Artificial Turf Manufacturing, Market Potential

Posted by Costa Annie on November 21st, 2007 in · 0 Comments

The US carpet industry goes back hundreds of years, yet there are only a handful of skilled tufting companies that focus on manufacturing artificial turf materials; many are located here in the North America. Manufacturing plants, in the US, are currently located in Texas, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia.

Artificial turf construction for sports fields, golf applications and landscape projects is a steadily growing industry. Volumes may exceed 140 million square feet this year, up a cumulative 40% over 2005 volumes. (est. 2007)

Confidence in continued market expansion is evident as a major fiber and backing manufacturer, TenCate [Thiolon Grass], recently announced the allocation of $12 million in renovation and expansion to their US based yarn and fiber operation in Tennessee and several key players in tufting mills in Georgia, Alabama and Texas; producing work for major brands Fieldturf, Sportexe, Sprinturf, Astoturf, among others; have recently expanded manufacturing and warehouse capacity or opened new facilities.

After an explosion in the sports field market 5-6 years ago, nearly doubling sales figures overnight, industry wide numbers are climbing at a healthy pace of 15-20% annually.

According to a study, published in 2006 by AMI Research, the artificial turf market expansion, which includes a 30 to 40% growth factor in the fledgling landscape and leisure sports market, has been steady for over 4 years.

According to a spokesperson from Dow Chemical, manufacturers of artificial turf components, backing materials, infill and finished goods; sales of artificial turf materials account for approximately 5% of annual US carpet volume.

Dramatic growth outside the familiar sports market metaphor and consumer demands for a wider variety of choices for landscape and leisure sports has expanded the vision and development of new product lines. Artificial Turf Market Growth Explored

Complimenting and enhancing known fiber manufacturing and texturing processes used in the carpet industry for eons; yarns and fibers for artificial turf are manufactured to provide realistic feel and natural colors; extreme UV protection, anti-static, anti-microbial, flame and slip-resistance. Take a photo tour of how yarn and fibers are manufactured at ASGi.

Like so many industries today; artificial turf is manufactured by a few companies, repackaged, enhanced and sold under different brand names and delivered to local and regional markets through dedicated solutions providers, dealers, and distributors in a complex network of market partnerships where competitors one day are providing each other support the next.

While mills develop their own line of artificial turf styles, based largely upon the type of looms and finishing equipment they have, systems integrators engineer creative ways in which to deliver natural looking, durable goods to niche markets.

Responsible for over 90% of all artificial turf installed on the planet, sports field builders and systems integrators have driven the designs and engineered specifications for the artificial turf market since the beginning in the mid-1960s. Their customers’ ideas and needs have set the tone of the styles, colors and textures of turf available.

These systems are branded and brought to market under a variety of nationally recognized names and are generally sold through experienced, professional, artificial turf installers; licensed builders and value added dealers and brokers.

Some brands only market online or through landscape materials and building supply centers. A few system integrators have structured their offerings as franchise partnerships and others as protected dealer or distributor territories.

Until just a few years ago, business development outside of the lucrative and dependable sports field market was almost non-existent. One sees little product awareness, identity or corporate branding campaigns in the residential and commercial (B2B) market space. Even today, investments in channel development; co-op, rebate, terms or flooring programs are just being explored by most to include a plan that will incorporate landscape and leisure sports uses as a viable growth market; along with several others such as uses in airport, public works construction projects and public and private daycare facilities.

Credit for the substantial investments made in product and engineering research, development and increases in capacity must go to the pioneers of artificial turf fibers, backing and tufting, along with the systems integrators and their sports field builders.

Acknowledgement must be given for building momentum and global adoption of landscape and leisure sports projects into residential and commercial property markets to the grass-roots efforts of the dealers and installers on the local and regional level.

It has been the long hours, goodwill and dollars invested in niche marketing efforts that has captured the attention of consumers and delivered the goods to neighborhood markets which have built the strong foundation for the continuing horizontal growth we are enjoying today. Keeping on track with today’s growth, landscape and leisure sports market share will double in less than three years, providing increased opportunities for existing and new market partners.

No market is recession proof - however, double-digit growth during a construction slump speaks of the value of artificial turf as seen by consumers with funds to invest in high-value, professionally installed, home improvements.


Infections that Cause Bad Breath

Posted by Ho Kelvin on November 21st, 2007 in · 0 Comments

Sometimes, even the best oral hygiene in the world cannot help you from getting rid of bad breath. This usually happens when the condition that causes it is not directly related to the state of your oral care. One such cause is due to infections. In this group, there are many types of infection that cause your breath to smell. It is very important to understand that in such a situation, the only way to get rid of bad breath is to treat the infection. This might involve antibiotics and it is crucial that you consult a doctor before taking up any medication yourself.

Below are some examples of such infections that might affect your breath conditions.

Strep Throat
Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the tissues located in the back area of your throat (also known as pharynx) and the adenoids or tonsils. It is a common disease and it is very common cause of bad breath.

Foul mouth odors are actually a symptom of the infection. The tissues mentioned above will get inflamed and irritated and this will cause severe sore throat. The most common symptoms are a fever that is higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, difficulty and pain in swallowing, different areas of the throat and tonsils presenting yellow or white spots and swollen lymph nodes present inside the neck.

Children can also develop strep throat and, as a result, may suffer from headaches, body aches, nausea, stomachaches and vomiting. It is easy to differentiate from colds as strep throat does not come with the associated symptoms of runny nose, coughing or sneezing.

In most cases strep throat will go away on its own in a few days but may also require antibiotics in order to eliminate the threat of possible complications like rheumatic fever. To eliminate this risk, be sure to consult a specialist as soon as symptoms appear.

Nasal Polyps
Nasal Polyps are a mass of swollen tissue that is mucus covered, which grows out of the sinuses into the nasal passages. More than one nasal polyp can appear and they will block the passage, making it very difficult to breathe and smell. It will cause the person suffering from it to only use the mouth for breathing, which will eventually dry the mouth.

This condition usually appears in individuals who suffer from respiratory allergies or chronic sinus infections. Nasal sprays that contain corticosteroids are used to treat small polyps and if they do not respond to such a treatment option, surgery is needed in order to remove them. The problem is that in most cases nasal polyps do return even after being properly treated. We can thus experience a constant struggle with the condition and bad breath would be the least of our worries in this situation.

Sinusitis
Another highly common infection that causes bad breath is sinusitis. People affected by this condition will tend to notice that their mucus usually have a really bad odor of its own. Let us understand how this comes about.

Mucus is made out of interlinked layers of protein. When mucus covers the back areas of the throat and tongue, it will create an environment that is oxygen free. This condition is known as post nasal drip and it is a direct cause of bad breath in people suffering from sinusitis. Anaerobic bacteria can feed on it and often that post nasal drip can cover large areas of the mouth allowing bacteria to easily multiply and produce waste products. These result in the foul smell we are familiar with. Patients suffering from sinusitis can also experience a constant need to swallowing because of mucus gathering at the back of the throat.

When talking about sinusitis and bad breath, we are dealing with two agents that cause foul odors: mucus and anaerobic bacteria. This is why the bad breath exhibited by patients is one of the strongest of all bad breath cases caused by various infections.

Closing Thoughts
Although all of these infections are well known to cause bad breath, it is important to understand that other infections can also have the same effect on our body. These examples include lung infections and mouth infection. Sometimes they are even linked to each other. For instance, if you are suffering from sinusitis and you are exhibiting dry mouth and throat, this could lead to mucus reaching the lungs because the road to the stomach is not moist enough to guide it properly. We will thus get a complication of sinusitis that will manifest itself as an infection of the lungs.

The best way to handle any type of infection, both internal and external, is to consult a doctor. There are different tests that need to be performed in order to understand which treatment solution will work best. Also, there is the possibility of developing various complications that can lead to even more problems such as having to undergo surgery. Hence, it is always advisable to consult your doctor when in doubt.


Earning Money As A Mobile DJ - A Great Way To Earn A Living

Posted by Butler Martin on November 21st, 2007 in · 0 Comments

Do you like music? You should learn to Dj.It is possible to start in this venture with very little experience.Forget about trying to emulate the top Dj’s that can come later.It is very possible with a little practice to carve out a career in this industry

There are lots of people around where you live and they all have birthdays,anniversary’s and a host of other special occasions where your skills could be needed.It is very easy to spend loads of money on equipment that you don’t need.If you have a broad liking of all styles of music and feel you could choose music depending on an audience then you stand a good chance of making this venture work for you.You could be up and running in no time.

You do not have to be a master in mixing and scratching as this technique is the cutting edge of the trade.It is possible for a beginner to build a reputation and grow a business with little outlay.There are many mistakes you could make along the way so be prepared.Here’s a list of things you’ll need to know.

What sort of venues to choose and how to present yourself.How to set up your equipment and things you must avoid.Doing discos for people who know you and what type of music to stock.How to play to the audience and what to expect at the end of the evening.Expanding into other avenues and drumming up business with no advertising.Displaying the right image and using modern equipment to make your life easier.You’ll need to know these things if you want to learn to Dj.

Lighting effects can be very expensive but it is possible to get a great effect with just a couple of lights.Two pin spot lights directed onto a glass revolving ball will create a real retro feel that fills the room. Use an ultra violet light in a dark room as well to create a great effect where anything white or fluorecent will magically glow. Both of these effects are very cheap but very effective.

There is some fantastic software on the market that allows you to use a laptop to do away with cd’s and a mixing console.Your computer stores all your music on the hard drive and there is an on screen pair of virtual cd decks that you just drag music from a file on to the virtual decks and the music will automatically mix into the next track at the correct time.It is possible to create a complete playlist to run without you having to do a thing and if somebody wants a certain track, all you do is find the track and drag it into the playlist where you want it and the software does the rest.

Catering for birthdays, weddings and pubs will give you the broadest market with the most chance of spreading your name to a growing audience through word of mouth.Forget about trying to be cutting edge as this can come later if you want. Your main objective is to start earning money with little outlay and experience and starting to grow a reputation.

You need to take action and start with making a list of local pubs and clubs and offer your services at a reduced rate as a taster. Check out the auction websites for some equipment and choose basic equipment just to get you earning. Forget about specialist type music at the beginning of your Dj’ing career as this part is about building a reputation. After a while you will get work through word of mouth as people will recommend you.

Forget about spending a fortune on Dj’ing courses, like anything, you could spend a fortune learning the trade from professionals who say that you have to do their courses before you would be good enough.This is not the case.With the right tools and learning from the right people,you will be working in no time.Just like a marathon runner,every race starts with one step and you need to take that first step to put you on the road to becoming a mobile Dj.


Career Change While Pregnant

Posted by Callan Aine on November 21st, 2007 in · 0 Comments

Being pregnant can be difficult enough for many women who may suffer not only from health issues but also may have financial concerns due to the monetary responsibility of being a mother.

The constant thought of what is going to happen after the baby is born can be very stressful for them, particularly if they don’t want to go back to their present employer.

Many wish to make a career change while pregnant and feel that this is probably one of the best times for doing exactly that.

However, the opportunity of finding a new career, at this specific time in their lives, is very restrictive. How many employers want to take on a new employee, the mother of a new baby, knowing that she is very likely to be distracted by thoughts of the welfare of her baby throughout the working day rather than his or her company? They would also have their doubts on whether she would be reliable in her time keeping due to her baby’s needs.

However, a career change while pregnant is now very possible for every woman who wants to take the chance of working for themselves. They could utilise the skills they have accumulated during their time of working as an employee by setting themselves up as a consultant in specific areas of their knowledge base.

They could also use this time to take the opportunity of turning their hobby into a business. However, the handicap of this would be that they would have to allocate many hours into developing a new business venture and this is likely to be impossible with a new baby to look after.

The internet is possibly one area where a career change while pregnant would be an advantage to a woman at this point in her life. These advantages would include the fact that she would not have to leave the home, thus leaving her baby with someone else. She would always be on hand when required. She could work the hours she wanted to work and around the needs of her baby.

The skills required for her internet business could be acquired whilst still working for the employer and up until the time that the woman would have to leave the company on maternity leave.

Therefore finding an internet business which did not take too long to master the necessary skills could be the answer to many women who are looking for a career change while pregnant.


Retaining Staff in Asia

Posted by Jaegel Wolfgang on November 20th, 2007 in · 0 Comments

In today’s competitive market, retention of staff in Asia has become a serious issue for all business owners. Retaining staff in Asia is regarded as one of the biggest challenges for the success of any business organization; no matter it is small, medium, or big corporation.

In other words, retaining key staff is crucial for the long term success of a business organization. Effective staff retention not only allows to maintain your existing employees but also to attract high potential employees to your organization. Further, it can improve productivity, thereby enhancing ROI (Return on Investment.)

Today, many of the business set ups in Asia have realized the importance of staff retention, and as a result, majority of the companies in the Asia Pacific region have taken innovative steps to retain their key employees.

For instance, as per the recent survey records, Indian workers enjoy the highest salary increases, as a part of the retention strategies adopted by many of the firms in the country. Likewise, employees working in Chinese and Indonesian companies are also benefited from innovative retention strategies. Hence, no exception in the case of people working in other Asian nations including Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Malaysia. Mentioned below are some of the tips to retain your prized staff in Asia.

A lot number of options are now available to keep your valuable staff happily on board. As a first step to retain staff in Asia, it is advisable to hire the most successful candidate to fill the employment gap in your organization. The next step is to take care all of your staff as your invaluable client.

In other words, treat your employees as your partners and not as hired hands. Since it is quite expensive as well as chaotic to hire and train new employees, it is important that you treat them properly by compensating them fairly. Perhaps the most popular ways to retain Asian employees is to offer them competitive salary, which should be increased periodically. Apart from regular salary, the employees must be provided with beneficial packages. This in turn enables your staff to stay committed to your organizations.

However, money or salary increment is not alone staple for retaining staff in Asia. When any of your employees perform something unique, praise him with some kind of tangible items such as a watch or a fine dinner. If possible, admire him in front of his peers to let them know what unique he has done.

However, praising should not be embarrassing. It should be just to convey others what has set apart him from other employees. Similarly, on the successful completion of a team work or a tiresome project, don’t forget to honor each member of the team by saying ’well done’ or giving them a small gift in the form of a pen or corporate gift sets.

For successful retention of employees, it is also important that you give your employees a lot of freedom to express their ideas freely. Likewise, provide your employees with opportunities for personal and professional growth. Arranging innovative classes and conducting professional seminars would be helpful to promote the growth of employees.

Since the employees’ mental and physical fitness have great impact on a business’s success, it is vital from the part of business owners to encourage them for their good health as well as wellness of mind and body. For this, you can either engage a private Yoga instructor or gift them a gift certificate for a refreshing therapeutic massage. Further, an employee could grow in an organization only if he is provided a creative as well as challenging work environment.

In addition, as a part of employee retention, an effective operating system or a handbook consisting of policies and procedures of the organization is essential. This in turn allows employees to get an idea of the firm and effortlessly carry out a myriad of duties and responsibilities. Above all, a great way to retain staff is to conduct surveys to know the actual requirements of employees.

Nowadays, a plethora of specialist recruitment firms are in the scenario to render effective employee retention solutions to business organizations. These firms offer a range of services, from pre-recruitment procedures to recruitment and maintenance solutions.


How To Waste Your Time And Money In Internet Business

Posted by O Donnell T. on November 20th, 2007 in · 0 Comments

The internet is a great way to make money while sitting on your bottom. You lounge around in your pajamas, and the cheques drop in your letter box. Sure, that happens. For some.

There are many ways to waste your time, money and energy online. Many people give up on their internet business because they get caught up in these snares:

1. Content Is King.

You can write hundreds of eloquent, informative pages, only to have them ripped off by a ’scraper’. You can be _the_ definitive site on a topic, only to have sites which have better SEO and SEM outrank you. You need something that is unique, or near it; something a lazy spammer can’t duplicate easily.

Also: Anyone who uses the word ’content’ to describe what they’re offering is halfway to being a spammer. Think about an ’elevator speech’ for your site. How would you describe it in five words to someone? (That someone is also a non-techie, by the way).

You’ve got to be able to tell Joe Public what the main benefit is in a short and simple sentence. If you can’t, you’re probably wasting your time. People don’t want ’leveraged media aggregation services’. They want sex, money, power, beauty, laughter; something that helps _them_.

2. The Latest $197 Software.

You need a script. You try to ’Google’ it. You find one for $197 which seems OK. What you didn’t realise is that you could search through popular freeware directories first; likely there’s a free version of what you seek, that thousands of other webmasters are using. Or a cheaper one you could adapt.

Beware: There’s a class of cookie-cutter one-page internet marketing sites out there. Anyone researching how to make money on the internet will soon find them. They sell over-hyped, latest-trick software which will deplete your bank balance, or worse, get your site banned.

By the time a newbie gets to hear about a wheeze, it’s already been sucked dry by the inventors. In the middle are hucksters who claim to have made $1000s with it, and now they’re letting you in on the ’secret’.

Fact: When you’ve got a sure-fire way of making a lot of money, you keep it close to your chest. You only let it go when it’s tapped out.

3. Reciprocal Linking.

Someone told you this works. Someone else told you it’s useless.

The truth: I’d say it works if you trade links with related, high-quality sites for a while, then stop. You get some search engine attention, then you work on getting links from different sources. This makes your backlink profile more ’natural’.

If all your links are reciprocal you risk being flagged by a search engine algorithm. Engineers are constantly on the lookout for signs of quality, and signs of spam. Too much of one form of promotion too quick, and BAM!, you’re penalised, or banned.

4. Drudgery Which Should Be Automated.

You’ve heard you need backlinks. So you start submitting by hand to directories. This is boring and time-consuming. What you didn’t know was that there are submission services which will do 1000 in a day, for $50.

You need a software. You learn PHP to write it yourself. This takes ages, and bug-fixing is a chore. What you didn’t realise is that a freelance would code it for $200, and support it for six months.

In summary: You have limited time. Spend it thinking up ways to make money. Anything related to computers can be automated; that’s what they’re for.


Can Cayenne Pepper Be Used To Fight Bad Breath

Posted by Ho Kelvin on November 20th, 2007 in · 0 Comments

Nowadays, many individuals are turning towards alternative medicine when dealing with bad breath problems. Amongst the alternative medicine, herbs seem to be the most popular. Herbs are natural remedies and to deal with chronic bad breath, most herbalists would suggest using Cayenne Pepper.

Different studies have shown that this herb is beneficial for the digestive system and has a good effect on both the heart and circulatory systems as well. Cayenne is labeled as a nutritional herb and it is a high source of Vitamins A, B complexes and C. All of these vitamins help in the fight against bad breath by ensuring that the body is kept in tip-top condition.

Different reasons for bad breath
Some bad breath conditions are not directly caused by what we eat or by anaerobic bacteria. They could be caused by other reasons such as liver problems, colon problems or a general poor digestion. Using Cayenne in such cases might prove to be a very good idea.

This is because it contains important amounts of capsicum, a compound that has a direct impact in improving most body functions. The only thing that can be difficult to handle is the heat of the cayenne. Some individuals might not enjoy the hot feeling but those who do not have a problem with a little spice in their food will most likely enjoy it.

Cayenne also soothes the stomach and aids in digestion. It will also be a good weapon to fight bad breath because it promotes the proper processing of different fluids and also waste products in our bodies.

How to Use Cayenne
The best way to get Cayenne in your system is to make a tea out of one teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper and one cup of hot water. Drink such a cup one to 3 times daily and it will definitely have an impact on bad breath and will also come with the side effect of helping your vital organs function properly.

Conclusion
Unfortunately, although the benefits are numerous, not everybody will be able to get rid of bad breath by using Cayenne. If it does not work you might want to consult your doctor and see whether or not there is another condition that causing your foul mouth odors.

It is highly important to maintain an open relationship with your doctor and keep him updated at all times so that your doctor is aware of your needs and medical condition. This will help him to provide appropriate advise for you.


Simple Ways to Tackle Children Bad Breath

Posted by Ho Kelvin on November 20th, 2007 in · 0 Comments

Nowadays, it is very common to find children who are experiencing bad breath. There are many reasons for this recent phenomenon. But for most cases, this is usually caused by children not paying enough attention to their oral hygiene.

These children do not brush their teeth well and often consume too much food stuff that promote tooth decay. Such food stuff usually are sticky or contain too much sugar. When left in the mouth, these foods can become an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.

No matter what the cause of bad breath is, in order to solve this problem, you will need to find out the underlying cause of it. This involves recording the times when this condition usually occurs so that you will be able to narrow your search to the possible causes. Whatever the case may be, you need not panic as, in most cases, this is not a severe problem and your child is perfectly healthy.

Cause of Bad Breath In Children
Saliva helps to keep our mouth clean. During the day, the child saliva helps by washing away bad breath causing agents with the help of mouth muscles. However, when the child goes to sleep, saliva will not be produced anymore and muscles relax.

The longer the child sleeps, the more anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath will be reproduced. As most children do sleep a lot, this allows these bacteria to multiply and their breaths begin to smell. This is also known as children morning breath.

Most children will also show bad breath during the entire day and this is normal because most of them will be breathing through their mouths. Because of that it will cause the kids mouth to dry and this creates a perfect environment for anaerobic bacteria to appear and grow in numbers.

There are a lot of reasons for children to breathe only through ones mouth. In children, the most common conditions stand in sinus infections, various allergies, colds or even tonsils or adenoids that are blocking nasal passages. Habits that the children have such as thumb sucking or sucking on a blanket can also cause drying of the mouth and thus bad breath.

How To Get Rid Of Bad Breath In Children
In order to get rid of bad breath in children, the most common and efficient thing you need to do is decrease the mouth bacteria and increase saliva flow. Believe it or not, the most efficient way to achieve this is to teach your child how to brush their teeth properly. To put it simply, the better the brushing is, the less anaerobic bacteria present in your child mouth.

It is highly important that the tongue is brushed as well. A tongue scraper which is useful for adults may not be suitable for children yet. Hence, you may want to consider getting an electric toothbrush in order to make it both fun and more efficient

Mouthwashes and different fluoride rinses are not at all recommended when dealing with children because they will most likely swallow. Also, mints are not useful and as the child gets older the best alternative is still sugar free chewing gum or candy.

Conclusion
If all this did not solve the problems you should go to a doctor in order to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Your doctor would be the best person to tell you how to eliminate bad breath in children effectively.


How To Get And Stay Healthy

Posted by O Donnell T. on November 20th, 2007 in · 0 Comments

Here are six tips that are guaranteed to work, if you follow them all religiously. There’s no point eating well, then taking drugs and staying out late!

1. Eat Wholesome Food.

Eat plenty of fruit, fish and vegetables, drink clean water. Depending on where you live, you may need the bottled stuff, or the tap water could be OK. Avoid chlorinated water. If you’re in a First World country, and the tap water looks clear, and doesn’t taste of anything, it’s probably OK.

Packaged food is full of additives. These are flavourings, colourings and preservatives. The more ingredients a food has, the less healthy it’s likely to be. The preservatives are poisons, put into kill bacteria.

Try and get organic food, if you can. It’s less likely to be tainted. A healthy diet makes for a healthy body.

2. Sleep.

Get at least eight hours a night. If you need twelve, take them! Ignore those fools who say they can manage on four hours a night; maybe they can, but if you’re like a zombie at work, or you sleep longer at the weekends, you’re chipping away at your health.

Lack of sleep is very ageing. You become more prone to disease. Recovery time from colds is longer, and you get more of them. If you don’t get enough sleep you look haggard i.e. old. Sleep deprivation is akin to being a zombie; your IQ is less, memory poorer, and your reactions slower.

3. Avoid Drugs.

This includes cigarettes and alcohol.

A smoker is essentially in a constant state of ill-health; weaker immune system, less energy, less stamina. In time smoking can lead to serious disease. It lengthens recovery time from other diseases. Doctors tend to write-off smokers; they know their work is being wasted.

Cigarettes contain poisons like formaldehyde, ammonia, arsenic, and benzene. The reason people crave them is because they also contain nicotine, which is as addictive as heroin.

Alcohol is a poison. Drunkenness is a mild form of poisoning; hence its alternative name: intoxication. It attacks the liver, which is vital to your well being. You don’t want your doctor to tell you have the body of a fifty-year-old at the age of twenty-five.

As for illegal drugs: Apart from the direct effects of the substance itself, it may be mixed with additives that end up poisoning you. The vendors have no fear of consumer watchdogs; they can put whatever they like in their products.

4. Take some exercise.

Exercise gets the circulation going, and gets more oxygen into the body. I’ve noticed when I sit at my PC all day, I get stiff. If I do it for days in a row, I feel colder.

When I take a long walk, I can feel my joints loosening up, and I just feel ’better’ at the end of it.

We share a common ancestry with the great apes. They are very strong; a chimpanzee can kill you quite easily. This is partly because they take a lot of exercise swinging around the place and foraging for food; no sitting around for them!

5. Avoid Worrying.

Consider your problems dispassionately. Solve them in your mind, or put them aside. Continuous worry never solved anything; it just wears you down. If you have problems, resolve to deal with them, or deliberately avoid them; but decide, and then put them out of your mind. Stress and worry make you haggard, and pre-dispose you to disease. They keep you awake at night, and ruin the quality of your sleep.

Meditate. Resolve your problems before you go to sleep at night. Observe your thoughts and emotions dispassionately. You may be surprised to find how crazy most are!

Look, all you really need are clothes, food, and someplace warm to sleep at night. Everything else is a bonus. Remember, it all ends in the grave, for rich and poor alike. Today’s major problem will be tomorrow’s vague memory. So cheer up, and get healthy!


Getting An Offshore Bank Account Via The Internet

Posted by O Donnell T. on November 20th, 2007 in · 0 Comments

Looking for an offshore bank account? There is no need to use the many middleman websites you will find via a search engine. Most of these are *bogus*, even the slick-looking ones. More and more banks are offering offshore bank accounts direct. Just get a list of banks in the country you’re interested in, and go to their web sites.

Opening an offshore bank account is like opening one in your high street; meet their criteria, and you’re in. The only difference is you’re not there in person.

The first thing is to find out whether they will accept citizens or residents of your country. For example, Swiss banks tend not to want US customers; they don’t want the hassle from the IRS.

You will need to prove your identity, and the legal existence of your company, if you wish to open an account for it.

If applying by mail, DO NOT PART WITH ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. Get copies notarised by a notary public. Originals can be used for fraud or identity theft. Or they can get lost.

A Notary Public is a public officer commissioned by the State to perform notarial acts. A Notary is an impartial witness. The notary is empowered to issue an apostille.

Apostille - Is a method of certifying a document for use in another country pursuant to the 1961 Hague Convention. With this certification by apostille, a document is entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no certification or legalization by the embassy or consulate of the foreign country where the document is to be used is required.

In practice this means you provide evidence to this man that you are who you say you are, and/or that your company is what you say it is. You take an oath on the Bible. That’s right, it’s not a joke.

Due diligence: Banks need to show they have checked who their customers are, and how they came by their money.

Passport - If you apply by post a notarised copy is needed;

Information about yourself - name, date of birth, address, phone number etc.

Your economic background - documents showing how you earn your money (work contract, bank statement, tax return, company documents);

Origin of your deposits - documents showing how you earned them. If you sell a house, proof of the sale, a copy of the estate agent’s listing, and so on;

Information about your deposits - how much you plan to deposit, and what you plan to do with the money once you’ve banked it.

If opening a company account, you send an apostilled copy of the certificate of incorporation to the bank providing your account, along with evidence of your identity, an application form, and any other documents they ask for.

If you want to get an offshore bank account, *consider visiting the bank in person*. If you can, travel to the country in question, and open a bank account there. You probably live near one tax haven at least. This especially applies if you are planning to deposit large sums; find out who you’re dealing with!

NOTES:

1. Don’t pay a middleman to open a bank account for you. See above.

2. Do not use services which offer bank accounts in Eastern European countries.

You are likely to be cheated, possibly by the bank itself. Avoid Latvia!

3. Avoid web sites where:

The business address is a P.O. Box, or a ’Suite’;
The site is on a free web host;
The site is badly translated into English;
You have the sense you are dealing with Africans or Eastern Europeans;
The site has not been updated recently e.g. the Copyright reads 2001;
They’ve only been running for a few years;
They offer a range of dubious products - second passports, citizenships, anonymous debit cards;
You cannot pay via credit card - it’s much harder to get refunds on banker’s drafts, Western Union and e-Gold etc;
They require you sign a confidentiality agreement, or you have the sense you are entering quasi-legal or illegal territory.

Bogus offshore banking sites can threaten to report you to your tax authority if you question their methods. It’s an old con trick; get the mark involved in something illegal, then he can’t go to the authorities.

Offshore bank accounts and company formations are just like their onshore equivalents; there’s no big mystery about them. If you want a company formation, contact a local registration agent, who speaks English, in the country of registration. Then use another local agent to check what the first one’s done.

Open your bank account yourself.

One last thing: *don’t think that because your bank account and company are offshore you can do business in your home country, and/or with fellow residents, and avoid taxes there*.

You’ll find plenty of websites that’ll purport to help you, right up until the time you get a small brown envelope from your country’s tax inspectors, inviting you in for a little chat.


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