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Bug Off - Protecting Your Garden From Mosquitoes

For those of us who enjoy gardening, mosquitoes are a frequent pest. As they aim to feed on the nectar of flowers, gardens, to mosquitoes, are like all-you-can-eat buffets - we are open, come on in. This not only hurts your landscaping and ruins your garden, but it can also be detrimental to your health - mosquitoes are well known for spreading disease.

You could ignore these facts, of course, and go on with your gardening and with your life in some kind of West Nile denial. But, when ignoring mosquitoes and the problems they cause proves futile, you may find yourself in need of a solution. Luckily, there are natural ways to get rid of your problem.

Fill your Water with Fish and Frogs:Water, particularly stagnant water, is highly attractive to mosquitoes; it's where most mosquitoes lay their eggs. For this reason, having water in your backyard, such as a stream or a fountain, can leave you wasting away in mosquito-ville.

Removing water from your backyard is one solution, but if you can't part with your pond, try adding in frogs, toads, and fish. These creatures feed on mosquitoes and larvae, helping to rid your water, your yard, and your garden, of these pests. Activating the food chain, this way of extermination is completely natural; many aquatic creatures dine by the mantra "mosquito, it's what's for dinner."

On shore, setting up a bird house or a bird feeder may also help control the mosquito population: mosquitoes make great snacks for our fine feathered friends.

Use Garlic Spray: Just like blood sucking vampire, blood sucking insects also hate garlic. Perhaps they don't like the taste, perhaps they don't like the smell, or perhaps they once had a very bad run in with a pasta dish. Whatever the reason, garlic is one way to send mosquitoes on their way.

Planting garlic, or showering your garden with garlic sprays and powders, might not deter every mosquito from entering your yard, but it's sure to discourage some. Just the presence of garlic has the potential to let mosquitoes know your garden is cloved, er, closed.

Plant Marigolds: These vividly colored flowers are a beautiful and lively addition to any garden. But, unlike some flowers, they also have bug fighting characteristics. Marigolds produce an odor that mosquitoes don't like, and aim to avoid.

Marigolds are very easy to grow and can thrive in any environment, with exception of the extreme teen porn cold. Yet, they aren't alone in their mosquito fighting mission: catnip, rosemary, and citronella grass are other plants known for telling mosquitoes to bug off.

The above ideas should help you control your garden's mosquito population at least on some level. Wearing repellent, long sleeves and long pants can also aid your own personal protection. If all else fails, and you find mosquitoes just won't go away, you can find relief by simply taking your hand and relying on your own version of the SWAT team.

Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor for http://www.etodoors.com. Someone who changes her mind every five minutes, her house is in a perpetual state of home improvement.

posted by dancehuonk @ 7:44 PM 0 comments

Is Your Advertising... Sexy?

Ever hear the term 'sexy' advertising? It's not necessarily what you think. Sure, some people's idea of sexy advertising is hot babes in bikinis spraying beer all over each other, but that's overtly sexual and not what we're about to discuss here.

Do you engage sexy advertising in your marketing campaign? If not, you should.

"Sexy" advertising refers to ads that are highly targeted, yet artfully subtle - and therefore, extremely attractive to the key consumer.

I'm going to try and curb my use of the word 'sexy' now because I think it's quite blatant, and therefore not sexy at all. So from now on we'll try and call them ads that are "attractive."

What makes an ad (or a person) attractive? People perceive the world through their senses- sight, sound, smell, taste, touch. So if you can appeal to them in any of these five ways, then you may very well become attractive to them.

Let's talk about the word sensual. Not sexual, but sensual. What's that mean?

Are you a sensual person? Maybe you savor the feeling of cool water against your bare skin on a hot summer's day. Perhaps you're easily carried away on a wild reverie by something as simple as the smell of fresh cut grass. More people are sensual than not sensual, and this greatly affects their buying habits. Appeal to their senses in just the right way, and you've got paying customers!

Did you know: too much stimulation actually dulls the senses. If your brain is bombarded with a high concentration of sensation all at once, it just tunes out! Sounds crazy but it's true. Ever see someone who went overboard with the Botox? Whoa, keep those crazy lips away from me! It's like this: if your eyes are big, and your nose is sort of big too, then your lips should be small. Too much Bigness = NOT a good thing.

Too much Bigness in your advertising is not a good thing either. Again, it's about sensory overload. If your website is flashing, waving, winking, blinking, making loud crashing noises and also has a very long diatribe on it that puts the fear of God into your reader... well, who do you expect would sit there and take that? NOBODY! A sensual person knows to take it slow and easy, one sensation at a time. So does a smart marketer.

In advertising and in life, you are the master of how people perceive you. Solid branding is simple, direct, and consistent - and appeals to the customer by way of their senses. That's attractive advertising. That's the kind of advertising that will bring in SALES.

Let's ponder this attraction thing a bit more.

Attraction is not only about a visual, auditory and tactile presentation, but it's also about pure energy. The key is to be subtle. Energy that's too strong sends people running the other way!

Direct your energy. Be in the right place at the right time. You can't be attractive if you're not even there! So join the entrepreneur and special interest clubs, participate, speak out, pay a few dollars for those memberships. Visibility is the first step in becoming attractive. Get yourself noticed!

Use subtle messages. Suppose you're a fellow who's trying to get a little from your lady. How to approach the situation? Well, you could grab her by the hair. But here's a better idea: be subtly suggestive. Hold her gaze for a little longer than usual. If you're walking together, brush against her ever so lightly. Maybe later you might gently press your hand into the small of her back, and in this way, quietly plant some thoughts in her head. It's this slow, steady directing of energy that says, "Let's get it on, baby" - without actually SAYING those words! You need to be equally subtle in your advertising. You don't want your customer to know what you're doing. You just want them to be very, very aware of you.

Attract your customers with advertising that intrigues, teases, and piques their curiousity. Imagine your reader, meandering along, exploring your website with its taseful, understated message and thought-provoking design. They're not really thinking much about it on a conscious, active level. But underneath, it's sinking in and getting to them, slowly but surely. THIS is sexy advertising, doing its thing!

Suppose you sell flowers and plants - both of which are quite lovely and don't need much hype to attract attention. In your advertising, use quality images that really zoom in on the details... a single dewdrop on a velvety petal, some delicate ivy creeping along a handsome stone wall. Sell your product with understated elegance, tasteful design, short copy and text that's easy on the eyes. That's how to attract a customer!

The most important and yet most often overlooked fact about attractive advertising is this: You must emotionally connect with your audience.

Let's talk about that hypothetical skilled lover guy I mentioned earlier. "Prince Charming," we'll call him. Why's he so charming? He is able to gauge his lovers' emotions, know their fears and weaknesses, and then say just the right thing that will make them feel safe, protected and appreciated. In doing this, he charms, or mesmerizes the object of his desire. In doing this, he mentally connects with them- and that's the biggest attractor of all.

Everybody's talking about hypnotic copy. It's the kind of writing that, like Prince Charming, puts a spell on your customer, attracts and endears them to you, and most of all, makes them trust you.

A huge part of branding is trust. When your customers feels connected to your brand, they'll come back again and again. They'll tell all of their friends about you. They'll invest their money in your product beause they really believe in you!

Want a perfect example of attractive advertising and expert branding? Disney. You love and believe in Disney, right? How did that happen? Disney slowly and steadily positioned themselves as an icon of childhood dreams, a safe haven for the imagination and a company that's as devoted to your family as you are. Disney cares... right? Of course they do. They said so, in their advertising! They make those pornmovies with tender baby animals, and mommies and magic and true love, and it's so emotional and the animation is so perfect, that you can see the love dripping right down the movie screen and you can feel it beating right along with your heart.

Talk to your customers they way that Disney talks to theirs. Show them love, every day. Do it in your written materials, and also in your daily interactions with them. They should feel like they're being heard, catered to, appreciated and understood. This is the stuff that big, big dreams are made of, and it is damned sexy advertising.

Okay, let's review. We want our ads to be sexy. We want to attract and mesmerize our key customers. How do we do this?

1. Stimulate their senses (but don't overload them)
2. Direct and focus your energy
3. Keep it subtle
4. Establish an emotional connection

Now you have everything you need go out there and captivate your audience of buyers. They're ready for love, so give it to them. Charm them and disarm them, with attractive advertising that sells your product and keeps them coming back for more. Go on, I know you can do it! You sexy thang.

Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.

Liked this article? Have more of the same emailed to your inbox each month. Sign up for the Copywriting and Marketing Ezine from Dina at Wordfeeder.com and learn to write search engine friendly web copy and market your web based business for free.

posted by dancehuonk @ 7:29 PM 0 comments

Free Digital Scrapbooking Themes

If you are a digital scrapbooking beginner, you probably have many questions. You like the idea of digital scrapbooking, but you dont want to sink a lot of money into it until you know whether it will be rewarding.

Definition of Digital Scrapbooking

Digital scrapbooking is the act of creating images, photos, journaling, and extra touches to preserve your memories in digital instead of physical form. Scrapbooking software is available free on the Internet, or you can use a standard Microsoft Word program.

Digital Scrapbooking Themes

Scrapbooking looks most professional when the entire publication has a theme. A digital scrapbooking theme helps you focus on one style, rather than have each page different. Once you have a central theme, you can set themes for individual pages. These should follow the main theme, but in smaller pieces. For example, an main vacation theme might have page themes of transportation, hotel, beach, restaurants, and activities. You can get free digital scrapbooking themes for both overall and individual pages.

Free Digital Scrapbooking Theme Kits

Free digital scrapbooking themes are available in kits at several Internet websites. You might combine similar themes, or use the elements for your own theme. For example, downloading two or three free digital scrapbooking theme kits that are focused on sports would give you elements to complete several coordinated, but different pages in a sports-themed work.

DIY Digital Scrapbooking Themes

Your status as a digital scrapbooking beginner does not mean you cannot approach digital scrapbooking themes as do-it-yourself projects. If you are willing to invest a little creativity, you will find an abundance of free digital scrapbooking themes on the Internet. One website gives the digital scrapbooking beginner many hints in their descriptions of themes for sale. Consider three of them.

1. Memories of school days will be placed on backgrounds specifically designed for school. Stop and think. What kind of background fits the description? Imagine back-to-school advertising. Pencils, books, backpacks, apples, desks, and alphabets spring to mind. With very little work, you can create your own backgrounds for free digital scrapbooking themes on school days.

Picture a page with a faded school building background. A large school Bangbus sits in front of the building. A childs kindergarten photo fills one window. Friends photos fill two more windows. A note about the first day of school is tacked to the page with a small, bright backpack graphic. Another page theme might begin with a background of alphabet letters or spelling words written in script and arranged at angles. Great for showing off a perfect spelling test, or photos of the spelling bee. The same letters, or bright trophies, could be added as embellishments. In a matter of moments, you have two free digital scrapbooking themes for school memories. Each is do-it-yourself. Each fits the mood you are trying to create.

2. A 50th wedding anniversary scrapbook might have a nostalgic, antique theme. Close your eyes and picture antique things. Imagine an antique store or a trunk of old clothing and faded letters. Lavender, satin ribbons, old lace, and antiqued paper come to mind. With imagination, you can create your own backgrounds for free digital scrapbooking themes on old memories.

A large photograph of a county fair, faded and antiqued, would make a great background page for photos of the dating couple and a ticket stub or two. Cotton candy or carousel horse embellishments could spice up the page. If its a 2-page spread, a piece of an old love letter can be the journaling. Colorful photo mats in candy-striping will carry out the couples happy feelings. A second page theme might be antique cars, a faded background of vehicle graphics setting the stage for photos of the couples first car, or every car they ever owned. On a third page, clipart or photos of ornate mirrors could be repeated on a faded background. A single, enlarged mirror frame could frame the main wedding photo. Smaller mirrors, lace and ribbon elements could complete the theme. With a few minutes of thought, you have three free digital scrapbooking themes for your 50th wedding anniversary scrapbook.

3. If you want a digital scrapbook cowboy hat theme, begin by thinking of symbols you connect with that idea. Your background might be rodeo scenes, a desert, or the colors of the outdoors. You might make a page that looks like the inside of a stable. Hang rope on a board in the stable, and set a pair of cowboy boots on the floor. Scatter straw at the bottom. Then add your photos, tacked in place with small cowboy hat graphics. Be sure one photo shows the subject in a cowboy hat. Add rope letters to spell out a caption such as Ride em, Cowboy! A scrap of torn paper with the date, name, and a comment would be appropriate journaling so that future generations can fully appreciate the occasion. You have just given yourself another free digital scrapbooking theme.

Gleaning Digital Scrapbooking Themes

Another source of free digital scrapbooking themes is the website postings of those who are eager to share their own work. These are easily found by doing an online search. If you have a basic theme in mind, you can often glean themes for individual pages from the examples offered.

Scrapbook stores and magazines offer many themes, some digital. If you are creative, you can adapt non-digital themes with a little practice.

Final Tips on Digital Scrapbooking Themes

Wherever you get your digital scrapbooking themes, keep in mind that backgrounds should always complement the colors in the photographs that will go on each page. Journaling adds great interest. If you dont know what to write, think: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Elements are extra decorative objects added to the page. Scrapbook Bytes offers many free, downloadable elements.

2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about paper and digital scrapbooking themes at http://www.scrapbooking-for-fun.com Anna is posting new articles every week on that site. You wont want to miss her recent article on free digital scrapbooking frames.

posted by dancehuonk @ 7:13 PM 0 comments

Booming: Television News Channels in India

News programmes have suddenly become hot property and are vying for attention with other popular programmes telecast in different channels. All major television broadcasters are including at least one news channel to their bouquet. The biggest headache for launching a satellite channel is programme software for round the clock. In this juncture, newsgathering is a major task for the 24-hour news channels. To cater this task, the emerging electronic channels have always made an attempt to cover all the incidents irrespective of position, location and time. These channels not only revolutionized the concept of news on Indian television but also changed the news formats. Before 1990s, Doordarshan had monopolized newscast on Indian television and also turned the news programs into a dowdy exercise. Now the private channels made the news an essential commodity like food, cloth and shelter. The strong point of all todays news bulletins is their topicality, objectivity, glossy editing and high-quality visuals. News has traveled a long way from the DD era. From Local events to International events, breaking news to news analysis, television soap to page3 news, every happening comes under purview of news. In this article, we have covered some significant changes in news broadcasting in India before and after the Gulf War.

Indian Television - Flash Back

Television in India is undergoing significant changes in the current liberalized environment. To understand these changes, one needs to have some brief idea of the road covered by the television channels so far. The journey started as an experimental basis with a financial grant from UNESCO in 15th September 1959. The makeshift studio at Akashvani Bhavan in New Delhi was chosen for location of the experiment. The experiment started with one-hour program, broadcast twice a week, on community health, citizen rights, education and traffic sense etc. As far as news is concerned, it was launched exactly six years after the inception of television broadcasting. Daily one-hour program with a news bulletin was served to the Indian viewers. But one major drawback of television was that you could not enjoy the original colour of the objects because of black and white transmission. First multi-color programme was the Prime Ministers address to the nation from Red Fort in Delhi on Indias 35th Independence Day. In the same day, DD National channel was launched. The aim of launching the National channel is nurturing national integration, and inculcating a sense of pride in Indians. Indian viewers also enjoyed the colored version of the Asian Games hosted by New Delhi in their drawing room. The coverage of major events and different occasions lend a big hand behind the infiltration of television signals to the nook and corners of the subcontinent. Indian Government had taken all possible steps to expand the television broadcasting demographically and geographically. In 1983 television signals were available to just 28% of the population, this had doubled by the end of 1985 and by 1990 over 90% of the population had access to television signals. In 1984, DD Metro channel was added to provide an exclusive entertainment for the urban viewers. In the beginning, this channel was confined to metropolitan cities. As a public broadcaster, Doordarshan presented the news in naturalized manner. All controversial issues were pushed under the carpet. The ruling government had a strong hold on the television broadcasting. Doordarshan news bulletins were unable to provide the international news to the national viewers. Objectivity had been the first casualty as news was invariably slanted to suit the party in power. The news was liberated from the confines of the DD newsroom and gained in objectivity and credibility when New Delhi Television (NDTV) produced The World This Week in 1988. Everyone was waiting for the Friday night to watch The World This Week. This was the only India-based programme, which looked out at the rest of the world. The World This Week was the best current affairs programme on the international scenario and carried good stuff of news, which the regular DD news was failed to carry out. This program is ranked as one of the countrys finest and most popular television shows. In 1989, NDTV produces Indias first live televised coverage of the countrys general elections. The critical and commercial success of the coverage sets a new standard for Indian television. After the Gulf War the media panorama has changed forever.

Golf War The Catalyst

Post-1990 satellite television in India has become transnational in nature. It coincided with the entry of multinational companies in the Indian markets under the Government policy of privatization. International satellite television was introduced in India by CNN through its coverage of the Gulf War in 1991. In August 1991, Richard Li launched Star Plus, the first satellite channel beamed the signal to Indian subcontinent. Subhash Chandras Zee TV appeared in October 1992. It is Indias first privately owned Hindi channel to cater the interest of Indian viewers. This ignition followed by Sony and a little later by domestic channels such as Eenadu, Asianet and Sun TV. Entertainment programs had begun to occupy center stage in the organizations programming strategies and advertising had come to be main source of funding. Doordarshans earlier mandate to aid in the process of social and economic development had clearly been diluted. Doordarshan had faced a stiff competition in news and public affairs programming with international channels like BBC and CNN. Doordarshan planned to sell some slots for news programme under sponsored category. In February 1995, NDTV becomes the countrys first private producer of the national news News Tonight, which aired on the countrys government-owned Doordarshan set a new landmark for Indian television because of its on-the-spot reporting with pertinent visuals. In the same year, TV Today Network occupied a 20 minutes slot in DD Metro channel and aired a Hindi and current affairs programme Aaj Tak. This programme became popular for its comprehensive coverage and unique style presentation by Late S. P. Singh. Still we remembered the sign-up message Ye Thi Khabar Aaj Tak, Intizar. Kijiye Kal Tak. Large number of viewers across India had been watching Aaj Tak as a daily habit because of its innovative style of news presentation. Besides that Nalini Singhs five-minute fast paced, condensed daily news capsule Ankhon Dekhi, TV Today Networks Business Aaj Tak and Newstrack was aired on the Metro channel of Doordarshan. This is the period when satellite channels concentrated on entertainment programmes for their respective channels. Doordarshan was still ruled the most wanted area news.

Major Players

Doordarshans monopoly was broken in 1992, when private television channels infiltrated into the Indian boundaries and entertain the viewers as much as possible. In the beginning of 1990s, the private channels offered only entertainment programmes. The entertainment programs include family drama, comedy serials, children programmes, cartoons, brutal teen movies, talk shows, recipe shows, musical concerts, non-fiction programmes etc. Private entertainment channels added some infortainment programmes to their Fixed Point Charts (FPC). Keeping the demand of infotainment programmes in mind, the media houses started to produce news magazines, entertainment magazines and news programmes for different channels. Indias premier business and consumer news broadcaster and a leading media content provider, Television Eighteen India Limited (TV18) started Indias first ever entertainment magazine The India Show on Star Plus in 1993. This emerging media powerhouse provided prime time television content to almost all leading satellite channels in India including BBC, Star Plus, Sony Entertainment Television, Zee, MTV and Discovery. After The India Show, TV18 produced a weekly business news program India Business Report for BBC World. Indian viewers had very limited options (like public service broadcaster Doordarshan, BBC and CNN) for watching the television news. For televised news, the viewers had to watch Dordarshan and some international news channels like BBC or CNN. In this race to provide more news, more information, Zee Television jumped into the battlefield by launching the news channel Zee News in 1995. This News and current affairs channel revolutionized the way news was delivered to the viewers. Since its inception Zee News has endeavoured to be the fastest to provide news, working towards a single goal of Sabse Pahle (Always First). The other round-the-clock news channel, the Murdoch-owned Star TV beamed its exclusively 24-hour news channels, Star News in 1998. Star made a contract of five year with Prannoy Roy-owned NDTV (New Delhi Television Company) to provide news content for this news channel. The untiring exhaustive coverage of the Kargil war between India and Pakistan gained more publicity and attracted more viewers towards the electronic channel. This televised conflict also sets a news benchmark for wartime journalism. During the Kargil war, common citizens witnessed how their brave Jawans fought despite in hostile conditions and watched the war front live by the exclusively news channels, Star-TV and Zee-News. The live coverage of the battlefield helped to create a euphoria of patriotism among the Indian masses, which later facilitated into collecting huge funds for the welfare of the families of Kargil martyrs. Every news programme draws the attention of large number of viewers but Kargil war attracts private broadcasters to invest more money in the broadcasting business by launching a news channel. In November 1999, TV18 entered into a 49:51 joint venture with CNBC Asia to launch CNBC India. TV18 is the sole program provider to CNBC India, and produces 12 hours of local content per day on this 24-hour satellite channel. After the huge success of news programme Aaj Tak, TV Today group launched a 24-hour Hindi news channel with the same name Aaj Tak, in December 2000, which covers India with insight, courage and plenty of local flavour. Within 11 months of its launch, Aaj Tak emerged as Indias number one news channel and was awarded Best News Channel award from Indian Television Academy Awards. Some mega events apart from regular interesting items (such as Kandhahar hijack, September 11 attacks, Afghanistan war, attack on Parliament, Iraq war, Godhra carnage and riots) have driven up the viewership. As time passed, NDTVs five years contract with Star group for outsourcing of news and related programming expired on March 2003. With the expiry NDTV forayed into broadcasting business by simultaneously launching two 24-hour news channels; NDTV 24X7 English news channel and NDTV India Hindi news channel, which targets the Indian diaspora across the world. News crazy Indians received more news at faster speed from different channels. Any unusual happening can be caught by the television camera anywhere form Rastrapati Bhawan to bedroom. The power of TV journalism was become more visible by the major sting operations like Operation West End and Shakti Kapoor Case. This style of investigative journalism has brought about a change in the way we look at news, amidst new notions of editorial freedom. The worlds largest family Sahara India Parivar launched a 24-hour national Hindi news channel, Sahara Samay, in March 28, 2003. It is the first ever city-centric satellite news channels covering 31 cities in India with their own city news bulletins. Keeping the demand of news in mind, the Union cabinet approved the proposal to convert the DD Metro to DD news in a meeting held on 3 October 2003. Consequent to these decisions, DD-News channel was launched on 3 November 2003. You might have noticed that the news channels are language specific. But DDs news channel contains the round the clock news bulletins in Hindi/ English are also telecast twice a day on the National Network of DD National. Aap Ki Adalat fame Rajat Sharma, Sohaib Ilyasi, the man behind the highly successful India's Most Wanted and Taun Tejpal, editor-in-chief of Tehelka roped together and launched a free-to-air Hindi news and current affairs channel India TV on May 20, 2004. Indian viewers had more expectations from this channel. The much-awaited news channel hopes to set itself apart from the existing ones by setting new benchmarks of responsible journalism. Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Rajat Sharma, chairman, India TV, said, We aim to change the way broadcast news reporting is being conducted in the country. India TV will set new benchmarks by maintaining international standards of responsible and credible news reporting. We will stay away from graphic depictions of violence and sensationalism of news. We will uphold the viewer's right to correct information and their right to truth and verity. India TV is not just a news channel, it is a movement. NDTV as a pioneer in Indian television news, set to create a fresh revolution in high-quality business news with the launch of NDTV Profit. NDTV launched this 24-hour business channel on January 17th, 2005. There is no saturation point in launching of news channel, just booming like sky as the limit. Entertainment channel to infotainment channel, infotainment channel to news channel, news channels to business channel and Business channel to lots more. Now the satellite channels become more topicality with international standard. When we are talking about topicality, CNBC TV18, the only business channel, continues to be the medium of choice for Indias decision makers, affluent audiences across the country since 1999. It has set the pace for the growth in number of television channels by launching a 24-hour consumer channel in Hindi called Awaaz. This news channel focusses on empowering consumers on decision-making related to investment, saving and spending. All the programmes are catering to consumers across different walks of life, which included personal finance; variety of markets including commodity, stocks, savings etc.; small businesses; education & career guidance; and verticals like health, shopping etc. Another news channel was finally launched into the already cluttered news space in Indian television. Jagran TV Pvt Limited's news channel, Channel 7 up-linked to the air on 27 March 2005. The channel has been set up to cater to the vast Hindi-speaking audiences, already being targeted by a slew of news channels. Channel 7 developed every programme with a bid to cater to all types of audiences and not just pre-dominantly male audiences who get attracted towards news channels.

Regional Leaders

To cater the interest among the Indians, Doordarshan televises programmes in Hindi and associate Official languages. It has launched a number of Regional Language Satellite Channels (DD - 4 to DD - 11 and DD - 13) and telecast programmes in Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Kashmiri, Oriya and Tamil. The Regional channels relayed by all terrestrial transmitters in the state and additional programmes in the Regional Language in prime time and non-prime time available only through cable operators. The Doordarshan regional satellite channels telecast major news programme with some entertainment programmes. If you think about the private regional channels, they have followed the path of the Big brother (i.e Doordarshan). They are neither completely entertainment channel nor exclusively news channel. They are following the middle path and claiming themselves an infotainment channels. The private channels televise through the state dominant languages. Rising advertising revenues and increasing numbers of viewers have provided the impetus for many big players to enter into the business. Some regional media leaders like ETV, Sun TV, Asianet have a strong grip over the regional market. Some major players tried their luck in different states. Zee television has three regional channels; Zee Marathi, Zee Punjabi and Zee Bangla. Star Network entered into Tamilnadu by launching Star Vijay, one of the most popular entertainment channels in India broadcasting in Tamil. Besides that ETV Network is a part of the well-established Ramoji Group, has created 12 dedicated infotainment regional channels. ETV network is the source of rich entertainment of eight different languages. Those are: Telugu, Bangla, Marathi, Kannada, Oriya, Gujarati, Urdu; and Hindi to viewers in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Every ETV Network channel focuses exclusively on its audiences unique cultural identity, its aspirations and its distinct socio-political character. Let us think about the south Indian language Telugu, there are around twelve satellite channels are roaming around the sky with different taste and different flavour. These channels include three news channels, one song-based channels and rest are infotainment channels. When we confine ourselves into news, three channels (ETV2, TV 9 and Teja News) exclusively devoted to news programmes. Sahara India Pariwar is proud to have five news channels as the bouquet of Sahara Samay. These channels are: Sahara Samay NCR, Sahara Samay Mumbai, Sahara Samay Bihar & Jharkhand, Sahara Samay Madhya Pradesh & Chattisgarh, and Sahara Samay Uttar Pradesh & Uttranchal. Sahara Samay has already managed to gain a loyal audience in India through a bouquet of National & Regional News Channels since its launch. These channels are youthful and vibrant channels targeting students and women, besides that hardcore news stuff. The regional news channels covers the entire spectrum of genre with specific programs on lifestyle, fashion, food, shopping, health and fitness, sports, education, career and city issues, besides giving user-friendly information on traffic updates, city events, train and air timings, etc. Now national news channels cannot confine its boundary to national level. They cannot ignore the regional news because of the stiff competition form the regional cannels. Regional news channels are entering into the competition with a strong will power and also with an aim to portrait regional issues in national and international level.

Conclusion

Now the television industry becomes more specific. In this competitive market, channels are targeting specific viewers. News channels attract more viewers beyond their target by producing interactive and interesting programmes. Every channel needs to do an extensive research on different concepts and different themes to attract more viewers and in the same time more advertisers. After all, advertisements are the bread and butter for the channels. With increased consumer preference for news programmes, television news channels have grown faster than other niche channels. News channels are booming just like sky as the limit. Those days are not far away, when we will get satellite news channel for every major city in India. Staying in abroad, we can update ourselves about all the happening of our hometown. Now news is not restricted to political happenings. It will be extended its limit to every unwanted and hided corners of the society. At last we can reach in the conclusion that anything, which is strange or disgusting, is news. There are no rigid rules, which defines news.

Source: http://www.audiovisualcat.net/publicationsing/Q14india.pdf http://www.equitymaster.com/research-it/ipo/ndtv.asp http://www.mouthshut.com/index.php?url=#&image=http://www.mouthshut.com/imagefiles/logo-ms.gif http://www.screenindia.com/jul25/tele2.htm http://www.indianembassy.org/indiainfo http://www.india-today.com/itgroup/ http://www.studio-systems.com/broadfeatures/JFMA98/NDTV/63.htm http://www.ndtvtravels.com/aboutus.asp http://cnbc-tv18.moneycontrol.com/cnbctv18/about_tv18.php http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501030818-474534,00.html http://www.chennaionline.com/musicnew/Channels/05indiatv.asp http://www.prdomain.com/companies/s/sahara_india_pariwar/news_releases/200303mar/pr_sahara_india_nr_20030326.htm http://www.scatmag.com/tamreach_sept05.pdf http://www.agencyfaqs.com/media/media_newslets/Media/4899.html. http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/26/business/indianews27.php

The author is a media researcher in Journalism Department of ICFAI University. He has five years experience in electronic media in the field of Public Relations and Media Relations. His qualifications include a Master in Journalism and Mass Communication, had special paper Advertising and Public Relations.

posted by dancehuonk @ 7:00 PM 0 comments

The Effects Of Smoking And Alcohol On Your Skin

Although smoking is best known for causing lung cancer, this habit is also among the biggest threats to your skin. Next to sun and chemicals, tobacco is one of the major accelerators of your skin natural aging process, and it is thought to be one of the fastest acting threats. Young people start showing signs of early skin aging after as little as 10 years of smoking. If you think this is a long nipples period of time, you should keep in mind that many young people start smoking in their teen years (16-19 year olds) and are still below 30 when the first signs appear.

Smoking causes the narrowing of blood vessels throughout your body, including those that supply the outermost layers of the skin with oxygen and nutrients. Thus, your skin is slowly starved of vital oxygen and other substances, such as immunity-boosting Vitamin A. Alcohol has a similar effect by destroying the body supply of Vitamin A. This will lower the role of skin as the first line of defense against bacteria and infections.

The same Vitamin A is used in the skin turnover process to help generate the new cells that replace the dead ones. The vitamin provides a temporary boost in the production of collagen and can lend the skin a more youthful appearance for a while.

Over time, the lack of oxygen and nutrients would allow the formation of harmful free radicals that slowly damage the elastic fibers and collagen, which keep the skin strong and flexible. The result is usually the appearance of premature wrinkles. It is also thought likely that the repeated pursing of lips when inhaling smoke helps build wrinkles around the mouth, while the heat of the burning cigarette tip is also damaging the skin.

Seven Tips For Healthy Skin

Healthy skin is a sign of good health. The skin is the largest vital organ in our body, which is comprised of about two billion cells and has a surface area of around two square meters. Although only very few people can actually have the perfect skin and complexion, we can do something to bring out the best in our skin.

Here are quick and simple ways that we can care for our skin.

1. Nourish your skin by eating the proper foods. This means a healthy and balanced diet. A healthy and balanced diet promotes general well-being and optimizes the body to function at its best. To have healthy skin, eat plenty of seed food, i.e. fruits that contain seeds, and vegetables - organic is better as it contains additional nutrients.

2. Drink plenty of water. The recommended eight glasses of water a day is essential in maintaining the elasticity and suppleness of skin. Water also clears your skin and aids in the proper elimination of waste. Remember, less waste products in your body, more beautiful skin you would have.

3. Exercise regularly. Exercise is good for our hearts and bodies. Even our skin benefits from exercise since blood circulation is increased, thus bringing enough oxygen and nutrients to the rest of our bodies. Exercise also triggers the body to produce more sebum which is natural moisturizer for body.

4. Be smoke- and alcohol-free. Smoking tends to destroy the Vitamin C in your body and damage the elastic tissues that keep the skin tight. Drinking liquor on the other hand tends to expand your blood vessels causing red spots and itchiness on your skin.

5. Cleanse it. Cleaning plays an important part in the overall wellness of your skin. Experts agree that we should gently clean our skin, tone it, moisturize it, and exfoliate it.

6. Protect your skin. Harsh elements can severely damage your skin and can lead to irritation and infection. Wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15 every time you go out in the sun. For higher levels of activities, use SPF 45 because you will be perspiring, which dilutes the sunscreen. For those who are very fair, have red hair, blue eyes and freckles, add a total block that contains titanium or zinc.

7. Rest. Get plenty of rest. You are giving your skin a time to rejuvenate and heal while you rest. Stress is extremely bad for your skin and body. It indirectly creates instability in your hormonal system, which in turn leads to more skin problems like breakouts and acne.

The bottom line is that every person who wants to enjoy healthy skin for as long nipples as possible should refrain from alcohol and tobacco consumption and should also take the basic steps in skin protection. There is no reason to harm yourself with unhealthy smoking and drinking and to damage your face with premature wrinkles. It is so simple to stay healthy.

Misty McDowell reviews top acne products in the market. Be an educated consumer and find out what works and what doesn't. Save your time and money by knowing what you are buying.

posted by dancehuonk @ 6:51 PM 0 comments

Adopting A Kitten For The Family?

Most people have owned cats all their lives, with childhood memories of various cats and their character, and they usually feel that home is not complete without a resident furry 'frfiend'. To some others, owning a cat can be a pleasure discovered much later in life. It is quite well known that we do not really 'adopt' a cat, but are 'adopted' by them, as have been demonstrated so many times in my own family and as well as neigbours of ours when they ended up having a couple of strays wondering into their lives, and subsequently becoming part of their families.

Mention that you have a cat, and most people will envisage a non-pedigree type. As a matter of fact, only about 10-15 percent of 'adopted' cats as pets are pedigree animals. In general, though there are many people who can easily name a wide variety of dog breeds, they remain quite unaware of the extensive range of cat breeds that are available. There are perhaps several reasons for this. The first being that cats a very personal pets, they are not taken out for walks, or for trips in cars like dogs usually are, so we may not see very many breeds unless we come across them whilst visiting friends or relatives who happen to have cats in their households. Then some cat breeds have only recently been discovered or developed. Even when we come across new breeds, we may not notice the more subtle differences between them, as most are roughly the same size and have the same general shape and look. In this, cats are also quite different from their canine cousins, which vary from being smaller than cats to the size of small ponies. Another reason why we may not be so well aware of cat breeds is the way we sometimes acquire our kittens, many of which are given us by friends/relatives whose 'mummy' cats have 'accidentally' given birth to 1 litter too many; through magazines and newspapers advertising 'free' kittens; or from animal shelters. These are perhaps the more common methods in which we acquire our kittens.

When you do decide to have a kitten, it is a great deal of fun to have 2, instead of 1, and you will see much more of their feline behavioural repertoire as they play. Kittens enact the whole gamut of body language in their daily frolics, and this provides a wonderful opportunity to see just how much they can contort their agile bodies, or erect nipples their fur on various parts of their bodies in their play fights. It does mean that kittens do often shoot around the house, and sometimes up the curtains together, and this is so pleasureable to watch, but they will also soon grow out of this phase when they become bigger and heavier.

Having 2 kittens keep them busy, and of course, its companionship for themselves when you are not home. Obtaining 2 kittens form the same litter makes life fairly simple, but, if you would like to own one of the pedigree breeds yet cannot afford twice the cost, you can consider getting a non-pedigree cat to go with it.

So enjoy their 'youth'.

The writer has 7 cats in his household, all of whom were rescued from the street, some of whom whose eyes were not even open at the time. Through nurturing and taking care of them from kittenhood, the writer has learned a lot in cat care from reading resources on cats, and having interviewed several veterianians in cat care and health issues related to cats.

The writer is the owner of the site: http://www.catsandsuch.com

posted by dancehuonk @ 12:31 AM 0 comments

Cologne Germany -- 18 Insider Tips -- Part 2 of 2

Cologne Germany has a lot to offer, and in this second part I give you the remaining 10 insider tips you surely already were looking for...

Old town of Cologne Germany is the starting point for most people. It is world-wide well-known from lots of postcards. Old houses, countless churches, Cologne Cathedral, biker bars, restaurants, pubs, cramped alleys, Rhine river...

The city offers an unparalleled selection of more than 3,000 bars, restaurants and breweries, the highest number per capita than anywhere else in Germany.

Anyway, shall we get started? Great!

TOP 10 Bars and Restaurants

9. The proven best restaurant in Cologne Germany is the Boersen-Restaurant (Stock-Market Restaurant), located in a street called Unter Sachsenhausen No. 10-26. It consists of the Restaurant Maitre, the Boersen-Stube, Boersen-Schaenke, and several meeting rooms. Yummy!

10. Three Frenchmen created this terrific restaurant called "Le Moissonnier," located in Krefelder Str. 25. Once you enter this "biker bar," you'll feel the spirit the three chiefs spray throughout the rooms.

11. When Bruno Spatola, Chief of the restaurant "Da Bruno," opened his restaurant in the mid-90's, he didn't think it would become that great success. Even a South-German newspaper is considering Da Bruno as "The Best Italian of Germany." You find this exquisite gourmet temple in Suerther Hauptstrasse 157 in the district Suerth.

12. Cologne's smallest restaurant "Capricorn [i] Aries Restaurant" is located in the heart of the southern part of the city (Altenburgerstrasse 34). It was built in a monument-protected house in modern-elegant ambience. Rewarded with a Michelin star, Klaus Jaquemod cooks fine French cuisine. The area is being held completely in white, contains four tables for maximally 16 guests, and, at late hour, it uses a special light system to change itself into different colors. Awesome.

13. The "Vintage" is a restaurant, in which you can enjoy more than 600 (!) high-quality wines at reasonable prices in a pleasant atmosphere with good cuisine for large and small hunger. You can buy the wines of your favours. The kitchen has been awarded several times as one of the TOP ones in Cologne Germany and Germany wide. You find it in downtown, Pfeilstrasse 31.

14. Excelsior Hotel Ernst, located right nearby Cologne Cathedral in Trankgasse 1, is a 5-Star Hotel. It contains the Hanse Stube, which is famous for its innovative French cuisine and culinary finesse. In the taku, Japanese cuisine in the tradition of Asian culinary art and hospitality is going to be served. Further the Piano Bar, in which you can easily relax and forget about the daily routine.

15. Not to injustice, the "Bizim" is considered as "The Noble Turk" of Cologne Germany. Faraway of Doener and Lamacun (usual meals at Turkish snack bars), their menu proves how variously the Turkish cuisine can be. Hint: a punctual table reservation is absolutely necessary! The Bizim is located in Weidengasse 47, and considered as an insider tip.

16. The "Gaffel Haus," located at Alter Markt 20, is considered as a place at which the culture of hospitality is maintained. In the last 600 years, Cologne became the scene for liberty and democracy; and the Gaffel House shows some historical facts as it was the tradition house for Cologne's Gaffel.

17. Whether you would like to dance, watch other people, or relax in a beer garden with up to 1,200 people (!), the "Herbrand's" is definitely a place where you can forget the everyday life. Located in district Ehrenfeld, Herbrandstrasse 21, you will like the architectural building and surrounding.

18. Stroll through the traditional Muehlengasse in old town of Cologne Germany, and take a rest in "Peters Brauhaus" (Peter's Brewing House). Fine brewing atmosphere mixed with traditional Cologne cuisine let you easily relax after heavy sightseeing.

Now, visit http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/cologne.html for further information, and for some pictures of Cologne Germany.

So, whatever you are going to do in Cologne Germany, enjoy it! :-) This city is definitely worth staying longer than one day. I myself lived 17 years of my life in this carnivalistic stronghold.

Best regards,
Marcus Hochstadt
Copyright http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/ All Rights Reserved

Marcus Hochstadt has a high interest in helping you gain the delightful form of a smart travel to and through Germany. On http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/german-cities-and-towns.html he covers many other German cities and towns and gives you additional insider tips.

posted by dancehuonk @ 12:24 AM 0 comments

Cool Sunglasses

There is something about a pair of sunglasses that makes them arguably one of the most quintessential 'must-have' items of all time. Not only are they immensely practical, offering protection from the dangers of the sun, they are an enormously versatile fashion accessory, available in a huge range of styles, colors and prices to suit every pocket. Given their worldwide popularity, sunglass manufacturing has become a very lucrative, but highly competitive industry and while some manufacturers rise and wane in the public affections, there is one company that remains forever synonymous with the eyeglasses that protect our eyes from the rays of the sun: Ray-Ban

Although Us President, Benjamin Franklin, is often credited with inventing eyeglasses (he was the one who developed the first bifocal lens in the 1780's), the first reading glasses were developed in Italy, as early as 1260. People continued to be fascinated by all things optical throughout the centuries that followed, then, in the mid-eighteen hundreds British scientist James Ayscough began to research tinted glass, and the possibility that such technology may be used to improve vision impaired eyesight. As successful as he was, it was not until 1929 that the idea that glasses could filter the sun's rays was given any serious consideration. At that time, U.S. optical company, Foster Grant, began to develop the idea further, until finally, later that same year, the first ever pair of sunglasses were sold from a Woolworth's store on the Atlantic City boardwalk.

Recognizing that the new technology could be beneficial to their pilots, the U.S. Army Air Corps asked another prominent American company, Bausch & Lomb, to develop eyeglasses that would protect the eyes from the dangers of the glaring sun, when flying.

It was U.S. eyeglass company, Ray-Ban, who really ran with the concept. In 1936, using the newly available polarized lenses, and a wide frame that offered maximum protection from the sheen of an instrument panel, Ray-Ban began to produce a lens that banned the sun's rays. Some three years later, this model of sunglass so popular with pilots, became readily available to the American public. Ray-Ban 'aviators' were born.

As Americans came of age, so too did their eyewear. Throughout the war years Ray-Ban continued its working partnership with the Air Force, creating Gradient mirror lenses that managed to be both highly practical and fashionable at the same time. There was something about that American flyer in his tough brown leather flight jacket, whose sunglasses hid his eyes. Ray-Ban had just made sunglasses sexy.

Ubiquitous in the 1950's, sunglasses became more than just eye protection. Worn by A-list celebrities in Vegas and Hollywood -stars whose every move was scrutinized and emulated all over the country- sunglasses became a fashion accessory, and Ray-Ban was quick to accommodate the growing trend for new designs and colorful frames, which they marketed to women in particular.

Keeping abreast of space-age technology, the company developed shatterproof lenses in the 1960's and the popularity of sunglasses continued to rise when fashion icon Jackie Kennedy was often seen with her trademark, oversized nipples frames. On the silver screen, sunglasses were becoming an essential part of any actor's costume, with movie stars like Peter Fonda and Audrey Hepburn, playing stylish, sunglass-wearing, characters who were able to hide their eyes from the audience and remain convincing.

Ray-Ban continued to develop new styles and designs in the 1970's and 1980's: their 'Wings' model was indeed a forerunner to the very modern, half-frame, lens of today. In the era of American TV cop shows, like Starsky & Hutch, and Chips, the mirrored lenses once so popular in the 1940's, began to reappear. Ray-Ban was retro.

Stylish and modern, funky and retro, Ray-Ban remains at the forefront of sunglass manufacturing to this day, no mean feat when one considers the competition out there. Undoubtedly, the company will continue to have staying power in the industry, because throughout the decades it has evolved with the nation to give people exactly what they want for their eyes: the reliable protection of a hi-tech pair of sunglasses, and the serious 'cool' of a damn sexy pair of shades.

This article courtesy of http://glassesinfo.com You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

posted by dancehuonk @ 12:17 AM 0 comments