HI GUYS

miaonda83 · New Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

I was persuade to join here:P hehe
however it is nice to meet u guys here:))

~darkshines~ · Member Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 26 Location: UK

helloooo! *waves* Smile

_________________
Look! there's two women fucking a polar bear

zombozo3eyes · Member Joined: 26 Aug 2007 Posts: 32 Location: new mexico

hi, hope to see you around the forum:D
_________________
my signature!

jane520lin · New Joined: 25 Mar 2009 Posts: 5

For decades, the Twin Ports' economic landscape was planted firmly in big business such as manufacturing,

shipping, and mining. Although these trades are still vital to our economy, today's technological advances are

sowing the seeds of a new entrepreneurism that is allowing more people to jump the corporate ship and test the

waters of going into business for themselves. Home-based businesses in our region have emerged from the shadows in

recent years and proven that they can have a measurable impact on a local economy. We spoke with several area

home-based business people about why this impact will continue to grow in coming years. In addition to offering

tips on how to start a home-based business, they also explain why membership in the Chamber of Commerce is even

more important to those who go it alone. Mark Anthony, president of the Home-Based Business Association of

Minnesota, operates an extremely infon-native web site on the subject (www.hbba.org). Anthony believes that Duluth

is ripe for more home-based businesses. He says, "Duluth and the Iron Range are explosive right now in regard to

this trend. We've had a lot of inquirie from the area." Anthony says that a bias once attached to this type of

business is eroding. wow power leveling,
"There is still a stigma with home-based businesses among dyed in the wool corporates," begins Anthony. "Just five

years ago, it was like pulling teeth to get someone to admit that they worked out of the home. Now, it's become

almost a status symbol." Perhaps the image of home-based busi ness is improving because more people are realizing

that its contribution to the community is no nickel and dime matter. "Home-based business people spend their money

locally and it adds up to thousands annually," says Anthony. "Cities need to encourage these businesses, because

they help sustain a local tax base." One local entrepreneur who agrees that these businesses are vital to the

economy's health is Ken Nebel, of K.H. Nebel Associates, d/b/a Nebel Financial Services. "If you look at the

statistics, businesses that employ one to five people represent a huge segment of the economy," he states. "A lot

of these businesses are home-based. We are lucky here, because we don't have the zoning restrictions and other

obstacles that home-based business faces in the Cities." Nebel affirms that home-based business people are

strongly committed to their communities and prove that with their spending habits. He says, "I've found that Samls

Club has terrific deals on office equipment. Sam's Club is the home-based-business supplier for Duluth. Its

manager, Jim Caesar, another Chamber memher, is very supportive of the small businessperson." John Pegg started

the Entrepreneurs' Connection organization in Duluth two years ago. "We are definitely growing," Pegg says. "We

have about 100 people on our mailing list and I continue to meet more people who are looking for more options."

Home-based businesses are also changing how larger companies operate. Mary Smestad owns Positive Solutions, and is

a customer service consultant. She points out that more corporations are turning to contract services to protect

their bottom line. "It's a great selling point for my business," explains Smestad, "To tell a company that, by

hiring me on a short-term basis, they save money on taxes, annual salary and benefits. I think home-based

businesses in Duluth will really take off when more companies learn the benefits of using their services." All of

our contacts agree that Chamber membership is not just for storefront businesses and large corporations. "The

smaller the business, the more important Chamber participation is," says Ken Nebel. "My best clients came from

referrals from other Chamber members." Mary Smestad adds, "The networking is so important, and so is the education

about other companies. It's also a great morale boost for me - the Chamber is sort of my cheerleader." If you are

considering starting your own business, heed the seasoned advice of those who have gone before you: get informed

and be prepared. "You're going to be blindsided some months, no matter how good your business plan looks on

paper," says Smestad who attended classes at The University of Minnesota Duluth's (UMD) Center for Business

Development before starting Positive Solutions. "All of the freedom - flexible schedule, being in charge of my own

destiny - comes with a price; you're giving up the security of that monthly paycheck. Discipline and

selfmotivation are key. For every day you take off, there's an 18-hour day to make up for it. Know there's a big

learning curve at first; learning when the slow months will occur, so the next year, you can plan ways to fill

those gaps." Smestad says that the classes at UMD and at Lake Superior College provided her with excellent

preparation and support. Beth Travis-Betts, owner of Art Direction and Advertising agrees. "I took small-business

classes at UMD and at Lake Superior College. You learn how to determine profit and loss statements, how to mark-up

a world of warcraft power levelin,

product, how to register with the State as a business, and how to handle tax issues. In fact, the instructor

actually comes to your house once a month for the first year to assist you with start-up." Travis-Betts explains

why education is so important to a home-based business. "One gets pretty isolated working at home, and these days

you have to keep up with new technology to stay competitive." She also offers a little advice on how to create a

business image without spending a lot of money. "The phone company has resources such as market extension lines.

They allow you to have two numbers, a residential and business phone number, with only one phone line. That way,

you r business can be listed in the Yellow Pages. Home-based businesses have sparked entire industries that cater

to them. Use the Internet to find better rates on fax lines, phone systems, and other tools." Marge Johnson has

operated a management consulting firm out of her North Shore home for four years. She stresses the importance of

research to would-be entrepreneurs. "Be sure there is market demand for what you're doing. Does the market need

your service?" asks Johnson. "I interviewed other consultants and potential customers before starting my

business." Again, all of our contacts concur that involvement with the Chamber is crucial to building business.

Says Johnson, "The Chamber provides the most current, succinct information about the local business climate. It's

a critical place to meet potential clients." Beth Travis-Betts notes, "It's where I get most of my business." In

addition to referrals from Chamber members, Mary Smestad started building a clientele with a letter-writing

campaign. "I wrote a lot of letters to past contacts from my previous job and asked for referrals." "People buy

from people they know," quips Arlene Soden, a local business development consultant and home-based business owner.

Entreprenuerism is part of America's heritage and today's technology-based economy is allowing more people to

realize their dream of working for themselves. Many believe that the future of the home-based business culture in

Duluth is taking shape right before our eyes on a construction site located in the old downtown. Mark Anthony

comments, "With the new Soft Center coming to Duluth, home-based businesses will be called upon to help develop

software that will place businesses, both large and small, on the cutting edge of technology and help transform

this area into a major telecommuting center." [9 Julie Munson is a freelance writer in Duluth.

janeraph · New Joined: 22 Apr 2009 Posts: 5

I felt a moment of fear as Mortimer spoke these words.Holmes sat forward in his excitement,and his eyes showed he was very interested indeed.

'Why did nobody else see these footprints?'he asked.

'The footprints were about twenty metres from the body,and nobody thought of looking so far away,'Mortimer replied.

'Are there many sheep dogs on the moor?'asked Holmes.

'Yes,but this was no sheep dog.The footprints were very large indeed—enormous,'Mortimer answered.

'But it had not gone near the body?'

'No.'

'What kind of night was it?'Holmes asked.wow gold,

'It was wet and cold,though it wasn't actually raining.'

'Describe the Alley to me.'

'The Alley is a path between two long yew hedges.The hedges are small trees that were planted very close together.They are about four metres high.The distance between the two yew hedges is about seven metres.Down the middle is a path of small stones.The path is about three metres wide,with grass on each side of it.'

'I understand there is a gate through the hedge in one place,'said Holmes.

'Yes,there is a small gate,which leads to the moor.'

'Is there any other opening through the hedge?'

'No.'

'So you can enter or leave the Yew Alley only from the Hall,or through the moor gate?'asked Holmes.

'There is a way out through a summer house at the far end.'

'Had Sir Charles reached the summer house?'

'No.He lay about fifty metres from it,'said Mortimer.wotlk gold,

'Now,Dr Mortimer,this is important.You say that the footprints you saw were on the path and not on the grass?'

'No footprints could show on the grass,'said Mortimer.

'Were they on the same side of the path as the moor gate?'

'Yes.They were.'

'I find that very interesting indeed.Another question:was the moor gate closed?'

'Yes.It was closed and locked.'

'How high is it?'asked Holmes.

'It is just over a metre high.'

'Then anyone could climb over it?'

'Yes.'

'What prints did you see by the moor gate?'

'Sir Charles seems to have stood there for five or ten min utes,'said Mortimer.'I know that because his cigar had burned down and the ash had dropped twice off the end of it.'

'Excellent,'said Holmes.'This man is a very good detective,Watson.'

'Sir Charles had left his footprints all over that little bit of the path where he was standing.I couldn't see any other prints.'wow gold,

Sherlock Holmes hit his knee with his hand angrily.

'I like to look closely at these things myself,'he said.'Oh,Dr Mortimer,why didn't you call me immediately?'

'And you,a man of science,believe that the creature is supernatural—something from another world?'asked Holmes.

'I don't know what to believe,'said Dr Mortimer.

'But you must agree that the footprints were made by a liv ing creature,not a ghost?'

'When the hound first appeared two hundred and fifty years ago,it was real enough to tear out Sir Hugo's throat…but it was a supernatural hellhound,'said Dr Mortimer.

'If you think that Sir Charles' death was caused by some thing supernatural,my detective work can't help you,'said Holmes,rather coldly.

'It is hard to say.Take,for example,the change in the foot prints.Did Sir Charles walk on his toes down the Alley?Only a stupid person is likely to believe that.The truth is he was run ning—running for his life.He ran until his heart stopped and he fell dead.'

'What was he running from?'I asked.

'That is the difficult question,'said Holmes.'I think he was mad with fear before he began to run.He didn't know what he was doing.That explains why he ran away from the house instead of towards it.He was running away from help.The next question:who was he waiting for that night?And why was he waiting in the Yew Alley and not in the house?'

'You think he was waiting for someone?'

And Holmes began to play his violin.He had done all the thinking he could.Now he needed more details of the case to help him.

flyT · New Joined: 27 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

Body Talk

Have you ever wondered why you sometimes take an almost immediate liking to a person you have just met? Or worried about why someone you were talking to suddenly became cool and distant? The chances are that it wasn't anything that was said but something that happened: a gesture, a movement, a smile. Social scientists are now devoting considerable attention to "non-verbal communication," what happens when people get together, apart from their actual conversation.
Professor Erving Goffman of the University of Pennsylvania is involved in a continuing study of the way people behave in social interaction. He feels that gestures, movements and physical closeness have meaning which the words that the people are using do not carry.( wow power leveling)
The closeness of two people when talking, movement towards and away from each other, and the amount of eye contract all reveal something about the nature of the relationship between the two individuals. We tend to be only subconsciously aware, if at all, of the various patterns and rituals of social behavior. We expect other people to act according to the same "rules" that we do, so much so that the manners and behavior of persons from another culture can be extremely confusing.
Fox example, North Americans tend to expect more physical distance between two speakers than do Latin Americans. Consequently, when the Latin American seems to be leaning too close, the North American complains of "invasion of his space." The Latin American, on the other hand, often considers the North American to be "cold" or "distant" because he keeps a greater distance between himself and the person he is speaking to. (world of warcraft gold)
Eye contact is one way of measuring the degree of closeness of relationship between two speakers, although there are cultural variations in the meaning of eye contact. In the Middle East, for example, it is considered extremely provocative for a woman to let a man catch her eye, let alone return his gaze. Social psychologist Michael Argyle observes that there is more eye contact between people who like each other than those who are indifferent or hostile towards each other. And the longer the length of the gaze, the more likely it is that the listener is more interested in the person who is speaking, than the actual topic of conversation. Frequently looking down can indicate submissiveness or embarrassment. Looking away repeatedly may express boredom or dislike. Women tend to engage in more eye contract than men, especially when talking to other women. world of warcraft gold
But too steady eye contact can make one feel uneasy at times. Most people become uncomfortable under the intense gaze of a stare. One scientist suggests that perhaps one reason that man becomes tense under the force of a stare is in his biological ancestors: in apes, a stare signifies aggressiveness and hostility. The person who insistently fixes his eyes on our face is often more successful in arousing our dislike than impressing us with his directness and sincerity.
Similarly, the smile cannot always be interpreted as a sign of friendliness. The person who smiles almost constantly and with little apparent reason makes us uneasy. Even though he may believe that he is expressing friendliness, he may really seem nervous and tense. In other animals,world of warcraft power leveling, bared teeth are a warning gesture, a danger sign.
Genuine warmth or interest can be revealed in the eyes, suggests Dr. Eckhard Hess of the University of Chicago, who believes that the pupils of the eyes can indicate emotion or interest. The opened pupil tends to be associated with pleasant, satisfying experiences. That special sparkle in the lover's eyes need not be fantasy, for love may make the pupil grow larger. Sometimes when we feel that a person is "warm" or "friendly", it is possible we are reacting to a form of non-verbal communication - his opened pupils.
FFXI Gil,The next time you are at a party, take note of some of the silent messages being sent around you. Notice which persons seem to draw naturally together to speak, which others try to stay further apart or even avoid meeting each other's eyes. You may find that this silent language is much more fascinating than the actual conversation going on around you.