forming a llc http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for forming a llc Copyright 2008 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:15:22 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/forming+a+llc What Is Causing Those Black Lines? http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-causing-those-black-lines http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-causing-those-black-lines#comments Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:30:02 +0000 cheap candlesquality candlescarpet cleanerscarpet cleanerfurniturewickssettles http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-causing-those-black-lines furniture? Are you racking your brain trying to figure out where they came from? If so you need to read this article which will explain to you the source of those mysterious black lines and ways to prevent them from forming in the future.

So your first question is probably, What are these lines? More than likely the lines forming around your furniture are form candles. That's right candles. When you burn candles they produce smoke. This smoke does not just stay in the air, it eventually on your carpet. When it settles around your furniture it leaves a black line. The line is worse if you use heavily scented and thus oily candles or . Cheap candles are more likely to contain impurities in the which will produce more smoke. So now that you know the source of the lines what can you do about them. Unfortunately these lines can be difficult to remove since they are basically smoke damage. You will need to have a professional clean them. Do not attempt to clean them yourself our you risk setting them and creating permanent stains. What you can do is prevent these marks from getting worse and keep from making new ones. To do this try to limit the amount of candles that you burn. If you must burn them be sure to cut your wicks down to reduce the amount of smoke produces. Also buy and avoid the cheap ones from the dollar store.

So there you have it. Mystery solved. You now know where these lines come from and how to prevent them in the future. So what are you waiting for. Get on the phone and call your local to take care of this problem for you. Visit http://www.thecarpetcleanerlist.com/memphis.htm for more information on . ]]> Managing Gout And Uric Acid Kidney Stones http://www.artwoo.com/article/managing-gout-and-uric-acid-kidney-stones http://www.artwoo.com/article/managing-gout-and-uric-acid-kidney-stones#comments Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:25:00 +0000 kidney stonesgout dietlow purine dieturic acid levelsmany different wayscrystalsjoints http://www.artwoo.com/article/managing-gout-and-uric-acid-kidney-stones crystals in the , but there are other `side effects' that can happen as well. These can be equally painful in , if not more so. Some people with gout end up with , and if you know someone who has had them, you can figure out just how painful they can be by asking them how they managed. If you have gout, you may want to know how to fight off or deal with uric acid kidney stones that can form in your body.

Though calcium kidney stones are the most common, those with gout are at risk from kidney stones formed from an excess of uric acid. This means in order to prevent stones from forming, you have to watch your levels of uric acid.

You may already be doing this, but if you are not, this is all the more incentive for you to do so. Keeping animal proteins out of the diet as much as possible can do this, but there are other foods that can raise as well. It is a good idea to find a good and follow it to the letter if you want to avoid uric acid kidney stones.

As you're probably already aware, excess uric acid in the body will form crystals that are deposited in the joints because it has no where else to go. As you may have guessed, it can also form the kidney stones. If you already have them, you have to work on getting rid of them, and then avoiding them in the future. Getting them out of your body is the hard, and sometimes, very painful part.

Some doctors will tell you two things if you are having a problem with uric acid kidney stones. One would be to drink more water along with following a .

You should strive for at least 12 eight ounce glasses of water a day, or more if you can. That keeps your urine diluted, and lowers the risk of the crystals forming into a stone in your kidneys. This is a good idea no matter what your state of health, even if you don't have gout. However, in this case, it is essential that you try and drink as much as you can. Please note, your water consumption should be spread out throughout the day and not just gulped in one or two sittings.

Another option is to take a medication called Polycitra K. Your doctor can tell you more about it. It is often taken when potassium levels are too low in the body, and the uric acid levels, as a result, are climbing. This medication should help stop the uric acid crystals from forming in the kidney before there is a problem.

If you already have kidney stones due to excess uric acid, what will happen next will be up to your doctor. The methods used for elimination often depend on your state of health, the size of the stones, and other considerations. There are times when the stones can be zapped with a laser, or similar device, so they break apart and will not be quite as painful when they come out, but there are also times when that is not possible, and they will have to be passed whole. Your doctor can help you with pain management, and plans to keep this from happening to you again in the future. Grab your free copy of Lisa McDowell's brand new Gout Newsletter here http://www.cure-gout-now.com/?source=is which is overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you relieve and prevent Gout symptoms naturally. ]]> Forming Tools and Equipment For Jewelery Making http://www.artwoo.com/article/forming-tools-equipment-for-jewelery-making http://www.artwoo.com/article/forming-tools-equipment-for-jewelery-making#comments Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:24:59 +0000 cookson precious metalsplanishing hammerriveting hammersforming toolsadam hunterjewellery toolsmandrels http://www.artwoo.com/article/forming-tools-equipment-for-jewelery-making Adam Hunter of covers the essentials of forming metal, and the tools and equipment required for this combination of essential techniques.

Forming Metal

Forming metal is an essential part of jewellery making, and as a process the level of skill involved is often overlooked. Forming refers to any process that maneuvers metal into the desired shape or design. Unlike many other skills in jewellery making forming is more a combination of a range of techniques that change an objects shape, rather than one particular process.

Under the heading of forming are processes such as bending, chasing, repousse, sinking, hammering, using stamps/dies and forging. These processes will affect the pieces shape, thickness and often the texture of the metal being worked on.



The range of used for forming metal is as wide and varied as the different processes contained within the skill. The key forming tools available are:

Mallets

The simple mallet allows the craftsman to apply direct force without stretching or damaging the metal. The head of the mallet is softer than the metal so as not to mark the surface.

or Triblets

Mandrels or Triblets are used for forming shapes, and are most associated with rings or bangles. Mandrels are available in a variety size and shapes, and in both steel and wood.

Hammers

Hammers can complete a variety of jobs from stretching the metal, polish/smoothing or adding texture. Jobbing hammers are ideal for general use and metal forming. The is used for smoothing, shaping and polishing metal. are designed with a small head for detailed rivet work. Raising, bossing and chasing hammers are used in the different stages of forming.

Doming Blocks and Punches

Doming blocks and punches are the ideal way of shaping metal and making domed, shaped pieces or hollow beads. Pieces of circular metal/discs are place over the hollows of a doming block, and then using punches and a hammer the metal is formed into a shape.

Steel Blocks

Steel blocks provide the ideal flat surface for working, flattening sheet or wire or to support work as it is raised or forged, riveted or textured.

Swage Blocks

Rather like doming blocks, Swage blocks help form metal into tubes, curves and channels. Different blocks will allow different shapes and sizes to be formed.

Sandbag / Grit Filled Cushion

These bags provided support whilst you work and form your piece. They help keep your work firm and in place whilst working.

Pliers

Pliers have a multitude of uses but they are the most basic tool for holding/gripping, forming and shaping wire. Having a basic selection of needle nose, round nose, flat nose, half round and a pair of parallel action pliers, will give the jeweller the flexibility to complete most jobs.

Stakes

Often used by silversmiths, the metal is placed over the stakes (usually clamped independently into a vice) and hammered to achieve the shape required. Various shapes can be achieved by using different stakes.

Files

Files are essential for removing excess material, and fine tuning and shaping your piece. The different sizes available allow the jeweller to work large areas or at a more intricate level. To start with buy a selection of shapes containing round, square, triangular, half round and warding. Plus consider the cut ranging from 0 the coarsest, to 6 the finest.

Draw Plates

Draw plates are most commonly used to reduce the size or change shape of wire. Each plate has a series of holes through which the wire is passed through, this then changes the size of the wire. The holes in the plate are of decreasing size allowing you to continue draw down the wire to the required size.

Rolling Mills

These larger machines often seen in jewellers' workshops are ideal to reduce the thickness of sheet, or help decorate sheet. If used with Square and D shape sections rolling mills can be used to form or shape wire.

This selection of forming tools and equipment allow jewellers, and metalsmithes to create any number of shapes, textures and patterns. As with all jewellery projects the range of forming tools jewellers have will start with the basic i.e. pliers, hammer and perhaps a doming set, and then expand as their projects demand. Adam Hunter =96 E-commerce Marketing Manager of cooksongold.com. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of supplies from over 10,000 products including http://www.cooksongold.com/category/Jewellery-Tools/ jewellery tools, findings, precious metal clay, wire and precious metal sheet - gold, silver, platinum and palladium plus technical information for jewellers, jobbers, designer, craftsmen, artisans and students. ]]> Turn Your Small Business Into A Limited Liability Company http://www.artwoo.com/article/turn-your-small-business-into-a-limited-liability-company http://www.artwoo.com/article/turn-your-small-business-into-a-limited-liability-company#comments Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:30:00 +0000 limited liability companyforming a limited liability companypersonal assetsforming a companylegal paperworkprofessional legal servicecrucial http://www.artwoo.com/article/turn-your-small-business-into-a-limited-liability-company personal assets and take advantage of a flexible tax structure by forming a or LLC.

A Limited Liability Company is a legal form of Business Company granted in the United States offering limited liability to its owners. It is similar to a corporation, but a more flexible form of ownership, more suitable for smaller businesses with a limited number of employees or owners.

For new business owners a Limited Liability Company can be an attractive solution to especially considering the many benefits to having an LLC. For starters, having a LLC involves maintaining much less paperwork and recordkeeping as a corporation would have.



Many of the primary benefits consist of the various ways you can set up taxation. For many business taxes alone can be a complicated subject matter. As an individual owner you can decide how you wish your taxes to be applied.



For instance, a LLC can elect to be taxed as a sole proprietor, partnership, S-corp or corporation, providing much flexibility. Also using the default tax classification, profits are taxed personally at the member level, not at the LLC level. Consultation by a can be vital to identifying the best option for your business.



LLC's also provide some of the same protections that corporations have for protecting the owners and members from liabilities and debts of the LLC. If your business should ever face insolvency your personal assets would be protected.



Yet there are still some vital rules to keep in mind when running a Limited Liability Company. Proper management of your company financials is important. It is to keep the business and affairs of the LLC separate from members or manager's personal affairs. This means establishing a separate bank account, and maintaining separate records from the LLC.

It only takes one person to form a Limited Liability Company. You can prepare the and file it yourself, or use a professional legal service. The prices to forming a LLC can vary depending on the state which will charge some type of annual fee to maintain an LLC.

A Limited Liability Company also has an unlimited lifespan and ownership can be transferred to any person you wish.



If you haven't already discovered what a LLC can do for you and your business there a number of available resources online you can explore. A lot of time and effort goes into developing a business and having the proper business structure can be critical for success. To learn more about go to http://www.legaldocumentfinder.com. Kennard McGill is an online publisher and writes articles on numerous topics including online legal services. ]]> How To Determine Your Body pH Balance http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-determine-your-body-ph-balance http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-determine-your-body-ph-balance#comments Sun, 21 May 2006 15:32:23 +0000 alkaline dietph paperph testacid alkalinesalivadisease osteoporosisdegenerative diseases http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-determine-your-body-ph-balance acid alkaline imbalance. Even the right herbal program may not work if your body's pH is out of balance.

Note that a food's acid or alkaline-forming tendency in the body has nothing to do with the actual pH of the food itself. For example, lemons are very acidic, however the end-products they produce after digestion and assimilation are very alkaline so lemons are alkaline-forming in the body.

Likewise, meat will test alkaline before digestion but it leaves very acidic residue in the body so, like nearly all animal products, meat is very acid-forming.

The correct ratio of acid and alkaline forming foods is difficult to know since the balance is altered by chewing, food preparation, individual lifestyle, genetics, exercise, and mental outlook. However, those prone to infections, viruses, excess mucus problems and other toxic acidic conditions need to increase their .

The is a simple test you can do to measure your susceptibility to cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, and many other . There is a simple way of measuring saliva pH. First, you must wait at least 2 hours after eating. Fill your mouth with saliva and then swallow it. Repeat this step to help ensure that your saliva is clean. Then the third time, put some of your saliva onto the .

The pH paper should turn blue. This indicates that your saliva is slightly alkaline at a healthy pH of 7.4. If it is not blue, compare the color with the chart that comes with the pH paper. If your saliva is acid (below pH of 7.0) wait two hours and repeat the test.

Some health food stores and pharmacies stock pH paper. What you are looking for is narrow range pH paper measuring pH 4.5 to 7.5 or pH 4.5 to 8.5. These pH strips to measure acid/alkaline balance pH belong in every family medicine kit, right beside the thermometer to measure body temperature.

pH paper for the test are relatively easy to acquire. Some health food stores and pharmacies stock pH paper. What you are looking for is narrow range pH paper measuring pH 4.5 to 7.5 or pH 4.5 to 8.5. These pH strips to measure acid/alkaline balance belong in every family medicine kit, right beside the thermometer to measure body temperature. Your body operates ideally within a narrow pH range of 7.36 to 7.44. There is very basic explanation as to why pH balance is so important to our overall health.Find out about Body Balance pH at http://www.smartreviewguide.com/balanceph ]]> Business Incorporation -- Your Guide To The Best http://www.artwoo.com/article/business-incorporation-your-guide-to-the-best http://www.artwoo.com/article/business-incorporation-your-guide-to-the-best#comments Sun, 23 Apr 2006 10:50:04 +0000 limited liability companyincorporating in californiaforming an llcnevada corporationpersonal assetsforming a partnershiplectric law library http://www.artwoo.com/article/business-incorporation-your-guide-to-the-best Lectric Law Library's Lexicon:

A business structure that is a hybrid of a partnership and a corporation. Its owners are shielded from personal liability and all profits and losses pass directly to the owners without taxation of the entity itself.

What should you now before joining in an LLC?

Forming a is more complex than , but is less complicated than forming and operating a corporation. Forming a limited liability company is a formal process.

In a limited liability company, a member's legal liability is limited to his or her investment in the business. Generally, a member's are not at risk, but a member's personal assets may be at risk if any of the following occurs:

A member personally guarantees a business debt. The form of business is found to be a sham (not properly formed or maintained). A member becomes personally liable as a result of his or her own acts or conduct.

Having said that, here are a few links to sites where you can find help for your incorporation or where you can incorporate.

www.executivesolutions.biz

Among the packages and services you can find at Executive Solutions is the opportunity to create a basic . In doing so, you are afforded a Nevada certificate of incorporation, the preparations that create that certificate, a resident agent, and an SS-4 form to get your EIN. Also, you can find the options to create your own LLC. Both the LLC option and the Nevada corporation option come in premium editions, where you pay a bit more but receive a lot more.

www.companiesinc.com

Companies Incorporated offers incorporation services in all 50 States. Whether you are incorporating or , Companies Incorporated is the premier online incorporator. We're located in Southern California extending our relationships with Secretary of State Offices, nationwide. If you are , or any other state, we have walk in services available; California Incorporation has never been easier or safer. Incorporating in California can also be expedited by covering additional state of California incorporation fees. So, Incorporating in California is a breeze when you choose us as your Incorporating agency. So, when you incorporate online, or are incorporating in California, or any of the 50 US states, you can trust the experience that Companies Incorporated has offered since 1977.

www.geccorpservices.com

GEC Corporate Services, LLC, is a professional services organization specializing in nation-wide research, document retrieval, filing and managing all of your Corporate and Uniform Commercial Code requirements. It is a member of the National Registered Agents Inc. (NRAI) Affiliate Network. NRAI is the preferred provider for Fortune 500 companies to start-up businesses. NRAI provides the highest quality professional service at a very affordable price.

www.corporate.com

Founded in 1899 by the architects of Delaware's corporate laws, The Company Corporation has the tools and know-how to make starting and running a business easy and affordable. With more than 100 years of experience, TCC provides a nationwide network, a Delaware-based call center and a wide variety of corporate services. The Company Corporation has the expertise you can trust -- one out of every seven new corporations in the United States turns to us for help in forming their new business.

Please consider protecting your wealth. It just might make the difference between retiring early and not retiring at all! John Thompson is editor of http://www.direct-2-desktop.net/ which offers resources and information on business incorporation. ]]> Smoking: Good, Bad, Or Just Not Ideal? http://www.artwoo.com/article/smoking-good-bad-or-just-not-ideal http://www.artwoo.com/article/smoking-good-bad-or-just-not-ideal#comments Sun, 12 Nov 2006 02:27:07 +0000 habit formingrelieve stresschain smokersmokerscigarettepeople findcigar http://www.artwoo.com/article/smoking-good-bad-or-just-not-ideal habit forming way for people to and enjoy a little part of life. The problem is a lot of it annoying when people light up a ette" rel="tag">cigarette or cigar for a smoke.

First let's talk about the good and the bad about smoking. It sometimes is able to help calm people down after having a stressful time at work, home, or whatever. It allows them to sit back, relax, and just take a small break from life.

The problems with smoking come with the addiction it leaves people. Once started most people find it very hard to quit smoking. This is bad considering smoking can cause various sorts of cancer in the body.

A lot of restaurants and bars have banned smoking indoors. This has annoyed a lot of who used to enjoy being able to sit in a smoking section and enjoy their meal while having a cigarette. This issue has raised some serious complaint from smokers who feel like they are being mistreated.

There are two different classes of smokers out there. The first is the casual smoker. These types generally like to have a cigarette or cigar every now and then to help relieve stress or just because they want to. Most of these types aren't affected by the habit forming parts of smoking.

The next type is the . This person will sometimes smoke a couple of packs a day and is completely taken in by the habit. A lot of these people try to quit but just can't break the habit. This is a very unhealthy routine to be on and can lead to serious health issues or even death.

If you decide to take up smoking, you might want to think again. Smoking, while not exactly bad, is very dangerous for your health and sometimes your social life. Visit the Smoking Awareness Site for more information: http://smokingawareness.blogspot.com/ ]]> Top 10 U.S. Counties With The Most Millionaires http://www.artwoo.com/article/top-10-us-counties-with-the-most-millionaires http://www.artwoo.com/article/top-10-us-counties-with-the-most-millionaires#comments Mon, 16 Jul 2007 07:20:01 +0000 householdsmillionairefourth consecutive yearorange county californiatns globalmaricopa county arizonacook county http://www.artwoo.com/article/top-10-us-counties-with-the-most-millionaires millionaire than there were a few years ago, according to , one of the world's largest market information companies. As of mid 2006, the total number of millionaire households has increased to a record high of 9.3 million. This is an increase of 5 % from the previous year and it is of note that the number of millionaire households in the U.S. has gone up for the .

The TNS annual Affluent Market Research Program (AMRP) revealed that the total net worth of millionaires, excluding the value of their primary residence was $2,167,167 with investable assets of $1,442,841. The median age for the head of America's millionaire household is 58 of which 45 % are retired.

TNS Financial Services, a division of TNS, has ranked the country's top 10 counties that have the highest number of people who earn $1 million or more in salary. The AMRP study is derived from a representative national sample of over 1,600 households with a net worth of $500,000 or more, not including the primary residence.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of millionaire residents are:

1. Los Angeles County, California: With 268,136 millionaire households, Los Angeles County has the largest number of millionaires among the counties in the U.S. The County has 23 % of California's millionaire households and 3 % of those in the country.

2. , Illinois: Cook County, which includes Chicago, has 171,118 millionaire households forming 40 % of such households in Illinois and 2 % in the nation.

3. Orange County, California: Orange County consists of 10 % of California's millionaire households with 116,157 millionaire households. It forms 1 % of the nation's millionaire households.

4. Maricopa County, Arizona: With 113,414 households, Maricopa County has the 4th largest number of millionaire households in USA. This makes 62 % of Arizona's total millionaire households and 1 % of the nation's.

5. San Diego County, California: The fifth county in the U.S. and the 3rd in the State with the most number of millionaire households, San Diego has 102,138 millionaire households that make up 9 % of such households in California. It also accounts for 1 % of the total millionaire households in the country.

6. Harris County, Texas: With 99,504 millionaire households, Harris County accounts for 16 % of those in Texas. Harris County forms 1 % of America's total millionaire households.

7. Nassau County, New York: This New York County has 79,704 millionaire households forming 13 % of the total households in the state. Nassau County accounts for 1 % of the nation's millionaire households.

8. Santa Clara County, California: The third county in California to have the highest number of millionaire households. Santa Clara County has 74,824 millionaire households and consists of 6 % of the state's and 1 % of the nation's millionaire households.

9. Palm Beach County, Florida: With 71,221 millionaire households, Palm Beach County consists of 11 % of Florida's total millionaire households and 1 % of such households in the nation.

10. King County, Oregon: At tenth position, King County has 68,390 millionaire households forming 33 % of such households in Washington and 1 % in U.S.A. http://www.sdhomedatabase.com ]]> Is There A Universal Diet For Proper Body http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-there-a-universal-diet-for-proper-body http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-there-a-universal-diet-for-proper-body#comments Sun, 21 May 2006 12:32:22 +0000 ph balanceph rangesoptimum phph levelfood coloringsfood chemicalsfood combinations http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-there-a-universal-diet-for-proper-body
For example. a carbonated beverage has a pH of 2, orange juice is ph of 3, and average tap water is 4.5. So drink bottled water you may be saying--well it is typically a pH of only 6) and the other major cause of acidity is stress. In addition, antibiotics which can destroy the friendly bacteria create a problem because the bacteria that grow back are often acid forming and can potentially create a problem that could drain the body of health enhancing electrolyte minerals. Some other causes of electrolyte loss might be: strenuous exercise, sickness, infection, or even fasting.

There is no such thing as a Universal Diet. People are individual and personal. So what works for one person may or may not work for the next. A balanced diet is very unique for each person. To find our proper balance, it is helpful to know not only your own personal needs, but the correct preparation of whole foods, how not to overeat, how to choose high-quality foods, avoiding too many unnatural , and the art of learning the broad range of nutritious foods including chlorophyll-rich plants, the best source of certain fatty acids, and the dangers of especially synthetic chemicalse like aspartame, MSG, and .

It is important that we maintain a perfect . The pH of the body systems have very exact ranges (Richard Anderson, Cleanse and Purify Thyself). He even points out that the food we eat must be at an level before the body can absorb it. ome examples of : saliva (6.0-7.0); stomach (1.0-3.5); pancreas (8.0-8.3); intestines (7.5-8.0) and blood (7.35-7.45).

The acid and alkaline balance can be changed by simple practices such as by soaking mildly acid-forming foods such as whole grains and legumes before cooking them, starting the sprouting process, which is alkalizing. You could also Chew thoroughly the complex carbohydrates as grains, vegetables, and legumes in order to mix them with salvia, a very alkaline fluid that begins the digestive process. Another tip is, do not drink while eating, as this stops the digestive process from beginning within the mouth Your body operates ideally within a narrow pH range of 7.36 to 7.44. There is very basic explanation as to why pH balance is so important to our overall health.Find out about Body Balance pH at http://www.smartreviewguide.com/balanceph ]]> Easily Improve Your Health With An Alkaline Diet http://www.artwoo.com/article/easily-improve-your-health-with-an-alkaline-diet http://www.artwoo.com/article/easily-improve-your-health-with-an-alkaline-diet#comments Sun, 21 Oct 2007 13:15:00 +0000 alkaline and acidic foodscitric fruitsjuicy fruitssweet fruitsacidic foodimproving your healthalkaline foods http://www.artwoo.com/article/easily-improve-your-health-with-an-alkaline-diet
Just consider the following facts:

=95 Diseased bodies are unbalanced, having a high concentration of acidity in their tissues and the blood. And yet the absence of this balance is rarely noticed by our standard medical tests. So tests may show you are fine, but you feel otherwise.

=95 The #1 cause of excess acidity is waste products left behind by incomplete digestion. We need hydrochloric acid to digest our food. The more difficult a food is to digest, the more acid is required to digest it.

=95 In general difficult-to-digest means acid-forming, and easy-to-digest means alkaline.

=95 Health is easier to achieve and maintain if one consumes four times as much alkaline food as . When such an ideal ratio is maintained, the body usually has a balanced body chemistry and strong resistance against disease.

SIMPLE SOLUTION: Find out what to eat (and what to avoid) to improve your health! The more are excellent for almost everyone, with certain exceptions like patients of ulcer, allergy and sugar-sensitivity -- who may react to or other specific foods.

To help you get started in , take a look at this list of :

Alkaline-to-Acid Food List Lower down foods become less alkaline and more acid-forming (usually more difficult to digest)

MORE ALKALINE: The best foods, also good for detox-diet

Lemon/calamansi water with a pinch of salt Herb tea Honey (a little) Apple cider vinegar Coconut water Citric fruit juice Other fruit juices Vegetable juice Lactobacteria drinks without milk

All other fruits including super-ripe banana (except 4 starchy fruits below) Green leafy vegetables and sea vegetables , sprouts

All other vegetables (except 2 starchy veggies in next category, and 3 listed at bottom of chart) Extra virgin oil produced without heat friction- best flax oil, hemp oil, then coconut and olive oil

SEMI-ALKALINE: Good for healthy people

Small amount of yogurt just for lactobacteria (among dairy, best is goat's milk yogurt)

Molasses

Starchy vegetables/fruits (potato, eggplant, normal banana, avocado, jackfruit, breadfruit)

Nuts (in small quantity, blended or very well-chewed, not fried)

Raw sugar

SEMI-ACID-FORMING: Good for healthy people in smaller quantity

Buckwheat (which is an herb, not a grain) Mildly saut=E9ed vegetables (better use coconut oil) Millet (the most alkaline grain) Other whole grains (including 100% wholegrain bread/rice/noodles, corn, oats, barley) Fresh tofu Legumes (e.g. mung beans, lentils, soya, peanut)

ACID-FORMING: A little bit is not too bad for healthy people

Refined grains (including white bread, white rice, white noodles, veggie-meat) Most "junk foods"

EXTREMELY ACID-FORMING: Eliminate or minimize

Deep fried foods Fish Poultry Meat Eggs (the most difficult to digest food, and also the #1 cause of bad cholesterol)

Notes: 1) Dairy products vary according to personal situation =96 for some it is good, for others it is bad. 2) Refined sugar, tea and coffee are not difficult to digest, but if one consumes them liberally then they are very acid-forming and also rob the body of needed nutrients. 3) Onion, garlic and mushroom are not difficult to digest, but they heat up the lower glands, and thus very much disturb the emotions.

Gradually increase the alkaline foods in your diet, and see for yourself how your health improves! Dada Dharmavedananda has been teaching yoga and natural therapy for nearly 40 years. He is the founder-director of the Ananda Marga Wellness Center. Visit his website for more information: http://www.amwellness.org ]]> Alkaline Foods Are Essential For Peak Performance and Provide Powerful Nutrition For Athletes http://www.artwoo.com/article/alkaline-foods-are-essential-for-peak-performance-and-provide-powerful-nutrition-for-athletes http://www.artwoo.com/article/alkaline-foods-are-essential-for-peak-performance-and-provide-powerful-nutrition-for-athletes#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:01:28 +0000 proper ph balancescience fiction bookplaque buildupstiff jointsbrittle bonesalkaline foodsseveral different ways http://www.artwoo.com/article/alkaline-foods-are-essential-for-peak-performance-and-provide-powerful-nutrition-for-athletes Alkaline foods may sound like something from a , but when choosing the most powerful nutrition for athletes they should be considered. If you envision a superhero with a big A on his chest, you are at least beginning to imagine that these all natural foods may provide a key to superior fitness.

The alkaline forming or acid forming properties of foods come into play when your body uses them for fuel. After they pass through your digestive system, you end up with an alkaline or acid ash in your blood, depending on what you ate or drank or smoked. Anything that goes into your bloodstream affects your alkaline/acid balance, commonly referred to as your pH balance. There are to measure your pH, but we are talking about your blood pH when we refer to the benefits of alkaline foods.

In order to maintain , nutritionists suggest a balance of 80% alkaline foods and 20% acid forming foods. Most people have this 80/20 alkaline/acid ratio upside down. This can be a huge factor in fitness and should be thoroughly considered when seeking proper nutrition for athletes.

When you consume too many acid-forming foods and not enough alkaline foods, you leave yourself susceptible to numerous challenges, including, but not limited to:



in arteries
Plaque buildup on teeth
Unhealthy gums
Bad breath
Lack of energy
Poor digestion
More, colds, allergies, and illnesses

Your body is so efficient that it will not allow your blood pH to stray far from 7.4. It will do whatever is necessary to alkalize the acid in your bloodstream, even if that means pulling calcium from your bones. The last thing anyone needs in nutrition for athletes is something that causes a loss of calcium. Instead, the exact opposite is required, and is obtainable with the consumption of more alkaline foods.

When there is a lack of alkaline food in someone's diet to help manage that delicate blood pH balance, then the body has to pull calcium from bones in order to neutralize excess acid in the bloodstream. You can easily see how that could cause bone weakness, and again, that's the last thing you want in high quality nutrition for athletes.

Recently, I offered free nutrition coaching to some of my online health food store customers that were searching for the best nutrition for athletes. Here's how I responded to someone seeking natural remedies for arthritis: "Having had personal experience eliminating arthritic problems in my life let me share with you what has worked for me. Please understand I am not a medical professional and would never pretend to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any diseases. In fact, I don't believe that natural remedies cure anything. I feel that if you give your body the right nutrients, it will take care of you perfectly for a long time.

Having said that, I will tell you what gave me some relief, but first, a little background: Most of the cartilage in my right knee was removed 28 years ago, so my right knee is basically bone on bone. Before I made dietary changes in my life a doctor told me I had the knee of a 72 year-old man, and shockingly, I was only 39 at the time. He said I would need a knee replacement in a few years. Well, it's been seven years and I just got back from a 3 hour, 20-mile mountain bike ride over grueling terrain in the Arizona desert, and my right knee feels as strong as my other knee, without any surgery or drugs. Other men my age can't understand how this is possible. I can only say the difference is that I understand the need for alkaline foods as part of a diet that provides the highest quality nutrition for athletes."

The changes I made were simple as soon as I became aware of the need for an alkaline diet. I began eliminating many acid-forming foods from my life and integrating more alkaline foods into my routine. Once I became aware of the need for more of these all natural foods in my diet, I started to find more ways to get them. It's like what happens if you buy a blue car, suddenly you start to see blue cars everywhere.

So, now that you are more aware of the need for alkaline foods when searching for the highest quality nutrition for athletes you will begin to notice them as well.Cliff Smith offers the Free Alkaline Food Test for visitors to his online health food store so that they may learn about the benefits of alkaline foods for fitness. Take the test at BestHealthFoodStore.net, and gain more understanding about the most powerful nutrition for athletes.]]> Benefits To Incorporating A Business Today http://www.artwoo.com/article/benefits-to-incorporating-a-business-today http://www.artwoo.com/article/benefits-to-incorporating-a-business-today#comments Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:19:59 +0000 personal assetsbankruptcy assetscertificate of incorporationarticles of incorporationtransfer ownershipcreditorslawsuits http://www.artwoo.com/article/benefits-to-incorporating-a-business-today personal assets against the claims of and .

Starting a corporation involves filing the (also called a Charter, ), listing the purpose of the corporation, its principal place of business and the number and type of shares of stock.

It's important to carefully consider the type of business entity that is right for you. You may feel an LLC is more suitable for you because it is often a more flexible form of ownership, especially suitable for smaller companies with a limited number of owners.

Yet there are important legal benefits to incorporating your business. The primary benefit is the safeguarding of personal assets against the claims of creditors and lawsuits. Individual proprietors and general partners are personally and jointly responsible for all the liabilities of a business such as loans, accounts payable and legal judgments.

In a corporation, however, stockholders, directors and officers typically are not liable for their company's debts and obligations. If one is personally involved in a lawsuit or bankruptcy, assets such as boats, cars and houses may be protected.

You can also easily of a business to someone else, either in whole or in part depending on the state. For instance, a person with a Delaware Corporation can transfer ownership of a corporation and not be required to file or record the transfer.

Another factor that makes incorporating a good decision is taxation. In the United States, corporations are taxed at a lower rate than individuals. In addition to the lower tax rates there are no limits on the amount of losses a corporation may carry forward to subsequent tax years.

Also corporations have the ability to raise funds through the sale of its own stock. You can raise capital from investors for your corporation easily through the sale of your stock. This can be crucial for expanding and developing a business.



Forming a corporation can also mean durability. Its existence is not affected by the death or absence of shareholders, directors, or officers of the corporation. In essence your corporation can exist indefinitely.

A corporation also has the ability to establish its own credit rating. Regardless of an owner's personal credit scores, corporations acquire their own credit rating, and build a separate credit history by applying for and using corporate credit.

Incorporating can be accomplished easily today in a number of ways. There are online resources where you can download incorporation forms or have a legal service complete the application process for you.

Ultimately you need to determine what your business goals are and decide if forming a corporation will work for you. Incorporating today has become a crucial step for many new business owners seeking to protect themselves and their business. To learn more about forming and LLC or Incorporating your Business go to http://www.legaldocumentfinder.com. Kennard McGill is an online publisher and writes articles on numerous topics. ]]> Understanding Your Body pH Balance http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-your-body-ph-balance http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-your-body-ph-balance#comments Sun, 21 May 2006 15:32:29 +0000 ph test stripsbody phurinary phph factorph levelsacid alkalineacidic water http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-your-body-ph-balance
Researchers find that most people are at least slightly "acidic"; their pH is low. If your pH is too acidic, your body borrows minerals - such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium - from vital organs and bones to neutralize and remove the acid. Although high acidity may not be outwardly noticeable, it can severely affect overall health in a negative way. Alkalinity in the body is much more rare, but just as potentially serious. It often takes longer for a person who is "alkaline" to achieve balance than one who is "acidic."

Water is the most abundant compound in the human body, comprising 70% of the body. The body has an acid-alkaline (or acid-base) ratio called the pH, which is a balance between positively charged ions (acid-forming) and negatively charged ions (alkaline-forming.) The body continually strives to balance pH. When this balance is compromised many problems can occur.

It is important to understand that we are not talking about stomach acid or the pH of the stomach. We are talking about the pH of the body fluids and tissues, which is an entirely different matter.

It is recommended that you test your to determine if your needs immediate attention. By using , you can determine your quickly and easily in the privacy of your own home. If your fluctuates between 6.0 to 6.5 in the morning and between 6.5 and 7.0 in the evening, your body is functioning within a healthy range. If you saliva stays between 6.5 and 7.5 all day, your body is functioning within a healthy range. The best time to test your pH is about one hour before a meal and two hours after a meal. Test your pH two days a week. Your body operates ideally within a narrow pH range of 7.36 to 7.44. There is very basic explanation as to why pH balance is so important to our overall health.Find out about Body Balance pH at http://www.smartreviewguide.com/balanceph ]]> Understanding LLCs - The Ups And Downs Of Incorporating http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-llcs-the-ups-and-downs-of-incorporating http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-llcs-the-ups-and-downs-of-incorporating#comments Fri, 18 Aug 2006 22:27:16 +0000 personal bank accountssole proprietorshippersonal assetsforming an llcestimated taxeslimited liability companiesstarting an internet business http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-llcs-the-ups-and-downs-of-incorporating starting an internet business, you're starting an actual business--and that means constructing a legal entity, usually a , a LLC, or a corporation. By default, you have a sole proprietorship, but this formation offers you little in the way of protection or tax benefits. So what about your other options?

(LLCs)

• The Upside: Your aren't exposed in a lawsuit relating to your business. This is especially important if you sell products that are costly, or inherently risky, like heavy machinery or used manufacturing equipment. With an LLC, an unhappy customer can only sue your business; they cannot come after your personal assets, such as your home, cars, or .

• The Downside: You, as an owner, are legally unable to draw a salary. You may, instead, take a percentage of the company's profits. This usually means that, after the business expenses are paid each month, you and any partners equally divide the remaining profits. But you need to remember that, because you don't deduct taxes from a regular paycheck, you have to pay once a quarter. So you need to be escrowing between 30-40% of your gross income--otherwise, when your taxes are due, you'll to be in serious trouble.

Corporations

• The Upside: A corporation may work best for you if you have more than a few employees and are contemplating setting up a benefits program for them. According to attorney Cliff Ennico (http://www.cliffennico.com), "You may get a bigger bang for your tax dollar by setting it up as a corporation... [because] you can do a lot more creative things with benefit programs. LLCs are limited in how they can deduct things."

• The Downside: Forming a corporation is significantly more costly. It can cost double or more than .

How Do I Get Started?

"There are some excellent services online right now that can help you [get] set up," says Ennico. http://LegalZoom.com and http://MyCorporation.com both have solid reputations. However, be very careful because there are also many sites that will only take you through two or three of the five or six steps that are required for you to become fully incorporated. You don't want to find yourself being audited because your "service providers" didn't tell you that you have to register for sales tax in your state.

An attorney is a more costly alternative, but they take you through every step of the process. If they miss anything, they're liable for malpractice and can lose their licenses, so they're very motivated to make sure you're set up correctly. When forming an LLC or corporation, you should never pay an attorney by the hour. Any lawyer who's been practicing for any length of time knows exactly how long this process will take them, and should be charging you a flat rate that includes all out-of-pocket costs and filing fees.

People are often surprised and somewhat nervous to realize there are legal implications to establishing a business, but it's not all that complicated. It's just a matter of choosing the business structure that provides the best tax advantages and legal protection, and then getting set up accordingly. Chris Malta and Robin Cowie of WorldwideBrands.com are the Writers and Hosts of The Entrepreneur Magazine EBiz and Product Sourcing Radio Shows. http://www.worldwidebrands.com/EMRinfo for more FREE eBiz info from Entrepreneur Magazine Radio! ]]> Are Ozone Air Purifiers Safe? http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-ozone-air-purifiers-safe http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-ozone-air-purifiers-safe#comments Tue, 17 Oct 2006 02:27:05 +0000 ozone generatorsozone purifiersozone purifierozone moleculeozone actsamerican lung associationoxygen atom http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-ozone-air-purifiers-safe ozone generators as air purifiers. The manufacturers of these ozone generators also claim that the device is effective against air pollution and there need not be any worries as to how safe it is. However, there are many health organizations across America including the which have claimed that ozone can be seriously harmful to our health and these devices should never be sold disguised as air purifiers.

The ones who are in the business of s claim that ozone is like activated oxygen or pure air. Their intention is to position ozone as a healthier version of oxygen. But we must remember what we learnt in chemistry when we were in school, that is, ozone is a completely different chemical from oxygen and it is toxic, especially when we inhale it in.

The molecular structure of ozone and oxygen are pretty similar though. While ozone is composed of three atoms of oxygen, oxygen itself has just two. Again an is not very stable by itself and readily reacts with other substances. This is because the third in as a free radical. It readily dissociates from the other two to react with another substance. The remaining two are released in the air forming oxygen.

The working of an ozone purifier is based on this principle. The free radical reacts with the organic substances present in the air while the other two atoms forming oxygen purify the air. Although the logic seems pretty strong, there is one gaping hole in it as is rightly pointed out by many health experts.

Their main contention is that there is no guarantee that the ozone being emitted from the device is not breathed in by the user. And if some one breathes in ozone then the free radical now has no option but to react with the organic substances present in our body. This is potentially very harmful to our body. There ca be severe consequences because of this. If you inhale ozone you can actually damage your lungs.

So if you were thinking of getting an ozone purifier, think again. In any case there is plenty of oxygen in the air and we don't need any more. All we got to do is to ensure that the air we breathe in is free of these particulates. And this can be achieved by other purifiers as well. Jason Uvios writes about on Are Ozone Air Purifiers Safe? to visit :- http://www.air-purifiers-usa.info, http://www.airpurifiers-today.info and http://www.crisp-air-purity.info ]]> Free Dating Web Sites - Knowing Why You Should or Should Not Join http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-dating-web-sites-knowing-why-you-should-or-should-not-join http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-dating-web-sites-knowing-why-you-should-or-should-not-join#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:50:30 +0000 long term relationshipfree dating sitesmeeting new friendsdating relationshipshigh prioritypoint of interestlife partner http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-dating-web-sites-knowing-why-you-should-or-should-not-join
The type of free dating web sites that you choose may vary depending upon your motivation for joining. By picking your dating site according to your needs, you'll have more satisfaction from the site.

Make friendships

If you join one of the simply for the purpose of making a new or larger circle of friends, you will find the site very helpful. The larger sites have hundreds of people who feel the same way you do about forming friendships so you will have no trouble . If certain attributes or physical characteristics are very important to you, you can search the site by any of the aspects that you set as . You can then clear out those people that you have no interest in pursuing a relationship with.

Find a

If you are using one of the free dating web sites as a first step in the process of finding a that is a common motivation. There are many opportunities on the web site, simply because of the volume of people who are members and willing to form relationships. Be certain that you make it clear in your profile that you are interested in finding a life partner, not just in casual dating. This doesn't need to be confused with rush to marriage or commitment faster than the relationship develops.

Expand your interest group

Another common motivation for those who become members of free dating web sites is that of simply finding more people to talk with about a specific . For example, you may be a person who thoroughly enjoys the field of alternative music. Your discussions online may just focus on this field. You may even date people who have like interests, but it is less for the purpose of forming than for the purpose of forming a sort of expanded fan club so that you can share ideas, news and relevant links.

Provide an audience

Some individuals join one of the free dating sites so they can develop or establish an audience for their own inflated egos. They may not even recognize that they are posturing for a somewhat captive audience. If you find one of these obnoxious individuals in your sphere of influence, your best bet is to ignore them and don't feed the already swollen ego. Make sure you don't become one of the self-centered people who must be the center of attention no matter where they are or in which audience. A friendly give and take will be more enjoyable to all concerned.

Relieve boredom

Another reason for taking part in free dating web sites is to liven up your home life. If you feel like you are suffering from terminal boredom, you may find your entire life outlook will be turned around if you join a web site. Just turning your outlook outward rather than internally can make your mental outlook healthier and happier. Certainly, going out with friends you meet online can give you the chance to brighten up your life. Whether the dates are as a group, several people or individually, you can be sure to have fun with the other individuals.In deciding which are the best Free Dating Web Sites or Dating Web Sites for yourself, check online at http://www.online-dating-service-sg.com. You can rely on the information presented here to help you make an informed decision.]]> Is Eye Sty Harmful? http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-eye-sty-harmful http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-eye-sty-harmful#comments Sat, 10 Jun 2006 21:32:04 +0000 staphylococcal bacteriastypimplehordeolumdead skin cellsdead cellsstys http://www.artwoo.com/article/is-eye-sty-harmful sty is a or abscess that forms in either the upper or lower eyelid. The medical term for sty is (say HOR-dee-oh-lumm) and it is an infection caused by bacteria that normally live peacefully on the eyelid skin surface.

Some of thee germs get trapped along with inside crypts along the eyelid margin. are usually superficial and plainly visible. Occasionally they can reside deeper within the eyelid.

This common infection or inflammation results from blocked glands within the eyelid. When the gland is blocked, the oil produced by the gland occasionally backs up and extrudes through the wall of the gland, forming a lump, which can be red, painful, and nodular. Frequently, bacteria can infect the blocked gland, causing increased inflammation, pain, and redness of the eye and even redness of the surrounding eyelid and cheek tissue.

The lump can point externally (outward) or internally (inward). Frequently, the lump appears with a visible whitish or yellowish spot that looks much like a large pimple.

An external sty starts as a pimple next to an eyelash. It turns into a red, painful swelling that usually lasts several days before it bursts and then heals. Most external stys are short-lived and self-limiting.

An internal sty(on the underside of the lid) also causes a red, painful swelling, but its location prevents the familiar whitehead from appearing on the eyelid. The internal sty may disappear completely once the infection is past, or it may leave a small fluid-filled cyst or nodule that can persist and may have to be opened and drained.

Stys are usually caused by , which often live right on the skin surface. Truth be told, our bodies are coated with billions of friendly bacteria that coexist with us. When the conditions are just right the bacteria feast on and other debris, resulting in the tender pimple.

Good hand and facial washing may prevent styes from forming or coming back. For complete information on Eye Sty, visit http://EyeSty.smartreviewguide.com ]]> The Many Uses of Aluminium Extrusions http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-many-uses-of-aluminium-extrusions http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-many-uses-of-aluminium-extrusions#comments Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:08:27 +0000 aluminium extrusionsaluminium extrusionextrusion machinescopper steelforming diesdifferent shapesresultant product http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-many-uses-of-aluminium-extrusions s for the many benefits it offers in both its manufacture and for its qualities, making them perfect for use in construction.

The process of making aluminium extrusions is a very economical means of creating parts with a constant cross section as designers can use them wherever required. It is expensive to fabricate by welding as each piece has to be welded, where there is no reduction in cost with volume. In fact, sometimes, using a welding jig is much more expensive than using an aluminium extrusion die used for creating the same shape.

Aluminium extrusions are cheap to manufacture

Roll are much more expensive to use than extrusion dies. In addition to this, it is not possible to use roll forming in structures where there is varying wall thickness. This is because its thickness remains constant even after bending.

If sand and permanent mould casting is used in construction, the has to undergo extensive finishing before being used. However in the case of aluminium extrusions, wrought structures are created that have close dimensional control.

Moreover, aluminium extrusion dies are cheap and cost about a few hundred dollars and are finished with less lead time than the forming and casting dies. Moreover, these dies cost thousands of dollars.

Aluminium are cheap to install

Another benefit of aluminium extrusions is that its extruder machines stores and maintains dies without any additional expenses on your side. Moreover, these long lasting dies can be installed in presses quickly, with nominal set up charges. Though it is possible to extrude all metals, aluminium is the most popular option for extrusion for its unique combination properties.

Aluminium extrusions are preferred in construction because it has a high strength to weight ratio. In fact, its weight is about a third of the weight of copper, steel or brass but it is equally strong.

It also exhibits corrosion resistance properties with the protection of its own thin and transparent oxide film. It is also possible to enhance the protective properties and color of aluminium with the help of chemical or electrochemical means.

Aluminums extrusions can be bonded with adhesives too

Aluminium extrusions are preferred in construction as they can easily be soldered, brazed, welded, fastened mechanically by stakin, nuts, bolts and rivets. They can also be bonded using adhesives if required.

Conventional equipment is sufficient to form and bend extruded shapes from aluminium extrusions. However the composition of the alloy, its temper, shape and wall thickness all factor in the minimum radii and other features of the resultant aluminium extrusion.

Aluminium extrusions are fine heat shields

When compared to copper weight wise, aluminium conducts twice the amount of electricity. However if you compare them based on size, aluminium can carry two-thirds the amount of electricity copper carries.

In addition to being a good conductor of electricity, aluminium is also a good heat conductor and reflector, making a wise choice in heat transfer applications. Aluminium extrusions are also great for using as a heat shield; as it is highly light reflective.http://www.alfiniti.com]]> Beginners Guitar Chords - 3 To Get You Started http://www.artwoo.com/article/beginners-guitar-chords-3-to-get-you-started http://www.artwoo.com/article/beginners-guitar-chords-3-to-get-you-started#comments Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:15:00 +0000 left index fingerchord diagramtuning your guitar3 chordsbasic chordsstring 3tune your guitar http://www.artwoo.com/article/beginners-guitar-chords-3-to-get-you-started basic chords that you can then use to play a lot of different songs, after a bit of practise (the famous '' !).

Step 1 -

Before starting a guitar practise session, always get into the habit of . If it's out of tune, then any chords you play on it won't sound too good, so to avoid getting discouraged, tune it up first. The following is a quick guide to putting your guitar in Standard Tuning:

1 -||--|--|--|--|--|-- (highest-sounding) 2 -||--|--|--|--|-X|-- 3 -||--|--|--|-X|--|-- 4 -||--|--|--|--|-X|-- 5 -||--|--|--|--|-X|-- 6 -||--|--|--|--|-X|-- (lowest-sounding)

If you're playing the guitar by holding the neck with your left hand, then if you tilt the guitar towards you, you should see the strings arranged like this. You tune the strings one at a time, by putting one finger on the fret marked with an 'X' in the diagram, and playing that string, together with the string above it (ie higher than it).

So start off by tuning string 2 (next to top string): put your on the 5th fret on string 2, as shown in the diagram, and while playing this note, play string 1. If the notes don't sound the same, adjust the tuning peg on string 2 until it matches. Then do the same for strings 3, 4, 5, 6. Watch out that you put your finger on the 4th fret when doing , for all the other strings, use the 5th fret.

The C Major Chord

Ok, now hopefully your guitar's in tune, so let's move on to learning the first guitar chord - C Major. The for it looks like this:

1 -||--|--|--|-- (highest-sounding) 2 -||-1|--|--|-- 3 -||--|--|--|-- 4 -||--|-2|--|-- 5 -||--|--|-3|-- 6 -||--|--|--|-- (lowest-sounding)

In this guitar lesson, we'll only be using the first 3 frets on the guitar. The numbers in bold on the chart show you where to put your fingers. Your index finger is 1, middle is 2, ring finger is 3, then little finger is 4. So the steps to forming this C major chord with your hand that's holding the guitar neck are as follows:



* Put your 1st finger on the first fret of string 2, and hold it down



* Add your 2nd finger on the second fret of string 4, and hold it down



* Finally, add your 3rd finger on the third fret of string 5, and hold it down

If you followed these steps, you should have all three fingers holding down strings 2, 4, and 5. When pressing down on the strings, it's important to put your finger as close as possible behind the fret. So not right on top of the fret, and not too far away either. This way, the string won't make a 'buzzing' sound when you play it. In this chord, strings 1 and 3 have no fret held down - you just play the string as it is (this is called an 'open string'). When starting, it might be hard to get string 3 to sound, as your other fingers might be stopping it from ringing. If it doesn't ring to start with, don't worry about it, just play the other strings.

One important point when putting your fingers on the frets to make the chord, is that the fingers should curl down onto the strings from directly above. This way, each finger is only holding down the fret it's supposed to, without affecting other strings next to it. This helps you get a cleaner sound to the chord.

So if you've managed to get your fret hand fingers in place to hold down the chord as shown, then strum the strings with your other hand (either with the plectrum, or just your fingers). If you're holding down the chord correctly, then you should hear the C major chord sounding. With this chord, the bottom string (string 6) isn't normally played, so try to strum just strings 1 - 5.

Congratulations - you've just played the C major chord! If it sounds a bit strange, then you might need to check your guitar's in tune, or check you've got the right strings/frets held down. Practise playing this chord a few times, until you get the hang of it.

The G Major Chord

Moving on to the next chord, the diagram for G major is as follows:

1 -||--|--|-3|-- (highest-sounding) 2 -||--|--|--|-- 3 -||--|--|--|-- 4 -||--|--|--|-- 5 -||--|-1|--|-- 6 -||--|--|-2|-- (lowest-sounding)

In the same way as you did with the C major chord, try to form the chord step by step, starting with your 1st finger on string 5 at the 2nd fret, then 2nd finger on string 6 at the 3rd fret, finally your 3rd finger on string 1 at the 3rd fret.

When you can hold all three fingers down on the correct frets at the same time, try strumming this chord. Strings 2, 3, 4 should ring freely, so try to ensure your fingers curl down onto the fretted strings without obstructing them. All strings should be strummed for this chord.

Sometimes it can be a bit of a stretch between fingers 2 and 3, so practise this one until it feels more comfortable. I personally use fingers 2, 3 and 4 for this chord as I find it more natural, and it also makes it easier when switching back and forth between G Major and C Major. Basically, don't be afraid to experiment a bit, and find what works best for you.

The D Major Chord

OK, so here's the last of the three basic chords, D major:

1 -||--|-2|--|-- (highest-sounding) 2 -||--|--|-3|-- 3 -||--|-1|--|-- 4 -||--|--|--|-- 5 -||--|--|--|-- 6 -||--|--|--|-- (lowest-sounding)

Again, form this chord step by step, one finger at a time. When you can hold all 3 fingers down, try strumming it. Usually for the D major chord, the bottom two strings aren't sounded, so try just to strum the top 4 strings if you can.

Practise!

Well those are the three basic chords. The next step is to practise them over and over, until you can form them reasonably quickly each time. What you find is that when you first learn how to play the chords, and are forming them step by step, placing each finger in turn, it seems to take ages to position each finger.

With plenty of practise however, your hand gets used to forming the shapes, with a kind of 'finger memory', and it gets a lot easier. Take plenty of breaks in between practising them, and you'll find that in each practise session, forming the chords gets easier.

Link Them Together

Once you've got to the stage where you can form each of these three chords fairly easily, the next step is to try changing from one chord to another. For example, say you're playing the C major chord. Try strumming this for a few counts of 4 (ie count '1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4' aloud as you're strumming the chord), and then change to one of the other chords (G major or D major).

For example, you might come across chord progressions (sequences of different chords) written out like this:

| C /

/

/

| C

/

/

/

| G

/

/

/ | G

/ /

/

| D

/

/

/

| D

/

/

/

|

So here, for each bar (part between the '|' symbols), there is a count of 4, and in this progression, you play C major for 2 bars ('1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4'), then G major for 2 bars, and finally D major for 2 bars.

Again, as with when you were practising forming the chords, it will seem to take a long time to change your fingers from one chord shape to another. Just keep practising though, and it will get easier, to the point where as you're counting aloud, as you count '1' when you're changing from one chord to another, your fingers will form into the next chord shape without you thinking too much about it.

Keep At It!

Well that's the end of this lesson on basic chords. Once you can get to the stage where you can play the above chord progression fairly smoothly, without too much of a delay when changing between the chords, you can try finding some simple arrangements of songs that use just these three chords. One example would be The Beatles' 'Hey Jude', a basic version can be played with these chords.

Good luck with your guitar playing! Chris Davies is a guitarist with many years experience. To see a version of this article with accompanying pictures and video, and also see reviews on the best online guitar lessons and get FREE sample lessons from them, visit this site now: http://www.TheGuitarLessonReview.com/ ]]> Great Things to Collect http://www.artwoo.com/article/great-things-to-collect http://www.artwoo.com/article/great-things-to-collect#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:50:23 +0000 old vinyl recordsworthless collectiongreat collectiblesrare gemconversation pieceperfect timepersonal interests http://www.artwoo.com/article/great-things-to-collect worthless collection. The value of a collection should be based on more than just financial worth. Consider the things that play a role in your lifestyle or . Anything can be a collectible.

Traveling is the for forming a collection. The avid traveler has more collection possibilities than they may know what to do with. If you travel on a regular basis, consider keeping various items from your trip. The map from the city you visited is one example of something to be collected. Maps from all over the world make an interesting as well as a something that jogs your memory of that location. Buying souvenirs in each of the places you travel to can also become a collection. Even something as simple as a postcard has its own great story to tell.

Something that millions of people share as a collection favourite is music. It doesn't really matter what format it is in though that can play a role as well. Collecting is a past time that many people enjoy. It can be quite a challenge to hunt down some of those records which makes it both an exciting item to collect as well as a rewarding one. CDs and even digital music can still be a collectible. Many people may not consider it to be one but it certainly is. Much goes the same for movies, whether on DVD, video tape or other.

The ocean possesses many . There are more seashells than one may even find. Seashells are popular among tourists who do not live near the beach. However, someone who does spend a lot of time at the ocean may have even greater chances of discovering that one special shell that is a . Starfish that have naturally become dried out by the sun are also really neat collectibles; of course they should be naturally dried out and not forcibly dried out.

Rocks may sound boring to some but they can be quite dazzling in their beauty. Rock collecting is great if you are into gathering pieces from different types of rock and even different lands. Comparing rocks, you will discover that there are no two the same. Some may be rather plain to look at while others sparkle with a variety of colour and cuts.

A collection can be anything at all. From decorative plates and statues to model cars and toys, there is nothing that can't be a collectible. It's important to be proud of your collection. Never feel embarrassed or insecure because of the things that make you happy.Add to your miniature collection, or start a new one! Come see our large selection of doll house miniatures and accessories. Visit us online at http://www.TheMagicalDollhouse.com today.]]>