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By Dave Lorenzo In every office around the world there is a big bag of money just sitting in a closet. That bag of money is the secret stash that the big shots give to people who provide value. Your job is to get them to reach into that bag and give you the increase that you deserve. There is a good chance that your company doesnt really have that bag of money in the closet. But it is important that you keep that mental image with you as you seek a pay increase. There is almost always a way for a company to reward a star performer. Sometimes this reward involves financial compensation. Sometimes the compensation can come in the form of an added benefit. Sometimes a company will only offer something as simple as a new place to sit or a larger office. The goal of this article is to help you receive something additional from your employer. As you begin, you need to take a good hard look at your performance. Have you created value for your company? If so, can you quantify how much value you have created? (If you are in sales, this is pretty easy. You simply need to look at the amount of business you have brought into the firm. In other areas, look at money you have saved the company since your last pay increase.) When you examine your performance, examine it as it compares to your peers within your organization. If you are not near the top of the list, you probably do not have a viable argument for seeking an increase. Next compare your performance to other people in your industry. Are you above average? Again, if you are not, you should probably improve your performance before you ask for a raise. Now that you know how valuable you are to the company, and where you stand in the pecking order, you can begin to make a reasonable case for an increase. Get your numbers together. Make sure you can present some figures to the boss that show the value you have created. DO NOT compare yourself to anyone in your current organization. You boss will have access to these numbers. She will know exactly where you stand in the firm. At this stage you are just looking to put some figures on paper that will show that you have a good understanding of the value you create. Picking the right opportunity for the money conversation is critical. Timing is everything in business. There are a few times that are ideal for having a conversation about a pay increase. These times are: Right after you have received an award. If your company (or better yet your industry) recognizes your value by giving you an award, you have some good momentum. Go for it. After you have closed a big deal, saved some big money for the firm or played a critical role on a project. Once again you can capitalize on some positive momentum. If you have agreed to take on additional responsibility. This is particularly true if you will be doing the jobs of multiple individuals. A labor savings will often result in additional compensation for the remaining workers. After your boss has received an award. If your boss is performing at a high level, she may want to share some of the recognition with you. After the company has announced a good financial period. If the company is making more money, there might be some additional compensation available for key contributors. When the moment of truth arrives for the conversation make sure you are dressed well and you have excellent personal hygiene. (This sounds basic but there is nothing worse than sitting across from someone who is asking for money and smells like they slept in a dumpster). As you make your case, talk about the numbers. Show the value you have provided. Explain how you plan to continue to provide even more value in the future. It is key that you appear rational and unemotional. Approach this as a business transaction. Once the conversation is over give your boss time to process the information. Dont pester her every day for an answer. She may have several people she needs to speak with to get authorization for your request. After a week to ten days, follow up with a friendly e-mail asking if she has any information on your request. If she does not, it is appropriate to ask her to estimate when she will have an answer. There are a few things that you should definitely NOT do when asking for a raise. DONT talk about the reason you need the money. This will not be a consideration for most companies. Your problems are not their problems. Saying that you have personal financial difficulty only makes you appear weak. DONT demand to be paid as much as a specific employee in your firm. Comparing yourself to other employees will only get ugly in the long run. Its OK to compare yourself to the average pay for your position or the average compensation in your industry, but dont compare yourself to an individual. DONT threaten to leave. Your relationship with you boss will never recover from a threat. If you are good at your job, your boss will know that you have options. You dont need to rub it in her face. The bottom line in asking for a raise is that you must be a value-creator to deserve additional consideration. Highlight the ways you create value. Talk about your value in financial terms. Time your conversation appropriately. Take a rational and business-like approach toward requesting more compensation. Remember that most businesses try to obtain services as inexpensively as possible. This includes labor. Chances are good that you will only receive more if you ask for it. David Lorenzo has more than 20 years of business experience as a successful corporate executive, entrepreneur, strategist, author, and speaker. He has worked with and mentored some of the worlds most successful businesspeople while helping lead many large organizations to unprecedented success. His latest book is titled: Career Intensity: Business Strategy for Workplace Warriors and Entrepreneurs. Mr. Lorenzos experience in starting new business enterprises and repositioning under-performing business units, along with his ability to implement innovative performance improvement solutions, makes him one of todays most sought-after trusted advisors. Mr. Lorenzo is a participant in the Wharton Fellows Program at the University of Pennsylvania, a management think tank that meets regularly to analyze and address timely business issues. He received his MBA from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University, and he received a Masters of Science in Strategic Communications from Columbia University in New York City. 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By Shlomo Slatkin If G-d promised you a gift, would you hesitate? Would you even dare to criticize it and reject it? Yet, the meraglim, the spies that were sent to Eretz Yisroel, returned with a negative report, one which spoke poorly about the Land and declared disbelief that the Jewish people could inherit it. While there are many explanations for this puzzling and tragic episode that condemned us to 40 years of wandering in the desert and established future national calamities (Taanis 29a), there is a glaring lesson that we can apply in our own lives. That lesson is the art of constructive criticism. It is an art because it demands much skill, wisdom, and sensitivity. As we see from the beginning of the parasha, it is even questionable as to whether one should offer criticism in the first place. Commenting on the seemingly superfluous language of shlach lecha (send for yourself), Rashi explains that for yourself means according to your (Moshes) intention. G-d had not commanded Moshe to send spies to scout out the land. G-d promised that the Jewish people would posses it. It was only when the Jewish people approached Moshe with the request to scout out the land, that G-d acquiesced. Nevertheless, He made it clear that this was not His initiative. G-d did not ask for our feedback, yet we insisted on putting in our own two cents. Although in general, we should not be quick to provide criticism, there may be situations that warrant it or when our feedback is actually solicited. In these cases, we must practice the art of constructive criticism, or what I prefer to call feedback. When the meraglim returned from spying out the land, they spoke poorly of Eretz Yisroel. They told of its supposed shortcomings and drew the conclusion that it would be impossible to conquer it and survive there as it is a land that devours its inhabitants (13:32). Yet Calev, who along with Yehoshua was part of the mission, presented an entirely different approach, we shall surely ascend and conquer it for we can surely do it (13:30). Tova haaretz mod mod (14:7) The Land is very, very good. They all witnessed the same land, but the meraglim experienced it through a different lens, that of the critical eye. When the critical eye is one of negativity, when it is an ayin raa ( a bad eye) as opposed to an ayin tova (a good eye), the result can be devastating and demoralizing. Criticism is only positive when it is constructive, when it builds up a person, not when it tears one down. When I was doing post graduate training in Imago Relationship Therapy, we were required to show tapes of our work with couples to our trainer. They were to be evaluated and if we had met the criteria we would pass. It was a bit nerve-racking and vulnerable to see ourselves on camera and be evaluated by a group. One thing that struck me about the feedback process was the safety and encouragement it provided. We knew as amateurs that our tapes would not be flawless and we were looking for feedback that we could implement to improve our work. Everyone in the room provided feedback: what I liked about your work, a technical suggestion, and how I see you moving into your growth edge. Any criticism was prefaced with appreciations or positive statements. A person needs to be built up and feel good about what they did. The technical suggestions were specific and practical. This is crucial as a person must know what they did wrong and what they can change. General abstract criticism of the persons very being or of things they are unable to change is unhelpful and potentially damaging. Finally, the growth edge, what a wonderful way to label it! Instead of labeling what we are doing wrong and not providing any room for improvement, we view it from a positive angle. I learned that feedback must be given in a supportive way so the person realizes what they need to improve and is inspired to do so rather than focusing on the negative, bursting their bubble and leaving them helpless and unable to see any rationality in the feedback. One must walk away feeling good and confident about what was done right and motivated to improve. We ask for feedback to add more objectivity in order to take a step back and see what really happened. I believe that we all have the desire to grow and would gladly welcome any feedback that assists us in that process. Although we must remember that any criticism we receive is still someones else opinion and that our self-worth or performance is not dependent on anothers approval, the ego is very fragile, and there is a strong need to feel safe and supported. Therefore, it is crucial that any criticism given be constructive, to build, not to tear down. This is a delicate art for even if we are not malicious, we tend to look at the negative. The critical eye must be an ayin tova, unlike that of the meraglim. While the meraglim did not need to deny their own fears, they could have looked at the situation in a more positive light, found the good in the bad, and drawn a different conclusion. If not given with sensitivity and wisdom, criticism can be very destructive. Besides what they said, they influenced others to follow in their negativity and caused the Jewish people to get nowhere, wandering for 40 years in the desert, and for that generation, never reaching their intended destination. When criticism is not given with care, it can very easily sidetrack a person and leave them feeling lost and discouraged. Next time when we are in a situation that warrants feedback, let us have the sensitivity to view with an ayin tov, providing specific details and practical suggestions with the intent to build up the other person so they will be inspired to grow and improve. Only in that way can we become fully self-actualized, able to reach our personal Eretz Yisroel. Rabbi Slatkin is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor and certified IMAGO Relationship Therapist in practice with Pastoral Counseling and Consultation Centers of Greater Washington, serving clients in the Baltimore metropolitan area. He works with couples and families and is available for lectures and seminars on the spiritual journey of relationships. 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By Melissa Jeffries If you’ve been to gem shows, you know how overwhelming and daunting they can be. Although it’s difficult to narrow down all those tempting options, your jewelry business profit margin will be greater if you plan ahead and focus on shopping for a particular line and color scheme of jewelry. You must keep the bigger picture in mind and try to keep your emotions out of the design process. Here are some tips for defining your market and researching it so that you can walk in and out of a gemstone show feeling confident in the business investments you’ve just made. What Is a Gem Show? Gemstone shows and fairs are marketplaces for vendors of gemstones, findings, jewelry supplies, and tools. Due to the large amount of competition between the vendors, prices tend to be competitive. I’ve found unbelievable deals on high quality gemstones and findings at gem shows. How Do I Find the Nearest Gem Show? To find gem shows near you, you can simply do a Google search for “gemstone show” or “gem fair”. Other sources of information are your local convention and visitors’ bureau and any lapidary clubs in your area. Is There an Admission Fee? Anyone can attend most gemstone shows. Although you don’t usually need a wholesale license to get in, some vendors may ask for your resale permit before letting you buy at wholesale prices. Show admission fees tend to be in the $5 to $10 dollar range. Define Your Market Ahead of Time What market are you trying to target with your jewelry? Don’t try to please everyone. Are you trying to appeal to individuals like yourself? What age bracket are you trying to reach? Does your jewelry line appeal to funky or traditional individuals? Research Your Market Next take a trip to your local department store and take note of the colors that are being used for the upcoming season. Look at the jewelry and observe the lengths of the earrings/necklaces, the sizes of the stones, and the other various style elements for the season. While your designs should not be copies or replicas of the jewelry in the stores, you can simply incorporate the observations you make into your own original design ideas. Fashion and jewelry magazines are also a great place to find out what trends are coming into the stores. Attending the Gem Show There will be an overwhelming array of gemstones and supplies at the show. Having a jewelry line style and color scheme in mind will allow you to narrow your focus. Vendors will offer gemstones in more shapes, sizes, cuts and colors than you can imagine. Stick to the colors you’ve mapped out for yourself and walk through the entire gem show once before buying anything. Jot down and compare the prices of items that you’re interested in. Then take a break, go outside for some fresh air, and reflect on the items you saw and really liked. Then review your budget and the jewelry line you have in mind before returning into the gemstone show. This will help you get the best deals on the items you’re most interested in, so that you don’t blow your budget or become overwhelmed by the options. Author Melissa Jeffries of Turquoise Sands Jewelry creates colorful, vibrant gemstone jewelry that inspires exotic elegance. All pieces are inspired by the beautiful landscapes of the tropics. Her jewelry has been described as “unique, dangly, chunky, artsy and just fun!” Visit http://www.Turquoisesands.com to see Melissa’s creations. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melissa_Jeffries http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-for-Attending-Gemstone-Shows&id=31197 cheap phentermine pills tree top pharmacy phentermine legal to buy phentermine online buy phentermine online consultation

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Caitlin_Lucy]Caitlin Lucy If detective thrillers inspire you, this one is for you. The Sony Ericsson K800i phone is sported by Daniel Craig in the latest Bond flick, Casino Royal. The handset belongs to the family of Sony Ericsson’s camera phones. Attributed with the third generation technology the phone evinces a lethal combination of style and functionality. The story is simple. You venture out with friends on a rainy eve, and come upon a scene of drug trafficking. You plan to cover the scene without confronting the villains. So you record the images using your Sony Ericsson K800i phone comprising of a 3.2 mega pixel camera. The 16 times zooming facility accords a chance to zoom in the faces of the people involved. The Autofocus feature focuses the central object, in this case the scene, automatically. An embedded stabilizer serves as a shock absorber by steadying the frame while you shoot the picture with trembling hands. A stupendous feature called BestPic comes to your assistance during this adventure. It captures nine images of the scene in a flash of a second — four before pressing the shoot button, and another four after. This renders you the option to choose the image which best describes the action. The video recording feature presents a viable choice in this situation. You could make a video and promptly call the cops. You could play a reporter by messaging the pictures to news agencies using the multimedia message service. You could even send the pictures to an on line blog by availing the Picture Blogging facility. Advanced connectivity would put you on the center stage much before you’d realize. Your ultimate resource, the [http://www.3mobileshop.co.uk/showphone.asp?id=298]Sony Ericsson K800i phone, would win you the Bond tag in no time. Caitlin Lucy is a Expert Author. She has written good quality articles on [http://www.3mobileshop.co.uk/]Mobile phones and [http://www.3mobileshop.co.uk/accessories.asp]Mobile Phone Accessories. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Caitlin_Lucy http://EzineArticles.com/?Be-Bond-With-Sony-Ericsson-K800i&id=490858 non prescription phentermine 37.5 mg buy cheap phentermine online net buy phentermine diet pill phentermine online without a prescription

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_Edwards] Tim Edwards A new study released Monday in the New England shows that using heart medication is just as affective as a procedure called stenting which requires surgery and is much more invasive. Stenting is a common procedure done on thousands of heart patients every year. The study which compared the two procedures, found that in a non-emergency setting, that heart medication works just as effectively as stents in providing chest relief. The president of the American Heart Association and a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic Raymond Gibbons said, The study shows that hundreds of thousands of elective angioplasty procedures, which cost an average of $38,000 each, are not needed. According to the Sun Herald, Each group got optimal medical therapy, which included aggressive treatment with drugs to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, blood thinners such as aspirin and angina relief drugs such as nitroglycerin. In addition, about half the patients also underwent angioplasty with the placement of bare-metal stents. In nearly five years of follow up, stenting did not reduce the risk of death, heart attack, stroke or hospitalization for certain heart problems, compared with drug therapy alone. Even cardiologists who perform angioplasties say the study likely will lead to fewer of the procedures. Although heart medication may be a sufficient answer for some forms of chest pain, there is still a need for the stenting procedure. Drug therapy alone cannot reverse critical blockages in coronary arteries that cause symptoms such as chest pain. Stents can’t reduce the progression of artery disease elsewhere in the circulation system, said David Kandzari, chief medical officer of the cardiology division of stent manufacturer Cordis Corp. “By using both therapies we are keeping the interests of patients front and center.” In light of the recent evidence, many doctors could now begin to prescribe heart medication in place of invasive stent surgery for non-emergency situations, saving the patients time, money, and pain. Visit this Consumer Advocacy website for more information on ordering medication from online with [http://www.noprescriptioneeded.com] no prescription. Tim Edwards is the author of many health related articles as well as the owner of a consumer advocacy website. Visit this Consumer Advocacy website for more information on ordering medication from online with [http://www.noprescriptioneeded.com] no prescription. Article Source: [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_Edwards ] http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Edwards [http://ezinearticles.com/?Heart-Drugs-Just-as-Affective-as-Stenting&id=506628 ] http://EzineArticles.com/?Heart-Drugs-Just-as-Affective-as-Stenting&id=506628 pharmacy selling phentermine phentermine order by phentermine without a dr prescription phentermine 37.5 tablets no prescription

By Brian Rzepczynski Introduction So you made it through the first date with this new guy and hes intrigued you. You find him attractive, enjoyable to be around, and with the little bit of information youve been able to obtain at your first contact, he seems to meet some of your personal requirements and needs for a potential boyfriend thus far. So now what? Now youre about to embark upon the fine art of dating and courtship. Together, the two of you will begin the process of getting to know each other better through going out on dates for fun and recreation and learning about one another in a variety of different contexts and situations. Through this relationship-building process, youll slowly begin forming an emotional bond while gauging if the other is compatible with your visions for a life partner. Gaining this wisdom is only possible with experience and exposure to each other as you learn about each others preferences, personalities, needs, goals, dreams, etc. This article will offer a checklist of qualities and characteristics to be on the lookout for as youre forming your impressions about your new dating partner. This can help guide you in making sound decisions about your goodness-of-fit with him, as well as to guard against any red flags that you may stumble upon along the way so you dont get embroiled into an unhealthy relationship. First Things First While this article is about examining traits in the guy youre seeing to help you make good relationship choices, never forget that your dating success rests largely on yourself. This means that youve done the work necessary to have a stable, balanced lifestyle, have a strong sense of self-esteem and confidence, have put closure to unfinished business from the past, and have a clear vision of who you are, what you want, and what you stand for (both as an individual and for a life partner and relationship). This becomes your foundation for leading a fulfilling life and having the knowledge of your negotiable and non-negotiable needs for a lifelong lover that youll need as you date. Secondly, keep those pants on and hormones in check! Unless you want to define your budding relationship solely by sex, jumping into bed too quickly can confuse and blur your assessment process. Sex does change things and you dont want to sabotage a potentially good thing by being sexual too early before a foundation of trust, rapport, and security has been established between the two of you. So, down boy! It will be that much hotter when the time is right! The Boyfriend Evaluation The following are some questions you can ask yourself as you get acquainted with your boyfriend prospects as you date them. These characteristics can make or break a relationship; it all depends on what your personal requirements and ideals are that will indicate how much priority youll give to each of these items. This list is just a starting pointadd your own for a more personalized touch. Whether youve been dating your guy for couple of days or for a number of months, keep your eyes peeled regarding some of the following: Is he honest and does he demonstrate integrity? Does he do what he says hes going to do? (eg. when he says hes going to call you, does he promptly?) Is he available to you, able to spend quality time with you, and make you a priority in his schedule? Does he have friends, hobbies, or other outlets that make for a balanced lifestyle and individuality? Does he strike a balance between having fun and attending to responsibilities in his life? Rate his degree of affection, playfulness, and capacity for intimacy. Whats your sexual compatibility like? What are his views on monogamy? Does he seem interested in health and wellness and devote time for self-care and renewal? What are his relationships like with his family? How comfortable is he with being gay and whats his level of outness? Does he appear to have any mental health issues (depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, etc.) or addictions (alcohol/drugs, gambling, work, sex, food, etc.)? How does he appear to handle his finances and how are his spending habits? What are his views on money, marriage, religion, children, gay relationships, living together, future life planning issues, etc.? Does he stimulate you intellectually? How does he deal with anger and stress? Does he become violent?How adept is he at dealing with his emotions? How are his communication and conflict management skills? Is he already involved in another relationship? Has he been able to let go of past boyfriends? In observing him, how does he treat or talk about other people? Is he critical or judgmental? Is he able to be decisive about things or do you tend to have to make all the decisions in the relationship? (eg. What do you want to do? I dont know, what do you want to do?) Assess his personality traits: Is heClingy? Dependent? Emotionally distant or responsive? Controlling? Able to share? Maturity level? Giving and kind? What type of relationship is he looking for? Is he ready for commitment? Is he willing to put forth the effort involved in building a long-term relationship? Conclusion While this may seem like a lot of detective work, dont become so preoccupied with your mental checklist that it distracts you from your relationship. Make your dating life enjoyable and an adventure; have fun with it! But at the first sign of unsolvable red flags or non-negotiable needs not being met, remove yourself from the dating relationship before you invest any more of your heart and precious time into ityoull be doing both of you a favor. Settling and thinking you can change your partner over time are serious traps that you want to avoid. Turn the above questions back on yourself to see if there are any areas where you might be able to improve upon to make yourself more solid and whole. So enjoy getting to know your new guy and all the lessons youll learn about yourself and relationships. Let the journey begin! 2005 Brian L. Rzepczynski WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and the resource box are included. Please also include with the article the words Copyright and prominently display a link to our main page at the end of the article. Any feedback would be appreciated and can be sent to brian@thegaylovecoach.com. Thank you! Brian Rzepczynski holds a master’s degree in Social Work from Western Michigan University and is also a Certified Personal Life Coach through The Coach Training Alliance. He launched his private coaching practice, The Gay Love Coach (http://www.TheGayLoveCoach.com) in 2003 and works with gay men, both singles and couples, on developing skills for improving their dating lives and relationships. He publishes a monthly e-zine called “The Man 4 Man Plan” that has helpful articles, tips, resources, and an advice column relating to gay relationships and dating. He is also the co-author of the 2005 self-help book “A Guide to Getting It: Purpose & Passion.” Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Rzepczynski http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Boyfriend-Evaluation:-Getting-To-Know-Him&id=103430 phentermine to buy buy phentermine with cod buy phentermine without prescription need to buy phentermine

By Lawrence Andrews Dating, these days, is far different from how it was back then. People usually met at a party or were hooked up by friends then in time, the couple would realize whether the friendship could go on to the next level or it was never meant to be. Meeting people online is similar to having friends doing all the work looking for that special someone. Recently, more people have had higher success rates in getting a date online than the conventional method. To know more, here are some benefits which are interesting to know about online dating; 1. Safety By personally signing up on an online dating service, the person can meet many people without the risk of revealing ones personal information. The only time that such details can be revealed will be done voluntarily by the searcher to the potential partner when a level of trust has been established. 2. Security Dating online is supposed to help people who have difficulty meeting that special someone. Some people take advantage of that and pry on innocent people so most dating sites have made a system that allows one to report a user and have that person blocked for malicious conduct and prevent this from happening to other people. 3. Affordable Dating people is costly especially since one goes out on more than one date. By getting to know many people online, one will be able to save a lot of money since the same information that one gathers online can be done just like going out on an actual date. 4. No more rejection and unwanted people For men, dating online avoids the embarrassing experience of going up to meet a girl and getting rejected. By signing up on an online service and just chatting online, one can easily forget about this person and meet someone new. For women, dating online helps avoid meeting the wrong person. It saves the person the time and effort of giving love to someone more deserving like that potential partner. 5. Openness Most people find it difficult being honest talking to a stranger for the first time because there is the fear that the other person will not appreciate what is shown. Since dating online provides a buffer by talking to someone via the computer and not face to face, another benefit is that one can be as open as one wants to be without fear of showing any sign of emotional attachment. Online dating can be fun. Be it just to meet new friends or meet that potential partner. A person will never know unless one tries. About The Author: Lawrence Andrews is an ePublisher, software developer, consultant, and author of numerous books. Visit his Private Label Content and Software site at http://www.lmamedia.com for more information about Dating Do’s and Dont’s. You may use this article freely on your website as long as this resource box is included, a link point back to my site, and this article remains unchanged! Copyright 2005 Lawrence Andrews Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Andrews http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Pros-of-Online-Dating&id=122146 pharmacy tramadol by cod money order order tramadol delivery online prescription saturday tramadol online tramadol no prescription

By Brian Danniels In a world of currency fluctuations, import tariffs, research and development costs and many other industrial factors, it is becoming increasingly difficult to make a business successful. Many companies are looking for ways of cutting costs in order to be competitive in international markets; some methods may be totally legitimate, others highly questionable. How can a company survive in this competitive world? Well, there is a way One can visit a supermarket; fill the shopping trolley with quality goods then pass by the check-out without paying. Using this method, and having on hand a friendly chef it is possible to destroy the business of any small local restaurant. This may seem drastic but it happens every day in the competitive field of consumer electronics. It seems that Creative Labs, a company based in a tax haven country, Singapore, is using a non-creative method for gaining an unfair advantage over its competitors: copying other peoples patents. One of the most popular home electronics appliances around these days is the MP3 player, for instance Apple sold 14 million iPod players in the fourth quarter alone of 2005. A huge leap from 4.5 million in the same period of 2004. MP3 players show up everywhere; school kids use them as do adults, some models are incorporated in cell phones, cameras and even sunglasses. Many of the higher priced products, such portable audio and video devices (PAVs) now come with small screens able to show MPEG videos as well as reproduce audio. Well, behind these massively popular products, there lies relative patent portfolios that cover these technologies. Hundreds of producers of MP3 players and PAV devices have taken licenses for such technologies. They then follow their usual business channels in order to bring their products to the market. Many of these companies are renowned names, such as Apple Computer, LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and hundreds of others. In todays age of technology, what can the future be for a company that doesnt respect intellectual property? Creative Labs knows the answer to that question. Creative has been accused of patent infringement by a series of patent holders, from among which Compression Labs, Lucent Technologies, MPEG LA, Dynacore Holdings and Advanced Audio Devices. Well, Creative may not be so creative in their business approach, but they are certainly very creative in their methodologies for avoiding royalty payments. In fact, in Creatives 2005 Annual Report they even state that they have valid defences against any claims asserted against them. They then go on to say that even if any claimant should win their suit or claim against them they dont expect there to be any adverse effects on its financial position or operations. MPEG LA alone manages more than 100 essential patent families. Are we to assume that Creative considers them all invalid and if they are valid then no royalties will exchange hands? Another example Bells Labs, the R&D division of Lucent Technologies, has generated more than 31,000 patents since 1925 and has played a pivotal role in inventing or perfecting key communications technologies. Scientists from Lucent/Bell Labs have received six Nobel Prizes in Physics, nine U.S. National Medals of Science and eight U.S. National Medals of Technology. From Creatives Annual Report it seems clear that the MPEG LA and Lucent patent portfolios are worth little more than the paper they are printed on. Doesnt the supermarket metaphor used above spring to mind? Perhaps Creative should reconsider their statements concerning the fact that no adverse effects will occur to its financial position or operations.What happens when criminal seizures of its products occur and the products are physically removed from the stores, or when a court injunction forbids them from selling their products? According to an Italian online journal, Hardware Upgrade, a David and Goliath style battle is currently underway between a small European company called Sisvel, which has the exclusive rights to license a number of MP3 patents, and Creative Labs. Court injunctions, seizures and messy legal battles are apparently underway across Europe. Creative is facing similar such battles in the USA with a subsidiary of Sisvel called Audio MPEG. It is interesting to note that Creative, through the sale of its MP3 players plans to topple Apples market domination in this field it certainly has an advantage over Apple: it pays nobody. Nonetheless, Standard & Poor’s Equity Research analysts have downgraded shares Creative to “sell” from “hold” citing increased competition from Apple Computer in the MP3 player market. Maybe this goes towards explaining why Creatives stock has nosedived almost 50% in the recent 52 week period! Creatives continual strategy of not recognising intellectual property rights could lead to very serious results. The courts dont hold much esteem for offenders of intellectual property when found guilty. For instance, The maker of the BlackBerry handheld devices (RIM) as part of a court settlement, agreed to pay US$450 million in exchange for NTP granting the right to continue its BlackBerry-related wireless business without further interference from NTP or its patents. A different field of technology, but it stresses a point. In cases such as these, when a rapid agreement isnt reached litigation often leads to stock prices dropping like a rock, good faith being literally destroyed and shop keepers becoming dubious whether to stock goods or not for fear of seizure. In fact, as mentioned above, over the last year Creatives stock value (CREAF Nasdaq) has lost almost half its value. Will it lose even more? I wonder if holding on to Creative stock is a good idea for the future? Brian Danniels is a law student with a particular interest in international intellectual property conflicts. His main interests are the computer and consumer electronics sector. Brain can be reached at: briandanniels@yahoo.com.au Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Danniels http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Uncreative-Business-Practice-of-Creative-Labs&id=151449 discount ultram prescription medication online pharmacy ultram buy ultram 120 tablets buy hydrocodone tramadol free online consultation

By John Nazareno Judgment liens can be placed against ones home or other assets when they refuse to pay credit card bills, home improvement bills, or just about any other type of bill. All a creditor needs to do is pursue payment and if the homeowner is not able or unwilling to pay, the creditor can go to court and a judge can place a lien against the home of the person that owes the debt. While a judgment is often said to not be as serious as a tax lien, it is still something that someone should try to avoid and do away with if they have a judgment lien placed against them. Whether its a tax lien or a judgment lien, these things are best dealt with right away rather than ignored. Of course, it goes without saying that if you really ant to avoid having judgment liens placed against your home that you should pay your bills. But, weve all been in a situation where we just cant afford all of the things we need to pay. If you are in this situation, there is no shame in it because every now and again things come up and our bills just seem to grow and grow. Thankfully, judgment liens will not be filed the first day you have a late bill. If you are just going through a tough period where you need a little more time than usual, youll usually be just fine and will not even have to think twice about judgment liens. Judgment liens dont happen when youre a couple weeks late on your credit card bill or if you forget to pay the landscaper for a month or even two. But, if you go for long periods of time without paying a bill and without responding to attempts to collect the debts you owe, you might have to deal with judgment liens. Thankfully, this wont happen without your knowledge. You will usually receive notices from the creditor that they are going to court to file liens against you so that they can receive payment for their services or products. At this point it is a good time to swallow your pride and call the creditor and try to work out a payment plan that is something you can stick to in your financial situation and is something that the creditor will be happy with. In the end, no one wants to go to court, not you, or the creditor, so if you just communicate you can usually get him or her to stop the legal action and allow you to pay him or her off as you can, as long as you actually intend to do so. Most creditors will be happy to work with you, as theyll make more money on the interest they can charge you! Also, a creditor loses money when they have to take the time to prepare their case against you for court, so theyd rather get the payments a little late than have to go through the court process. If you receive a notice that a hearing is scheduled in the attempt to place a lien against your home for nonpayment for services or products, you should show up to the hearing. You should state your case, especially if you believe that you do not owe the creditor, or if you dispute the amount that they are charging. Creditors are often willing to forego late fees and even interest charges if you are willing to pay them off sooner rather than later. If you are not present to defend yourself, the court will assume that the debts are valid and will go ahead and place the lien against your home, so it is in your best interest to go to the hearing as the court will often order a continuance or even a dismissal if they think that the circumstances warrant it. The worst thing that can happen if you show up is that the court does order the judgment lien, the best thing that can happen is that you are given more time to pay the outstanding debts before any legal action is taken. Judgment liens typically are not something that will affect you right away; it just means that you cannot sell your house without paying off the debt. This means that the lien placed against your home will be paid off before you see any of the proceeds from the sale. If the lien is small, perhaps this isnt a big issue for you. If the lien is larger this might be something you want to think about because it could keep you from having a large enough down payment for a new home. Judgment liens typically have an interest rate attached to them according to state statute. This means that a lien isnt just a long-term loan between friends; it means that the lean holder is compensated for not having been paid for their services or products right away. The interest on the lien can grow quickly, making the debt more and more difficult to pay off before the sale of the home. The best thing to do is deal with your bills right off. When the collection agencies start calling, dont be afraid to talk to them. Tell them that you want to pay your bills, but that you cant afford their arrangements. While the creditor may initially balk at the idea, eventually theyll see that they can get their money from you if they do it on your terms. So, if you cant pay your bills right away, pay them as you can and let the creditor know that you are making every attempt possible to pay the bills. If you can show a judge that you have been communicating and making regular payments to the creditor you may be able to avoid a judgment lien altogether. Judgment liens are not the end of the world, but they are best avoided so pay your bills or communicate with your creditor and attempt to pay off the debt, as you are able. Visit :Foreclosures and East Bay Real Estate. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Nazareno http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Keep-From-Getting-Judgment-Liens&id=177121 buy cheap tramadol hydrochloride ultram tramadol without prescription cheap ultram pharmacy online buy cheap tramadol tramadol ultram

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