Book Reading &Review Competition

Book Reading &Review Competition for Book Clubs

Title of the Book: Lullaby- A Collection of Poems & Stories

Category: Poems & Stories

If you are intent to take part and win a $50 Prize here is a chance from The IVT-Press.

Unbelievable???

It is true!

IVT-Press is organizing a Book Review Completion from 10th January -2012 till 30^th January -2012.

How it works?

You will get an opportunity to read and review a Book and post your independent opinion (good or bad) 100-150 word review on Amazon.com.

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Lullaby-Collection-Stories-Bright-Saigal/dp/1257908715/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1326178052&sr=8-4

It is simple and easy.

What will you get?

A $50 Prize and an Author Signed Copy.

First Prize: $50 and a Copy of the Book- Hard Bound. (Author Signed Copy)

Second Prize: $25 and a Copy of the Book- Paper Back. (Author Signed Copy)

How many readers can participate?

No limit.

How to get your Copy for reading and review?

Please send a request to Mike: ivoicetribune@gmail.com

He will E-mail you a Digital Copy of the Title to be reviewed.

Joint Pain - A Serious Problem of Today

Joint Pain - A Serious Problem of Today
By: Medicaux - NY
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, preventing 50 million adults from having an active lifestyle. Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder, causing stiffness and pain in the joints. Osteoarthritis is caused by the growth of bone spurs and degeneration of cartilage in joints. Arthritis commonly occurs in adults over 45. Women develop arthritis more often than men. Based on data gathered by the NHIS, by the year 2030, a projected 67 million adults over the age of 18 will have diagnosed arthritis. Of those 67 million, about 25 million will report a limitation in activity due to arthritis. The most common symptoms of arthritis are tenderness to the touch, swelling or inflammation of the area, a bruised feeling, and/or restriction in movement. All of the symptoms may have several causes. A physical exam, medical history, X-rays, MRIs, bone scans, and urine tests help a doctor diagnose the problem. Another cause of joint pain is bursitis, or inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that cushions bony prominences. These sacs allow muscles and tendons to move freely over the bone. Treatment for bursitis may involve surgery to open the affected joint and drain infected fluid. The most pain common treatments doctors prescribe in the U.S. are non-steroidal anti-inflammatorys (NSAIDS). These quickly relieve pain by reducing swelling and are also analgesic treatments. A common side effect is stomach irritation after use over a couple of days. After extended periods of use, they may cause ulcers, bleeding in the stomach, as well as other gastrointestinal problems. Other drugs commonly used to treat joint pain are corticosteroids. They are administered either orally or by injection directly into the inflamed joints. These drugs can cause lasting and significant side effects. With long-term use, collagen production is affected, which can speed up joint decay. Corticosteroids can also cause dermatitis and acne on the skin, and lead to vast changes in the nervous system. Acufit Foot Mats combine three forms of alternate therapy (acupressure, pyramid, and magnet) that may be beneficial for adults suffering with arthiritis. Energy flows throughout the body in twelve energy channels called meridians. Each one is associated with particular parts of the body. When pressure is applied to critical points, the flow of energy is stimulated, which frees blockages and restores good health. Benefits of Acufit Magnetic Foot Mats A session with an acupuncturist can cost anywhere from $85-$150, but Acufit magnetic mats cost half the price and can be used from the comfort of home for about 5 minutes a day. You have to stand on this and it really uses reflex muscles of the foot. Acupressure therapy releases blocked energy into the body by stimulating acupoints. Traditional Chinese medicine says that imbalance or obstruction in the energy flow of the meridian causes the organ it’s associated with to not function properly. Acupressure is designed to get the energy flow back to normal in the affected meridian and organ so that they may resume normal function.

Maintaining Your Living Room

The living room is the first place that a visitor sees when being welcomed into our homes. It is the gateway to our house and gives the first impression of what can be expected in the rest of the house. If clutter tends to accumulate in your family room, adding a wastebasket can reduce the congestion. Many do not think to place a wastebasket in the family room but they in fact can be very aesthetically pleasing. Select a basket that suits the décor of the room. If food will be placed in the wastebasket, make sure to select one with a lid and deodorized garbage bags.

The family room gets cluttered more because it tends to be the central gathering place in the house. Due to the amount of electronics in the family room, such as televisions, video game consoles, DVD players and surround sound, cords can become entangled and unattractive. You have several options for taming cords. Then most attractive option, in my opinion, is the thin Cableyoyo. It coils up to six feet of cable and comes with adhesive that sticks to most any surface. To increase storage, cubes, rolling baskets or bins can be placed under a table. Behind the sofa is a great place for a trunk, cabinet or low bookcase. A corner can be a great place for a small library or a child's corner for toys. I find that adding wheels the to the child's toy storage keeps them from feeling limited to one area.

A nice décor can add to any living area. Hiring an interior designer can help those who may not be good at decorating themselves. I can create a theme in your living room that comprises all furniture, fixtures, décor, drapery, rugs, lighting and even plants. It's ideal for the living room to be in the east, not southeast corner, or in the north. However, it's more beneficial if the room is in the north side of the house. Any sloping in the flooring of the living room should be towards the east or north. It's important to keep neutral color combinations in order to maintain decorative flow. The color of the walls and the tile shouldn't be white, yellow, blue or green. I find that a neutral feel can also be incorporated by opening up the room and letting in natural light. I designed a wood frame with a gauzy, cream fabric stretched across it for light and privacy. The television should be in the southeast corner. An air conditioning vent should be in the western part of the living room. If you're thinking of adding a fancy chandelier to the room, do not center it but keep it slightly towards the west. A desk can be a great place for paper storage and a computer monitor.

If you want to add texture to your room, I find that adding stripes from ceiling to floor gives depth. I've added banners of inexpensive cloth, like calico, and stapled or battened it at ceiling height at regular intervals along a bare wall and it will add both a lineal and textural addition to the room. One couple I worked with didn't want neutral colors but wanted something calming and uncluttered. I was able to maintain their need by using a pear hue and keeping the room's accent pieces black. I also find working with contrasts gives depth. Some ideas to keep in mind are polished stone against sub linen, rough wood against devour velvet, and wicker against muslin. If you have an extraordinarily geometrical or sharpened rimmed space, using textures to tone and soften is the way to go.

Always consider what you're working with when thinking about an interior designer. If you have inherited an old house along with old furniture and drapes then I may think about sticking to a Victorian-themed interior. The dark colors associated with the Victorian era are romantic and classy. So if you're thinking of a different style interior it may not work well with what you've already got.

If you no longer listen to the music or haven't seen the movie in ages (and don't plan on seeing it again), it's time to let go.

Dining Room Arrangements That Make Magic

A well decorated dining room can really impress guests at a dinner party. It is a room that is always evolving to keep the pace with changing lifestyles. The current trend that will only grow in popularity is the return to a scaled-back, more simplified way of life. The demand for smaller scale furniture is on the rise driven by younger consumers, baby boomers and second home owners.

To create a more glamorous dining area, I would use an elongated chandelier, a lot of glass, and painted furniture embellished with gold. A mirror adds a nice touch and opens the room up. A plain glass table with white leather chairs creates a captivating room. For lighting, I would use ceiling down lights so that it focuses on the table. Don't overdo the lighting because it can hurt the eyes.

For a modern dining room, I find that a simple metallic table with black chairs works wonderfully. Again, I would suggest using ceiling down lighting to focus on the table and soften the surrounding areas. A nice, delicate flower arrangement will complete the look.

Lighting is key in a dining area. It's important to not only have carefully positioned down-lights to bathe the walls in light but also pieces like antique chandeliers or fiber optics set into the glass surface of the table. The background should match the rest of the home, so that it creates a nice flow and consistency.

If you have a small area to work with, there are several ways to give the illusion of a larger space. Large windows and doors allow a lot of sunlight, creating a brighter room. So your window glass now becomes a decorating material. Transparency creates the illusion, as the outer and inner space have no limits. So, the room which once felt cramped, now feels more spacious. Adding glass doors to the entrance way can allow for a larger, more open feel as well. I would use a neutral shade of paint in a smaller room, too.

I always start the decorating of a dining room with painting the walls and skirting boards the same color. Then I measure the room to see what size furniture will fit comfortably. After measuring, it's important to reserve at least 2-2.5 feet of space between the walls and the edge of the table. A round shaped table may not always be suitable in a small space. For rooms that are awkwardly shaped or long and narrow, a bench-like table would be suitable. Also before adding furniture, the color scheme should be taken into consideration. I think of the rug as the first layer to consider, followed by the chair seat covers. When picking out furniture, I always advise people to go with something that is timeless looking.

Some of my favorite looks and pieces for a dining area include; a stone floor, steel banded chairs, a glass top table, a modern metal light fixture, and granite layering the curved buffet. All of the varying textures create a memorable room. For an interesting divider, in a room that's large enough, a water wall fountain can be used.

The way the room and furniture is positioned is very important to its appeal. A dining area should not be adjacent to a bathroom. A console or buffet used for storage of crockery and utensils should be on the southern or western wall. Ideally, the room itself would be in the western corner of the house as morning sunshine is good for your health. Should you decide to place a refridgerator in the room, it should be facing southeast.

When you are ready for a Baby Photo Contest

Baby Got Shot: Photography Contest
Do you think your baby boy/girl has what it takes to be entered into a photo contest? Well if you answered yes then by all means grab a hold of your camera and shoot, shoot, shoot!
But there some guidelines you should of course follow, for instant do not under any type of circumstances upload a nude or even semi-nude photo of your child in any way possible. The baby photo judges are often looking at the camera look for close up facial expression shots that are truly eye catching. This contest being aimed towards a particular holiday or special event, so be sure to fit it well to the theme. Thus the picture shot and submitted should leave the judges completely speechless, allowing it to jump out at them if you will.
Now being creative can coax that particular "magic moment" that's currently happening, but for instance take your baby out to the park for a ride on the swing set - there's nothing more beautiful than to see a smile shine brightly upon that child's face while they're enjoying the time of their life.
Pictures that have a background will be fine, but the main focus is upon the child. Be sure that the lighting is good, and the deliberate soft focus works well, while some images become carelessly blurry or blog effective that do not go into the winning rankings. If your children are twins or triplets, that can be a difficult task but you can mix-match the pair or combination quite easily - by dressing them in different outfits or the same attire in different colors! Make the results for the judges as easy as possible, by keeping the pictures plain and simple, need be the ones where your baby is smiling brightly, good idea would be to get your child to pose for the picture if possible or just grab for the moment you never know what could happen.
You may need a profession photographer to get the job done, but the rules don’t say you need one. Note no professional photos are allowed. Do not allow studio photos as submissions, i.e. Wal-mart, JC Penny, etc. If you do upload a photo such as these, that will not be accepted let alone judged. Send in a shot that YOU took of your child it will be a lot more meaningful. Some other good guidelines to keep the picture in focus is to ensure that your child is alone in the picture obviously, as with every contest, every judge has their own preferences, look at part entries and you'll get the idea of what those preferences are. Photos with props are adorable, but not always suitable for baby contexts. Props that hide the baby's face make it a lot harder for the judges to see the "true" beauty of your baby.
Some tips pictures of kids in grownup’s clothing is always a great hit to strike, shooting the eye level of your child makes the image appear a lot more enticing and expressive. These judges and modeling agencies are quite often looking for the "happy smiling babies" and hence a good temperament is a must have. Do not let your photos get lost purely due to the size of quality - try to even it all out by entering the largest image allowed. A winner will be chosen from each of the categories: Baby (0-12 months), Toddler (12-24 months), Preschooler (2-4 years), and Big Kid (4-8 years).
Judges may often pick various themes and make the whole situation a more relaxed atmosphere, altogether - the entry date requirements, (images sizes, formats, model releases) are often broken. The wonderful wit of love and spontaneous for the cute baby photo shot should aim towards the happier moments if not funny baby shots making the judges that more eager to place them right into the main page! Be sure to include correct information when entering and don't add too much makeup or attempts to make the child appear "adult-like" this is not advisable. Your camera should have a high shutter speed avoiding taking blurry shots digital cameras are the best outlet.

Dining Room Renovation

Dining Room Renovation

By: Kosi Durueke
Editor: Natalie Perez

It was on a cool Saturday night, my wife and 2 kids went on a holiday and were to come back in the one week. I was all alone in the house that night so I prepared a garden egg stew served with ripped boiled plantain, which has always been one of my all time favorites. That Saturday night was full of fun, as I enjoyed the wonderful dinner I have made for myself. At the same time I was also enjoying one of the hits of the Islay Brothers, which had put me to be calm and relaxed. Then an unexpected event occurred. Suddenly, the dining on which I was sitting, eating and enjoying myself broke, and everything on it poured away including myself who was then on the floor.
My face was looking like one that went stiffly. The fun that I was enjoying suddenly turned into sorrow. How sad! Truly sad for a young man whom was having a good time. I thought to myself, what must have caused the dining table to break? Just like that - but could not think anything positive at the moment so I stopped jogging my memory. As I went to have my sleep and as I was lying on my bed, I got an insight… something positive struck my min. So I decided to use that as an opportunity to welcome back my beautiful wife and kids. I planned on renovating our dining room totally different so that it will look spick and span (smart and clean).
Firstly, I said to myself that the dining room that was going to be renovated. It would not only be a place for my family and me to congregate, but to eat as it was before. The new dining room was going to be spacious so that it could accommodate quite a number of people. Secondly, I started to pick and choose (select carefully) the things needed to be in my new dining room, that was going to be renovated. After that, I started evaluating their cost and putting them under consideration. I finally came out with all that were needed to make my dining room look simple yet beautiful.
In my dining area, I put in a new solid mahogany table with three leaves that can seat up to ten people, and dining room chairs backed with the same starburst patterned fabric I used on the daybed. I then put up a wall of open cabinetry that will showcase fabulous china and crystal. I put up gorgeous linen damask panels with some light sheers to let in the natural light. To further lighten things up, I hung a traditional crystal chandelier in the dining room and two mini chandeliers near the front door, and put in some small ceiling lights and under cabinet puck lights. After adding a few more details and accessories, this grand-scale dining room renovation was complete. By opening things up, mixing modern features with traditional touches and making the spaces more conducive for entertainment. Finally, my dining room was set and looking exquisite.

Colorado Divorce Law Provisions

Colorado Divorce Law Provisions
To file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in Colorado, one determines whether the District Court has jurisdiction over the case. If so, the filing may be made. Although ten to twenty other documents may be filed, the primary documents involved are the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and the Decree of Dissolution of Marriage. These documents are required to begin and to finalize the dissolution.
It is only a concern for the spouse who has moved or is planning on moving that they meet the Colorado residency requirements. Both parties must make a sworn statement disclosing all personal assets to one another. An automatic temporary restraining order prevents each spouse from getting rid of any property prior to the issue of the Decree of Dissolution. When no minor children are involved and the wife is not pregnant, dissolution of marriage can be obtained by an affidavit by one or both spouses. Or, if both parties are represented and are in agreement of granting custody and child support, then it can be issued. There are to be no disputes and no marital property, otherwise they must agree to the division of the property. The spouse that did not file has to have been served the dissolution papers, and a signed affidavit stating the facts of the case must be filed with the Petition.
The court can take the dissolution if it finds that one of the parties has been domiciled in the state for ninety days prior to the start of the proceeding. The couple must file in the county where they reside. Grounds for filing are that the marital relationship is not able to continue because of discord and/or conflict. If one parent is considered a danger to the children, the other parent will have a considerable say in the placement of the children and parenting time. The court allows for joint decision-making only when it finds that both parties are able to come to a decision about the child/children without confrontation.
The grounds for dissolution must have substantiated evidence or testimony. If not, the court may dismiss the case. A court maintenance order considers the financial resources of the party looking for support, the time needed for training or education to find employment, the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, the age, and the physical or emotional condition of the seeking spouse. So is the ability of the supporting spouse to meet their needs as well as the others.
The Petition can be filed singly or jointly, and separate forms apply for those with children and those without. The Case Information Sheet is required in many counties, and it summarizes the case’s facts. The Summons for Dissolution of Marriage is required if the two parties are not filing jointly. The spouse that does not file is given 20 days to respond or 30 days if they do not reside in Colorado. The Waiver and Acceptance of Service are used when the Respondent agrees to accept the Petition without a notification or summons. It also certifies that the Respondent is not entitled to protection from the Service Members Civil Relief Act. Under the law, when a respondent signs the Waiver, they agree to an uncontested divorce.
Child support is called maintenance. Maintenance ends when either death or remarriage occurs, unless stated otherwise. It may be ordered to be paid for an indefinite amount of time, for a fixed time period, or on a temporary basis while the case is pending. Maintenance of the child continues until emancipation, until graduation from high school, or it can continue beyond the age of nineteen if the child is physically or mentally disabled. Postsecondary education support may be ordered on both parents. And, if the court determines continual and substantial changes in the parent or child’s circumstances, a new order for maintenance can be made.
A nonvested military pension is held as marital property and is based on the amount available when the pension holder retires, not at the time of the divorce. Also, divorce does not end the debt liability of both parties, even if one spouse is ordered to pay. If the responsible party fails to pay the joint debt or goes bankrupt, the creditor will come after the other spouse.

How to do your own PR?

You have started a company, but you don't have funds to hire a PR-Company or a publicist. You don't have any connections in media houses or in the corporate world to push information about your company to the public. You need affordable and effective PR to kick-start your company, but what can you do? For the time being, be your own PR person!
In a Nutshell
To build a solid client base, gain the attention of prospective buyers through third-party endorsements, join social networking websites, and promote and maintain a positive and persistent press image.
Third-Party Endorsements—Better than Advertising
Before choosing to do business with your company, the market needs to know who you are and what you can provide or do for them. An effective and time-honored way to attract customers is to tell stories about what your company has done to solve the market's same or similar problems. Third-party endorsements carry the persuasion of human interest and the credibility of objective news, they often work better than paid advertising, and they can be published in print and electronic media. To promote this type of business-generating publicity, you must develop genuine, cordial relationships with journalists. Being honest, forthright, and personable lets reporters know the company's officer is approachable.
Become Familiar with Journalists and Editors
Help journalists and editors who cover your line of business understand the issues of the industry you're an expert in to encourage them to promote you and your business. Read their articles and public responses to their work. Ask editors if your story has been assigned and how to go about contacting writers directly with information and leads. As you promote your agenda, be sure to remember that journalists need time to prepare adequate articles for publication.
Get Involved Locally and Join Social Networking Websites
Journalists in smaller media outlets are often involved with community activities. Investing time and energy in community efforts will likely spawn the sort of relationships with the press that can further your business. Marketing through online communities can also forge relationships and bring awareness to your brand. Link websites to blogs and pages to provide access your company information.
Organize Networking Dinners
Look into public relations firms and find out who they've represented and how much they charge for services. But also consider organizing networking dinners to make connections with bloggers, journalists, and public relations groups. A year's worth of networking dinners may cost about the same as a month of PR work.
Reality Check
Although it's easy to become frustrated when dealing with the media, success requires devotion of time and an uncompromising belief in your idea. Weekends, vacations, and lunch breaks are rare luxuries while trying to attract the attention of journalists and prospects. Patience and tranquility play a key role. But as you begin to see your efforts creating results, the pinch of grueling hours and sleepless nights will become a distant memory. Positive thinking combined with quality products and services will bring your company business by word-of-mouth. Repeat customers confident in your company's abilities will bring you the success and future stability you have worked so hard to achieve.