3 Successful Goal Setting Strategies That Never Fail

Goal setting is an easy process; all you have to do is to write down what you want to achieve in a piece of paper and paste it somewhere you can see often. Although that this is an easy process, you will be amazed how many people are actually doing this. The lack of commitment to follow through is one of the common reasons people fail to achieve their goals.

Another big common reason is that most people never do what they suppose to do after they have set their goal. You should know that it is what you do after you have set your goal that will bring you to your success. If you are not doing anything after you have set your goals, nothing is going to happen.

Below are the 3 successful goal setting strategies that you must do them right after you have set your goals. If you follow through, you will guarantee to achieve your goals...

1. Affirm your goals every night and visualize about the achievement of your goals. You need to sink the idea into your subconscious mind and at the same time, motivate yourself to achieve it. By doing so, you are constantly motivating yourself into taking more action. Remember, it is the action that you take that will make your goal come true.

2. Take at least 3 actions that will bring you toward your goal everyday. For example, if your goal is to become a real-estate millionaire, the actions that you can take are like doing market research, looking for deals, read to improve, making calls to prospects and many more. Goal setting is not a magic wand; you will never achieve your goal if you are not doing anything.

3. Make a public commitment by telling everyone about your goal. If you do so, you will leave yourself no alternative but to achieve your goal. Some of your friends may laugh at you if you tell them that you are going to be a real-estate millionaire, but so what? Turn their negative force into positive motivation that propels you into taking action.

By following through these 3 successful goal setting strategies that never fail, I believe that you will definitely achieve your goal. Remember, success is about getting things done.

If you are serious in achieving what you really want in your life, goal setting is the right tool for you. I'm going to share with you the 3 phases of Goal Setting Activities, you are about to discover the real and guaranteed strategies how to achieve your goals

For more information about Goal Setting Activities, please visit: http://www.Goal-Setting-Activities.com

Separating From God

If you quit going to church or your place of worship, would you feel like you are separating your self from the congregation, the people that go to church with you, or do you feel like you would actually be separating from God somehow. I believe some people think that God is actually in the church and if they were to quit going to church, they would actually lose a direct link to God. Most people believe what they are told and follow their leaders.

If you're a Christian, can you answer me this, What Church Did Jesus Belonged to? Was he a Catholic, Protestant, evangelical or some other form of Christianity, maybe, just maybe he believed in a different religion altogether. I often wonder if Jesus was a Buddhist or he learned something magical from the Egyptians. It's said that Jesus traveled to other countries, do you think it's possible that he learned some sort of ancient wisdom from a man or woman, instead of being born God.

Is this how he was able to perform the miracles written about after his death?

Jesus supposedly studied the Torah and was considered to be Jewish, but was he really. While Jesus was studying the Torah, did he gain knowledge and wisdom, or was he actually born knowing everything. How can we actually prove that Jesus knew everything?

Does it say anywhere in the New Testament about going to church on Sunday, when Sabbath is actually Friday evening or Friday at sunset to Saturday at sunset. Have you ever thought about why they switched days. The God from the Old Testament seem to get pretty mad if anyone did anything on the Sabbath, which was Saturday. One person decided that it would be better to go to church on Sunday and now we call it the Lord's Day. What really happened to the Sabbath?

It often gets a little more confusing, the more conscious effort you put into educating yourself about your religion and others throughout the world.

People often assume that I have separated from God somehow and could be going to hell, because I write some of these articles. I'm hoping that you will do a little more research about your religion and find your true North, your true direction in life, what it is you are actually here to do. Don't follow the faithful blindly, follow the intelligence willfully.

Life of Jesus

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a self help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Jade - A Virtuous Gem

Many cultures have a gemstone that they consider to be most precious and, in the case of the Chinese, even heavenly. Jade is more valuable than gold in the Chinese culture and it is evident in how they use it in their daily lives. One emperor chose to be buried in a suit made of the lustrous green stone to protect his body from decay.

What exactly is this mystical green stone?

Not until the mid 19th century did we know that there are really two similar, yet different, minerals that are both considered jade. As a result, they are now classified as jadeite, which is sodium aluminum silicate, and nephrite, which is calcium magnesium iron silicate. The jadeite variety is the most valuable and therefore more expensive.

Where does it come from?

The most important jadeite deposits are found in Myanmar and more recently, deposits have been found in Central America. The nephrite variety is more plentiful with mines in Australia, North and South America and Taiwan.

History and Mysticism

In Chinese culture, the stone represents love and virtue. It is also believed that wearing a jade pendant protected a person from evil as he traveled. It is also supposed to have great healing properties. The Chinese would grind it up and eat it to cure kidney ailments and other internal ailments. The best way to benefit from the supposed healing abilities, wear it close to the skin like with a jade bangle bracelet.

There was also a belief that it granted immortality or, in the very least, protect the body from decay. The emperor with the suit was an extreme case, but most Chinese emperors were buried with an offering of jade. They also believed it was a link to the heavens and would bring good luck, good friendship and good health by wearing it or having a talisman. Figurines carved out of the green stone are used in the ancient art of Feng Shui.

How to clean your pieces

Both varieties are fairly hard, ranking between 6.5 and 7 on the Mohs scales of hardness. That being said, it is a very strong mineral because of the tiny grains and fibrous pieces that tightly woven to create the stone.

To clean your jade earrings and other pieces, a soft cloth is all you need. Gently wipe the stone to bring it back to its lustrous sheen. If that does not remove all the residue, use only a gentle soap to clean. It is common for the stones to be treated with a resin or wax and harsh chemicals could damage the finish. The treatments are to simply bring out the best color possible.

Special significance of the stone

Though it is not an official birthstone, this wondrous green rock is the mystical birthstone for March and for the sun sign Virgo. It is also the gemstone used to commemorate the 12th wedding anniversary.

Jade jewelry often looks best cut into a cabochon to show off the most vibrant color. Because it carves so beautifully, filigreed jade pendants or smooth rounded pendants are common. It may or may not bring you good luck, but it will certainly add beauty to your collection.

Jade represents love and virtue, is more valuable than gold in Chinese culture, and is supposed to have great healing properties. Commemorate your 12th wedding anniversary with a beautiful jade ring from http://www.gemaffair.com.

House Lighting Books

Grandparenting - How to Be a Gift-Giving Success at Christmas!

I have six grandchildren ranging in age from 3 years to 14 years of age. Each year I have tried to shop for the "perfect" gift for each. Then I would spend hours and considerable money wrapping, labelling, packaging and shipping parcels. Sometimes I would get a telephone thank you and sometimes I would phone to see how the gifts were received. How disappointing it was when I would hear that things didn't fit, were duplicates or were just not needed.

This year, I decided to do something completely different. Here are the seven specific steps I took:

1. I telephoned each child and told him/her that I was sending books this year

2. Each child was asked to help me decide which books they would like

3. I went online while we talked and was therefore able to look up the requests they had

4. We discussed the information that I found online for the books they discussed

5. I stated my boundaries regarding what I was willing to purchase (no evil or negative characters or plots)

6. When we identified specific personal interests, I made some suggestions in each category (classics such as Hardy Boys, Charlie Brown and Chicken Soup)

7. We agreed that I would order the books to be shipped to each child (I ordered a separate shipment for each)

8. We discussed the fact that the gifts would NOT be wrapped (one grandson suggested that his father might be willing to wrap his)

9. Each child spelled words and gave me the mailing information as I entered it into the computer order form

10. I informed the child that they would receive the box at their postal outlet and would have to arrange with their parents to pick it up (they love getting mail and I'm sure that I won't need to try to motivate the parents as this is now the job of the children)

Finally, we agreed that each child will act "surprised" when they open the box at Christmas. This allowed us to share a little joke. My oldest grandson even agreed to say "That is EXACTLY what I wanted".

The whole process took less than two hours. I do not have any shopping to do. There is no additional cost or time for wrapping. No standing in line at the postal outlet and no shipping charges.

To top it off, my daughter later told me "I really like the way that you buy gifts now".

Sounds to me like it is win-win-win this year!

Why don't you try to save yourself some time and money this Christmas and, at the same time, strengthen the bond you have with your children?

And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit http://www.lindahancockspeaks.com

From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker

Home Selling Books

Let's Go to the Library

For those of us who love to read, who seek information, want a little time to sit reading a newspaper in the quiet, the Public Library system is where you want to go. Multnomah County Library is three blocks from where I live and you will find me there most days.

As a freelance writer, I find the library an invaluable resource center. Everything in the known world lives somewhere in a library. While I comb the pages of an encyclopedia, toddlers begin to arrive for story hour, herded into the Childrens Library by parents who know the value of learning and education.

Children are exposed to their peers, other adults beside parents and their first drills in manners and behavior. I took my children from the age of two-years. They were enthralled with the whole idea of excitement and movement. If your child is not quiet by nature, you might want to check the age limits that story hours accepts.

It is amazing what a library can bring you. Of course, the first is books, millions of books that they trust you to borrow. There is no fee for a library card, either juvenile or adult. You simply fill out a card at the checkout desk and the librarian will be glad to show how the system works. Libraries are very lenient about how many books you can check out at once, but it is always best to ask first. Remember, the books will still be there later, so be a polite library patron and do not take scores of books you may not have time to read.

The popular library is the section where casual reading is housed. You can find Koontz, Hawthorne and Dickinson within steps in any direction. Books are catalogued by writer for the most part. So it is easy to just go by the alphabetization of the shelves to find a writer you want to read.

My favorite section is the Large Print offerings. I see well, but read so much that these larger prints are so much easier on my eyes. There is the mystery section, another favorite, where you can find authors also by alphabetization. Try a new writer once in a while, to see what you might like that you hadnt thought of before.

Most libraries now have movies to borrow. The trick to that is to use a machine and look up Feature Films. Every movie imaginable is listed there. . . most of the DVDs now. But some VHS still linger in corners. These are the top movies out. They are not all documentaries or heavy subjects. I have borrowed Pirates of the Caribbean, As Good as it Gets, every Johnny Depp film ever made, and many others. And these are FREE. You check them out on your library card as you would books.

There are also books in the library that stay in the library. These are research books from which you can find an amazing assortment of information. For instance, if you are a writer, you can borrow books that tell you places where you might send your work; both poetry and other writing.

Need to fix your Chevy? They have mechanics books. Love antiques? Check out the books on pricing produced by experts such as the Kovells. Want to learn to cook - the library has a plethora of cookbooks, ranging from gourmet to special diets. Every diet book on the market can be found in the library, so you could peruse several to see if they offer anything you might find helpful. Feng Shui? Its at the library. Ancient Mayan basket weaving. . . you got it, the library.

You can ask questions that librarians will research for you. You can get help on a myriad of subjects - and all for free. The local library can be your best friend and your knowledge base.

Sherry Asbury is a freelance writer who lives in Portland, Oregon with her rescue-ferret, Rascal. A widely published writer in many genres, Ms. Asbury is disabled from domestic violence and often writes on that subject.

Bathroom Books

The Heretic's Daughter - Religion, Fear and the Salem Witch Trials

The Heretic's Daughter is author Kathleen Kent's first novel, and it is a stunning debut. It takes place in and around Salem, Massachusetts during the 1690's, before and during the infamous Salem witch trials. The narrator's mother, Martha Carrier, is based on the real woman of the same name, who was one of the first woman to be tried and hung in the trials. Ms. Kent is herself a tenth generation descendant of Martha Carrier.

Ms. Kent has done her research, and she does a beautiful job of depicting the harsh realities of life during this time. While the initial Puritan settlers had come to this land to escape persecution, and hoped to found a new religious community, they were besieged by plagues, crop failures, and attacks by indigenous tribes. The child mortality rate was so high, we are told in the first pages, "that some families did not name their child until the child was past twelve months and more likely to live. And in many households if a baby died, that same baby's name would be passed on to the next born. And to the very next if that babe died as well."

This is from the novel's narrator, Sarah Carrier, Martha Carrier's daughter. If Sarah sometimes seems distant and unfeeling as she describes horrific events, it is no wonder, based on the climate in which she was raised. In fact, Sarah's voice and attitude was at first a put-off to me, making her difficult to relate to or feel for. But as the novel progresses, her voice becomes one of the book's greatest strengths, because it provides such a vast contrast to our emotion-laden, Oprah-fueled times. Sarah helps us to see what a stark and difficult existence does to people, and as she does mature - through watching her mother's trial and surviving her own incarceration - her growth and new-found wisdom is that much more evident.

As the novel begins, Sarah and her family are on their way to live with her grandmother, and, unbeknown to them, are bringing smallpox with them to their new community. This fact, along with Martha Carrier's headstrong and outspoken nature, will ultimately lead to the family becoming a target when the terrible accusations begin. Those accusations, as presented in The Heretic's Daughter, gain traction in the community because of the lethal combination of fear and damnation-based religion. The community, facing so many challenges to its existence, cannot fathom why they are being targeted by God for such wrath. Surely there must be some offense, some sin, that they are being punished for? In their desperation, they seek out the 'sinners' amongst them, literally demonizing their own neighbors for the smallest of offenses. They seek to scapegoat and purge - as so many have done in the name of religion throughout history.

From there, the paralysis of fear takes over, with each new charge silencing more people within the community, all seeking to protect their own lives and families. Children as young as four are taken into custody - since the 'devil' is behind it all, and can take over anyone's mind, no one is considered innocent. Quite the contrary, during the trials the defendants are most definitely considered guilty until proven innocent. And their innocence is in the hands of several hysterical, adolescent girls no less (I'll let you read the book to learn more about this.)

One of the most touching aspects of the book is how Martha gets Sarah to save herself, helping Sarah to realize that behind her mother's stern exterior lies the greatest of maternal loves. While Sarah at first despises her mother's difficult personality, wishing she would just capitulate to others, she comes to realize her mother's seeming obstinance is actually born of tremendous faith and wisdom. This is exactly the opposite of what her community elders teach - that strict obedience is the foundation for faith. As Sarah observes, that obedience, along with fear, is what allows the madness to continue for so long.

And so The Heretic's Daughter works on at least three levels. First, as a gripping historical novel that masterfully depicts a certain setting and time period. Second, as a personal story of a mother and adolescent daughter struggling to understand each other. And third, as a cautionary tale about how religion can be twisted when a society is ruled by fear.

Lisa Erickson is a mom, meditation teacher, and writer. Visit her blog http://www.MommyMystic.wordpress.com for spiritual book reviews and information on meditation and spirituality

What Was Jesus True Message To His Followers

Caring About Others Problems

Weight Loss Spells For Those Interested in Witchcraft and Magick

Weight loss spells are becoming more and more popular. Both female and male witches alike often cast weight loss spells with hopes of obtaining their "dream bodies." A weight loss spell falls into the same category of "beauty spells" and "glamor spells." But do they really work?

Weight loss spells don't just magically work in the sense that they *poof!* make the witch thinner, but they can help the witch become more motivated to work out and to eat healthier. In order to lose weight, healthy eating and working out are always the most important things to do. But neither can be done if the witch has no willpower. Thankfully, a weight loss spell can help with that.

If you're interested in witchcraft and weight loss, here is a spell you can try:

Every Friday night for a month, light some white and pink candles (or red if you're a male witch or mage. I won't make you light pink ones.) Drink at least one full cup of water before, during, and after the spell. Have some jasmine incense burning as well, if you're not allergic to it. During the spell, while drinking the water, look in front of a full length mirror and visualize yourself shrinking and becoming thinner. Try imagining that you actually FEEL yourself getting thinner. Spend a few minutes doing this while saying this mantra:

"Extra weight go away, Venus be with me this day. Give me the strength, give me the power. I shall lose weight starting this hour."

Say this over and over again while visualizing yourself getting thinner.

After the weight loss spell is over, snuff the candles out and then set them in a private place until the next Friday. You may resume where you left off every Friday night until you begin noticing differences in your eating habits. Don't forget to thank Venus often.

If you are interested in a weight loss spell or any other type of spell, this is a great site to visit: http://www.AvonleeStarkeeper.com At this site you will find tips on love spells, money spells, luck spells, justice spells, REIKI, psychic readings, and more!

What About The End The End Of The World

Can One Person Make Big Changes

Can You Tell the Difference Between Evil Profits and Good Profits?

I was reading through an article the other day about the Wiccan religion and they were very upset about a comment that the Christian website owner had made. I would like you to read the response from the Christians first.

"I was watching a police show on television some time ago, and saw a sting operation in which undercover police officers bought drugs from dealers on the street. Invariably, some of the dealers would ask, "You a cop?" The officer would say "no," and the deal was made. Satan often goes undercover. The Bible tells us that he can even masquerade as an angel of light. Just because a certain religion professes no belief in Satan, does not mean its adherents are not falling for his lies. It just means that they're unaware that they are. You said God would be disgusted by our judgmentalism. God has told us in His Word (The Bible) to watch for false prophets and false apostles. God has told us to contend for the faith. He has told us to evangelize. In other words, God has told us to do just what we are doing."

Here's something I would like you to think about if you consider yourself a Christian, read this very carefully.

"God has told us in his Word the Bible to watch for false prophets and false apostles." I would like you to read this statement a couple of times and see if you agree with it. How can you possibly tell who the false prophets are? Do you think that because you are a Christian and believe in Jesus or God, that you will know the difference between a evil profit and a godly one?

I often write articles and have written quite a few of them about religion and Christianity. Seems to be the one that I know the most about, so it gets the most attention from me. If I was to make a statement like the Bible has contradictions in it, would you consider me an evil profit. Someone working for the Devil. I don't think so, because it doesn't make sense, how could you turn a truth full statement into evil prophesies.

If I was to introduce you to a hundred people, could you tell me by looking at them or talking to them, which ones are evil and which ones are good. Most Christians would probably respond to that with, God knows and that's good enough for me. Everyone else who talks bad about Christianity will be considered evil or searching for the truth. They just haven't found Jesus yet, is that right, is that what you believe.

I found this response to the Wiccan believer to be one that I run into often. It seems unfair to others who aren't Christians and one-sided. Most organized religions have answers for everything, the problem is that some of the times these answers don't make any sense at all. If you're going to follow this part of the Bible word for word, shouldn't you follow all of the Bible word for word.

Leviticus 14:9 On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair; he must shave his head, his beard, his eyebrows and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.

Leviticus 19:27 " 'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

This will make Christians easier to spot, a bald head with long beards.

Spiritual Change Education

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a Religion help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Who Said The Bible Was Easy To Understand

Neil Donald Walsch

The Importance of Women's Spirituality

A friend recently asked me why I felt it was so important to focus specifically on spirituality for women. Isn't the point of spirituality, she asked, to move to an understanding that transcends distinctions like gender? Does it really serve the process, she wondered, to imply there is a separate spirituality for men and for women?

As part of my response, I referred her to a recently published book called Taking Back God: American Women Rising Up for Religious Equality. The author, Leora Tanenbaum, explores the role of women within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The author interweaves religious history with interviews of contemporary women who care deeply about their religions, and derive great knowledge and sustenance from them, but are unhappy with the restricted roles of women within them. Many of these interviews are very moving, because these women have really struggled with this issue.

One of the biggest problems for these women is the restrictions placed on their access to teachings and official roles. Many of their religions restrict women's rights or abilities to read certain scriptures, or to teach or preach. Since scriptures are often considered the word of God, or a conduit to enlightenment (in the East), this sends the message that women are 'further' from God or enlightenment, and that they don't have the right to communicate directly, or to learn, teach, or preach on their own. They have to get everything secondhand. Contemporary American women don't accept this in the office, and are increasingly uncomfortable with it in their houses of worship.

While Taking Back God focuses on the official role of women in Christianity, Judaism and Islam, things aren't altogether different in the New Age or self-help communities, or in many Buddhist or Yoga centers. Although there are more women spiritual teachers, authors, and religious leaders in America than elsewhere in the world, they are still vastly outnumbered by men (just check out the Amazon bestsellers list). This despite the fact that according to book marketing surveys, women outnumber men as the purchasers of spiritual and religious books by as much as 4 to 1. In other words, women would appear to be more interested in spirituality in general, but the majority of books, teachers, organizations and resources out there are male-dominated. What is the message sent by this?

So, my answer to my friend, the reason focusing on women's spirituality is important to me, even though I am wary of over-identifying with gender issues, is that I think it really matters how many women religious leaders and spiritual teachers there are out there. And I think full access to scriptures, and leadership roles, and teaching positions - within every tradition - is imperative. Women's access to spirituality, their relationship with God/Tao/Nirvana/Brahma (or whatever you believe in), can't be secondhand. In a way, changing this is the most essential form of change that can occur, because our spiritual and religious beliefs define our organizational view of the world. If we see women as 'lower down' the totem pole, even subconsciously, we are denying ourselves our full power.

Lisa Erickson is a mom, meditation teacher, and writer. Visit her blog http://www.MommyMystic.wordpress.com for spiritual book reviews and information on meditation and spirituality.

Prayer In My Earlier Life and Its Effects

Creating Love And Happiness

How to Avoid Conflict With Friends and Family, Or Anyone

Genesis 13:8. Abraham in Bible provides a great example of how to avoid conflict when dealing with friends and family. In Genesis 13 Abram and Lot had left Egypt and they had settled between Bethel and Hai. After a while, strife developed between Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen because there was not enough land to support both herds of cattle. When Abram became aware of the strife, he immediately addressed this issue with Lot to avoid anymore conflict (Genesis 13:8, "And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.").

In Genesis 13:9 Abram tells Lot "Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." The manner that Abram presented his plan and the plan itself stopped strife immediately and avoided strife in the future. The steps Abram used to avoid conflict with Lot can be used by anyone to avoid conflict with friends, family, or anyone.

Conflict Avoidance Steps.

1. Identify A Reasonable Solution to Resolve the Dispute. In the dispute between Abram and Lot, Abram identified that the close proximity of the herds was creating strife. They needed to spread out the herds.

2. Have One of the Disputing Parties Identify Fair Options That Would Be Satisfactory to Both Parties. Here Abram identified two choices (one goes to the left, the other one goes to the right) that he thought would be fair options for both Lot and himself.

3. Let the Other Party Choose Which Option. In the case of the dispute between Abram and Lot, Abram let Lot choose between the two options (one goes to the left, the other one goes to the right).

This is a wonderful way to avoid conflict: have one party divide the object of contention into two satisfactory options, and then let the other party choose which option.

GENESIS 13 BIBLE SCRIPTURE Genesis 13:8, "And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren."

Randall McClure Sr. is author and publisher of http://www.access-jesus.com

Access-Jesus.com helps people learn about, love, and promote Jesus.

How Many Disciples Were There, Really

If You Behave Your Children Will

The Religious Background of Unicorn Tapestries

The unicorn has been a mythical symbol since ancient times. Some of the earliest depictions of the unicorn are from ancient China and featured a creature resembling a large horse with a single horn protruding from its forehead. The writings and drawings of many ancient cultures throughout Asia and Europe included unicorns and eventually they evolved into religious symbols.

By the middle ages, the unicorn was considered both a religious and secular symbol by most of Christian Europe. The unicorn represented chastity, holiness, and purity, and was even used as a symbol for Christ. Because of the unicorn's important symbolism, it was often featured in tapestries and other art of the period. There are even references to unicorns in the bible, although some historians question their inclusion in the Bible because of translations issues. References to unicorns can be seen in Deuteronomy 33:17, Psalm 22:21, 29:6 and 92:10; Numbers 23:22 and 24:8; and Isaiah 34:7. These passages do not infer that the references to unicorns are fictitious or that unicorns are not in fact real animals.

There are many examples of medieval art and tapestries that feature unicorns and once they were accepted as a religious symbol they became very popular subjects. Unicorns represented purity and the myth perpetuated by their holy meaning was that only a virgin could tame a unicorn. Tapestries were common among the aristocracy in the Middle ages and were used as decoration as well as insulation for windows and openings. The most common tapestry designs were biblical allegories including unicorns. One of the most famous sets of tapestries are the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries, Created in France in the late 1400's.

The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries are perhaps the most famous examples of unicorns in art in the entire world. They were not discovered until late in the 1800's by Proper Merimee in a castle in Boussac France. They were damaged but were later restored and then put on display in the Cluny Museum in France in a room specially designed to house them. The novelist Georges Sands was responsible for making them so popular and included them in her writings.

It is not known who designed and wove the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries, but historians do know who they were created for. The coat of arms on the tapestries belongs to the Le Viste family and the tapestries were probably created for this family in the late 1400's. Like other tapestries and art depicting unicorns, the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries are said to represent the human senses with the subject of the tapestries a virginal maiden and a unicorn. Five of the six tapestries represent the five senses, hearing, tough, taste, feeling, and sight. The sixth tapestry is one that carries some debate as some say it represent love, other think it stands for the "6th sense" while other think it represents understanding or empathy. Unicorns have long been a part of art and folk lore, and are still symbols of holiness and purity today.

http://www.touchoftapestry.com/servlet/StoreFront

What Does God Really Look Like

Time Off With Backyard Vacations

Solar Energy Use In Home Design

The sun is a constant source of energy. Everyday it provides us with 5000 times as much energy as the whole world needs. (Unknown)

In the 1950s and '60s efficient energy use was often neglected in constructing buildings and houses, but the high energy prices of the 1970s changed that. Some buildings built in the 80s use only about 20% of the energy used in buildings constructed just ten years earlier. Techniques to save energy include designing and siting buildings to use passive solar heat, avoiding overlighting, and using better insulation. A life-cycle approach, which takes into account the total costs over the entire life of the building, rather than simply the initial construction cost or sales price, is encouraging greater efficiency.

SOLAR ENERGY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Climate

South Africa is one of the areas in the world with the highest count of sunny days per year in the world therefore making it also one of the most appropriate places in the world to use solar power energy should that be the only reason for using them.

A photovoltaic sell uses the suns light to create an electric current and not the heat of the sun as is commonly thought. A photovoltaic sell actually decreases in efficiency when the sell is heated extremely because of the resistance building up in the material. Because of the above fact, one can see that these photovoltaic panels is actually less efficient in very warm climates. South Africa, in summertime, can be extremely hot and could cause a photovoltaic panel on certain summer days to work less efficient although not as significantly as 25% less efficient as it is said can be lost in desert-type climates.

Cost efficiency & economy

Eskom South Africa provides our country with some of the cheapest conventional unsustainable electricity costs in the world, and that is the main reason for solar energy technology not taking off in South Africa. Although a number of solar thermal panels is in operation, even in residential buildings in the country, photovoltaic panels was up to date just not cost effective enough to justify the money saved using conventional electricity for manufacturers making them available on a large scale. Because of the uncommonness and unavailability of these panels the prices of theses panels has not significantly decreased in South Africa as it has in other more technologically advanced and environmentally aware
countries.

Also, because the electricity has been so inexpensive in SA, the cost of paying off a solar electricity system that provides the same amount (or sufficient amount) of electricity as a conventional system, will take an extremely long time to pay off with the money saved without using conventional electricity, and most home owners in South Africa doesnt stay long enough in one home to justify the cost saving.
Another factor is that the technology is becoming more advanced day by day, and one might purchase a system today which will reach the end of its life before the system has paid for itself with money saved from not using conventional electricity is over.

Sustainability & the environment

Eskom might well be one of the cheapest electricity providers in the world, but it is also a fact that eskom releases some of the most pollution in the atmosphere by burning coal to generate electricity. Although air pollution doesnt seem to be that big a problem here than in other countries where acid rain etc. is huge concerns for the community, it would be wise to sooner rather than later start to concentrate on the environment in South Africa and that is when solar power could start playing a big role as an energy provider.

Appropriate for us?

Solar panels can be used very effectively and appropriately in the remote areas around the country because the cost of connecting to the conventional power grid by laying cables might be even more expensive and once a solar PV system is installed one does not need any tools or technicians to maintain a PV panel regularly.

There are a number of places in our environment where solar power could be (and are already) used very effectively for example water pumps to dams in nature reserves. PV panels have also been used to power electric fencing in game reserves very successfully for interruptions in electricity is eliminated and big mammals like elephants has no chance of breaking through a fence as could be the case in an normal power interruption.

In conclusion, the use of solar power in South Africa isnt that far fetched when one look at the very appropriate weather conditions and the need to look at a more sustainable and renewable energy source for the future.

Written by Jere Botes, architect & founder of http://www.dreamhouses.co.za, a website dedicated to provide home builders, home renovators, home owners & developers with free professional advice on all aspects of home design, building & diy. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must include a link pointing to http://www.dreamhouses.co.za

Home Buying Books
Home Siding Books

Aum Mantra For Mediation

Ahhhhh is the sound of God and can be used for meditation. Listen to this wonderful sound and try to find God in it.

Question Your Religion

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a religious help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Cookie Thief
Dealing With Selfish Thoughts

Extra! Extra! Free Energy! - Not For Sale

To whom that waste today, may be left wanting tomorrow! If you are one of those people that use energy, not abuse it, but use it wisely. It may be beneficial to have a peep at this.

Most people go through life looking but not seeing. I use to be like that and I must admit that I have missed quite a lot in my day. I would also like to think that I have mended my ways and that the things in life that matter are no longer passing me by.

Lots of things have come to the fore that previously went by unnoticed. This could be seen as my personal account if so wished. During these holidays I visited my parents in the North Cape (South Africa). The towns and communities are small compared to the metropolitan areas ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand.

The active town population where my parents live number approximate 250 (not including the visitors/truck drivers). Therefore it astounded me to find people utilizing all forms of foreign energies in such a small place. The inventions appear to be quite successful and some even state their personal reputation on their inventions.

Foreign energies in my world would constituted anything that is not petroleum or electricity (from the filling stations or power points in the home of course). I encountered solar energy devises. These included solar cells, solar heaters, solar water heaters (that replace Geysers), solar cooking (brand new for me) and a number of other ways to use the sun in manors not known in my world.

Wind energy seems to be in its infancy at this time according to the people in the know (wise old men in the village). The prototypes for generating electricity with ordinary equipment found on the farm and in automobiles. I must say that I think it seems promising.

Being myself I had to see if I could find more information relating to this topic. Low and behold, it had been documented! Should you find yourself (as I did) intrigued by this you may want to investigate some more on your own.

Have fun with this one.

Hennie Stander is a new author that have seen the other side of green renewable energy and would like to make the facts available to world.

Home Theater Books
Structural Engineering Books

Gain Energy Independence With Solar Power

You have no doubt heard something about this little thing called solar power which has been getting a lot of attention recently. Some people have been looking into the possibility of powering their home with solar energy, and many have actually begun to do it. While the technology for this has been around for a long time, only recently has become affordable enough for the average homeowner to be able to use it.

The decreased costs is one reason why this form of energy has been getting more attention recently, but there are many other reasons. One is that with the rising cost of electricity, combined with the current state of the economy, many people are looking for ways to lower their monthly expenses. Solar energy in your home can be a way to do this. Many people find that once they spend the money on the equipment and get it running, their monthly electricity costs can be reduced by 60 to 80%.

Another reason solar power has been getting increased attention recently is that many people are looking for ways to live greener. With no emissions into the atmosphere, and no wasteful byproduct, solar energy is one of the cleanest forms of energy available today. Not only is it one of the cleanest forms of energy, but it's also one of the most abundantly available. Unfortunately, only a small fraction of the sun's energy which reaches the earth is being stored and collected.

Gaining independence from the power grid has other advantages as well. For instance, if the power in your neighborhood goes out you may be unaffected. Also as electricity costs continue to rise your cost will remain relatively consistent.

If you're interested in learning how to start powering your home with solar energy, you should know that there are many guides available on the internet which can show you how to construct your own solar panels and solar cells.

I've had a chance to review most of the guides available on how to build your own solar panels, and I've narrowed it down to the 3 that are the best value for your money.

=> Top 3 Guides <=

There are a lot of scams out there, and people selling solar power systems that just don't work. That's why I've put together these reviews for you.

=> Solar Guide Reviews <=

Home Remodeling Books
Home Door Books

Aum Mantra For Mediation

Ahhhhh is the sound of God and can be used for meditation. Listen to this wonderful sound and try to find God in it.

Question Your Religion

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a religious help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Bhagavad Gita
Prayer Beads

Winter Time Savings!

Today's ever rising costs of home and office energy costs, while budgets in our office shrink and wages at home are stagnant, has society worried. For those of us living in climates that require extra household heating in the winter months, there are tricks we can do to increase the comfort of our homes while lowering the cost.

Windows, especially older ones, can have a negative aspect in wintertime. With out the benefit of modern double or tripled glazed windows there is a lot of air leakage with older style window systems. The first thing one can do on the exterior is to caulk any gaps between the window, window frame and siding of the house. If you don't have storm windows construct your own using clear UV plastic and a wooden frame. Use wing nuts to secure the frame in place. In the spring remove the frames and store in a safe place for next years use. On the interior apply the clear window film which is now readily available in kits of various sizes. Attached to the frame of windows with double-sided tape and shrunk with the heat of a blow dryer this plastic must be removed after the winter season resulting in a yearly investment. We have found that it is well worth the investment in an older home and notice the resulting drop in heating costs because of it.

Any window facing south may be an asset during the winter. By keeping the drapes open during the hours that windows receive direct sunlight, you make the most of the sun's free energy to warm the home. Washing windows just before winter sets in ensures film and dust do not impede the sun's rays.

Keep furniture and drapes off of heating vents. It makes no sense heating up the bottom of a couch or blowing warm air up a curtain and fogging up the window. Vent deflectors are available that divert warm air to where it is needed to make better use of valuable heat.

Have your furnace inspected and cleaned every year. The ducting should be cleaned every few years to keep the air you breathe clean and to allow the air to flow efficiently. Be sure the furnace filters are changed regularly - monthly in our home. Keep the temperature turned down when you are out of the house or asleep in bed. The use of a programmable thermostat makes this feat much easier to accomplish and will save enough on your heating bill in a year to pay for the cost of the thermostat.

Exterior walls with electrical outlets or switches have potential "cold spots". Where these electrical boxes are is where insulation isn't! Purchase a package of inexpensive foam inserts and install in each box to help block any drafts. Often the largest heat loss in homes comes from the exterior doors themselves. Door weather-strips and sill plates need to be inspected for air leaks and replaced if necessary.

Some other "cold spots" in a home are the fireplace and range hood. Check the fireplace damper to ensure it fits snug, so that when you close it during the periods it is not in use it will not let in cold air. Sometimes the suction from a forced air heating system can pull cold air down through the range hood above the stove. Try blocking this off with a piece of corrugated plastic attached with magnetic strips. As a reminder place a post-it-note over the fan button on the range hood so that it is not accidentally turned on without removing this cover first.

Keep the hot water tank thermostat at 55? C for the best efficiency. Install a tank insulation kit, and insulate any hot water pipes you can readily access.

These are just a few, reasonably inexpensive ways for you to save some money this winter and every winter to come for many years. You can feel pride in that you are a conscious and responsible consumer of resources. You will also feel a lot cozier in your warm draft-free home.

~ Dave Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk, Purple Snowflake Marketing and Towards Understanding; co-host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca)

Feng Shui Books
Handyman Books

Three Seperate Gods Video

Visualization And Affirmations
Listen To Your Own Advice

Save Energy and Money by Closing Unused Rooms

Energy costs are skyrocketing, and people are searching for ways to stretch their budgets to cover heating and electricity in these winter months. Besides turning down the thermostat and increasing insulation, reducing the amount of heat or energy you use by closing up unused or unnecessary rooms can save you a lot of money on your monthly bills.

Close Up Unused Rooms - Registers

All registers in an unused room should be closed and covered to reduce energy costs and reduce waste. Be sure to do the same thing to air vents or registers that both push air into the room and take it out. Baseboard heaters can also be turned off and covered, though this is a bit more difficult. All registers in an unused room should be closed and covered to reduce energy costs and reduce waste To safely cover registers and air vents, first be sure to close them completely. There are commercial register covers that can be used. Some are more complex things you screw into the wall, but there are also magnetic sheets that can be attached directly to the metal fixture.

Close Up Unused Rooms - Windows and Doors

All windows and doors in the unused room should be closed and sealed against any drafts or leaks. Use storm windows on every window in the room. Make sure weather-stripping is in place and has no breaks or gaps.

You can purchase plastic sheeting, Styrofoam, or even use old blankets or heavy drapes to further insulate the windows. Attach these with a heavy-duty staple gun or other secure fastening to all edges of the windows or doors inside. This will reduce leaks and lower the energy requirements of the house.

Close up Unused Rooms - Electricity

There is no need to use electricity at all in an unused room in your house. Not only should you obviously turn off all appliances, light fixtures, and other electronic equipment, you should unplug it as well. If your house has multiple circuits or fuses, you can even disable the electricity to the unused rooms. This will prevent any electricity 'leak' that will result in very small losses that will show up on your bill. Anything you can do to reduce energy consumption is good for both the environment and your wallet.

Closing up unused rooms is an excellent way to save money and energy on your home heating costs this winter. Always be mindful of how to reduce consumption, and then take steps to further insulate or isolate those areas of the house that are not in use.

Beat the bad economy and save hundreds each month with the frugal tips at Save Money Frugal Tips.

Feng Shui Books
Home Building Books

Is the Bible Repulsive or True - Movie Video

Can you believe this guy, if you look up these verses in the Bible, you will see that there and there, but how did he come up with these ideas about the Sabbath, teenagers and the fact that the Bible is repulsive.

If you're really seeking the kingdom of heaven, the glory of God and the true vision that Jesus had, check out some great Christian articles . These articles are designed to teach and educate Christians.

Books
Think About Your Life

Build a Home Wind Generator With Just $200 in Your Pocket

Wind energy systems are widely considered as one of the best ways to create electricity for free and help slash ones electricity bill. But up till recently, installing a wind energy system for your home can cost you thousands of dollars. Today, you can actually learn how to build a home wind generator yourself with just $200 in your pocket!

The wind generator has come a long way, and the technology involved and process to build one has improved rapidly. But many home owners are hesitant in using such a system mainly because of the high cost involved in installing one for their home. In fact, a low range model that produces just enough power output for one small cottage can easily set you back by at least $3000.

Such an expensive device may take you years to realize a positive return of investment! In fact, calculations show one such system will take approximately more than 5 years for it to pay-back the initial investment in terms of savings in your power bills. This just is not feasible, especially for most average income households.

Thankfully today, you can build a wind generator system easily from home without having to spend the most part of your monthly paycheck.

The Internet is a wonderful resource cauldron where you can learn how to build a home wind generator using simple items that you can get for cheap. Personally, this is indeed ideal because the main reason why we install the generator system is to save our money. Learning to build one helps you save thousands of dollars more!

So how do you get started to build the wind generator? If you are technically skilled enough, there are various websites out there that provides the information for free. But most of these websites are geared towards experienced users who are comfortable with technical jargons.

If you are not technical enough, or even do not come from a technical background, fret not. There are many professional kits to help you build the wind generator from home.

These low cost DIY kits include well-written instructions and clear diagrams that are perfect to help you build your home wind generator.

Home wind generators are meant to help you save money, so start saving today! Get the most popular wind power kit and be the first in your neighborhood to learn how to build a home Wind generator.

Who knows, you might turn out to be the wind energy expert in your town someday!

Pest Control Books
Home Basement Books

Mary Magdalene and Spirituality - Movie Video

This video has more information on Mary Magdalene, great video on advanced spiritual thinking.

If you're really seeking the kingdom of heaven, the glory of God and the true vision that Jesus had, check out some great Christian articles . These articles are designed to teach and educate Christians.

Childhood Religious Control
Changing Bad Habits

Saving Time and Energy - A 6 Step Process to Adopting New Technology

"You Tube? Best marketing tool EVER!"

"If you're in business, you absolutely, positively have to be on MySpace."

"All the best marketers have blogs...or podcasts...or streaming video on their websites..."

Sound familiar? It seems as if a day doesn't go by without some new technological tidbit, guaranteed to transform the business world as we know it, is making all the papers. Blogging is hot one day, passe the next. You Tube is the place you want to be -- unless you don't want to be there, of course!

How is a Nichepreneur to make any sense of it all? How do you identify what tools are best to promote your products and services and which are destined to be no more than a flash in the pan phenomenon, long on promise and short on follow-through?

More importantly, how are you going to find the time to figure it all out? When you're busy running your business, finding the hours needed to learn about a new technology can be challenging enough -- spending all of that time and energy only to discover that something is really not for you is a frustration you don't need!

Save time and minimize frustration by adopting this six step process for approaching new technology. Followed consistently, this process will allow you to identify viable promotion opportunities, discern which ones appear to have sticking power, streamline the learning process, and adopt best practices right from day one!

Step One: Don't Believe the Hype

Enthusiastic, cheerleading-style articles touting the latest tech tool as the solution to all of your marketing challenges are fun to read -- but they seldom provide enough information to make a solid business decision!

Put yourself on a short rein, and don't let enthusiasm for the flavor-of-the-week be your only guide. Do your research. Discover what demographics are adopting the technology being touted: the audience for Twitter-powered microblogs is different than the crowd downloading podcasts onto their cell phones.

Longevity is definitely a relative term in this environment: internet trends move at the speed of light. However, longevity is key in determining when a fad has staying power: blogging has been around for years now, and has proven business applications, while other, newer tech applications have yet to prove themselves. Consider if you want to be on the cutting edge, taking the risk to try out the new tech and benefit by being an early adopter, or if you'd be more comfortable going with a known and proven platform.

Step Two: Seek Out Reputable Resources to Serve as Guides

While you're doing your due diligence and researching this new technological tool, you'll want to pay special attention to where your information is coming from. Not all resources are equally valuable. Look to those individuals who are consistently cited as an Expert by others: it's a good idea to have a rule of three for this. If three disparate sources all reference the same individual or work, there's a better than fair chance that that resource has some real value that you can benefit from.

Remember, you don't have to limit yourself to online research, although that's often the quickest and easiest way to find information. Check print media: if a tool is well established enough to have books devoted to it, chances are it can be used to help you promote your business effectively.

Step Three: Identify What You Want To Accomplish

Set a clear goal for yourself. This goal needs to be specific, quantifiable, and realistic. Rather than saying, "I want to be on You Tube because everybody's there!" consider, "I will post four videos a year to You Tube, each one focused on a different segment of my area of expertise."

Knowing what you want to do is essential. Having an end objective allows you to figure out what skills you need to concentrate on and which ones are irrelevant. For example, if you want to build your business through blogging, you can do so without ever once picking up a book on video podcasting. Instead, you can focus on learning how to write a great blog entry, how to promote your blog, and strategies to raise your blog's visibility.

This step allows you to save time. You only have a limited amount of time to devote to this new tool, so you want to be efficient.

Step Four: Learn the Vocabulary

Make life easy for yourself! Before you start diving into the hows, whys, and how-comes of any new area of study, take an hour to familiarize yourself with the vocabulary you're going to need. Every technology has its own language, specific to what you're working on.

Think of this vocabulary as similar to the professional jargon you use when conversing with colleagues. It's likely that your conversation might be unintelligible to the average listener, unless you took the time to define and explain the terminology you're using.

Chances are you don't have someone there to explain confusing terms or unfamiliar language to you -- and if you try to forge ahead, hoping to pick up the meaning in context, you'll find yourself frustrated and no closer to achieving your goals. It may seem like wasted time to focus on vocabulary early in the process, but language makes comprehension possible!

Step Five: Don't Reinvent the Wheel

No matter what your goal or objective is, there's a better than fair chance that someone else has already done it first. Look for examples that resonate with you: a blog you'd like to emulate, podcasts that inspire you, You Tube videos that have you green with envy.

Study these examples carefully. What about them 'works'? Make a list of those things you'd like to adopt for your own message. Obviously, you don't want to make a carbon copy of someone else's work, but there's nothing wrong after modeling yourself after people who have done a great job communicating their message effectively!

Step Six: Ask Questions & Embrace Expertise

Nichepreneurs are often convinced that because they're in business for themselves, they have to do everything themselves. As a corollary to this, there's a common misconception that one should know everything possible about running a business from day one and never need any help!

You need to put that attitude behind you! Save time, energy, and effort by asking questions! There are a number of platforms to do this online: entire web communities have sprung up for individuals who want to build a better blog, create great You Tube videos, and more. Find a community you're comfortable with -- this might require a few minutes with Google -- and ask questions. This is often the quickest way to find information and, as an added bonus, start forming relationships with potential colleagues, clients, and peers.

In Conclusion

Technology is evolving at light speed. Every day there's something new. There's no way one person can keep up with it all, which means we have to pick and choose which tools are the best to promote our businesses. Be critical, implement this six step process consistently, and you'll find that you can have the best of both worlds: adopting the latest, greatest tools to promote yourself without wasting a lot of time and energy!

Written by Susan A. Friedmann,CSP, The NichePreneur Coach, Lake Placid, NY, internationally recognized expert working with service professionals to increase their niche marketing potential. Claim your free copy of the special report, "The NichePreneneur Mindset" at http://www.richesinniches.com

Furniture Restoration Books
Home Fence Books

Home Built Wind Generator Power - Save Money With DIY Wind Power

A lot of people today are saving a ton of money on their electric bill by creating their own electricity. There is volumes of information available online to help you create your own home wind power. You can do a Google search for diy wind power, or a similar term that describes creating your own electricity from wind power.

You will find dozens of websites that offer you a downloadable instruction kit, with resources for parts and supplies included. Make sure which ever one you choose offers at least a full 60 day money back guarantee. Also know that you should not have to spend more than fifty or sixty bucks to get a good instruction kit, with online video tutorials as well as pdf instructions.

Two things that are very important to know before you get to far into a home built wind generator power system for your residence.

Very important: You may need a permit from your city or county. In some areas, this may require submitting plans, including drawings and details about the wind turbine system you are planning to install. Check with Department of Building Inspection and the Department of Planning for your city or county.

This is an important step, especially if you are planning on connecting to the grid. You absolutely cannot connect any type of power generating system directly into the wiring of your home without the proper permits. It is a matter of safety for you and for the utility company employees that service your area.

Connecting to the public power grid. Connecting your wind power to the public power grid allows you to qualify for net metering in many areas. Net metering measures the excess power you create, directs it into the local power grid and...the power company pays you!

You really can save hundreds of dollars annually by creating your own home built wind generator power For help in determining where to find good sound advice, for an easy to follow, do-it-yourself instruction kit, go to http://www.windsolarhouse.com/blog

Swimming Pool Books
Solar House Books

The Ultimate Illumination on Mary Magdalene

This video has more information on Mary Magdalene, great video on advanced spiritual thinking.

If you're really seeking the kingdom of heaven, the glory of God and the true vision that Jesus had, check out some great Christian articles . These articles are designed to teach and educate Christians.

Articles
Living With What If In Your Life

Earth 4 Energy - How to Generate Your Own Energy and Get Paid For It

Investing in producing your own energy is a great idea! Aside from the major benefits to the environment, you can naturally save money on your utility bills, as well as saving on federal and state tax credits.

Installing a solar power system to generate residential solar power or using vertical wind power-generating windmills, can reap great rewards monetarily and spiritually. Using what is known as a "closed system" of electricity means the energy you use is the energy you generate. Plus, creating power from clean, renewable resources is a smart move to help heal our ailing planet.

There are several states that will pay you to generate energy-this concept is called "net metering." How this works is that when electricity is generated, the meter you have that calculates the energy generated will be stored on a grid for continual use. When you use this energy at home, the meter will calculate how much you have used-to-date each month.

If you have not used all the energy you have produced at the end of the month, this meter will reflect that, and the electric company will compensate you. In this way, net metering lets you sell back to the electric company what you have generated but not used for your own energy consumption.

Of course, not everyone is set up to have a wind turbine or solar panels set up on their property and the investment to get started can run into very high numbers. Fortunately, Earth 4 Energy offers a complete step-by-step manual with a detailed video that can get you started on generating your own energy for less than $200.

It is suspected that the government will, in the near future, be offering tax breaks for all who generate their own power, whether by solar panels, or wind or water turbines, and who sell their energy surplus back to the energy companies.

So in conclusion, it is quite feasible to build your own power system to generate residential power for your home and even to sell back to the electric companies. If you look into the various ways on the Internet that you can build your own energy systems, you can reap many rewards and become much less energy dependent and lead a much greener life.

Kane Ferchman writes articles and reviews Generate Your Own Electricity products. For more information, cutting edge tips and techniques on Green Energy, visit my website. Get your FREE 10 - part course Renewable Energy Explained, and I will teach you the Fundamentals of DIY Solar Power & Wind Power Systems.

Home Theater Books
Home Stucco Books

Conscious Creation In the Universe

Here's a different point of view of how life originated in what's going on on our planet and throughout the universe.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a spiritual and sell help articles filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Life Lessons About Paying Rent
Peaceful Effects Of Nature

Solar Panels For the Home

I get these 2 question all the time from my readers and subscribers..."how much can I really save by having my own solar panels for the home", and "can I really build my own solar panels". If you're keen to know the answers to these, read on...and learn what 90% of other people looking to cut their electricity bills don't know about.

How Much do I Really Save?

An all-important question that many are asking...Well, take a look at these sums I'm doing for you. The figures are going to shock you...

Say, you're currently paying $300 a month for your energy bills...a typical amount for the average family. This means you're forking out $3600 of your hard-earned money every year that is wired straight to the power companies. Certainly a quick way to empty your wallet!

Now watch this.

Multiply that figure by 10 years...you get a whopping $36,000. Literally by turning on the lights in your home, you become forty grand poorer over the next decade! Think about it, suppose you live in your house for 40 years...that's a whopping $144,000 down the drain!

And here's the real kicker...factor in the rate of inflation, and you could be hit back by half a million in cold hard cash in 40 years time! These are staggering numbers, even more so in this time of economic recession.

With your own home solar panels, you can easily save up to 80% of your monthly energy bills.

Can I Really Build My Own Home Solar Panels?

Glad that you ask! Indeed you can. If anything, the tens of thousands of households who have already done so bears testimony to this fact!

Building solar panels for the home need not be a daunting task. What you need to get started are instructions that will help you through the entire process of building your own DIY solar panels. Look, if you're really serious about starting this energy saving project, look no further than the Internet. The technology behind this has now been made available to people like you and me, and you can easily find good quality guides, manuals and videos that are almost 'fool-proof' for anyone willing to put on some elbow grease to do a little DIY work.

For a low cost investment (typically 50 bucks or less), you can get a really good DIY instructional package that even recommends places where you can get the parts and components on the cheap. For around 200 bucks - a wise one-time investment that won't break the bank - you can get your very own DIY solar panels up and running in a weekend.

Take some time to do a little research online, and see which guides/manuals best suit your needs and budget. The best thing is, many of these products come with technical support, so that if you need any help, they are just an email or phone call away. The best DIY guides are those that come with a money-back guarantee...so if it doesn't work for you, you don't pay a dime. That's quality assurance at its best!

Why not take a little time to learn how to build your own solar panels for the home? It's just about the best thing you could do to help your family budget, and save the environment at the same time!

Want to build your own home solar panels but don't know where to start?

Fret not! Many people just like you have successfully built one on their own to DRASTICALLY cut their monthly electricity consumption. They are already shaving $1000s off their energy bills every year. If you need STEP-BY-STEP guidance in installing one, I have reviewed the Best Online Guides on Home Solar Panels for your convenience. These highly recommended guides provide EASY-TO-FOLLOW instructions that will help you save money in no time.

Dave Keller is a Renewable Energy Specialist who takes pride in helping the average consumer save on their energy bills using simple DIY devices... and give power companies a run for their money! For a candid review of the best-selling guides, go to his website at http://www.HomeSolarPanels4u.com now.

Home Building Books
Wood Stoves Books

Religious Fundamentalism Can Create Problems

Religious groups can easily justify their actions by using religious text to benefit and promote their beliefs. The Muslims can sling quotes out of the Quran to justify their treatment towards women as second-class or even third class citizens in society, often removing certain rights from them because they weren't born men.

Shouldn't these women be treated equally. This is where religious fundamentalism evolves into religious fanaticism.

Christians can often use the same tactics to justify their beliefs and Christianity. This list goes on and on and has created hardships in the past on some people in our civilizations and will continue to do so in the future. As long as people continue to turn a blind eye to evil religious and government leaders, atrocities will take place and some of them will even be supported by those who eventually will become accused are victims of their own wrongdoings.

Does anyone remember the Ku Klux Klan? If you live in the south eastern part of the United States, there is a very good chance that you have heard of them or even know someone who belongs to this organization. The Ku Klux Klan was responsible for hanging African Americans throughout the early 1900s to prove that the white race was superior to the race of black people. Their religious beliefs fueled them with righteousness.

If this going on anywhere in the world today, may be issues about abortion or gay marriage. It seems like an oxymoron, if we allow gay people to get married, we won't have to worry about the abortion issue.

Some Christians, but most Americans look at this as a shameful part of our American heritage. It's not something that most Americans would ever support today. I would like to point something out about the Ku Klux Klan, they started out as a Christian organization and made examples out of other white people who weren't conforming to their ideal Christian society.

There are stories of people that abused their wives and the Ku Klux Klan set them straight, one way or another. If it required beating the crap out of them or killing them, something needed to be done and they are morally obligated to perform the task as Christians. These people took their Christian beliefs to an extreme.

When are we as a country and the world going to start fighting religious fundamentalism at its core and stop the atrocities that are going on today, using religion to justify their wrongdoings.

Create Personal Power

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Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a self help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Spoiled Children
Spiritual Journaling

How to Save Green in a Green Bathroom Renovation

In today's uncertain housing market, whether you are thinking of an extensive bathroom renovation or planning a face lift, the remodeling decisions you make today, and their results, will impact your wallet and the environment today, and in the future. By using bathtub refinishing as the core method of your green bathroom renovation project, you will save money, time and the environment. The core principle of green bathroom renovation is to save natural assets that are so very important to our survival, while saving money - green and the environment- green. These assets include water and energy.

Speaking of saving natural resources, let's talk first of all then about bathtub refinishing.

Bathtub reglazing costs about $450-$650 and is done in the bathroom. Home owners can even choose their own color scheme. For instance, you may like a very light pink bathtub, to with your darker color pink wall. And you may finish it off with a black sink and toilet ( new toilets only may be refinished. check with your local bathtub refinishing company.) put together. There is no tear-out, no plumbers or tile-setters involved. To recap: the benefits of bathtub refinishing over replacement are savings in time, money (up to 80%) and the environment- green.

And speaking of green, tub replacement costs $1500-$2500 depending on location and contractor. Here are the reasons why it costs about $300 to buy a new tub at your friendly home remodeling store, but costs $1500-$2500 to replace, not counting the cost of dumping the non-biodegradable tub into the landfill,- environmental impact.

Replacement of a bathtub involves tear-out, and the services of different sub-contractors. Hiring different sub-contractors yourself or through a hired general contractor, is a specialty in mess- if any exists. It takes a special gift in the art of co-ordination, and answer to lots of prayer. Such miss and match scheduling can give you ulcers, and raise your blood pressure- I am not a doctor. To recap: replacement involves the services of different contractors with varying skills and businesses, working on one project at your place, in a little room- your bathroom. Good health to you.

Now, consider the energy cost of replacement - energy is used in making and transporting new fixtures. First, the raw material have to be procured and transported to a warehouse to start the manufacturing process. Then valuable assets are wasted in the transportation of a new fixture from the factory to the warehouse, and to its final resting place-your bathroom. Replacement costs more, takes more time and its impact on the environment is one that a lot of people do not want a part of it.

Other energy and water savings

One of the ways that water is waster is wasted and green goes down the drain is by using old, water guzzling shower heads. Replacing them saves in water bills. Dual- flush toilets are used by many to cut down on the amount is wasted and the amount of green that is washed into the toilet. Dual flush toilets as name implies, has two flush modes. One for number one and another mode, using more water when going number two. Energy efficient bulbs will definitely cut down your energy bills. Skylights in your bathroom can add an inspirational ambiance, and supply you with a fresher and cleaner air.

Today, many are doing their best in looking for ways to save money in their green bathroom renovation, while adding value that makes a positive impact on the environment. Bathtub refinishing, when combined with other energy, water and environmentally sound and best renovation practices is a happy choice choice for saving green and living green in a blue economy.

Wilson Uche Ukah, is the President of Refinishing Stars, a bathtub refinishing company serving the bathtub reglazing needs of homeowners in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville. Refinishing Stars, refinishes bathtubs, sinks, and countertops for hotels and motels nationwide. He writes regularly on green remodeling. Wilson can be reached at http://www.refinishingstars.com or sales@refinishingstars.com

Masonry Books
Building Contractor Books

The Planet is in Danger - Alternative Energy is Our Only Choice

When we talk about Alternative Energy, we are referring to alternatives to Fossil Fuels. Ideally Alternative Energy Sources would be renewable for an indefinite time. The Environment is being constantly damaged by the use of Fossil Fuels and the future harm, which includes the massive increase in Greenhouse Gasses, is something we all need to be made aware of. Alternative Energy Sources would not harm the environment in any way, making them safer for the Planet, and making a much, much cleaner option.

Alternative Energy would be self sustaining, never run out, never become expensive and be readily available for everyone. It is only a matter of time before the large Energy Companies adopt a more environmentally friendly position and actively become involved in the search for Alternative Energy Sources.

The options being examined today are Wind Power, Solar Power, Water Power, Biomass Power, Geothermal Power and even Tidal Power. Whilst some of theses options have a visible impact on the environment, the overall impact is a negative one as there will be no damage to the environment.

Many of these options have been used, on small scales, for many years. Wind Power in Holland to drive Windmills. Water Power to drive Water Mills to produce such things as flour, and more.

Today we are used to seeing Solar Power panels taking light from the sun and converting it into energy that will heat our houses, produce hot water and more. Solar Power is also used in places such as swimming pools. This Alternative Energy source is harnessed by covers over the pool that collect the light, convert it and help keep the water warm.

In many parts of the world Geothermal Energy is is used to heat homes. In Greenland most homes are heated by Geothermal Power. Though most Geothermal sites are located near Volcanic regions, some are not. This Alternative Energy source is totally renewable and cheap to produce.

Another source is Tidal Power. I use this title to cover Tides, Rivers and Dams. Dams have a one-way system. Water is, basically, stored behind its huge walls and allowed to run through its systems driving huge turbines that produce massive amounts of renewable electricity we all use daily. Tidal Power is mostly two-way. Building a Dam across a River or Estuary, turbines or dynamos are built into the design. They produce power when the tide goes out, and produces power when the tide comes in. There is a lack of power production at both bottom and top tides , called slack tide , but this Alternative Energy Source is already in successful use in many Countries around the World, and a proposed Severn Estuary Barrier is soon to be built near my home in Barry in South Wales UK., producing enough Alternative Energy to power a city entirely, day in - day out, forever whilst the tides run.

These are just a few of the many sources being examined today. All these Alternative Energy options must be looked at and perfected and put into use very, very shortly or we will do, if we haven't already done, irreparable damage to the Environment. I do wonder what my children, and their children, will think of us in the near-future. Will they curse us or bless us? Its up to us. Its up to us today.

The Author is passionate about Alternative Energy. See his choice of Home Alternative Energy Options

Home Security Books
Feng Shui Books

Oprah Winfrey Show and the Movie the Secret

the Movie the Secret Was a Big Success, Watch Some Clips from the Oprah Winfrey Show on This Video

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a religious help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Magic Of Believing Book
Visualization And Affirmations

Solar Energy For Home - How to Get Solar Energy For Home Heating and Other Things

In this new age of physics and science, we have discovered as human beings the ingenious way to utilize the sun's energy as power for our benefit. Thus, it is possible to drastically reduce the cost of electric energy that tanker us down economically by converting to solar energy for home power.

Before you begin thinking about converting to solar energy for home energy consumption, there are some things that need to be considered. You have to determine what type of equipment you will be using and how much of energy you will require. You also need to have a sufficient location that you will be able to use to install a solar panel. Purchasing a durable solar energy panel is the first step in changing the way your home consumes energy. The exhibition will be much easier if you buy a kit that comes in a collective package. The problems of trying to find out what additional little extra parts you need and trying to purchase them in individual packages won't plague you. Solar energy for home power consumption is truly a revolutionary milestone in energy efficiency technology and the cost saving benefits are astounding.

You may want to consider putting the panels on the roof if you have not figured out where you want to place them. This is because the roof is closer to the sun which makes it the perfect place to fixate the panel. The panel will take this solar power but only from the sunrays and transfer it to a converter where the gathered energy will be stored. Make sure that your solar panel is not facing a direction where there are things like hanging tree branches or buildings in its way. You should scan the area around house to make sure that he had the ideal location and position so your solar panel will be able to get the most possible of the sun's abundant energy. As soon as you set out for utilizing solar energy for home power and energy, make sure that you gather a solar energy kit that comes with all the necessary parts to make the transition as smooth as ice. But in case you hadn't heard, you can build your own for less than $200 and have it up in a matter of hours!

For in-depth detail on the advantages of using solar energy and access to a step-by-step guide to building your own solar energy panel for less than $200 you can visit my website here at http://www.CreateHomeEnergyNow.webs.com Remember -- go green!

Flooring Books
Home Repair Books