Making Better Word Choices - 4 Examples

Writers face many decisions when working on a project. Choosing the correct word for a certain situation is one choice that writers often either struggle with or make an incorrect choice. This article will give some basic guidance to writers on four of the more common word choices that authors face.

Choosing the wrong words can have a poor effect on your writing and on you. Whether you are writing a cover letter for a job, a business proposal, or an application essay for graduate school using words poorly can result in negative feedback. One could find entire books regarding word choices for writers, this article will touch on some fundamental, but important ways to choose the correct word for your situation.

Our starting point will be the use of "There are" or "There is" to begin sentences. Consider this; the word "there" indicates "not here" (in other words, some other place). Now look at the sentence below and think about what the meaning is and what might be intended.

There are four dogs playing with a ball.

If the writer meant that four dogs are over there and they are playing with a ball, then this would be technically correct. If the intention was merely that four dogs are playing with a ball, here, there, or anywhere, then the sentence could be worded better. The following sentence would show better wording on the writer's part.

Four dogs are playing with a ball.

The next two words that writers often confuse are "which" and "that." If the goal of your writing is to describe something and you have used commas to separate the phrase from the rest of the sentence you want to use "which." When a writer wants a word to define and the reference is restricted then you want to use "that." The first sentence below shows the correct use of "that" and the second sentence shows correct use of "which."

The Yodo is the river that runs through Osaka.

The Yodo, which is a major waterway, runs though Osaka.

Our next word choice is between "while" and "although." Another way of thinking about the word "although" is to look at its meaning, as found on Merriam-Webster Online dictionary the meaning is, "in spite of the fact that : even though."(1) The definition of "while" indicates a relation to time, such as during a period when something else is happening. Two correctly worded sentences are below.

Although he is not tall, he is a good basketball player.

While he listened to the radio, he finished his homework.

A writer's choice between "since" and "because" also involves the possibility of a reference to time. Many people use "since" when they really mean "because," this is rarely a correct use of the word "since." When choosing a word to suggest "from a definite past time until now"(1) use "since." If you are not referring to time, "because" should be the word you choose. Try using "because," if your sentence does not make sense then you probably want to use "since." In the examples below the two incorrect sentences do not sound correct, while the correct sentences actually sound better.

Incorrect: He had few friends since he was too annoying.

Correct: He had few friends because he was too annoying.

Incorrect: He has not ridden a bicycle because 1990.

Correct: He has not ridden a bicycle since 1990.

Whether you are writing an essay for school or you are writing a speech for your CEO, choose your words carefully because what people hear or read from you can make a big difference in their opinion about you and your intelligence. For anyone writing, regardless of topic, length, or purpose, ask for assistance if you need it, not doing so can have serious repercussions on your reputation.

Quick Tips On How to Draw a Realistic Face

There are many artists who struggle with drawing a face and having it actually look like the person you are drawing. These tips should help you to achieve a more realistic outcome and have your drawings come to life.

The first tip is probably the most important. When you are drawing, draw from a good source or reference. For instance make sure that your photo is a really high quality. Make sure that the photo is big and clear, and not a lot of different lighting sources. Choose a subject that is interesting to you. If you want, a good idea is to draw something of one of the masters, like Beugereau. If what you are drawing doesn't hold an interest for you, you won't do as good a job on it, you'll have less patience, lose interest and never finish. But again, make sure that your reference is high quality because if it's not, you'll end up with garbage.

Next, begin your drawing with your outline. Different artists use different methods for this. Also, time is a consideration, so whether you use a grid method or do it by eye, make sure you are accurate. Of course, the grid is going to be more accurate but time or environment may not allow for this method. Also, as you gain more experience you may go by the eye more often as well. Block in and remember that you don't want to add in the fine details yet. Don't get caught up in working on an eye and all of the lighting and shapes of the eye at this point. Avoid finer detail till later.

Then you can start to divide the light from the shadows, hitting the core shadow outline hard making a distinct value difference between light and shadow.

Then go over it with a towel or cotton balls. Never let your skin come in contact with the paper because your sin is made of oil and it will cause great ugliness to appear on your drawing! Instead use a piece of paper under your drawing hand to help you avoid this. Some artists use gloves made for drawing as well. Try and hit the shadow hard and then after you have gone over with a towel erase out some highlights and make the core shadow darker.

You can start darkening shadows make sure that you are using your referenc to figure out where these are exactly. You may have to do this several times till you establish the value you are after.

Not all of the shadows are going to be dark. Never forget where your light sources are coming from. This is extremely important. Look for where the shadows are falling in direct relation to where the light source is coming from.

Do You Really Know Your Skin Type

You’re born with it in pristine condition and are taught by your parents how to take care of it as you grow up. You lament over it throughout adolescence; carefully tending to each and every blemish, hell-bent on preventing another breakout. You obsess over your skin, but do you really ‘know’ it? I mean, can you say for sure what ‘type’ skin you have?

Just like every other part of your body, know the condition of your skin is the first step toward keeping it healthy and looking its best. Basically, there are four common skin types, normal, oily, dry and combination. Dermatologists identify other skin types such as acne prone or sensitive as well.

Knowing your skin type puts you in the right direction, and with this knowledge you can make educated buying decisions when it comes time to shop for facial products. However, just because you are able to label your skin type as dry or oily, is not a guarantee that the products you buy will alleviate your skin problems or be the best for your complexion.

Why is it that the expensive beauty cream you purchased at the mall does not do for your skin what the ads say that it should? First of all, the advertisement is a general statement, meant for the general population. Your skin is not general, and is never the same from one season to another, or even from one week the next. Everyone goes through hormonal and environmental changes as they go through life. Women experience problems with their complexion due to menstruation and various other hormonal conditions. Your diet and lifestyle can also affect how your skin responds and its appearance.

Because your complexion is an ever changing, constantly turning over organ, the product that worked great last month may cause irritation or simply no longer work as well as it once did. If your skin suddenly experiences an increase in oils, then using your intensive moisture cream may not be the best idea. Dermatologists suggest checking your skin for type changes every few months and adjusting your products accordingly.

To determine your true skin type, make sure that you do the following a few hours after washing your face, when it’s showing its true nature. Press a piece of tissue on different areas of your face. If oil appears on the tissue then your skin type if oily. A good idea is to do this test when you have not worn makeup or moisturizer on your face. If, after pressing the tissue on your skin, you see no oil, then you have dry skin. Consequently, if you see oil in some areas, and none in others, then naturally you have combination skin.

Now that you have determined your skin type, you can use this information to notice the changes that will ultimately occur in your complexion and make proper adjustments in care, decreasing your number of ‘bad complexion’ days.

What Type Of Investor Should You Be?

Getting started in the business of investing is much easier than it used to be. No longer is the field restricted to the wealthy or large financial institutions. More and more these days mums, dads, students and even children are trying their hand at what used to be the exclusive playground of the haves.

However before delving into what is a very exciting world you should assess what type of investor you actually want to be. In the thirty years that I have been investing I have seen people who haven’t answered this question come and go and lately I’ve seen it happen with alarming frequency.

Think about it for a second…. have you really thought about what you need to do to start creating wealth for you and your family. If not you need to seriously consider what type of investment style would be best for your position.

Types of investors

The buy and holders of the community put their money into shares that they feel are good value and hold them for expanses of anywhere between 1 and 50 years. This investment style is most suited to people who are long term orientated by nature, not looking for a quick profit and have an eye for good companies. The most famous proponent of such an approach is the world’s second richest man, so you could say that it isn’t such a bad style.

Day trading is the complete opposite of the above approach and involves individuals who buy and sell shares in a very short period generally intra day. If you have a lot of time and are prepared to watch market movements very closely then this approach may be for you.

The next thing you need to look at is what sort of analysis you want to conduct on the shares that you are considering. Generally there are two schools of thought one being fundamental and the other technical. You will always find people pushing one or the other but really you should look to try and incorporate a blend of the two.

Fundamentalists tend to look at company profits, management direction, future plans/growth prospects etc.

While those with a technical background look at charts employing various techniques, ratios, indicators and trends in order to identify which shares they want to look at further.

You should realise that relying wholly on one or the other is not the wisest thing to do. For example a chart that has all the indications that a share is going to be a good choice for the future is useless if the company is going to file for bankruptcy so as I mentioned earlier a blend of the two should be considered.

When you are deciding what type of investor who want to be one of the most important considerations is your risk threshold, or in other words how much you are willing to loose. This again will have an impact on the investment style that you choose and will also have a relationship to the level of returns that you may be seeking.

Investors come in many forms, there is no right or wrong way and different things work for different people. It is vital that you decide which method best suits you and that you stick to this method.

Reading Speed and Reading Comprehension

Speed Reading: Top 10 Ways to Improve Reading Speed and Reading Comprehension

10. Skim Before Your Read - Speed read for main ideas in nonfiction works and textbooks. Scan the table of contents and first and last sentences of each paragraph. You'll improve your reading speed and comprehension if you understand a book's main ideas first. After you've skimmed the material, return to the beginning and read every line with improved reading speed and comprehension.

9. Prioritize Reading Materials - Categorize your reading into "important," "moderately important," and "least important" piles. Then tackle your reading, one pile at a time, in its order of importance. You'll improve your reading speed and comprehension by getting to the most important material first while your mind is sharp and clear.

8. Select the Proper Environment - Avoid reading important or difficult material in bed. Read at a desk instead.

7. Read Early in the Day - Improve your reading speed, comprehension, and concentration by reading during your "mental prime time." For most people this means reading in the morning, not in the evening. Wake up early to take advantage of reading early in the day.

6. Turn Headings into Questions - For textbooks and other reference materials, turn chapter headings and subheadings into questions. Scan the text to find the answers to your questions. Your reading speed improves by doing this, and you stay focused on the material.

5. Avoid Using a Highlighter When Studying - Highlighting, although a commonly used technique, actually reduces comprehension and reading speed. People who highlight end up reading the material twice. Follow tip number 6 instead.

4. Preview Before You Read - Take a few minutes to preview a chapter before reading it. You'll get a sense of what's interesting and relevant. More important, you'll get a sense of the overall structure of the chapter. This results in improved reading speed and comprehension.

3. Be Flexible with Your Reading Speed - Certain reading material must be read slowly and carefully: legal contracts and mathematical texts. Other materials can be read at much faster speeds: newspapers, novels, and magazines. Adjust your reading speed to the type of reading material and your reading purpose.

2. Read Correspondence Only Once - After you complete your reading of each piece, make a decision about what to do with it before moving on to the next one. By doing this, you avoid the need to read the same correspondence a second time in the future.

1. Enroll in a Speed Reading Class - Check the credentials of the speed reading instructor before enrolling in a speed reading class. If you are in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut, I'd love to see you in one of my speed reading classes!

U.K National Lottery Information and Reference Guide

The United Kingdom's National Lotto is the biggest lottery game in the United Kingdom and is presently controlled by the Camelot Group. Camelot was allotted the permit to head the United Kingdom lotto back when it was established in '94. The National Lotto is governed by The National Lottery Commission and its primary role is to guarantee that gamblers are handled fairly; that the United Kingdom's concerns about the Lotto are cared for; and that the operator stays motivated to increase the benefits and level of excitement that the Lottery gives the country.

Late in '02, to curb the surge of decreasing revenue, the United Kingdom National Lottery decided to usher in a few changes. Consequently, the primary bet was branded Lotto. Entirely all of the prize revenue won on all the games provided by the United Kingdom National Lottery is not only tax free but is also paid out in full to winners. The monies yielded by all of the National Lottery's games are paid in the following fashion.

For every pound made on the National Lottery games, fifty pence is added to the treasure pot, 28 pence goes to charitable organizations that the United Kingdom authorities pick out, twelve pence is given to the British Government in the form of tax and five pence is brought to the Lotto merchants as a commission. Participating in the United Kingdom National Lottery games requires a minimum age of at least sixteen years and resident status in either the Isle of Man or the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom's National Lotto has many different kinds of games to choose from. It's very easy to play in the United Kingdom National Lotto also and tickets start at one Euro. A player just has to select six numbers ranging from one to forty-nine and also one bonus number is chosen. Each player needs to either choose their own set of numbers merely by filling out the form in the lottery outlet, or they can choose the lottery retailers system that generates the numbers for them automatically.

In order to win the cash prize, players must get at a minimum three numbers of their total six that match the drawing. If a player matches more than three numbers, they will win even more money. If you are one of the lucky few who match five numbers, you will be given another chance to win on the bonus number you selected also. Matching five in additional to the bonus number yields the biggest cash prize possible aside from matching all six of the numbers plus the bonus. The chance of this encounter actually happening is about one in fourteen million.

If thirty million is up for grabs one week and no one wins, that will be added to the next weeks pot. This is one of the main reasons why you see jackpots so high many times. Prize money may not be won for weeks at a time and the money grows bigger and bigger. This happens on a regular basis and for the player it raises the level of excitement at the thought of winning. The lottery operator only allows for three consecutive weeks with no winners for prizes to roll over to the next week.

Health Reference Guide For Important Minerals

A health reference guide for important minerals can be useful for those looking for ways to improve the mineral content of their bodies. These health reference guides for important minerals can thus help make people healthier and feel younger.

A health reference guide for important minerals was designed to help informed people about the mineral content that should be present in their bodies, which also touch certain aspects of their health. It is intended for general nutritional information and educational purposes. It does not intend to prescribe, treat, cure or diagnose any particular medical problem. Aside from this, it does not intend to promote any particular product.

General Idea of Health Reference Guides for Minerals

Minerals are important. Vitamins cannot be assimilated without minerals. Though the body can make a few vitamins, it cannot make a single mineral. Different quantities of minerals constitute the tissues and internal fluids. Minerals make up the:

-Bones
-Teeth
-soft tissue
-muscle
-blood
-nerve cells

This means minerals are all essential to a person’s overall mental and physical well-being.

MINERALS serve as catalysts for many genetic reactions within the body. These include:

•muscle responses
•transmission of message through the nervous system and the
•utilization of nutrients in food.

BORON

It is a trace mineral needed in small amounts by the body. Boron assists in the proper absorption of:

•calcium
•magnesium and
•vitamin D

The following are the advantages given by boron:

-It maintains strong bones and controls osteoporosis, especially in older people.
-It controls the loss of minerals through urination.
-It plays an important task in joint health. It helps those with rheumatoid arthritis.
-It raises up estrogen levels that could prevent bone loss
-It is required for proper growth of muscles
-It develops brain function and promotes mental alertness
-It plays a key role in how the body uses energy from fats and sugars.

CALCIUM

The importance:

-It builds strong bones and teeth.
-It treats and prevents osteoporosis.
-It is important in the maintenance of regular heartbeat and transmission of nerve impulses.
-It lowers cholesterol levels and helps control cardiovascular diseases.
-It is an effective treatment for PMS.

It is recommended for:

•attention deficit disorders
•migraine
•headaches and
•periodontal disease

-It reduces the risk of colon cancer. It neutralizes the toxic effects of cancer promoting fats.
-It reduces the formation of polyps.
-It lowers blood pressure.
-It prevents leg cramps.
-It maintains bone density and strength
-It helps prevent insomnia and anxiety.

A deficiency in calcium may result in:

•aching joints
•brittle nails
•eczema
•elevated blood cholesterol
•heart palpitation
•high blood pressure
•insomnia
•muscle cramps
•nervousness
•numbness in the arms and legs
•rheumatoid arthritis
•rickets and
•tooth decay.

What can reduce the calcium levels of your body?

-high protein diet
-caffeine
-carbonated beverages
-alcohol and
-antacids

Calcium Carbonate is an exceptional form of calcium and most commonly found in food supplements.

Characteristics:

-It is refined and purified
-It contains no toxic metals like lead and aluminum.
-It is a little harder to absorb in people with low stomach acid. It should be taken with meal to improve absorption.

Calcium Citrate is Calcium Carbonate with Citrate Acid.
Calcium Aspartate is Calcium Carbonate with Aspartic Acid.
Calcium Lactate is Calcium Carbonate with Lactic Acid.
Calcium Citrate, Calcium Aspartate and Calcium Citrate are easily absorbed in spite of the output of stomach acid.

Symptoms of calcium deficiency may result in the following:

-arm and leg muscles spasms
-softening of bones
-back and leg cramps
-brittle bones
-rickets
-poor growth
-osteoporosis
-tooth decay
-depression

CHROMIUM

Characteristics:

-It involves the metabolism of glucose and is essential in the breakdown of cholesterol, fats, and proteins.
-It maintains stable blood sugar levels through proper insulin utilization.

It is important to maintain normal levels of blood sugar. High levels can cause damaging effects on the cells lining the arteries. It can cause circulation problems that may cause clogged arteries.

-It will reduce blood sugar and insulin levels in people with full blown type 2 diabetes.
-It helps prevent sugar cravings and sudden drops in energy.
-It promotes a healthy circulatory system.
-It can prevent anxiety and fatigue

It is used extensively by athletes and dieters. It promotes fat loss and increases lean muscle tissue.

Reference Information To Ease Your Chinese

Chinese characters seem the most difficult part for foreign friends to learn the Chinese language. The main reason for that I think may be Chinese characters look very different from their quarter parts in the Roman languages: each character represents not only the pronunciation, but a certain meaning. Many a complaint comes from that Chinese characters are so unlike each other that you have to learn them one by one, and there are so many to memory, and that when encountering a new character, the previous knowledge of other ones helps little, you can neither pronounce it directly nor guess what it means. Actually, there really are some connections between Chinese characters, all composed in a defined way. You are unable to discover that probably because the numbers of the characters you know are too limited, or you didn’t learn them in the Chinese perspective.

Chinese characters are the writing system to record the Chinese language. With a history as long as 8,000 years at least, it’s perhaps the oldest surviving writing system in the world. An old Chinese legend said that Chinese characters were invented by Cangjie, a historian official under the legendary emperor, Huangdi in 2600 BC. Obviously, the fable cannot possibly be true, for the creation of a great writing system made of so many characters are such a huge project, too huge to be one single person’s accomplishment. But perhaps Cangjie really made some contributions in the existing Chinese writing system: instead of the inventor, he might be a collector and collator of scattered Chinese characters in ancient China. Thanks to many a contributor like Cangjie and the common people using and spreading characters, a complete well-developed writing system had finally come to birth. The indisputably evidence is Chinese character inscriptions found on turtle shells dating back to the Shang dynasty1 (1766-1123 BC), formally called Oracle bone script. Of the 4,600 known Oracle bone logographs, about 1,000 can be identified with later Chinese characters, and the other unidentifiable ones are mostly the names of people, places or clans.

In view of formation, written Chinese is a script of ideograms. Xu Shen, in the Eastern Han Dynasty (121 AD), was a distinguished scholar who had attained unparalleled fame for his etymological dictionary entitled Shuo Wen Jie Zi, whose literal meaning is "explaining written language and parsing words." In Shuo wen, Chinese characters are classified into six categories, namely pictogram, ideograph, logical aggregates, pictophonetic compounds, borrowing and associate transformation. However, the last twos are often omitted, for the characters of these categories have been created before but somehow borrowed to represent another meaning, or detached into separate words. Generally, Chinese characters fall into four categories in view of their origin.

Pictograms (Xiang4 xing2 zi4)
Pictograms are the earliest characters to create, and they usually reflect the shape of physical objects. Examples include the sun, the moon, a woman, fire, etc. From this picture-drawing method, the other character forming principles were subsequently developed. Over a long history, pictograms have evolved from irregular drawing into a definite form, most simplified by losing certain strokes to make ease of writing. Therefore, to see the acutral picture of what it represents, you must have a lot of imagination as well as knowledge of the origin of the character and its evolution. However, only a very small portion of Chinese charaters falls into this category, not more than 5 percent.

Ideograph (Zhi3 shi4 zi4)
Also called a simple indicative, Ideograph usually describes an abstract concept. It’s a combination of indicators, or adds an indicator to a pictograph. For example, a short horizontal bar on top of a circular arc represents an idea of up or on top of. Another example: placing an indicative horizontal bar at the lower part of a pictogram for wood, makes an ideograph for “root”. Like pictograms, the number of this category is also small, less than 2 percent.

Logical aggregates (Hui4 yi4 zi1)
It is a combination of pictograms to represent a meaning, rather like telling a little story. A pictograph for person on the left with a pictogram for wood on the right makes a aggregrate for “rest”. This story-telling formation is relatively easier to learn, yet most of aggregrates have been reformed into phonetic compounds, or just replaced by them.

Pictophonetic compounds (Xing2 sheng1 zi4)
Also called semantic-phonetic compounds, just as the name implies, it combines a semantic element with a phonetic element, taking the meaning from one and the phonetics from the other. For instance, the character for ocean with a pronunciation of yang2 is a combination of a semantic classifier which means 'water' with the phonetic component yang2, referring to goat or sheep on its own. This last group of characters is the largest in modern Chinese, making up around 90% of all Chinese characters.

The superiority of phonetic-compounds over the first three categories lies in its unique phonetic components, for many an object and concept are hard to express through photographs or ideograms, and its association with the character pronunciation helps Chinese vocabulary extends much faster than logical aggregates. Therefore, most newly created characters take this more scientific formation approach.

However, over the centuries evolution, the Chinese language has undertaken such a great change, that most pictophonetic compounds don’t pronounce as its phonetic elements any longer, and the semantic components appear even not relevant to its current meaning. Only when knowing the origin and evolution of the character, you can understand its formation. For example, the phonetic-compound for cargo or goods takes the character for shell as the semantic element, and that’s because shells used to be a medium of exchange in ancient China, like the currency.

I do hope the above information can be of some help in your study of Chinese characters. Please tell me what you think about it, so I could be a better help in the future writing. Thank you!

The Truth With Reference To Double Bull Blinds

A hunter is completed only when he has a mace, which makes his prey readily available for him. He can never be complete without a complete set of artillery. His search ends with Double Bull Blinds. These enable a hunter to hunt his prey with ease, no matter he is using a rifle or a crossbow. Double Bull blinds have extra ordinary characteristics which makes a hunter an authentic hunter with a range of options to be followed in a case of emergency. These blinds are made in such a way that they completely fulfill all needs of a hunter and also provide a sense of security and mental satisfaction.

Advantages of Double Bull blinds

Double Bull blinds is a unique and different as compared to the simple blind in many respects like it has an orifice from which a hunter can fire his prey as well as look for his prey. What a great help it provides to locate the prey as well as identify any danger if exist. Orifice of blinds has a special net which makes them more useful and efficient in performance. Even the cleverest and fastest of the preys cannot detect arrow shoots because these blinds are specially built with a different channel for firing of arrows or bullets without making any noise which helps the hunter in quietly attacking the prey. Before the prey comes to know that its life is in danger, it’s already at the hunter's mercy. In this way Double Bull blinds are perfect for a perfect hunt.Double Bull has an incredible line of durable yet lightweight blinds.

Double bull blinds were innovated by redefining the term ground blind. Earlier they were ground blinds that were immovable, or erecting portable commercial blinds that were alarmingly unnatural. There had to be a superior alternative to beating the discriminating eyes and ears of wild animals.

These blinds have another amazing characteristic. They also act as climatic guard blinds. When you go for a hunt, climate can change anyhow. It can be extremely stormy, dusty or even rainy. In that case for a hunter it can prove a really difficult problem to cope up with. Double Bull blinds can be used at any time of the year and in any climatic condition with full efficiency. These blinds do not get disclosed to environmental conditions and at the same time these blinds cover large areas. These blinds can be carried easily to any place because of their light weight. For many hunters a most important quality of the blind is its portability. They should be light enough that the hunter can move easily from spot to spot as is required to continue the chase.

Double Bull blinds are easy to install. There is nothing too typical in putting it up in perfect position and then using it. They take very little time to come in a position ready to use. These blinds are made in such a design that makes them portable and easy to carry over shoulder while running after or tracking around the prey. These blinds are also provided with a carrying container to solve the problems of a person further.

Careful Selection

Double Bull Blinds are available in different sizes in market placed according to the needs of a hunter. They are well designed and manufactured to meet all the needs. They are so versatile with their range of action. While purchasing a Double Bull Blind, certain things should be kept in mind so as to reap even better results. The first and foremost requirement is its size and the material its made up with. Double Bull Blinds should be of optimum measurements in order to enhance calm and ease of hunter. For more info see

It should be large enough in size so that the hunter can park himself on it without any difficulty. Double Bull Blinds are high quality products which makes your outlay a one time investment. So be careful while purchasing a Double Bull Blind. Not only that because of the quality of the manufacture, it is unlikely that you will ever need another such blind in your hunting lifetime.

eBay Is A Great Reference

eBay Is A Great Reference For Collectible Fishing Tackle Values

Using the “Completed listings” feature on eBay allows antique fishing tackle collectors find real information on what vintage fishing reels, lures and rods have actually sold for under auction conditions.

With the increase in demand and values for collectible fishing tackle, including vintage lures, rods and reels, many new collectors struggle with determining the value of their finds. When I am asked to appraise collectible any fishing tackle, my first advice is always to start with the “Completed listings” feature on eBay, as it is a great free tool for determining the value of similar collectibles that have sold on eBay in the last 30 days.

To use eBay’s Completed Listings feature, first type in the item that you want to value in the search box at the top of the page. On the left hand column check the box for “Completed listings” and finish by clicking search at the top of the page. The result is a list of all items that match your search criteria which have auctions that have ended within the last 30 days.

Because the Completed listings feature only searches titles, not descriptions or listing bodies, it is usually helpful to make the search phrase broader than you would when searching for active auctions. For example “Ambassadeur 5000” will produce better results than “Ambassadeur 5000 in box”. In this case the words "in box" might only appear in the listing body.

Compare the results to your collectible reel, rod or lure, noting the following:

· Did the completed item actually sell? If it did not hit reserve, or had no bids then the information is considerably less reliable.

· What was the condition of the collectible fishing tackle listed compared to yours? Condition is absolutely critical. Unless the rod, reel or lure is very rare, then the difference between pristine and very lightly used can make a dramatic difference in value. New collectors often overlook tiny scratches and wear marks that ding value. Make sure that you look carefully at the listing photographs to determine condition.

· Is there a box? Some of the boxes in my extensive collection of vintage Swedish fishing reels are more valuable than the reels inside. The same rules of condition apply to boxes. The same applies for instruction paperwork and other "goodies that would have been original to the boxed item.

· Is the model exactly like yours, and of the same age? A slightly different model reel, rod or lure might have significantly higher production runs, impacting value.

· Was the bid volume heavy? Greater numbers of bidders generally means that the sales price is more reliable. If there are only 1 or 2 bidders you have to guess as to whether there is a strong market for your collectible item.

Although not perfect, eBay's Completed listings feature is a great appraisal tool. It works best on collectible fishing tackle items that have had several recent sales. For extremely rare pieces, sales prices can vary wildly depending on how many heavyweight collectors were on line during the time that the auction was live. I have always preferred this "real life" appraisal system rather than a book value that can be months or years out of date in a volatile marketplace.

The bottom line is that there is a wealth of free collectible fishing tackle information on eBay. Take advantage of it, but before making a large expenditure check several sources rather than trusting in one "expert" opinion.

Making Use Of The Proper Reference For Properties

One good alternative that most property seekers are checking out these days is to resort to lease to own properties. It is apparent that most people do not have the financial capacity to immediately own properties since they cost millions to have. Some turn to loans but may soon have problems considering that their regular finances may not be that stable.

Lease to own allows you to live and at the same time gradually pay for the actual value set for a property you may want. The price may be stiff be at least you know that you are paying for something that will be eventually yours.

Banking on the last fall of real estate, we may see the rise of the real estate industry in 10 years once again since everything today is being fazed by the crisis we find ourselves in. It is like a cycle and only the observant and monitoring individual can more or less assess when the actual real estate rise will come.

Now all of these are fallacies for now but you cannot help but wonder on their credibility. Everything that is down will rise at times when we least expect it. Real estate is no exception to this.

If you haven’t heard yet, most people around the world today have started to apply a touch of green to most of their future homes. It is apparent that wise living has to start soon and people have adopted this trend as it is working more towards their benefit.

We all know that green living is perhaps something people are wary of. Most of this is because a lot of us fail to realize the value of going green. It would be wise to browse through the web why most people apply a touch of green to their homes. The reason is for better lives and sustainable living today.

With the economy at an all time low, you may think that it would be the worst time to invest in real estate. Apparently, this is true if you are really financially incapacitated. But if you can spend the extra cash, then why not look at a couple of properties in the market. They are bound to be offered at a lower price considering that they too are in need of sales.

It is apparent that the need to be wise in spending and investing is a need. But let us face it. There is nothing better to do at this moment other than to look ahead. Buy properties cheap this time but perhaps you can sell them at a profit once the economy picks up.

While we all want to buy the first property we find out that is available for sale, it would be wise to survey and outsource in the process for other choices that we can make. With a wide open market today, we are sure to find more than one property that will catch out eye.

Secondly, it is best to check out the place and see if it is indeed worth the price that is being asked for. We cannot discount the issue of overpricing these properties since people have a certain amount in mind which may not coincide with the property itself.

Turning the Right Labor Reference Materials

As a physician, you have the obligation to provide adequate care for the women’s pregnancy in all stages, including labor and the immediate period after birth. Unfortunately, you are still human, and you might still be capable of negligence or error. There is no way that the parents will know that the cerebral palsy of their child is caused by your mistake – such as depriving the child of oxygen during pregnancy while the mother was in labor.

Other mistakes that happened may be: failing to perform a cesarean section when the fetus is in distress, inadequately monitoring the mother during labor process, or failure to conduct necessary tests which will reveal if the mother has conditions like asthma, hypertension, or diabetes.

It is financially catastrophic to care for a child with cerebral palsy. The significant expenses that you will incur lasts for a lifetime since the condition will not improve over time. However, you have the right to claim for medical malpractice insurance to provide financial compensation for these costs if the condition of the child is determined to be the fault of a physician or hospital.

You owe it to your child and to your family to talk to an experienced lawyer in cerebral palsy law, and he or she will be able to obtain all medical records, review all documentation and consult with leading medical experts. This will determine whether the cause of your child’s condition is negligence on the part of medical professionals.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. In this case, cancer cell develop in the mesothelium, a protected lining the cover most of the body’s internal organ. And it is commonly seen in the pleura (the outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but can also be seen in the pericardium (the sac that surround the heart).

Most people who develop mesothelioma are those who work exposed in the asbestos dust and fiber. And can also be inhaled by washing the clothes of a family member who work with asbestos, or in a house renovation using asbestos cement products. That’s why those people who are working under Construction Company must be aware of this disease. So that they can prevent this things to happen in the future.

Actually, the federal does not required companies for paid sick leave. Some companies may be subjected to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), this act does require unpaid sick leave because FMLA provide for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for a certain medical situations for either the employee or a member of the employee’s immediate family. But in some cases paid leave may be substituted for unpaid FMLA leave.

Employees who are eligible to take FMLA leave is those who have worked for their employer for at least 1 year, and have worked for at least 1,250 hours over the previous year, and work at company that has at least 50 employees employed by the employer within 75 miles.

Disability benefits are given to any individuals with medical conditions that limit their capability to do work. The progression of aging workers along that range of benefits is documented with data from a large disability insurance company. The data prove that older workers who tend to received short-term medical disability benefits are three times as likely as younger workers to progress to receipt of Social Disability Insurance Benefits, although a slight reversal of that trend occurs as workers pass the age of 62.

Musculoskeletal condition and Circulatory conditions are the most common basis of short term disability claims among aging workers.

Learning How to Write a Letter of Reference

Have you ever experienced writing a letter of reference and not knowing what to write? Has anyone approached you requesting a letter of reference and you felt you had to say no? Have you ever wondered how to write a letter of reference?

This letter is generally meant to help someone obtain employment. They are also used when applying for college. There are employers who would require this letter from their employees and regard this letter as a character reference. Often, the purpose for which a letter of reference is intended is huge. This is why it is important to learn how to write a letter of reference especially if you seem to have a lot of people requesting this letter from you.

In almost all cases, only people who know you will request this letter from you. You need not wonder how to write a letter of reference. It’s easy but it’s easier to write a letter if you are at least familiar with the person; otherwise, you wouldn’t even know where you would begin. It is advisable to decline the request and promptly suggest that the person seek for it elsewhere. It is also not advisable to write a recommendation letter if you don’t feel like creating one for a particular individual, although you may know of him or her. This kind of letter only works well if you know you can actually recommend the person.

Learning how to write a letter of reference is not that difficult. It doesn’t even have to be wordy or long. You only need to explain how the person is related or known to you. Is he your neighbor? Is he a co-worker or a business acquaintance? Is he your student? You also need to put down how long you have known the person. This would determine how well you know the person. A letter of recommendation for someone you have known only known for two days is not really credible.

Aside from mentioning the length of time you have known the person, you also need to mention your shared experiences with the person if there are any. This would give the recipient of the letter a clue as to how trustworthy your claims and recommendations are.

Many people do not know how to write a letter of reference because they do not simply know what to say. Basically, you need to mention of three traits that the person requesting the letter possesses. Is the person honest? Is he dependable? Is he the kind of person that you would want to have on your team? What are his skills?

You need to carefully think of the things you have to say before you actually start writing the letter. Make a draft if necessary. Add an anecdote if you feel like it would help. Just make sure that the person will stand out.

Once you have learned how to write a letter of reference, you wouldn’t have difficulty phrasing the words and sentences that will help the person achieve the purpose for which your letter is intended.

Landing Page Quick Reference Guide

A landing page is a website page that is created for one purpose - to persuade the site visitor to convert into a customer by making a sale, completing a form (thereby becoming a qualified lead), signing up for a newsletter, etc.

We provide this landing page quick reference so you can pull it out every time you are creating a persuasive landing page. It is divided into 4 sections and is intended to be an all-inclusive tip sheet.

Most importantly, consider that you have 8 seconds or less to convince your visitor to act. If you haven't convincingly made your case in this time then your visitor will move on and will be lost, as the Internet has created the most fickle customer in sales history.

Page Layout

- Place your logo at the top left. Visitors expect it there so display your branding where it counts.

- If the visitor came from a search engine keyword search or a PPC ad then place the keyword terms in bold at the top of the page. This reinforces to the visitor that they came to the right place.

- Always keep the Golden Triangle in mind. It is the most important and scanned part of the page. It is the area of the page that starts at the top left of the page moves to the top right side of the page then down diagonally to the bottom left of the page just above the fold. The fold is the area of a web page that the visitor sees without scrolling vertically. You should never force a visitor to scroll horizontally. This means that your landing pages should be able to be seen completely on an 800 x 600 screen resolution. Place your UVP in the middle of the Golden Triangle.

- Contrast your Calls to Action with respect to the rest of the page - use contrasting colors, round vs. rectangular, straight vs. slanted, warm color vs. cold color, big vs. little. Make sure you can spot the Call to Action from 6 feet away.

- Place assurances, testimonials and guarantees in the far-right column

- Place logos to appropriate associations or online companies at the bottom of the page to show credibility - Verisign, BBB Online Reliability, certified by..., Alexa rank (if good), powerseller, live support, credit cards supported, open 24 hours a day, Hacker Safe, as seen in Entrepreneur Magazine, Chamber of Commerce, etc.

- Don't place external links on a landing page. Just allow them the option to proceed into completing the form and converting into a customer.

- Place privacy policies on the landing page. This instills confidence.

- Think of the Amazon.com website. Note their Call to Action is the hotspot at the top-right of all pages - add to cart, one click ordering, etc. This may also apply to you

Writing Style and Content

- Spend time on your Unique Value Proposition (UVP) and place it into the center of the Golden Triangle. A UVP is the core differentiation of a company's product or service from those of competitors. A complete UVP will describe the market and a company's competitors and the key difference between competitors and your own company.

- Ensure that you don't have big paragraphs. Visitors tend to scan pages instead of reading all of the text on them.

- Write using headers above paragraphs that summarize the following text.

- Use bullets where possible as visitors can quickly scan them. Search engines also prioritize bullets instead of long paragraph text.

- If you want to add a picture ensure that it is going to reinforce your message. You can easily lose significant sales by having the wrong picture on the landing page.

- If the purpose of the landing page is to provide a white paper or article then create an image for the paper with enlarged text like the one below and place it on the page:

The Form

- Keep the number of fields on the form as small as possible. This is critical in getting them to complete the form.

- Add a Comments textbox asking for the visitor's input. It can be key to qualifying leads. Those that complete this form with the services they are looking for should be contacted immediately. Here are some requests you can use for this Comments box:

- What is biggest problem that you need to solve now?

- What is the purpose of your project?

- Please list your goals for this project.

- How can we help you?

- In case the visitor doesn't complete the Comments textbox on the first page, add a 2nd page with only a Comments textbox on it requesting the visitors comments again. Tell them that if they complete the Comments box now then they will receive an extra free white paper that is relevant to the same visitor. These visitor comments are important.

- Have the visitor check a box that says something like "YES! Send me the free white paper that will change my life." It is the psychological method of coercing them into completing the rest of the form.

- Prominently list the benefits of completing the form. It is a major validation. Make sure to write the benefits in terms of the users benefits instead of the features of your product or service.

- Ensure you save the form information into a database and send emails out as soon as the form is completed so you can immediately contact the visitor. The lead's effectiveness drops dramatically as time goes by. Contacting a lead within minutes is ideal.

Landing Page Mistakes to Avoid

- Graphics or text unrelated to the offer - limit copy to only the point of the landing page

- Long forms with unneeded fields - limit your form to what is absolutely essential

- Difficult to read fonts

- Navigation off of the landing page

- Placing important persuasive copy below the fold

Home Buying Quick Reference Guide

If you are in the process of buying a home you may have noticed that there is a lot more to the process than meets the eye. If you have not yet gone through the home buying process, you may have no real idea of all the steps and motions that are involved in the process. Not only is there a huge process involved, there are also many subtle steps that can aid and help things work out much more smoothly.

Rather than just buying a home perhaps you should be looking to buy the right home. The right home for each and every family will be different. This is the point where you should sit down with your family and discuss exactly what it is that you are looking for in a home. How many bedrooms do you want and how many can you settle for if there is absolutely no choice in the matter? How many square feet do you want and how many can you and your family comfortably tolerate? Do you need a basement or do you just want one? What about parking? How many spaces do you absolutely need? Do you need a fenced yard? How much yard do you need?

There are so many questions and this is only about the house. What about the community? Do you want a strong community feeling such as you would find in a gated community? Do you want a community park, swimming pool? How about community activities in which you and your family could participate? Would you rather be left alone? How close do you really want your neighbors? What about the stores nearby? Do you need to live within walking distance of stores, schools, parks, and entertainment or do you prefer a little bit of a commute? How about the schools? Will they serve the needs of your children while providing an outstanding education? These questions may seem like too much but they go a long way in helping you find the best possible house for you and your family.

Then there are the questions about the condition of the house you are considering. Are there minor or major repairs that need to be made to the home? Are you willing to make the necessary repairs? How much will they cost and can you negotiate a better price as a result? Will you be able to do the work yourself or will you need to hire professionals? How about legality? Are the repairs needed repairs that you can make on your own or will you need a licensed contractor to do the work? Are the repairs merely cosmetic? Most importantly can you live in the house while the repairs are being made or until the repairs can be made?

Asking these questions, debating the answers and reaching a compromise that everyone can agree on is part and parcel of the home buying process. Perhaps the biggest secret to buying a home is compromise. Buying a home is a lesson in compromise for all parties involved. Remember if you already have children this may require them leaving their friends and beginning again in a brand new school. Giving them a voice in the process can help ease the pains of leaving behinds friends and those things that they find familiar. Most importantly, by learning to compromise it is quite likely that everyone in the family will find something to love about your new home.

Reference Letter Etiquette

A former associate recently emailed and requested a reference letter.

Let me preface by saying, I like helping former coworkers, they are the best source for job and
sales leads. Plus it is just nice to help out friends and coworkers - call it good karma.

Here is how his request for a reference letter went:

Hi,

Hope you are good. Say, I am trying to get a new job at ABC and need a reference letter. Would you be so kind to put something together for me? You know, that I worked for you and what sort of job I did. It would be a big help.

Thanks,

I did not respond to this request for a reference letter and do not plan to. Why? Because I am a jerk? Hardly.

Let's ask a few question.

Former co-worker, how long has it been since we
worked together? Spoke last? Seen each other?

What have you been doing since? Been in prison?
Run a Ponzi scheme? Been fired numerous times?

How good of a job did you really do when we last
worked together? Be honest. Do you feel confident
in your past work to request a reference to me?

Rather than criticize, here is a better way to
get a reference letter from a former employer.

First, pick a former coworker you actually knew -
not the supervisor listed on an organization
chart you saw once.

Next, phone them. Letters and email are nice, but
voice time is better. Ask for an appointment.
Better yet, ask them to lunch.

When you speak with your contact, both on the
phone and in person, ask them how they are doing.
Ask if they recall working together.

Tell them truthfully what you want from them - "
Bob, thank you for your time. I am back out
looking at a new position and could really use
your help. Do you think I could include you as a
reference for my next position?".

(Notice - you are not asking for a reference
letter, just a reference!).

Next, tell your contact exactly what you have
been doing since you both last worked together.
Where you have worked, what you have done - tie
in how important your experience the gained while
working together was to what you have done.

If your contact agrees to write you a reference
letter, ask as nicely as possible for an expected
date to receive the letter. "Say Bob, I know you
are busy. I would not expect that letter until
next Tuesday or Wednesday if that helps" is a
good way to state your thoughts.

Once you receive the reference letter, "THANK
YOUR CONTACT" - most people never do this. They
are too busy trying to get a job to remember a
simple thank you.

Finally, offer to return the favor to your
contact is any way possible. Whether it be
through a reference, sales opportunity, or job
opening.

Remember, your former boss, co-workers or
customers have no obligation to provide reference
letters. Also, email may be acceptable for many
forms of business correspondence, it is not
nearly as effective as in person forms of contact.

Landing Page Quick Reference Guide

A landing page is a website page that is created for one purpose - to persuade the site visitor to convert into a customer by making a sale, completing a form (thereby becoming a qualified lead), signing up for a newsletter, etc.

We provide this landing page quick reference so you can pull it out every time you are creating a persuasive landing page. It is divided into 4 sections and is intended to be an all-inclusive tip sheet.

Most importantly, consider that you have 8 seconds or less to convince your visitor to act. If you haven't convincingly made your case in this time then your visitor will move on and will be lost, as the Internet has created the most fickle customer in sales history.

Page Layout

- Place your logo at the top left. Visitors expect it there so display your branding where it counts.

- If the visitor came from a search engine keyword search or a PPC ad then place the keyword terms in bold at the top of the page. This reinforces to the visitor that they came to the right place.

- Always keep the Golden Triangle in mind. It is the most important and scanned part of the page. It is the area of the page that starts at the top left of the page moves to the top right side of the page then down diagonally to the bottom left of the page just above the fold. The fold is the area of a web page that the visitor sees without scrolling vertically. You should never force a visitor to scroll horizontally. This means that your landing pages should be able to be seen completely on an 800 x 600 screen resolution. Place your UVP in the middle of the Golden Triangle.

- Contrast your Calls to Action with respect to the rest of the page - use contrasting colors, round vs. rectangular, straight vs. slanted, warm color vs. cold color, big vs. little. Make sure you can spot the Call to Action from 6 feet away.

- Place assurances, testimonials and guarantees in the far-right column

- Place logos to appropriate associations or online companies at the bottom of the page to show credibility - Verisign, BBB Online Reliability, certified by..., Alexa rank (if good), powerseller, live support, credit cards supported, open 24 hours a day, Hacker Safe, as seen in Entrepreneur Magazine, Chamber of Commerce, etc.

- Don't place external links on a landing page. Just allow them the option to proceed into completing the form and converting into a customer.

- Place privacy policies on the landing page. This instills confidence.

- Think of the Amazon.com website. Note their Call to Action is the hotspot at the top-right of all pages - add to cart, one click ordering, etc. This may also apply to you

Writing Style and Content

- Spend time on your Unique Value Proposition (UVP) and place it into the center of the Golden Triangle. A UVP is the core differentiation of a company's product or service from those of competitors. A complete UVP will describe the market and a company's competitors and the key difference between competitors and your own company.

- Ensure that you don't have big paragraphs. Visitors tend to scan pages instead of reading all of the text on them.

- Write using headers above paragraphs that summarize the following text.

- Use bullets where possible as visitors can quickly scan them. Search engines also prioritize bullets instead of long paragraph text.

- If you want to add a picture ensure that it is going to reinforce your message. You can easily lose significant sales by having the wrong picture on the landing page.

- If the purpose of the landing page is to provide a white paper or article then create an image for the paper with enlarged text like the one below and place it on the page:

The Form

- Keep the number of fields on the form as small as possible. This is critical in getting them to complete the form.

- Add a Comments textbox asking for the visitor's input. It can be key to qualifying leads. Those that complete this form with the services they are looking for should be contacted immediately. Here are some requests you can use for this Comments box:

- What is biggest problem that you need to solve now?

- What is the purpose of your project?

- Please list your goals for this project.

- How can we help you?

- In case the visitor doesn't complete the Comments textbox on the first page, add a 2nd page with only a Comments textbox on it requesting the visitors comments again. Tell them that if they complete the Comments box now then they will receive an extra free white paper that is relevant to the same visitor. These visitor comments are important.

- Have the visitor check a box that says something like "YES! Send me the free white paper that will change my life." It is the psychological method of coercing them into completing the rest of the form.

- Prominently list the benefits of completing the form. It is a major validation. Make sure to write the benefits in terms of the users benefits instead of the features of your product or service.

- Ensure you save the form information into a database and send emails out as soon as the form is completed so you can immediately contact the visitor. The lead's effectiveness drops dramatically as time goes by. Contacting a lead within minutes is ideal.

Landing Page Mistakes to Avoid

- Graphics or text unrelated to the offer - limit copy to only the point of the landing page

- Long forms with unneeded fields - limit your form to what is absolutely essential

- Difficult to read fonts

- Navigation off of the landing page

- Placing important persuasive copy below the fold

Search and Rescue Signals - Your Quick Reference Guide

When travelling in remote areas, wether by foot, vehicle, bike or other means, there is always the possibility that you can become lost or stuck. Assuming that you have already planned your trip well you would have no doubt let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return, well for your sake I hope so :)

With this being the case and in the (hopefully) unlikely event that you did somehow manage to get yourself stuck or lost (although I'm sure it would never happen to an experienced campaigner such as yourself :P) an air search would most likely be conducted.

What follows is a quick reference guide to the most common signals that will be useful in the event of an air search.

Ideally construct these signals on high ground using fabric, rocks or logs that contrast in colour with the ground. (They should be at least 3m in size)

USEFUL AIR SEARCH SIGNALS

K : indicates the direction to proceed

I : serious injuries, send doctor

II : send medical supplies

X : unable to proceed

F : need food and water

/\ : should be safe to land here

(square/rectangle): require map and compass

L : need fuel

LL : all is well

N : no

Y : yes

JL : not understood

If your message has been understood, the pilot will rock the plane's wings from side to side or flash a green light.

If the pilot makes a right-hand circle or flashes a red light, this means the message is seen but not understood.

I sincerely hope you never ever have to use any of the information provided here, however as they say; better safe than sorry (or dead X|)

Letters of Reference – Writing Tips and Strategies

In addition to standard letter-writing dos and don'ts, there are a number of basic guidelines that apply specifically to most situations related to the writing of letters of reference. These are usually more "situational" than "how-to" in nature.

These reference letter guidelines are important to both note and apply, since writing letters of reference is always a somewhat tricky and delicate matter. That's because they almost always affect the reputation and future of the writer or that of another person.

The following tips and strategies apply primarily to the writing of letters of reference in their various forms (i.e. reference letters, character reference letters, employment reference letters, college reference letters, and general reference letters).

Write It Only If You Want To
If you are asked by someone to write a reference letter about them, you don't have to say "yes" automatically. If it's someone you respect for their work, and you have mostly positive things to say, by all means write the letter.

There is no point saying "yes" and then writing a letter that says nothing good about the person, or worse still, concocting a misleading positive assessment of someone.

So, whatever you do, don't get sucked into writing a reference inappropriately out of feelings of guilt or obligation.

If You Must Refuse, Do It Right Up Front
On the other hand, if someone asks you to write a reference letter for them, and you know you'll be hard-pressed to keep it positive, say "no" right away.

There is no point in hesitating and leading the person on to believe that the answer might eventually be "yes".

A gentle but firm "no" will usually get the message across to the person. Explain that you don't think that you are the best (or most qualified) person to do it.

Suggest Someone Else
If you feel you should refuse, for whatever reason, it may be helpful for you to suggest someone else who you think might have a more positive and/or accurate assessment of the person.

That other person may be in a better position to do the assessment. Usually there are a number of possible candidates, and you may not actually be the best one.

In fact, I have seen a number of cases over the years in which people requesting reference letters have not requested the letter from the obvious or logical choice. This usually happens when the requestor doesn't like the person who is the obvious choice, and/or they are worried about what that person will say about them.

Write It As You See It
Writing a less than honest letter of reference does no one a favor in the end. It is likely to backfire on you, the person being recommended, and the new employer.

Also, many employers and head-hunting agencies check references these days.

How would you like to be called up and have to mislead people due to questionable things you may have written in a reference letter?

Be Honest, Fair, and Balanced
Honesty is always the best policy when it comes to writing reference letters. At the same time, try to be fair and balanced in your approach.

If in your estimation, a person has five strengths and one glaring weakness, but that weakness really bothers you, make sure you don't over-emphasize the weak point in the letter based on your personal bias. Just mention it in passing as a weakness and then move on.

Balanced Is Best
An overall balanced approach is the best one for a letter of reference. Even if your letter generally raves about how excellent the person is, some balance on the other side of the ledger will make it more credible. After all, nobody's perfect.

There must be some area where the person being recommended needs to improve. A bit of constructive criticism never hurts and it will make your letter more objective in nature.


Bottom Line:
The most important point to take away from the above tips and strategies is that it is your choice as to whether, and how, you will write a letter of reference.

It's an important type of letter that will have a definite impact on the future of the person about whom it is being written, so don't agree to write one unless you are willing to give it your utmost attention and effort.

Size Does Matter - Creating a Visual Reference

Take a waterfall, tall and beautiful. Now visualize a small stream trickling over the edge of a few large stones. If you shoot it just right, they could look the same. “Wait a minute,” you're saying, “those are as different as night and day.” That’s a good point, but unless you also include something to compare the water to, you have no point of reference. This concept is generally referred to as opposition.

Say you’re hiking in a National Park, and find a really cool waterfall. You get close to capture detail, and shoot against a clear blue sky (so the background won’t distract.) You tell your friends about the adventure, and eagerly await your pictures from the photo lab. When they finally come back, you flip through the shots looking for your master piece. When you finally see it, your heart sinks. It looks OK, but there’s no magic, no majesty. It’s just not the same.

What happened? When you saw it live, you were there. You climbed over rocks; you walked through streams, and pushed pine branches out of your way. When you looked through the view finder of your camera, these images were also in the back of your mind. The human mind is a wonderful creation; it takes images, sounds, and smells and blends them all into wonderful memories. The problem lies in the limitations of the medium.

A photo tip worth remembering is; we experience in three-dimensions; but we photograph in two-dimensions. Opposition is one of several creative techniques that makes your photo appear more three-dimensional. The more three-dimensional you photo appears the more likely your viewer is to experience at least part of what you did when you took the shot.

Size is relative. A small mountain may seem big compared to a boulder. A boulder may seem huge compared to a rock. Even a small rock will seem gigantic compared to a grain of sand. In the world of micro photography, even a grain of sand could look like a vast landscape if there was nothing to compare it to.

At one time or another, most of us have seen a close-up of something that made to make us think it was something else. Why did we not recognize the item for what it was? Simply put, you had nothing to compare it to. You had no point of reference. This works in both directions, small and large. I'm a big fan of simplifying an image when you can, but there are times when you can simplify too much. Leaving a rock or a branch in the edge of the picture can often mean the difference between a nice shot and a great shot!

A few years back I did a series of nature shots in which I included a “Barbie Doll” in every shot. This was the California doll; because her skin was more tan than most, so from certain angles she did look more realistic. Most of the shots I did either had the doll in silhouette or they were looking over her shoulder from behind. In most cases, I could have used a real model, but not all of them. One shot in particular showed this beautiful girl who had apparently hiked through the woods (pine needles were framing the shot) and she was looking at this gorgeous waterfall. The catch was: the waterfall in question was only 24 inches tall.

Think of your subject as the star in a major motion picture. Often that star does well, because of his or her supporting cast. No one is expected to go through life as a one man show. The people we meet, hang out with, or interact with also influence how people see us. Your subject; be it human or nature, is the same way. Include elements that support your vision, eliminate the distractions that do not. I firmly believe that in order to get the big picture, you need to include the small details. One of those details is showing size, by using opposition.