Menturion

Limestone is a type of sedimentary rock. It is chemically made up of the mineral calcite (calcium carbonate). Limestone is formed by the deposition of calcium carbonate on the floors of water bodies. Limestone is one the most widely known form of sedimentary rocks comprising about 10% of the sedimentary rocks.

The colour of pure limestone is white or almost white. But you would find that various limestone’s generally exhibit different colours because of the presence of impurities such as clay, sand, organic remains, iron oxides etc. It is more prominent on weathered surfaces. Limestone’s are also found in varied forms because of the difference in the way it has been formed. So, you may get limestone’s that are crystalline, elastic, granular or dense.

Limestone finds wide-spread application in the construction sector.

You would find Limestone being used in architecture. Its ready availability and the versatility of the rock that allows it to be easily cut into blocks or more elaborate carvings make it very desirable for architects. It is also very durable and generally remains unaffected by exposure. The flip side is that it is very heavy and that’s why it is practically not possible to use it in tall buildings. Its cost is another detrimental factor. You would find that limestone used in humid climate remains unaffected, but it is very much vulnerable to acids. If a limestone structure is situated at a place where acid rain is frequent, you would find that the limestone undergoes heavy weathering destroying its beauty and shape.

LIMESTONE MAINTENANCE & CLEANING

Limestone is one of the most porous natural stones in nature. This high porosity makes it more susceptible to absorption of oils, dirt and grime than other natural stones. You would find it absorbing stains very easily. Most of the times it even absorbs stain from the dye in many grouts. So, before you grout the stone, an appropriate Impregnator must be used as a release. This allows you to have the best possible construction site protection. Application of impregnators doesn’t change the natural look of the stone. What the impregnator does is that it resists grout dye absorption, quickens up the removal of grout residue and during construction it also protects the limestone from stains.

Liquid poultice can be used to clean the surface. Generally, poultice available in the markets are safe for almost all type of marble floors. You can make use of a Marble Floor Machine, a brush and a wet vacuum to clean up the floor. If the area that you have to clean is very small, you can achieve your purpose with a hand brush otherwise you need an automatic scrubber for larger areas. If you find that your marble gets exposed to oils and greases, you would surely need an added protection. You will find a chemical generally termed as Pre Treat that is applied to the limestone surface after grout removal. The use of this added protector before using impregnator makes the porous surface of the limestone much more resistant to staining materials, especially oils.

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as the byline is included and the article is included in it’s entirety. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to: admin@marblemasteruk.com

Edward Green owns and operates the highly successful Marble Master Ltd company. Marble Master specializes in Restoration and Refinishing of all types of natural stone and consultancy services to Architects, Restoration Companies and Interior Designers. http://www.marblemasteruk.com

Formaldehyde (aka methanal, methylene oxide, oxymethylene, methylaldehyde, oxomethane) is a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature. It has a sharp, distinct odor which may cause a burning sensation to the eyes, nose, and lungs. Formaldehyde can react with numerous other chemicals, and at very high temperatures, it will break down into a combination of wood alcohol and carbon monoxide. While it is harmless when it is naturally produced in very small amounts in our bodies, it can also be found in the air that we breathe at home and at work (ie smog, car exhaust, tobacco, gas cookers, open fireplaces, fertilizers, latex, leather, paper, plywood, and in manufactured wood products), in the food we eat (ie preservatives), and in some products that we put on our skin (ie antiseptics, medicines, cosmetics, dish-washing liquids, fabric softeners, shoe-care agents, carpet cleaners, glues and adhesives, lacquers, paper, plastics, and some types of wood products). When formaldehyde is combined with methanol and buffers, it makes embalming fluid and it can also be used to preserve tissue specimens.

Most of the formaldehyde that you’re exposed to in the environment is in the air. This usually breaks down throughout the day to form formic acid and carbon monoxide. This doesn’t seem to build up in plants, animals or water. However, you are exposed to small amounts of formaldehyde in the air. This is especially true if you live in heavily populated suburban areas. Surprisingly though, there’s usually more formaldehyde present indoors than outdoors. This is because formaldehyde is released into the air from many home products that you breathe in. These products include latex paint, fingernail hardener, and fingernail polish, antiseptics, medicines, dish-washing liquids, fabric softeners, shoe-care agents, carpet cleaners, glues, adhesives, and lacquers. Formaldehyde is also found in plywood and particle board, as well as furniture and cabinets made from them, fiberglass products, new carpets, decorative laminates, and some permanent press fabrics, and some paper products (ie grocery bags and paper towels). Since these products contain formaldehyde, you may also be exposed through your skin by touching or coming in direct contact with them. You may also be exposed to small amounts of formaldehyde in the food you eat. Other home products that contain and give off formaldehyde include: household cleaners, carpet cleaners, disinfectants, cosmetics, medicines, fabric softeners, glues, lacquers, and antiseptics. You may also breathe formaldehyde if you use unvented gas or kerosene heaters indoors or if you or someone else smokes tobacco indoors. It is also interesting to note that the amount of formaldehyde in mobile homes and apartments is usually higher than it is in conventional homes because of their lower air turnover.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that 1,329,332 individuals in the United States have had the potential for occupational exposure to formaldehyde. This is especially true if you are a doctor, nurse, dentist, veterinarian, pathologist, embalmer, a worker in the clothing industry or in a furniture factory, a worker in a chemical plant, or if you are a teacher or a student who handles preserved specimens in a laboratory.

There are numerous ways in which formaldehyde can enter your body, These include breathing it in, drinking or eating it, or having it come into contact with your skin. Formaldehyde is quickly absorbed from the nose and the upper part of your lungs. It is also very quickly absorbed whenever it is eaten or drank. Once absorbed, almost every tissue in your body can very quickly break down formaldehyde into a non-toxic chemical called formate, which is excreted in the urine. Formaldehyde can also be converted to carbon dioxide and breathed out of the body. Sometimes formaldehyde is even broken down so that the body can use it to make larger molecules that are needed in your tissues. However, formaldehyde is never stored in fat.

Children are most often exposed to formaldehyde through breathing it or by wearing some types of new clothes or cosmetics. Studies have shown that breathing formaldehyde in will result in nose and eye irritation (ie burning feeling, itchy, tearing, and sore throat) in children. It is possible that the irritation occurs at lower concentrations in children than in adults. However, the good news (if there’s any to be found), is that formaldehyde will NOT cause birth defects in humans nor is it found in breast milk.

When you come into contact with formaldehyde you will usually have skin irritation. Of course, some people are more sensitive to the effects of formaldehyde than other people are (ie people with asthma are more sensitive). The most common symptoms include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, along with increased tearing. Other symptoms that occur with large amounts of formaldehyde intake include severe pain, vomiting, coma, and possible death. Studies have shown that exposure to large amounts of formaldehyde also causes nose and throat cancer.

All of this provides a hardcore case for desiring to lower our exposure to formaldehyde. Some ways in which to do this is by opening windows or using a fan to bring fresh air into your home. You should also try to remove as many formaldehyde sources as you can from your home. This includes not smoking indoors (or not smoking at all) and not using unvented portable kerosene heaters. Of course, formaldehyde is also found in small amounts in many consumer products. To reduce your exposure to formaldehyde when using these products you should try to use them near a source of fresh air. If this is not possible, then you should at least make sure that you have plenty of ventilation when you are using them. If you choose to purchase a product that is made out of plywood or particle board, expose it to plenty of fresh air or make sure that it is covered with plastic laminate or coated on all sides. When purchasing permanent press fabrics you should wash these new clothes before you wear them.

Unfortunately, there are currently no reliable tests to determine how much formaldehyde you have been exposed to or whether you will experience any harmful health effects. Until more research is done and new methods are discovered, your best course of action is to follow the above forestated tips.

Reverend Brenda Hoffman, is ordained by the Universal Life Church, and has been delivering holistic health and wellness advice for over 7 years since receiving a BA in psychology. As a home-based professional and mother of 1, she operates a holistic wellness network. She invites you over to http://www.yourhealthyfamilyhome.com/ to learn how to improve you and your family’s health.

On Sunday’s I escaped for the day and rode my scooter high into the hills behind Tokuyama. There the noises of the city disappeared, and the bamboo forests tempered the heat. I stopped and watched the farmers working in the rice paddies, which in the evening would come alive with a chorus of frogs.

On one of these rides the paved road I traveled turned into dirt and then became a narrow path dodging between paddies. Soon, I wound my way into a dark forest. It was exciting to see land I had never laid eyes on, and I had no idea where I might end up. Suddenly the path ended and before me stood a beautiful Buddhist temple. Its ancient frame settled comfortably into the earth. I walked through its vacant rooms until I came to the rear entrance. There I found a well with a single wooden ladle hanging by it. I dipped the ladle into the water and drank. It was cool and refreshing. The forest was still and calm.

As I was preparing to leave, I noticed an elderly woman sitting just outside the temple writing. I waved, and she waved back, so I approached her.

“This is a very beautiful temple,” I said. “Do you know how old it is?”

“Very old,” she replied in broken English. “Maybe five hundred years.”

She put aside her writing and peered into my eyes. The intensity of her stare frightened me a bit.

“Come,” she said, “I show you something.” I followed her to a traditional Japanese house. Her home was made of wood. The roof beams curled out from underneath the thick wooden shingles on top. I took off my shoes and put them alongside hers before entering her home. We entered a room that had at its center a foot high table and in a corner a vase of flowers. Nothing else. As an admirer of simplicity I felt I was in the hands of a master. She beckoned me to sit down near the table and left the room. In a moment she returned with a photo album. She delicately opened the album. Her gentle loving movements sent shivers through me.

“This only possession I have that survived the war. My parents, brothers, sisters, and cousins killed in the bombing raids. This all I have,” she repeated. “Except for husband. My children gone to the cities.”

She opened the photo album.

“Many years before war, this me.”

A young girl stared out at me. She was innocently happy in the black and white photo.

“We foolish young girls. This my husband.”

A proud young fellow in a business suit stared self-assuredly into the lens of the camera.

“He hard worker.”

She paused a moment staring at the photos.

“Everything was blown up. This house,” she said pointing to a well built structure in another photograph, “and everything in and around it. Before it was blown up, I buried this album in the front yard. I dug a hole with my hands and buried it in a gift box.”

She closed the album. In its cover was a gash.

“Bomb shrapnel,” she said pointing to the cover. “I was so happy that it didn’t go all the way through and damage the photographs.”

I remained silent, gazing at the photos.

“The planes came over and dropped the bombs on Tokuyama. All of the children were told to leave, but I was eighteen, so I stayed and worked in one of the manufacturing plants. I buried this album because I knew that one day the planes would come and bomb our house. Then it happened as I had thought. We were told we must go because the planes were coming to bomb the plant. I wanted to go home, but the soldiers ordered us up here to this temple. Many of us stayed here sleeping on the floor. It was fun and exciting until the bombs started falling. When the bombs stopped falling, we went back to see what was left. Many buildings were left standing, but our entire neighborhood had vanished. It took me an entire day to find my street, and then locate where my house had been. I dug three or four holes before I found this album.”

The old woman watched me carefully as I studied the photos.

“It is in sincerity that you find self confidence,” she said.

She closed the album and walked out of the room, returning a few minutes later with a small sheet of paper.

“Take this with you.”

“What is it?”

“A poem.”

“I’m afraid I can’t read Japanese.”

“Find someone to read it to you.”

I put the paper in my pocket.

“My husband needs me now,” she said graciously.

The sun had set and dark shadows were starting to appear as I rode out of the forest.

The next day I took my poem to Yoko, one of our teaching assistants, and asked if she would translate it.

She looked at the poem.

“It is very sad,” she said.

“Please tell me what it says.”

“I will write it out for you. Can I take it with me? I will bring it tomorrow. I want to make sure I use the correct English words.”

The next morning in class I waited for her to arrive. Each time the door opened I thought it was her. Finally she arrived.

She read me her translation of the poem.

“From pain and sorrow all around
There’s no escape, I fear.
To mountain wilds should I retreat
There also I should hear
The cry of hunted deer.”

Jim Muckle is the author of The Property Manager, How To Find Jobs Teaching Overseas, Teaching In Saudi Arabia, Teaching in Japan, The Class Act Reading Game and The Stay At Home Dad. The contents of all of these booklets can be viewed at his web site at Booklets From Jim Muckle @
http://hometown.aol.com/jimmuckle/myhomepage/business.html

Have you been wondering whether or not you need to develop a financial budget? Here’s a simple Yes/No quiz that can help you understand your BQ or Budget Quotient.

1. Are you already short of money when there are six or more days left in your pay period?

2. Have you received at least one call from a creditor in the past 30 days?

3. Have you maxed out one or more credit cards?

4. Have you put more at least $200 in savings during the past six months?

5. Are you 30 days or more late on one or more bills (such as your phone bill or car payment?

6. Does your checking account balance average less than $250?
7. Do you have more than four credit cards?

8. Would it be a real emergency if your car suddenly needed a $500 repair?

9. Have you considered taking on a second job in order to make ends meet?
10. Have you talked with any financial institution about debt consolidation within the past 60 days?

If you answered “yes” to all 10 of these questions, your BQ is 100 and, boy, do you need to start work on a tough budget immediately.

Did you answer yes to six or more of these questions? Then you also need a budget. This is especially true if you answered “yes” to questions #3, #5, #7, #9 and #10.

If you are married, you must discuss budgeting with your spouse. It’s not enough for just you to develop a budget. You must both review your finances and agree on how much to budget for specific categories such as clothing, entertainment, gifts, pet care, cable or satellite and food.

What’s important in setting up an annual budget is making sure you have thought about all possible categories and that you have budgeted for each one realistically. Dig out all the checks and receipts you can and use them as a starting point. If you don’t have any checks or receipts to help you in a specific category, you’ll have to just ballpark an amount to begin. Then, start saving every possible receipt and check so that, at the end of every month, you will be able to see exactly how much you’ve spent by category and how this compares with its budgeted amount.

You will most likely find that you have to increase the amount budgeted in some categories and reduce your spending in others.
Of course, developing a budget is only half the battle. The other half is sticking to it. If you handle the family’s finances and don’t fell you have the self-discipline required to stick to a budget, maybe you should turn over the household finances to your spouse.

Creating and sticking to a budget isn’t easy. It takes work and determination. But it’s the only real way to work yourself out of debt and enjoy a happier, less stressful life.

Have you heard about HD radio technology? It makes AM sound as good as FM and FM sound almost like you were listening to a CD … and its free! To learn more about this amazing new technology, just go my Web site, http://www.hd-radio-home.com, to get all the buzz. Douglas Hanna is a retired marketing executive and the author of numerous articles on HD radio and family finances.

You’ve heard of “The South Beach Diet” and “The Mayo Clinic Diet” but have you ever heard of “The Influenza Diet?” If not, you are missing out on a “real treat” and a terrific opportunity to help you lose and keep off those excess holiday pounds. By the way, it isn’t a diet that you can readily plan on starting, but it is one that forces itself upon you quietly and suddenly.

‘Tis the season to put on weight! Yes, there is something about the month of December that convinces people that what they eat during that month will soon be forgotten by January. You’ve heard the joke: December calories do not get counted! Okay then, when your scale shows your weight has shot up by 13 lbs., who [or what] are you going to say counted the excessive baggage now resting around your gut? Hmmm?

Here a diet, there a diet So, which diet are you going to try? One that omits carbs? Another that restricts sweets? A third one that requires you to sip, not eat your daily nutritional intake? Sounds like fun for someone…maybe the author of the book [or her publisher], the diet club, or the gym pushing the diet.

Did you get your flu shot yet? If you got a flu shot this year, likely you won’t get the flu. Unfortunately, that doesn’t protect you from the dozens of flu-like illnesses roaming our planet at any given time. Now for a real treat: if you contract an illness that attacks your intestine, plan on being laid up for several days. Also plan on losing a bunch of pounds as even the thought of food will make you sick! Yes, like it or not you are on “The Influenza Diet” or one of its many cousins. Ride the diet for what it is worth…drink plenty of water, munch on a few saltine crackers, because other than that you won’t be able to “stomach” anything else at least for several days.

When your appetite returns, gradually resume eating and return to your pre-holiday good eating habits. If the urge to splurge comes upon you, think back to those days when your very bones ached, your stomach churned, and the “porcelain throne” was your frequent companion. If that doesn’t set off a quiver in your liver, than nothing else will. Enjoy the lost pounds and your successful completion of The Influenza Diet.

Copyright 2006 — Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Please visit Matt’s blog for absolutely stunning and humorous writings from the master himself!

The difficulty involved in visiting a brick and mortar gaming room should be reason enough to drop the idea unless you absolutely must go. After all, all those long drives, the difficulty, and chores required don’t justify the struggle only for the chance of risking a game at gaming room, even so in case you’re the sort who is frenetic about games of chance then choosing virtual gambling would probably be the most obvious option.

There’s no obligation for anyone to leave house to have a go at online video poker for the reason that it’s easy to access from your bedroom if you have a working computer plus broadband Internet access. On the other hand, before getting all worked up, there’s numerous rules which you need to comprehend in regards to online video poker, in particular if you’re unseasoned in this area. So damp down those hormones and ruminate the following. Here’s my outline which delineates what to observe if you are trying to ferret out a reputable online video poker site. The first thing which you as a quick web gamester must pursue is an online video poker website of the sort that is prepared to guarantee the best winning odds. Beyond this, here are many other recommendations in regards to looking out for your virtual casino gaming website.

You should be sure to make certain the virtual casino gaming website holds a bonafide license, for example by checking up on the officially certified warrant as advertised on the casino site webpage. Should you fail to track down any officially certified warrant on any given virtual casino gaming website, do not remotely think of risking at that place. As a next step I would advise you watchfully examine the divers premiums that the virtual casino gaming website displays.

Jackpots in A Flash

Beyond that, another advice could be to take your chances first in negligible amounts in place of loosing top dollars right off. To begin with, check the health of this virtual casino gaming organization before triggering some serious hazard- in particular financial ones… The last recommendation in regards to virtual card-playing. It can only be to always remember that betting is all about enjoying it and much less about money. Wagering is certainly no business, but, instead, a leisure pursuit which is supposed to help you become lighthearted and life as a whole delectable.

So, simply having kept to suggestions described, you can now go and submit to the wonders of virtual casino gaming!

With ever increasing number of skilled class of people the shift towards self employment is clearly visible these days. Almost every line of work has its own set of self employed professionals such as doctors, writers, painters, mechanics, beauticians etc. They require funds to start their profession as business or for personal usages. Self employed loan is especially designed to meet financial needs of this set of population. With growing competition amongst lenders, one can avail self employed loan in a hassle free manner and at comparatively lower interest rate.

Like any other loan, self employed people have the options of availing self employed loan in secured or unsecured form. There are many advantages attached to secured self employed loan. The interest rate and terms-conditions are usually relaxed if secured self employed loan is opted for. Lenders do not enquire much about financial position, credit history of the borrowers as the loan is well secured through collateral offered by the borrower. The collateral may be of any property such as home, vehicle, valuable papers etc.

With the loan secured, lenders can provide secured self employed loan ranging from £25,000 to £75,000. In case of greater loan, higher equity in the collateral plays crucial role. Self employed loans are generally provided at higher interest rate because of the risk involved in the uncertain business. However, because of the collateral, the interest rate may be relaxed. Moreover, borrowers are required to make a down payment of 20 to 40 percent of the loan amount and this may also push down the interest rate payable in comfortable duration of 5 to 25 years. While choosing the repayment term, keep your repayment capacity in mind. Your outgo in monthly installments goes higher if the loan is taken for shorter period.

In case there is no property to take loan against or fear of repossession withdraws you from offering collateral, self employed professionals can take unsecured self employment loan. This option of the loan is taken at better terms if the professional provides proof of his sound financial standing and income. Lenders would look into your audited accounts for proof of the income. Your good credit score also counts a lot in availing unsecured self employed loan. But even if you are unable to produce any documentation, still the loan is there for taking provided you are willing to take at slightly higher interest rate.

There are numerous self employed loan providers in the market. You should shop around for the right lender with suitable loan package having easier terms-conditions. Prefer applying online for the loan as this is low cost medium.

Self employment loan is immensely helpful in starting and even boosting the business of people working for themselves. Take the loan after giving careful thought to its key aspects.

“Bozo” - A clown with a forlorn look, always finding negative implications in every activity or event. A person who tries to find a way to prevent you from moving ahead, giving excuses such as “we’ve always done it this way, or this is not our culture” when presented a new opportunity or challenge. Normally associated with people who are uncomfortable with learning new techniques, processes, or relationships.

Guy Kawasaki from Garage.Com - a venture capital company, used to have a segment in his presentations called “Don’t Let the Bozos Grind You Down.” This segment discussed how every organization will have a corps of people who simply try everything in their power to stop innovation, new product and service development, and introduction of anything new into the daily job function. These people are “bozos.” If you want to avoid the pain of dealing with bozos in your business planning, you need to develop techniques in identifying and preventing bozos from interfering with potential future activities of your organization or company.

Due diligence on any innovation or change in direction of an organization is a clear requirement - nobody wants to manage a company like a small dog playing with toys - chasing everything that looks fun without following through on any action. A manager must rely on staff to provide a good system of checks and balances to manage risk associated with any change.

However, none of us are immune to the effects of a global economy accelerated by use of global telecommunications networks and business process innovations. With very few exceptions, our organizations must move ahead - offering products and services demanded by a “savvy” consumer market, or run the risk of another company replacing us. Competitive companies are always taking managed risk to innovate and pass your company or organization, offering a better, faster, cheaper, and more modern product. If you lose your place as a market leader due to internal struggles in your attempt to innovate, you will ensure the bozo has successfully accomplished his objectives. If the bozos are successful once, their chances of continuing to hurt your innovation efforts will increase.

Bozos only serve the purpose of dragging down an organization through endless complaints, justifications for refusing change, and comments about the “old days” when “things were better.” We have to limit the Bozo-factor in our planning, while ensuring adequate due diligence is maintained. In a worst case bozos will simply refuse to perform tasks associated with new product development and rollout - sabotaging your efforts to move the company ahead.

Look for the Signs of Bozos in Your Office

Bozos are fairly easy to identify. They are the people who generally use phrases like:

• “Its not my job”

• “I haven’t been trained”

• “We’ve always done it this way”

• “Why should we change?”

• “It won’t work”

• “It is impossible”

• “Nobody else is doing it”

• “I haven’t enough time to learn a new job or technique”

• and many other similar phrases

The bozo is dangerous in other ways. While you are trying to innovate and move your company ahead in the market, Bozos are diligently trying to “rally” the other employees around their justification for not supporting change. Most employees fully understand if they are not always learning and trying to improve themselves, eventually somebody will replace them - but the bozo wants to contribute to their potential unemployment situation by dragging them along into a condition where management must either decide to go around them, over them, or in the worst case “through them” to accomplish company or organizational objectives.

If in your business planning you bypass bozos, use good due diligence, study your market conditions, trends, and futures - you can avoid the bozo factor in business planning. To paraphrase the creed of the French Foreign Legion (March or Die), to survive in the global economy and market place all companies must constantly plan for innovation, providing a product that is better than the competition - where ever that competition may be. Innovate or die - through managed risk.

(About the Author - John Savageau is a managing director at CRG-West, responsible for managing operations and architecture for several of the largest telecommunications interconnect facilities in the US, including One Wilshire in Los Angeles.

Most of us are familiar with using visual aids in our public speaking. Even if you are not an active public speaker yourself it is pretty certain that you have suffered from the odd day or two of ‘death by PowerPoint’. There are alternatives.

One of the most memorable presentations I ever saw used a child’s toy as a prop. Jon was a project team leader. He had to give an update on his project to a group of team leaders, project managers and support staff. An audience of twenty five to thirty in all.

On the face of it his subject matter was not that great. He was responsible for the implementation of a payroll outsourcing service. The client was a pubic service works company. They were particularly well known as refuse collectors in the London area though the services they offered were much more wide ranging.

All in all, the client employed around 20,000 monthly paid staff and almost 10,000 weekly paid workers. At $2.00 a payslip this deal was worth just short of $1.5m per year. No small matter for a relatively junior project leader.

I was a bit surprised that Jon didn’t prepare any slides. Instead he turned up with a large plastic supermarket bag. When it came to his turn to present Jon stood up with his bag in his hand. He outlined the basic details above. And then reached into his bag and pulled out a pretty well used and abused child’s toy. It was a battered refuse truck.

Jon then proceeded to use features of the toy to illustrate his project.

To start with Jon pointed out that the two characters in the cab of the truck were not looking at each other. He used this to describe the relationship between the client’s project manager and their existing payroll manager. They didn’t get on, weren’t communicating with each other or him.

He then spun one of the wheels - it was distinctly wonky (does that translate in American?). When pushed the truck moved reluctantly and erratically. Again Jon used this to describe the difficulties in maintaining progress, directions and momentum.

The presentation continued in this vein for some time. Each quirk of the truck was used to illustrate some feature of the project. All delivered with wit and controlled humour.

Once we understood the difficulties Jon then explained what he had done to correct each problem. The wheels were aligned and balanced, the headlight fixed, the suspension greased.

At the end Jon pulled out a new toy refuse truck. It was bright and shiny and in the client’s corporate colours. Jon then removed the 2 figures from the cab of the first toy and placed them in the cab of the new one. Both figures were still rigidly facing in opposite directions. It seems he had fixed all he could but he couldn’t get these two protagonists talking.

Now, I can’t remember all the points that Jon made - it was more than five years ago. The fact that I remember the presentation at all is truly remarkable. How much of your public speaking is as memorable?

Next time you are tempted to base your public speaking on a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation you might just consider if you could use a prop instead.

Keith Longmire specialises in helping small businesses achieve rapid sustainable growth through marketing online. He has documented his own experience in public speaking in his web site Public Speaking for Business.

Baking to many of us is fun and form of therapy. Many
frustrations have been worked out kneading and pushing that
dough around. But to others, it may be difficult, or they are
not sure of themselves around cookies, cakes, breads, rolls,
etc. One quick-word of advice - just dive right in - its fun,
and the more you bake, the better you become at it. With
Christmas and get-togethers coming in bloom, sharing baking can
be a fun event. Early in the Seaon, family, friends, neighbors,
and offices and factories everywhere should have a Cookie
Exchange - its not a lot of work - in fact, you only have to
bake one kind of cookie - if there are ten guests, you will have
an assortment of ten delicious treats to use for the Holidays.
The more guests, the more of an assortment. There will be a lot
of laughter, and no one will be counting calories. Ask each
guest to bake one type of Christmas cookie - a family favorite,
or one that they found while surfing the net, or reading their
favorite magazine. They can be drop cookies, filled cookies, or
special ethnic treasures.

Your invitations should be small index-size bookets, with
several blank cards inside, tied together with a festive ribbon.
This way if your guests write out their recipes on - say six to
eight cards, depending on how many guests you are inviting,
everyone can get a recipe and keep it in their booklet not only
to check back when they want to bake, but as a wonderful memento
of a fun time.

If a lot of people are included in your cookie exchange, then
printing the recipes for everyone to cut and paste in their
booklets might just be a lot easier.

The decor for your party should be Holiday oriented, of course,
but with a slant toward baking. Garlands of scented gingerpeople
could hang from arches and doorways and a centerpiece could
include miniature baking utensils found in toy stores. Tiny cake
boxes, spoons, measuring cups, etc. add a whimsical touch.

To serve your cookies, divide a large table into sections with
ribbons that have wooden spoons attached to the ends so that the
ribbons are weighted down and don’t move as people encircle the
table. You could ask your guests to pre-package their cookies in
individual wrap so that everyone can take just one - or in small
packages as they see fit - just make sure that there are enough
of each type of cookie so everyone gets to take some home.

Keep your menu simple and informal. You could provide decorative
canisters or paper bags that you have enhanced with Holiday
cheer for taking home all those goodies.

A cookie exchange is a wonderful way to get your Holiday baking
started - and you get a wonderful array of cookeis to serve to
your family and friends or just to munch on as you sit by a fire
or watch the snow fall and the cold winds blow. ENJOY! ©Arleen
M. Kaptur 2002 November