http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/the-origins-of-new-years-resolutions.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/the-origins-of-new-years-resolutions.html Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600
New Years Traditions and Superstitions
There are a number of superstitious traditions that began many years ago that have lost their meaning in present day. Typically these traditions were enacted to influence the luck one would have in the coming year. For example, the New Years Eve parties that we all know and love began due to the belief that what one did on the first day of the year could affect their luck. This is why parties go past midnight and into the new year and it also explains why they involve lots of family and friends.

When the clock strikes midnight it's common for us to kiss our loved ones and make lots of noise to celebrate the beginning of a new year. While most of us just do this without really thinking about it, there is a superstitious reason behind this. Traditionally, people kissed each other to ensure that the relationship lasted for the rest of the year and they made a lot of noise as they believed it would scare the evil spirits away.

History of New Years Day
The origins of New Years celebrations date back thousands of years. In around 2000BC the Babylonians celebrated the new year over an 11-day period. This period did not begin on January 1 as we would expect, it actually started with the first new moon after the first day of spring (also known as the Vernal Equinox).

It was not until 153BC that January was declared as the beginning of the year by the Romans. The month was named after Janus the mythical god of beginnings. The calendar year became much more like that used in present day in 46BC when Julius Caesar established the Julian Calendar. After consultation with an astronomer he matched the calendar year with the movement of the sun and marked January 1 as the start of the new year.

New Years Resolutions
The popular tradition of making new years resolutions also has origins in Ancient Babylon and Rome. The Babylonians would typically return farm equipment that they had borrowed during the year, while in Caesar's time Janus became the symbol for resolutions because he had two faces that could look to the past and into the future.

Today we make New Years Resolutions to try to improve some aspect of ourselves in the coming year. Popular resolutions include quitting smoking, losing weight and getting out of debt. This sounds good but the sad truth is that most of us break them well before the year is out. In fact, a recent study found that 22% of people give up on their resolution in the first week and by the end of March more than half of New Years resolvers have fallen of the bandwagon.

So what can we do to make sure we achieve our new years resolutions? To be honest I really don't know, but I can give you a great head start. If you want to quit smoking, get in shape, improve your finances, learn something new or just enjoy life more then all you have to do is click here. By following the link you will receive a free $10 voucher to be used to buy any audio program that will help you achieve your resolution LoDingo's online store. That means that you can listen to leading finance advisors, Hollywood's top personal trainers and qualified hypnotherapists on your iPod or mp3 player any time you like.

Happy New Year!

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Gordon is the Managing Director of LoDingo Digital Download Megastore. Be coached by a business mentor, conquer your fear of flying, develop your parenting skills, improve your golfing swing, get motivated by a personal trainer or just relax with an audio book. LoDingo has a Digital Download for just about everything.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/essential-guidance-for-budding-entrepreneurs-and-aspiring-business-leaders.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/essential-guidance-for-budding-entrepreneurs-and-aspiring-business-leaders.html Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600
There are many business leaders out there that are willing to share their insights into the business world to help you achieve your goals quicker. These professionals have overcome the setbacks, triumphed over significant challenges and maintained a highly successful business for decades – something which certainly deserves respect. It would be foolish to reject an opportunity to learn from their lifetime of experience, after all, their knowledge could well be the difference between whether your business booms or goes bust. Quite simply, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

A business mentor can share invaluable advice and stimulate great ideas. They can help you to advance your career and encourage you to take on new challenges. Often when we are investing all our energy into a project it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, but your mentor can help you to take a step back. This gives you the opportunity to refocus on your goals and can provide an invaluable insight into your business or career progression.

While business mentors can be hard to find, there is one easy way to develop a relationship with the best – business mentors on your iPod. Many entrepreneurs find this method to be highly advantageous as they can gain all the benefits of having a mentor without revealing the details of their businesses or ideas to anyone.

Audio business coaches can be downloaded to your mp3 player and listened to anytime you feel the need for some inspiration. There are lots of programs available, covering topics such as effective management and leadership, influential communication and public speaking techniques, and finance management. Leading business professionals also provide instruction on how to position yourself for success, networking, time management and negotiation techniques.

The advantage that audio mentors offer over meeting a mentor in person or reading advice in books is that the audio can easily fit into your busy schedule without taking time out of your day. Whether you are driving to work, polishing the car, or filling in time while you wait for a meeting that was pushed back at the last minute - you can make any mundane task productive by listening to your mentor on your iPod at the same time.

So what have you got to lose? If you want to improve your business skills, become more savvy, launch your brilliant idea into the marketplace or be the next Bill Gates then business mentors will certainly help you on your path to success.

If you're interested in listening to top business professionals and entrepreneurs on your iPod then I recommend you check out the programs available at LoDingo.com. There is a great range available with new products being added all the time.

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Gordon is the Managing Director of LoDingo Digital Download Megastore. Be coached by a business mentor, conquer your fear of flying, develop your parenting skills, improve your golfing swing, get motivated by a personal trainer or just relax with an audio book. LoDingo has a Digital Download for just about everything.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/vacations/ski-vacations-how-to-choose-the-perfect-destination-for-your-winter-holiday.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/vacations/ski-vacations-how-to-choose-the-perfect-destination-for-your-winter-holiday.html Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600
With so many parks spread across the US, Canada and Europe to choose from it's easy to miss out on the most perfect ski vacation for you by overlooking some of the lesser-known locations or settling for the closest ski resort. Whether you're looking for for an adrenaline-filled snowboarding weekend, a fun family vacation, or a relaxing winter holiday spent curled up next to the fire in your lodge and sipping hot chocolate, your perfect winter wonderland is waiting for you - and finding it isn't as difficult as you might think.

There are some good websites out there that detail the facilities available at a number of resorts, but if you're wanting a taste of the atmosphere along with some great suggestions and information you can't go past the range of audio tours that are available for over 50 snow covered destinations.

Audio tours are a quick and easy way to learn all about a place, with a personal guide providing you with inside information on everything the location has to offer. The tours, which are downloaded to an mp3 player and can be replayed as many times as you like, bring the world to life with evocative sounds and informative interviews.

Each audio tour will explain the terrain in your desired ski location and describe what is available for beginner, intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders so you can choose the perfect resort for your level of expertise.

Your guide will let you in on the best places to stay, eat and shop and you'll get to hear about the nightlife in the area.

Learn about the many activities on offer, ranging from horse drawn sleigh rides and backwards ski racing to zip lines through open growth forests and heliskiing.

The distinctive features that set each location apart are also revealed and can include anything from delicious risotto served in bowls made of parmesan to the traditional mountain huts that serve drinks and hearty food at the top of Austria's slopes.

With so many treats and surprises in store it would be a shame to miss out on your very own winter holiday heaven. So step out of your comfort zone and try somewhere a little bit different this season – I know you won't be disappointed.

If you would like to know more about ski resorts in the US and Canada, there is a good selection of audio tours available here.

If a European escape is more your style, there are over 30 tours available for download at LoDingo.com.

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Gordon is the Managing Director of LoDingo Digital Download Megastore. Be coached by a business mentor, conquer your fear of flying, develop your parenting skills, improve your golfing swing, get motivated by a personal trainer or just relax with an audio book. LoDingo has a Digital Download for just about everything.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/workout-at-home-with-great-results.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/workout-at-home-with-great-results.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Audio fitness workouts and exercise programs can be downloaded to your iPod or mp3 player and used as many times as you like, whenever you like. The workouts are led by top personal trainers and health and fitness professionals so you can feel confident that you'll be working just as hard as you would be at the gym. Your personal trainer will keep you motivated and encourage you to achieve your health or fitness goals. All you have to do is put on your headphones, follow the instructions and experience professional personal training around your schedule.

Whether you're looking for a high energy cardio workout, upper and lower body sculpting and stretching exercises, or yoga and pilates classes, there are many audio options to meet your needs and fitness level. There are even workouts available that are tailored to specific needs, for example, audio programs have been designed just for for people who travel regularly, want to lose weight, or women who wish to ease back into exercise after having a baby.

Audio cardiovascular fitness programs will improve your physical fitness and help you trim down. The routines include workout music to get pumped up to and can be used in conjunction with a treadmill or elliptical machine to get maximum benefit.

Other workout plans combine cardio fitness training with strength techniques, deep muscle conditioning, core training and even dance conditioning.

There is a huge variety of workout programs available so why not give one a try and make working out at home more productive and enjoyable? I definitely recommend you check out the largest range of workout audio on the web at LoDingo.com

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Gordon is the Managing Director of LoDingo Digital Download Megastore, Be coached by a business mentor, conquer your fear of flying, develop your parenting skills, improve your golfing swing, get motivated by a personal trainer or just relax with an audio book. LoDingo has a Digital Download for just about everything.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/parenting/essential-bedwetting-information-for-parents.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/parenting/essential-bedwetting-information-for-parents.html Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600
No parent wants to have their child experiencing the discomfort of not being able to control their bladder. Bedwetting, also called nocturnal enuresis, doesn’t only effect you and your sleep, but more importantly it effects your child’s self esteem and confidence.

Nocturnal enuresis is a common problem in children, with studies revealing that 15-25% of 5-year-olds struggle with it, and many cases can continue into teenage years and even adulthood if they are not addressed properly in early life. There are a number of factors that have been identified to cause bed wetting but, put simply, the problem is associated with a child's slower-than-normal response to the message that the bladder sends to the brain.

While it is very easy to feel angry when you have been woken up in the middle of the night to change the bed sheets, it's important to realize that scalding or punishing your child will not help the problem and is actually more likely to have a negative influence on their bladder control.

There are several treatment options available with varying degrees of success. Medications such as Desmopressin and Imipramine tend to have great short-term effects but they typically result in very high relapse rates and can have side effects.

Enuresis alarms are considered to be one of the most effective treatments however, they also have a number of disadvantages. They are relatively expensive and typically take many months before results are achieved, with a large percentage of people 'dropping out' as a great deal of motivation and commitment is required by both the child and their family. Bedwetting alarms can also be quite disruptive for both parties, and most sufferers agree that using an alarm is not a pleasant experience.

Bedwetting audio designed for children is a largely unknown solution but one that can have fantastic results. Children listen to the programs each night before they go to bed, and with continued use they learn to take control of their bladder. The products can be purchased for around $12-$15 (a significant saving to the other alternatives mentioned) and are much less intrusive than the alarm method. Another distinct advantage of audio products are their very low relapse rates.

One such product that has achieved excellent results can be found here. Developed by Rosemary Santos, a qualified psychotherapist, the audio explains how the bladder and the brain are connected and teaches children clinically- proven self-mastering techniques to help them to program their brain to wake them up or hold on until morning. The program encourages parents to reward their child for dry nights by including an award calendar, and the package also features helpful suggestions and a diagram to aid the child's understanding.

Audio programs have also been developed to prevent nocturnal enuresis in teens and _product_11447/Say_Goodbye_to_Nocturnal_Enuresis”>adults.

It's clear that the audio products are an effective, safe alternative to medication and can eliminate the disadvantages of bedwetting alarms. I give them 5 stars.

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Gordon is the Managing Director of LoDingo Digital Download Megastore, Be coached by a business mentor, conquer your fear of flying, develop your parenting skills, improve your golfing swing, get motivated by a personal trainer or just relax with an audio book. LoDingo has a Digital Download for just about everything.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/10-good-reasons-to-download-travel-audio-tours.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/10-good-reasons-to-download-travel-audio-tours.html Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Independent travelers are downloading tours in droves and can't get enough of the convenience and value for money audio tours provide.

Here's 10 reasons why you're going to love them too:

1. Save on All-Important Luggage Space
Forget about baggage limits and suitcases bursting at the seams, with an audio tour you can kiss goodbye your well-worn guidebook and replace it with one of the many slimline mp3 players that are on the market.

Good audio tours will walk you through all the sites covered in your guide book, with the added bonus of taking you to some of the real local haunts.

2. Cheap as Chips
Audio tours are significantly cheaper than comparable guided tours. For example, a tour of St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel can easily cost around $US50 but an audio tour that takes in the same sights is likely to cost a quarter of the price and has so many advantages. Instead of being a part of a crowded tour group and struggling to understand your guide you will be given your own personal tour complete with sound effects and stories that you can stop and start whenever you like.

Naturally, the more you save on a tour the more money you can spend on indulgent treats during your trip - that's gotta be a good thing!

3. Take in the Highlights
Audio tours are great if you've only got limited time to explore a destination or you just want an easy way to see everything a city has to offer. With such a large range of tours available you're guaranteed to find the holiday experience that you're after.

4. Travel at Your Own Pace
Independent travelers will love the freedom to create their own itinerary and discover a destination in their own time. The best audio tours break up all the stops into separate tracks so you can visit attractions that you're most interested in or rearrange the path the tour follows to suit yourself. Audio tours also give you the flexibility to stray from the itinerary and take time to explore for as long as you like.

5. Insider Info
If you want to visit places that only locals know about and discover the heart and soul of a city then audio tours are going to be your new best friend. Good audio tours are developed by local people. They reveal those little gems that you would never ever find by yourself and they'll tell you stories that will help you take the most away from your trip.

6. No Need for a Search Party
It's almost impossible to get lost when you've got a good audio tour. The best audio tours are divided into separate tracks and include a free numbered map that corresponds to the track your listening to. The map plots out the path the tour follows and clearly marks the stops you take along the way so you always know exactly where you are.

7. Look Like a Local
The days of waving your guidebook around and getting tangled in a map the size of a small country are over – now you can be a tourist without looking like one.

Audio tours allow you to be an 'undercover tourist'. Outsiders will be fooled into thinking you're taking a casual stroll around a city you know like the back of your hand when you're actually following clear directions from your audio guide.

8. A Memorable Experience
You're guaranteed to have an experience you'll never forget when you take an audio tour. In fact, studies show that people are more likely to retain information that they hear rather than information that they read from, say, a guidebook. There's also the added benefit that you don't have to keep looking down to read your book, you simply listen while you take in your surroundings and enjoy the experience.

9. Quick and Easy to Download
Audio tours can be downloaded in a matter of seconds from anywhere in the world. From Madagascar to Miami, as long as you have an internet connection and an mp3 player you can download a tour anytime, day or night.

10. Variety
Whether you're a history buff, a dedicated sightseer or a fun-loving backpacker there will be an audio tour to suit your needs. Apart from the obvious variety of destinations available there are also a number of different styles to chose from, including self-drive tours, those with a historical focus or those with a youthful, streetwise and funky atmosphere.

I recommend you check out LoDingo Travel Downloads before your next trip and enjoy my 10 good reasons.

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Gordon is the Managing Director of LoDingo Digital Download Megastore, Be coached by a business mentor, conquer your fear of flying, develop your parenting skills, improve your golfing swing, get motivated by a personal trainer or just relax with an audio book. LoDingo has a Digital Download for just about everything.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>