http://www.contextrace.com/articles/ Articles at Ad-Mission Articles Directory en-us http://www.contextrace.com/articles/fitness/weight-loss/fatburn7-effective-diet-pills-and-weight-loss-supplements.html http://www.contextrace.com/articles/fitness/weight-loss/fatburn7-effective-diet-pills-and-weight-loss-supplements.html Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:48:45 -0600
In any weight losing process it is very essential to understand the function of the diet medications and supplements before consuming them. Numerous diet pills and weight loss supplements are emerging in the market everyday with attractive offers and promising claims to lure the customer towards them. Therefore a sensible customer should take the advice of the nutritionist or any health expert before taking a decision on the type of supplement he would like.

People who believe that by starving themselves they can lose weight easily are mistaken; instead by doing this their body loses the immunity and gets prone to harmful rare diseases. Therefore various world wide health experts advice to consume the diet pills and weight loss supplements along with a balanced diet every time. And the good quality diet pills and weight loss supplements are always prepared with the combination of nature, science and research.

Before purchasing any kind of diet pills or weight loss supplements, it is very essential to go through its ingredients once. An effective diet pill and weight loss supplement must contain some of the following natural ingredients described below.

Chromium picolinate- a mineral that helps in increasing the lean muscle and regulates glycemic control.
5-HTP- a serotonin precursor that helps in controlling hunger.
Chad de Bugre- an appetite suppressant and energy stimulant.
Irvingia Gabonensis- effective in weight management and fat metabolism
Green tea extract- an antioxidant that boosts the thermogenic capabilities.
Gugglesterone- for optimal thyroid functioning.

These are some of the few essential natural ingredients that should be included in the pills and supplements designed for the weight management program. All the above mentioned ingredients together work to burn fat, promote oxidation of fat, increase the metabolic rate, suppress the appetite, reduce the fatty deposit, decrease the carbohydrate cravings and finally reduce the circumference of the waist.

The ordinary diet pills and weight loss supplements available in the market sometimes contain high concentration of caffeine, difficult to identify at times and therefore can cause side effects like increased blood pressure or heart rate.
]]> http://www.contextrace.com/articles/health/supplements-and-vitamins/lose-weight-and-look-great-with-fatburn7.html http://www.contextrace.com/articles/health/supplements-and-vitamins/lose-weight-and-look-great-with-fatburn7.html Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:28:43 -0600 weight loss supplements and diet pills without having proper information about it. As a result besides burning the body fats they face severe health problems too.

In any weight losing process it is very essential to understand the function of the diet medications and supplements before consuming them. Numerous diet pills and weight loss supplements are emerging in the market everyday with attractive offers and promising claims to lure the customer towards them. Therefore a sensible customer should take the advice of the nutritionist or any health expert before taking a decision on the type of supplement he would like.

People who believe that by starving themselves they can lose weight easily are mistaken; instead by doing this their body loses the immunity and gets prone to harmful rare diseases. Therefore various world wide health experts advice to consume the diet pills and weight loss supplements along with a balanced diet every time. And the good quality diet pills and weight loss supplements are always prepared with the combination of nature, science and research.

Before purchasing any kind of diet pills or weight loss supplements, it is very essential to go through its ingredients once. An effective diet pill and weight loss supplement must contain some of the following natural ingredients described below.

Chromium picolinate- a mineral that helps in increasing the lean muscle and regulates glycemic control.
5-HTP- a serotonin precursor that helps in controlling hunger.
Chad de Bugre- an appetite suppressant and energy stimulant.
Irvingia Gabonensis- effective in weight management and fat metabolism
Green tea extract- an antioxidant that boosts the thermogenic capabilities.
Gugglesterone- for optimal thyroid functioning.

These are some of the few essential natural ingredients that should be included in the pills and supplements designed for the weight management program. All the above mentioned ingredients together work to burn fat, promote oxidation of fat, increase the metabolic rate, suppress the appetite, reduce the fatty deposit, decrease the carbohydrate cravings and finally reduce the circumference of the waist.

The ordinary diet pills and weight loss supplements available in the market sometimes contain high concentration of caffeine, difficult to identify at times and therefore can cause side effects like increased blood pressure or heart rate.

An effective diet pill and supplements created by the knowledgeable medical doctors and research scientists promote a healthy way of life. Such pills often come in the form of vegetable capsules. These diet pills and weight loss supplements wonderfully works on athletes, body builders and common man too.

People who are presently unhappy with their diet pills and weight loss supplements can look out on the online stores for some effective capsules. Further, it is strictly advised by the stores to consult a doctor before using their products to avoid serious medical conditions that may happen in exceptional cases.
]]> http://www.contextrace.com/articles/finance/real-estate/memphis-house-rental-website-find-your-next-home.html http://www.contextrace.com/articles/finance/real-estate/memphis-house-rental-website-find-your-next-home.html Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:08:57 -0600
Memphis provides all the facilities to its residents that are required to dwell in this city. There are many people who are moving to Memphis for various reasons such as education, job opportunities and to avail good facilities at affordable rates. There are number of people visiting and relocating to this city; such people are always in a search for Memphis house rentals. So, if you are one searching for Memphis apartment rentals then you will find many relocating services that specialize in real estate and can help you find your second home in Memphis. Such service agencies can help you in purchasing or renting properties in Memphis.

There are wide ranges of inexpensive housing in Memphis that will match the living style of people moving from developed cities to this developing city. .
There are many things that you must keep in mind while selecting an appropriate Memphis rental properties. First thing is you need to choose a trustworthy estate agent, and you no longer have to visit Memphis to search for Memphis condo rental or Memphis house rentals due to the Internet technology. Now you can search your second house at your preferred location from your comfort zone. There are many specialized estate agents who have launched their website to expand their business in the market and help people find their preferred accommodation with comfort.

Then you must find out that your preferred Memphis apartment rentals has all the facility that you are looking for. Then check out the rate of the house after deciding the location and type of house you are looking for. Ensure that the price mentioned on the site does not include any additional charges except for house rent. Then once you have finalized your Memphis house rentals you must know about the surrounding and the community, which will help you to make your stay comfortable in the new city. You should also find out the various activities that are available in this city near your preferred location. These points will help you to become familiar with this place before moving in there.
Memphis house rental websites provide all the necessary information about residential rental properties. These sites also lets their user to access their current data of all the Memphis rental properties, this is the only place where you can find your home as per your requirements. ]]> http://www.contextrace.com/articles/recreation-and-leisure/travel/what-games-can-i-use-in-an-english-lesson.html http://www.contextrace.com/articles/recreation-and-leisure/travel/what-games-can-i-use-in-an-english-lesson.html Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:47:36 -0600
There are a number of websites chock full of good ideas, and a plethora of books you can buy on the subject of TEFL games. A word of caution before you start plundering them; games are a great teaching aid, but not all games are useful!

Many games look impressive, but lack substance; students either spend too much time reading out cards that the teacher had written or simply throwing dice and moving counters. The amount of time spent preparing the game doesn't always equal the progress that the students made in learning the English language.

Remember, games are only useful if they practise using English in a constructive way and your students are actively listening to, recalling, or speaking the target language. With this in mind, we've picked a selection of games which require little preparation on the part of the teacher, but are intensive speaking or listening games that have been firm favourites with students over the years.

Catch! (8-12 pupils)

A ball encourages spontaneity and is a useful tool for turning almost any grammatical structure into a game. This game is best played with a group of about 8-12 pupils, and aims to speed up the response of the student, encouraging fluency in spoken English. The teacher can stand in the centre or join the students within the circle.

T: What are you doing tomorrow? (Teacher throws the ball to random student)

St: I'm going to work (throws ball back to teacher)

If the student hesitates for more than 5 seconds, he must then take the place of the teacher. Throwing a ball creates energy in the classroom, helps build confidence and increase fluency in a fun environment.

Team Games

Everyone loves competitive games. This type of game can involve running and writing the answer on the board, throwing balls, or the quieter tabletop version of simply holding up the correct answer. Don't forget: adults can be just as competitive as children, so introduce these games to all age ranges. They take little preparation and can be used as a starter or a main activity in your lesson. This version tests listening skills and comprehension of directions, but can equally be used for numbers, items of clothing, or even animals.

1. Go over directions (turn right, turn left, go round the corner, take the second right etc…)

2. Split class into 2 or 3 teams, line each team up in front of board

3. Shout out a direction; the first student from each team must then run to the board and draw the corresponding diagram. The first person to draw the correct diagram wins a point.

If you prefer, you can have the diagrams pre-prepared so the student selects the correct diagram and pins it to the board, but we find that students gain more from the process of drawing out the direction.

Quizzes

Quizzes are always popular and are great for testing the what/ where/when questions. Ask students to write their own questions in teams, or form questions using a simple text. A firm favourite with teachers and students, quizzes can be invaluable for practising superlatives (biggest/longest/widest) and can also be modelled on popular TV shows.

I went shopping and bought…(memory games)

These games encourage pupils to recall specific vocabulary and can be adapted to practise any grammar structure. It also makes repetition seem much less boring. Have some realia or visual prompts on hand to remind students of vocabulary, so they don't get stuck and lose confidence. And it doesn't have to be shopping. Here's a different example:

T: What are you doing tomorrow? (Teacher throws the ball to random student)

In the summer, I went on holiday to Greece

In summer, I went on holiday to Greece, and Russia

Bingo

This game requires little explanation. Play bingo with numbers, or for a more creative approach, use flashcards and vocabulary. The grids can be prepared easily beforehand and given out at the beginning of the lesson.

Who am I? (10-15 mins)
This is a fantastic ice-breaker and a good game for both children and adults. For this game you'll need:

Post-its
Sticky tape (just in case)
Pens
1. Hand out a post-it to each of the students.

2. Tell your students to write the name of someone famous that everyone in the class knows on their post-it; this person can be dead or alive. It is important to keep the name on the post-it secret!

3. Stick the post-it onto the back of the person sitting next to you (this is where sticky tape can be handy!)

Split the class into pairs; each person must find out who they are by asking questions. Here are some examples:

1. Am I dead or alive?

2. Am I male or female?

3. Where do I live?

4. What do I do?

The only question your students are not allowed to ask is, of course, ‘what is my name?'! Once each person from the pair has found out their name, they can swap post-its with another person. A simpler version of this game is adaptable for younger children, using animals in the place of famous people.

Games for Children

What's the time Mr. Wolf?
Remember this game? A great game for outside or a spacious open plan classroom, and learning the times. You don't have to stick to the "o'clocks", you can encourage the wolf to answer half past, or quarter past the hour.

Children: What's the time Mr. Wolf?

Wolf: It's 10 o'clock

Children: What's the time Mr. Wolf?

Wolf: It's 11 o' clock etc…

This continues until the wolf answers ‘dinner time', at which point the wolf runs and catches one of the children, who then becomes the new wolf.

Twister
Twister? Yes, Twister. This is a great game for learning body parts, colours, right and left, giving instructions, and having a giggle at the same time! A good activity to set a small group, and children love the silly aspect of this game. The child who falls down must then take the place of the person who twirls the arrow.

Silly (Simple) Simon says...
Remember this game? Better to use the more politically correct ‘silly' now, and it's also a more useful word to learn in this context. The class should only follow the directions of the leader if he begins the instruction ‘Silly Simon says...' If the leader misses out the word ‘silly', the class should do nothing. Don't just limit it to body parts, use objects in the room such as chairs, walls, curtains, and the floor. This game can be as active or as sedentary as you choose!

These are just a few suggestions to whet your appetite. No doubt you will find your own favourites. It's worth taking a look at some websites, so here are a few useful links:

http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/default.ct

http://www.esljunction.com/esl_games/

http://www.teachenglishinasia.net/tefl-tesl-games-and-activities-directoryhttp://www.teflgames.com/games.html

http://www.teflgames.com/why.html

http://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/accelerated-learning-212
]]> http://www.contextrace.com/articles/recreation-and-leisure/travel/how-to-manage-a-classroom.html http://www.contextrace.com/articles/recreation-and-leisure/travel/how-to-manage-a-classroom.html Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:26:48 -0600
Why have a plan?

It is of the utmost importance that you always make a plan. If any teacher goes into a class without a plan, it usually ends up improvised with no clear start, finish, or aim. The students can see this a mile away, and it can be hard to inspire them to learn when no clear indication of effort has been shown on your part.

A plan on the other hand shows the teacher cares and has a clear aim. The previous lesson aim is revised, homework checked, target language is taught and practiced and the students receive more homework. It is framed and there is a routine. The students will feel in safe in the hands of their conscientious teacher. It also means that you go into a class more confident and relaxed. Lesson plans do, however, need to be flexible as you never know what's going to happen, but when you have a basic frame work this can be moulded to whichever situation arises. For instance, imagine you want to teach the past simple tense, but once start you find that students already know it. Then you can use the presentation part of the lesson as a review and allot more time on the practise tasks.

If students are late, waiting can disrupt the structure of a good plan and make the subject harder to teach. It's best to start your class straight away, and use it to your advantage by asking the punctual students to explain what they've been doing to the latecomers. It's a perfect real-life situation for them to practise speaking English.

Making a plan will take up a lot of time at first but, with practice, they'll get easier. You can even save your plans and re-use them another time.

What is effective classroom management?

Effective classroom management promotes efficiency and a healthy learning environment. Set the pattern from the first day; recent investigation suggests the pace is set in the first two weeks, so there's no time to waste. It's a good idea to explain your expectations to the students; if they tell you theirs too, it can encourage more involvement and interaction. This may also show them how seriously you take your job and that you expect them to work hard to establish a working environment.

It's also important to provide every student, not matter what their level, with the opportunity to interact in English and participate in all the activities. They all deserve the same attention.

What do we need to know about students?

In order to create lesson plans that are tailored to your students, you need to know more about them:

Why they are learning English
How they prefer to learn
What things they like doing in class
Outside interests: i.e. music & cinema. (this can help you find interesting topics as a medium for teaching the school syllabus)

This information helps you to plan lessons by focusing directly on students' needs and preferences, promoting a caring and safe environment for learning to take place. You must also bear in mind the different ages and cultures of all the students, and choose materials and topics with care. In some cultures, students are expected to listen to the teacher and not ask questions, in such cases it is of vital importance to encourage them to interact in the class.

Creating a positive environment
Consistently reinforcing high expectations from the students will ensure that they know your expectations. Here are some ideas:

Provide a points and reward system. Put students' names on a chart on the wall. Every time they make a big effort, do homework, and so forth, they earn a point (or for the younger learners, a star); then at the end of the month they get a reward. Be careful not to just award people for high quality work, otherwise the weaker students will get disheartened. So it's best to award points for effort and hard work.
Pin the students work on the wall to see: if they know other students are going to see their work, they're more likely to try harder.
Praise for good effort. This can work wonders and only takes a second.
Student of the week/month certificate. The advantages are obvious but, as always, there are some disadvantageous too; if one student earns the certificate several times and others not at all, it could be demoralising. So like all these techniques, be careful and sensitive.
Group rewarding. Try splitting the class into groups, and award each group points based on effort or performance. That way, students who are not under as much pressure. It can be very useful in difficult situations.

In any points system, always allow students to make up for points/stars not gained. For instance, if a student hasn't done his homework, allow him to earn his point/star by re-doing his homework "with a little extra". These techniques are great with younger learners and teenagers, and you could even use them to add a fun dimension to an adult class.

Moving on now to the materials and syllabus you use in class. No matter what the group level or age, it's a good idea to focus directly on their needs and preferences as it's often an area of complaint from many students. You'll be surprised how often you hear someone say that they told the teacher that they needed to learn English for travelling and yet the teacher hadn't focused on it yet. Focusing directly on students' needs is more motivating and students appreciate that you're thinking about them when you plan your lessons. Otherwise, they may think you are not listening.

A few more important points in this section are:

Assess students based on their accomplishment of the objective and not with each other. It makes the class friendlier and less competitive between students, and promotes a more sharing environment.
Make your classroom activities diverse and interesting. Try to surprise them.

2. Organising your classroom

Seating arrangements depend on factors like your students' age, culture, classroom size and the aim of the lesson. The horseshoe shape is particularly useful as it allows you to interact with all of your students, while your students have a clear view of you and the board. It is also easy to mix up paired work, as students can work with the person to their right and then change to the person to their left with no upheaval. It can be best to organise the seats/desks before the students come to class.

However, there are many classroom arrangements and they are all useful. For instance, Buzz groups are great for sharing information, while rows good for exams.

It's always useful to chop and change groups, so that all the students get a chance to work with each other. The sharing and exchanging of ideas helps them become more of a group. You could even set a seating chart/rota to help with this.

For younger learners, sitting on the floor is great. The kids can wriggle and fidget all they want and pens and jotters/note books don't fall on the floor.

Also before your students come in, make sure that you've got all the equipment you need (audio, video, etc) and that it's all working.

3. Making rules & routines

Set the classroom rules on the first day. You could discuss this with the class and even ask them to make the rules themselves. This often prompts them to feel more involved in their own learning and take the rules more seriously. However, make sure there are consequences if they break any of them rules and that they are followed through. The students can even make the consequences, too, just make sure they're fair and realistic! A maximum of 10 rules should be enough; it's useful to put them on a poster for all to see partly as a reminder and partly as a good way to memorise whole structures. Remember to take into account the ages of the students: it's best used with kids, but it can be fun with adults, too (if arrives late they put 50 cents into a box, then at the end of the month it can pay for the drinks!)

5. Maintaining motivation

Many students start the year excited about the new course and teacher, and it's key to keep it like this all the academic year. Here are some techniques you could use or adapt:

At the end of every term, make a scrapbook magazine of their work. This could be for each individual student or a class magazine. You could also use it the following year so your new class knows what's expected of them. Letting students design, set up and create the magazine from scratch will encourage them to take responsibility for their own learning.
Use new technology if you have it. Things like beamers and overhead projectors can add a fun dimension to the lesson.
Always check homework and provide timely feedback, otherwise students will feel you are not taking it seriously and they simply won't do it.
Make sure your grading is consistent.
Students need to feel and see they are learning; apart from praise, a physical record of this is useful and many schools have tests and reports. Remember to inform student of this system well before the end of term and let them know in advance if they are in danger of performing badly. That way, you can help the students who are struggling.
Provide students with the tools to expose themselves to English outside the classroom: things like English theatre, International nights in pubs where people speak in English.
Don't settle for any less than students' best effort.

Quite a few ideas to work with, all of which can be adapted or improved depending on your particular experience and the students' age or culture! This, together with empathy for your students will provide you with useful tools to help manage a classroom efficiently.
]]> http://www.contextrace.com/articles/recreation-and-leisure/travel/how-to-find-a-good-tefl-employer-school.html http://www.contextrace.com/articles/recreation-and-leisure/travel/how-to-find-a-good-tefl-employer-school.html Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:01:32 -0600
Planning ahead - going with a company
You'll often find that your chosen TEFL trainer will offer a free placement or placement service on completion. This is usually hassle-free, but researching your employer is always a good idea. You can use the internet to research the local area and culture, while travel guides such as Lonely Planet also offer handy tips. The organization you opt for should be able to give you information about the school and may even offer contact details for their in country coordinators. If you can get hold of a phone number, ask to speak to any western teachers currently in the school to get a true idea of what it's like to work there.

Going it alone
If you're arranging your own placement the most important thing is to network. Most schools depend on local advertising and word-of-mouth, long before considering internet adverts. The TEFL community is vast, so the sooner you start making contact with both schools and other teachers, the better. Employers are looking for people who have a genuine enthusiasm for teaching so make sure your bubbly personality and love of working with children come across in your application and your CV. Your CV itself should be packed full of TEFL-related information, up to date references are essential and lots of experience always looks good.

Be tenacious with your applications, get back to schools you hear from and try and arrange phone interviews at schools that are far away. Large international volunteer companies and language schools will often have offices in several countries so you may be able to talk to someone in person without having to get on a plane. Establishing contact with the school beforehand will help you to make a much more informed decision.

Travel first
If forward planning isn't really your thing then it is possible to find a teaching position in-country. It can be risky as jobs aren't always guaranteed as soon as you step off the plane but it depends where you want to go. Schools in popular countries such as Thailand, Spain and Japan offer good standards for English teachers and recruit locally due to their popularity as travel destinations. Networking is still important, as is establishing contact with the local schools: internet forums are a good place to start, as they often have plenty of experienced teachers as members. Being in-country is a big advantage as you meet with the school director and actually visit your prospective work place and make a decision based on experience.

You will, however, still need to have a good CV, references and, of course, your TEFL certificate (we're hoping you'll already have your passport!) You'll also need to carefully consider your budget, especially if you're arriving in Europe. Make sure you arrive at the best time for recruitment, usually a month or so before the start of the academic year. This will be more important in popular destinations in Asia or Europe, but less so if you plan to teach in rural Ghana; teachers are in high demand in local schools though pay won't be high. If your desire to teach is more important than your salary, teaching off the beaten track is a rewarding and culturally-enriching experience, and you'll face almost no competition for places!

Checklist

A few things for to consider before setting off on your travels:

What is it like to live in my chosen country? (Community knowledge)
Do my qualifications meet the standards of the country I'm going to?
Do I have all the correct documentation; visas, passport, certification?
Where will I be living?
What is the average teaching pay in my chosen country and if I'm going with a company, how much will they contribute?
What hours should I expect to work?
What sort of materials will be at my disposal?
What support will there be before and during the role?
How big is the school I will be teaching in, in actual size and class size?
What level of English will my students already have?
What will my pupils' average age be?
What will my non-teaching duties be?
Here are a few useful websites to help you start your research:

TEFL.net Jobs Abroad

i-to-i: OnlineTEFL.com - Jobs Abroad

ESLbase.com

Dave's ESL Cafe
]]> http://www.contextrace.com/articles/recreation-and-leisure/entertainment/myths-of-the-slot-machines.html http://www.contextrace.com/articles/recreation-and-leisure/entertainment/myths-of-the-slot-machines.html Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:34:35 -0600
Here are our favourite of the widely believed slot machine myths:

1) If a slot machine hasn't paid out in a while, it's due a win.

This is linked with the idea that you won't get a win if a machine has just paid out. It's a total myth. Each spin is randomly generated by a number generator. The chances of hitting a jackpot are exactly the same for each spin you play- they don't rise or fall based on past results.

2) There is a jackpot button that casinos use to reward loyal players.

Not a chance on this one I'm afraid, it's illegal. Casinos can't alter a machine's odds to reward players either. Of all the things a casino may offer you as a loyal player, a slots jackpot isn't one of them.

3) The chances are better at a real casino than at an online casino.

This is linked to the idea that pulling the arm of a slot machine is luckier than clicking a mouse. Unfortunately, as both types of casino use the same kinds of random number generators it's a complete fallacy. The only difference is that you can play in your underwear when you play online.

4) Warm coins mean you're more likely to hit the jackpot.

MYTH! The machines are designed to not be influenced by external factors so all the warm coins in the world won't make a difference.

5) Online slots can be beaten by the system.

With all the guides and books that claim they can show you how to win this myth is an easy myth to buy into. It is a myth however, all you're doing by buying the books are ensuring the 'experienced player' wins a jackpot straight out of your wallet.

6) You win more when you only play one coin.

Slot machines aren't influenced by the number of coins wagered. Nor is it affected if you use a membership card. The only thing you get by constantly moving machine? Exercise.

So now we've debunked all the myths surrounding slot machines, we're off to put on our lucky pants and warm our coins. It may not make any difference but hey, we'll take all the luck we can get. ]]> http://www.contextrace.com/articles/recreation-and-leisure/travel/fine-dining-at-sea.html http://www.contextrace.com/articles/recreation-and-leisure/travel/fine-dining-at-sea.html Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:13:04 -0600
When you look at cruise deals with your travel agent ask some questions about the cuisine that's available on board. You'll most likely find a selection of different restaurants and the option of having food delivered to your room. Some ships also have food available on deck while you're sunning by the pool and at the bar when you're enjoying a few cocktails. That isn't sit down dining but the quality of the food you'll get anywhere on a cruise ship is higher than what you see at an average restaurant on land.

What are you in the mood for this evening? Does a juicy sirloin steak, baked potato, and savoury steamed vegetable dish seem tasty to you or would you prefer something a little fancier, like caviar and salmon tortes? The gourmet chefs on board your ship are able to prepare either at any time, even on the smaller cruise ships. The dining experience on a cruise ship is expected by cruise line owners to be one of the highlights of the vacation for their patrons.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and after dinner treats are all colourful creations when you're on a cruise ship. Expect to see lots of sauces, fruits, and colourful garnishes because presentation to the men and women who prepare your food is one of the most important elements of the meal. Taste everything before you add additional spices, salt, or pepper because you will most likely be satisfied with it exactly the way it is served.

Cruise deals to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, or South Pacific are most popular because of the climates and ports-of-call available in those regions of the world. Cruise directors and cruise line owners know this and make sure that their ships in these areas have the best of everything for their passengers. Fine dining is one of those items that they pay particular attention to. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the exotic and tasty meals they have to offer you.
]]> http://www.contextrace.com/articles/food-and-drink/wine-and-spirits/merlot-comes-of-age-jan-2010.html http://www.contextrace.com/articles/food-and-drink/wine-and-spirits/merlot-comes-of-age-jan-2010.html Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:55:38 -0600
Merlot is undeniably soft, mild, easy to drink, but bursting with all the values a good red wine grape delivers. It is this that catapulted the grape to King of grapes in the US when in 1991 TV shows were extolling the benefits of red wine to the American consumer. It has become the Budweiser of the red wine industry in the USA.

Merlot was always the ugly sister of Bordeaux next to Cabernet Sauvignon until in the 1980's the US wine critics thought of this easy drinking red wine with a Bordeaux reputation. During the 1980's and 90's many New World vineyards invested in the grape and the Merlot lake was born.

The Marketing and PR people then span the Merlot tale and even the Australian wine producers bought the spin, as Merlot was a proven success. Merlot is in strong growth both among New and Old world wines. Even in Bordeaux the grape constitutes 56% of plantings, but in Pomerol it is 80%. In Bordeaux Merlot is blended with great grapes because of it's capabilities.

Italian red wine vineyards now plant the grape as the fifth most popular with the best wines coming from Tuscany, Umbria and Friuli.

California red wine producers have been very busy planting the grape and they are now the fourth largest world producer behind Bordeaux, Italy and Languedoc.

South Africa, Australia, Argentina and Chile have all been busy growing and marketing the grape but many of the Chilean Merlots are not virgin Merlots but field blends of Merlot and Carmenere.

Wine consumers the world over have begun to trust the grape as a trusted friend, easy to drink and good with food. The Merlot can deliver at its best a very smooth rounded red wine bursting with a velvety tannin and multiple berry flavours. There can be a spice or cinnamon tastes with hints of licorice, and truffles.

Merlot has also broken into the with food occasion both in the on trade and at home as it goes well with meat dishes, spiced dishes and good old English pub food. It has become a good comfort food red wine.

Four years the online wine retailers embraced the grape and have promoted it ever since. It is only really the Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon that have beaten Merlot into third position, but that is another story. We have witnessed good growth coming from several brands. The first is the Torres Atrium Merlot Penedes. This wine is made 100% from Merlot and is sourced from vineyards which form part of the Agulladol Estate. Matured for 6 months in French oak this fine Spanish red wine is deep coloured, with soft juicy plum and blueberry fruit flavours and typically soft, rounded tannins. The second is the Drylands Merlot, Marlborough which undergoes 10 months ageing in a mixture of new and seasoned French and American oak barrels. Shows soft, ripe flavours of black plums, berry fruits and spice with a firm structure, and complex finish. The last Merlot that has been in great growth is Errazuriz 1870 Teno Block Merlot, Curico Valley which is a red wine with a juicy plum fruit character which shows hints of oak and smooth tannins on the finish.

Merlot wines have done very well in the last thirty years, producing easy drinking red wineswith strong Bordeaux provenance, easy blending characteristics have offered product versatility and its fit with food have extended the occasions it can be drunk. Long may its success continue for the online retailer.
]]> http://www.contextrace.com/articles/internet/online-brand-building-by-the-numbers.html http://www.contextrace.com/articles/internet/online-brand-building-by-the-numbers.html Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:35:11 -0600
What is a Metric?

Boiled down, a metric is some unit of measurement intended for you to compare current information to previous information, and to evaluate the difference in light of your goals. An example of a metric is the Conversion Rate, which is typically defined as the number of visitors who took a desired action divided by the total number of visitors in a given time period.

Metrics vs. Goals

It is important to understand the metric is not the goal itself, but rather the way to measure that goal. For example, visitor traffic numbers in a given month (quantity + time) is a metric. It is a unit of data that can be compared to other units. Trying to increase user traffic is a goal that can be evaluated for success by the use of metrics (i.e., if user traffic decreases from one month to the next, the goal has failed).

Setting Your Metrics

The keys to every metric are universal: quantity and time. Visitor rates per month, unique visitors per quarter, bandwidth use before and after an advertising campaign—each of these is based on a quantifiable measurement within a predetermined timeframe. The key is to have a piece of hard information that can be compared between two points.

In the online branding arena, there are numerous metrics you can choose to help evaluate your brand's performance.

Usage statistics - Hard numbers that can be compared by date, user statistics are essential and vital. This category includes numbers of unique visitors, time spent viewing each page, how frequently certain videos are downloaded, and the like.

User Commentary - While this may seem a more qualitative category, there are actually several ways that user comments can be judged in mathematical terms as metrics. Evaluators can measure comment proportionality (percentage of positive, neutral, and negative commentary per product, for example). Including a rating system enhances this effort, as it allows comments to be summarized, reducing the time spent on reading and interpreting the text itself, if necessary.

Social Media Influence - Social Media venues are the newest and most efficient source of word of mouth press. Being linked through a popular blog or Facebook page can spike a brand's visitor statistics overnight. In this case metrics can include the number of link-backs spread around various Social Media sites, or the popularity of a site's own SM pages in various communities.

Timing is Everything

The Web is a place where time becomes downright bizarre. Companies start overnight and fold just as quickly, so the perception is that any changes have to be immediate and drastic. The problem is that this can be utterly counterproductive to good metric analysis. Metrics take time to properly analyze, and indeed are useless without the consideration of timing.

Consider a webpage that gets a total of twenty-one unique visitors. This doesn't actually say anything in and of itself. Now, compare a page that gets twenty-one unique visitors per week, and one that gets twenty-one unique visitors per minute. Suddenly a comparison can be made. This is it the essence of metrics, comparison over time.

You must establish realistic time goals for your brand, so you can logically evaluate the impact of various decisions and procedures. To do otherwise is simply robbing yourself of any way to use the vital data you're gathering properly.

Some sample time benchmarks include the obvious daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and quarterly periods. These should be examined in a before-versus-after context. For example there is Burger King's quirky Ugoff campaign, which ran for a single summer in 2004. The metric in question would be the number of Burger King salads purchased before, during, and after the campaign.

A Parting Thought

It is important to remind yourself that a metric is not the goal. Just as importantly, remember that the metric is not the brand itself. Metrics are measurements. The brand is something that can be evaluated in the light of the metrics you choose, but the brand is greater than the sum of its parts. It is a thing distinct unto itself, the image of your organization that is presented as a combination of the actual quality of a product and peoples' perceptions thereof.

Consider very carefully what exactly your brand is, and what you want the brand to be. Compare the two honestly and carefully, and you will find that the metrics you need to evaluate the success of your brand are actually quite easy to discern.
]]>