The Pleasures of Sharing Information

The Pearl 8120 has proven really popular with the public and has been a real success for BlackBerry. For the money the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 is fairly well featured. The overall design of this mobile phone is pretty average.

This phone is bluetooth enabled for interactivity with a number of devices. The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 is equipped with Polyphonic (32 channels), MP3 ring tones on top of which is a vibrating tone . The Pearl 8120 is compatible with 2G GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 . A 2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, video, flash camera is integrated into the Pearl 8120 camera. For mobile Internet users as HTML, browser is included. Regarding the all important battery cell duration the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 has 360 hrs reserve charge and 4:00 talk time. A Standard battery, Li-Ion 900 mAh battery cell is that is shipped with the BlackBerry Pearl 8120. Compared to competing phones on the market the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 is is a small pocket sized phone. In terms of colours the Pearl 8120 is available in, Titanium, Blue and Sunset. The Pearl 8120 is 91 g in weight. The display type is 65K colors. Additionally the Pearl 8120 has:

Regardless of being quite a new model, the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 faces a lot of competition. It is therefore fairly easy to pick up some great deals on this mobile handset.

There are lots of offers available online to possible handset users. For instance by using a mobile phone comparison site you may see a mobile phone with 12 month free line rental or a free CoPilot software.

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After 911 we say many people somewhat checking out of society and retreating to their houses and spending more time there. We say an increase in new housing starts and a rapid and unprecedented growth in first time car buyers. We saw many chose to move to suburbs which grew into cities in their own right, brand new cities as business and infrastructure followed.

We saw purchases such as items for the home increase. In the last few years one of the best retail sectors to be in was home entertainment systems, computers and barbeques. We also say increase in things like Gazebos, swing sets for kids and pop up pools for the back yard. One interesting major home purchase was a garden tractor or ride on mower. The sales of garden tractors and ride on mowers skyrocketed to over 2000% over a three-year period.

Some say that it takes a family to make a House a Home. And indeed the family was brought back together and became a tighter nit group. Some went back to get closer with their religion and Bible sales also increased to almost catch the number of phone books in the United States. Many people bought a new car to get into town having moved slightly away from the hustle and bustle.

How has your life changed? What have you done lately to make you house a home, a place for the whole family; a place you feel safe and secure, with all the amenities you need to make you happy? If you want to make your house a home, then you need to truly understand what is important to your in your life and make it available right here at home? Think on this.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

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“Buy this magazine or we’ll shoot the dog,” went a memorable cover for the satire magazine National Lampoon many years ago. On the cover, along with the threat, was the picture of an attractive dog with large sad eyes - and a pistol pointed at its head!

Want a powerful way to make sure your message leaves an impression on the people who receive it?

Talk about the consequences that will occur as a result of following or not following your advice. That could be a carrot (good things will happen) or a stick (bad things will happen), depending on the situation.

Consequences are the outcome of a cause and effect sequence. If you do one thing, another thing will happen. Buy the magazine and the dog will be saved. Buying the magazine is the cause, and a reprieve for the dog is the effect.

There are several types of consequences, and we can leverage our communication strength by knowing and understanding the different types.

Functional consequences refers to physical results. Use this shampoo and your hair will look beautiful. Buy this car and you’ll get more miles per gallon.

Psychological consequences refer to intangible results, but still have a powerful effect. Consider life insurance: if you buy it you will never get a benefit from it, but your family will, and that gives you peace of mind.

Social consequences are the third type, and refer to your standing with your peers or important others. Buy this wine and your friends will think you’re a person of discerning taste and style.

Why are consequences important? In addition to the obvious, consequences help us understand the connection between the features of a product or service and the values that are (or are not) satisfied by using or consuming it.

As we’ve all been told many times, features aren’t important in themselves, rather they’re important for the benefits they confer. Yet, benefits tend to dead-end, that is, there’s a tendency to stop analyzing once we’ve identified them.

Thinking of consequences, rather than benefits, helps extend our analyses to another level, to values. Admittedly, this may be as much about semantics as substance, but nevertheless it matters.

From another perspective, consequences help us move from the concrete to the abstract. We can touch or experience features directly; that takes no imagination. Values, on the other hand, are all in the mind; they can’t be touched or experienced in the same way.

For example, wash your hair with this shampoo, which contains ingredient X-15 (a feature) and you’ll feel more confident (a consequence) when you go out for an evening, and a feeling of confidence helps you enjoy social occasions (a value satisfier, and ultimate result).

You’ve no doubt seen this strategy used in shampoo commercials and display ads. Which makes sense, because most of us don’t value nice hair for its own sake; we value it for social reasons.

In summary, understanding the connection between features and values, through consequences, helps make our communication more effective.

Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott’s Communication Letter. Learn how you can use communication to help achieve your goals, by reading articles or subscribing to this ad-supported newsletter. An excellent resource for leaders and managers, at:
http://www.communication-newsletter.com

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Like its brethren, the CR-V, Odyssey and new Element, the Pilot
completes Honda’s best-buy SUV and van line. And like any of those
offerings or anything else in Honda’s arsenal, it’s hard to find serious
fault with the Pilot.

Introduced in late 2003, the Pilot replaced the Passport and it shares the
same basic chassis and powertrain as the MDX, the complementary
choice from Honda’s upscale Acura division.

My test drive for the week was the top of the line’s EX L 4-door wagon
that includes both a navigation system and second seat DVD
entertainment system. With those additions, the Pilot further enhances
its position at the forefront of the midsize SUV ranks that include the
Ford Explorer, Nissan Murano and Toyota Highlander.

The three Pilot models all offer a V6, 255-horsepower engine paired
only with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The HP total represents an
increase of six percent from the 2004 model, further adding to the
vehicle’s status among the quicker midsize SUVs. It has a 0-60 mph test
rating of 7.9 seconds.

Further performance areas for the Pilot are all ranked at least average or
above. The driver sits “tall” in the vehicle, so steering and handling are
fine for the car’s type. But it should never be mistaken for anything other
than a SUV with cornering limitations.

Braking is strong and the standard all-wheel-drive system seems well-
suited for trails and in inclement weather conditions.

Like other Hondas, controls and instrumentation as well as styling and
indoor space are thoughtful and styled simply. The automatic shift lever
is located behind the right side of the steering wheel and doesn’t block
access to other controls. But it’s also too easy to shift in and out of
transmission settings.

The pilot is an eight-passenger vehicle, with little compromise. The
second and third-row seats each comfortably seat three passengers.
Although unused during my test week, second and third-seat
passengers can view DVDs from a screen that pops down from the
second-seat ceiling. Headphones are stored in a map/accessory
compartment behind the driver’s seat.

All three Pilot models have a long list of standard features: tilt steering
wheel, cruise control, 60/40 split folding second and third seats, power
mirrors, windows and doors locks, remote keyless entry and AM/FM/CD
player, among other items. The EX and EX-L models include a six-disc
changer, steering wheel radio controls, automatic-off headlights and
allow wheels. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, power sunroof and
heated power mirrors are standard on the EX-L model only.

Despite its best-buy status, the Pilot does have two less-than-
spectacular considerations: curtain side airbags are not available on
any model, and its fuel rating of 17 in city driving and 22 in highway use
is fine for its category but hardly an economical plus.

Nevertheless, the Pilot overall is an ideal family vehicle. It’s spaciously
designed, practical and fits well in the Honda family known not only
performance and reliability, but for a strong position in the resale market.

2005 Honda Pilot

Safety features — Front side airbags, anti-lock 4-wheel disc
brakes, rear-obstacle detection system. tire pressure monitor, rearview
camera.

Fuel Mileage (estimates) — 17 mpg (city), 22 mpg (highway).

Warranty — Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles;
Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles.

Base price range — $34,120.

James Raia is a syndicated journalist in Sacramento, California, who
writes about sports, fitness, travel and lifestyle topics as well as the car
review colum, The Weekly Driver.

To read more car reviews, visit: The Weekly Driver

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Younger drivers face a hard time getting started on learning how the road works, even when they’ve just passed the test. Simply by virtue of being a young and slightly inexperience driver means that you’re more likely to have an accident than a veteran of the road. Being a young driver usually results in insurance companies thinking you’ll be hard to look after, due to the fact that the possibility of you having an accident is statistically higher than someone that has spend a good many years behind the wheel, and will therefore have a high chance of paying higher insurance premiums, resulting in car insurance which certainly isn’t the cheap car insurance we want most. By being either a “new” driver, or a driver under the age of twenty one, you’ll no doubt be faced with high premiums. But there is a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, and the initial high premiums can be seen as merely a steep entry fee into the world of slightly cheaper car insurance! Practice makes perfect, as the saying goes, and with all the practice that young drivers will hopefully be getting in their first few years of being road-worthy, comes experience, and this will leader to building up that no claims discount, and hopefully lower premiums will follow on from that. Also, another benefit to being a young driver, is that if you can’t actually afford to get your own insurance policy (as is often the case with young drivers), then it is quite possible to be put down a named driver on the policy of your parents. The downside here is that you probably won’t be able to build up a no claims bonus; you will be able to accumulate valuable experience in what’s quite often a shaky few months after having just passed the test.

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There have been more travelers going to the Canadian Arctic region in recent years for both business and tourism. Adventure tourism companies are beginning to promote the Arctic as a unique destination to experience the natural beauty and wildlife of the north as well as the culture of the native Inuit who live there. As a result of the creation of the Nunavut territory and government, the capital city of Iqaluit has been growing as Inuit from smaller Arctic communities migrate to the city for more job opportunities. This growth has created the increase of business travelers to the Arctic.

Getting to the Arctic has always been a problem for travelers since there are no roads that go up there from southern Canadian cities. The Arctic communities are very isolated from the rest of Canada as well as from each other. Flying in has been the only option although many coastal Arctic areas are serviced by cargo boat during the summers as well. For the average traveler, the air option is the only way to go. Although travel to the Canadian Arctic has increased, the number of travelers going up north is very small compared to number of travelers between southern Canadian cities. As a result, the major Canadian carrier Air Canada and certainly none of the US carriers service the Arctic. The only commercial airlines which service the Arctic (Nunavut and Northwest Territories) for the average traveler are First Air and Canadian North. A smaller airline called Air Inuit services the native Inuit communities in Nunavik (Arctic Quebec). First Air and Canadian North both fly out of Ottawa. First Air also flies out of Montreal while Canadian North also has flights departing from Edmonton and Calgary. These Canadian North flights will stop in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories before continuing to Nunavut. So travelers will have to get to one of these Canadian cities from their points of origin in order to connect with an Arctic carrier. Getting to a smaller Arctic community such as Cape Dorset will involve an additional connection in Iqaluit.

The number of all flights to the Arctic is predictably few in comparison to other domestic flights in Canada. Therefore, Arctic flights are always expensive no matter which travel day of the week. Staying for a Saturday night will not result in cheaper airfares either. The high cost of flights has always been the major obstacle for Arctic travel and will likely not change in the near future. The growth of Arctic tourism will still be limited because of the expensive travel involved. However, if one is willing to pay for it, a trip to the Canadian Arctic is one that will certainly be memorable and satisfying.

Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery (www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca) , an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.

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My daughter was immovable when it came to potty training: she didn’t want to go potty, and that was that! She was four and a half and still using diapers, and I was at my wit’s end. During the two years I spent trying, in one way or another, to get her to go potty, I learned four important and interesting things about potty training a strong willed child.

1. You can’t force it. There are two things that you cannot force your child to do. You cannot force your child to eat, and you cannot force him to go potty. So no matter how much I praised, rewarded, begged, scolded, or guilt-tripped my daughter, she was only going to use the potty when she was good and ready. No amount of intervention on my part was going to change this immutable fact.

2. You know better than your doctor. During the two years I battled with my daughter over potty training, I took her to three different doctors and even to a social worker who specializes in children who are potty-resisters! Once we ruled out any physical or medical problems, every single professional I spoke with gave me a different opinion on why my daughter was resisting and what I should do about it. They all agreed on one thing - that my daughter and I were locked in a battle of wills, and I was losing the battle big time. But the advice I received was varied and often contradictory. I came to realize that I knew better than they did, because I knew my daughter.

3. Don’t take it personally. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent angry, frustrated, even in tears, because I couldn’t get my daughter out of diapers. When she reached four and half, I felt like a failure as a mother. Don’t fall into this way of thinking! Your child’s unwillingness to go potty is no reflection on your parenting ability.

4. Eventually, your child will go (all children do). All children master the potty, and your child is no exception. If you have ruled out any physical or medical problems that may be preventing your child from mastering the potty, your child will surprise you one day.

My daughter was fully trained well before she turned five years old, and now that she is almost six, I still find it miraculous that she willingly goes to the bathroom without any reminders or accidents! It will happen for your child, too.

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The trouble with being a parent is that there really are no set “classes” that cover all the myriad problems that one can face when you become one! This article will deal with the problems of motivating children to do their chores.

Consider the plight of the working mom, gone 8 hours daily plus two hours drive time, and the working dad, same thing. Kids at home…on their own, doing what they want, and NOT what they have been told to do to help out. This can be absolutely the worst scenario for mom and dad …to come home to a messy house, chores not yet done, dishes in the sink…TV blaring, and the kids not doing their homework. “Nagging” just doesn’t do the trick and always leads to arguments and whining or some sort of a “scene”.

I went through this scenario years ago when my young teens were for the first time free to be at home without the “sitter”. I put up with it so long and then decided it was time to steal one of my top “motivation techniques” that I used in my classes (I was a special ed teacher). In those days, it was called “behavior disorder”. Nowadays there are such labels as “attention deficit disorder” and “educationally impaired”. Regardless, I had a lot of tricks up my sleeve to get these kids to concentrate on their skills in school, and I thought I would give it a try at home.

These techniques worked for me then, and with a few “modernization” ideas they will work now, in this day and age.

First of all, as a parent you need to decide what you want your kids to do as their part of the household. And don’t say they don’t need to do anything. They are members of the household. Same as you. Same as the other half of the marriage, the spouse…everybody in a household benefits from the things the household provides…food, shelter, warmth, etc. Cleanliness and tidiness without screaming and yelling and temper tantrums makes the household run smoothly and makes everybody happier.

So, make that list of what you would like to see your kids do. Make a good no nonsense list: make the bed, pick up the dirty clothes, wash their own clothes, keep the dirty dishes picked up, put away the toothbrush and toothpaste…common normal things that irritate you when they DON’T get done. Don’t forget to add in Homework! Then tack on to the list at least three tasks that should be done as “extras” (things like cleaning the refrigerator or shaking out the scatter rugs or vacuuming the living room floor).

Make a chart listing those tasks, down the side of the page, with a space for each day going along the top of the page (you will need to check each item on a daily basis).

Next, decide what your kids really really like to do, (Listen to the ipod? Play nintendo?) and keep that in mind. Then, sit your kids down and write a contract with them, something to the effect that you will not say ONE WORD to them about accomplishing their “chores”. They will be written on the chart. In turn for your not “nagging” them, they will simply do what is expected, and have it done by 7 pm every night. No “privileges” until then. NO television, NO ipods, NO cell phone. (Remove them in the morning of the first day you start the new regime.) You sign this contract, and your kids sign this contract. What they get out of this is no more nagging, and a chance to keep their favorite privileges, that up till now they have considered a right, rather than a privilege.

Every night at 7 pm the chart will be checked. If all the daily tasks have not been checked off, then the favorite thing will NOT BE USED. Furthermore, it will be removed from them until the next day, at 7 pm. Same thing. If the Daily chores ARE checked, then they have their favorite things back, then and there, for the evening. Don’t start out too tough, it doesn’t t have to be a perfectly made bed for example, but it can’t be a rumpled mess either.

This only takes a couple of days, and guess what, you will be coming home and finding an orderly house and homework being done.

What about the “extra” items? Well, if they get three “extra” items done during a one week period of time, then you have two choices. You can give them an extra special something, or you can DO an extra special something with your kids - you will, after all, have more time to spend with them!!

Remember, it is YOUR home too. And you are not a “friend,” you are a PARENT. You will be the one who is responsible for what kind of home THEY will provide for their own children. Teach them well. And Love them well.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Parental Control

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