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<title>Latest Articles by jeffwend</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/</link>
<description>Articles at ArticleTrader</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<title>Christian Bikers</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/society/religion/christian-bikers.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/society/religion/christian-bikers.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ When most people think of bikers, they think of rough looking, scruffy, hell raising men and women dressed in leather clad.  These bikers can be intimidating to look at and gangs like the Hell's Angels and Mongrels have had their stories made into countless TV shows and movies. While this grizzly type of a biker is a stereotype, there is a growing segment of the biker population who may still look scruffy and wear the leather, but these men and women are different, they are Christians.<br><br>Many of these bikers have always been Christian, others became Christian after years of partying had landed them in rehab where they found their higher power, and others became Christians in prison as a result of prison ministry.<br><br>Since bikers come from a culture that is territorial, loyal, and mainly patriotic and known for their all night parties, many bikers feel embarrassed at many mainstream churches because they feel they donâ??t fit in and may be the subject of ridicule.  As a result of this, there are biker friendly Churches and Ministries popping up around the world.<br><br>Today, there are Christian biker organizations with chapters that cover the globe.  One of the larger organizations is the Christian Motorcyclists Association or CMA.  The CMA's main purpose is as an outreach ministry, but not exclusively to the motorcycling community.  The CMA's noble mission is "To inspire their leaders and members to be the most organized, advanced, equipped, financially stable organization, full of integrity in the motorcycling industry and the Kingdom of God".<br><br>CMA has partnered with three other ministries which are the Jesus Film Project, Missionary Ventures, and Open Doors to spread God"s word across the world.  In 2006 alone, CMA donated $681,044.00 to each of these three ministries from money raised at their Run for the Son fundraiser.<br><br>Another big Christian biker association is the Christian Biker Missionaries or CBM.  CBM is a non-profit organization based out of one of the motorcycle capitols, Daytona Beach.  Their missions is "To Spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the biker community by recruiting, placing, and supporting biker missionaries in the field to bring hope to the highways."<br><br>Christian bikers are international.  An international association is the International Christian Bikers Association, or ICBA.  The ICBA organizes special biker rallies and runs and are also active in prison outreach ministry.  <br><br>There are also websites dedicated to serving Christian bikers.  Christian Bikers Online is a site dedicated to helping Christian bikers to stay in touch while online.  They like to think of their site at a cyber club house.  At their site you will find a forum, gallery, dating system and resources for Christian rallies and rides.<br><br>There is no doubt, Christian bikers are a growing movement.  They can be found in your local church, on the road, at rallies and around the world.  They have a noble purpose to save the souls of their fellow bikers.<br><br>So next time you see grizzly leather clad biker, don"t be too quick to judge.  That biker may just be your brother in the Lord.<br /><br />--<br /><BR>The author of this article recommends visiting <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/christianbikertshirts">Christian Biker T-shirts</a> for Christian biker apparel.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Audiobooks Provide Quality Relevant Content For Affiliate Programs</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/internet/affiliate-programs/audiobooks-provide-quality-relevant-content-for-affiliate-programs.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/internet/affiliate-programs/audiobooks-provide-quality-relevant-content-for-affiliate-programs.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Affiliate programs have long been very popular for online businesses.  But with all of the many programs out there, it can be difficult to narrow your focus and find the right program for your website.<br><br>One new affiliate program is gaining in numbers every day and that is selling audio book downloads through niche websites.  Audiobook downloads are a great way to monetize your website with relevant content that will be a prefect match to the theme of nearly any website out there.  <br><br>Recent trends show why audiobooks are such a hot commodity.  In 2004, the audiobook industry which was then in the form of cassettes and CD’s was $800 million.  By the end of 2005, it is estimated that audio books had become a $2 billion industry.  Not many other industries can grow by 150% in one year!<br><br>To demonstrate what kind of money can be made in the audiobook industry, consider this:  Audible.com, the leading audiobook download company, generated sales of $65 million in 2005 solely from audiobook downloads.  Now consider that that is just a scratch in the industry as it is only 3.25% of the total $2 billion dollar audiobook industry.<br><br>That means that an astonishing share of 96.75% of the audiobook industry is up for grabs.  After understanding those figures, don’t you think that it would be wise if you were one with the foresight to jump on this opportunity?<br><br>Now consider this, sales are not going to stop at $2 billion dollars a year.  Time management is a skill that more people are trying to master.  Because of this, people are looking for ways to make the most of their dead time (driving in car, commuting, jogging, cleaning the house, working out or running errands).<br><br>People are discovering that they can listen to audio books, teleseminars, lectures and podcasts while doing other tasks through out the day.  Since the selection of audiobooks is not limited to literature, people are happy to listen to self help info, how-to manuals and business books.  Audiobooks and spoken word recordings have become the new brain food for the busy on the go multi-taskers around the world.<br><br>There are more reasons why audiobook sales are going to continue to soar.  Almost all new cars are capable of playing digital audio files.  And since nearly 100 million Americans drive to work by themselves each day, and with the amount of time these commuters are stuck in traffic, one can easily see the need for the brain food of audiobooks in this context.  <br><br>Time is of the essence here.  Don’t you think that you want to be one of the first to offer audiobooks that can be downloaded to your websites visitors?  You want to be an authority on selling audio book downloads before the trend really takes off.<br><br>Another great reason for wanting to sell audio book downloads on your website is that you do not have to do any work.  It is a totally hands free system.  After signing up as an affiliate, you will be mailed zipped files with your audiobooks ready to be loaded to your site.  After loading the files to your website, you will not have to do a thing.  All of the back end work and payments will be handled behind the scene so you will not have to dedicate any of your valuable time on such details.<br><br>These are high quality audiobooks from the world’s top publishers.  The titles are from every genre imaginable.  Once you load the files, you will be ready to start making sales from day one.<br><br>You will earn a high commission from your audiobook store.  You will earn nearly 4 times what the other major online bookstore affiliate programs offer which means that you can generate a much higher stream of income compared to other book or audiobook affiliate programs.<br><br>If you are a webmaster or are thinking of making a website, audiobook downloads is the affiliate program for you.  So, what are you waiting for, consider signing up today!<br><br /><br />--<br />If you are considering selling audiobooks through your website, the author recommends visiting <a href="http://www.audiobookstoreportal.com">http://www.audiobookstoreportal.com</a> for more information.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Where are the Baby Boomers Planning to Retire?</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/where-are-the-baby-boomers-planning-to-retire.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/where-are-the-baby-boomers-planning-to-retire.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ With baby boomers reaching retirement age, there is going to be a large number of retirees looking for a new place to live.  With there being so many different places to move to, all with their own ups and downs to each, one really needs to do some research before making the move.  Each state in the U.S. can be a fine place for retirement but this article is going to focus on three of the most popular retirement destinations, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona.<br><br>One of the most popular spots to move to for retirement is Florida.  Florida offers much to people who have retired.  The weather is beautiful (when there is no hurricanes) and the state has more beach front then almost any other state in the U.S.  While some parts of Florida like Miami or Marco Island can have a very high cost of living, much of the state is still very affordable.  Florida also offers retirement communities for any budget.  <br><br>Retirement communities are very popular for seniors who want an active lifestyle.  There is golf, cards, pot lucks and many other events to stay busy and have fun.  Probably the biggest downside to Florida is the hurricane season.  It seems that Florida has been hit especially hard over the last 10 years which makes for some inconveniences with having to board up your house and it can really make your insurance more expensive then what you might be used to.<br><br>Colorado is another popular state to retire in.  Colorado offers beautiful mountains living, or if you prefer, you can live on lower grounds with a great view of the mountains from your house.  Like Florida, there are some very expensive towns to live in that not everyone can afford, but there also are very affordable places to live with a lot to offer.  One of the biggest benefits of living in Colorado is the Rocky Mountains.  Living in the mountains or in the foothills can offer breathtaking surroundings for your retirement.  The mountains and rivers provide some of the best in kayaking, hiking and fly fishing in the nation.  <br><br>On top of that, Colorado also offers world classic downhill skiing.  The ski towns are rather expensive, but you can live within a short drive of them for a fraction of the price. The Main drawback for some people is much of the state does get heavy snow in the winter and with the mountains this can mean many roads will close and things can stand still.<br><br>Another popular state to retire in is Arizona.  Arizona offers many different climates all within a couple of hour drive from each other.  The weather is beautiful in Arizona  and while there is a lack of lakes and beaches, at least there are no hurricanes to worry about.  Towns like Prescott or Flagstaff are in higher elevations with great wildlife and mountains.  <br><br>Or you can live in the south near Tucson or Phoenix.  It is really amazing to be in 90-100 degree weather one minute in Phoenix, then you can drive two hours north and there will be snow on the ground in the shade.  Arizona offers much for retirees.  It is a great state for golf and outdoor living.  Towns like Sedona are also very popular for the beautiful red rock formations.  <br><br>One of the main drawbacks to retiring in Arizona is the extreme heat in the summers in the south, the Phoenix valley rivals Los Angeles for Smog, and with it being a largely desert state there is a lack of water.<br><br>Florida, Colorado and Arizona are all worth considering for your retirement.  Each state is a great place to live in their own right.  Each state also has retirement communities or other great housing for couples or singles to enjoy.<br><br>Each of these states can be a wonderful place to retire.  <br><br>Before you decide where to move, some of the key factors are going to be your budget, what kind of weather you prefer and do you prefer mountains, beaches or scenic desert climates?<br><br>Finally, consider how far away your family may live. You'll want to see those kids and grandkids!<br><br /><br />--<br />The author of this aritcle publishes <a href="http://www.ourtimenow.com">Our Time Now</a>, a retirement guide for couples.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Audiobooks Can Help You Be a Better Person</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/motivation/audiobooks-can-help-you-be-a-better-person.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/motivation/audiobooks-can-help-you-be-a-better-person.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ You may have noticed the rise in popularity of audiobooks of late.  Like written books, audiobooks are made in every genre from self help, sci-fi, biographies, religious, thrillers and more.  One of the fastest growing genres of audiobooks has been self help and self improvement audiobooks.<br><br>Self help audiobooks come in several categories including creativity, health and fitness, interpersonal skills, motivation, personal growth, sex and relationships, stress management, success, time management, and religious titles.  There really is a theme of self help audiobooks for everyone's needs.  <br><br>There are many great creativity titles available.  These can include such greats as John C Maxwell’s Thinking for a Change which teaches 11 ways that successful people approach life and work. Another great audio book is titled How to Think Like Einstein by Scott Thorpe which teaches techniques used by Einstein and other geniuses use to expand their mind.<br><br>A best selling health and fitness audiobook author is Dr Nicholas Perricone which specializes on how your health can affect how your appearance.  There are also great health audiobooks on popular diets like Atkins and the Zone diet.<br><br>A very practical audiobook to help with interpersonal skills is 250 Job Interview Questions by Peter Veruki.  Veruki's audiobook is a must to prepare anyone who is expecting a job interview or for new college graduates.  Another beneficial audiobook to help improve interpersonal skills is How to Get Your Point Across in 30 Seconds by Milo Frank.  This audiobooks teaches how to get your point across in 30 seconds and why it is important.  And it provides the research to back it up.<br><br>One of my favorite motivational audiobooks of all time is The Magic of Thinking Big by Dr. David Schwartz.  This classic was written in 1959 and its principles hold true today.  Dr. Schwartz teaches that one does not have to be an intellectual or have some kind of a special innate talent to be a success, but what one needs is to learn and understand the habit of thinking and behaving in ways that will help you get there.<br><br>There are many personal growth audiobooks to choose from.  They can come from many different famous peoples perspectives like the Dalai Lama's book The Art of Dying.  There are also modern classics like Eckhart Tolle's Gateway to Now.<br><br>There are sex and relationship audiobooks from many different perspectives.  They can range from authors like the traditionalists Dr. Laura Schlessinger's audiobook 10 Stupid Things Couples Do to Mess Up Their Relationships, to Sex in the City writer Greg Behrendt's popular book He's Just Not That Into You.<br><br>One of the most popular time management audiobooks is Ken Blanchard's The On-Time, On-Target Manager.  This is an engaging parable which teaches how to overcome procrastination and increase productivity.<br><br> There are also some great religious titles out there like The Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Rick Warren.  This inspiring book helps you to figure out who you are and what is God's amazing plan for your life.  This is an audiobooks that everyone needs to listen too, even if you are not a Christian.<br><br>With there being such a great variety and such quality self help audiobooks out there, it is easy to see why they are such a hit.  One of the best things about them is how easy it is to just put them in the CD player or have them loaded to your iPod and then you can listen to them when ever you want.  It is also easy to play your audiobook a second and third time to really absorb and learn its lessons.<br><br>Today you don’t have to get your audiobooks as books on tape and you don’t have to drive all the way to the mall to buy your audiobook as a CD.  Now, the best way to find an audiobook is on the internet.  Audiobooks can be downloaded for instant access in mp3 format off of the web.  After downloading your audiobook, you can play it on your PC, burn it to a disc, or load it to your iPod or mp3 player.  It’s as easy as that.  Another great feature is that downloaded audiobooks are at a fraction of the costs of packaged audiobook CD's from the store.<br><br>With such a great variety of self help audiobooks, and with downloading audiobooks faster and less expensive then every before, don't you think it's time that you discovered how easy it is improve your live by listening to audiobooks too?<br><br /><br />--<br />The author publishes the <a href="http://www.audiobookstoreportal.com">AudioBookstorePortal library of popular audio and talking books</a> and the <a href="http://www.motivationhighway.com">Motivation Highway self-help site</a><br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>A Modern Sci-Fi Classic</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/a-modern-sci-fi-classic.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/a-modern-sci-fi-classic.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 17 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ I have been a science fiction fan ever since the movie Star Wars came out.  I have also been a fan of Kevin Spacey since the movie seeing the Usual Suspects.  So when I heard about the Sci-Fi movie K-Pax starring Spacey I knew I had to watch it.<br><br>It turns out that the movie K-Pax was based on the novel by Genre Brewer.  The story is about an alien named Prot who travels time and space.  He arrives on Earth and ends up finding himself in the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute.<br><br>Of course, no one believes that Prot is an alien.  But then Dr. Powel finds himself amazed with Prot's knowledge of how to travel at speeds faster then that of the speed of light.  Prot also has an amazing knowledge of constellations and shows where his planet is from in incredible detail.  This makes everyone begin to wonder where is this Prot really from, and how does he have this ability.  In the movie, Prot is played by Kevin Spacey and the doctor is played by Jeff Bridges.<br><br>This story is both funny and heartwarming.  It really makes you appreciate the wonder and the magic of this world we live in.  I have found that reading the book or seeing the movie is not the only way to enjoy K-Pax.  A great way to enjoy K-Pax is to listen to it as an audiobook.  <br><br>Audiobooks are great for everyone.  You can enjoy them virtually anytime.  They are great for listening to as you drive, take the train, walk the dog, or just sit around the house.  My personal favorite time to listen to audiobooks is while driving to work or while on a road trip.  <br><br>Today, the best way to pick up an audiobook is to download it from the Internet.  Audiobooks can be downloaded as mp3 files then they can be played on your computer, burned to a disc, or loaded to an iPod.  Audiobooks downloaded off the internet also are priced much better then buying them prepackaged as audiobooks on CD.<br><br>K-Pax is definitely a great modern sci-fi classic that would be a welcome edition to any collection.  And it is not just for science fiction fans, Prot's story can be enjoyed by anyone.<br /><br />--<br />The author of this article recommends finding K-Pax and other great science fiction and fantasy audiobooks from <a href=”http://www.audiobookstoreportal.com”>http://www.audiobookstoreportal.com</a> or <a href=”http://www.bestscifiaudiobooks.com”>http://www.bestscifiaudiobooks.com</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Does your job demand a more sturdy Tablet PC.</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/computers/hardware/does-your-job-demand-a-more-sturdy-tablet-pc.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/computers/hardware/does-your-job-demand-a-more-sturdy-tablet-pc.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Tablet Pc's have been a hot item for a number of years now for people in all kinds of work, but if you are like me, you need a sturdy one.  I am always on the go and I have found myself using my tablet pc in a number of unusual places.  I have had mine fall on the ground and even had coffee spilled on its base.  <br><br><br>One Tablet Pc that you may like is the Amrel Rocky Rugged Tablet PC which is very sturdy and certified for both military and industrial standards.  It is designed and tested to be able to withstand dust, rain, vibrations and shock. The Amrel Rugged Tablet PC ways just over a pound so that it is very easy to handle on the go.  While this is a great sturdy and rugged tablet pc, it may be best suited to industrial and field service jobs.<br><br><br>Xplore's iX104 Rugged Tablet PC is another extremely rugged and sturdy tablet.  It is designed to be reliable for operation and durability in harsh environments like the Amrel model.  These are some powerful machines featuring Ultra Low Voltage Intel Pentium III and have up to 48 MB of video memory.<br><br><br>If you are looking for a sturdy Tablet PC that may be more appropriate for business then industrial use, you will like the Tosheba Portege R400.  This model is lightweight, sturdy and has a sleek design.  Some of it's features include Window's Vista's Active Windows Notification, Toshiba's organic light emitting diode and it lacks the typical protruding hinge on the spine and it has a lid with no latch.  The R400 has some great connectivity features.  After enabling it with any Bluetooth phone, the R400 will create a secure connection with any secure phone automatically.  If you don't want to use the Bluetooth, you can use Wi-Fi 902. 11a/b/g and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port for local networks.  There really is only one main draw back to the R400 and that is the price of $3750.<br><br><br>One thing that is for sure is that there are many different makes and models of Tablet PC's.  There seems to be a model that fits perfectly with what ever job you may have.  Prices and models do vary and it is advised to seek reviews before purchasing a Tablet PC for yourself.<br /><br />--<br />The author of this article publishes news, reviews and updates on Tablet, Slate, or Convertible PC's on <a href="http://www.tabletpctime.com">www.tabletpctime.com</a> and <a href="http://www.tabletpcscoop.com">www.tabletpcscoop.com</a>.<br><br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>The Magic of Thinking Big</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/motivation/the-magic-of-thinking-big.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/motivation/the-magic-of-thinking-big.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 10 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ When it comes to motivational or self help books, its is hard to find one that is any better then The Magic of Thinking Big by Dr. David Schwartz.  This classic was written in 1959 and its principles are timeless.  This book has been read by millions of readers to help them boost sales, get motivated, and as a great general self help book.<br><br><br>The Magic of Thinking Big offers powerful ideas on how to get the most out of your job, your personal life, and as a member of your community.  Secrets revealed in each Chapter of the book can help you to:<br><br><br>1. Believe You Can Succeed and You Will<br>2. Cure Yourself of Excusitis, The Failure Disease<br>3. Build Confidence and Destroy Fear<br>4. How to Think Big<br>5. How to Think and Dream Creatively <br>6. You Are What You Think You Are<br>7. Manage Your Environment: Go First Class <br>8. Make Your Attitudes Your Allies<br>9. Think Right Toward People<br>10. Get the Action Habit<br>11. How to Turn Defeat Into Victory<br>12. Use Goals to Help You Grow<br>13. How to Think Like A Leader<br><br>Attitude is everything.  Enthusiasm can really help you go grow and succeed in everything you do in life and even though the lessons and case studies from the book may seem dated because it was written nearly 50 years ago, they still directly apply to life today.  This book can easily help you achieve what ever goals you are working for in your life.<br><br>This book makes a great read but an even better listen.  While this book has sold millions of copies as a written book, it is gaining popularity as an audiobooks.  Especially since many of those who listen to The Magic of Thinking Big are busy people that are on the go.  <br><br>The Magic of Thinking Big as an audiobook is four hours in length so it is perfect for listening to in the car.  And it is easy to listen to a second time to allow the principles to really sink in.  <br><br>The fastest and best way to get your hands on Dr David Schwartz's classic is to find in on the internet as an audiobook available as an instant mp3 download.  Once you download the audiobook you can play it on your pc while you work or surf the net, you can burn it to a disc, or you can load it to an iPod or mp3 player.<br><br>So if you are looking for a book that will help you with your motivation or improve your business or social life, The Magic of Thinking Big is a book for you.<br /><br />--<br />The author of this article recommends downloading the audiobook The Magic of Thinking Big from <a href="http://www.audiobookstoreportal.com/Title.aspx?titleId=1059&srch=the+magic+of+thinking+big">Audiobook Store Portal</a> or from <a href="http://www.motivationhighway.com">http://www.motivationhighway.com</a><br>Dr David Schwartz authored this self help and motivational classic which teaches valuable principles that can help in virtually every aspect of life.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Is Retiring In Florida All It Is Cracked Up To Be?</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/is-retiring-in-florida-all-it-is-cracked-up-to-be.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/is-retiring-in-florida-all-it-is-cracked-up-to-be.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Florida has long been a popular spot for Americans from the Northern states to retire. With its attractive combination of climate, lifestyle and reasonable living costs, it has been especially welcome by retirees on fixed incomes.  No that baby boomers are reaching retirement age, Florida is being deluged by a new wave of retired residents.<br><br><br>There are many benefits to living in Florida. But there are also some downfalls. If you decide to move there for retirement some of the key factors will be what part of the state will you live in?  And what is your budget?<br><br><br>The most obvious benefit to living in Florida is the great weather.  The average temperature can very depending on where you live in the state.  In Jacksonville the average temperature is 68.5, Tampa is 72.2, Miami is 75.9 and Key West is 77.8.  This may be a factor in deciding which part of the state you wish to retire to.<br><br>The beaches are another great feature of Florida.  Florida has been blessed with some of the world's most stunning beaches on two coasts. Some are bustling with activity and popular and others are serine and peaceful.  <br><br>There are also many retirement communities in Florida.  Florida retirement communities are great for active adults. Retirement communities can include single family homes, condominiums, villas, manufactured homes and more.  These communities are a lot of fun because they are geared for retirees so there are many activities and community events so there will never be a dull moment.  It is also a lot of fun to be with your peers and to be able to enjoy a lively retirement.<br><br>If you are concerned about moving away from your family, rest assured that they will be eager to come and visit in the winter.  Florida is a popular vacation spot for families to come to when the snowflakes start to fall. During the winter, you’ll have no problems spending time with you family on their vacations.<br><br>There are some downsides to moving to Florida for your retirement.  Housing can be very expensive in certain communities.  The median home price in the United States in 2005 was $208,700. In Florida it was $235,100.  You can find more affordable places in cities like Jacksonville to the north, where the average was $186,300.  However, in popular areas around Miami or down in the keys the average house can be much more than that.<br><br>Another obvious downfall of living in Florida is hurricanes.  In 2004, Florida received more than $5.5 billion in federal disaster assistance which is more than the average federal disaster assistance in a year nation wide.<br><br>Homeowner's insurance rates in Florida are the third highest in the country, only behind that of Texas and Louisiana.  The obvious factor for the high rates is due to hurricane risk.  Due to high population density, high rises on the coasts and more exposed coastline than almost any other state, Florida is especially vulnerable to the damage caused by hurricanes.<br><br>Florida also consistently ranks amongst the top of the country for crime rates.  In 2000, the state had the 2nd highest total crime index. For violent crime Florida had a reported incident rate of 812.0 per 100,000 people. This led the state to rank the 1st highest occurrence for violent crime among the entire nation.<br><br>However, like anywhere you have to take the good with the bad.  There certainly are safe and affordable places to live in Florida just as there are areas with high crime rates and staggering cost of living.  The key is weighing your options to find what will work best for your current situation.<br><br /><br />--<br />If you want to learn more about retirement planning and more useful information for retired people, the author recommends visiting <a href="http://www.ourtimenow.com">Our Time Now</a> which is a site that specializes in advice and information for a happy retirement for couples.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Using Christian T-shirts To Reach The Culture</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/society/religion/using-christian-t-shirts-to-reach-the-culture.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/society/religion/using-christian-t-shirts-to-reach-the-culture.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ <P>We live in a culture in which slogans and sayings appear all around us. And T-shirts are probably one of the biggest marketing tools ever invented. There's no reason Christians shouldn't be part of this marketing trend with Christian T-Shirts.</P><BR><P>After all, we're in the marketing business. Christ followers are commanded by Jesus to take the message of the Gospel to the whole world. Call it what you want... witnessing, evangelizing, sharing your testimony.</P><BR><P>It's all marketing.</P><BR><P>We have a message the world desperately needs to hear and thanks to a culture in which T-Shirts are everywhere and carry all sorts of messages, we have an opportunity for lifestyle evangelism. The diversity of T-Shirts imprinted with Christian messages is astounding. So is the creativity. Bold colors, trendy designs and stylish looks are as easy to find as a visit to the local Christian store or online Christian shopping site.</P><BR><P>Remember Paul's visit to Athens as described in the Book of Acts? He was culturally in tune with his audience. He was not of their world but he was in it and he used references to the cultural styles of their day to bring home the message of Jesus Christ and salvation.</P><BR><P>It is the same with us. There are Christian T-Shirts that have Bible verses. Others are parodies of popular cultural icons, or TV shows, or advertising sayings. "Jesus Rules," reads one trendy black T-Shirt. "Jesus died for My Space in heaven" reads a blue one that capitalizes on the popular social networking site My Space.</P><BR><P>There are Christian T-Shirts that are geared for bikers and elaborately decorated T-Shirts depicting Christ on the cross. Some are in camo appealing to hunters and sportsmen. And Christian T-Shirts now come in every color in the rainbow, from neon to pastel to solid black.</P><BR><P>There are surveys out there that claim that the average Christian T-Shirt is read by 3,000 people during its lifetime of wear. That's pretty astounding. Most of us don't get a chance to share the Good News with that many people in a lifetime, unless we're a pastor or church professional.</P><BR><P>All of us who follow Jesus, though, are to be his messengers. Wearing Christian T-Shirts lets us do so in one of the most amazingly effective ways imaginable as we make our way through the Athens of our world.</P><BR><P>Paul would be proud.</P><br /><br />--<br />The author publishes the Online Christian Shopper (<a href="http;www.onlinechristianshopper.com">http://www.onlinechristianshopper.com</a>), a Web site specializing in Christian T-Shirts, Christian jewelry and Christian audiobooks.  And he also publishes <a href="http://www.holywriting.com">http://www.holywriting.com</a><br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Finding news online with news blogs</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/internet/blogging/finding-news-online-with-news-blogs.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/internet/blogging/finding-news-online-with-news-blogs.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ With printed newspapers losing subscribers every day, people are finding other options to stay up to date with their news.  Newspaper sales reached their peak in 1970 when approximately 62 million newspapers were sold in the country every day.  However, with the population in the U.S. on the rise, newspapers sales are not keeping up.  It is estimated that approximately 55 million newspapers are sold every day.<br><br>In the 1920's the average newspaper purchased per household peaked at 1.3.  In the 1970's that figure started to dip to below 1 paper per house.  By the year 2000, the number dropped to .53 newspapers per household.<br><br>One reason is that people just don’t read as much as they used to.  People seem to be busier then ever and just don't take the time to read any more.<br><br>Many are switching their news habits by watching the big three network news and cable news programs in place of the newspaper.  With so many options on TV news, it seems that there is a news station for every taste.<br><br>While many "older" adults still prefer newspapers, "young" adults have seemed to prefer to get their news from the internet.  TV news still is the most accessed news source, but the internet is quickly becoming the favorite source of news, especially in the form of news blogs, news portals and online newspapers.<br><br>Online news is gaining popularity every day.  Virtually every major newspaper has a version of an online newspaper.  Pioneers like Mike Drudge have been leading the way in independent news providers.  And there are countless news blogs across the web.<br><br>Part of what makes news blogs so popular is that they can be used as an RSS feed.  This allows the news feed to be used on other blogs across the web and also allows the news feed to be read by many more viewers.  People also love news blogs because you can leave comments and this creates a dialogue on the story which is a great way to feel like you are a part of the story.<br><br>Although newspapers may be on the decline, it does not mean that people have stopped reading the news, only where they read their news from.  So it seems that if you are not getting your news online, you may soon be in the minority.<br><br /><br />--<br />The author of this article publishes an internet marketing news blog that can be found at <a href="http://www.yourinfoconnection.com">Your Info Connection</a> and a technology news blog at <a href="http://www.techtipstoday.com">Tech Tips Today</a><br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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