A Look at The Hunger Games Movie

The Hunger Games movie is set to be a worldwide phenomenon as the book trilogy hooked a lot of fans and the movie is sure to attract even more. Some people are even comparing The Hunger Games to Twilight and Harry Potter.

The first movie is set to be released on March 28 and there are theaters that have already sold out for the premier showing.

If you haven't read books you may not have any idea what the story is all about. Before you head off to see the movie, read on to learn more about this series and what the movie has in store for you.

The Hunger Games Plot

As mentioned the movie is based off The Hunger Games trilogy books by Suzanne Collins. The first book in the series is called "The Hunger Games."

The movie takes place in a post-apocalyptic world called Panem, which is where the current North American continent is located. The Capitol rules over all of the nation and is a very advanced state.

Each year The Capitol holds the Hunger Games, which pulls boys and girls from the ages of 12-18 from each of the 12 districts in Panem to compete in a survival of the fittest game in which only one person lives. The girls and boys are pulled from a lottery and everything is televised for everyone to watch.

The story follows Katniss Everdeen, who is from district 12 as she volunteers to take her younger sister Primrose's spot in the Hunger Games. The other tribute from district 12 is Peeta Mellark, who Katniss knows from school.

The movie follows the preparation of the tributes for the games as well as the actual game of life and death. There are twists and turns as Katniss, Peeta, and the other tributes try to stay alive in this game of survival. katniss ends up being more than just a girl trying to save her younger sister.

Although the movie deals with the survival of the fittest it does dive into politics and the control that The Capitol has over the entire nation and how they treat the people.

The Movie Cast

Here is a list of the main characters in the movie and the actors and actresses who will be portraying them in the movie.

Katniss Everdeen - Jennifer Lawrence

Peeta Mellark - Josh Hutcherson

Primrose Everdeen - Willow Shields

Gale Hawthorne - Liam Hemsworth

Haymitch Abernathy - Woody Harrelson

President Snow - Donald Sutherland

Caesar Flickerman - Stanley Tucci

Effie Trinket - Elizabeth Banks

The Hunger Games Sequels

There are already plans for the release of 3 more movies based off the trilogy. The next movie which will be Catching Fire is planned to be releases on November 22, 2013. It has been reported that the main cast including Lawrence, Hutcherson and Harrelson have signed on for all 4 movies. It would appear that the last book may be split into 2 movies.

Is "Head Hunger" a Loophole for Failure After Weight Loss Surgery?

Spend time listening to the talk among weight loss surgery patients and you're bound to hear the expression "head hunger." It's a popular term to describe a mental craving for food versus a physical hunger. Patients who regain weight and are not compliant with the dietary rules established by their bariatric centers often claim the head hunger was too powerful and forced them to eat foods known to cause weight gain or known to slow weight loss.  Foods such as pretzels, chips, sweets, pastas and baked goods are against the rules of weight loss surgery, yet these are the foods patients eat when suffering from head hunger.

The nature of the gastric bypass or lap-band weight loss surgery reduces physical appetite during the initial months following weight loss surgery. Most patients report a complete loss of physical appetite which of course is one of the components that makes weight loss surgery successful.

So why are so many patients regaining weight or stalling before reaching their weight loss goal?  Head hunger.  It seems to be the loophole that enables a patient to break the rules and not take responsibility for non-compliance.

While I understand there is an emotional attachment to food I also say using the head hunger loophole is self-defeating and unnecessary. Successful patients do not use the term nor do they indulge "head hunger."

Prior to WLS patients had another kind of "Head Hunger"- head hunger to lose weight, to be healthier, to be more attractive. That head hunger was so extreme nights were spent lying awake plotting the next argument to the insurance company, defending their personal obesity crisis and fighting for this miracle of modern medicine. Head hunger? THAT was head hunger.

It seems counterintuitive that patients who fought so hard for to have WLS now want to say "Oh, I'm so hungry for chocolate cake or Alfredo sauce or XYZ, just this once it's OK - I deserve one little treat!" This thinking is exactly what got us to morbid obesity in the first place! I say, forget about food head hunger - do not indulge it for one minute. Instead focus head hunger on the lighter, more attractive more confident person you fought to become. The chocolate cake is nothing, it has no power. Forget about it, it just doesn't matter anymore.

The Six Types of Hunger

Most people just think hunger is just hunger but sadly this a gross oversimplification. There are in fact six types of hunger. It is vital you understand what these all are otherwise you will find yourself addressing the wrong causes of your eating and be left wondering why you cannot control your eating.

In my experience the non emotional reasons account for way over 50% of most peoples' cravings and in some case 100%. This means that you may be blaming yourself for being weak willed and a bad person when the truth is you are simply miscalculating what you should eat.

The six types of hunger do not need to happen independently of each other. They can combine. When this happens you will find it very difficult to resist any temptations that come your way.

Normal hunger -

Natural hunger is a calm desire for food. It builds gradually and evenly. It can usually be battled against fairly easily until it rises to a high level. This is a natural feeling which should be listened to, this hunger will always be present throughout your life. This hunger is countered by eating an ideal meal for your body metabolic type® and ensuring you eat regularly.

The goal of any programme to get into shape should be to create a situation where this is the only type of hunger you experience in your life. When this is the case you will feel calm, controlled and have an easy relationship with food.

Water hunger -

A thirst for water is almost indistinguishable from a normal hunger feeling. It usually grows gradually and evenly. It will be like normal hunger in that it is a fairly calm request on the body and you can easily manage it. However, if you keep eating instead of drinking water when you are water hungry you may find yourself continually eating.

It should be pointed out that a water hunger is not the same as feeling thirsty. When hydration levels drop significantly and you will crave water. This is easy to spot. A water hunger is when you are slightly dehydrated but not enough to feel thirsty and hence you can confuse the signal as hunger.

This type of hunger is easily countered by drinking regularly water throughout the day. Ideally you would have some water every hour. Small quantities but regularly works best for the body. Look to consume around 200ml per hour. (just under half a pint) of pure water.

Cell energy hunger -

A cell energy hunger is one of the most common causes of hunger and perhaps the biggest reason people wrongly blame their eating on emotions when it is in fact biochemical.

A cell energy hunger comes when you eat a meal with the incorrect ratio of Protein: Carbohydrates: fat for your body. When this happens you will get a hunger feeling, often in the form of a sugar craving, anywhere from 15 minutes up to 3 hours after eating.

The hunger will appear quickly and can become very strong. The feeling is uncomfortable and there is a real desire for food. It is not in your head. Resistance to this hunger is difficult. You should not beat yourself up for eating poor foods in this state but I would beat myself up for letting it happen in the first place.

The best way to counter this is to eat each meal with the correct ratio of Protein: carbohydrates: fat for your body. This can be found out through experimentation and using food reaction forms.

Blood sugar hunger -

This is perhaps the most powerful hunger of them all. When your blood sugar levels drop below a certain value your hormone system begins to kick in to regulate your metabolism. This puts an unwelcome sress on your body long term and in the short term produces some very strong food cravings and hunger. The onset is fast. When certain values are hit in the blood glucose you will be hungry and this will come with a massive sugar craving.

Resistance to blood sugar cravings is very difficult. It is not just a natural hunger, but it comes with the body in a biochemical panic as low blood sugar means the brain may not get enough fuel and this is the highest priority for the body.

Most people associate blood sugar with diabetes and hyperglycemia. However, a large percentage of the population suffer with the other end of the problem with their blood sugar dropping too low (hypoglycemia) or find their levels are just too unstable and hence they are often fighting this hunger feeling.

Anyone suffering low blood sugar hunger should not be harsh on themselves for eating rubbish but should focus on how it got to the state of being low in the first place.

Low blood sugar problems can be resolved in the short term by eating regularly and ensuring you are eating in accordance to you following your ideal ratio of protein: carbohydrates: fat. However, blood sugar metabolism is a sign of many different biochemical inputs. Long term resolution of this needs to comes from addressing your body's function from the base up.

Addictive substance hunger -

An addictive substance hunger is another cause of a hunger feeling. This can come from non nutritional sources such as a smoker's withdrawal symptoms or from the removal of a food substance, e.g. sugar, wheat etc.

This hunger lies in the background, it is not a strong hunger like cell energy or blood sugar hungers but it operating at a consistent low level in the background. It is a sort of uneasy hunger feeling. The hunger neither comes nor goes, it is just there, in the background.

This type of hunger does not last too long, it occurs only when you are withdrawing from the addictive substance. During this time the feelings are fairly manageable as long as they are accompanied by the right mind set and you are free from cell energy, blood sugar or emotional hungers. The strange thing about the withdrawal hunger is it is specific to the person who has the addiction.

A non smoker does not withdraw against not smoking and neither does someone who does not eat sugar. Whatever you experience in terms of withdrawal hungers it will soon pass and you will barely notice it if you are addressing just this and normal hunger during the withdrawal process.

Where withdrawal pangs get their false impression as some huge barrier to succumb is when they are accompanied with the other types of hunger and a resentment towards giving up. This is then coupled with the many false beliefs about the substance and what it used to 'provide' you with. This accumulates into the 'difficulty' most people perceive with giving something up.

Emotional hunger -

True emotional hunger has nothing to do with nutritional cravings. An emotional craving has a very fast onset, often instantaneously. It is usually difficult to battle if you are unaware of your thought processes. Emotional eating can take many forms.

You see a picture of a chocolate bar in a magazine and all of a sudden you are craving it. You receive a phone call that makes you angry and immediately you are snacking on some biscuits. Often it is so subtle you will not notice the link, as you have this behaviour so ingrained.

You speak to someone about money then immediately you are having a cake. You meet someone who reminds you of a person from your past and you descend into a night of drinking. Often emotional behaviours are habits over pure emotional nutritional needs. Your husband comes home so you open the wine together, you meet your friends in the coffee shop for a cake and a catch up.

The interplay of the different hungers -

Most people just view hunger as hunger. However the six different hungers need to be separated out into their individual components. The different types merge together to form the general term most people describe as hunger.

It is when you experience more than one hunger that most people crack and end up eating rubbish. The most powerful combination is an emotional hunger and any other hunger in combination together.

Physiologically the worst hungers come from a combination of cell energy hunger and low blood sugar. I would defy anyone to not eat rubbish in this situation. Yet plenty of people go on day after day in this state. So no wonder they are eating rubbish foods.

It should be pointed out that hunger varies greatly between individuals. This is due to biochemical individuality. As a result you may find you are strongly affected by cell and blood sugar hunger which means you are always eating. Other people who know you may not experience these as much or at all and thus will wonder what your problem is, do not worry about what they think. They do not have any understanding of how these hungers feel and if they were to experience it they would behave similarly to you.

If you are someone who is confused by such people then the best description would be imagine really needing to go to the toilet while sitting in a room with 6 free cubicles. You can hold out for a while but it is only a matter of time before you cave in.

The key thing is for you to not allow situations where more than one hunger can hit you in combination. This is done by prevention. If you have a water hunger and a cell energy hunger, a withdrawal hunger and emotional hunger, natural hunger and blood sugar hunger they all spell disaster. Prevent these by drinking water, eating with the right amounts of protein: carbs: fat and regularly.

Weight Loss and Controlling Hunger

Secrets to Recognizing Hunger

The most important step for you to be able to control your hunger and cravings is to learn the difference between true hunger (being hungry is normal) and the numerous emotions we all have that we confuse for being hungry. Once we understand this basic concept, making changes is much easier. Thinking about being hungry only creates more feelings of hunger. Focusing on finding alternative foods that satisfy hunger shifts the mindset away from destructive to more constructive thinking and, therefore, more positive actions.

If you feel hungry all the time, your brain is definitely misinterpreting the signals and cues for real hunger. The real feeling of hunger does not occur all day, but only at times when the body is in real need of food. The following is a list of some of the emotional, and also external, cues telling us to eat and eat and that you should try to minimize:

Here is mental "check sheet" to see why you might be hungry:

1. Am I thirsty and not really hungry?

2. Did I skip a meal? Did I eat a meal that was too small?

3. Did I eat drinks or foods high in sugar?

4. Is it really hunger or stress, boredom, depression or anxiety?

5. It's normal to be hungry 5 hours after a meal and 2 hours after a snack.

Hunger and cravings are the result of brain chemicals telling us to eat or not to eat. Hunger is not a will power issue!

Simply recall the 1940s and 50s to see the effects of external signals on eating patterns. Back then, people did not have the difficulty with weight control, fast food was virtually nonexistent, and food portions were smaller. The rapid increase of obesity is a result of increased stress in our daily lives combined with external signals and cues to eat that surround us all day.

Stress is thought to be a major cause of overeating. However, numerous studies yield inconclusive results. Stress in the workplace is associated with overeating in two studies, and with less eating in two other studies. Stress at the time of college examinations has shown mixed results. In fact, the nature of the stress may play the most important role in overeating. Major stress appears to cause less eating and minor stress may cause increased frequent in our lives than "minor stressors"-possibly a significant reason for the preponderance of overeating.

Along with the type of stress, the type of foods desired while under stress plays an important role in overeating. people usually crave sweet or salty snack foods over meal-type foods, such as meat, vegetables, or fruits. Sweet and salty snacks are high in calories and rarely satisfy hunger, but create the need for more, regardless of whether a true physiological need exists. Stress-related eating leads to long-term weight problems and additional emotional problems.

Fatigue. Some people cannot distinguish between hunger and fatigue. When they're fatigued, they can be just as hungry after a large meal as they would be if they hadn't eaten for a whole day. A 1999 study at the University of Chicago found that sleeping only four hours a night for four days resulted in a decrease in metabolism and an increase in hunger.

Boredom, Depression, and Anxiety. These psychological problems are well-known causes of overeating. Since the signal to eat is not the absence of food or low blood sugar, food will not change the situation, and in a few minutes the individual is searching for even more comfort food. What to do? The first step is to say to yourself, "Am I eating because I am bored?" If so, you know that a cookie or two will not change the situation. Tell yourself, "I am going for a walk, I'll play on the computer, or even watch an old movie on TV. If I have the feeling in 20 minutes, I'll just get that cookie." If it's depression and anxiety, you need to take care of the situation. In the meantime, go shopping and get some low-calorie, portion-controlled snacks. Doing a little exercise will certainly help as well.

Habits, time triggers, and behavior patterns are among the most common triggers for what is perceived as hunger. Overweight people use their eyes to count calories and not their stomachs. Years ago, scientists believed that the body knew when to stop eating. However, in this era of unlimited access to very pleasant, comforting food, this ability may no longer hold true for many people. More than 60% of overweight individuals are habitual plate-cleaners: they eat everything on a plate

High sugar foods trigger hunger: Foods and drinks high in rapidly absorbed sugars such as soft drinks, juices,

and sports drinks cause almost instant hunger as blood sugar rises and falls. Other foods with sugar or those carbs easily converted to sugar also produce unusual amounts of hunger.

Skipping a meal causes hunger: The real reasons for not skipping meals has nothing to do with changing metabolism and a lot to do with preventing blood sugar falling especially late in the afternoon which causes hunger, often in an uncontrolled manner.

Respect Your Hunger to Achieve True Weight Loss Results

There is an old adage that suggests it is a cardinal sin or extremely poor strategy to go grocery shopping when you are really hungry. Well, when it comes to losing weight, the same can be said about being really hungry period. Many dieters feel that they need to suffer through a constant state of hunger and essentially limp along all during the diet process. Nothing could be further from the truth. One major key to weight loss is being attuned to your hunger and not allowing yourself to ever get too hungry.

If we can learn to focus a little more on the hunger, we can avoid so many of the unhealthy food choices we make when we are famished. Just like the example of the hunger shopper who fills the cart to the brim with anything and everything, the super hungry person will more likely eat indiscriminately when food becomes available.

For us to reach our weight loss goals we need to reeducate ourselves to recognize hunger. Many of us, because of our work demands, have learned to ignore hunger and keep pressing. Though we have become adept at wrestling with the burdens of deadlines and finish lines, we have deadened our hunger meters in the process. What we need now is to sharpen those senses anew.

Growling stomachs, headaches or light headedness, fatigue - these are some of the most common signs of hunger. Instead of fighting through those feelings and sensations, try to focus on recognizing when they first start to crop up. If you can nip the hunger in the bud, you will be far more likely to do it with a well thought out food choice as opposed to the first thing that you lay your eyes on. Furthermore, when you are able to notice the first signs of hunger, a little healthy snack will easily quell the hunger. You will be far less likely to eat with a vengeance, as is often the case when you wait too long to eat.

Don't wait for more than 15 to 20 minutes to eat once you have noticed the onset of hunger signs. There are some additional side benefits to eating before you are too hungry as well. Your focus will remain sharper if you refuel in little fueling stops along the way. You will be far more successful in meeting your deadlines by not suffering through the symptoms of being overly hungry.

Additionally, your body will keep burning calories at a higher rate if you eat at more regular intervals. Your body is brilliant at recognizing hunger. Its response is too slow down metabolism so as to conserve its store of energy. The problem is, if you wait too long and binge later, the body has gotten used to conserving instead of burning. Recognizing hunger and responding to it will keep you focused and keep the fat burning.

Get in touch with your hunger. Give it its due and give it some healthy fuel so you can maintain your momentum on your weight loss travels.

Tips To Ward Off Hunger

If you've just started on a fat loss plan, one thing that you might deal with is the dreaded hunger demon. Things may be going well but then as soon as hunger kicks in, the willpower you once showed so strongly flies completely out the window.

So what do you do in this instance? What's the best way to stay on your plan?

Below are the top methods that you can use to outsmart hunger and keep yourself on track.

Drink Some Hot Green Tea

First things first, one of the best methods to battle hunger is to simply sip on some green tea. Not only will green tea help to promote numerous health benefits with its antioxidant content, but it'll also help to boost your metabolic rate slightly as well.

Green tea will quickly fill your stomach and the hot liquid tends to calm hunger pains better than anything else.

Start With Some Soup

Second, another idea to help ward off hunger is to start each meal with vegetable broth-based soup. This is going to help to fill your stomach up, reducing your craving for more food. Since vegetable soup is so low in calories at only 30-50 per cup, you can eat quite a bit of this without it impacting your total daily calorie intake.

Snack On Nuts

Don't forget about nuts. A small handful of almonds is the perfect way to take the edge off your hunger and as long as you keep the serving size down to a ¼ cup, you will have no problem integrating this into your total calorie intake.

This is a great snack if you are on the road or in the office. If you feel hunger coming on and it's a few hours until your next meal, ¼ cup of nuts will tide you over.

Fill Up With Fiber

Fiber is another powerful tool that should be used to help you fight hunger. Fiber will slow down the digestion process in the body so that you feel satisfied for a longer period of time. Fiber is found most concentrated in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, so be sure that all of these sources are included in your diet plan. If you can aim for between 20-35 grams of fiber per day, you'll be right on track with where you should be.

Keep Yourself Busy

Keeping yourself busy can also help fight hunger. There's no question that boredom can play a role in prompting you to eat so if you can keep yourself occupied and your thoughts away from food, that too can help keep away the feelings of hunger.

Get up and go for a walk, meet a friend for coffee, or take a hot bath. Do anything to get out of the kitchen and away from the pantry.

Try these great hunger-busting tips to get you started today. It will get easier over time as these tips become habits. Each small step you take adds up and will bring you closer to your goal. After a few weeks of eating healthy on your new diet approach you will find that you're naturally choosing foods that help to fill you up better without adding a high level of calories to your plan thus improving your chances of seeing ongoing weight loss success.

The Current Status of World Hunger

Where does starvation exist in the world today?  What are some of the causes of world hunger?  Are citizens of developed countries donating monetarily to the ongoing relief efforts?  In this article I will address these questions with the hope that by creating an understanding of the current world hunger situation, morally conscious individuals will do their part in contributing to an eradication of this unseen suffering.

It is a well known fact that there is enough food in the world to feed every human being on earth.  Sadly, malnutrition and hunger still afflict one out of every seven people in the world today.  Or, from a slightly different statistical perspective, the current world population is 4,712,200,000.   The number of malnourished is 797,900,000.  Therefore 17% of the world population is currently malnourished or starving.  No matter how you examine the issue, a current crisis is at hand.  Why is this so?

The causes of starvation are complex, but there are some common threads that seem to be associated with this problem.  First and foremost, starvation is caused by poverty.  To address the problem of world hunger then the problem of global poverty must be addressed.  Therefore, the question that we should examine is what are the causes of poverty.  A thorough discussion on the causes of global poverty is outside the purview of this article.  Entire textbooks have been written on the subject.   For our discussion,  it is suffice to say that one of the major causes of poverty is governments pursuing policies that inhibit self sufficiency.

Areas of starvation are also characterized by persistent problems in cultivating food from lack of seed, arable land, and tools.  Those that can grow food, must deal with insects, drought, floods, and war, which can result in complete destruction of crops.  Historically, areas of Africa have experienced periodic locusts infestations, which can completely destroy crops.

Other causes of world hunger are related to the globalize system of food production.  The globalize system of food production and trade favors a reliance on export crops while discriminating against small-scale farmers and subsistence crops.   Many third world countries export out to much food while concomitantly not keeping enough food to sustain their own people.

AIDS is a significant cause of hunger.  In societies affected by AIDS, famine is more deadly and difficult to combat.  Why is this so?  AIDS attacks the most productive individuals within society.  Fewer productive people within society means fewer individuals to work the jobs that involve food production.  This is one contributor to the starvation currently taking place in Africa.

Weather plays a major role in terms of the prevalence of starvation.  Areas of drought leads to non-useable land with subsequent famine.  This is well known.  But less well known is that floods can also lead to starvation.  Crops can be flooded and therefore destroyed, which in essence produces the same result as drought.  In both cases, weather can produce a complete lack of self sufficiency.

Military conflicts, both internal and between neighboring countries, can lead to starvation.  These conflicts can result in destruction of crops.   Government money is directed at funding the conflict at the expense of the starving people.  Funds are diverted from social and economic development.  Military conflicts can also result in the displacement of large groups of people, removing them from their farms and their way of life.  People can end up in refugee camps, completely dependent on relief aid.

The causative factors of world hunger are numerous, and certain factors change from year to year, therefore at any given time, some areas may be more prone then others.  The extent of drought, flood, internal conflicts, and war with neighboring countries can vary over time.  Therefore, these factors incorporate a variable affect on the degree to which inhabitants of susceptible countries suffer from starvation.

A combination of these causative factors in a particular region is a formula for disaster.  When this occurs, large scale starvation can take place.  A case in point.  The Horn of Africa has seen severe drought coupled with internal conflicts.  This is leading to the development of a tragedy.  In this region currently 11 million people are on the brink of starvation.

Historically, certain areas of the world have had a high prevalence of hunger and starvation.  These areas are the central region of South America, large areas of East, Central, and Southern Africa, and regions of South Asia.  As of 2006, the current hot spots, those areas which are suffering the greatest degree of starvation, are as follows:

Niger:

This area in central Africa has been struggling to cope with the devastating impact of drought and locusts infestations.

Haiti:

In this region extreme poverty has been further exacerbated by a political crisis, floods, tropical storms, and hurricanes.

Horn of Africa:

An estimated 11 million people in the Horn of Africa "are on the brink of starvation" because of severe drought and war.  Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia need food aid, water, new livestock and seeds.  This is a major hunger crisis in development.

Afghanistan:

Poverty in Afghanistan, made worse by drought, has contributed greatly to their hunger problem.

Pakistan:

The recent earthquake coupled with a severe winter have produced starvation conditions.  Recently, mud slides have hampered relief efforts.

North Korea:

Food insecurity caused by the countries economic problems, is compounded by unpredictable and severe weather conditions.  To date, the North Korean government has failed in its duty to provide for it's starving people.  The North Korean government has actually refused foreign aid.

Columbia:

A 40 year civil conflict and the illegal drug trade have caused mass displacement and poverty.

Democratic Republic of Congo:

3.4 million people have been internally displaced as a result of a continuing internal conflict.

Mali:

They are struggling to cope with the devastating impact of a recent drought.

Southern Africa:

Erratic weather, lack of seed and fertilizer, chronic poverty, and AIDS have been contributing factors to starvation.

These are the areas of the world which are currently suffering the highest levels of malnutrition and hunger.  With this understanding of where relief efforts are needed, we must address the question of individual response.  Are individuals of developed countries donating to relief efforts?  Most morally conscious individuals donate to relief efforts when the problem is presented to them.

A major problem in the relief effort is the general population of developed countries not knowing about the current hunger crisis.  News organizations, more specifically television news, are not giving enough attention to the global hunger situation.  While an in depth discussion as to the reasons for this is outside the purview of this article, a few points can be made.

Evidently, the American TV news organizations, do not think world hunger is much of a story since starvation is a daily occurrence.  I suspect, from the perspective of these news organizations, that 24,000 people per day dying from hunger is not a big enough news story.  When 1,386 people died from hurricane Katrina, the news coverage was enormous.  Five months after hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, TV news organizations were still squeezing all they could out of this story.  Granted this was an obvious tragedy, but an even bigger tragedy, much bigger, is going on in Africa and the general public does not even know about it.

I have seen little to almost no coverage given by American TV news organizations on the devastating hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.  I have only learned of this crisis through RSS feeds on the Internet.  Television news organizations such as CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC are thus far not reporting on this crisis.  Hopefully this will change.

It is evident that the American TV news organizations do not really provide total and complete news, rather they screen the events and only provide what they feel may be interesting to their audience.  News organizations should present the news and concomitantly maintain high journalistic standards.  Maybe these news organizations need to incorporate a higher level of moral obligation into their decision making process, when deciding which stories to cover.  In any case, people can not donate if they do not know the problem exists.

We have addressed some key questions in order to characterize the current status of the world hunger situation. We have examined where hunger is the most prevalent in the world today, and we have identified some of the causative factors which contribute to malnutrition, hunger, and starvation.  We have concluded that most morally conscious individuals would contribute to the elimination of hunger, if they knew about the crisis.  Finally, we have observed that the degree of world hunger coverage by TV news organizations is very much lacking.

Even though TV news organizations have not been covering the current world hunger crisis, by reading this article, you have developed an understanding of the degree to which starvation is prevalent in the world today.  If you are reading this in a developed country, which is highly likely since you are reading it on a computer which has Internet access, you have a moral obligation to donate either time or money to help in the elimination of unseen suffering.  Winston Churchill once said "we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."  We must all do our part to eliminate world hunger.

Emotional Hunger and Finding Nourishment

I've worked with many people who eat healthy meals and yet still struggle with their weight. It's the times when they are not actually hungry that is a problem. Eating for reasons other than hunger is challenging; it is subtle and not very responsive to logic or knowledge. I've come to realize that to change how we use food - especially when not hungry - we need to look at nourishment in a broader sense.

Sandra felt like she was filling a black hole: no matter what she ate, it wasn't enough. She'd start with fruits and nuts, and then progress to cookies or chips. Those helped - at first. But then she'd be looking for more. Her eating felt out of control and yet she still felt empty and unsatisfied.

When we think of nourishment, we usually think of food. It is easy to forget that food is only one form of nourishment. Often what we need the most has no calories at all - because it isn't food. At those times it doesn't matter what or how much we eat, it will never be enough. Food isn't the nourishment we seek.

In her book "Eating by the Light of the Moon," author Anita Johnston uses a great example to describe the different kinds of hunger. She suggests imagining that you have two different tanks inside of you. One is for physical hunger and you fill that one with food. The other tank is for emotional hunger and you fill that with the activities that feed your soul.

I find this a helpful visual. Most of us just think of hunger as hunger and we feed it with food. As long as we do this, like Sandra, we continue to eat when we are not hungry and wonder why we never feel satisfied. Once we understand we are using the wrong fuel, we have other choices.

No amount of food will fill emotional hunger. In fact the food is a red herring. Sandra thought it was about the food and that she was just just out of control, unmotivated, lacking will power: that something must be wrong with her. But that was not it at all. It is just that she was automatically filling her tank with food when what she craved was a different kind of nourishment.

Let me define what I mean by "emotional hunger." It can refer to emotions like happiness, sadness, loneliness, anger, frustration, or anxiety. It also includes feelings we may not typically think of as emotional, such as boredom, restlessness, fatigue, and unease. Emotional eating is a general term used for eating for reasons other than hunger. It is a useful concept even if you are not "emotional."

How do we fill our emotional hunger tank? Sandra discovered that she was nourished by reading and sitting in her garden. Also, instead of thinking of playing with her dog as one more thing to do when she got home from work, she let that time nourish her by being intentional about it and consciously relaxing and enjoying it.

Anita loves being with people, and when she shifted her focus from getting stuff done to really enjoying the human contact in her groups and meetings, she felt more nourished. Eric gives his time and attention to others all day long and what he really longs for is time to himself - his time at the gym became "Eric time".

Sandra, Anita and Eric were all using food in an unconscious way and then feeling frustrated with their lack of control. Once they became aware, they could separate their two tanks: physical hunger and emotional hunger. Instead of automatically eating, they were able to find other ways to nourish themselves.

Most of us lead busy lives that are filled with activities, deadlines and commitments. Even when it is stuff we enjoy, if all of our attention is on others or getting it done, we may not be filled by it. Even the good things in life, when it is just one more task, can drain us.

We are nourished by the things that replenish us. The same activities that are draining might be filling when we focus on the pleasure of the activity and tune in to how it fills us. We need to be aware and consciously refill our emotional hunger tank.

What, besides food, nourishes you? I think this is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself. What are you hungry for? Is your hunger physical or emotional? Keep asking the questions. It will help you use the right fuel and be more satisfied. It will help you enjoy what you eat more, and enjoy your life more.

That is what Sandra found. When she remembers to tune in, she recognizes emotional hunger as a reminder to slow down and pay attention to her own needs. When she uses hunger as a signal, instead of a feed-me command, she can take care of herself in more satisfying ways. She has peace of mind now that she doesn't feel so out-of-control with food.

Weight Loss & Fasting - Mastering Hunger

Hunger exists to keep us alive, but it also can morph into a destructive force that could lead us to deforming obesity and even an early grave.

One question people who are interested in fasting and weight loss always ask me is whether or not appetite suppressants work. This has led me to research much on hunger and weight loss. The question is: How can I master hunger and not gain back all the weight I lose through fasting and dieting?

Some of my findings are outlined in this article and I hope it will give you hope and motivation to follow your goals and never give up.

Not a Panacea

Appetite suppressants can be "somewhat" helpful when fasting - but from experience I can tell you that they are NOT a panacea or fix all to the natural hunger pains when fasting or dieting. The only one that I would feel comfortable recommending is Hoodia because it is made from a plant. I would suggest that you use Hoodia, but NOT any other product that has chemicals of any kind or even caffeine - or other stimulant.

Powdered Hoodia has been the one that has helped me the most by "calming" the hunger. You can go online and Google "powdered Hoodia" and you will find an ample selection to choose from. What I do is put a tablespoon of the Hoodia in a cup -- usually in the afternoon -- and mix it with some water and a squeeze of lemon.

It tastes quite bad, but this approach is the one that I have found produces the best appetite suppression. I also use decaffeinated green tea and seltzer water with lemon to calm hunger. This combination has carried me through 7,14,21,30 and even 40 and 60-day water and juice fasts. It works like a charm. Something about the hot liquid hitting my belly, the Hoodia, and then the effervescence of the seltzer.

Hunger Flagellation?

Do not look at the hunger pains you go through when fasting and dieting as a punishment, or even as a torture to be endured (even though it certainly can feel that way). Instead, welcome the hunger pains as the clear and indivisible sign that your body is working overtime to overcome the very toxicity that you want to get rid of.

The toxicity - or the worst of it at least - hides in between your fat cells. So the only way for the body to deep clean itself is to dig into these cells. The process actually releases these toxins directly into your bloodstream, which in turn can cause pretty violent hunger pains, as well as headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, diarrhea and fever.

These symptoms - as well as the hunger pains - usually go away completely between the fifth and tenth day of water fasting. From then on, many persons feel as if they could go on fasting indefinitely. Confront your hunger face-to-face and realize that this very hunger is the one that will lead you back to your old ways if you do not learn to master it.

A Demanding Child

Many persons feel that it is bad to feel hunger and that any sign of it has to be addressed immediately. Learn to ignore it. Learn to live with it. Now please, I am not saying here that you should starve yourself in an anorexic way. What I am saying is that the belly can be like a demanding child who insists on getting what he wants, when he wants it or else it throws a tantrum.

Discipline it and you find freedom. Try to constantly suppress it and sooner or later it will blindside you and lead you back to where you started. The fasting and dieting process, especially when you are new, is one that can take months and even years. In my case, I fasted on and off for an entire year.

I would fast for 21 days, eat for about two weeks, then fast for another month, eat for 14 days, fast another month etc. IT is about forming life-long "discipline muscles" that will allow you to assume control of your stomach, instead of the other way around. Many persons fast once, break the fast, and within a short period gain all the weight back, and then some.

Toe-to-Toe

The only way to keep that from happening is by facing the hunger directly and becoming "comfortable" with it, to the point where appetite suppressant, or no appetite suppressant, you have the ability to choose what you are going to put in my body.

The real "breakthrough" is mastering hunger in the long-term and being able to say NO - regardless of how hard and loud my stomach yelled for that particular food that I know harms me. This is true freedom, and it is my sincere desire that you find it and experience health and wellness in every area of your life!

Weight Loss Basics - Hunger

Hunger is a very scary word for people who are about to commit to a weight loss program. I know because I hear the fear all of the time. My new clients implore me to tell them that they will lose weight without feeling hunger pangs, and I get that. However, you need to understand that what you perceive as hunger is not what you think it is. Bear with me for a minute and let's explore the sensation you label as "hunger."

What, I wonder, do you experience when you say that you are hungry? For instance, when I feel hungry, I feel... well...hungry. My stomach sometimes growls, and I experience a sort of empty feeling that tells me it's time to eat something.

Now your turn: When I feel hungry, I feel ______________?

My clients fill in this blank with words that sound nothing like mine. I had a client once casually say to me that if she had to eat smaller portions she would "turn into a bear" and her family might leave her. I had to explain to her, over many sessions, that simple hunger was not the larger issue. For her, hunger gave rise to major emotions. One was anger, and we needed to explore why she was angry. Why did the lack, or emptiness, within her bring up anger? Why did it turn her into a bear?

So, when I encourage my clients to go a bit deeper to describe what they experience, they area able, with some effort, to speak of feelings on a more visceral level. These feelings exist deep within us and we feel them physically in our stomachs. Coincidence? Is the gnawing feeling we have in our gut, which we perceive as hunger, really the emptiness we feel within our selves? Does the fruitless attempt to fill the void with food make the real emotions come up tenfold, tempting us to eat more, since we have no intention of dealing with them now?

My clients' answers gradually become more telling. They feel sad, deprived, angry, lonely, abandoned, anxious, and unloved. Well, this surely differs from what I experience as hunger, which is a physical sensation in my stomach! Interesting. Nobody ever reports feeling the simple physical sensation of a growling stomach. So, I must ask: Are you eating because you feel hunger, or because something else is going on?

While I would love to be able to tell you that you don't have to be hungry to lose weight, I cannot honestly do so. Here is the truth about hunger: If you want to lose weight, you must experience hunger. I'm sorry. However, you will not feel hungry all of the time. Does that help? Good. I can also tell you that you will rarely feel very hungry, and you will never, ever feel as if you were starving!

Okay, so the truth is out. Now that we have acknowledged it, we can discuss it without fear. Simply put, the time to experience the physical sensation of hunger is just before going to bed at night. By bedtime, you should feel as if you could have had a bit more to eat. You should feel just about satisfied, but not quite.

You see, the way you feel at night is the key to controlling your weight loss progress. For instance, if you go to bed feeling stuffed for 3 or 4 consecutive nights, the outcome of that feeling will be weight gain. If you feel satisfied for 3 or 4 consecutive nights, the outcome will be maintenance. And, if you feel a little bit hungry for 3 or 4 consecutive nights, the outcome will be weight loss! Therefore, if you monitor how you feel before going to sleep, the number on the scale will never again be a mystery. You will never again get on, fingers crossed, hoping to have lost weight. You will know what the number will be because the scale merely reflects back to you what you have felt throughout the week. If there has been a little bit of hunger all week, I guarantee the scale will reflect weight loss!

Wow! Can I really be bold enough to make such a guarantee? Yes, I can, because this is truly all you have to do. The question now becomes: How do you do it without feeling anxiety at the thought of feeling a just a little bit hungry? Well, that's the rest of this story. We make it so very difficult in our minds, when it is actually very simple. And this is where I would like to help. I can show you how to do this. I can be a resource for you to turn to as I break down the process of weight loss and show you the simple steps that will bring you to your goal. Know that I always will tell you the truth, and this is the truth.

I hope that this week you will decide to explore your experience of hunger. When you begin feeling hungry, sit for a second and try to determine if there is an emotion rather than a physical sensation that you are interpreting to be hunger. Are you perhaps feeling sad, anxious, lonely, unloved and unsupported? If you are, then that is what I want you to think about. Focus on the emotion and journal about it. Write exactly what you are feeling and keep writing until you understand that you are not physically hungry, that food is not what you crave. After a few journal entries, I'm certain you will discover that it's usually not hunger that you're feeling.

But what if it is actually hunger? You might want to ask. Ah! If it really is, then I want you to say to yourself, Good! That's the way I am supposed to feel if I want to lose weight! I need to feel a little bit hungry every night to get the results that I am looking for.

Embrace the sensation! Let it empower you! This is not deprivation! You are not being abandoned! This does not mean that no one loves you!! It's simply you making the choice to feel that physical sensation and tolerate it for the purpose of bettering yourself. This is a gift you give yourself: a gift of love, and of strength, and of perseverance, and of the occasional grumbling stomach! From now on, if your stomach grumbles, smile!

So, let me ask you again: What does hunger feel like?

Ah. Your answer is correct: It feels like weight loss!!

A Brief History of the Ballpoint Pen

Working as I do, for a company that provides promotional pens, I tend to take ballpoint pens for granted. It wasn't until the other day when I came upon a fountain pen that my Mother had used to write letters to my Father during World War II, that I became curious about how the ubiquitous ballpoint pen came into being.

In 1888, an American leather tanner named John Loud patented a roller-ball pen for marking leather hides. It was never produced nor was any of the other pens based upon 350 patents over the next 30 years. The ink was the problem -either it was too thin and leaked or it was too thick and it clogged.

In 1935, two Hungarian brothers, Laszlo and George Biro, invented an improved version of the ballpoint pen. At the time, Laszlo was an editor at a small newspaper. He was very frustrated by the amount of time that he wasted filling his fountain pens and by the fact that the tip of his pens frequently scratched or tore the newsprint paper. George was a chemist, and together, they created new pen designs and ink formulations to be used in them.

While vacationing at the seashore shortly thereafter, the Biro brothers met Augustine Justo, the President of Argentina. He urged them to open a factory in Argentina. When World War II erupted in Europe a few years later, Laszlo and George fled to Argentina, but first stopped in Paris where they obtained a patent for their pen.

By 1943, the Biros had patented their pen in Argentina and set up a manufacturing facility, but the Biro Pen, as it came to be known, was a failure. Like other ballpoint pens before it, the pen relied on gravity to feed ink to the roller ball. That required that the pen be held in an upright position to write and the ink flow was still unreliable. The brothers went back to the drawing board and came up with a new design for the ink cartridge that used capillary action rather than gravity to deliver ink to the textured roller ball. The newly-designed pen went on the market a year later, and although the new design solved the problems, the pen was not a big commercial success and the Biros ran out of money.

It was, however, very popular with American and British fighter pilots who liked the pens because they would write at high altitudes and did not need refilling like fountain pens. The British Government licensed the pen for the RAF and the United States Department of State sent samples of the pen to a number of American pen manufacturers so they could develop a similar pen. In an attempt to corner the market, the Eberhard Faber Company paid the Biro brothers $500,000 for the U.S. rights to manufacture their ballpoint pen. Eberhard Faber sold the patent rights to the pen to the Eversharp Company, allegedly for $1,000,000, which began an extensive campaign to introduce the pen to America.

In a surprising end-run, a fifty-four year old salesman from Chicago, Milton Reynolds, became the first American manufacturer to successfully market the ballpoint pen. Reynolds had visited Argentina, where he had seen the Biro's pen in stores and thought that the pen would sell in America. Reynolds ignored the Biro patents, many of which had either expired or had never been properly filed in the U.S. and set up a factory. In a bold marketing move, he made a deal with Gimbels to be the first store to sell the pen. On the first day that the pen went on sale, 5,000 customers showed up at Gimbels and purchased the entire 10,000 pens that the store had in stock at over $10.00 per pen!

While Reynolds made millions of pens in the months that followed, ballpoint pens fell out of favor with the public as they discovered many of the same problems with the pens still existed. Somebody needed to invent a pen that was smooth writing, dried quickly, didn't skip or fade and, most important of all, didn't leak.

Two men, Patrick J. Frawley, Jr. and Fran Seech solved the problem. Seech was an unemployed chemist who lost his job when the pen company he worked for went out of business. Working in his own home laboratory, he finally developed the successful ballpoint pen ink. Frawley, was so impressed with Seech's ink, he purchased the formula and started the Frawley Pen Company in 1949. Frawley's pen not only had smear-proof ink, it also had a retractable point. An imaginative marketing campaign ensued and soon Frawley's pen, which he named Paper-Mate, took off. Other brands, such as Parker soon followed suit.

The other person to help revive the ballpoint pen was a French maker of penholders and cases, Marcel Bich. Not only was he appalled by the poor quality, but also by the high cost. He did, however, recognize that the ballpoint pen was a true innovation and resolved to create a low-priced, top-quality pen. Bich went to the Biro brothers and struck a deal to pay them a royalty on their patent and then spent two years studying every detail of every ballpoint pen on the market.

Finally, in 1952, Bich was ready to unveil his new pen. It was an inexpensive clear-barreled, smooth-writing, non-leaking pen called the Ballpoint Bic. The public accepted it with open arms. By the late 1950's, BIC had captured 70% of the European market.

Today, BIC dominates the market, with other manufacturers like Parker, Sheaffer and Waterman capturing the smaller market for upscale fountain pens and ballpoint pens. The modern version of Laszlo and George Biro's pen - the BIC Crystal - sells more than 14,000,000 pieces daily. Biro is still the generic name for the ballpoint pen in most of the world. And lastly, Parker black ink ballpoint pens will produce over 28,000 linear feet of writing - more than five miles - before running out of ink.

So the next time someone gives you a promotional pen or you buy one at the store, remember the amazing story of the Biro brothers and their gift to the world, the ballpoint pen.

ReThinking Pens As Effective Promotional Marketing Tools - Not Giveaways

Ever see them use a pen on TV to save someone's life? While you may never use a pen to create an emergency airway, pens are a great promotional marketing medium ... if they are backed up by an effective, creative idea.

First, a word of warning. There is a huge difference between a cheap pen and an inexpensive pen. Remember, even if you desire to simply hand out a pen to every Jill, John and Samantha that walks by your trade show booth, the quality of what you hand out is a reflection of you and your company.

We'll assume here that we're talking about promotional priced pens in the .30¢ to .50¢ per unit range and not expensive gift pens. Let's look at the different types.

The cheapest pen you can buy is the cap-off, stick type pen. A step above a pencil, these are, by and large, cheap. You can buy them for as little as 11¢ each. I believe they are a waste of money. People lose the cap, mark their clothing then throw the pen away. If a smooth writing pen and your image matter to you, you can do a lot better.

Twist-type pens are a step up from cap off. You can find twist-type that write decently. The downside is, they often require two hands to operate. For many, that's too much trouble, especially if they normally have something in their hand such as an order-taking pad. With a twist type pen in the lower price range, it's also difficult to find a pen that has a smooth twist action.

I believe you're best bet in a promotional pen is a retractable, also known as a click type pen. One-hand operation is the hallmark of this type of pen. You want one that has a strong, responsive click and of course is smooth writing.

Let's assume you desire a retractable pen to promote your business. Next, consider what you want to imprint on the pen. Different pens offer different imprinting options and sizes. You want to make sure that the pen you choose has an imprint area large enough to imprint your logo or other information legibly.

Another consideration is imprint colors. If you absolutely must have a multi color imprint then that will narrow your choices and increase your cost. A one color imprint will broaden your choices and lower your cost.

So you've chosen a pen that is appropriate for your need and your budget. Let's explore some ways to use that pen to promote. While not all of the following may be appropriate for your particular situation, I'm going to paint with a broad brush in an attempt to generate a number of possible ideas for you.

Lumpy Mail. A pen is lightweight yet causes a regular envelope enough distortion that it will usually get opened. If you're sending a letter to prospects and you want to increase the chance your letter will get opened, a pen will do it. Combine this idea with Prize Derby or Design Contest (explained later) and you could have a real promotion on your hands.

Targeted Placement. Where does your target audience hang out? Does your target audience frequent a local coffee shop? Maybe the hair salon is the best place to target your market. I often leave promotional items such as pens and note pads on the counter at the local chamber of commerce where I'm a member? How about your Gym or health club? Where ever your target hangs out or frequents, ask the owner or manager if you can leave a supply of your pens there.

 Quick-Draw McGraw. About four times a week I'm somewhere when someone asks, "Who's got a pen?" I am usually the first to hand over my imprinted pen. Key Point:A pen that is received at a time of need is more highly regarded than one that's simply given when no need is present.

Forget Your Pen. Use your pen and leave it every time you sign a credit card receipt. It doesn't matter if it's at the gas station, a restaurant or retail store. Leave your pen, ya know ... as a public service!

Permission Based Usage. Consider making friends with local sit-down restaurant owners whose clientele may be your prospects. Then get permission to supply the wait staff with your pen. Encourage them to allow patrons to "swipe" the pen. If you choose the right, low -cost retractable pen, they will want to.

Pen Design Contest. Have your clients and prospects supply you with ideas on a unique design for the imprint of your pen. Post the top designs on your website letting your clients and prospects know through e-mail or snail mail that the designs are up. Let them cast their vote for their favorite. Make sure you get their e-mail and other appropriate contact information as you are now building your database.

The winning design wins 50 of the pens. You can bet they'll show them to everyone they know. This whole tactic is designed to drive people to your website. Of course everyone who votes gets a pen.

Prize Derby. Pay extra, if possible, and have the pens sequentially numbered. Imprint the pens with "Go to www. _______.com." and if the number on this pen matches a number on the prize page you win!

Prizes can range from other promotional items or your product or service such as free samples or special package deals. Every couple of weeks you change the numbers on the web site so people have a reason to hang on to the pen and check back every couple of weeks.

Search, Explore and ASK! Look around. I go to tradeshows where a booth will want people to fill out a sign-up card with plain-Jane pens. Sometimes they let me replace their plain pens with mine. Every now and then the tube canister at the bank drive though doesn't have a pen. You bet I stuff one in there. Opportunities are everywhere, especially with non -profits. They can always use a few extra pens. Perhaps they'd agree to send your pen out with their next mailing asking for donations.

Pens can be a powerful promotional marketing medium when supported by an effective, appropriate and creative idea. Opportunities to promote yourself are all around. But if you don't look, you won't see. And if you don't ask, the answer will always be, "no".

A Comparison of Pens - Choosing a Ballpoint, Rollerball or Fountain Pen

Anybody who's spent any length of time actually hand-writing something has a favorite type of pen, and they all have discriminating preference. One person may only want to write with a retractable medium-point ballpoint pen with blue ink, whereas another can't go without her extra fine-point rollerball black ink pen with a cap.

There are three major kinds of pens: rollerball, ballpoint, and fountain. All three pens have advantages and disadvantages unique to their design, so the perfect pen for you really depends on what you want out of your pen. Here are the pros and cons for each type of pen, to help you in your decision of which to buy.

Ballpoint pens: The utilitarian

Ballpoint pens are everywhere. In 2005, Bic sold its hundred billionth ballpoint pen, to give you an idea of how many there are circling the globe. The ink ballpoint pens use also lasts a long time, doesn't bleed through paper, and dries quickly enough that it resists smudging. You also don't have to worry as much about a ballpoint pen leaking ink over your shirts or pants, unless you run it through the washing machine.

Though ballpoint pens are typically very simple and practical, it is possible to find some that are a little more sophisticated than average. Some major brands, like Graf von Faber Castell, create ballpoint and rollerball pens in the same lines as their fountain pens, so you can get elegance and utility in the same pen.

The cons of ballpoint pens are that there's a limit to the places they can write. They can't write on wet or oily surfaces, and neither can they write upside down or up against a wall. Ballpoints also have fewer ink colors available, as opposed to fountain pens and rollerballs, because of the consistency of the ink. They also require more pressure to write cleanly, so if you're going to be writing a lot, be prepared for hand strain.

Fountain pens: The classic

Smooth, elegant, timeless: all these are words to describe the simple, stylish fountain pen. While ballpoint pens are more widespread today, fountain pens have been around for centuries. The ink flow is smooth and even and requires almost no pressure in order to produce clean, legible writing. People who have arthritis or other hand problems may find fountain pens easier to use than ballpoint. Plus, a single fountain pen can use a variety of colors, and all you have to do is change out the ink.

Fountain pens also imply sophistication. They're very useful for professional art, penmanship and calligraphy, and their use associates them with class, status and elegance. Good quality fountain pens are built to last; if used correctly, they can outlive their owners several times over. Many major pen brands create pens that are virtually works of art themselves. For example, Graf von Faber Castell offers Classic Pernambuco, a line of pens that are made from the same wood used to craft violins.

For all their advantages, fountain pens are typically not suited for convenience and daily use. Many people may not want to deal with the hassle of changing out ink. Fountain pens require a little more care than ballpoint pens or rollerballs, and if something goes wrong with them, you usually have to spend some time figuring it out as opposed to tossing it and getting a new one.

Rollerball pens: The compromise

Rollerball pens combine the everyday practicality of a ballpoint with the smooth, even ink flow of a fountain pen. Like fountain pens, they have a greater variety of colors and require little pressure to write cleanly. Like ballpoint pens, they're convenient for everyday use.

Plus, rollerball pens come with either liquid ink or gel ink. The brighter colors of gel ink show up on darker paper, so if you've got an art or scrapbooking project, a rollerball pen may be the way to go.

The disadvantages of a rollerball are mostly ink-related. The ink is dispensed through the tip more quickly, meaning that it won't last as long as a ballpoint pen. Though the ink is easier to read, it also seeps through paper, making your writing illegible should you write on both sides of the sheet. Also, gel inks don't flow as readily as liquid inks, which means you could get a lot of blobs or skipping while you're writing with them.

Choose your pen wisely

With all the digital technology of today, it may seem that pens are merely a relic of the past. Why write it out when you have a computer to do the work for you?

But pens have an advantage that computers do not, beyond their sleek sophistication. They give you connection: both physical and personal connection to the words that you're writing, as well as a connection to all the writers in the past that scribed their works by hand.

Where everybody's "words" look the same on computers, with pens each letter is uniquely yours, committed to paper in your handwriting. Choose the pen that works for you, and enjoy a new level of connection with everything you write.

Collectible Fountain Pens

The dividing lines among custom, vintage and collectible fountain pens often get blurred. A vintage pen can be customized and added to a collection. Collectible fountain pens may include vintage, custom-made and customized vintage pens. Any fountain pen, new or vintage, customized or ordinary, qualifies for collection if it appeals to the fountain pen collector. A simple and plain look, a gaudy design or an ancient technique can enthuse a pen collector. There is no limit to the criteria for a fountain pen collection. The reasons could be as varying as the number of fountain pens. Costs do not deter fountain pen lovers from possessing their objects of desire.

Collecting new pens is easier, just like buying coke from the supermarket. Vintage pen collecting is a bit like hunting. Estate sales and flea markets are the places frequented by fountain collectors. Old jewelers and stationers come up with collectible fountain pens sometimes. The best way to buy collectible fountain pens is from a pen show, where hobbyists and collectors buy and sell pens to each other. These shows started as a place to swap pens. But now these shows are complete conventions with advertisements, sales and auctions. And, of course, one can buy collectible fountain pens on the Internet.

An online auction is a way of buying collectible fountain pens. This is different from the regular auction. In online auctions, a third person might come from nowhere and take away the object of desire. The chances of the same thing happening are also present regular auctions, but there it's a little more predictable. Buying collectible fountain pens online can be distressing as some facts or features of the pen may be misrepresented, and in the absence of testing, it may be difficult to vouchsafe the quality. Buying a collectible fountain pen from a dealer is the safest way.

Promotional Pens - The 7 Most Asked Questions About Corporate Plastic Pens

A lot has been written about promotional pens over the past few years. Most of the articles are nonsensical keyword stuffed gobbledygook which either state the obvious or don't really state anything at all. For a little fun, you should read a few of the articles from 2007 or earlier when quality was not as important as keywords. Thankfully, things are now changing.

I have been in the promotional pens industry for about fifteen years. In that time I have been asked a lot of the same questions. These are good questions that need to be answered and I shall do it here. Following is a list of the 7 most asked questions about promotional pens.

Will my logo and details fit on that pen? You might be surprised how often this question is asked. Pens are not big so they do not look like they can accommodate a lot of print. In some cases the answer is very little can be printed. If you are trying to print a lot of information, you will want to look for straight sided pens. A couple of brands to look out for are Senator Pens and Prodir Pens. These pens are made to be printed and offer print areas that are usually large enough for a logo and three lines of text such as a slogan, web address and telephone number. There are a lot of designer pens on the market that usually have a lot smaller print areas due to their more curvy designs. If you really have a lot to print, look into Lecce Pens which are manufactured in Italy but are sold all over Europe and the US. Lecce specializes in printing in digital full colour all over the barrel. Many pens offer an additional print area on the clip.

What is more popular blue or black ink refills?: Blue ink is the most popular refill colour. If your company requires black ink refills, it is best to state this from the beginning. Many pens are only available in one refill colour or the other so a lot of pens may be eliminated from the beginning. A lot of businesses, law firms and medical related industries require black ink refills. There are plenty of pens on the market with black ink and most good pen websites will let you know which colour refills are available for each pen. It is worth noting that Senator, Prodir, Bic and Lecce all supply pens with a choice of black or blue inks.

What is the origination charge?: The origination charge is an unfortunate but necessary part of printing promotional pens. It involves quite a few processes which are time consuming and labor intensive and result in a screen for screen printing. A different screen needs to be made for each print colour. For more information, James Cleere of The Pen Warehouse wrote a very informative article on the subject which was published on October 27 2009 by EzineArticles.

What is Mix-n-Match?: You have no doubt seen icons on websites and in printed media explaining that this or that pen can be mix-n-match made to order. There are now quite a few pen manufacturers that offer the service. When pens can be mix-n-matched, you have the option to choose from colored parts to make a truly corporate pen. You are able to choose the nib, barrel and clip colours. Some of the fancier designs allow you to choose the colors of special features as well such as ring colours. Please note that you will usually need to allow two to five weeks for this service depending on the manufacturer.

Are cheap plastic pens good promoters?: You get what you pay for. I am of the opinion that the cheapest pens can do more harm than good. People like to use pens that are nice to write with. This is important for eco reasons as well. It is no longer cool to give away thousands of cheap gifts that are just going to go straight in the bin adding to our already over burdened landfills. It does not cost a lot of money to order pens that have a lot of writing life. My recommendation is that you contact your supplier and ask for a few free samples. Write with them as much as you can for a few days. If you like writing with a pen, chances are your customer will. The most important thing to understand is that a pen that has been thrown away will no longer sell for you. A pen that is used regularly will promote your business or organization each time it is picked up to write.

I need pens in a hurry! What can I have? This will vary from country to county but for the most part you can expect a lot. Senator Pens and Lecce Pens both offer excellent rush order services in the UK, Europe and the UK. Of course, any supplier worth their salt will also have a nice list of quality generic pens that they can supply fast. It used to be that you could only print one color in five days. Manufacturers have begun to wake up to the fact that businesses require a lot better. That is why some manufactures are even printing full colour in as little as 24 hours.

What is the difference between digital full color wrap print and full color print?: Advances in digital printing have made it possible to print in full color much faster and cheaper than ever before. The print is applied and wrapped around the entire barrel of the pen and there is rarely an origination charge. Some manufacturers such as Senator Pens offer a full colour print service but it is not as good quality as digital print. Their older method of process printing is printed directly onto the pen in its normal print area. It does look fantastic but I personally prefer pens printed with the new full color digital wrap method.

Fountain Pen Cases

The love for fountain pens is not restricted to the pens alone. Along with the pens come the pen cases. Every fountain pen deserves a good home. Pen cases protect the pens from losing their sheen by rolling around on the desk or drawer. Designed to hold the pens in various ways, pen cases are a treat to watch. Exquisitely crafted pen cases are a statement of good taste. It makes sense to preserve precious vintage pens in cases and boxes.

Pen cases are available in the shape of an easel, upright-standing frames, cheroot box-like cases with transparent glass tops, cups and many more. While the closed cases primarily serve the purpose of preserving the pens from dust and abrasion, open cases highlight the beauty of the pens on display and make the pens available at one's fingertips. Triangular-shaped pen cases with smoked plastic covers are a variety seen in the market. Pen pillows, made from wood and Wajima urushi lacquer are also being manufactured by Japanese companies.

Pen cases are made of wood, leather, metal and glass with detailed attention to aesthetics. A designer pen case adds to the elegance of the study table or an office desk.

Some people make used coke cans their pen cases or stands. But not the fountain pen lover. A person who loves fountain pens would surely find a suitable case to preserve or showcase his pen collection. Personalized pen cases made of leather studded with precious metals and gems are found with the affluent pen lovers.

Pen cases are used not only for display or preserving purposes. Fountain pens in lovely cases are a wonderful gift item. Be it Christmastime or Hanukkah, fountain pens in a case are a perfect gift.

How to Start Your Own Band

Every once in awhile a guitar student will express a desire to be in a band someday.If this is your ambition too, then read on. Whether you're a guitar player or not doesn't really matter. If you are a talented singer or musician then the question is, do YOU want to be in a band? In this article you will find some helpful ideas on how to get started in that direction.

One of the first things you will need to do is gain EXPOSURE for yourself. This can be as easy as following three simple steps:

1. Tell everyone you know that you want to start a band.(Word of mouth advertising is one of the best advertising strategies)

2. Make a flyer to put up around town (in music stores, at schools, on bulletin boards, etc.)

3. Place a classified ad in all the local newspapers

Here is an example of something you might say in your advertising:

"Lead guitarist seeking individuals interested in starting a Christian Rock band. Looking for a lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, bass guitarist and drummer. The emphasis will be on sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through music. If you have a desire to use your musical gifts in this way, please call (give your name and phone number) for an interview."

You can make the ad as detailed or generic as you need to.  The important thing is to have a clear idea in your own mind of who you want in your band. Do you need a bass player, singer, drummer...? What type of qualifications or experience will you expect? Is age a factor? Jot down a list of questions to ask and keep it by your phone. When someone does call, you will be ready to have the interview right on the spot. Try to make your questions require only a very short reply, or yes or no answer. That way, it will be easier for you to take notes. If someone looks like a good potential band mate, get their phone number and tell them you would like to call them back after you are through holding your interviews. Try not to keep people waiting too long (between 2-4 weeks) if possible. When you're ready, review your notes and decide who you want to call.  Set up a time that is convenient for everyone you've selected to meet at YOUR CHOSEN LOCATION.  This is important if you want to establish yourself as the originator of the band in order to maintain an influence on its direction. I should insert a word of caution here. You might want to "play it safe" by not inviting them to your home until after you get to know them a little better. After all, they are strangers, but it's your call of course.

You may want to keep the first meeting with your new band members very low key. Use the time to make introductions, share past experiences, set goals, discuss ideas, etc. This will give you the opportunity to gauge whether you think each personality is going to be able to work together and get along.  Avoid egocentric people like the plague as they will just create friction with other members of the band. Assess everyone fairly, but realistically.  It's better to get rid of a bad apple right away, rather than allow them to spoil the enthusiasm for the rest of the group.

After your first band meeting, you can aim for the next one to be an informal "jam" session. At this time you will be able to get a feel for whether the group is going to gel or not. But don't be too hasty in your decisions! I remember one time "auditioning" for a band and being so self-conscious that I just couldn't relax and enjoy the experience. It was a local band that I had known of for some years and often desired to be a part of. Even though I had already acquired quite a bit of experience performing on my own, this was different. It was someone else's "thing". Nothing seemed to go right! After I got home that evening, I was sure they would never call me back. The surprise was, they did! However, the second time wasn't much better, but they decided to give me another chance and invited me to come back one more time. It's a good thing for me, because the third time was the charm. Our voices and music blended so perfectly that I just knew I was in. I share this story so that you might give your new fledgling band some time to get off the ground.  If nothing seems to ignite a spark after giving it a fair amount of time, then you might want to reconsider your options. That's something only you will be able to determine.

Well, that's about all there is to it really. Once you've got your band members picked, you're ready to start making music! If you have some original tunes, be sure to share them with the others. See if anyone else in the group has written any songs too. Be open, honest and ready for almost anything. If you establish your own priorities first, it will help you to stay focused through whatever ups and downs may come along.  And always remember, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

How To Claim CHILD TAX CREDIT The Right Way And Add An Extra $2,000 To Your Refund

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that it costs nearly $15,000.00 a year for a middle-class family to raise a child born in 2002 to age 17 (without adjustment for inflation).  In recognition of this cots, you can claim a tax credit each year until your child reaches the ago of 17.  The credit is currently up to $1,000.00 per child.  This credit is in addition to the dependency exemption for the child.

You may claim a tax credit of up to $1,000.00 in 2004 for each child under the age of 17.  If the credit you are entitled to claim is more than your tax liability, you may be entitled to a refund under certain conditions.

Generally, the credit is refundable to the extent of 10 percent of earned income over $10,750.00 in 2004.

Conditions:

To claim the credit, you must meet two conditions.

1.  You must have a qualifying child.
2.  Your income must be below a set amount.

QUALIFYING CHILD.

You can claim the credit only for a "Qualifying Child."  This is a child who is under age 17 at the end of the year and whom you claim as a dependent.

The child need not be your own child - he or she can be a stepchild, grandchild, great-grandchild, sibling, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of these.

For example, if you support your 16 year old sister and claim her as a dependent on your return, she is a qualifying child.  An adopted child is a qualifying child as long as the child has been placed with you by an authorized agency for legal adoption, even if the adoption is not yet final.

MAGI LIMIT.

You must have modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) below a set amount.  The credit you are otherwise entitled to claim is reduced or eliminated if your MAGI exceeds a set amount.  MAGI for purposes of the child tax credit means AGI increased by the foreign earned income exclusion, the foreign housing exclusion or deduction, or the possessions exclusion for American Samoa residents.

The credit amount is reduced by $50.00 for each $1,000.00 of MAGI or a fraction thereof over the MAGI limit for your filing status.  The phaseout begins if MAGI exceeds the following limits:

1. Married filing jointly        $110,000.00
2. Head of household $75,000.00
3. Unmarried (single) $75,000.00
4. Qualifying widow(er)        $75,000.00
5. Married filing separately $55,000.00

Example:  In 2004 you are a head of household with two qualifying children.  Your MAGI is $90,000.00.  Your credit amount of $2,000 ($1,000 x 2) is reduced by $750 ($90,000 - $75,000 = $15,000 MAGI over the limit) = 15 x 50 = $750.  Your credit is $1,250.00 ($2,000 - $750).

HOW TO CLAIM THE CREDIT AND GET A BIGGER REFUND.

If the credit you are entitled to claim is more than your tax liability, you can receive the excess amount as a "refund."  The refund is limited to 10 percent of your taxable earned income (such as wages, salary, tips, commissions, bonuses, and net earnings from self-employment) over $10,750 in 2004.  If your earned income is not over $10,750, you may still qualify for the additional credit if you have three or more children.

If you have three or more children for whom you are claiming the credit, you may qualify for a larger refund, called the additional child tax credit.

QUICK TIP.

If you know you will become entitled to claim the credit (e.g. you are expecting the birth of a child in 2004), you may wish to adjust your withholding so that you don't have too much income tax withheld from your paycheck.  Increase your withholding allowances so that less income tax is withheld from your pay by filing a new from W-4, Employee's withholding allowance certificate, with your employer.

The child tax credit is scheduled to decline to $700 per child in 2005 and then increase to $800 in 2009, and $1,000 in 2010 and later years.

You figure the credit on a worksheet included in the instruction for your return.  You claim the credit in the "Tax and Credits" section of Form 1040 or the "Tax, Credits, and Payments" section of form 1040A; you cannot claim the credit if you file form 1040EZ

If you are eligible for the additional child tax credit, you figure this on Form 8812, Additional Child Tax Credit.

How to Help Your Teen Prepare for a Strong Financial Future (What Schools Should Teach About Credit)

Our college-bound son just bought his first home at 21. He was able to buy a home for forty thousand under the appraised price, get a low interest rate, finance the closing costs, and pay no money down. How could he possibly do this? His credit score is over 700.

You can help your teenager prepare for his or her financial future by establishing a high credit rating. Offer your teenager these three crucial credit tips for a great financial future:

1. Start early. Begin by successfully managing a checking account-- the first credit requirement. Wells Fargo Bank has a program for children to open joint accounts with a parent as young as 13 years of age. For a free individual checking account, Washington Mutual requires a minimum age of 18 or a manager's approval for younger account holders.

2. Apply for a major credit card at 18. It's easier to get a first-class credit card with favorable rates and terms while a student attends college before the age of 22. Why do banks want to open accounts for students who have no credit history or employment? Because lenders know that college graduates in general make more money and also pay their bills on time. Also, most consumers don't like shopping around for credit and tend to keep their credit accounts. Therefore, lenders desire to establish strong relationships with the preferred market early in their credit experience.

This doesn't mean that you as the parent need to co-sign; banks expect parents to help out with the payments when necessary. Just be crystal clear with your child what you expect regarding debt management. The purpose is to teach responsibility and to establish credit--not to go into debt.

3. Manage the credit card account with credit scores in mind. Once the account is opened, encourage your child to use the card for necessities that would be purchased with cash--not luxuries--and to pay the debt before finance charges accrue. However, don't pay the entire balance off each month; let a little roll over at least every two months. Banks don't appreciate accounts paid in full each month. More important, paid accounts don't factor into the credit score as much as an account with a low balance.

Explain to you teenager that the purpose of using a credit card is to establish good credit. To do this, a credit card should never have a balance over 50% of the available credit. The best credit scores have accounts with only 10% of the credit line used.

Setting up a checking account and a credit card account helps your teenager learn about responsible money management, with the bonus of building strong credit to finance a home.

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights reserved.

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places? - How to Fine Tune Your Relationship Radar

I don't think a week goes by that I don't get a letter or e-mail from someone asking for help in making better choices in relationships.

It usually goes something like this: "I keep picking jerks to date! I try to pick different types of people - they might even look completely different from the last person I dated - but they end up acting the same and treating me the same. How do I stop doing this? I don't what to get fooled into marrying someone and then find out afterward he is a jerk, too."

There are at least four actions you can take right away to begin to change this pattern. Each has to do with changing your relationship radar, which is what keeps getting you in these messes.

Picture the weather radar on your local news program. It sweeps around and picks up the areas where it is raining. In much the same way, relationship radar picks up on the kind of person to whom you are attracted. Some people call this your "type."

Your relationship radar is so precise and sensitive that if you walked into a party with 100 people in it, and three of them were your type, you'd pick them out in about 5 minutes.

If your relationship radar is working well and helps you choose people who are good for you, no problem. If your relationship radar is faulty, you get into the pattern you're struggling with.

Step 1: Take a relationship break. This might be difficult. Many people who have faulty relationship radar go from one relationship to the next, repeating the same pattern. Taking a relationship break accomplishes at least two important tasks: It gives your poor heart a rest, and I bet it needs it. And, it gives you the time and space needed to do the rest of the changes required to reset your relationship radar.

Step 2: Create a list of warning signs. About 10 years ago I was working with a twentysomething person who told me that no matter what she tried, she kept dating jerks. So we decided we needed to come up with a "jerk list" made up of subtle and not so subtle signs that a person might be a potential jerk.

What we discovered was that this list helped to guide her away from the type of person she had been attracted to up until then.

While each person's list is unique, here are some general guidelines:

Does his behavior match what he says?

Is this person emotionally mature?

Can this person keep and enjoy a job?

To create your own list, simply think back through previous relationships and look for themes in behavior, habits and attitudes that, in retrospect, were clear warning signs that this was someone to avoid. If you have trouble coming up with items, ask close friends to help you.

Create a list of what you are looking for in a partner. Some people have said that this sounds so tacky, like a shopping list for a relationship. Well, perhaps, but it works.

Of course, there will be physical characteristics. But, make sure to include personality and character traits that are both a good fit and healthy for you.

While you are not going to find a tailor-made fit in an off-the-rack world, it's as important to know what you're looking for as is it to know what you need to avoid.

Create your screening and protection committee. As you work at changing your relationship radar, you are still quite vulnerable to choosing people who are bad for you.

There will be times when you just can't see clearly. Ask a few close friends, family, or a counselor to be a part of your screening and protection committee. These are people who know you well and know your list of warning signs. They need to be folks who will be honest with you.

If someone doesn't pass the screening and protection committee, consider it one of the biggest and clearest warning signs you can get.

How to Get a Date

Step #1- The first impression. Before you approach a girl or women, you need to know a few obvious formalities. Be clean - be sure you are wearing attractive cologne, clean clothes, and fresh breath. Woman notice the smallest details, so bad breath or B.O. will be one of the first impressions of you and you don't want that. Depending on what kind of girl you want to go after, you should always wear clean, fitting clothes; stains or overlarge clothes are a indication of what kind of lifestyle you live and you want to give her the best impression possible. Right before you approach her, you should put your confident but not cocky and witty but not corny cap on because that is the next thing that girls will be attracted to after your looks.

Step #2-The Actual Date. Be a gentleman, open the door for her, take her coat and be considerate. This will be an indication to her that you care about her and that you know how to treat a woman. Take her out somewhere where both of you enjoy going. Having the same common interests is important in a relationship because you will be able to hold a conversation on a topic you and her agree on. This way you will avoid fights.

If you are taking her out somewhere to eat, split the price in half between the two of you since this is your first date. By doing this, she will realize that she is an equal to you. If she is one that is very 'high class', pay the bill but next time offer to split the bill because if you don't, she might think of you as 'the supplier'. Try to hold conversation and let her talk about herself.

Ask questions about her career, school or personality, woman love to talk about themselves, simply because they know themselves the best! Don't mumble, make sure to speak clearly because that might be a sign of an insecurity. If you guys have a conversation where both you of enjoy it, it is a sure way to make plans for your next date. Which brings me to my next point.

Step #3- Conclusion of the date. If she is smiling and giving good body language, you might be in for a next date. If you guys were different and different opinioned, it might be a sign to look for another girl. Ask her directly if she would like to go out with you again and if she is making excuses, she isn't interested, but if she responds positively, get her number and plan a next date. Good Luck !

How To List Your Items On eBay

Listing your items on eBay can be very confusing if you don't know where to start.  Here are a few tips on getting your items listed so that they sell.

Accuracy

When you list your items on eBay, write an accurate description. You do not have to write long paragraphs of rambling information but provide exact measurements, colors, condition, etc. Be extremely precise when it comes to your description.

Auction Title

Just as using a strong title for a book, your eBay auction title needs to captivate buyers. You are allowed 45 characters for your title and you need to use common words that will draw attention. Use this space carefully and to your advantage. Think of words that will be easily found when people conduct a search. For example, if you are selling six yards of fabric you could say something like, "Stunning material - Don't miss this great bargain." If you are selling fishing poles, try something like, "Love to fish? GREAT buy on fishing poles!"

Since the search option on eBay looks for specific characters, you should try to list the item both singular and plural. As an example, for the fishing poles, you could list the auction as, "Fishing Poles - Get your fishing pole now!" Avoid wasted words such as WOW or Look Here. Buyers are looking so there is no need to tell them to look. Again, as buyers looking through the listings, the titles are what will capture their attention. Make your impression a strong one!

Abbreviations

Saving space in titles can be important if you have a longer description. Look at other auctions selling the same type of merchandise to get an idea of the types of abbreviations that will work. As an example, you could write, "Do U love to fish?" or "Gorgeous material 4 sale."

Buyer's Questions

When you write your description try to think of questions buyers may have so your description will answer as many possible questions as possible. This will save time in relaying messages back and forth. This would include the manufacturers' name, condition of the items, special features, warranties, color, defects, etc.

Listing Category

When you choose which category to list your items, choose wisely. You will find some categories that are similar yet just enough different that it could make a big difference in how your items is sold. Look at other items listed and choose appropriately.

Sending Items

In your description, provide accurate details regarding shipment. Make sure the items are sent within the time you stated. In many cases, people purchase something for a specific purpose and if you do not ship it when stated, not only do you mess up their schedule for the item but you have probably lost a customer and opened the door for a negative feedback.

Flaws

Advise potential buyers of any flaws in your products. If you are selling a plate that has a small chip, mention this in the description. If you are selling fabric and it has a small tear, disclose this information. The majority of eBay buyers are looking for bargains, which means minor defects can often be overlooked. The worse possible scenario would be to keep a flaw hidden and then have to deal with handling returns as well as losing a buyer.

Auction Price

Set your auctions low, which will help encourage more bidding. The more bidding you have, the higher the price will ultimately go. In addition, if you add a "Buy Now" option for your auction, keep this set at a reasonable rate as well.

Payment Options

The more options you can provide potential buyers, the better your chances of making the sale. Your options include PayPal, which is an online payment service, Billpoint, eBay's payment system, personal checks, money orders, or cash. Remember that you will have buyers from around the world so an online payment service is extremely helpful.

Shipping / Handling

You should always charge actual shipping costs. Several options can be added to your account that provides the actual costs. Another option is to state that you will provide actual shipping at the end of the auction, based on the destination zip code. Overcharging customers for shipping and handling is frowned upon and will result is unhappy customers.

Sell by Lots

If you have two or more of one item, you can list it as a "lot." For example, if you had five bottles of suntan lotion purchased from a salvage store for .50 each, and you decided to list them on eBay for $1.00 each, rather than list each one separately, another option is to sell them as a lot. Often times, people perform their search based on lots. However, if you had one bottle of suntan lotion, one bottle of regular lotion, and one bottle of aloe vera, you would want to list them as their own item.

Photographs

While auctions without photographs can and do sell, auctions with photographs sell much better. People like visualizations and want to see what their money is getting them. Make sure your photograph is clear, focused, and depending on the item (such as rings, shoes, etc.), offers more than just a straight view.

Size and Weight

If possible, stay with items that are smaller and lightweight. Remember that whatever you sell, you have to ship. Items such as furniture, lawnmowers, etc. are generally sold through a manufacturer or wholesaler. As an independent seller, you want to sell items that are easy to manage.

Shipping Options

Set up accounts with several overnight couriers such as Federal Express and UPS. Once again, the more options offered, the better your auction will be received.

Location

It is important to list the city and state where you are located. Not only does this help the buyer determine shipping to make sure you are not overcharging them but if you are selling larger items such as furniture, automobiles, or appliances where the buyer would have to pick the items up, it would let them know if they want to bid based on location. As an example, if you have a refrigerator for sale and you live in New York, someone from California is not going to drive clear across the country just to pick up the appliance whereas on the East Coast might.

Accessories

Some people fail to include information about accessories. This is very important since many times people are looking specifically for the accessories/attachments that go along with the items. What if you were buying a weed eater but had a bad back? You need one that has a good shoulder strap. If the buyer visits your auction and finds the weed eater, you are selling to be exactly what they are looking for and the price is right but there is no strap, you have lost a sale. Include all accessory/attachment information even if you think it has no value.

Collectibles

When selling antiques or collectibles, you should provide a history of the items. If you have artwork for sale in your auction, provide the buyer with its origin. People love to have history, especially when it comes to collectibles, which is part of what adds to its value. Without embellishing, make the story a good one.

Keeping Good Records

You need to establish a sound recording system. This system would consist of the item name, any associated reserve price (although not recommended for your auction), description, flaws, buyer's name, price sold for, payment received date, etc. This helps to ensure the entire transaction for that item is complete from beginning to end and provides you with information should you need to list that same item or a similar item. Additionally, the record will help you know what your income was, based solely on your specific auctions.

Checkout

If you choose to use eBay's checkout system, make sure every box is checked when you list your items. This option can be helpful when used correctly, but can also be confusing.