Touring Cast

EuroMillions - The European Lotto

admin — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:36:11 +0000

In 2004 the pan-European lottery, EuroMillions, was launched by the national lotteries of Britain, France and Spain. A further 6 nations joined the draw later that same year; these were Austria, Belgium, the Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland.

The EuroMillions generates enormous excitement across Europe every Friday due to the sizable jackpots on offer. The reason the jackpots are so large is because the total prize fund is made up from a percentage of ticket sales from each of the 9 participating countries.

To play the EuroMillions you are required to select 5 main numbers from 1 to 50 and 2 "Lucky Star" numbers from 1 to 9. As the draw gets underway, 5 main and 2 lucky star numbers are then selected at random from two draw machines containing numbered balls.

From a player’s point of view the odds of winning the EuroMillions jackpot are far from attractive at 76 million to 1. However, these odds in no way deter the millions of people who enter the draw every week. Due to these very long odds, there are many weeks when no ticket matches the drawn numbers; when this occurs, the jackpot is rolled forward to the following week when an even more substantial jackpot is up for grabs. These rollovers are permitted for a maximum of eleven consecutive draws; if there is still no ticket matching the drawn numbers at the eleventh time of asking, the jackpot is then distributed to the next winning prize tier.

There have been numerous occasions where multiple rollovers have culminated is some of the biggest jackpot wins the world has ever seen. Here are some examples:

In February 2008, the "Super Draw" jackpot of €130 million was collected by 16 persons who matched the 5 main numbers and 1 "Lucky Star" number.
In August 2007, a 40 year old former Royal Mail postal officer from Scotland scooped a EuroMillions jackpot of €52.6 million. Up till now, this is the largest lotto win of all time in the United Kingdom.
On the 17th of November 2006, after rolling over 11 times, the Euro lotto jackpot arrived at €183 million and was split between 20 lucky ticket holders.

Anyone over the age of 18 can buy a EuroMillions ticket from a lottery retailer within the nine member countries. However, players from around the world can now participate also thanks to the introduction of lottery ticket sales agents. These are effectively web-based ticket retailers who offer you access to not only Euro Millions tickets but also tickets to the other major global lottery games. The downside is that you do pay a sizable premium for tickets purchased via such services. On a positive note, access to games like the EuroMillions would be impossible for most people without these services.

Acne Treatments

admin — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:43:27 +0000

Many doctors and lay persons will tell you that acne treatment varies from person to person. This makes common sense, and to a certain extent may be true. But, my research has shown that the standards of acne care do not vary much at their core. The ramifications of this are vast. People need not experiment with countless remedies, visiting doctor after doctor, and drugstore after drugstore. Basic, effective acne care comes down to two options: A specific regimen using benzoyl peroxide, or Accutane.

Let’s touch on the first option, a specific regimen using benzoyl peroxide. Many scoff at this idea at first if they have tried benzoyl peroxide with only limited success. However, a closer investigation shows us that benzoyl peroxide alone does not cure acne, but a specifically laid out plan of using benzoyl peroxide along with proper cleansing and moisturizing can most assuredly clear most cases of light to moderate acne, and often even severe cases. So what does this regimen look like? First, a person cleanses the skin with a non-overdrying cleanser made specifically for the face. Soap should be avoided. A gentle liquid cleanser is preferred. After washing, the person waits 5-15 minutes for the skin to completely dry. Then, a generous amount of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide is applied. There are two things to be acutely aware of in this step: a generous amount, and 2.5% strength. For reasons no one completely understands, when a very generous amount of benzoyl peroxide is applied, acne clears up remarkably well. Perhaps this is due to skin penetration. And next, 2.5% benzoyl peroxide is preferable because it kills acne bacteria, sluffs off dead skin cells, and produces its characteristic anti-inflammatory effect just as well as higher strength concoctions but without the excess irritation. We know that irritation can aggravate acne, so using a lower percentage benzoyl peroxide goes a long way to fighting this variable. Again, after applying a generous amount of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, the person waits 5-15 minutes for the skin to completely dry. Then, a non-comedogenic moisturizer is applied. This step is necessary because benzoyl peroxide dries the skin. The object of moisturization is to keep the skin balanced. Unbalanced skin tends to be replete with breakouts. In summary, gently cleansing the skin, applying a generous amount of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, and adequate moisturization is our first option in acne care.

For people with severe, recalcitrant acne which has caused acne scars and on the back and body, Accutane is often an option they reach toward. This is our second option in effective acne treatment. Accutane shrinks oil glands radically and permanently, thus ameliorating acne symptoms. It works like clockwork for most people, at least initially. Acne can come back after an Accutane cycle however, albeit often less severe. Whether to go on Accutane is up to a patient and his/her doctor. It should not be a quick decision. Accutane brings with it severe side effects, including birth defects when used while pregnant, severe dry, cracked lips and skin, and achy joints.

Don’t Cut Out the Middle Man, Become One

admin — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:44:16 +0000

Every time I hear some advertisement claiming "We save you money by cutting out the middle man," I think to myself, boy, that middle man must sure make a lot of money. How do I get his job? Of course, how to get the job depends on the industry involved, but generally those middle men do make good money, but in order to do so, they need to earn it.

Middle men focus on connecting suppliers of goods and services with people or companies who need those goods and services. With the proper training and determination, these middle men can be very good at what they do and serve a useful service to everyone involved in the transaction. Let’s look at the transportation industry as an example. There are truckers and there are people who have goods that need to be moved from one place to another. Truckers are very good at what they do, and the manufacturers are very good at what they do. Neither of them wants to divert their time an energy away from what they do best, to try to find the other one, negotiate prices, deal with contracts, and all the other miscellaneous tasks involved.

That’s where the middle man comes in. In the transportation industry, he or she is called a freight broker. A freight broker spends their time, doing what they do best, working the phone and making contacts. A freight broker might call any number of companies that might need freight delivered from one place to another. When he finds one that doesn’t have a current hauler or one that might be persuaded to change to a new hauler, perhaps for a better rate, the freight broker sets off to find a new hauler for that company. This hauler might be an individual truck driver or a trucking company with many drivers. Usually the customer tells the broker just how much he is willing to pay, and the broker needs to find a hauler who can accept that price, minus his own commission. This lets the driver focus on driving, and the manufacturer focus on manufacturing. In the end, it’s more efficient for everyone.

A good freight broker will develop a strong list of contacts, which makes his job easier over time. He might also develop a number of long-term contracts that provide him with an ongoing commission, even though his part of the arranging the job was completed long ago. A freight broker’s income is limited only by the number of hauling contracts he or she can arrange. So you see middle men do make good money, but only if they have the perseverance to stay at it and work hard.

For more information about becoming a freight broker or a freight broker’s agent, visit Brooke Transportation Training Solutions at brooketraining.com. Brooke Training will not only teach you everything you need to know to become a successful freight broker, but will also provide all graduating students with the opportunity to meet with other freight brokerage companies who are looking to hire new agents at the completion of the class.

Memory Foam, It’s All About the Comfort

admin — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:42:28 +0000

When you make a purchase, you generally want to know all the details. How is it made, how does it work, and all the other particulars about the product you are considering. In the case of memory foam mattresses all you need to know is how good it feels. Of course, all the other details are available, too, but memory foam mattresses are all about the comfort.

The comfort of a memory foam mattress or a memory foam mattress topper is hard to describe to someone who’s never tried one. Memory foam is firm and offers good support, but it gradually yields to the pressure of your weight, in a sense cradling you in comfort. By forming itself around the contours of your body, memory foam distributes your weight evenly over the entire surface between your body and the mattress. By spreading out your weight this way, memory foam spreads out the pressure of your weight falling primarily on your shoulder, hip and knees that you would feel with a regular mattress.

I’ve heard people describe the experience of sleeping on memory foam as "sleeping on a cloud" or "floating on top of water." It feels like that in way, but it’s also very stable and firm. Memory foam offers that good support that is so important for the health of your back.

I challenge you to take this test tonight when you lie down on your conventional mattress. As you lie there, feel the spots where the pressure is greatest between your body and the mattress. Then imagine how comfortably you’d sleep if you couldn’t find and pressure points. With a memory foam mattress you could have that comfort every night.

Memory foam mattresses are available in the same standard sizes as mattresses: twin, full, queen, California king, twin XL, and E. king. They don’t require any special sheets or special care once you get them. In fact, because of its durable foam matrix structure, memory foam should outlast any conventional mattress without ever developing those uncomfortable depressions that can form in ordinary mattresses after just a few months of use.

When memory foam was first developed and made into mattresses, it was very expensive and you would have paid more for memory foam than just about any other kind of mattress, but now the price has come down thanks to the wonders of modern manufacturing. You can get a top quality 8" thick memory foam mattress for just $388. Compare that price to any conventional mattress, then compare it to the top brand name "comfort" mattresses and remember memory foam mattress will last longer and be more comfortable for its entire life than your conventional mattress is even on the first day you use it. Did I mention that that $388 is for a queen size memory foam mattress? Did I mention that it includes free shipping right to your door? Don’t waste another night trying to sleep on your old mattress. Find out how to get your own memory foam mattress or mattress topper at www.padcomemoryfoam.com today.

MMC Forums - Mobile Downloads

admin — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:07:07 +0000

MMCForums was founded in 2004 to provide it’s members with the facility to share their mobile content and general interest in mobile phones. Other features include a highly popular blog which is updated daily and an active forum where members can share idea’s, seek help with their mobile phone or meet new friends.

Each members has their own profile, where they can showcase their mobile theme creations, build buddy lists and keep in touch with their friends near and afar.

A big focus on the site is Nokia Themes, Sony Ericsson themes and Free ringtones but soon members will soon be able to download ad supported games and mobile videos which fit in with the ethos of the website. MMCForums was always intended to be entirely free to use and to this day have kept it that way. The site is funded entirely by it’s sponsors.

MMCForums welcomes visitors worldwide and boasts over 750,000 members spanning 218 countries ranging the the US to Austrailia. The top 3 demographics are United Kingdom, United States and Asia.

MMCForums is very well connected in the mobile arena being featured on some of the most popular mobile phone blogs such as DarlaMack.com who has a weekly feature on the most popular themes of the week from the MMCForums website. It’s also been featured in UK Magazines such as Xbox, CUBE and Playstation and even What Mobile and The Financial Times under it’s old name of Phonefun4u.com

Themes offer users the facility to radically change the look of their mobile phone, changing elements such as the wallpaper, clock, indicators and icons. Due to the vast number of themes created, there’s literally something to suit everybody. MMCForums also has a section where members can make special requests which are then fulfilled by one of the themers. An example of a theme can be seen here with this Seasons Nokia Theme members will also be able to find a ringtone or message tone to go with their new theme. You’ll even find seasonal ringtones such as this Christmas ringtone.

Themers are mobile enthusiasts and artists who use their creativity to create the themes. The quality of the themes vary significantly as both new and experienced artists get involved. Many of the themers will create themes on a daily basis but others will spend weeks perfecting a single theme. Certain dedicated themers actually have a massive following of fans, who download their themes religiously.

To create a theme, members must download a a theme creator. Creating Nokia themes is a very different experience to creating Sony Ericsson themes. To create a Nokia theme you’ll need a program called Carbide from the Nokia website, it’s very involved and can take a while to master. Whereas Sony Ericssons theme creator isn’t quite as involved and works more like a wizard. Though all in all, Nokia themes are the more customizable of the two.

Theme making has become quite competitive among the more seasoned theme creators though it’s always well natured. To facilitate the air of competitiveness as well as reward the themers for their hard work, MMCForums tracks downloads and has a running top 10 most downloaded themers. A monthly competition is held for the best theme on a particular topic, participants can win real cash prizes.

Progressive HR Software Development

admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:04:13 +0000

Computers in Personnel Ltd was originally formed in September 1982 to provide Human Resources departments, in both the public and private sector, with immediate HR information via computerised HR management information systems.

Until 1988 all clients had tailored systems designed to meet their individual needs. Consequently, from the start flexibility, combined with first-hand knowledge of HR and dedicated client support, were key characteristics of our approach. Our solutions have evolved over the years and packaged systems were introduced to enable users to make use of their systems with a minimum of initial development work. However, the level of flexibility remains the same, enabling all software to be developed by clients, or by Computers in Personnel, to meet current and changing needs.

Client support has always been one of our strengths. We have a policy of actively encouraging our clients, through our training courses, to obtain the skills to analyse data and develop systems themselves in order to meet changing requirements and we also provide an on-going service of advice and support for our clients.

Computers in Personnel Ltd is a UK based company and is wholly owned by its Directors. There is no share ownership or capital investment by any other party. Currently employing in excess of eighty staff and with three Directors, the majority of Computers in Personnel employees are engaged in HR projects from pre-sales consultancy to post-implementation system development and support. The Computers in Personnel Consultancy team have accrued over 300 years of human resource management experience.

A key component to remaining a leading UK HR software supplier is keeping in-tune with technological software developments and manipulating them to enhance system functionality and stability - thus future-proofing clients’ solutions. The current HR software suite, Ciphr, is based on Microsoft SQL Server database technology, continuing the trend of flexible and adaptable solutions - covering personnel, training, recruitment, payroll, employee intranet self-service, talent management, performance management, etc.

To ensure clients are able to bend the system to meet their own corporate goals, the Computers In Personnel delivery team has the skills required to undertake bespoke consultancy and development.

e-Lottery - Unique Home Based Business Opportunity

admin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:37:04 +0000

Would you be interested in a global affiliate online program that costs just £9.99 a year and gives you the tools with which to tap into the massive worldwide lotteries market?

When you join e-Lottery as an independent affiliate you will see just how trouble-free it is to manage your own lottery business on a part-time or full-time basis from the convenience of your own home. You can build a useful part-time income or a substantial full time pay packet by simply recruiting new e-Lottery members.

As an e-Lottery affiliate you will earn on going monthly commission based on the sale of syndicate subscriptions by yourself as well as members of your network. You are given a high end affiliate website with a fully fledged back office and all the support you could possibly want as you start to build your business. If you are serious about your e-Lottery business you can receive all the support and guidance to help you on your way.

Millions of people take part in the UK National Lotto and/or the Euro Millions on a weekly basis and the e-Lottery syndicate system is a fantastic way of earning a monthly residual income for showing these people a better way of playing the lottery.

Ways to build your e-Lottery affiliate business

The e-Lottery pay plan is available to all affiliates who follow the guidelines put forward by the company. As you build your business and attain more senior ranks in eLottery, the pay plan begins to reward you more for helping your team members build their businesses. As you work towards your e-Lottery goals, you will have the support of not only your sponsor but also a number of senior "up line" members. Furthermore, you will also have the backup of e-Lottery customer support.

The different commission options

Personal Player Volume (PPV) Commission
For each individual you introduce to the e-Lottery syndicate system, you will be paid 20% ongoing commission for as long as each member remains a paid up subscriber.

Group Player Volume (GPV) Commission
When the affiliates in you group begin to recruit new members, you can qualify to earn 5% commission on the total player volume in your group. The levels on which you are paid commission depend on what your rank is within the compensation plan.

Global Revenue Share (GRS)
If you choose to have a serious crack at the e-Lottery business and arrive at the more superior positions in the compensation plan, a brand new bonus awaits you. Global revenue share (GRS) is a bonus that consists of a percentage of all e-Lottery monthly revenues which is split between all qualifying e-Lottery affiliates every month.

All e-Lottery affiliates receive the following benefits:

State-of-the-art ecommerce website
Comprehensive genealogy along with management and tracking tools
Online ‘statement’ so you are able to view your commissions and payments
Affiliate news statement with member testimonials, events, news and business-building suggestions
A selection of payment methods available for new members joining your team
Player and Affiliate testimonial movies
Support offered by both your sponsor and more senior up line members
Access to marketing materials including downloadable banners, flyers, and many other promotional tools
Access to ‘getting started’ website to help guide you as you build an understanding of the business
Multi-lingual customer service team offering live telephone and e-mail support 6 days a week
Affiliate training days and web-based conferences

What Your Baby Will Enjoy Looking At

admin — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:05:27 +0000

At birth, babies prefer high contrast. Black and white designs provide the most contrast. At first, babies prefer geometric patterns with stripes and angles. Soon they will shift their preference to circular patterns, such as bull’s eyes.

Within three weeks, the most exciting image in his visual field is the human face. Because your hairline and your eyes offer the most contrast, he will at first concentrate his gaze between your nose and your forehead. Between four and eight weeks, your baby may break into his first social smile while studying your face. At three months, he will be able to distinguish your face from a stranger’s. By rewarding you with a special smile, he lets you know that he recognizes you. By four months, his vision has matured. Like you, he enjoys looking at things that are colorful, novel, and in motion.

How do you know when your baby finds something visually interesting? An alert, calm, baby will respond to a pleasing object in his visual field by brightening his face and moving his arms and legs rhythmically. An active baby will stop moving and carefully scan the object with his eyes. He will signal to you when an object doesn’t interest him or when he has had enough stimulation by turning away and withdrawing.

Avoid bombarding your baby with visual input during the first two months of his life. During this time, while he’s getting settled, all stimuli should be low key. In these first weeks he is becoming familiar with his hands and should not be exposed to a lot of jazzy stimuli that will distract him from that familiarization process. Later, when he has begun to master basic visual skills and has gained control over his head and hand movements, he will be ready to explore his visual environment. As always, take your cues from him.

Things That Stimulate Visual Development

Black and white geometric patterns.
Your face.
Toys with faces.
Out of reach mobiles [remove them when the baby can sit to avoid entanglement].
Mirrors [choose stainless steel mirrors he can’t break].
Being carried about by you.
Being placed in an infant seat [always fasten the lap belt and never leave him unattended].

Winter Gardening Indoors

admin — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:13:50 +0000

If the weather’s getting cold and you haven’t planned ahead, don’t worry. There are plenty of salad varieties that you can sow now for tasty leaves, even in the depths of winter. Our guide to indoor produce will allow you to enjoy fresh produce through to Christmas and the new year.

Sowing Without Soil

To spice up your sandwiches, try cress ‘Extra Curled’ (link). All you need is a saucer lined with kitchen towel, cotton wool, or even an old flannel. Moisten your chosen medium, and simply sprinkle with the cress seeds. Cover with a plastic bag, then place in a warm spot (such as the airing cupboard) until the seeds have germinated. When the seedlings begin to emerge, place on a well lit sill and remove the plastic covering. Ensure that the medium is kept moist, and you’ll be enjoying the fresh sprouts in 10 to 14 days time. We also stock sprouting rocket (link), which can be grown in the same way and makes a delicious addition your lunchbox.

The Winter Windowsill

Many of our seeds can be grown on a cut-and-come-again basis during the colder months. This means leaves can be picked as required, rather than waiting for the whole plant to mature. After harvesting the plants will replenish themselves, and successional sowing ensures a steady supply for weeks on end. For a wide variety of leaves, try our niche salad leaf mix (link). This collection includes leaf carrot and radish, kale, amaranth and purslane, perfect to break the monotony of supermarket salads. Rocket (link) is another excellent choice for indoor sowing, and has a hot flavour far superior to the shop-bought variety. For leaves in a hurry, try ‘Skyrocket’ (link) which combines the speed of salad rocket with the taste of the stronger wild rocket (link).

Hot Crops

If you lack a bright windowsill or wish to grow more exotic vegetables, garden4less has the equipment to get you started. To give seeds a good start, try a heated propagator (link to category). If you are a new gardener and would like to experiment, the Parasene Fastgrow (link) is great value for money and promotes rapid germination. For greater precision, the Bio Green (link) offers digital temperature control for seedlings and cuttings.

Shed Some Light

When light levels are very low, some plants may fail to thrive on the windowsill. An indoor light (link) provides the perfect solution, enabling you to get a head start with your spring sowing.