stretched, framed, and hanging on the wall in an art gallery nobody is touching or “feeling” the finished inkjet canvas print. These consumers have absolutely no way of determining the initial weight, thickness, or feel of the inkjet canvas. Therefore, these attributes are totally worthless unless of course they somehow affect your production process. For example, an excessively thin inkjet canvas might tear when stretching over frames. An excessively thick inkjet canvas might not feed through your printer. An excessively heavy inkjet canvas might senselessly raise your costs, lower your profit margins and in turn decrease your market competitiveness as a printmaker. Therefore, using a inkjet canvas because you like how it “feels” or how “heavy” it is, is just a disorganization of business priorities. Unless your customer requires a specific inkjet canvas weight or thickness, these two attributes should be considered your lowest priority. Generally it is a plus to have a heavier, thicker inkjet canvas but should not influence your inkjet canvas evaluation.

Longevity

Longevity refers to how long a inkjet canvas print will last before it begins to noticeably deteriorate. This is an absolutely critical element in determining which inkjet canvas to use for your business. In order to appropriately label yourself a “fine art printmaker”, you must produce fine art prints. By definition, fine art prints are expected to maintain their constitution for several decades. Fine art prints that deteriorate in the short-term maintain almost no value and were in fact, never fine art prints to begin with. Thus, longevity must be taken into consideration in every printmaker’s long-term business strategy as selling deteriorating prints will no doubt contribute to the inevitable demise of your future business in the fine art industry.

Unfortunately, unbiased, objective longevity testing information about each inkjet canvas is not readily available. Therefore, the only real way to be confident that this longevity component is fulfilled is by choosing a reputable manufacturer with a worldwide recognized brand. These manufacturers have proven their ability to deliver and support fine art quality products to the masses. They also guarantee their products. Rest assured that if any problem does arise, most of them will be right there to fix the problem and/or reimburse you. A reputable printmaking business must have this guarantee where the manufacturer holds the risk. Printmakers should use these worldwide brands to their advantage by communicating their stability benefits to their own customer base. Nevertheless, it is important to understand exactly what characteristics affect the longevity of your inkjet canvas prints.

Acidity - One primary determinant of longevity is the acidic content within a inkjet canvas. The introduction of acid to a inkjet canvas print will cause it to quickly yellow and deteriorate. Finding a inkjet canvas that is completely acid-free and ph-neutral is extremely important in preserving the longevity of your prints. Most inkjet canvas suppliers will boast an acid-free product but in actuality they are referring only to the raw inkjet canvas material, conveniently leaving out the acidic content of the inkjet receptive coating applied on top, which completely negate the initial claim. In order to maximize and ensure longevity, printmakers should therefore make sure that a inkjet canvas has both an acid-free raw inkjet canvas base and an acid-free inkjet receptive coating.

Optical Brightener Additives (OBAs) – These are artificial brightening agents commonly used in many inkjet substrates to make them appear “brighter” or whiter than they actually are. According to the most recognized inkjet print permanence testing organization, the Wilhelm Research Institute, OBAs should be avoided because they compromise the longevity of fine art prints by causing yellowing, and by causing the colors of a print appear different under differing lighting conditions.

Color management guru David Coons of Artscans explains the difficulties in using OBA’s:

“Our main problems with OBAs are with reproducing original art with bright or pastel yellows. Since typical OBA coated media doesn't reflect warmer wavelengths as strongly as conventional natural white watercolor papers, it's often impossible to accurately reproduce many warm pastel colors such as light yellow.

Optical brighteners create an appearance of 'brightness' by inducing blue fluorescence in the presence of UV-rich light sources such as sunlight, metal halide, and fluorescent lamps. Papers coated with these brighteners tend to fight yellow inks in particular because of their bluish cast. Color management systems can help preserve relative color differences, but will never be able to overcome these physical limitations.”

In June 2005 worldwide inkjet canvas manufacturer Breathing Color, Inc. out of Orange, California (www.breathingcolor.com) released the first ever optical-brightener free inkjet canvas and since, the product segment has grown in popularity at a very fast pace within the USA and is spreading to other regions of the world. Printmakers using this product are taking advantage of the credibility and competitive positioning it offers.

Water-Resistance – History has proven that inkjet canvases without sufficient water-resistance are fragile and increasingly susceptible to damage by humans and the environment (humidity).

Although they can be protected and enhanced with solvent-based coatings, generally it is best to avoid them simply because they are more of a liability and increase longevity risk. Solvent-based coatings, which are mandatory with non-water-resistant inkjet canvases, also have a tendency to chip, crack, and flake over time and/or the sduringtretching process. Some manufacturers who have not yet been able to develop a truly water-resistant inkjet canvas have resorted to marketing semi-water-resistant inkjet canvases as water-resistant. Beware of these. Although there is no documented industry standard for water-resistance, printmakers can easily test this on their own. Run a print and allow it 24 hours to dry. Once the ink has completely dried simply poor a glass of water over the print. If a inkjet canvas is not water-resistant, the ink will run and smear immediately. Some highly water-resistant inkjet canvases can withstand this test even immediately after printing. Printmakers using truly water-resistant inkjet canvases also enjoy the added benefit of the ability to use a water-based post-print coating, which in most cases is much more durable than the solvent-based alternatives.

Post-Print Protective Coatings - Commonly sold in gloss, semi-gloss, and matte options, these post-print protective coatings are most commonly used to preserve and protect inkjet canvas prints from abrasion and harmful ultraviolet light. They are also used to enhance color and increase the visual appeal of a inkjet canvas print.

Printmakers should evaluate a coating for the following: First, it must sufficiently protect a inkjet canvas print from abrasion. This means that if anyone were to accidentally touch, scuff, hit, or spill anything onto the printed surface – nothing will happen. The integrity and value of the print is essentially preserved. Second, a giclee coating must protect a inkjet canvas from harmful ultraviolet light. Although it should always be avoided, this means that the inkjet canvas should not fade or yellow if it were to be in direct or indirect sunlight for extended periods of time. Third, a coating should be able to enhance color in order to increase the visual appeal of the inkjet canvas print. Fourth, a coating should not provide any sort of yellow cast over the image. This is a negative side effect that compromises the integrity and value of a inkjet canvas print. This yellow casting issue can be tested by simply comparing a coated and uncoated piece of unprinted inkjet canvas. If the coated portion appears yellow, then this coating is working against the quality of your reproductions and should be substituted with a more reputable product from a fine art manufacturer. Finally, the coating should not crack when stretching over frames. If the giclee coating cracks you are unnecessarily decreasing the quality of your inkjet canvas reproduction. All reputable inkjet canvas manufacturers have information on coatings that is compatible with their products. Selling prints that crack when stretched is unacceptable in this industry where public information about coating compatibility is readily available for all printmakers.

Only use fine art giclee coatings from reputable manufacturers that produce products specifically for the fine art market -- not to be confused with coatings made to protect signage or other surfaces and are erroneously marketed by many suppliers as fine art coating substitutes. Beware of these untested products with no history or track record.

Production

Now that we have discussed the most critical aspects of selecting an inkjet canvas in aesthetic appeal and longevity, let’s shift our focus production, more specifically, “how does this inkjet canvas work with your operational flow?” Production can and should be shaped around a high-quality, archival inkjet canvas, rather than finding a inkjet canvas that works with your current production flow. I say this because many printmakers are forced to make this decision when they encounter a problem with a inkjet canvas or supplier. “Do I select a new inkjet canvas that works well with my current system and flow or do I select the best inkjet canvas I can find and adjust my production flow around it?” Though the latter may be more difficult in the beginning, this decision will no doubt pay off in the long term. Nevertheless, there are some inkjet canvas characteristics that are more suitable for every printmaker’s production flow and should be sought after. Consistency – Roll to roll consistency is a vitally important issue for every printmaker, especially for high production environments. A lack of consistency can cost your business a lot of time and money in defective prints and material waste. It can even cost you customers.

Any inkjet canvas manufacturer can tell you that inkjet canvas manufacturing is by far the most difficult inkjet product to consistently produce. No inkjet canvas is perfect, and at some point in time every printmaker will receive faulty inkjet canvas that they must return. For the most part, some inkjet canvases tend to be more consistent than others and these are the ones you need to find. If you choose a inkjet canvas that is very consistent your business and customers will enjoy smooth production without hassles. This is where the actual make-up of a inkjet canvas becomes relevant.

The two most common fine art inkjet canvas options are 100% cotton inkjet canvases and poly/cotton blend inkjet canvases. 100% cotton inkjet canvases used to be the first choice amongst the majority of fine art printmakers because of its perceived higher quality and natural look and feel. These days, after years of manufacturing inconsistencies, 100% cotton inkjet canvas is avoided by the majority of the market and hardly any manufacturers produce them anymore. The inconsistencies include shrinking (when coated or when subject to a high humidity environment), expanding (long after being stretched and framed, causing the print to sag and appear off balance on one side), and the presence of visible, black cotton seeds. These black cotton seeds end up in the middle of prints and can make them look dirty or defective. They also have a tendency to fall off, leaving white voids in your print. Collectively, it is for all these reasons that 100% cotton inkjet canvases are not widely used by fine art printmakers any longer.

Instead, consistent and high quality polyester-cotton blend inkjet canvases (or “polycotton inkjet canvases”) have become by far the most widely used inkjet canvas base in the fine art industry. Poly/cotton inkjet canvases are of not inferior in print or longevity quality, but do lack the natural look or feel of the 100% cotton inkjet canvases. However, polycotton inkjet canvases are typically free of cotton seeds and do not shrink or sag after long periods of time. Ultimately, the crucial importance of roll-to-roll consistency has fueled the demand for polycotton inkjet canvases over the years. Until consistent 100% cotton inkjet canvases are introduced, these poly/cottons will continue to drive the market.

It is important to understand that roll-to-roll consistency of polycotton inkjet canvases also vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Roll-to-roll consistency really comes down to a given manufacturer’s quality control. Larger companies always have better quality control because of how costly this process is. There are always defects in inkjet canvas productions and the primary role of quality control is to isolate the defects so that they do not reach the marketplace. Some manufacturers do this better than others. As a general rule, it is better to stick with a larger manufacturer, provided of course that they have the best product with regard to aesthetic appeal and longevity.

Stretch-Ability – As stated earlier, a finished, coated inkjet canvas print that cracks or tears when stretching over frames significantly loses value and also appears cheap in the eyes of consumers. To avoid this, printmakers can test a inkjet canvas by coating piece of it, allowing it 24 hours to dry, folding it backwards, completely in half, and then firmly pressing the fold to make a crease. If the inkjet canvas does not crack in the creased area, it will most likely not crack or tear when stretched. Nonetheless, the only way to be sure is by sending a print to your framer (unless you frame yourself) who can provide reliable feedback.

Cost – This is the final determinant of a printmakers’ market competitiveness. Specifically, what level of quality does he/she deliver relative to the asking price. In order to be the most competitive, a printmaker must use the highest quality product available at the lowest price, but not if price compromises quality. In this industry, price does not always determine quality. This is because the distribution methods of manufacturers are the primary determinant of the end user price. Most manufacturers use regional distributors who in turn mark up the cost of the product and sell it to end users. This is the traditional distribution method of this industry. Contrastingly, a few select worldwide manufacturers sell direct to the market, eliminate the regional distributor, and are therefore able to offer fiercely competitive pricing directly to the end-users. By researching manufacturers and their pricing structures, printmakers can gain a good understanding of what each has to offer. The goal is to maximize quality and minimize cost.

It is also important to consider buying inkjet canvas or other substrates in bulk. Many manufacturers and distributors will offer volume discounts on inkjet canvas. Therefore, businesses can drastically lower their overhead, simply by buying in bulk and stocking their best selling products. Buying in bulk will also lower overall shipping costs by ordering once every 3 months for example as opposed to once per week. Bulk-buying will also ensure that you have sufficient inventory to promptly begin and deliver urgent print jobs.

Brand Association

As if it hasn’t already been stressed enough, printmakers need to know as much as possible about the manufacturer before they start printing on their inkjet canvas. First, printmakers need to distinguish between a true manufacturer and a private-labeler.

Private-labelers are companies who conceal the original manufacturer by applying their own names to a product. Due to the exponential growth of this industry there is an overwhelming abundance of private-labelers. Every single regional inkjet supplier who brands their own inkjet canvas is private labeling. If they tell you otherwise, they are not being honest with you. It costs millions upon millions of dollars, not to mention rare expertise, to produce and support even one high quality fine art inkjet canvas, which is why very few manufacturers really exist.

Many re-branded inkjet canvases on the market over the past few years have been produced at a very low cost from unreliable inkjet canvas mills in countries where labor costs are low (i.e. China). The problem with these manufacturers is that they lack the financial wherewithal to support a fine art inkjet canvas and will turn their back on the first sign of a problem. They have no brand, they are not interested in building a brand and they have nothing to lose. A manufacturer without extreme care of a brand in the delicate fine art industry is a very bad sign and should be avoided at all costs.

The less-informed, poor inkjet canvas choices made by regional inkjet suppliers and their printmaking customers have plagued the local markets at times. A recent issue involved a particular inkjet canvas that was being marketed and sold within Australia as a “fine art inkjet canvas of the highest quality”. To the dismay of its users, this inkjet canvas began to turn yellow on the walls of its buyers only eight months after it was printed and even coated. This resulted in massive returns, lawsuits, bankruptcies, and ruined the credibility of many of the businesses involved. Normally a bad inkjet canvas choice will simply result in a loss of competitive positioning, but the point of this example is to stress how bad it can get.

The only way to be certain is to choose a inkjet canvas that comes from a widely recognized worldwide brand with a public reputation. You can confirm this by visiting the manufacturer’s web site and reading about their company. Read about their products, their values, and their mission. Read their press releases and see if and how long they have been covered by the media. If posted, read their customer testimonials and do further research on the reputation and history of these customers. Then, contact the company directly and speak to a representative who should be interested in starting a relationship with you. Make a small purchase of a sample kit or anything else that will allow you to evaluate how the Company delivers. Take note of the marketing materials they provide, the look of their packaging, etc. Gather some influential industry publications and look at the company’s advertisements. There are far less than ten worldwide inkjet canvas manufacturers and through this research they will be easily distinguishable.

Reputable printmakers simply do not even waste their time even trying inkjet canvases that do not come from long-standing worldwide brands who have been in the industry for years. By conducting some research one can conclude that the more reputable the printmaker, the more likely it is that they strictly use long-standing worldwide brands. Chances are, they have learned “the hard way” at some point in time.

Conclusion

In this rapidly expanding industry, printmakers lose or capture business daily as a direct result of customers demanding individual inkjet canvas attributes. The higher volume the customer is, the more sophisticated and knowledgeable they will be, and the more significance each inkjet canvas attribute will have to them. Higher volume customers learn faster and earlier than the rest of the market, but eventually, the rest of the market catches up. Therefore, the only long-term strategy is to master knowledge of these attributes and offer the best inkjet canvas that the industry has to offer. The best inkjet canvas, in and of itself, will always be a subjective analysis but by prioritizing these attributes one can interject a certain level of objectivity into it that customers will understand and trust.

Teddy Blah of MFA Talon Graphics of El Segundo, who uses Epson 9800, Epson 7800, and says “MFA Talon Graphics has been a one of the largest worldwide fine art printmakers for nearly 20 years now, and to uphold our leading reputation, our substrate decision making process from inkjet canvases to papers is extremely intricate and involves many people. The ultimate decision comes from an accumulation of years and years of learning experiences, coupled with constant tests and evaluations of new products, to discover what will continue our reputation and propel MFA Talon Graphics to increasing levels of quality. We know where to find the best materials, we know how to test and evaluate them, and we only use what is logically determined by us to be the absolute best that we can offer our customers. It is a never ending process and by treating it this way we improve our quality every single day.”

Finding the best inkjet canvas for your business will result from an accumulation of inkjet canvas knowledge as brought forth by this article along with your continual research and pursuit of maximum quality. We hope that printmakers all over the world save this article and use the information presented within it, to better their businesses and to better the fine art printmaking industry as a whole.

ABOUT BREATHING COLOR, INC.

Breathing Color™, Inc. is a leading designer and supplier of award-winning digital inkjet media and post-print protective canvas varnish. Breathing Color is focused on the fine art and photographic markets with products for Epson® Printers that lead the industry in color and longevity. Breathing Color's customers benefit from the highest quality at competitive prices by buying direct.

About the Author

Nick Friend, President of Breathing Color, Inc., is a principle-centered entrepreneur who has many years of experience in developing and executing innovative sales and marketing strategies as well as building, training, and leading national and international sales forces. His ability to recognize market opportunities, build successful business models, and lead organizations has been demonstrated with multiple business ventures including Schematics Productions, Inc., a niche focused men’s apparel company that was acquired by a large manufacturing company and is still in operation today. His diverse experience also extends to bringing related digital imaging products to market, including digital art papers for the professional art and photography markets. Here, Mr. Friend regularly contributes articles and expertise to key industry publications. Mr. Friend is also an accomplished musician whose past fifteen years have been spent writing music and performing live in locations all over the United States. He is an honored graduate of the University of Southern California, having studied at the well-renowned Marshall School of Business with emphasis in corporate and investment finance.

Mr. Friend was recently honored by the Orange County Business Journal's "Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards 2007" with his nomination amongst a select group of distinguished entrepreneurs in Orange County, California. The Orange County Business Journal recognized Mr. Friend for his role as founder and President of Breathing Color, inc.

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Wall Tapestry Art - How to select from Exclusive Tapestries for your Wall Decor

Designing a house requires loads of creativity and uniqueness from the homeowner. You might have the best furniture in your living room. But do you have the most fitting wall tapestries to complement them? Your choice of wall tapestry art can give your room the final touch and the look that you really want it to exude.

There are lots of unique wall tapestries available from furniture shops today. But how do you really choose which is perfect for your living room? First and foremost, you have to look into the interior design you chose for your home. Does it have the Neo-Victorian look? Or may be it follows the medieval genre? Is it a modern home with lots of steels and whites? If so, try to choose the tapestry art that showcases the influences of that time range. It is important that there's congruency in your home decors.

Many unique wall tapestries available these days are quite extraordinary in nature. Some are almost like an heirloom passed from generations to generations. If these are the tapestries that you need, the best places to find them will be at swamp meets and garage sales. These wall hangings would definitely give your home a timeless touch to it. Just choose the ones that are craftily designed and are well-taken cared of to get the best value for your money.

There are also newer wall tapestries that were designed and created by talented artists. While they can't be regarded as antique and rich with heritage, they can give the room the same feel that you want. Modern tapestries art are still influenced by the European culture. Artisans make it a point to put a touch of elegance in their designs in order to capture the effect that home owners want for their home.

Wall tapestry art can be classified as either classic or contemporary. Traditional tapestries follow the classic European touches and they may include themes taken from the renaissance age, medieval period, or are inspired by 11th century civilization. It is also common to see romantic, floral, mythic, and gothic tapestries being sold in most online and local furniture shops near you.

About the Author

You can choose from the variety of exclusive and unique wall tapestry art designs according to your personality and preferences.

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A Case Study of a Modern Workplace Revealing Major Deficiencies in Awareness and Communication Capacities

I have found in my work that the majority of knowledge workers are not achieving high performance largely because of low level of what we call awareness and communication capacities.

I want to now share some data that we collected in relation to a work force carrying out Level 1 Knowledge work. We tested 99 people in a contact centre. The systems and processes were well established and people underwent a period of training in the systems and processes. I’ll elaborate on this shortly.

Level 1 Knowledge work in this case involves tasks where the workers interact through the telephone dealing with customer queries. In this residual space the worker is expected to achieve an outcome that reflects the organisation’s policies and leaves the customer satisfied that their query or concern has been properly dealt with.

The main capacity required for this work is the capacity for participating in crucial conversations. Crucial conversations are those where the stakes are high, where there are conflicting interests, and where emotions run hot. Most of the conversations between workers and the organisation’s clients are of this type.

Workers are expected to resolve the conflicting interests and retain the client as a customer of the organisation. When a worker is engaged in a crucial conversation they cannot be managed, they are on their own, this is their residual space where they need to be able to own their work, be able to evaluate their own performance, have an inner vision of the work, take unconditional responsibility for the outcome and be masters of the work.

Workers undergo training in the organisation’s processes and policies. They receive training in how to handle stressed clients. They receive guidance in confronting a range of different scenarios and how to resolve the issues relevant to each scenario. They also receive training in telephone techniques. As well as this during the training period the workers’ involvement with clients is monitored, and they receive coaching and advice as to how to correct any mistakes they might have made. The training is comprehensive and thorough.

The performance of all workers is monitored and key performance indicators are used to evaluate performance. Regular coaching and advice is provided by supervisors and team leaders. It could be expect that the work force would be capable of high performance in the light of comprehensive training and regular coaching and advice about achieving the key performance indicators.

Our data, on the other hand revealed the following breakdown of the performance standards of the workforce:

Achieved high performance 39.1 per cent

Achieved adequate performance 45.5 per cent

Not achieving adequate performance 15.4 per cent

These figures reveal that notwithstanding comprehensive training and regular monitoring around key performance indicators 60.9 % of this workforce were achieving only adequate or less than adequate performance standards.

Awareness and communication capacities

There are three awareness capacities and three communication capacities:

The awareness capacities;

Treating everything that arises as an opportunity to learn;

Taking unconditional responsibility for choices made;

Exercising emotional mastery;

The communication capacities;

• Having high level capacity for crucial conversations;

• Negotiating disagreements effectively;

• Making and honouring promises through commitment conversations.

Treating everything that arises as an opportunity to learn is about being prepared to listen to others in order to ensure that the best decisions are made. It’s also about telling your truth, but at the same time respecting other people who have a different view or represent a different set of interests to you. Finally it’s about how you replace a mindset of unilateral control to one of being open to learn new things.

Taking unconditional responsibility is about recognising that we have choices and in order to be a player in the drama of life we accept unconditional responsibility for our choices. In the workforce we analysed we found that only 17.17% demonstrated both a high level of responsibility and high performance.

Achieving emotional mastery is one of the most important awareness capacities. In the workforce that we reviewed only 26.26% showed a high level of emotional mastery and high performance indicating that the level of emotional mastery in relation to high performance within this workforce was not particularly high.

The communication capacities are about the mode and means of communications within the workforce. All work involves talking about what needs to be done. A great deal of the talking takes place in the residual space where the systems and processes don’t reach, and where workers cannot be managed. We also negotiate our disagreements to make decisions and then we make promises to ensure that things get done. These capacities encompass the communication capacities. In the workforce under review the main focus of work is talking and conversation. It’s clear from the performance data that in terms of these three communication capacities there is a great deal of room for improvement.

Our experience is that there is a low level of development of the communication capacities. This is one area where some of the greatest gains in productivity improvement can be obtained.

Most people seem to think that because they have a good mastery of language and can make themselves understood that they are good communicators. Our experience is that when it comes to crucial conversations there is a great deal of room for improvement. In this case the training programmes in place were not reaching the level required to bring the awareness and communication capacities up to the level needed to achieve high performance. This is one of the things we have found that traditional training programmes have little lasting impact on changing peoples’ behaviour.

We know more about the way to organise our collective activity, about business processes and systems and the psycho-dynamics of human activity than at any other time in history. We have also never had better qualified people technically than in this present age.

Managers and leaders tell us that they are working very hard, right at the extremes of their powers to improve the productivity and output of their organisations. This was certainly true of the contact centre that we are talking about here. The managers and leaders were working hard and right at the extreme end of their powers. They are overworked and overstressed and so are their people.

We (the sum total of humanity) also have an incredible amount of knowledge, and a great many highly qualified consultants ready to advise us about how we can create an organisation to meet the demands of the modern business regime. Why is it then that in spite of all this knowledge real change is hard to achieve? Why do training programmes and efforts at motivating the rank and file people have such dismal results?

As Kegan and Lahey observe in their ground breaking book “How the Way We Talk Can Change the Way We Work”, there is a maddening insufficiency of being well informed. We all seem to have an inbuilt immunity to change. Each of us can be committed to make changes but these commitments are like New Year’s resolutions, by the 10th January they are forgotten and we revert to our old ways. Despite all of the efforts to make things better, create a culture of trust and solidarity and relieve the management and leadership burdens of stress and burn out, the outcomes are disappointing.

Doesn’t this suggest that a new way of working, of leading and managing is needed that addresses the immunity to change that we all have?

At CMI we have developed a methodology that involves a new method of managing and leading that results in real change. This reduces the stresses and strains that managers and leaders experience and helps them achieve the results that there overworked and stressful efforts fails to do. The entry point is what we call the awareness and communication capacities, and our means of identifying how these capacities can be transformed to make change and high performance possible and to take advantage of the fund of knowledge and expertise that is available. You can learn more by visiting our site

About the Author

Dr Bob Calkin is the CEO of Career Mentoring Institute who provide on-line capacity building programs for organizations and individuals helping them transform their behavior to meet the demands and challenges of the modern workplace. You can learn more about our on-line programs by visiting our site

1 B9 Soho Apartments

Upon entering the apartment, views of Table Mountain will draw you past the trendy open plan kitchen and airy living area onto the furnished private balcony where guests can enjoy the scenic beauty that Cape Town has to offer. This provides the ideal spot for a champagne breakfast or a sundowner meal- taking advantage of self-catering accommodation where guests can enjoy the best of both worlds- the class and sophistication of a hotel with the warmth and intimacy of home living.

The apartment, recently re-decorated, features some beautiful artwork pieces and furniture- while remaining minimally modern so as not to distract one from the central feature- the view of Table Mountain, seen through floor to ceiling windows.

The bedroom sits above the lounge in a loft arrangement that grants it the same view that the living area enjoys, while windows facing in the opposite direction allow visitors a glimpse of Signal Hill from the warmth of their bed.

De Waterkant district is home to some of the city's best restaurants, bars, boutiques, coffee shops, and museums. Guests will find whatever they're looking for right on their doorstep, or mere minutes walk away. Many of the quaint streets are cobbled and steep and a variety of secret finds are hidden under old trees and historic buildings- which make for an enjoyable adventure.

This area has recently enjoyed massive renovation- mostly due to its close proximity to the Soccer World Cup Stadium (which is within walkable distance) and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (one of the southern hemisphere's top tourist destinations). It is also however walking distance from the Central Business District and the famous Long Street- where a wide range of book stores, restaurants, music stores, bars, clubs, boutique stores and craft markets can be found- allowing visitors days of touring without having to get into a car.

Those on business will appreciate the close proximity to the Cape Town Convention Centre, while the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is only 5 blocks away, Camps Bay beaches 10 minutes drive and the cableway up to Table Mountain also only 10 minutes drive away.

Soho is also conveniently near to the entire city's main motorway, and the Cape winelands region is only a 20-minute drive away. The apartment is also completely safe- with state of the art security and underground parking.

Features

• One bedroom, one bathroom loft apartment
• Brand-new, modern décor and furnishings
• Double-glaze floor-to-ceiling windows with exquisite city and Table Mountain views
• Fully equipped, modern open-plan kitchen with luxury amenities
• Washer
• Large plasma with satellite PVR that can face either the kitchen or the lounge
• Private, furnished balcony with sweeping city views
• Communal swimming area with barbeque facilities
• 24-hour security
• Undercover parking and direct lift access to apartment
• Gym across the road
• Cleaning provided (at additional cost)

Either than this exquisite luxury apartment, we offer the finest range of Cape Town luxury apartments and Waterfront apartments each apartment is uniquely decorated and each of our luxury apartments is AA recommended in its own right, assuring you of the highest quality standards and top guest services

About the Author

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Mock Wrap Scrubs Or Cargo Scrubs - Choose Your Scrubs Style!

Modernization has changed many things around us and our age old professional uniforms though still remain the same you can definitely change your style. Mock warp scrubs with latest designs and models are in vogue today. So if you are still planning to get out of your age old scrubs, it is time to change to the latest designs and styles today.

The scrub is said to be a perfect clothing article and with just simple changes in the styling and designing your age old scrub will look new and stylish like never before. You can now personalize the designs of your cargo scrubs to make it unique and artistic. You will love to step into your work wear just like when you were new to the healthcare industry.

The professional medicinal industry will mostly demand the same standard ceil blue or lilac and at times khaki colors. You can get them along with two dozen different colors. You can match your top and your pant with the same color to get a perfect combination scrub for yourself. The designs are all cool and make you look graceful and stylish without losing your professional touch. There are about a dozen of trims to choose from for your mock wrap scrubs. A perfect trim will add much more style, flavor and uniqueness to your scrubs. Simple designs but a perfect fit brings out the feminine touch to your normal everyday professional outfits.

Your cargo scrubs uniform has to be worn everyday and thus to brighten up your spirit and make you look great in it all you have to do it add your personal touch. There is nothing better to start your day looking great and in high spirits. A little pepping up can be done by just changing the color for a while or just changing your style. A little extra attention at work and from your colleagues will boost your spirit.

About the Author

Scrubguru offers cheap cargo scrubs and nursing uniforms with high quality and low cost. We have biggest collection of quality mock wrap scrubs, lab coats, Warm up Jackets at affordable cost.

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Watch New York, I Love You (2009) Movie Free Online

To Download And Watch Online visit

www.funmovies.tk

The film has received mixed or average reviews from critics. [3] Rotten Tomatoes reported that 42% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 50 reviews with an average score of 6/10 .[4] Another review aggretator, Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating from 100 reviews from mainstream critics, gave the film an average score of 49% based on 23 reviews. [3]

Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a B regarding the film "takes the wrinkle-free, easy-travel concept first executed in the 2007 Gallic compilation Paris, je t'aime to a new city and styles itself..." [5] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3 stars saying in his review, "By its nature, "New York, I Love You" can't add up. It remains the sum of its parts." [6] At the Movies critic A.O. Scott of the New York Times gave the film a mixed review claiming "Not that the 11 shorts in New York, I Love You are all that bad. It’s a nice-looking city, after all, even if the interstitial skyline and traffic montages assembled by Randy Balsmeyer are about as fresh as the postcards on sale in Times Square." [7] Lou Lumenick of the New York Post gave the film 1 star claiming "there were two additional segments that have since been cut. So you'll have to wait for the DVD to see just how bad Scarlett Johansson's directing debut is." [8]

Cast

(Complete cast)

* Bradley Cooper as Gus Cooper
* Hayden Christensen as Ben
* Andy Garcia as Garry
* Rachel Bilson as Molly
* Natalie Portman as Rifka Malone
* Irrfan Khan as Mansuhkhbai
* Orlando Bloom as David Cooler
* Christina Ricci as Camille
* Maggie Q as Janice Taylor
* Ethan Hawke as Writer
* Anton Yelchin as Kane
* James Caan as Mr. Riccoli
* Olivia Thirlby as Mallorie Fish
* Drea de Matteo as Lydia Kault
* Julie Christie as Isabelle Allen
* John Hurt as Waiter
* Shia LaBeouf as Jacob
* U?ur Yücel as Painter
* Carlos Acosta as Dante
* Shu Qi as Woman
* Chris Cooper as Alex Simmons
* Robin Wright Penn as Anna
* Eli Wallach as Abe
* Cloris Leachman as Mitzie
* Blake Lively as Gabrielle
* Jacinda Barrett as Maggie
* Eva Amurri as Sarah
* Justin Bartha as Sarah's Boyfriend
* Burt Young as Landlord
* Sonny Sandoval as George
* Gurdeep Singh as Badal
* Taylor Geare as Teya

About the Author

www.funmovies.tk

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Buying Work Boots to Suit Your Industry

For every worker in an industrial type workplace such as construction, safety is a must! To ensure workers are kept safe from hazardous substances and environments, it is important for them to wear proper protective clothing, equipment and footwear.

Safety work boots provide protection for workers' feet whilst protective clothing protects your body. Safety footwear with kevlar pierce resistant mid-soles protect worker's feet by preventing the penetration of sharp objects, whilst other shoes provide an acid resistant sole. Work boots may also guard you from electrical shocks and hazards. So whether you are working in a chemical company or a steel manufacturing plant, you will need a good set of work boots or shoes to protect you from dangerous substances in the field.

The website workfeet.com.au showcases a wide range of work boots and shoes suited for various conditions and every industry! You will not need to travel from one store to another to find a pair of safety shoes. Rather, all you need to do is go to their website and with just a few clicks you can have the best work boot to protect your feet whilst working. There are different kinds of work boots and it is necessary that you know which one will suit your needs.

Some people may require extra protection from heat whilst others might need protection from extremely cold places. Regular work boots are usually knee length and are used to protect the feet from water, mud and sharp objects. They are made up of different kinds of materials like plastic, steel and high-grade leather to add strength and create durability.

Every pair of work boots is suited for a particular industry and therefore may have varying features. Some of these features include water-resistance, 8 inch laces, fire-resistance, steel-toed, mechanical boots, insulation, soft toed and many others. These are just some of the features that are already found in work boots sold commercially.

More and more safety footwear is being created to include additional safety features and materials to provide extra comfort and protection to the worker. If you are assigned to roam the wildlife or check industrial zones never hesitate to wear work boots because it will let get on with your job without worrying about your feet being injured.

One of the most popular type of work boot is the steel-toed work boot or shoe. Prices may vary depending on the boots functions or features, for example some steel-toed work boots have cushioned lining and water-resistant leather uppers. Men and women can check out workfeet.com.au where they can order and purchase a good set of work boots suited for their needs.

Remember, accidents may happen anytime so the best thing to do is to prevent it by wearing the appropriate work gear for your industry.

About the Author

Online retailer of Work Boots and Safety Boots, including a range of safety boots with bullet proof Kevlar mid-soles. Free shipping Australia wide.

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Thigh High Boots or Shoes Make you More Sexy and Appealing

Women’s shoes and boots: thigh high boots – the latest fashion accessory

Every woman aspires for an appearance that is more urbane and in the process try different things. Many women feel sexier by filling their wardrobe with appealing items like sexy outfits, sexy leather boots, and everything that is sexy and sassy. They prefer over-the-knee boots that gives their personality a sexier look. These are better known as thigh high boots and are considered the most favourite boots of all women.

If you want to appear hot and sensuous, then you should buy thigh high boots or sexy leather boots. However, many of you may not buy thigh high boots, assuming that these types of boots may hide your feminine look. You may also fear the public opinion about these boots. However, if you suppress your desire, it may hamper your personality development. Therefore, without bothering about public opinion, you should buy thigh high boots if you really like them. It is better to buy a pair of thigh high boots than to suppress your cherished dreams.

You can make different choices every time you decide to buy thigh high boots or sexy leather boots. These boots are available in different varieties in the market. You can choose vivid colours such as red, pink, white, and black to appear sexier. It is always good to buy thigh high boots keeping in view your taste of colours. Your hot appeal will soar high if you buy thigh high boots and they will also help you add little fun to your normal life.

Thigh high boots or sexy leather boots are potent items to attract people in parties. You can make yourself look extremely hot and sexy at places by wearing thigh high boots. If you buy black coloured thigh high boots, you can get a commanding authority. Thigh boots will help you to look tall and mighty and thereby add to your persona.

Red colour is a symbol of sex appeal. Many heads may turn towards you when you move around wearing red thigh high boots or sexy leather boots. However, for casual wear, you should prefer pink or white thigh high boots. These colours are suitable for both executives and professional girls. Therefore, do not delay to buy one pair of thigh high boots or sexy leather boots to get a seductive style.

Thigh high boots or sexy leather boots can add spice to your life. You can buy thigh high boots or sexy leather boots online also. This process is quite simple and you can do research about latest trends of thigh high boots or sexy leather boots on the internet while sitting in your home. So browse through different websites that provide information about thigh high boots or sexy leather boots. However, select only those websites for buying thigh high shoes online, which gives you guarantee about their thigh high shoes products. Those online shops, which do not provide guarantee, about their thigh high shoes products, can indulge in selling inferior thigh high boots or sexy leather boots.

About the Author

Webmaster who is associated with SexyShoes would like to present the suggestions and online guide to buy thigh high boots and shoes. Visit Sexyshoes.co.uk for best range latest womens shoes

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The Chain Reaction to Atlas of Creation Continues

Harun Yahya’s (Adnan Oktar) Atlas of Creation has enabled the people of the world to experience true enlightenment in the social and scientific sense. As is clear from the examples given in this article, the impact of this can be seen in many countries, such as France, Belgium and Germany.

Nicholas Sarkozy: Religions Are the Source of All Civilization

The theory of evolution has lost all credibility in France, just as it has in the rest of the world. French politicians, who shaped the education system on a materialist foundation and who had no qualms about imposing this on the public, have finally had to question this approach. The most important reason of this inescapable questioning has been the huge blow dealt to the theory of evolution, the subject of many efforts to keep it alive using false evidence, by works setting out the Fact of Creation.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy recently stated that religious instruction should be resumed in public schools. Sarkozy wrote to all the teachers in the country to mark the start of the new academic year and said that he supported the secularist establishment but that he was opposed to total rejection of religion in French schools. He maintains that the main ideas of the revealed religions should be studied in schools on the sociological, historical and cultural plane. He indicated that the reason for this was that religions were the source of all civilization. He also stated that implementation of this measure would greatly facilitate dialogue between people.1

Prior to the presidential elections in 2007, Sarkozy stated the need for the structure of Islamic moral values based on peace and tolerance to be revived in France. He further maintained that, in the light of that objective, material backing for mosques was not enough, and that France needed to train its own imams.2

Blind belief in Darwin’s outdated theory has begun being questioned by many people in France. The chain impact of the ideological earthquake, as French newspapers described it, caused by Atlas of Creation has now been fully revealed. ( www.harunyahyaimpact.com )

United Nations: The Current Prejudice in regard to Islam Has to Change

Major changes have taken place in the realm of ideas over the last 30 years. The rotten foundations of the atheist philosophy that dominated Europe in particular in the 19th century have finally collapsed, and millions of people on all five continents have rapidly begun turning towards faith. The unfounded and prejudiced views on religion that formed under the guidance of totally atheistic movements have begun to disappear. For example, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said that the prejudiced view in regard to Islam had to change, and European governments were encouraged to take precautions against these attitudes with their ulterior motives. Arbour criticized the biased perspectives in question in these terms:

[Europeans] are shocked at times when it is pointed out that bigotry, prejudice and stereotyping is still sometimes very present in their attitude to others.3

The eradication of the prejudices in minds opposed to religion is, by the will of Allah, one of the signs that Qur’anic moral values will spread in huge waves. Our Lord Allah, the Almighty and Omniscient, has chosen Islam, the true faith, as a mercy on mankind. The following is revealed in one verse of the Qur’an:

… Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My blessing upon you and I am pleased with Islam as a religion for you. … (Surat al-Ma’ida, 3)

It is Allah Who creates human beings and the ideas in their minds. He will eliminate all false systems and ideologies through the power of the true faith in the light of the destiny He appointed. This is a promise revealed in the Qur’an. ( www.riseofislam.com )

Berliner Zeitung: Germans Are Rapidly Converting to Islam

The announcement to the entire world of the collapse of Darwinism has caused people to discover the true facts with regard to creation. Statistics from various countries show that people no longer believe in evolution. According to data in the German daily Berliner Zeitung, 4,000 Germans converted to Islam last year. The figure for 2005 was 1,000. There has been a huge increase in the number of Germans converting to Islam in the wake of September 11. The paper further stated that 60% of converts were women, and that women were complying with the Qur’an usually by conviction.4

In his book Ein Zimmer im Haus des Krieges (A Room in the House of the War), the German writer Christoph Peter describes the German converts to Islam and how people in Europe are feeling a greater interest in Islam with every passing day and changing faith accordingly. In an interview with the German Welt Online news portal, Peter stated his belief that there was in fact enormous agreement between the revealed faiths:

I believe that if a devout Baptist from the U.S. Bible Belt were to sit down with a devout Muslim they would see that they agree on almost all ethical and social issues.5

The widespread adoption of Islamic moral values, as in Germany, will be a means whereby people attain the peace and justice they have longed for down the years. Allah calls His servants to Islam, in other words to peace and security, in the Qur’an:

You who believe! Enter Islam totally. Do not follow in the footsteps of satan. He is an outright enemy to you. (Surat al-Baqara, 208)

References:

1. “President of France calls for religion in schools,” September 6, 2007; http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=10313

2. 05 April 2007, daily Vatan

3. “Reflection on the report of bigotry in Europe,” October 18, 2007; http://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=2948

4. http://eux.tv/article.aspx?articleId=13964

5. http://www.welt.de/politik/article1165396/Konvertiten_und_die_Faszination_des_Islam.html?r=RSS

About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, HARUN YAHYA
Born in Ankara in 1956, Adnan Oktar writes his books under the pen name of Harun Yahya. Ever since his university years, he has dedicated his life to telling of the existence and oneness of Almighty Allah, and to disseminating the moral values of the Qur'an. He has never wavered in the face of difficulties and despite oppression, still continues this intellectual struggle today exhibiting great patience and determination. For mor information pls visit: http://www.harunyahya.com/theauthor.php

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Nursing Pillows Improve Breastfeeding Experience for Mom and Baby

So with so many benefits to be enjoyed why do some mothers choose not to breastfeed? Unfortunately many mothers struggle with breastfeeding for a number of reasons – including having a hard time finding a comfortable position when nursing – especially when using a bedroom pillow or blanket as a nursing pillow.

A well-made nursing pillow can solve many of the issues that mothers experience while breastfeeding. A good nursing pillow will:

• Take tension off of the back, neck and shoulders

• Provide a safe platform for the infant to rest

• Have a rounded design alleviates pressure on the abdomen

• Be made of breathable fabric to prevent overheating or sweating

Professionally Designed Nursing Pillows Provide Support Needed for Comfort

The Baby Bosom Pillow from Luna Lullaby was created with input from experts in the field of pediatrics and lactation counseling in order to provide parents with a pillow specially designed for breastfeeding. This award-winning pillow creates the perfect position for mothers to breast feed and makes the latch-on process much easier for the infant. And the fabric and materials used on our nursing pillow are not only beautiful and soft – but are safe for your infant as well.

Among the important comfort and safety features of a good nursing pillow are:

• The shape of the pillow takes the tension off a nursing mothers neck, back and arms by raising the pillow to breast level – thus allowing mom to physically relax and enjoy a bonding experience.

• A V-shape design in the pillow will allow it to wrap comfortably around almost any tummy and provides a safe platform for your baby.

• Luxuriously soft, breathable and washable fabric is a must have for any baby accessory

• No zippers or slip covers for maximum safety for your infant

• Oversize shape designed to fit most women especially after child birth

Clean Up Convenience for Mom

Many mothers find out quickly enough that babies create a lot of laundry! Feeding an infant by either the breast or bottle can often lead to spills, burps or even spit up. And while some children spit up more often than others you need a nursing pillow that is easy and quick to clean.

The Bosom Baby nursing pillow has a one piece cover that comes off quickly and easily for the wash. These covers are machine washable and do not use zippers which may pose a safety concern for your baby. We recommend keeping an extra slip cover handy for those times when you need to wash your nursing pillow.

Safety Considerations

Safety should be your number one priority especially with young infants and babies. Whatever nursing pillow you consider insist on these safety features:

• NO ZIPPERS, or catches that might pinch or nip the skin

• Covered with a breathable fabric specially designed to prevent overheating and keep both baby and mom cool

• Just the right density of material to prevent the baby from sinking into a “too soft” pillow or rolling off of a “too hard” pillow

• Non-allergenic fabric that won’t irritate delicate skin

Buy Bosom Baby Nursing Pillows from Luna Lullaby

Pediatricians and lactation consultants agree that breastfeeding has many benefits for both mother and child. In addition to creating strong bonds between mother and infant many experts list both physical and mental health benefits among the reasons to breastfeed.

Our nursing pillows are specifically designed to improve your breastfeeding experience by making it more comfortable. We invite you to look at our Bosom Baby Pillow and see the difference between inexpensive, flimsy pillows and a true nursing pillow – designed by women for women with the highest quality materials that your baby deserves.

About the Author

Visit our online store to see shapes, sizes and even a short video about Luna Lullaby products.

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So How Many Platforms Does Maruti Have?

Automotive reporting done by daily newspapers seems to be getting absurder by the day. Most of our reporting relies on 'getting a byte from some senior executive' and then 'weaving a tall tale around it'. There is very little research, no understanding about the functioning of the industry and simply no respect for facts. One of the leading business dailies today reports on Maruti-Suzuki bringing in the SX4 sedan. Nothing wrong in that and the piece seems to be well written till I reach the following paragraph:

"MUL has also brought in its fourth platform with the introduction of the 1.6 litre SX4 sedan, which is pitted against the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, General Motors's Optra and Ford Motor's Escort. This platform will be the base to introduce all MUL's new bigger cars."

WTF???

Isn't the SX4 Maruti's fifth platform? And Ford Escort? That died about a decade back. A tired, overworked writer or one too lazy to check facts?

It gets better further down the story. The writer further claims:

"MUL currently has three platforms. One is used to manufacture the M- 800 and Swift. The Esteem is manufactured from the second platform, and the Alto, WagonR and Zen Estilo, are manufactured from the third."

Manufacturing the micro-sized 800 (of early 80s vintage) and the sub-compact sized Swift (circa 2005) from the same platform is quite an engineering feat for the writer!

The case seems to be a quote by Maruti's MD, Jagdish Khattar, being lost in translation. What he meant:

"All future models will be based on our three existing platforms," as in the Alto platform, the Swift platform and the SX4 platform. The 800 platform and the Esteem-Versa platform are old ones and will die their natural death.

Yet another business daily reported:

"The new SX4 sedan is the third platform added to the stable of Maruti, with one for cars like for Alto and Zen Estillo and WagonR, and another for Swift."

Ummm, you missed the other models.

About the Author

Deepesh Rathore
Research Editor
deepesh.rathore@supplierbusiness.com
For more details on how many platforms maruti visit www.theautodiary.com

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