Saturday, May 10, 2008

More raw treats...

...because who doesn't love pictures of (unusual) foodstuffs?

As I mentioned, I brought back raw snacks that I picked up in New York last weekend to sample with Eric and Cindy. Some were bigger hits than others.

Raweos cookies? An obvious crowd pleaser. Soft and chewy, sweet and chocolatey? You can't go wrong. (Er, except for that $8 price tag. And that just gets you nine teensy morsels).

The essene bread ($6 for a small box) and cashew cheese ($7.50 for a tiny knob) were tougher sells. Made from dehydrated sprouted grains and vegetables, the "bread" is really more of a crispy cracker. I liked it okay, though it definitely goes better with a dip or spread. The others weren't so impressed, rendering it about as dry and flavorless as cardboard.

I had high hopes for the cheese. But the truth is, cheese is cheese. There's no recreating it. This one was made from cashews and a probiotic called acidophilus. It left a sour aftertaste, and, sadly, the remainder ended up in the trash can.

Early on, the three of us bemoaned the lack of a cereal crunch in our diets. There are plenty of raw granola recipes around, but my issue with them is they tend to be heavy on the nuts.

The folks over at Living Intentions got wind and sent us some samples of their soon-to-be-released granolas, made from sprouted buckwheat, sunflower and flax seeds and coconut, dried fruits and protein powders. We sampled two kinds -- hemp & greens and cacao & agave. I had to shoo my (non-raw) colleagues' paws away from the cacao flavor, in particular. But I'll be snacking on both once they hit the stores.

One last morsel for you to chew on. Our trio finally made it out for lunch together this week at Alchemy, an organic raw and vegan restaurant just a few minutes from the office. We noshed on great salads and smoothies (I had a tasty almond milk and chai concoction, and a hummus dip that was as close to the real thing that I've tasted).

Once we were happily stuffed, co-owner John Zito brought out a plate of raw confections and melt-in-your-mouth chocolates. So rich and delicious, all you needed was a bite (or two) to satiate your sweet tooth.

The How’s And Why’s Of Link Baiting

The How’s And Why’s Of Link BaitingWriting articles and relevant content and including the best keywords in your website is all good, as after all as they say, content is king. But if content is king, where is the queen?

Linking could very well be the perfect candidate for the office. Your website is no good if there is no traffic coming in for a look at it. One of the jobs of a search engine optimizer is to ensure that a website gets sufficient traffic or visitors coming in.

Hyper linking or linking takes an SEO’s efforts forward by a jump by getting people to either link to a client’s website or else link someone else’s website to the client site.

There are various techniques that SEO’s make use of to accomplish this, link baiting being one of the more popular ones. Link baiting rides on the concept of drawing visitors to a particular site based on the manner in which the content is written.

The content can be a sounding board of co-related ideas or it can be a pool of controversies; either way it has to possess the ‘buzz-factor’ in order to draw second-looks and get attention from a wide reach of interested individuals.  Source: http://alwaysthebestoftheweb.blogspot.com/ 

Why Should I /we use a Mortgage Broker

Why Should I we use a Mortgage Broker Why Should I we use a Mortgage Broker by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileShawn-O.-Jackson44997Shawn O. JacksonWhy Should I we use a Mortgage Broker A mortgage is likely the biggest burden youll ever carry. Its a loan of monstrous proportions, clearly, the goal is to find the most competitive interest rate on that enormous sum, but not everyone knows how to go about doing that. A mortgage broker is a certified professional that has been around for 30+ years who seeks the best mortgage terms for you by accessing a network of lenders that includes major banks, trust companies, credit unions and finance companies. Brokers may also draw on local lenders that arent part of a network. This stable of lenders provides brokers with interest rates on a near-daily basis. While they have relationships with the countrys biggest lenders, a mortgage broker is not obligated to any of them. A broker is obligated only to you, the client. They will sift through their posted rates to find you the best one. A misconception -- which still exists today -- is that brokers earn an up-front fee from clients. Brokers do not charge clients a fee, either before or after theyve secured them a mortgage. So how do brokers get paid? They earn a commission from the lender. Commissions are fairly standard, ranging from 0.5 percent to 1.25 percent of the mortgage amount, depending on the length of the term. Brokers are paid by lenders, not by you. Since a broker is paid only when a loan is originated, it costs a consumer nothing to work with one for research purposes. For borrowers with less-than-perfect credit or low income, a broker may be able to access loans from out-of-state or specialty lenders that, even if they include additional closing costs will still beat a bank

Online bad credit loan

Online bad credit loan— now don’t bother about your credit history Online bad credit loan— now don’t bother about your credit history by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileMichael-Moore31766Michael MooreYou may encounter financial emergencies at any instant in life. So you have to be prepared for any sort of financial jerk but as it happens in business sometimes you face some disasters and you get a bad credit history label. In these circumstances you need a perfect financial support behind you which does not discriminate on the basis of your credit history. And here it is, online bad credit loan. Types of online bad credit loans Online bad credit loans are provisioned to create opportunities for bad credit holders. These types of loans are available both in secured and unsecured forms. If you are going for secured online bad credit loan, you have to place collateral. The repayment span is of 5 to 25 years. But for unsecured online bad credit loans no collateral is required. You just have to produce a proof of your annual income which ensures your repayment capability. Features- This type of loan supports you to dissolve your financial crisis when you are labeled a bad credit holder in the market and lenders consider you at risk potential. Even If you have declared bankruptcy, foreclosure or repossession, you can go for online bad credit loans. If you repay in time and in full you will improve your credit score and fading your bad credit tag. Further you may apply for more amounts at an easier rate. Procedure Online access makes online bad credit loans easily and speedily accessible. You have to give details of your annual income which is just to ensure your repayment ability. Once the documentation is over you get access to your funds. You will get a large number of lenders on the World Wide Web, with whom you can negotiate regarding rate of interest so as to get most suitable terms and conditions. But be careful in regular repayment to avoid any further stains on your credit history as it also puts you at financial ease releasing your installment burden. If you are unable to find a way out to patch up the sudden holes in your pocket and your bad credit history is proving to be obstacle, online bad credit loans are the most reliable solution for you. So just wipe off your sweat and have a move forward to get the benefits of online bad credit loans and lead a strain free life. Choosing a wrong loan is just like locking your doors for further financial development. Michael Moore is a person who helpsyou unlock new doors and open new possibilities, no matter how unique your situation is.To know more visit http:www.badcreditcashloans.co.ukhttp:www.badcreditcashloans.co.uk Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

Beautify Your Kitchen With Magnificent Tile Mural

Beautify Your Kitchen With Magnificent Tile Murals Beautify Your Kitchen With Magnificent Tile Murals by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileAlbert-Lee25119Albert LeeKitchen tile murals are usually custom-made, hand-painted and kiln fired ceramic tiles available in various sizes. They come unassembled for your kitchen backsplash, shower, bathroom and kitchen wall. Marble and the ordinary decorative ceramic are great for indoor use. Tile murals are offered in wide variety, including walls and fence that can either be printed or hand painted. Murals are beautiful art thats painted on tiles that are either tumbled marble or ceramic, hence the names, tumbled marble tile murals and hand painted ceramic tile murals. Once fired, the tiles will have additional color and remarkable beauty. These murals on ceramic tile and tumbled marble plus accent tiles create good-looking back splashes for your kitchen. So if you have been looking for a distinctive means of personalizing not just your kitchen but the entire house as well, hand painted kitchen tile murals are among the best options. You have an option between stock tile murals or custom tile murals. The stock tile murals for kitchen are produced in large amount while custom tile murals, permits you to choose the design will be displayed. You can even give the manufacturer the picture that you want and it will then be painted on the tiles. However, custom murals are more expensive than the stock murals. Through custom tile murals, you can put almost any scene that you want on a tumbled marble tile or a ceramic tile. If you want to bring the theme throughout the kitchen, you can also get hand-painted accent tiles that match the mural. The best thing about kitchen tile murals is that they can be custom-made to fit to virtually any dimension. Most manufacturers of tile murals see to it that the needs of their customers are answered. They usually make the murals based on the design and dimension given by the customer. They give the murals a personalized touch and carry the emblem of the aesthetic sense of their customers, together with the skill of the manufacturer. The tile murals are kiln fired and permanent so they will not fade, wash off or rub off. They are also resistant to splattering or splashing of hot liquids as well as to heat and moisture. Murals come in many brands but today, there are modern artists who can provide you with unique and genuine mural designs. Custom-made, hand-painted kitchen tile murals can truly transform an ordinary kitchen backsplash into something awesome and this is a great way to personalize your house. For http:www.kitchentile101.comkitchen tile ideas, visit http:www.kitchentile101.comhttp:www.kitchentile101.com Article Directory: http:www.articledashboard.comArticle Dashboard

Cruise Ships Offer Love-Boat Style Romance for Co

Cruise Ships Offer Love-Boat Style Romance for Couples Cruise Ships Offer Love-Boat Style Romance for Couples by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileTom-Rockwood20424Tom RockwoodThink about taking a cruise if you and your partner are searching your next romantic adventure. Many couples need a break from their daily routines filled with large workloads, hectic schedules, and children. This break often comes in the form of a romantic getaway on a cruise ship. Many people dont even consider a cruise ship as an option when it comes to romantic getaways. However, there are others who literally live for cruises and are likely to take two or more cruises each year. Whether youve been on a cruise ship before or not, it is possible for you and your partner to have a romantic cruise ship getaway. You are encouraged to consider a number of factors before booking a cruise ship getaway. These factors are important when planning a romantic getaway aboard a cruise ship. There are many different cruise ships and cruise lines to choose from. Cruises ships are often viewed as large, oversized vessels. However, the size of the cruise ship you are interested in vacationing on is also likely to determine the level of intimacy on board. A smaller cruise ship may be your best bet if it is intimacy that you want. More passengers often make it difficult to have on board, private moments and larger cruise ships have more passengers. A number of romantic cruise lines target their smaller cruise ships to couples looking to vacation alone. In addition to the size of the ship, the style and d

A Challenge For Modern Workplaces

A Challenge For Modern Workplaces A Challenge For Modern Workplaces by http:www.articledashboard.comprofileKadence-Buchanan--13815Kadence Buchanan -Due to the growing complexity and turbulence of the business environment and the related growth in research knowledge about behavior within organizations, managers of the 21st century have to take four themes as paramount: the necessity of managing the challenges of change; functioning within a global environment; being sensitive to the diversity among people; and behaving with ethical integrity. In addition, with the increasing complexity of operations, organizations are building in greater participation opportunities for non-managers. Groups ranging from quality circles to self-managing and cross-functional teams are involved in continuous improvement projects and running their own operations. Working in teams tends to improve the core job dimensions that affect peoples psychological states and motivating potential at work. With high involvement, people are challenged to rethink systems and processes