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	<title>Courage Makes A Majority</title>
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	<link>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com</link>
	<description>Making a difference one person at a time</description>
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		<title>Communication Can Save Money</title>
		<link>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/03/communication-can-save-money.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/03/communication-can-save-money.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:07:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bugsy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/?p=118</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[3 Ways Small Businesses Can Save Money While Improving Communication Services. In the technology era we have entered it has become more and more difficult for consumers to understand what their real options are. As we go over different items in this article you, will need to be prepared to take a look at how [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-119" title="Communication" alt="communication" src="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/communication2.jpg" width="276" height="183" />3 Ways Small Businesses Can Save Money While Improving Communication Services.</p>
<p>In the technology era we have entered it has become more and more difficult for consumers to understand what their real options are. As we go over different items in this article you, will need to be prepared to take a look at how you do business as an outsider would, completely objectively. We will cover three main points of interest in your network of communications that may be acting as a crutch for you instead of giving you the power to grow. We will cover technology that is available to you, take a look at fees that you are paying currently, and finally look at how you are currently managing your network.</p>
<p>First, consider your phone system and the lines connected to it. How old is your phone system? Is your phone system older than 5 years, and if so what can your phone system handle? A lot of phone systems older than a few years cannot accept or utilize VoIP. There are many places you can find out, local vendors, Google etc, if all else fails email me your make and model and we can go from there. I know what you&#8217;re thinking and let me tell you that VoIP is the way of the future and safe guards are in place to keep the quality voice you are use to hear over traditional lines. VoIP has come such a long ways from when it first entered the realm of <a title="Communications" href="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/03/improved-communication-technology.html">communications</a>. Most people think of the connection they utilized on their computers where they were missing every other word with their friends as they attempted a conversation over the internet. When you look at network provides these days most of them will take care of the quality of voice provided on a VoIP solution by enabling QoS (Quality of Service). What this does is takes the packets that are being transmitted to the internet and gives different packets different priority levels. So for example, if you have Voice, email, streaming music, and video, QoS will slap a 1 on voice to show it has priority over all the other traffic. This results in email music and video would come in second. This way, by the priority being placed on Voice we ensure that it gets all the bandwidth it needs and everything else is secondary to it.</p>
<p>Once you confirm you have a phone system that will be able to take advantage of VoIP, you can take a look at different providers. Most providers will offer you some sort of unlimited usage package for local and long distance. In my experience, I have seen that this is more cost effective then paying for POTS line(Plain Old Telephone Service) with usage on top of the access line cost. Some of you reading this might have more expensive access methods to get your phone service such as PRI&#8217;s which gives you 23 paths for phone calls and 1 for signaling. This type of service typically still has extra costs for usage.</p>
<p>Now on the other hand if you don&#8217;t have a system that can handle VoIP, you have two options you can look at should you decide to move with technology. Providers today have two flavors; you can have a premises based system where you pay for the phone system brain and handsets or you can take advantage of hosted solutions. One of the benefits of having a hosted solution is the company pays for upkeep of the brain of the phone system and the maintenance, now you only need to pay for your handsets and possibly a warranty on them if you wish. Typically a solid provider will provide your handsets with free upgrades in firmware to make sure you are always on the latest and greatest release.</p>
<p>Now that we have covered some basic phone system options, you should do some comparisons of what you are paying now. These should include monthly costs as well as yearly costs such as site visits from your vendor for moves adds and changes and warranty/maintenance. If you take advantage of VoIP you should see savings on your monthly costs quickly as they are typically unlimited usage based and most businesses today spend the majority of their costs on usage. If you have decided to move to a hosted solution you may see even greater savings, as the provider will maintain the brain of the phone system. Other ways you can save are web portals, providers of hosted solutions want to empower their consumers. You should be able to make your own adds, moves, and changes on the fly through your internet browser or GUI software they give you, as well take advantage of options to transfer calls to external sources, giving you the illusion of looking either bigger than you are or more available. Thus, building the trust in your customer&#8217;s minds that yes, you can handle their needs appropriately. With hosted solutions these days you can have your desk phone ring and cell phone at the same time, no matter which one you answer your customer now thinks they have called you and you are sitting at your desk unless you tell them otherwise. So be sure to look at your total telecom costs when you think about the option of moving to a new phone system. One with a new warranty might actually cost you less with options for VoIP and GUI interfaces.</p>
<p>Finally, how are you managing your network? Are you paying for one or more employees to manage your network? Are you trying to handle it all yourself and are struggling to keep up with technology? Are you in the cloud, or do you still have site based servers? Problems facing small businesses today are the ideas of trying to find money to pay employee a salary to strictly handle IT. If you cannot afford a full time employee, look into IT providers that you can pay for the time they spend at your site. This eliminates some of the overhead of having to have a full time staff. Most companies these days will provide some sort of professional service like this. If you are trying to handle this yourself and you are supposed to be running the business, ask yourself who is running the business? Is this where my time is best spent or should I be doing what I started this business for what I was born for; Most business owners trying to wear the IT hat leave themselves very vulnerable to attacks from outside threats, from competitors trying to deface their company or people trying to steal confidential information. Make sure you protect yourself and your company with the proper security you need, from firewalls to protecting your phone system from hackers. You need to fully understand the dangers of doing business in the virtual age. For those of you who are still paying for servers and or hosting them on your site, start looking into hosted solutions as hosted providers pay for the servers the upgrades and the storage. You will not have to buy bigger than you need and you will not have outdated equipment after a few months to a year.</p>
<p>Thank you for taking time out of you business day to 3 Ways Small Businesses Can Save Money While Improving Communication Services.</p>
<p>Your Communication Buddy</p>
<p>Marcus Schmidt</p>
<p>schmidt440@gmail.com</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Improved Communication Technology</title>
		<link>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/03/improved-communication-technology.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/03/improved-communication-technology.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:04:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bugsy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/?p=115</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[New Technology Empowers Families To Improve Communication, Learning And Cognition At Home. Most of us know a child with a speech, language or learning disability or an adult who has communication or cognitive deficits from a stroke or head injury. Formal treatment typically ends too soon- leaving people with untapped potential. The schools often only [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-116" title="Communication Technology" alt="communication technology" src="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/communication.jpg" width="275" height="183" />New Technology Empowers Families To Improve Communication, Learning And Cognition At Home.</p>
<p>Most of us know a child with a speech, language or learning disability or an adult who has communication or cognitive deficits from a stroke or head injury. Formal treatment typically ends too soon- leaving people with untapped potential. The schools often only provide special speech therapy services for students who are struggling academically. Many students with articulation disorders and subtle language and learning challenges are not seen for remediation. Insurance has placed increasingly stringent limits on the therapy for stroke and head injury survivors. Recent research has shown that the brain is capable of making new neurological connections when properly stimulated, but it is often difficult for family members to know the best way to provide the stimulation. Many families do not have easy access to a speech-language pathologist skilled in the use of technology to enhance progress or can not afford to pay privately for ongoing therapy.</p>
<p>Application sharing is a new technology which empowers rehabilitation and education professionals who specialize in using technology to help families who would like to play an active role in the treatment process. Using screen sharing technology, professionals are able to expose families to software, devices, resources, and strategies that may help their loved ones reach their greatest potential. Families participate at home with their computers- either a PC or a Mac. There is no need for participants to download any software. Computer expertise is not needed to participate in this program, but high speed internet access is required. The therapists invites the family to join &#8220;application/screen sharing&#8221; sessions. Participants view the therapist&#8217;s software on their monitor and listen to personalized presentations so that they can learn to use the software with their family member. Control of the software can be turned over to the family who can then give the programs a try from a distance. Sessions can be recorded for later viewing. Multiple family members can participate from different locations. The goal is that after a few sessions, the family will feel comfortable helping the person with the disability who can then become independent with an effective home practice program.</p>
<p>At <a title="IntelePeer" href="http://www.intelepeer.com/services/corecloud-services/cloud-communications" target="_blank">IntelePeer</a> you can learn more about cloud communications, a new and improved form of communication technology.</p>
<p>Computers can provide a new world of independence for people with physical, communication, or cognitive disabilities. Online sessions can include suggestions to target the recovery of specific communication skills, the development of alternative and compensatory strategies with a heavy emphasis on the most appropriate technology, the accessing of community resources and the development of a &#8220;life plan&#8221; to improve overall quality of life.</p>
<p>Acting as an advocate is not easy. There is a great deal to learn to help your loved one who may have challenges with talking, reading, writing, thinking and remembering. Time, money and limited access to skilled professionals often hinder an advocate&#8217;s ability to help. This new ability for professionals to provide help from a distance limits these barriers and enhances a family&#8217;s ability to empower their loved ones with the many benefits of technology in education and rehabilitation.</p>
<p>People challenged by disabilities can benefit from technology in many aspects of their lives. Technology can provide clients with a means to compensate for difficulties as well as to strengthen weak skills. Computers and other devices, when selected and used properly, can help improve communication and cognitive skills related to education, employment, recreation, and social and medical needs. Assistive technology can help individuals increase independence, build self-confidence and self-esteem, and improve quality of life. Children and adults with a broad range of difficulties resulting from strokes, head injuries, degenerative diseases, developmental delays and disorders and learning differences can independently handle a wider range of activities with the help of software and devices to read, write, organize, remember, learn, communicate, and search for information.</p>
<p>Many software products and devices on the market today are affordable and easy to use. These tools were produced for a wide variety of audiences-some for people with special communication or cognitive needs, others for people learning English as a second language, people with low vision, or mainstream society. In the hands of a creative user, these products can unlock the potential of many clients. Software that reads text aloud on the computer can be used to help improve reading, writing, remembering and talking. Drill and practice software can be used to maximize new learning. Word prediction technology can help users thinking of words and voice recognition technology can help people who can speak but not type. There are adapted email programs, free videoconferencing programs and inexpensive online programs which can be used to help people independently practice and work toward reaching their goals.</p>
<p>Joan Green, a speech-language pathologist in the Washington, DC area , is passionate in her efforts to spread the knowledge of technology and other resources to empower people with communication, learning and cognitive challenges maximize their progress. She provides short-term intensive speech therapy and local and distance training for professionals and families. More information about Joan and her approach can be found at http://www.innovativespeech.com</p>
<p>Joan is also the author of &#8220;Technology for Communication and Cognitive Treatment: The Clinician&#8217;s Guide.&#8221; This book was written with professionals in mind, but is very helpful for families. Further information about this new resource guide is available at http://www.ittsguides.com</p>
<p>Joan L. Green, M.A. CCC-SLP<br />
Founder of Innovative Speech Therapy<br />
<span class="baec5a81-e4d6-4674-97f3-e9220f0136c1" style="white-space: nowrap;">1-800-IST-2550<a style="margin: 0px; border: currentColor; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 16px; height: 16px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: middle; float: none; display: inline; white-space: nowrap; position: static !important;" title="Call: 1-800-IST-2550" href="#"><img style="margin: 0px; border: currentColor; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 16px; height: 16px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: middle; float: none; display: inline; white-space: nowrap; position: static !important;" title="Call: 1-800-IST-2550" alt="" src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></a></span></p>
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		<title>Divorce Is Not Your Only Option</title>
		<link>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/03/divorce-is-not-your-only-option.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/03/divorce-is-not-your-only-option.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:57:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bugsy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home & Family]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/?p=112</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Now For the Big News: Divorce Is Not Your Only Option. Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Divorce is not the answer to all of your problems. It will not magically make you happy, prosperous, or unencumbered by responsibilities again. It will not be the key to everything you feel you haven&#8217;t gotten out of [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-113" title="Divorce Options" alt="divorce options" src="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/divorcenotoption.jpg" width="284" height="178" />Now For the Big News: Divorce Is Not Your Only Option.</p>
<p>Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Divorce is not the answer to all of your problems.</p>
<p>It will not magically make you happy, prosperous, or unencumbered by responsibilities again. It will not be the key to everything you feel you haven&#8217;t gotten out of life. Even though people today tend to think of <a title="Divorce" href="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/02/divorce-in-america.html">divorce</a> as the only way out of a marriage that isn&#8217;t everything they had hoped it would be, it&#8217;s not the portal that leads to fulfillment in life. Neither is continuing to live with an unhappy marriage. Don&#8217;t get fooled into thinking these are the only two options that you have, because there is a much better third choice out there waiting for you. You can both stop your divorce and improve your marriage if you&#8217;re willing to make the effort.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s easy to allow yourself to feel that if only you could shed yourself of your current situation all the problems in life would go away. Unfortunately, statistics show this is not true. In the majority of cases, people are not happier once they&#8217;ve dissolved their marriages. Instead, they find themselves overburdened with work, children, and substantially less cash. Rather than take the plunge into the unknown of singlehood, it&#8217;s better to ride out the situation, take steps to improve it, and discover that five years down the road, you are actually happy you stuck with it.</p>
<p>The first thing you need to do is realize that no marriage is perfect. Every happy couple you see has problems they are dealing with. What sets them apart, however, is how they are handling these situations. If you went into your marriage filled with blissful visions of future happiness with the perfect spouse, it&#8217;s no wonder that you&#8217;re already discouraged. Even when your heart is tied together with that of another person, you will still start seeing things that annoy you. Maybe these are qualities you ignored during your state of bliss, but eventually you are going to start noticing them. If you&#8217;re smart, you&#8217;ll also start accepting them as a part of that person you love.</p>
<p>For most of us, it&#8217;s a struggle to see our dreams disappear into the cloud of reality. We want to lash out and blame someone for this occurrence, and our spouse is the perfect scapegoat. You start telling yourself that your world is falling apart because your husband fails to close the toilet lid or your wife hangs her panty hose in the bathroom, and pretty soon you start seeing other, similar clues that tell you your spouse is the cause of your discontent.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s definitely time for an attitude adjustment when this phenomenon begins. Your own happiness depends on you, and no one else can make you happy. In most cases, divorce isn&#8217;t the cover-all answer, it&#8217;s just the start of even more problems in your life.</p>
<p>Find out how to know when your marriage is over at: Free marriage advice or here: Save My Marriage.</p>
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		<title>Divorce in America</title>
		<link>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/02/divorce-in-america.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/02/divorce-in-america.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:54:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bugsy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home & Family]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/?p=102</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Divorce in America &#8211; Why? In American Society, people want only what is good for themselves, even if it&#8217;s not the best for someone else. Society has changed from the importance of family to the importance of me. Statistics on marriage and divorce show that Americans have gotten lazier and more self-absorbed. This may explain [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-103" title="Divorce" alt="divorce" src="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/divorce.jpg" width="290" height="174" />Divorce in America &#8211; Why?</p>
<p>In American Society, people want only what is good for themselves, even if it&#8217;s not the best for someone else. Society has changed from the importance of family to the importance of me. Statistics on marriage and divorce show that Americans have gotten lazier and more self-absorbed. This may explain why the U.S. has the highest divorce rate and the highest rate of solo parenting in the Western world. People have the attitude, &#8220;If the marriage doesn&#8217;t work, I can get a divorce,&#8221; because it&#8217;s easier to fill out paperwork than to put in the time and effort to make the marriage work.</p>
<p>While there are many different reasons for divorce, a few are common: poor communication, financial issues, lack of commitment, infidelity and a change in priorities. With the exception of financial issues, the reasons point to the selfish attitude of one or more people in the relationship. Communication is only a problem when someone doesn&#8217;t want to listen. Commitment to the marriage requires work and compromise, words that are not found in the lazy, egotistical American dictionary. Sneaking out on a spouse to be fulfilled by someone else is not only dishonest, but selfish. People that cheat are looking for a quick fix to make themselves happier all while disregarding the feelings of their partner. Changing priorities is also a quick fix. People who give up on marriage feel that it can&#8217;t be changed for the better, so they concentrate on changing something else in their lives, like concentrating on work or a new hobby. Having something else to concentrate their energy on creates temporary happiness and a way to escape the troubles at home.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a divorce lawyer, visit <a title="www.lawgena.com" href=" http://www.lawgena.com/divorce" target="_blank">www.lawgena.com</a>.</p>
<p>According to The State of Our Unions, 2005, marriages have declined 50% from 1970, because more people are choosing cohabitation, or living together without a legal commitment, over marriage. Marriage is being replaced by cohabitation because it requires less of a commitment. Cohabitating couples have twice the breakup rate of married couples because there is less reason to work on the relationship. With cohabitation people don&#8217;t have to worry about the legal repercussions of divorce and leaving is as easy as packing. Studies have proved that cohabitating before marriage increases the chances of divorce up to 85%, so even if live-in couples eventually marry, it is likely that they will divorce.</p>
<p>Parents don&#8217;t take the needs of their children into consideration over their own needs as often as they should. 40% of cohabitating couples bring children into the relationship, creating less stability for the children and teaching them that relationships don&#8217;t require commitment. Children from divorce are more likely to develop social problems and their grades are 20% lower than students living with both parents. The U.S. has the lowest number of children who grow up with both biological parents among Western nations, 63%.</p>
<p>Society should value family over the individual. The American attitude needs to be changed because commitment and responsibility are becoming second to personal needs. If people thought of &#8220;us&#8221; more then &#8220;me,&#8221; there would be more happy marriages. People need to accept that relationships take time and work, not only for themselves, but for the well-being of their children.</p>
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		<title>Is It Time To Clean House In Washington</title>
		<link>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/02/is-it-time-to-clean-house-in-washington.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/02/is-it-time-to-clean-house-in-washington.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 10 Feb 2013 11:38:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bugsy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/?p=97</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Washington DC Is Not a Giant Bottomless Piggy Bank for Socialist Causes and Corporate Welfare. Not long ago, I was reading an article in Foreign Affairs Magazine about the unbelievable amount of money flow in and around Washington DC. The article also discussed the incredible amount of intelligence and talent which had come to the [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-98" title="Clean House" alt="clean house" src="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/thewhitehouse.jpg" width="275" height="183" />Washington DC Is Not a Giant Bottomless Piggy Bank for Socialist Causes and Corporate Welfare.</p>
<p>Not long ago, I was reading an article in Foreign Affairs Magazine about the unbelievable amount of money flow in and around Washington DC. The article also discussed the incredible amount of intelligence and talent which had come to the area, liking it to Silicon Valley. Indeed, wherever there is that level of money flow, opportunity, and challenge you will find the superstars of our society. Then, after I got done reading that article I saw a video on FORA TV, where the interviewee stated; &#8220;Washington DC is like a giant ice cream cone licking itself.&#8221;</p>
<p>Yes, the imagery is hilarious isn&#8217;t it? Still, that&#8217;s a big problem considering that all of that ice cream is being paid for by the American taxpayer. No wonder the voters overwhelmingly supported tea party candidates to go in there and <a title="Clean" href="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/02/cleaning-up-after-a-disaster.html">clean</a> house. Washington DC is not a bottomless piggy bank for socialist causes and corporate welfare. Yes, many politicians and lobbyists assume that it is, and they believe that what they are doing is all fair game however, they aren&#8217;t the ones paying for it, we are.</p>
<p>Apparently, this artificially induced debt ceiling, which apparently will be a glass ceiling with 18,000 cracks in it pretty soon has perhaps gotten Washington DC rethinking its strategy and spendthrift ways. And I say perhaps, because there&#8217;s a possibility that perhaps it hasn&#8217;t changed anything either. Margaret Thatcher had a number of great quotes about how a government should be run, and as you realize she was extremely against socialism.</p>
<p>That shouldn&#8217;t surprise anyone, because when you grow up in an era where the NAZIs tried to take over Europe, and realizing that it was a socialist nation, you begin to think differently altogether about what socialism is, and how it works. My favorite quote that she said is; &#8220;Socialism works great until you run out of other people&#8217;s money to spend.&#8221; Now then, isn&#8217;t this the path that we are being led down by Washington DC currently? They are spending money, and obligating us taxpayers for it for years to come, and we will be the ones paying the interest on that debt.</p>
<p>By then all of the politicians will have retired with their stellar pensions, and we will be paying off old credit card bills, essentially it amounts to that. Meanwhile, each new group of politicians coming in finds more and more ways to drive more and more people to continue to reelect them. They keep making promises and creating more social giveaways. Eventually there won&#8217;t be anyone left to pay taxes, or anyone working to provide the government with the inflows to continue to give everything away.</p>
<p>We are already reaching a point where our federal government will be using all the money coming in just pay the interest payments on their credit card, philosophically speaking of course. This won&#8217;t work, and this can&#8217;t last, and we need to stop this mode and method of operation. Washington DC is not a giant bottomless piggy bank, and it&#8217;s already empty, and it&#8217;s time it stopped thinking of itself as a giant ice cream cone too. Please consider all this and think on it.</p>
<p>Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 24,300 articles will be difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off now</p>
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		<title>Cleaning Up After A Disaster</title>
		<link>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/02/cleaning-up-after-a-disaster.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/02/cleaning-up-after-a-disaster.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 03 Feb 2013 11:26:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bugsy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home & Family]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/?p=94</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[House Fires: Cleaning Up After the Disaster. The damage caused by a house fire is one of the most destructive and emotionally devastating types of damage that there is. Whenever you have to deal with a house fire, the first thing that you need to do is get in touch with your insurance company as [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-95" title="Disaster Cleanup" alt="disaster cleanup" src="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/housefire.jpg" width="259" height="194" />House Fires: Cleaning Up After the Disaster.</p>
<p>The damage caused by a house fire is one of the most destructive and emotionally devastating types of damage that there is. Whenever you have to deal with a house fire, the first thing that you need to do is get in touch with your insurance company as quickly as possible. Next, call a professional restoration company to begin cleaning up the smoke and fire damage. What can you do to help the process along?</p>
<p>While it may be tempting to dive right in, your best course of action when it comes to fire and smoke damage is to do nothing at all. The typical homeowner does not have all of the tools, skills and know-how to properly clean up after this type of event. Whenever homeowners try to clean up walls, ceilings and other surfaces that are considered &#8220;non-washable&#8221;, they often end up doing more harm than good.</p>
<p>If you are looking for the services of a professional cleaning company, visit <a title="http://www.americancleaning.com" href="http://www.americancleaning.com/disaster_cleanup.html" target="_blank">http://www.americancleaning.com</a>.</p>
<p>Cleaning up Soot</p>
<p>Soot from plastics is much different than that from plastics, and the cleanup is very different due to the fact that you can&#8217;t clean up oil-based soot from many non-washable surfaces. A good restoration company will clean these non-washable surfaces properly to ensure that they require as little painting as possible. Cleaning is much less expensive than painting, meaning that inappropriate cleanup can actually double the costs of restoration.</p>
<p>Furniture, Window Treatments and Upholstery</p>
<p>After you have started the claim process with your insurance company, a restoration company can come in and start restoring your home back to its original condition. They use tools such as specialized latex sponges in order to remove the top layer of soot from much of your furniture, upholstery and window treatments. The items can then be steam cleaned in many situations. If your items are also water damaged, then any effected cushions should be placed on end so that they can dry more rapidly. You should also raise furniture on blocks or other small items to help reduce the amount of damage to wood furniture legs.</p>
<p>General Cleaning</p>
<p>Kitchen counters and other washable surfaces can be cleaned in the normal way that they are cleaned. Though there are many companies out there that will help you clean up items such as belongings and photo albums, you should keep in mind that some things will just be completely unsalvageable. In many cases, a professional cleaning crew can take a week or more to restore your home after a fire. This would take you a month or more if you attempt to do it yourself.</p>
<p>Miscellaneous Advice</p>
<p>Use only certified contractors to do the clean up.</p>
<p>Mop or soak up as much water as possible to reduce the effects of water damage.</p>
<p>Avoid leaving any colored items, such as magazines or books, on the floor. The dyes can stain.</p>
<p>Do not use any electronics, including computers and televisions, until they have been inspected. This is especially true while standing on a wet floor.</p>
<p>Only send smoke damaged clothes to a dry cleaner that specializes in this type of cleaning. Other dry cleaners are not typically equipped to handle this type of damage.</p>
<p>Jon Balke is a writer for www.americancraftsman.net/water-damage-santa-clarita-ca/index.html, a Santa Clarita smoke damage restoration company. He enjoys writing on a variety of related topics, including what to do after a fire.</p>
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		<title>The Solar Debate</title>
		<link>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/01/the-solar-debate.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/01/the-solar-debate.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:22:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bugsy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Energy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/?p=91</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Joining The Debate on Solar Panels: Are They Really Worth It? Solar power has been around for decades, but it has failed to become widely popular. This will change as energy prices continue to rise and oil reserves dwindle. Purchasing solar panels is a big decision that should be made appropriately. The first step is [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-92" title="Solar Power" alt="Solar Power" src="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/solarpanels.jpg" width="275" height="183" />Joining The Debate on Solar Panels: Are They Really Worth It?</p>
<p>Solar power has been around for decades, but it has failed to become widely popular. This will change as energy prices continue to rise and oil reserves dwindle. Purchasing <a title="Solar" href="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/01/the-benefits-of-natural-light.html">solar</a> panels is a big decision that should be made appropriately. The first step is to weigh the pros and cons of this important investment.</p>
<p>Before any decision is made, those looking to purchase a solar power system must consider the area they live in. Some local governments charge fees or taxes for the use of large equipment. Also, cities and towns have zoning laws that may require inspection of the property in question. This is to insure that installation can be conducted safely.</p>
<p>The greatest advantage that solar power provides is cheap running costs. Most solar panels are guaranteed to last for 40 years, which is longer than any loan will take to pay off. After the initial investment, electricity is virtually free. On top of that, since there are no moving parts, very little maintenance is required. Cleaning the panels annually is all that is needed.</p>
<p>Incentives are another great reason to invest in solar power. Many energy companies offer credit for electricity that is sold back to them. Also, most governments give tax breaks to those who use renewable energy or buy energy-efficient appliances.</p>
<p>Another reason to go with solar power is for the independence it provides. There is no need to worry about power lines falling down, transformers blowing up, or blackouts. People who make the switch will also help reduce the worlds&#8217; dependence on non-renewable oil.</p>
<p>The last advantage is for the planet. Solar power doesn&#8217;t pollute or emit greenhouse gases, so it doesn&#8217;t contribute to global warming. It&#8217;s clean, efficient, quiet, and renewable. What more could Mother Nature ask for?</p>
<p>The biggest drawback to solar panels is the upfront cost and installation. Depending on energy needs, prices can shoot up very fast. Households consume anywhere between 800 to 1500 kilowatts per month. The initial outlay in cost is well into the several thousands in pounds, euros or dollars and unless people are routed to their property they may never see the cost be outweighed by free electricity. Another issue is the large footprint panels need to generate enough electricity to power a house. This creates a problem for people who live on small areas of land.</p>
<p>Mother Nature can create a disadvantage in the efficiency of solar energy. Night-time, snow, rain, and clouds are all variables that can hinder power generation. This can be helped by having a battery to store energy for future use. However, persistent bad weather will cause stored energy to run out. Purchasing a battery and inverter can potentially raise the cost of the entire system by thousands of pounds as well.</p>
<p>Deciding on solar energy is very hard. It can be expensive, but financial incentives can help reduce the high price. Batteries will provide protection from power outages and inclement weather. Electric bills will be a thing of the past, and it&#8217;s healthy for the environment. To the point, solar power is a long-term solution where the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.</p>
<p>For more details on the topics mentioned in this article, such as the use of solar panels, please visit WDS Green Energy, who have a great deal of knowledge in the field.</p>
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		<title>The Benefits Of Natural Light</title>
		<link>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/01/the-benefits-of-natural-light.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/01/the-benefits-of-natural-light.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:10:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bugsy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/?p=88</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Health Benefits of Natural Light. The obvious benefit of installing solar light tubes is the energy savings that result lowering your electrical bills; however another less hyped benefit is the natural light they bring into your home. Natural light is pleasing in general for most people but did you know that it is also beneficial [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-89" title="Natural Light" alt="natural light" src="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/naturalsunlight.jpg" width="275" height="183" />Health Benefits of Natural Light.</p>
<p>The obvious benefit of installing solar light tubes is the energy savings that result lowering your electrical bills; however another less hyped benefit is the natural light they bring into your home. Natural light is pleasing in general for most people but did you know that it is also beneficial to your health? Not only is natural sunlight an effective germ killer it is also linked to improving moods and assisting with curing some illnesses.</p>
<p>Sunlight can kill bacteria present in dust particles and other germs that could be spread around your family. It is the ultraviolet rays in sunlight that act as a natural antiseptic that will improve your home environment. To get the most out of the sun, hang blankets and quilts or other items outside in the sunshine for a few hours to kill any virus, bacteria or mold on them. Killing germs is only one health benefit that natural light offers but is a great start to keeping your family safe and healthy.</p>
<p>For more information on the benefits of natural light, visit <a title="GemStateSolar.com" href="http://www.gemstatesolar.com/products/category/tubular-skylights" target="_blank">GemStateSolar.com</a>.</p>
<p>Did you know that a lack of exposure to natural light has been linked to disorders such as: seasonal affective disorder, rickets, depression, and osteoporosis? Our bodies need natural light to make vitamin D which helps with some of those disorders, but sunlight also helps balance hormones and encourages healthy blood circulation to improve overall health. There are other ways to get vitamin D such as food, but sunlight is the best source for your body to create it naturally. Another benefit of daily exposure to sunlight is the increase of white blood cells in your blood which enhances your immune system and also improves digestion and metabolism.</p>
<p>We are not saying that you need to run outside and lay in the sun all day. There are downsides to overexposure to the sun as well. Skin cancer can be caused by overexposure to the sun so you must be careful to protect yourself while getting your daily sun. Spending just 10 minutes a day in natural sunlight is enough for your body to regulate itself and get all the benefits from the sunlight it can! But you can have natural light in your home without the sunburn just by installing solar light tubes. All the benefits and none of the downside!</p>
<p>Eco Solar Skylight Tubes is a premier retailer of solar skylight tubes in the United States with authorized installers located across the nation.</p>
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		<title>Finding A Payroll Company</title>
		<link>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/01/finding-a-payroll-company.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/01/finding-a-payroll-company.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jan 2013 11:03:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bugsy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/?p=84</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Benefits of Using a Payroll Company Rather Than Having Someone Do This In-House. Outsourcing your pay program to a different business might sound iffy, but it is a good option. There are many benefits to doing this over having someone do it in-house. The payroll company can give your business full attention unlike your [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-85" title="Payroll Company" alt="payroll company" src="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/payroll.jpg" width="275" height="183" />The Benefits of Using a Payroll Company Rather Than Having Someone Do This In-House.</p>
<p>Outsourcing your pay program to a different business might sound iffy, but it is a good option. There are many benefits to doing this over having someone do it in-house. The <a title="Payroll" href="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/01/the-ideal-back-office-solution.html">payroll</a> company can give your business full attention unlike your accountant may be able to do. An outsourced business will have all your files backed up, so if there is ever a computer problem, the information will not likely be lost. Hiring one of your own to do the work necessitates training and a gaining of familiarity with the program.</p>
<p>A payroll company would be able to give your business their full attention. This is not because they do not have other clients, but it is because this is the type of work they do all day long. An accountant that you hire may have several other clients especially during tax time. An outsourced business will be able to handle all the tax issues and keep everything in order.</p>
<p>If you keep all of your information at your business, you may run into a problem if for some reason all of the files are lost. You could have them backed up elsewhere, but even then they could get lost. A payroll company will have them professionally and securely backed up, so that there is not as much chance of losing the information on file.</p>
<p>You might save more to hire one of your own people to do this work, but in the long run you will be better off having a professional. Someone you hire will have to learn how to use the software, you will have to pay for the software, and errors could easily be made. Errors can be made anywhere, but with a payroll company, they are trained to do this, so errors will be less likely.</p>
<p>There are many benefits to hiring an outsourced business to do the work. It really takes things out of your hands, but they will always be there if you want to check up on things. Reports will be made and will be on hand for you to examine. You can also make changes whenever it is necessary. Unless there is a change that needs to be made or an error that is made, you will not need to think about it.</p>
<p>Take the time today to look into an outsourced payroll company near you. Finding a local business is beneficial because they will be near if you ever need face-time. Hopefully, you will find the right place to take care of this portion of your business so that you have time for other aspects of your business.</p>
<p>When it comes to finding a payroll company in Louisiana, many business owners don&#8217;t know where to start. Learn more at http://www.payrollrx.com.</p>
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		<title>The Ideal Back Office Solution</title>
		<link>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/01/the-ideal-back-office-solution.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/2013/01/the-ideal-back-office-solution.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:54:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bugsy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/?p=81</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Back Office Solutions &#8211; The Formula Behind the Success of Big Companies. The innovation of science and technology resulted to the invention of computers and some sophisticated devices that have the power to store numerous data without investing much on the human effort and time. This particular concept of data storage is done by some [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-82" title="Back Office Solution" alt="back office solution" src="http://www.couragemakesamajority.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/backofficesolution.jpg" width="259" height="195" />Back Office Solutions &#8211; The Formula Behind the Success of Big Companies.</p>
<p>The innovation of science and technology resulted to the invention of computers and some sophisticated devices that have the power to store numerous data without investing much on the human effort and time. This particular concept of data storage is done by some acumen professionals in reducing the paper works and stores them in a format that remains safe and reliable for a longer period. Back office support services are outsourced by all the business establishments of the world that needs to save their time by concentrating more on their core competencies.</p>
<p>Call Center India There was a time when all the documentation works were being done with manual efforts, using pen and paper. Gradually, with the passage of time the companies started to invest in the latest technologies and hire people that excel in the documentation process. The big establishments never compromise on this matters and that is why the success rate of these firms are far better as compared the smaller or mid-sized firms. For a company, that has just started with a small investment, outsourcing back office services become the only safe option. Back office support services can vary from the nature of the business.</p>
<p>Visit <a title="http://theadmincenter.net" href="http://theadmincenter.net/back_office.php" target="_blank">http://theadmincenter.net</a> for more back office solutions.</p>
<p>The companies that involve tremendous data entry processes normally builds a set-up that can control all the activities. But sometimes, there occur some task that needs to be taken care by professionals specialized in other departments. Web research services, data capturing, SEO, e-mail support, form processing, etc. are some of the departments that need to be handled by only professionals. Therefore, if any business establishment is dealing in any of these services, it becomes extremely essential for them to outsource to a third party that can give these services in an affordable cost and 100% accuracy.</p>
<p>Keeping the record of the daily commercial activities are an important factor for the business firms. Individual monitoring becomes a very important activity in some situation. Organizations might not have adequate human resources to tackle emergency situation. These incidents are very common in the modern day business operations and therefore to minimize these discrepancies most of the companies hire a third part that is given the responsibility to handle all critical matters and make themselves secure throughout the clock.</p>
<p>Off-shoring back office services are a new business trend and it has been successfully proved that business establishments that have been outsourced their requirements have resulted in better profits without investing much on the outsourcing business. The professional expertise, innovative strategies and technical ability to perform the outsourcing processes are easily feasible by the modern day call centers.</p>
<p>Katie Cardwell works as a senior sales and marketing analyst for a multinational call center company, based in United States of America. She takes care of all the business operations and analysis the back office support services that power an organization. Her extensive knowledge and expertise on Non -voice call center services such as Web Research Services, Back office support services, etc, have helped many business players to stand with a straight spine and thus making a foothold in the data processing industry.</p>
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