Your weekly collection of positive tips, hints, and advice offered with humor, inspiration, and other goodies for anyone who is inclined to read. Guidance, mentoring, inspiration, English lessons, editing, proofreading services for entrepreneurs and online marketers.
Publisher: Mary Wilkey
Volume 8 — Issue 39 — October 14, 2008
Published every Tuesday
Greetings, one and all, and welcome to all new readers! Just want to call your attention to a few of the highlights in this issue . . . good news in the Healthier You section about the heart and the brain . . . avoiding filter trigger words in your emails . . . calling your attention to some important things to remember when you vote this time in the Politically Incorrect section . . . Barrett Phillips informative article that give you four ways to increase your effectiveness using images, something we don't often give too much thought to . . . and there is a touching story about Paderewski in the Inspiration section that will warm your heart.
Special attention is directed to the Feature Article, not because I wrote it (most of it I didn't), but because of its significance and earth-shaking importance . . . it's politically incorrect, but what isn't that I publish these days?
Also, to all new readers (and those of you who have not already done so), please submit your personal bio for publication so that we can all get to know you better . . . you know, a little about yourself, your family, where you live, what you do, some of your background . . . just don't make it sound like an ad (although you may include your URL/email).
Happy reading! :-)
--------------------------
In
Remembrance of
September 11, 2001
------------------------------------
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
—2 Chronicles 7:14
Contents:
Top Sponsor
Weekly Contest
Subscriber in the Spotlight
A Healthier You
Feature Article
Test Your Bible Knowledge
Today's Chuckle
Today's English Lesson
Internet Tips & Hints
Politically Incorrect
Guest Article
Inspiration
Etcetera
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Contest
Results of last issue's contest, when the question was — What is the world's best selling book that has reached the 100m mark?
The answer — In November 2003, "Guinness World Records" celebrated the publication of its 100 millionth copy! This confirms that, excluding non-copyright works such as the Bible and the Koran, the definitive book of world records is the world's best selling book. It was first published in October 1955 and has since gone global, selling in some 37 languages. Comparatively, the five Harry Potter books to date have sold over 100 million copies, and Mao Tse-Tung's Little Red Book was sold or given away to around 900 million. See Jan Emo's offer above.
For our subscribers only: Be first to submit the correct answer to the following question and receive the next available top sponsor slot gratis. So answer this:
What is the most valuable comic in the world?
Send to contest@elfexpressionsezine.com and be sure to include your promo copy with your entry, so that I do not have to contact you separately to get it. Several people have missed out having their copy published, because they did not respond before my deadline.
God opens doors.
When God leads you to the edge of a cliff, trust Him fully
and let go. Only one of two things will happen—either He'll catch You when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly! God will shift things around for you.
A Healthier You
Heart and Brain Health
As I've said before, medical science is full of surprises. But the funny thing is, many of them aren't really all that surprising when you really stop to think about them. Take the recent findings on the well-known trio of vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid.
This nutrient combo is typically recognized for the role it plays in keeping your cardiovascular system operating at peak performance. But a new study from Tufts University shows that it may also be a major factor in protecting you from cognitive decline.
On the surface, it does sound like a revolutionary discovery. If you backtrack just a bit, though, you'll see what I mean when I say that this "new" brain-protection has been staring us in the face all along.
You see, one of the ways these B vitamins boost heart health is by keeping blood flowing smoothly through your arteries, blood vessels, and capillaries. But those arteries, blood vessels, and capillaries aren't just surrounding the heart: They weave an intricate web throughout your entire body—including your brain.
And, just like your heart, if your brain isn't being "fed" with all of the oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood it needs, its health will suffer.
But back to the specifics of the Tufts study. Researchers found that mice fed a diet that was deficient in vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid "demonstrated significant deficits in spatial learning and memory compared with normal mice." And these deficits didn't take long to emerge: The study lasted a grand total of ten weeks. So you can imagine the precarious situation your brain would be in after years of B-vitamin deficiency.
Rather than taking a chance with your heart or brain health, consider upping your intake of these crucial nutrients A.S.A.P. Dr. Jonathan Wright recommends taking a good quality "B-complex 50" or "B-complex 100" supplement (which also includes the other important members of the "B" family) each day.
[This article written by Amanda Ross, Editor of Nutrition & Healing, to which you also can subscribe at http://tinyurl.com/47c6pf]
Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits.
Any man who read too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.
—Albert Einstein
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Feature Article
Tolerance . . . What Does It Mean, Anyway?
Endurance, putting up with, suffering through with patience . . . acknowledging the rights of others to hold differing points of view or beliefs.
Notice that this does not include embracing differing points of view or beliefs. Notice that this also does not include allowing other points of view or beliefs to be foisted upon us (as in being made to engage in their practice).
This is an enlightening article:
Why Johnny is Reading Islamist Propaganda
(Critics charge Muslim radicals
with determining textbook content).
This article was published
October 26, 2006 by WorldNetDaily.com and was written
by Bob Unruh:
Islam is being taught in the nation's public schools as a religion to be embraced because "organized Islamists have gained control of textbook content," according to an organization that analyzes textbooks.
The American Textbook Council has concluded that the situation is the consequence of "the interplay of determined Islamic political activists, textbook editors, and multiculturally minded social studies curriculum planners."
It has gone so far that correcting the situation now becomes a problem, because "educational publishers and educational organizations have bought into claims propounded by Islamists—and have themselves become agents of misinformation."
. . . WND recently reported on a case in Oregon, where parent Kendalee Garner objected to having her son being taught Islam, including the memorization of the "Five Pillars" of Islam and dressing up as a Muslim.
That episode followed a U.S. Supreme Court decision just a few weeks ago not to review a lower court's ruling that a similar class requirement in the Byron Union School District in California, where students were instructed to "become Muslims" was "cultural education."
. . . In the California case that was litigated, Edward White III, of the Thomas More Law Center wondered, "Would it have been 'just cultural education' if students were in simulated baptisms, wearing a crucifix, having taken the name of St. John and with praise banners saying 'Praise be to Jesus Christ' on classroom walls?"
From Nyssa, Oregon, where one parent raised objections to the Islamic teachings, Supt. Don Grotting, said the text includes assignments for students to learn the "Five Pillars" and study Ramadan.
An excerpt from another article (link below):
Islam studies required in California district
Course has 7th-graders memorizing Koran verses, praying to Allah
Posted: January 11, 2002
In the wake of September 11, an increasing number of California public school students must attend an intensive three-week course on Islam, reports Assist News Service.
The course mandates that seventh-graders learn the tenets of Islam, study the important figures of the faith, wear a robe, adopt a Muslim name and stage their own jihad. Adding to this apparent hypocrisy, reports ANS, students must memorize many verses in the Koran, are taught to pray "in the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful" and are instructed to chant, "Praise to Allah, Lord of Creation."
"We could never teach Christianity like this," one outraged parent told ANS.
Elizabeth Christina Lemings, a teacher in the Byron, Calif., Union School District, was unaware of the course until her seventh-grade son brought home the handouts. Obtained by ANS, the handouts include a history of Islam and the life of Mohammad, its founder. There are 25 Islamic terms that must be memorized, six Islamic (Arabic) phrases, 20 Islamic proverbs to learn along with the Five Pillars of Faith and 10 key Islamic prophets and disciples to be studied.
"We can't even mention the name of Jesus in the public schools," Lemings laments, "but ... they teach Islam as the true religion, and students are taught about Islam and how to pray to Allah. Can you imagine the barrage of lawsuits and problems we would have from the ACLU if Christianity were taught in the public schools, and if we tried to teach about the contributions of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the Apostle Paul? But when it comes to furthering the Islamic religion in the public schools, there is not one word from the ACLU, People for the American Way or anybody else. This is hypocrisy."
ANS reports that students are to pretend that they are Muslims, wear Muslim clothing to school, stage their own jihad via a dice game and pick out a Muslim name (to replace their own) from a list of thirty.
You need to go and read the entire article for yourself, along with others (links supplied below).
I could go on and on, but when they indoctrinate this generation, you don't have to be a Rhodes scholar to realize what the next generation will be like . . . and where this country is headed!
Folks, this far, far exceeds the definition of "tolerance," by any stretch of the imagination.
Fill in the blank: "Many waters cannot quench ____, neither can the floods drown it:"
1 — hatred
2 — love
3 — jealousy
4 — hope
Scroll down for the answer.
Acceptance of what happened is the first step to
overcoming the consequence of any misfortune.
—William James
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Our friends are those who know their own faults
well enough to forgive us ours.
—Moulton Farnham
Today's Chuckle
The Safari
A big-game hunter went on safari with his wife and mother-in-law. One evening, while still deep in the jungle, the Mrs. awoke to find her mother gone. Rushing to her husband, she insisted on them both trying to find her mother.
The hunter picked up his rifle, took a swig of whiskey, and started to look for her. In a clearing not far from the camp, they came upon a chilling sight: the mother-in-law was backed up against a thick, impenetrable bush, and a large male lion stood facing her.
The wife cried, "What are we going to do?"
"Nothing," said the hunter husband. "That stupid lion got himself into this mess, let him get himself out of it."
Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.
—Anonymous
Today's English Lesson
Seeing the same elementary mistakes over and over again has prompted this publisher to write an English lesson each issue. Look for some of these lessons to be repeated, because the mistakes are!
This mistake is being spotted more and more frequently lately:
Some people, would you believe, do not seem to know the difference between "a part" and "apart"! (What next?)
Dear hearts, "apart" simply means distanced from. Something set aside (or set "apart" from). It also can mean that something is in pieces, as opposed to being put together, as in "he took the engine apart." I think where some people get confused is that "a part" can mean a piece of the same engine that is taken "apart."
"A part" can indicate a segment of something, sectioned off hair, an actor's role, something separated from the whole, to have "a part" (or a role) in something, or anything else that is "a part" of a whole.
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Forgiveness is not an emotion, it's a decision.
—Randall Worley
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Internet Hints & Tips
Increase the Efficiency of Your Email Campaign by Avoiding 10 Dreaded Red Flag Words
by Mark Flavin
Learn the secrets to getting your emails into more inboxes and fewer junk email folders by avoiding certain trigger words!
If you have been running an email campaign for quite some time now, then you already realize the fact that your number one enemy is not reader apathy . . . it's the spam filters. Indeed, spam filters can prevent your messages from being received by your target recipients. And because of the decrease in your recipients' numbers, your response rate would likewise take a dip, and with it, the profitability of your email strategy.
Time and time again, people have said that gold is in your mailing list, that your subscriber base is a figurative gold vein. Too bad the spam filters sometimes close the road towards that gold mine, preventing us from harvesting whatever bounties it could promise.
The Number One Culprit . . . read what it is and the rest of this article at http://tinyurl.com/4jxb9q
Politically Incorrect
Do you remember?
A lot of Americans have become so insulated from reality that they imagine that America can suffer defeat without any inconvenience to themselves.
Pause a moment, reflect back. These events are actual events from history. They really happened!
1 — 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40.
2 — In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.
3 — In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.
4 — During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.
5 — In 1983 the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.
6 — In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.
7 — In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at At hens, and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.
8 — In 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.
9 — In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.
10 — In 1998 the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.
11 — On 9/11/01 four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take down the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by Muslim male extremists between the of 17 and 40.
12 — In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.
13 — In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by—you guessed it—Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.
No, I really don't see a pattern here to justify profiling, do you?
So, to ensure we Americans never offend anyone, particularly fanatics intent on killing us, airport security screeners will no longer be allowed to profile certain people . . .
Absolutely No Profiling!
They must conduct random searches of 80-year-old women, little kids, airline pilots with proper identification, secret agents who are members of the President's security detail, 85-year old Congressmen with metal hips, and Medal of Honor winner and former Governor Joe Foss.
But leave Muslim males between the ages 17 and 40
alone, lest they be guilty of profiling.
And now . . .
for the award winning Act of Stupidity:
Of all times, some people in America want to elect to the most powerful position on the face of the planet—the Presidency of the United States of America—a Muslim-in-origin male in his 40s!
Say what you want, he was born a Muslim (and is still considered a Muslim by his family) to a Muslim father. His mother remarried yet another Muslim, so what makes you think she didn't raise him as a Muslim? His African family is Muslim, and he attended a Muslim school. Hellllllooooooooo! Have the American people completely lost their minds, or just their power of reason?
He now claims to be a Christian (and make no mistake, church membership does not make anyone a Christian, any more than sitting in your garage all day will make you a car). But anyone who supports partial-birth abortion is not a Christian! [Publisher's note: In fact, he has said, "The first thing I'd do as President would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act."
This legislation would wipe out all state and federal abortion restrictions, including the partial birth abortion ban.
Said another way, he supports legalizing murder!]
I'm sorry, but I refuse to take a chance on the "unknown" candidate, who will probably appoint as many as four Supreme Court judges.
Let's send this to as many people as we can, so that the Gloria Aldreds and other stupid attorneys, along with Federal justices who want to thwart common sense, feel ashamed of themselves—if they have any such sense.
As the writer of the award winning story, "Forrest Gump," so aptly put it, "Stupid is as stupid does."
The next time you feel like complaining, remember that your garbage disposal
probably eats better than thirty percent of the people in the world.
—Robert Orben
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Guest Article
4 Ways of Increasing Your Profits Using Images
by Barrett Phillips
Images not only can create an aesthetically pleasing
atmosphere for users, but they can also (and more
importantly) help you gain credibility, and ultimately,
sales if done correctly. Here are some great ways to
increase your credibility:
1 — Self Portraits/Customer Photos
Having a photo of yourself on your sales page will help
your customers feel more at home and that they're dealing
with a real person, not just a machine. This increases
your credibility in the viewer's eye, because it adds a
personal touch, and you will see your sales increase when
you employ such methods.
A great place to place a self
portrait is in an "about me" section of your site or
newsletter. If you don't have a section like this, you
should consider creating one, because this, just like your
image, will increase your credibility and your conversion
rate.
Another way of using pictures to increase your conversion
rate is by using customer photos. You should place these
on customer testimonials, and when people view them, they
will see that this is a real customer who is satisfied
with your product, and they will carry much more of an impact
this way.
Testimonials alone are a great way to increase
conversions, so don't hesitate to make them even more
effective by adding customer photos. The only problem here
is acquiring the photos themselves, since many people do
not have a self portrait, but that shouldn't stop you from
asking your customers for them, and maybe even offer them
discounts for some incentive! The choice is yours.
2 — Product Packaging
Product packaging images—this means, regardless of what
you're selling, be it tangible or intangible, to create
images of your product. If you're selling an ebook, create
an ebook cover. If you're selling an actual book, show a
photo of it. What this does is explain to the viewer of
your site that your product is "real," and that they're
really getting something when they're spending their money.
It's been proven that simply showing an ebook cover on a
sales page can increase conversion rates by over 50%! You
can't afford to miss out on something so simple that will
increase your sales this much, so make it a point to have
some product packaging!
3 — Physical Evidence of Product's Success
This can mean an infinite number of things, depending on
what you're selling, but in a nutshell, try to include a
photo of something that lets your visitors know that
the product you're selling actually works.
Some examples:
If you're selling a book on Internet marketing, show a
picture of a check you've received while using the
techniques explained in your book. If you're selling a
book on bodybuilding, show before and after pictures of
someone who has practiced the methods explained in the
book. These kinds of things will drastically increase the
viewer's excitement in your product and will get them
itching to whip out their charge cards!
4 — Soothing, Pleasant Graphics
You want your site's look to be welcoming just like a big
soft sofa, so your viewers are visually relaxed and not
constantly being annoyed. Things to avoid are animated
icons and bright/flashy/uncomplimentary colors, as these are
very unprofessional, leading your visitors to believe your
product may also be unprofessional.
Plus, these things may
turn away some visitors altogether, so do your best to
avoid them. Train yourself to use softer colors, softer
gradients, softer backgrounds, etc., and you (and your
visitors) will reap the benefits.
If you practice some or all of these methods, you will see
great improvements in your conversion rates, so don't take
them lightly. People will read interesting copy, but
nothing builds credibility like a bit of positive imagery.
Barrett Phillips is webmaster of Baphi.com and author of
"Simply Design—Aesthetics That Sell."
His book offers tutorials on Ebook Cover Design, Logo
Design, and Web Page Design geared towards Internet
entrepreneurs. http://www.baphi.com/
The rich would have to eat money if the poor did not provide food.
—Russian proverb
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Answer to Bible trivia:
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Inspiration
The Concert
When the house lights dimmed and the concert
was about to begin, the mother returned to
her seat and discovered that her child was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted, and spotlights
focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.
To her horror, the mother saw her little boy
sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out
"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and
whispered in the boy's ear,
"Don't quit . . keep playing."
Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached
down with his left hand and began filling
in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached
around to the other side of the child,
and he added a running obligato.
Together, the old master and the young novice
transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.
The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played—only the classic,
"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
Perhaps that's the way it is with God.
What we can accomplish on
our own is hardly noteworthy.
We try our best, but the results aren't always
graceful flowing music. However, with the
hand of the Master, our life's
work can truly be beautiful.
The next time you set out
to accomplish great feats, listen carefully . . . you may hear
the voice of the Master whispering
in your ear,
"Don't quit . . Keep playing."
May you feel His arms around you and
know that His hands are there, helping you
turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.
Remember, God doesn't seem to
call the equipped, rather,
He equips the "called."
Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire.
"Note: We are not liable for the use of any contributed information contained herein. We also claim no responsibility for the legality or accuracy of advertisements or articles submitted and reprinted by permission. It is the contributor's and/or advertiser's responsibility to abide by all pertinent jurisdictional laws and regulations pertaining to that person's business."
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