Screenwriting ? The Lone Wolf Story Structure Template

Story Structure Templates are the fastest way to write screenplays. One of the most well known and often used templates, which goes beyond three and four act structure, is the Hero's Journey. Arguably, all stories are a variation of this template and the Lone Wolf is one of the most successful of those variations.

The Lone Wolf template is best explained with a combination of Arthurian Legend archetypes as well as Hero's Journey archetypes. A hero journeys to another land to discover the cause behind the death of blood relatives. A battle with Demon Kings, Enemy Knights, betrayal of an Oracle, Mentors, Shape Shifters and a growing set of revelations result in a Final Conflict and eventual catharsis. This hero can also be considered an anti-hero and this template allows for his final death with the inclusion of a Dark Knight.

The Lone Wolf story structure template consists of 56 sequences, which translates to approximately 2 pages per sequence to complete a full length screenplay. The first eleven sequences include:

1) The (developed) Hero interacts with a Demon King (1) and his Queen. There is a deep, forbidden relationship (maybe sexual) between the Hero and Queen, however, the Demon King is unaware of it and would disapprove if he knew. The Queen is uncomfortable with this situation but the Hero must keep it secret or similar, due to his dependent relationship with the Demon King, the Demon King's strength or that the Hero is in fact a Knight in the service of the Demon King.

2) The Hero feels the need to embark on an adventure, to discover the cause of a recent tragic event, where a family member died ? he suspects that the relative was murdered. The Demon King warns the Hero not to embark on the adventure; references to the dangerous nature of the adventure and the land therein; references to the dangerous nature of antagonists he will encounter there; references to the dangerous nature of the hero himself; references to the hero's status. Reasons may be given as to why the Hero must embark on the adventure. The Demon King may forbid the Hero to travel to the adventure; he may not desire relations with that Kingdom jeopardised.

3) Hero journeys to the land of the adventure. En route, we learn more of his character through his behaviour.

4) Hero arrives at the land of the adventure and makes his way to a social arena, usually an inn, which is full of strange and unfamiliar creatures. The (high) status of the Hero in this place is established. The Hero has arranged a meeting with a Mentor, who was familiar with the deceased and the events surrounding the death. However, the Mentor does not appear. The Hero (may communicate with the Mentor) is suspicious and learns somehow that the Mentor is not interested in this interaction.

5) The Hero enters the home or territory of the deceased relative, with special knowledge gained through some past experience. It is a dark and unwelcoming place. The Hero feels he is being watched. He finds a Magical Aid there. There are reminders of the blood relative's death, perhaps even the body of the relative waiting to undergo a death ceremony. The Hero demonstrates empathy and a closeness with the deceased.

6) The Hero finds a Safe Haven, where he meets an Ally (1). The Hero explains the rules and may have to buy the Ally's allegiance.

7) We learn more of the Hero's character through his behaviour.

8) The Hero investigates the death, by asking specialists, to see if it was caused by some foul play. There is no indication of foul play.

9) The Hero meets the close relatives of the deceased ? who are also related to him. The Hero queries them of the circumstances of the death. Indications as to how he died are given.

10) The Hero and the burial ceremony are being watched.

11) The Hero empathises with the relatives of the deceased and offers to provide support. He mentions his plans to marry the Queen, who is of course the property of Demon King (1) ?this also implies a coming conflict between Hero and Demon King (1).

The Hero's Journey and Lone Wolf story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com.

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

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You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com.

10 Tips to Avoid Getting Ripped Off by Web Traffic Experts

If you are looking at ways to increase traffic to your website there are many things you can do. Here are 10 tips to avoid getting ripped off by the mounting army of web traffic experts. Most of them will just take your money and waste your time.

1 - Unless you are particularly lazy or have plenty of money to waste, do NOT pay for information that is easily available FREE of charge. A good place to find FREE web traffic information is http://www.IdeaMarketers.com. Many knowledgeable people post all sorts of valuable information at this site. Just put the word "traffic" or "hits" into the search facility and start reading. Another good site to visit is http://www.searchengines.com/optimization/

2 - Explore all avenues of FREE information and FREE search engine submission before you start spending money. If you do this you will have a "benchmark" of statistics against which you can measure the results of the techniques and information you pay for. Also, implement just one change at a time and monitor your statistics for a few days before making further changes.

3 - If you do something that increases your "hits" and the traffic coming to your site, do more of it. If you do something that decreases your hits and traffic, stop doing it. This demonstrates the advantage of keeping a journal of everything you do.

4 - The more you learn to do for yourself, the less you will have to rely on others to do for you - and the more difficult it will be for others to trick you! There is no more powerful weapon than education. Read books and search the internet for the information you need. A good place to start is to teach yourself HTML (hyper text mark up language). Your education and thirst for knowledge will save you money.

5 - Do NOT, under any circumstances, be gullible enough to believe any of the promises made by persons professing to know how to "drive" traffic through your site. What is promised often does not equal what is delivered. Read past the "hype" to get to the truth.

6 - Check out the credentials of all the self-appointed "experts," "gurus," "mentors" and "web professors." If they have the letters PhD after their name, understand that it probably stands for "piled high and deep." If you find somebody that you think you can trust, ask for some trade references before you buy their wares. Use them.

7 - Before entering your credit card details into that secure server, remember what you had to do to earn the money you are spending. You can spend every cent you have trying to get traffic to your site. There are thousands of schemes and plans. All of them profess to be the ultimate fix. Remember also how difficult it is to lower that credit card balance when the statement arrives.

8 - This is good general advice for anything. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and has webbed feet, chances are... it really is a DUCK! Trust your instincts. Saying no thank you when you are suspicious of something can save you time, money and grief.

9 - Ask friends to review your website and get them to give you an honest appraisal of it. Any negative comments are good because they will show you where you need to improve. Being "too close" to a project can often blind you from the obvious.

10 - A clean, uncluttered site offering quality information will attract some traffic by virtue of its own inherent value. Conversely, a useless, inaccurate, cluttered site can have thousands of dollars spent on it and it will never retain traffic. You want people to keep coming back, don't you? Quality content is KING!

For more details on all of the above read Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of "A Simple Guide to Analyzing All Those Web Traffic Ideas." You can locate all of these at the Motivation and Self Esteem for Success website at the URL below.

PS: If you think this information might help a friend from falling prey to these dubious practices you can send them a copy of this article (or any related parts) or direct them to the website URL above. Let's get the word out and put a stop to this.

About the author: Gary Simpson is the author of eight books covering a diverse range of subjects such as self esteem, affirmations, self defense, finance and much more. His articles appear all over the web. Gary's email address is budo@iinet.net.au. Click here to go to his Motivation & Self Esteem for Success website where you can receive his "Zenspirational Thoughts" plus an immediate FREE copy of his highly acclaimed, life-changing e-book "The Power of Choice."

What Animal Communicators Do

Many people are awakening today to the idea that the animals who live with us are more than child substitutes, more than "pets". The term "pet" means an animal who lives with us for our amusement or as our companion. All animals are, in fact, sentience beings - conscious, intelligent, with life purposes and life goals. They are aware of themselves and of their situations. They make life choices. They often express unconditional love for the humans who are part of their families.

For most of my adult life I thought I was just pretending that I could have conversations with animals. It was something I did as a game or did without thinking. That was because I was sufficiently programmed as a child to reject idea that the communications I was experiencing telepathically were "just your imagination, my dear." After reading Animal Talk, by Penelope Smith, I came to the startling realization that I had been rejecting what my heart knew was true: I could communicate with animals and they could communicate with me. It was just a short jump from this insight to knowing that I wanted to be a professional Animal Communicator, to help others learn what I had learned.

In making this decision, I rejected the terms "pet psychic" and "readings" because I wanted people to understand that I am not reading the animal as if s/he were a deck of tarot cards, but rather having an intelligent conversation with another intelligent being. This is an important concept: animals are sentient beings with feelings. They are not toys to be played with and discarded when inconvenient. They are not to be treated as children or the elderly or the handicapped or the comatose. They are alive and aware. They think. They feel. They make choices. When they are born and for some length of time which varies with species, they are like human children, requiring additional care and nurturance. Then, like human children, they grow up, albeit into a body which may look small and cute, but which is adult. At this point, they are capable of making decisions for their own lives and should be treated with the same respect and honor that you would give a human equal.

As a professional Animal Communicator, I am asked to speak with the animals who live with other people to facilitate many varied situations. While each situation may have something in common with another situation, generalities are often of less value than allowing individual differences to come through. That is the virtue of being able to speak with an animal - the needs and feelings of that unique and special being can be heard, shared, and responded to in an individual way.

Unfortunately, no telepathic communicator - no person - is one hundred percent accurate all the time in any work. Error can occur because the telepathic connection is weak; because the human client has emotional and/or mental blocks about the situation; because the animal is lying or choosing not to communicate fully; because the meaning of the communication does not fit easily into the backdrop of information available to the human communicator; or because the telepath simply misconstrues the meaning. Each telepathic communicator brings her own emotional and mental baggage to any session: belief systems, expectations, past experiences and emotions. Being able to drop this baggage and to be a clear channel is an important part of the process of doing the work. The best among us do this on a regular basis, but all telepaths, as all other psychics, do filter the information somewhat through their own perspectives on reality. It is part of being human.

When I talk with a client, I am usually on the telephone with the human and telepathically connected with the animal. I work this way because my goals are:

1) To allow the human client to participate in the conversation by hearing a description of what I am experiencing as I experience it.

2) To have the human provide feedback, helping insure I'm on the right track in understanding and translating what I am receiving.

3) To help the human and the animal resolve the situation so that both of them experience a win-win outcome.

Many situations can be easily resolved for the benefit of both human and animal clients. The old adage of walking 100 miles in someone else's moccasins (or paws) is very applicable here. The animal's perspective may be very different from that of the human with whom the animal lives. An important aspect of my work is to help each side understand the other's perspective. Only with mutual understanding can a win-win be created. Only with mutual understanding can our Love for each other be complemented with mutual recognition of our Self in the Other. This leads to respect and admiration, and even greater Love. This is what Animal Communication is all about.

Rev. Nedda Wittels, M.A., M.S., is a telepathic Animal Communicator, Spiritual Counselor, and Shamballa Master/Teacher, offering private sessions in communication and healing for humans and animals. She teaches workshops in Animal Communication, Communication with Nature, and Shamballa Multidimensional Healing. She can be reached at 860.651.5771, NeddaW@aol.com, and http://www.raysofhealinglight.com

Stop Selling! for the Million Dollar Contract

During the introduction of the "Stop Selling!" philosophy, we typically use the example of buying shoes to make the participants aware of the infinite number of ways buyers decide on purchasing simple items.

While using this example makes it easy to get a deeper understanding of buying behavior, it often creates doubts as to whether the "Stop Selling!" approach is equally applicable to selling high-value solutions in business-to-business (B2B) settings. As a matter of fact, this approach is practical for these situations as well.

During my corporate career, I was involved in mostly technical solution sales with order values typically ranging from 20,000 to 4,000,000 USD. Now that I'm working with the "Stop Selling!" approach, I realize that this method would've been extremely useful at that time!

Let's have a look at the key benefits of this unique approach and how they are achieved:

1) Creation of deeply trusted relationships for long-term recurring business
2) Acceleration of the buying decision, leading to more time available for more sales
3) Improved margins by becoming a truly trusted partner

1) Recurring sales through deeply trusted relationships

The "Stop Selling!" approach is much more than a method. It is based on a mindset that differs quite considerably from the typical sales mindset.

Most salespeople believe that once they discover a customer need that could be satisfied with their product (products can be goods, services, solutions, etc.), they have something to sell. As a consequence, perhaps after some further needs analysis, they start pitching their product, hoping that it will lead them to a sale.

However, even though a buyer may have a need that perhaps could be met by the seller's product (or the product of the competition, for that matter), it doesn't necessarily prompt him to act upon that need. There can be numerous reasons for this behavior, including poor prioritization, lack of budget, complicated approval processes, and so on.

It is therefore important for a salesperson to acknowledge that identifying a need that could be satisfied is pretty meaningless unless the buyer realizes that this need is important enough for him to act on it.

If the salesperson is willing to accept the possibility that there might be nothing to sell at this point even though he sees a potential need, only then will he be able to interact with the buyer without creating any pressure.

The "Stop Selling!" approach promotes the concept of NATOO ? "Not being Attached To our Own Outcome". If a salesperson is able to shift his focus completely to the best possible outcome for the buyer independent from the seller's own outcome, he will be able to display true care, resulting in relationships based on deep trust.

Using this approach could mean that for the buyer, the best outcome might be not to buy, or to buy from another supplier.

During our "Stop Selling!" seminars we help the participants adopt this new mindset through a change in their belief system. This is achieved through "real plays", i.e., role plays that reflect their own situation. Through this exercise, they experience the role of their buyers and become aware of their own selling patterns and how they can change them.

Needless to say, a deep level of trust becomes more important when more is at stake in making a buying decision.

2) More sales through acceleration of the buying decision

While the "Stop Selling!" approach seems to be a soft approach towards sales, it is by no means a slow or passive one.

One of the key targets of our approach is to shorten the length of the buying cycle without creating uncomfortable pressure for the buyer.

In the true sense of coaching ? that is, to help the coachee speed up his development ? the seller assists the buyer in making his buying decision faster than he would without the seller's intervention.

Making a buying decision is like solving a jigsaw puzzle: the seller has an idea of what the final picture could look like and the buyer needs to assemble majority of the pieces to see the picture.

The puzzle pieces represent the criteria and factors the buyer needs to consider and align before he can make a decision. The seller, having an outsider's view of the entire picture, is in a position to coach the buyer through his decision by asking whether certain key pieces are already in place. In order to do so, the seller needs to learn how to ask the right questions without creating pressure and without disrupting the buyer's own efforts to move forward with his own process. We have observed that the coaching approach is an effective way to do this.

Obviously, for high-value buying decisions, the puzzle is more difficult to assemble. This also means a salesperson acting as a highly qualified buying coach can add tremendous additional value to the buyer.

3) Improved margins by becoming a truly trusted partner

It is far from easy for a salesperson to adopt this new mindset and truly coach the buyer, especially when the seller is used to being a consultant who believes he has all the answers. Habits are hard to change so this process requires a strong follow- through for new behaviors to be wholly adopted. This is why we emphasize the importance of effective follow-up procedures after our seminars.

Let's be realistic: even if we are fully aware of the benefits of the "Stop Selling!" approach and even if we can grasp what the new mindset and resulting behaviors should be like, we are still likely to make mistakes and may occasionally fall back into our old patterns. This, in itself, is not a problem ? as long as we are aware when it does happen. We need to become sensitive and create a higher level of self-awareness, so that we can take corrective actions when necessary.

However, once we manage to fully apply this new approach, the quality of our relationships with our (potential) buyers shifts. We become truly trusted partners instead of people who want to sell something. When we achieve this state, the selling price becomes secondary because both parties look for true win-win outcomes, which include a comprehensive margin for the seller also. This is equally true for selling shoes ? and for selling high-value solutions.

Conclusion: The "Stop Selling!" approach is not just a technique for selling certain products. It involves a new mindset for a different approach towards (potential) buyers. In effect, the buyer recognizes the seller as a truly trusted partner who adds new value to the relationship by being an effective coach for the buyer. The benefits for the seller are shorter buying cycles, recurring business and improved margins. Clearly, the impact on selling high-value solutions tends to be even more significant.

About Charlie Lang

Charlie works with senior executives who are already successful and want to stay at the leading edge. They are often challenged by issues like:
- How to improve staff retention, especially how to keep top performers
- How to achieve a corporate success culture that guarantees longterm success
- How to create new levels of excellence through high employee engagement
- How to transform the business results through a different approach towards sales

Charlie, an executive coach & trainer who is known for his innovative approaches towards leadership, change processes and sales, assists his clients in mastering these challenges. They achieve outstanding results through Charlie's unique application of latest findings in research combined with his own experience in intern. management and leadership.

Charlie is the author of numerous articles and of the book The Groupness Factor. He delivers speeches and keynotes on sales, leadership and coaching.

When AdSense Goes AWOL

No matter how hard you work to optimize your page, there are going to be times when Google just can't figure out which AdSense ad to deliver, so it defaults to delivering a PSA (Public Service Ad) instead.

Now I don't have any problem with charities, but I give to the ones that I choose to give to. Since I don't have a non-profit license of my own, the goal of my web site is to make money and I depend on Google AdSense revenues to help pay my bills. Someday I want it to fund my retirement as well, so I can't afford to have non-revenue PSAs showing up on my site.

The good news is the Google understands the human's basic greedy nature, so it provides us with an alternative to donating our precious web real estate to charitable organizations. That alternative is known as AdSense Alternate Ads.

As strange as it seems, this feature allows you to let Google competitors into your site. Don't worry, Google is allowing it with their eyes wide open. They even tell you how to set up the alternate ad code to work on your site and they let you do it right in your AdSense control panel.

Once you add the code to your site, Google will pull ads from whatever service you defined rather than serve a PSA. Google will do that even if those ads are coming from Yahoo, or Overture, or your grandmother's attic.

This goes a long way towards ensuring that you never lose an opportunity to monetize a visitor's time spent on your site. How nice it is of Google to gives us that opportunity.

Who do you choose?

Ah, now that's the big question. Most people head straight for Overture or Yahoo, but there are other fish in the sea worth considering. In fact, some of these fish make their living almost solely by serving replacement ads for PSAs. Run this search (http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official_s&hl=en&q=google+psa+alternatives&btnG=Google+Search) on Google and you'll have plenty of options to choose from.

Why bother?

Sometimes Google doesn't have any ads in its inventory to match your site's keywords. Sometimes Google gets confused and can't figure out which ads to deliver, so it grabs a PSA ad.

Google also has a not-so-readily-available list of what it calls "stop words". When the Google AdSense spiders detect these words on your page they automatically trigger PSAs. Some of the more commonly known words include severe profanity (think: George Carlin's 7 Words You Can't Say on T.V), as well as other words which may very be quite legitimate for your site such as pharmaceutical, drugs, death, dying, abortion, and the list goes on and on. At least we THINK that it goes on and on but no one really knows for sure outside of a trusted few Google staffers.

But no matter what the reason, you don't want non-revenue ads running on your site. There's no excuse when Google makes it so easy to keep the revenue flowing.

Diane provides marketing and internet profit tips. For more Google AdSense tips, visit http://www.adsense.deeljeabiz.com Email : deeljeabiz@gmail.com

Minimizing Homework Hassles

John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.com

Parents ? Minimize Homework Hassles?

It's 6:30 at night and you just got home from a long day at work, but the day's not over yet. First, there's dinner, then homework and don't forget the chores. Your husband has to finish his proposal by 7 a.m., and you have an important presentation for the president of the company tomorrow. Add a little stress from the monthly bills and the possibility of Dad's company being downsized, and you have the average US family scenario.

Given all these pressures you still want the best for your children and are willing to sacrifice for them. You want to give them the tools they will need to succeed in school and in life. The problem is time. Your solution is getting your children to take more personal ownership of their education. Consider what private schools have done for years.

In a study of 1,050 adults in St. Louis, Missouri, ranging from 28 ? 60 years of age - only thirty six people (3.6%) learned about goal setting when they were in young. The breakdown is very significant: 31 learned from private schools, 3 from their parents, and only 2 learned about goal setting in public schools.

Difference Between Public and Private Schools:

Private schools:

1. Make goal setting and educational ownership a priority.

2. Integrate these principles into the student's educational experience.

3. Students are taught that they are directly responsible for the quality of their education.

Public schools:

1. Teach goal setting as a small part of a bigger program.

2. Are under enormous pressure to complete the bigger program in a specific time.

3. Goal setting and educational ownership are not integrated into the school's curriculum.

We can't continue do the same thing over and over again and expect different results! Parents can't wait for public schools to make goal setting a priority!

Teaching your child about goal setting and educational ownership will minimize your homework hassles. It will help your son or daughter make better decisions, take more responsibility, and embrace your efforts to help them succeed. In addition, knowing how to set and achieve goals will positively impact your child's motivation, class participation, and academic achievement.

For your FREE subscription to Mr. Bishop's "Teaching Moments" please visit the website.

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FREE Reprint Rights - You may publish this article in electronically or in print, in whole or in part, as long as the bylines and website address are included.

John Bishop is the Executive Director of Accent On Success? an organization dedicated to giving parents, teachers, and other caregivers the tools they need to help children succeed in school and in life. He is the author of Goal Setting for Students?. http://www.GoalSettingForStudents.com

First Responder Human Hibernation Units

In the next few years paramedics, first responders and military medics will have instant hibernation devices. These devices will come in small canisters of the gas to slow the body down after replacing lost blood and/or stopping bleeding. The replacement blood will be synthetic and coagulate faster to seal the wounds and once this happens the victim of the injury will be given hibernation gas. This gas will put the person in temporary suspended animation. When multiple victims are around each person will be administered the hibernation gas as the available first responders work thru the victims in order of most injured and serious first.

The gas used may be hydrogen sulfide, which in high concentrations can be a deadly toxin, but in the proper ratio will merely cause induced hibernation. Mark Roth and a team of medical researchers have proved concept by putting mice into hibernation similar to bears. Their mammalian bodies were slowed by 90% and the possibilities for this method for saving people are truly endless.

Imagine the benefits to the saving of lives in automobile accidents, train wrecks, bus crashes or airliners running off the end of a runway in a ball of fire? Imagine in a severe Hurricane, Earthquake or other natural disaster? This is a super break thru in medical research and must receive full funding for all applications and problems it might solve in the future on our elliptical traveling pale blue dot.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs

How To Save Money On Car Loans

Have you noticed that everyone seems to have a newer car than you? There's good news. You can find a way to upgrade your old clunker to a newer model. There are many ways to save money on your car loan. Lenders are competing for your business, and more and more car loans are approved to allow more people than ever to buy a car.

So now that you've decided to buy a newer car, the question on how to pay for it arises. If you're like most people, you don't have the cash needed to buy a new car. The other option is to borrow the money. There are certain guidelines to follow which could help you save money on a car loan. Careful planning, comparison-shopping and persistence are necessary to find the best deals.

If your credit rating is good, you should have no problem in negotiating a low interest rate. However, there are still basic principles, which apply during your search to find ways to save money on car loans. If you have a pile of credit card bills to pay and have made recent large purchases such as another car or a home, it is likely that your loan will have a higher interest rate. The object is to save money while negotiating your car loan.

Having a good credit report is an important asset and one of the basic requirements for saving money on car loans. You should always keep your payments current to avoid those nasty little "late" notices that appear on your credit report. It is especially important that your debts be paid on time for a few months prior to applying for a car loan. You will be asked to list financial institutions in which you have accounts, and it's nice to be able to show some savings, too. Your credit score may be reduced which could prevent you from saving money on your car loan. Your credit score also dictates the interest rate on your loan.

Another way to save money on a car loan is to have a sizable down payment or trade-in. The less money you borrow the lower your total interest will be. To save yourself from a hassle while negotiating arrangements for a car loan, it is helpful to be pre-approved for the amount of money you need to finance your car.

There are many financial institutions more than willing to finance a car for you. A reputable lender is obviously going to make some profit or they wouldn't be in the business of lending money. You can use a traditional lender such as banks, credit unions, etc., but you should also compare their interest rates with the online lenders as well.

Most car dealerships are very happy to arrange a loan for you. First, you choose the vehicle you want, test drive it and make the decision to buy it. The majority of car dealerships is honest and will gladly help you find a way to save money on a car loan. Be sure the dealer you select has a reputation for placing customer satisfaction first.

Naturally, a salesperson may want to sell you the more expensive models, but you should stay focused on your goal of getting the most for your money and saving money on your car loan.

About The Author

? Noel Hynes is the owner of http://easy-auto-loans-online.com. Easy online auto loan applications.

7 Strategies to Overcoming Anxiety and Panic Attacks

You Can Overcome panic attacks and anxiety!

That is great news to those who suffer day in and day out, year in and year out. I have and I know that you can too.

THE SYMPTOMS
For me it started with heart palpitations. My thoughts immediately steered to fear. Then my throat would become dry so I could not swallow. Then my body would feel "weird". Dizziness and blurred vision. By this time I was convinced that I was about to die. I kept waiting for the symptoms to get worse and they did. I use to suffer from panic attacks so badly that I had to go to the hospital by ambulance. I was so embarrassed when the doctor checked me and told me that there was nothing wrong with me. When I had to go grocery shopping I would get a funny feeling in my stomach before I left the house. Once I got inside the grocery store I felt like I had to run out or else I would become overwhelmed. I dreaded the thought that I might have a panic attack in public. I had to talk to myself and prayed up and down each and every aisle of the store. I knew that if I ran out, my family would not have food and I would have to start all over again. The people in the store had no idea the personal torture I was experiencing. People at church had no idea how hard it was to sit in a large crowd.

AWARENESS When the symptoms first started, I had no idea what was happening to me. One day I was watching T.V. and some people were on a show talking about the symptoms and the light went on, "That's me! That's what I have been going through". That was the beginning of my healing! Knowledge is power. I thank God that He allowed me to turn to the channel and hear those people talking. I also helped me to know that I was not alone. I suppose that those of you who suffer from the effects of anxiety are glad to hear that you are not alone.

Steps to Overcoming

1) READ Read as much as possible about anxiety and understand what are some of the causes. (Email me for link to books).

2)PROFESSIONAL HELP Go to a counselor or therapist to get to the bottom of the anxiety. The physical discomforts are trying to get your attention - Pay attention to a greater dis-ease within. Pray for God to send you to the right person. He will.

3)RELAXATION Listen to a tape or CD for RELAXATION This was one of the things that helped me tremendously. I needed to reprogram my mind with positive and true statements that were life giving and empowering. Click below for CD's and cassette tapes to help you overcome anxiety and panic attacks. Breathing correctly is a part of relaxation.

4) EXERCISE Physical excercise has tremendous value. It releases chemicals that generate good feelings, called pheromones. It's good to feel good!

5) HEALING IN GOD'S WORD Meditate on scriptures that enhance your trust in God. One scripture that helps me when I really let it sink in is: Matthew 5:25-34. Am I not more than a bird to God? You better believe it and so are you! Birds don't work or store up food yet God takes care of them. Wow! The next time you see a bird think about that!

6) MAP YOUR JOURNEY Create a time line by drawing on a sheet of paper when your first signs of discomfort started. Write down what major events happened at that same time. Note the year/date. Go back as far as you can. This process helps you to take a bird's eye view of your life. When I did this exercise, I found that the first time I experienced a full panic attack was in 1984 and I had just made a major move from someone very dear to me. I also discovered that there agoraphobia before any panic attack ever appeared. Do this it will help you understand what has been going on and what triggers extreme anxiety. (You may need to use than one piece of paper).

7)God's Power to Heal
Remember,God still heals. We must let go of all the passed disappointments, and betrayals. God is not like any human being with whom we have had a relationship. God faithful and just. Jesus walked this earth so you can talk to Him about yours trials. Pray as the early disciples did, "Lord, increase my faith". FAITH is the opposite of anxiety. Faith not only pleases God but keeps us trusting in God's fatherly care. I am a witness!! Praise God!

If just one person is helped by this article, I will have accomplished what God set me out to do -Help someone along our earthly journey.

Pray for me. I will pray for you.

Glenda M. Thomas, Editor of Sister 2 Sister Newsletter

http://www.glendathomas.com/editor.html

Jewelry and Gemstone Care & Cleaning Tips

Diamond earrings, emerald rings, ruby bracelets, sapphire pendants; no doubt about it everybody loves beautiful gem stone jewelry. Gemstones are quite literally hard as rock, buy they can be damaged from careless handling and negligence. Here are some tips for keeping your gems and jewelry looking fabulous for years to come.

1. Remember, even the hardest gemstone variety can be vulnerable to breakage if it has inclusions that weaken the crystal structure. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before strenuous exercise. Even the hardest gem of them all, diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow. Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in a loose, then lost, gem.

2. Most importantly, store each piece of gemstone jewelry separately so that harder stones don't scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the finish on your gold, silver or platinum if you throw your jewelry in a heap in a drawer or jewelry box.

3. Rings in particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the gem, particularly if you wear them all the time. You need to clean them regularly to let the light in so your gems can shine. To clean transparent crystalline gemstones, simply soak them in water with a touch of gentle dish soap. Use a bowl of water rather than the sink to eliminate the risk of anything going down the drain. If necessary, use a soft toothbrush to scrub behind the stone. Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want to make sure threads won't catch on the prongs) For diamond, ruby or sapphire, a touch of ammonia in the rinse water won't hurt a bit and can add extra sparkle (for platinum and gold only, not silver!). Think twice before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds and rubies and sapphires will be fine but many other gems many not be, in particular emerald, opal, pearls, peridot: when in doubt, leave it out.

4. Organic gems like pearls, coral, and amber should only be wiped clean with moist cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft and porous. Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume: they can, over time, damage pearls in particular. Opals also require special care. Never use an ultrasonic, never use ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light.

5. Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite, require special care because they are rocks, not crystals of a single mineral like transparent gems. There gem materials should just be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and discolor it. Never use and ultrasonic cleaner and never use ammonia or any chemical solution.

A little care and common sense can add life, luster and longevity to your precious jewelry and gems. Protect your investment by following the above guidelines.

For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com

Get Your Credit Score To Soar In The Twinkling of An Eye

Ever wonder how a creditor decides whether to grant you credit? For years, creditors have been using credit scoring systems to determine if you'd be a good risk for credit cards and auto loans. More recently, credit scoring has been used to help creditors evaluate your ability to repay home mortgage loans. Here's how credit scoring works in helping decide who gets credit -- and why.

What is credit scoring?
Credit scoring is a system creditors use to help determine whether to give you credit.

Information about you and your credit experiences, such as your bill-paying history, the number and type of accounts you have, late payments, collection actions, outstanding debt, and the age of your accounts, is collected from your credit application and your credit report. Using a statistical program, creditors compare this information to the credit performance of consumers with similar profiles. A credit scoring system awards points for each factor that helps predict who is most likely to repay a debt. A total number of points -- a credit score -- helps predict how creditworthy you are, that is, how likely it is that you will repay a loan and make the payments when due.

Because your credit report is an important part of many credit scoring systems, it is very important to make sure it's accurate before you submit a credit application. To get copies of your report, contact the three major credit reporting agencies:

• Equifax: (800) 685-1111
• Experian (formerly TRW): (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742)
• Trans Union: (800) 916-8800

These agencies may charge you up to $9.00 for your credit report.

Why is credit scoring used?
Credit scoring is based on real data and statistics, so it usually is more reliable than subjective or judgmental methods. It treats all applicants objectively. Judgmental methods typically rely on criteria that are not systematically tested and can vary when applied by different individuals.

How is a credit scoring model developed?
To develop a model, a creditor selects a random sample of its customers, or a sample of similar customers if their sample is not large enough, and analyzes it statistically to identify characteristics that relate to creditworthiness. Then, each of these factors is assigned a weight based on how strong a predictor it is of who would be a good credit risk. Each creditor may use its own credit scoring model, different scoring models for different types of credit, or a generic model developed by a credit scoring company.

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, a credit scoring system may not use certain characteristics like -- race, sex, marital status, national origin, or religion -- as factors. However, creditors are allowed to use age in properly designed scoring systems. But any scoring system that includes age must give equal treatment to elderly applicants.

What can I do to improve my score?
Credit scoring models are complex and often vary among creditors and for different types of credit. If one factor changes, your score may change -- but improvement generally depends on how that factor relates to other factors considered by the model. Only the creditor can explain what might improve your score under the particular model used to evaluate your credit application.

Nevertheless, scoring models generally evaluate the following types of information in your credit report:

• Have you paid your bills on time? Payment history typically is a significant factor. It is likely that your score will be affected negatively if you have paid bills late, had an account referred to collections, or declared bankruptcy, if that history is reflected on your credit report.
• What is your outstanding debt? Many scoring models evaluate the amount of debt you have compared to your credit limits. If the amount you owe is close to your credit limit, that is likely to have a negative effect on your score.
• How long is your credit history? Generally, models consider the length of your credit track record. An insufficient credit history may have an effect on your score, but that can be offset by other factors, such as timely payments and low balances.
• Have you applied for new credit recently? Many scoring models consider whether you have applied for credit recently by looking at "inquiries" on your credit report when you apply for credit. If you have applied for too many new accounts recently, that may negatively affect your score. However, not all inquiries are counted. Inquiries by creditors who are monitoring your account or looking at credit reports to make "prescreened" credit offers are not counted.
• How many and what types of credit accounts do you have? Although it is generally good to have established credit accounts, too many credit card accounts may have a negative effect on your score. In addition, many models consider the type of credit accounts you have. For example, under some scoring models, loans from finance companies may negatively affect your credit score.

Scoring models may be based on more than just information in your credit report. For example, the model may consider information from your credit application as well: your job or occupation, length of employment, or whether you own a home.

To improve your credit score under most models, concentrate on paying your bills on time, paying down outstanding balances, and not taking on new debt. It's likely to take some time to improve your score significantly.

How reliable is the credit scoring system?
Credit scoring systems enable creditors to evaluate millions of applicants consistently and impartially on many different characteristics. But to be statistically valid, credit scoring systems must be based on a big enough sample. Remember that these systems generally vary from creditor to creditor.

Although you may think such a system is arbitrary or impersonal, it can help make decisions faster, more accurately, and more impartially than individuals when it is properly designed. And many creditors design their systems so that in marginal cases, applicants whose scores are not high enough to pass easily or are low enough to fail absolutely are referred to a credit manager who decides whether the company or lender will extend credit. This may allow for discussion and negotiation between the credit manager and the consumer.

What happens if you are denied credit or don't get the terms you want?
If you are denied credit, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act requires that the creditor give you a notice that tells you the specific reasons your application was rejected or the fact that you have the right to learn the reasons if you ask within 60 days. Indefinite and vague reasons for denial are illegal, so ask the creditor to be specific. Acceptable reasons include: "Your income was low" or "You haven't been employed long enough." Unacceptable reasons include: "You didn't meet our minimum standards" or "You didn't receive enough points on our credit scoring system."

If a creditor says you were denied credit because you are too near your credit limits on your charge cards or you have too many credit card accounts, you may want to reapply after paying down your balances or closing some accounts. Credit scoring systems consider updated information and change over time.

Sometimes you can be denied credit because of information from a credit report. If so, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires the creditor to give you the name, address and phone number of the credit reporting agency that supplied the information. You should contact that agency to find out what your report said. This information is free if you request it within 60 days of being turned down for credit. The credit reporting agency can tell you what's in your report, but only the creditor can tell you why your application was denied.

If you've been denied credit, or didn't get the rate or credit terms you want, ask the creditor if a credit scoring system was used. If so, ask what characteristics or factors were used in that system, and the best ways to improve your application. If you get credit, ask the creditor whether you are getting the best rate and terms available and, if not, why. If you are not offered the best rate available because of inaccuracies in your credit report, be sure to dispute the inaccurate information in your credit report.

? Copyright - www.deleteuglycredit.com

Omar M. Omar is the owner of http://www.deleteuglycredit.com and - Author of "The Credit Repair Bible" book. The website is dedicated to providing credit consumers free advice on how to repair credit. It also provides credit consumers numerous information about their credit report, credit laws, and their rights as a consumer.

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, in your Newsletter, on your website, or in your E-Book, as long as the author's Resource Box is included with the article.

Going Deeper - Book Review

Going Deeper by Jean-Claude Koven is certainly a nicely presented, hard-cover book. This fiction fantasy has an obvious inclination to aid readers who are embarking on their personal spiritual quest.

The main character, Larry, is going through a break down, of sorts. He decides the best cure is to retreat into nature. The problem is that along the way, Larry begins to hear the voice of his dog speaking like a guru. Unsure if he is going completely mad, he continues in shock until he is able to absorb the shift in reality. Between Zeus, the talking dog, and being visited by a variety of spiritual guides, Larry learns the answers to his many questions about life, meaning, destiny and more.

One could say this is definitely a unique story line! Personally, I found the book difficult to read, as it was a little too deep, sometimes tedious and occasionally the story line seemed a little ridiculous. I truly believe it was the authors intent to include a vast amount of information that may guide spiritual seekers, but it is written with some elements of humor and zest. Jean-Claude has been on an extensive journey of his own and elements of many belief systems can be seen throughout the book.

ISBN#: 0972395458
Author: Jean-Claude Koven
Publisher: Prism House Press

~ Lillian Brummet - Book Reviewer - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment ? Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry.
http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit

When Advertising Wears Out

One of the challenges facing marketers is determining the most effective level of advertising exposure for a brand, while maintaining a given budget. Conceptually, the media planner could choose continuous advertising (even exposures spread over a period of time) or follow a strategy of pulsing ("on" for some months and "off" for others). The decision is important because the wrong one will considerably affect customer response. When advertisements are run at a low frequency (very few times), they run a risk of going unnoticed. The first time customers view an advertisement, a majority of the time, the message doesn't even process in their minds. On the other hand, when an advertisement is run at a high frequency, advertising wearout may occur. Therefore, the task at hand is finding just the right frequency for a positive response.

Overly repetitive messages typically have a negative effect on customer attitudes as they relate to a brand. Advertising wearout occurs when, at some level of repetition, the customer's affective response is either no longer positive or shows a significant decline. Advertising wearout is the result of excessive frequency causing viewers to perceive there's nothing new to be gained from processing the advertisement, thereby withdrawing attention. That's assuming all possible customers view every exposure, which is unrealistic. Not every customer will see every rotation. That's why it becomes difficult to find the optimal level of exposure. Media planners must remember that not every rotation is seen by all customers.

Wearout can also be a hazard, causing negative customer attitudes. Aggressively communicating with your customers doesn't always lead to poor or deteriorating relationships. But unless media's carefully planned and executed, it may ruin the opportunity to build long-term customer equity. So, the question is "How do marketers solve the puzzle of how frequently to expose their advertisements?" First, we have to address the issue of wearout. To avoid wearout, marketers frequently develop and rotate a pool of advertisements that employ different executions but convey the same basic message and claims. These executions typically share a number of common features, such as brand name, logo, tag line and general layout, while other features such as headline, copy and graphic elements are varied. The logic is that by introducing ample variations in advertising executions, the onset of wearout will be delayed. At the same time, the continued use of certain features of the advertisement across executions establishes consistency and presumably builds brand recognition or equity.

To understand why wearout occurs, scientists studied the brain to understand cognitive thinking and responses to these situations. They found the brain tends to ignore an object or theme that's repeated too many times. Essentially, most communication works by triggering memories. Old images or concepts are associated with something in the advertisement, recognizing elements as familiar. In the process, something new may be introduced and the brain links it with the old. When something new or unknown to a customer is presented to the brain for processing it evaluates: a) whether it is new and b) whether it corresponds to prior experience, knowledge and beliefs. The familiar portion of the advertisement is treated more casually. The brain recognizes it and spends less time evaluating its validity. It's interpreted as given. To that end, marketers should change portions of advertisements to keep customers interested.

Of course, when considering advertising wearout, we must consider that each situation, product, market, and many other characteristics are always variable factors that can't be conformed to an "advertising mold." Each situation must be dealt with differently. Radio, television and print media wearout at different levels; print media tends to wearout more quickly than more entertaining forms of media such as television. For example, which would you rather do, watch a commercial over and over, or read an article over and over? Obviously the stimulation that occurs with entertaining commercials will bring customers back more easily than a newspaper or magazine article.

The best way for marketers to fend off wearout is to rotate variations in theme with different executions of the same message strategy.

Regarding low frequencies, the question remains, "What isn't enough?" That's also dependent on the situation, but budget allowing, multiple exposures are more effective than one or a few. Media schedules are based on budgets and demographics. When selling products to the elderly, a low frequency will generally suffice. As for teens, the higher the frequency the better. Business-to-business typically requires higher frequency, as well. Simply put, the shorter the attention span of the customer, the more exposures necessary to break through.

There's no finite answer to the question of advertising wearout. The most important variables in deciding the optimal frequency are an understanding of the customer, rotating different advertisements, and keeping the customer's attention. There are rewards in reminding the consumer about the attributes of a brand. Reinforcement and refreshment of existing attribute, without wearing out the message, is a primary goal of advertising.

Mark Levit is managing partner of Partners & Levit Advertising New York and a professor of marketing at New York University. For more information visit http://www.partnerslevit.com or call
212-696-1200.