A fantastic lounge lizard recipe for: Bourbon Cooler, with bourbon whiskey, lemon-lime soda and lemon.
Category: Cocktails ” Long drinks
Ingredients: 2 oz bourbon whiskey
4 oz lemon-lime soda
1 lemon wedge
How to: Pour the bourbon and the soda into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Garnish with the lemon wedge.
Glassware: Highball Glass
What’s in it for you?
(per 6 oz serving)
|
Calories (kcal)
Energy (kj)
Fats
Carbohydrates
Protein
|
187
783
0 g
12.8 g
0 g
|
Fiber
Sugars
Cholesterol
Sodium
Alcohol
|
0 g
12.5 g
0 mg
13 mg
22.7 g
|
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A fantastic lounge lizard recipe for: Barbed Wire, with vodka, sweet vermouth, Pernod® licorice liqueur and Chambord® raspberry liqueur.
Category: Cocktails ” Short drinks
Ingredients: 3 oz vodka
1/2 tsp sweet vermouth
1/2 tsp Pernod® licorice liqueur
1/2 tsp Chambord® raspberry liqueur
How to: Shake with cracked ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Glassware: Cocktail Glass
What’s in it for you?
(per 3.2 oz serving)
Calories (kcal)
Energy (kj)
Fats
Carbohydrates
Protein |
225
942
0 g
2.1 g
0 g |
Fiber
Sugars
Cholesterol
Sodium
Alcohol |
-
-
-
0 mg
35.7 g |
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If you’re seriously interested in knowing about business meetings, you need to think beyond the basics. This informative article takes a closer look at things you need to know about business meetings.
A lot of businessmen pass through different trials during the period they are dealing with the launch and development of their company. Even if you are used to daily business meetings, you will discover that for business meetings with clients and for signing contracts you need lots of strategies and abilities.
You have to collect supplementary information. A simple phone call can anticipate the needs of your client. You have to learn more about them and prepare yourself for that face-to-face meeting learning more about the client’s company. Then create a list that has on it all the benefits your services will bring him.
The objective has to be realistic. The experts calculated that a business meeting with your clients can cost you up to several hundred dollars, depending on the domain of the business and on location. So it is important for every meeting to be convincing for the client. If you are a public relations consigliore, for instance, a realistic objective for a first meeting would be the detailed presentation of the offer.
You must present quality products. Prepare your documents printed well on quality paper. You have to bring all needed, business cards, estimative graphs, brochures, presentation materials.
If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.
You must carefully analyze your client. All through the meeting, watch closely his behavior. It’s good to notice if he is approving of your ideas or if he isn’t. Pay attention to signals your client is sending and make sure to answer accordingly.
Any questions put must be well thought. A business meeting is an opportunity to discover your client’s needs and to present him with the solutions. If the discussion between you two isn’t equilibrated and you are the one that is doing all the talking, it means the meeting is a failure. It is important for you to put the right questions, but also to know how to listen carefully to answers.
You must always go for real cases and examples. True stories can demonstrate the fact that you kept in mind your client’s needs. Prepare for every quality and ability a demonstrative story. It’s preferable to tell a story that talks to the client about the benefits the rest of your clients and consumers have.
Provide efficient solution and act on time! Assuming you prepared very well and you used the observations efficiently, now you have reached the moment when you can ask directly the things you are interested in. This is important and it must not be missed. Some people organize great meeting but when it comes to closing the deal they leave home bear handed. When getting to this, you must have the strength to act and go on with it.
It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on business meetings. Compare what you’ve learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of business meetings.
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A fantastic lounge lizard recipe for: Blonde Smoothie, with vanilla ice cream, white wine and fruit cocktail.
Category: Punches – vanilla ice cream
Ingredients: 1/2 gal premium vanilla ice cream
750 ml white wine
1 can drained fruit cocktail
How to: Scoop ice-cream into a large bowl (stainless or glass, but plastic will do). Slowly pour wine into bowl and mix until smooth (but not runny, or melted). Fold in (well drained) fruit cocktail. Serve in wine glass with ice-cream scoop (add tacky paper umbrella if desired). Keep in freezer when not being served.
Glassware: White Wine Glass
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How often do you perform a kata movement and think, ‘What on Earth could this be about?” Times change and so does the nature of karate. We are better off working with kata movements in a modern context than trying to guess the original intention of the technique. So why not do a little research and experimentation of our own?
The term bunkai means to break down and study. Anyone with a little imagination and common sense can contribute to this area of karate as long as you understand the basic principles that hold kata together. You can begin by learning the interpretations created by other people, or better still, discover how they added meaning to the techniques.
We can start with a simple example. One principle of bunkai relates to the angle of your movement. The opponent is not necessarily coming from that angle (although he could do), but the pattern shows you the best angle to stand in relation to him. More often than not the best angle allows you maximum effect while reducing the opponent’s options. A good strategy involves turning the opponent’s centre line away from your own while you maintain an advantageous position. From there you can bring all your weapons into play while he is restricted to perhaps just one side.
Armed with this knowledge and a few examples you can now have a go at creating some interesting applications. Think about the following alternatives.
First, define what your opponent does. You could decide upon a common type of attack, perhaps a lapel grab and punch.
Secondly you could work the technique from your end. Ask yourself “Are there any significant clues in the movement?” – look out for mechanical efficiency, grabs, turns and twists or body movements to amplify the effects of a strike.
You don’t have to take the entire kata movement and use it literally. Get the feel for the movement, the idea behind it or take a small segment. Another good example would be the first set of techniques from pinan shodan/heian nidan. How many options are covered within the three basics movements (raise arms, pull inwards, shooting outwards). Look at the whole body movement including the stance. Do not be locked into the arm actions alone.
Allow your training partner to make his attack slowly. Start by performing the kata movement as you might see it when training solo. Does that help? How can you make the movement more effective without losing the essence of it? How does changing the angle and line of attack affect the application?
You’ll probably find that transition and “in-between” movements in the technique will stop, redirect or off-balance your partner and the end movement represents your counter blow, tie-up or throw. What further options are available afterwards?
Work with a number of alternatives and see which is best. Then swap roles so that you are now the attacker and your partner must find a suitable response. When you are both satisfied test out your applications by showing them to someone else. Can they make them work too?
Incorporate the application into your combat drills, flow drills and progressive sparring. If it still holds out as you pile on the pressure there is every chance you have found a winner. Train as close to reality as possible with a partner you don’t normally work with. Be sure to train under as-near-to-live conditions as you can. It’s better to find a flaw in the application now than outside in the street.
As a final check ask yourself if the application fits in with the essence of the kata or your system and if all the basic principles are adhered to. Is the technique easy to perform? Does it put you at a position of advantage? Is there a back-up in case it goes wrong? Can it be used against variations of the basic attack?
Fun and play are an important part of the learning process. So play with your kata! Training in this way helps you uncover the principles and perhaps remember the form better. And of course there’s the satisfaction of creating something for yourself and your colleagues.
For more information about karate kata training
Please visit http://www.thekatabook.com.
Stephen Irwin has studied martial arts since 1985 and presently
teaches non-sports wado ryu karate.
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Do all of us really need a laptop computer? It surely seems that way because demand is sky high. It looks like the demand is outstripping the supply as manufacturers are struggling to meet deadlines for shipments. Many have forcasted laptops to be sought after but its surprising that theres been no slip. Also with notebooks now it looks like every few months or so the technology is already replaced with something else.
One of the rising trends is gaming notebooks. These notebook computers are also increasing in value because of the difficult competition faced from value laptops. I feel notebooks are a sound alternative for playing games. Perhaps not exactly for the hardcore but they’re super for the large number of us. What impressed me the most is how slim and stylish a few gaming notebooks are getting compared to the past. Despite that power has greatly advanced and the designs are thin, honestly power will and should forever trail behind desktop computers. Gaming notebooks are constantly testing the performance barriers of notebook computers so its always a good measure of how far the technology has come in that relation.
Custom laptops will always be attainable because the common configurations don’t provide the spec the certain niche consumers require. The foremost benefits here are the fact that you can typically get better 3rd party components in custom notebooks. In a number of cases you can specify all the major components you want and this is best suited to gaming enthusiasts, professional and hardcore users. Lets face it. You most likely aren’t like everybody else and so standard otebooks won’t do the job. You get past this by buying a notebooks built to . Resellers who offer custom notebooks normally offer a more personal and local service too. To me this is a great plus.
It will intriguing to see what gets released next. I ignored to speak of the giant increase of internet gadgets and laptops. A number of duplicate products have already been released at an ashtonishing speed. I personally feel that we’re bound to see ultra light 15″ notebooks very quickly too. I am sure a couple of companies are already engaged on such plans. Analysing the trends it looks like gaming notebooks will get slimmer and faster. Despite the fact that notebooks technology follows plans there is forever going to be a idea that changes all that.
Check out a few gaming laptops at rizeon.
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A fantastic lounge lizard recipe for: Champagne Flip, with brandy, Cointreau® orange liqueur, cream, sugar syrup, egg, Champagne and nutmeg.
Category: Cocktails ” Champagne cocktails
Ingredients: 3/4 oz brandy
2 – 3 dashes Cointreau® orange liqueur
1/4 oz cream
1/4 oz sugar syrup
1 egg yolk
4 oz Champagne
1 pinch nutmeg
How to: Shake brandy, cointreau, cream, sugar syrup and egg yolk over ice cubes in a shaker. Strain into a champagne flute, and carefully fill with champagne. Sprinkle with nutmeg, and serve.
Glassware: Champagne Flute
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Over the last 7 years or so we have gone through a barrage of different DIY programmes on TV, representing the countries need to be different within our homes. There was a time when, keeping up with your neighbours was the thing and wanting to have the “in colour scheme” or bathroom suite was the way to live our lives, but the DIY show revolution, gave us the confidence to be different from our neighbours and show our own personality through our home.
But after the “zillionth ” show (if there is such a word,) there was obviously going to come a time when the ideas ran out and we the public got bored with seeing the same things done with just a shade different here or there. But rather than giving up the ghost, there seems to be an upsurge in DIY houses, yes forget about the small jobs within an existing house, the British have now taken a bigger interest than ever in DIY, by building their own home.
Being pushed on from new TV programmes that show what is possible for the same money, as a ready-made home, has stimulated the entrepreneurial minds of many of the British public. Knowing that if they do it right, their home would immediately be worth more than they paid for it the day they moved in and have a home where every part of it was part of them.
Of course there are many countries out there, where building their own home is a common as fish and chips, but the “Brits” have up until recently left this mainly to the bold and brave, within a small island where land is more at premium than others and where new families don’t necessarily want a house next to their parents.
The positive point I see with the new TV programmes and magazine articles is showing the downfalls of taking on such ambitious projects. In most cases it ends up costing more than the initial budget and taking longer. Trying to get workmen to do what you want, keeping the quality of build together, dealing with weather issues, getting deliveries on time and even points you did not consider are all part of the trials of building your own home. But rather than putting people off, there is almost a feeling that this enormous challenge actually encourages a normally boring “9 to 5er” to get off their butt and do something with their lives. They can then not only show off their new beautiful home but feel good inside about the personal challenge they overcome to get there. They really do want their home to be their castle, built from sweat and tears.
Understanding that you can build your home from more than bricks, is doesn’t have to be square, it doesn’t have to conform to normal popular building practices, so long as it is safe and conforms to planning permission, really does open the mind to what can be achieved. The cost of the project is only market driven by the cost of the land. Then materials drive the rest of the project costs and labour costs, rather than house prices, which do mean if you get everything, right a very good investment opportunity. However DIY does not mean do everything yourself. Having professional support through the design stage and management of the project might seem expensive but could save you much more in lost time and correct building procedures in the long run. Because if you get this project wrong, a dream home can become a nightmare building site.
Mark is wbmaster for Home And Contents Insurance and Distance Learning and Spanish Car Hire
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A fantastic lounge lizard recipe for: Apothecary, with Punt e Mes red vermouth, Fernet Branca® bitters and green creme de menthe.
Category: Cocktails ” Short drinks
Ingredients: 3/4 oz Punt e Mes red vermouth
3/4 oz Fernet Branca® bitters
1/4 oz green creme de menthe
How to: Stir in a mixing glass filled with ice cubes. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and serve.
Glassware: Cocktail Glass
What’s in it for you?
(per 1.8 oz serving)
Calories (kcal)
Energy (kj)
Fats
Carbohydrates
Protein |
161
674
0 g
16.3 g
1 g |
Fiber
Sugars
Cholesterol
Sodium
Alcohol |
0 g
-
0 mg
-
14.1 g |
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While real estate syndicates are formed for a variety of reasons, the typical reason is to create a tax shelter. More specifically, the purpose of a Real Estate Investment Trusts or REIT is to reduce or eliminate corporate income taxes. In the United States, where they are generally more widespread as investment vehicles, REIT pay little or no federal income tax but are subject to a number of special requirements set forth in the Internal Revenue Code, one of which is the requirement to distribute annually at least 90 percent of their taxable income in the form of dividends to shareholders.
The first REIT was introduced in the United States in 1960. The vehicle was designed to facilitate investments in large-scale income-producing real estate by smaller investors. The US model was simple, enabling small investors to acquire equity interests in vehicles holding large-scale commercial property. In order to ensure that REIT are widely held, they must have at least one hundred shareholders, no five or fewer individual shareholders can own more than 50 percent of the equity value of the REIT’s shares, and the REIT must be managed by one or more trustees or directors. At least 75 percent of the gross income of the vehicle must come from real estate related sources, and at least 95 percent of the REIT’s gross income must come from real estate related and other passive income sources.
To maintain competitiveness, many REIT have distributed in recent times among investors all or even more than their annualized earnings, often resulting in dividend yields comparable to bond yields. This is not, however, a practice that can be sustained for long even during times of appreciation of real capital assets and market values, much less when values are dropping. In fact, if an investment company such as a REIT distributes more than its taxable income, the excess distribution is considered “return of capital” for tax purposes, which is taxed to the individual investors as a capital transaction, rather than regular income. The end result is, therefore, that the distribution requirement may hamper a REIT’s ability to retain earnings and generate growth.
Because of this, the shift to privatization is driven by the realization that private buyers will pay more for the company than stock market investors will. In addition, rising costs of being publicly-traded companies are another factor enticing REIT to pull out of the stock market. And finally, being private gives Real Estate Investment Trusts a freer hand to reach out for deals in an increasingly competitive market. The reason is that public companies find it very difficult to grow through acquisition, as investors invariably do not justify the risk of development alternatives. The combined power of reduced expenses, consolidated pools of capital and abating real property values are exactly the perfect recipe for making a kill in real estate – and they are doing it!
The inverse relationship between interest rates and prices of REIT’s shares plays a role as well. On average, it is safe to assume that interest rate increases are likely to be met by REIT’s price declines in the Stock Exchange, because increasing rates correspond to a slowdown in the economic growth and less demand. But out of the context of the frantic buy and sell of Wall Street, even slowdown in the market for single-family houses can actually benefit REIT. This is so, because even though real property prices are in decline, it is still cheaper to rent than to own, especially during a period of rising interest rates. And REIT thrive on rentals. No city is a better environment for REIT to operate in than New York City, where some 70 percent of residents rent.
Bottom line is that the privatization trend has taken off this year, and that it is likely to continue for the next foreseeable future. For a list of the Top 100 US REIT, visit http://www.forbes.com
/2006/02/15/real-estate-REITS-cz_sf_0215reits.html?partner=msn
Luigi Frascati
Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.
Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.
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