We’re fast. We’re good. We are Express.

May 27, 2007

Soccer Team Strategies With the 3-4-3 System of Positional Set Up

3-4-3,
Defense;
3, defenders,

These three are very confident that they can handle a lone striker or two forwards. They are also reliant on a good defensive midfield.

On the attack these players will play wide positions. On the defense these players will be more compact and allow the outside midfields to aid in the wider positions.

At times the inside mid-fielders will “show” for the ball. This creates an additional attack from the centre of the pitch as the mid-fielders become out-let players.

They are trying to convert the play by maintaining possession.

When there are only 4 midfielders the attitude is to feed the 3 strikers with the long ball from the back.

Midfield

4, mid-fielders are usually arranged as outside left, inside left, inside right and outside right.

The outside players are called, wingers or flank players and are also involved in striking the goal.

This would make this line up have a possibility of 4 strikers at any given time.

These wingers usually have the bulk of the running to do as they could carry the ball from the defending third and into the attacking third.

This also depends on the team strategy as outlined by the coaching staff.

The two inside mid-fielders are supposed to be the “play makers”.

These are the individuals who are responsible for carrying out the plans the coach and players have designed and used as the methods of attack and goal scoring.

These positions have traditionally played these roles. However nowadays the play making comes from anyone and sometimes all the players at any given time.

These inside players have also been more defensive in their general on field play.

This defensive idea is to stop the opposition from creating attacking options.

They will then gain possession of the ball and and mount an immediate attack through their play making abilities.

Forwards

3, forwards,This is the first time in any formations that we discuss the possibility of three strikers.

This is a team who definitely has goal scoring in mind first.

They want to put pressure on their opponents by having a greater numerical advantage while attacking.

This team also forces the opposition to become more defensive. This is a tactical of aggression from this team.

Ringtones

May 26, 2007

Electronics: Newer, Faster, Better

When it comes to electronics, newer, faster, and better models of everything from computer processors to cellular phones appear at least every six months. The evolution of technology means manufacturers are incorporating more features and more power into virtually every type of consumer electronics. When you’re in the market for consumer electronics – whether for yourself or as a gift idea for someone else – the question becomes, do you need to buy the latest and greatest?

As an example, let’s take a look at digital cameras. Virtually everyone is making the switch – if they haven’t already – from film to digital. Seven mega-pixel digital cameras are everywhere, and single lens reflex digital cameras are poised to dramatically drop in price within the next twelve months. With the dozens, if not hundreds, of models from which to choose, does it make sense to buy a top of the line digital camera?

Not necessarily. The type of digital camera you need depends on how you’re planning to use it. If you primarily use a camera on vacations or while traveling, the most important feature might be the weight of the camera. The ultra-thin, lightweight digital cameras now on the market may not have all of the features of their heavier counterparts, but they’re perfect to stick in your shirt pocket and pull out at a moment’s notice.

If you take most of your pictures outdoors, an LCD screen with backlighting – and a viewfinder – might be the most important feature for your needs. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to see what you’re shooting. On the other hand, if you primarily use your camera indoors, a red-eye reduction feature is a must-have. If you want to use your camera at your child’s soccer games, a digital camera that allows you to take short movies might be perfect for you.

You also need to consider how you’ll be using the camera when it comes to selecting the appropriate picture resolution. Most people don’t really need a seven mega-pixel camera; and you definitely don’t need one if all you’re going to do with the pictures is view them on your computer monitor or post them online.

Unlike jewelry, where more is almost always better, consumer electronics don’t need to have every single feature in order to be useful. Let’s face it: most of us only use a fraction of the power and features in our computers and software. So, when we’re buying consumer electronics, it’s important to think through which features we’ll use and which are extras that add to the price but not the value.

The Departed

May 25, 2007

Copywriting’s Free First Step – The Home-Based Writer’s Guide

Whether you have a full-time job or spend much of your time raising your children, there’s no doubt that a little extra cash can come in handy. There are many freelance and part-time opportunities that can prove to be fruitful. On the other hand, many of those opportunities may seem enticing, but ultimately provide little money. If you’ve ever had a passion for the written word, whether it be college courses in journalism, a collection of short stories in your journal, or a daily blog you like to update, then you can bypass many of the part-time offers and head straight to the top. Dabbling in freelance copywriting is one of the most effective ways to earn extra cash – and you get to indulge your passion for writing at the same time!

What’s involved with being a freelance copywriting? Let’s break it down. Copywriting means literally writing copy. This generally means marketing copy, but can touch on a variety of areas, including ghostwriting, technical writing, and press releases.

As for the freelancer part, freelancing is both a blessing and a curse. As a freelancer, you have the freedom to pick and choose projects as you please, control your schedule, and control your rates. Of course, the other side of that is that you must search for work. However, if you’re only looking for a part-time situation that earns you extra money, freelancing is a smart way to go.

Now here’s the secret – why is freelance copywriting so lucrative? Think of the many part-time work-at-home opportunities you hear about. Most likely, it’s telemarketing or some other task that only pays $15 – $20 an hour, if that. With copywriting, you can start at $50 per hour and no one will wince.

Now do you understand why writers have a big advantage in the world of work-at-home business? Just one project could pay for an entire week’s groceries while on big project can pay a weekend getaway. Aren’t you glad you took all those writing classes in college now?

Of course, the question remains: how does one learn what works and what doesn’t work in copywriting? After all, you can’t jump into the copywriting pool without knowing your stuff, regardless of how good your writing skills are. The best way to learn is from example. Guess what? Examples are everywhere around you!

Think of every brochure you’ve looked at. Think of every billboard or magazine ad you’ve seen. Think of all of those websites you visit everyday. Chances are, there’s been a time when you’ve read the writing on those items and thought, “I could do better! There are so many mistakes on there!”

This is your free classroom. You can learn what works and what doesn’t work in freelance copywriting simply by taking in the world around you. Be mindful of what grabs you and what doesn’t grab you with brochures, sales letters, direct mail, ad copy, and website writing. You’ll soon notice a pattern of what is good and what is bad. Here’s a hint – selling with honest facts beats hype hands down every time. Little spices such as clever humor and fancy wordplay never hurt either, as long as they fit the situation.

By noticing that the world around you can teach you the beginning lessons of freelance copywriting, you’ve already taken the first steps to a lucrative new side career. Best of all, this classroom is free. All you need to do is to take the time to notice and learn from everything you see and read. Once you begin to see the patterns of success, you’re on your way to launching your freelance copywriting journey.

For more about the next steps in a freelance copywriting career, including finding clients and building a portfolio, download Make Money Writing!, available at http://www.makemoneywriting.biz, by freelance copywriter Mike Chen.

Learn SEO

May 23, 2007

Creative Real Estate Investment

An example of creative real estate investment? When I was young, I had a job that paid $3.40 an hour, and I somehow saved enough to buy my first piece of real estate – 2 acres near where I lived. It cost $3,500.

I spent a few hours removing brush, outlined a driveway with logs, and hand painted a sign. Two weeks after I bought it I sold the land for $4,750, with $250 down, $100 per month, at 11% interest. With the capital gain, my annual return on investment was over 20%. This was my first real estate investment.

Creative Real Estate Investment – The Key

I bought the land cheap, because the seller needed fast cash. I solved his problem. I sold the land higher than the market value because the buyer needed easy terms. Second problem solved. Solving problems is the key to creative real estate investment.

Cell phone companies, radio stations, police departments and others need hill tops for their towers. The problem is that they can’t tie up their capital buying them. One creative investor found a way to solve their problem.

He got six month options on hill top properties for a few hundred dollars. Then, when he found those who needed them, he would get a long term lease signed. They built the tower themselves, of course. With a lease in hand, it was easy to get financing to exercise the option and buy the properties. He invested a few hundred dollars to create years of income.

Trees are needed by lumber mills. A friend of mine solved this problem by letting a company cut half the trees on his small property. They paid $4,500, and I couldn’t see the difference when they were done. The property was worth as much the day after the cut as the day before. My friend lived there, but a creative investor could buy property like his, sell half the trees, maybe clay or gravel too, and then re-sell the land.

To solve problems, you have to figure out what they are. Do people need easy terms? Cleared lots? Lumber? Better access to a piece of property? Smaller pieces of land? Condos instead of apartments? The list could go on. Just remember that solving problems is the key to creative real estate investment.

Internet Marketing

May 22, 2007

Is Troy Aikman a Hall of Famer?

For the first time since 2001, a full compliment of six players was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I’m 45 and was able to see and remember each during his career. In my opinion, four selections are solid (Reggie White, Warren Moon, John Madden, Rayfield Wright), one leaves me ambivalent (Harry Carson), and then there’s Troy Aikman.

Reggie White was the most dominant defensive lineman of his era and retired with most sacks (198) in NFL history at the time. The “Minister of Defense” started in the USFL but in his 15 year NFL career went to 13 Pro Bowls. No Brainer.

Madden and Wright were senior-committee selections and both have merit. Madden has the highest winning percentage (.759) of ANY coach with 100 wins and won a Super Bowl, probably long overdue. Rayfield Wright was considered the “linchpin” of the offensive line for the great Cowboy teams of the 70’s – no problem there.

Warren Moon’s NFL numbers are staggering. His CFL/NFL numbers are mindboggling! In 23 years of organized football, Warren Moon threw for 72,184 yards and 457 touchdowns, 51.061 and 313 in the NFL. By comparison, Dan Marino finished with 61,361 and 420. The hall didn’t hold Moon’s vagabond final years and lack of Super Bowl ring against him.

Harry Carson in my eyes was one of the parts of the sum in that great “Wrecking Crew” defense of the Giants Parcell’s Giant era. Lawrence Taylor deservedly got all the pub but lets not forget that Brian Kelly and Brad van Pelt were both excellent linebackers and Jim Burt and Leonard Marshall vastly underrated defensive linemen. Nitschke, Butkus, Lambert, Carson ???

Troy Aikman’s career stats: 61.5%, 32,942 yards, 165 TDs, 145 Ints, QB rating of 81.6

There have been six other quarterbacks inducted into the Hall of Fame since 2000 (Montana, Kelly, Elway. Marino, Young, and Moon), and everyone’s number other than Steve Young’s dwarf Troy Aikman’s. So lets start with Steve Young.

Steve Young is another I would consider good but not great yet compared to Aikman, Young is first ballot. Despite spending half his career in the USFL, Tampa bay, hurt, or sitting behind Montana, Young still threw for slight more yardage and 67 more touchdowns than Aikman. Young could also hurt you with his legs rushing for 4238 yards at 5.9 yards per carry with an additional 33 touchdowns.

Of the seven, Aikman’s completion percentage is lower than all but Kelly (60.1%) and Moon (NFL number 58.4%). Aikman’s 165 touchdowns pales in comparison to everyone else’s 237+. The others all threw for 40,000 plus yards and only Moon (80.1) and Elway (79.9) had lower quarterback ratings.

Call me old school but I think the Hall of Fame should be reserved for the truly greats of the game. I realize that HOF criteria is not strictly numbers based and involves many intangibles including leadership and winning but Troy Aikman was clearly not great. This is an argument generally reserved for baseball but applicable here.

Let’s look at some players that are coming up soon, just retired or will retire soon. Most I consider good but not great. Perhaps the closest analogy to Aikman is Scotty Pippin, decent numbers, 6 championships, Does he deserve to get in ??? In my eyes – No/Maybe. Regardless of situation, ANWHERE, Scotty Pippin was good 17/9 player that played excellent defense. He’s a slam dunk to go but if on fringe, the defense would send him through.

Jerome Bettis. The Bus. He’s top 10 rushing all-time but if Steeler’s hadn’t won, where’s Jerome. Does he deserve to go? A marginal yes, Will he get in? Maybe down the line during a thin year. Could anybody in good conscience mention his name in the same breath as Earl Campbell. I don’t think so.

Baseball is the most fun. In an age of Roids and Juiced balls, how about these guys, Juan Gonzalez (420+ HR’s), Jeff Bagwell (430+ HR’s), Tom Glavine (260 wins), Frank Thomas (420+ HR’s). Cobb, Ruth, DiMaggio, Aaron, Bagwell. Rolls right off your tongue doesn’t it

A lot of great players get dogged about their careers for not winning a championship, Ted Williams, Dan Marino, Maravich, Barkley, and Karl Malone. Some get dogged for not winning enough, Wilt Chamberlain. There are lots of good players considered great because they won and in this instance, Troy Aikman can step to the head of the class.

Affiliate Marketing

May 21, 2007

Gnash of the Titans

The Winter Olympics and America seem only to be fair weather friends …

Underwhelming television ratings for the recently completed games in Turin indicate that the USA is only inclined to watch when their athletes are winning. Specifically, they watch when they expect to see certain athletes winning. Those would be the athletes who have been heavily hyped in the run-up to the Games.

Two examples of this point are skater Nancy Kwan and skiier Bode Miller. Both are definitely capable of winning any competition they enter. Both were considered favorites to earn medals in Turin. As a result, both experienced extensive publicity campaigns that were not of their own making. Both, however, failed to meet expectations; Kwan had to withdraw from her competition due to injury and Miller’s medal chase went 0-for-5 in his events.

NBC Sports, holder of the American broadcast rights, was left with a star-crossed presentation. The spectre of total failure is not ‘must see’ TV.

This is one of the primary differences between how the Olympics are perceived in the USA as opposed to the rest of the world. Perhaps it’s a holdover from the Cold War, when the Soviets and Americans actually believed a superior medal count proved a superior socio-economic system. Even though the Soviet lie was ultimately proved via populism, it’s possible the Americans never did change their mindset.

Winning has an important place in life, not just in the USA, but everywhere. So does coping with loss. That is not the key here. Neither is the fact that the American way is littered with overzealous win-at-all-cost Little League coaches, sports-meddling dads and stage moms.

The important delineation of note is that, in the USA, it’s vital as to who wins. Star power is amplified by the American media. This factor, for example, is what took the National Basketball Association from a sporting afterthought whose championship series was broadcast on a late-night tape-delay basis as recently as the late 1970s to a media spectacle in the early 1980s. That’s when the league decided to focus on two new talents, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, promoting them instead of their teams.

It worked.

It worked even better when Michael Jordan followed them.

Still, these are exceptional athletes who don’t come around that often. When their careers are over, it’s rare when another exceptional athlete is there to replace them. There is usually a cotillion of pretenders, but they prove to be just that.

Ask the NBA.

They’ve attempted to promote others, but the general public is wise enough to discern the difference between ‘exceptional’ and ‘talented enough to be a professional.’ So, the focus on star power now has NBA ratings in decline. They’ve been hoisted on their own petard, so to speak.

In the duration, though, other sports in the USA noted the NBA’s initial success and attempted to emulate it by promoting star power of their own. The practice of putting a name forward became a foundation of almost every national publicity campaign for sporting endeavors. Logically, it was something to which the American sporting public became accustomed.

In events such as the Olympics, where not every sport listed is a household thought in the USA, it’s clear that NBC felt a strong need to insert star power. Their secondary tactic was similar and successful to an extent in previous years, namely, focus on a human interest story to emotionally attach the viewer to a participant. Ultimately, though, there will be more regular-life athletes getting medals than those who overcame obstacles in their lives.

Other countries — even ‘winter’ nations such as Canada, Russia and the Scandinavians — emphasize the competition over the competitors. They appreciate the skill of the sport. Television ratings throughout Europe were excellent, with only the Germans amassing a large medal haul (they were the overall winners in that category, incidentally). They took note of stars, of course, but it mattered little that those stars were from other countries. They took serious pride in their own stars, of course, but recognized them as a part of a bigger picture rather than that picture serving as a backdrop for them.

It’s not only a refreshing difference, but a logical one. Especially when a network needs to cover the rights fees being charged by the Olympic movement.

NBC Sports has announced it will show a profit on its Turin package, most probably because much of the advertising was pre-sold with little provision for ratings-influenced price fluctuations. That tactic worked because of the American success in the previous Winter Games; coincidentally, they were held in Salt Lake City. It may not be so effective for their 2010 Winter Games package when the current ratings are pushed back in their face.

The NBC coverage in Turin excellent from a presentation standpoint. They used the cable networks in their stable — CNBC, MSNBC and USA — to great extent, so if one wanted to watch a particular event, odds were that it was being shown somewhere. The only drawback was, these events were not promoted nearly as well as the perceived ‘star power’ attractions. Only a devotee would seek the coverage. That is not a strategy that optimizes strong viewership.

The American media has conditioned its public to expecting charasmatic competition. The Olympic movement expects spirited competition. The American networks groan when smaller-market teams advance to a championship series; they’d prefer a New York – Los Angeles meeting any day. The Olympic movement rejoices when smaller-country teams achieve such a standing; Sweden-vs-Finland in the men’s hockey final sent ratings through the roof in those countries, but it did well in most other nations, too, as the game itself was nothing short of spectacular in both drama and skill.

It’s already clear that this era will be known in history as the CyberCentury. The world is more accessible to everyone more than ever before. It only makes sense that viewer interest can expand beyond the parameters of star power to the entire experience of a competition. Other countries’ media have always known this. Manchester United, for example, is still a major draw without David Beckham, and when he ultimately moves from Real Madrid, the same will be said again.

When the American media re-discovers that it’s the competition — not just the star competitors — that make sports attractive to viewers, the Winter Olympics will once again enjoy a resurgence of ratings popularity in the USA. Such a realization would be a welcome breath of fresh air, even during those winter days when you can see it.

Adult Diapers

May 20, 2007

Reaching Your Potential

In today’s pressured world, many teens are afraid to fail—and even—afraid to succeed. They don’t want to stick out, whether for good or bad. They want to be accepted, and just ‘fit in.’ This type of mentality will lead you nowhere but the path to mediocrity—and that is nothing to be proud of or content with. As Douglas Malloch so aptly wrote:

If you can’t be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can’t be the sun be a star;
It isn’t by size that you win or you fail-
Be the best of whatever you are!

Each of us have different talents and different abilities, so don’t get me wrong—it’s not about being the best—but rather about being the best YOU can personally become. The hockey great Wayne Gretzky has said “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Think about that. If you don’t try, you have a 0% chance of success! But if you put all your heart into something, and work hard, you can and will succeed in whatever you will. And if it turns out your best wasn’t good enough—then at least you tried—and will have no regrets and no wonders of ‘what could have been.’ The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them, into the impossible.

With that in mind, let me share with you what basketball legend Michael Jordan has said:

“I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot… and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why… I succeed.”

So from one teen to another: I encourage you to do today what others won’t, to have tomorrow what others never will…And never be afraid to fail!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

May 19, 2007

Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations are those bits of positive thoughts, ideas, and statements, which are consistently repeated to yourself over a period of time, to implant them in your mind as a future source of inspiration for achieving personal growth and happiness. When you embed these positive thoughts into your subconscious mind, you’ll be guided and assisted by those bits of positive information, in a preset direction to achieve future goals. Most of us are born with negative attitudes and undesirable traits, and in the course of time, we may also develop additional negative aspects as a result of the environment around us. By using positive affirmations, you can get rid of those negative thoughts and perceptions and replace them with positive traits and other beneficial parameters.

Positive affirmations help us in many ways like:

1. We can be our own guide to instruct our mind and body to act in a predefined manner. This helps us to control our own destiny and life.
2. We can also break all obstacles and barriers, which are standing between us and our future goals.
3. By positive affirmations, we can easily focus on our goals and achieve the impossible.
4. Positive affirmations also make us better persons and empower us with a better personality, which is socially acceptable.
5. We can also overcome fear of failure; instead ensure mental toughness to achieve our goals.

Though positive affirmations may not give you all that you wanted in your life, you can still create a favorable ambience, in which you can find fresh opportunities to get success in life. Though you can not become a super human being, you can still be confident, authoritative, self sustaining, and socially responsible. Another added bonus is your ability to lead a life of good habits and nice mannerisms.

There are many methods by which we can write our own positive affirmations:

1. Always create a text of positive affirmations, which is directly related to your problems.
2. Use these scripts regularly to embed them into your subconscious mind. Preferably it must be a part of your life in the future.
3. Create a handy script note of all positive affirmations you want to talk to yourself. Carry that list with you wherever you go.
4. Start and end your day with those positive affirmations; it is always better to recite them whenever you find time.
5. Let your positive affirmations be simple and straight, with simple but powerful words.
6. Never use negative words in your positive affirmations.
7. Be personal and add a tinge of emotions to your positive affirmations. Being emotional helps you to achieve your goals in a quick time.
8. Visualize the outcome, as you recite your lines of positive affirmation. Act as if you have already reached your goals.

Whatever you do, never stop reciting those beautiful words of positive affirmations; this may help you even, if you do not have any goals to achieve in the future. There are countless ways of taking the control of your life, but positive affirmations are perhaps the most authentic method to create a good person out of you.

Teeth Whitening

May 18, 2007

Salespeople Stay On Message!

You’ve heard the phrase in numerous dramatic programs about politics.

A public figure is delivering a talk or being interviewed, and one of his handlers, remarks with alarm: “He’s off message!”

What this means is he is wandering into dangerous verbal territory, or falling into a trap that has been set by a wily and hostile interviewer or by a heckler.

The same thing afflicts salespeople: It’s easy for us to wander from our main talking points, whether they’re features and benefits or the customer’s needs, into perilous territory, about which we know little, but don’t refrain from offering an opinion about it.

The non-technical seller who shoots from the hip, instead of calling his own help desk for support regarding a technical question, is off message.

The ex-jock who insists on telling the Notre Dame alum that USC has a better football tradition, is way, way, way off message!

So, what can you do when you’re irresistibly enticed to stray from the proven path?

Do as politicians do. Bridge back to your main message by saying, “I’m glad you brought that up because it reminds me of” something relevant to the sales talk!

Do this check-up from the neck up, as Zig Ziglar might call it. Ask yourself, when you sense you’re getting far astray, am I on message or off?

Then get back to your main point!

Growing Up – Again