The Market Coalition

Let me start by introducing myself; my name is Variola. It is a
latin name, so most people just call me “Smallpox”. I’m not
going to lie to you, I am a horrible friend. I tend to keep you
all to myself during our time together. I am highly contagious
and only like to hang around with humans, as other mammals scare
me. I can attack you in 2 forms: Variola major and Variola
minor.

Variola
major owns my more devilish qualities. In this form i tend to
kill about 35% of those i get tied up with. Now, if me and you
are to become friends, you should probably request that i give
you my brighter side, Variola minor. This way, you only have a
1% chance of our friendship ending in death - to you. In the
20th century, I was responsible for up to 500 million fatalities.

If, after my wrath, you survive, i make sure that i have left my
mark. You’ll be very lucky to forget about our little fling, as
in most cases i leave you with scars known as “potmarks”. And
i’m merciless when it comes to that. i dont mind leaving them
anywhere and everywhere on your body, including your face. If
you are even luckier, I will simply leave you blind so that you
do not have to look at your scarred body in the mirror everyday.
I do this through “corneal ulcerations”, which is not in the
least bit enjoyable for you.

After telling you this story my message should be clear; STAY
AWAY! If you see me coming, pretend as if you didn’t notice, and
walk slowly in the other direction.

Yours truly,

Variola

Many new to embroidery have experienced numerous problems because of the inferior quality of free embroidery design files that they downloaded over the internet. One of the biggest mistakes that many new sewists make is using free designs patterns that have problems built in. Even if you are lucky enough to do everything else right and use inferior designs, results will probably not be good. Many of the free embroidery designs files that one can download are the first efforts of someone that has just begun to digitize and thus are not very well made. Many new to this great hobby use these because they are free and easy to download without using a credit card, but this is where the trouble begins. Then when outlines are off or there are gaps in the sewing and poor results are evident, how does one know where the problem lies? Is it the designs or the stabilizers or even worst - Can it be the new embroidery machine? We have a test so one can determine if the design is at fault or if the stabilizer is the problem. We make available free designs, free sewing lessons, free thread color charts and info that you may need to learn so you can get great results with your embroidery designs projects.

There is a big difference in the way embroidery designs patterns sew out because of how the designs files were digitized. All designs should have a foundation, underlayment stitches that sews before the design itself, to help stabilize the fabric. These underlayment stitches are put in so that the stitches on top have a minimum stretching effect on the fabric, so stabilizing will be easier. - this takes careful planning as one needs to know what top stitches are needed to make the design and what stretching effect this will have on the finished design pattern and fabric. The goal is to put the underlayment in so that the thread art designs on top will have no or very little effect on the fabric. (no puckering, no cupping or off outlines or miss-aligned parts) Without proper underlayment, it is almost impossible for a design to sew out well, even with the best of stabilizing. Another important consideration for sewing ease is thread changes and jump stitches. Skill and careful planning is necessary to eliminate all unnecessary jump stitches and thread changes. So choose your embroidery designs well and avoid the disappointment and frustrations of trying to use poor designs. Even free designs can cost a lot more in time, garments, frustrations and disappointment that a purchased quality one - there really is no comparison in the pleasure you will have while sewing quality embroidery designs patterns.

Terry Carter is the webmaster and author of embroidery articles at
embroidery designs by Thread Artist. He has an article about embroidery software for digitizing and lettering fonts
at embroidery software. There is free embroidery digitizing Tutorial at this web address - embroidery by Thread Artists. You can email Terry at this address - ThreadArtist@qx.net

As sure as May comes after April Showers, barbecue grills across the world are heating up and sending out their aromatic smoke signals.

Grilling is a fun family activity except when something turns out to be a “burnt offering to the gods” of ancient times.

There are flavored wood chips and bottled seasonings to take you to far-away places and exotic destinations right there in your own backyard.

You can start with simple ideas like hot dogs, and hamburgers, take the next step to chicken, steaks and ribs. and when you get really good take on kabobs and a whole roasted pig.

Oh, the heavenly aroma and the endless possibilities. You can have your doggies plain, with cheese, wrapped, and even put on a raft and sent to sail onto your dinner table.
Never heard of dogs on a raft, well now -

Slit your favorite type of hot dog lengthwise, but not all the way through. Grill over hot coals. Taking pieces of foil large enough to hold a sandwich, arrange two pieces of bacon on the bottom of your foil. Turn the edges up to catch any drippings so your messages to neighbors far and near wait a while. Cook the bacon in the foil on the grill. In your slit
hot dog place a strip of pickle (not round), and cheese strips. Place your hot dog on another sheet of foil and grill until cheese melts. Place these dogs on a toasted coney bun but crosswise, not lengthwise. Place the two pieces of bacon across the top of your hot dogs and viola! you have your dogs setting sail on a raft into gourmet heaven.

Serve chilled cantaloupe wedges, fruit punch as a beverage, and your favorite brownies.

Now for the burger lovers - Using a 1/3 cup scoop, divide your ground beef into mounds.
Flatten each mound between pieces of waxed paper, creating a 4″ patty. Place half of your patties aside. These are your “toppers”. Sprinkle the other burgers with salt and pepper, prepared mustard or ketchup, onion slices, and shredded cheese. Now take your toppers and place them over your burgers. Press together the edges all around to seal in all those
burger fixins inside. Grill over hot coals about 10-15 minutes, flipping very carefully.
When done to your liking, place on grilled buns and enjoy.

Maple flavored baked beans, potato salad, and hot fudge sundaes and you have a meal fit for a Backyard Grill Fest.
I’d like to give you more recipes but my neighbors are sending conflicting smoke messages. Got to go - have fun and enjoy!

©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 April

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Arleen has written numerous articles, e-books, and the novel SEARCHING FOR AUSTIN JAMES
Websites:
http://www.rusticliving.info
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rusticliving/index.html
http://topica.com/lists/simpleliving

Publishing Guidelines: You have permission to publish this
article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long
as the bylines and the resource box at end of article are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated but is not required.

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TITLE: 10 Quick Tips To Boost Your Affiliate Commissions!
AUTHOR: Marcus Schroefel
CONTACT: ms.journey@freenet.de
WEBSITE: http://www.mindclicking.com
COPYRIGHT: © 2004 by Marcus Schroefel. All rights reserved.

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“10 Quick Tips To Boost Your Affiliate Commissions!”

Are you having trouble making money from affiliate
programs, or are you looking for some *alternative* ways to
increase your existing income from them?

Then here is a quick list to get you going:

1. Write your own affiliate program ads. If every other
affiliate uses the same ads you do, that does not give you
an edge over your competition.

Be different! And let people know WHO you are! This will
give yourself an massive advantage over all the other
affiliates.

2. Did you ever try to create an ebook? No? Then just do
it! It is easier than you think. Then give it away for free
to your visitors. They will love you for it!

Put your advertisement and the links to your affiliate
programs in it and submit it to some ebook directories.

3. Start your own affiliate program directory. Join a large
number of affiliate programs and list them all in a
directory format on your web site. Then just advertise your
free affiliate program directory.

4. Participate in chat rooms related to the product you’re
reselling. Start a conversation with a person without
trying to sell to them. Later on, while you are chatting,
mention the product you’re reselling.

5. Use a personal endorsement ad. For sure only use one if
you’ve actually bought and know the product or service for
the affiliate program.

Share your own experience and tell people what kind of
benefits and results you’ve received using the product.

6. Use your signature file to advertise the products you’re
reselling. With an attention grabbing headline and a good
reason for them to visit people will come to your affiliate
site. But make sure your sig file doesn’t go over 5 lines.

7. Join a web ring. It should attract the same type of
people that would be interested in buying the product
you’re reselling. You could also trade links on your own
with other related web sites.

8. Participate on web discussion boards. Post your
comments, answer other people’s questions, and ask your own
questions. Include your affiliate text link in your sig
file under each message you post.

9. Create your own free ezine. Then use it to advertise the
affiliate programs you’ve joined. Submit your ezine to
online ezine directories and promote it on your web site.

10. If you are more advanced then why not start a private
membership site? Use it as a free bonus if people buy the
product you resell.

You see, the list is endless and I could go on and on with
even more tips…

If you just be creative on your own and think up some other
ways I’m sure you will increase your affiliate commissions.

Don’t forget that, no matter what you recommend will
reflect directly on you. If your recommendation is a good
quality product or service that is reasonably priced, your
customers will continue to trust you.

And further on they will be interested in your future
recommendations. This way you will easily be able to build
a trustful relationship between you and your costumers -
which truly is one of the keys to success!

About the author:

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Marcus Schroefel is an Author, Publisher and Success Coach.
Visit: http://www.mindclicking.comYou can get more proven
affiliate marketing tips delivered to your e-mail box just
5 minutes away — for FREE by sending a blank e-mail to:
affiliatemarketersecrets@robotreply.com
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© 2004 Marcus Schroefel. All rights reserved.