The Mini Token Blog

I can see it now…

You were in the shower, taking a walk, driving in your car or sipping a latte’ at Starbucks when all of a sudden - WHAM! - inspiration struck. You were moved. Your emotions were stirred. You felt your creative juices flowing with ideas that quickly transformed themselves into visual images.

You took notes, sketched out a rough storyboard, or just picked up your video camera and started filming. Your creative talents started to evolve the mere idea into video form. What started out as simple words or thoughts were transformed into a ‘living’ entity of visual entertainment.

Not everyone shares your enthusiasm for it. So what. They aren’t the ones you made it for. You made it for the ones like you - the ones who with one glimpse of your video come to experience the same emotional connection that first stirred your soul.

If people don’t ‘Get it’ that’s fine. You simply say, ‘Next’. Because although within walking distance of you there may only be a handful of people who see it the way you do… on the Global stage there are hundreds of thousands if not millions who will embrace your creation with the passion it deserves.

The worldwide marketplace is waiting for you and your video creation.

But there’s a problem isn’t there?

How do you get your video from it’s current point out to all those people? How much will it cost to store it, promote it, allow people to download it, take payments for it?

The real question is… why should you have to care? You’re the creative genius who is best left to creative environments like developing the video experiences.

So where do you turn? Good question.

Several years ago there was only one choice… you found an agent, crossed your fingers and hoped to get a shot at Hollywood. In the past few years you could spend a few thousand, make a DVD and try to sell it yourself - counting anything above ‘break even’ as a success.

The truth… Oldskool ‘broad’casting just doesn’t cut it any more in the digital age of internet opportunities. Let’s examine why.

The Limitation of Oldschool “Broad”casting

If you stop to think about the word broadcast, when it was created back in the oldschool radio and TV days of the 20th century, it was true to its meaning. The word “broad” obviously means a wide range. Reaching out to millions in one nation was considered broad. This is why we have NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX in nearly every home in America.

Now stop and think about all the limitations of traditional “broad”casting. The extensive budgets, actors, contracts, licensing, etc… In the US there are also FCC regulations these broadcasts must fall within. Think about how few channels and how few hours in the day there really are to “broad”cast shows. Even in the age of cable and satellite systems broadcasting hundreds of channels there is still a finite limit.

Typically licensing issues bound the “broad”cast to one nation. The US doesnt broadcast in Canada or across the pond in the UK and vice-versa. Sporting events are more restricted with blackouts in specific regional areas.

Now HDTV is beginning to pick up sales as prices drop yet thanks to DRM technologies the studios are putting a stranglehold on how much control the consumer has over the cotent they have payed for. It is all too limiting.

The consumers are ready for a change. A newer, better way of receiving their entertainment.

Free Video On Demand (VOD) - The New Broadcast Platform.

Residential broadband access has penetrated over 50% of US households. Broadband access is expected to more than double this decade, reaching 71 million US households by 2010.

As more and more households bring high speed internet access into the home studies have shown their viewing habits of television have dropped on average of 3 fewer hours of TV per week. This number is only expected to grow.

More and more people are turning to the web instead of their TV for their entertainment needs. This fact is especially strong with the young teens and twenty-something market who have grown up with computers in the internet age.

The Law of Increasing Audience

With the increase in broadband access and affordable video hardware and software more and more people are creating their own video content. There are a lot of unknown, talented ividividuals out there doing a very good job at creating engaging entertainment. Its crazy when you stop and think about it how new technologies like video podcasting and portable video entertainment are revolutionizing traditional entertainment outlets.

Now anyone can get their message heard or seen with the power of the internet.

Stop sitting on the sideline and letting your video gather dust while others get credit and profits from entertainment far less valuable than yours.

Free Video On Demand allows anyone with a video camera and an idea to achieve their dream of getting their video seen by a world-wide audience.

Academic Gowns

During graduation ceremonies, graduates wear specialized clothing referred to as academic regalia although there are certain colleges and universities that have kept the tradition of wearing the academic regalia fulltime. Academic gowns are the most outstanding outfits in the entire academic regalia and are worn as an official dress in some institutions. Historically in the medieval times students were required to wear a cappa which was a black garment resembling a long cape and were restricted to wear black or dark colored clothing. Academic gowns which are most commonly worn are for Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts and both are black in color. The MA and BA academic gowns
can both be dyed in their respective institution’s colors and the material at the gown’s rear gathers into a sort of yoke. The Master of Arts gown consists of long and closed sleeves whole the Bachelor of Arts gown consists of bell-shaped sleeves. Both these academic gowns are designed to permit the passage of the arm via a slit on the elbow. A lay-type gown is another kind of gown and is similar to the MA gown since it long and closed sleeves although it lacks a yoke and instead has a flap collar with gather underneath.
GraduationSource, a leader in graduation regalia products since 1960.

The world is no longer right when the two words, Engineer and Insurance are used together, side by side in a conversation. Individually they are words that justify their use, with their own explanations and own meanings as those that compile dictionaries see fit! They each serve their own purpose until such a time as when they are used in the same sentence or even on the same page. Engineer and Insurance cannot be used together anymore, yes there was a time when this topic had no base but here and today it can be seen that the words are not in any sense synonymous with each other.

The dictionary tells us that, insurance is “a thing providing protection against a possible event” or “money paid to insure against something or by an insurance company in the event of damage, injury, etc”. Well, that tells us something although it is a bit confusing.

The dictionary tells us that an Engineer is “a person qualified in Engineering” and also it says that an Engineer is “a person who controls an Engine or a Machine”. And there we have it. It is sad that one cannot now look up “Insurance Engineer” or Engineering Insurance” to gain some valuable insight into what is involved and to shed some light on this matter.

What sadly and inadvertently sparked this subject was by what an Engineering Superintendent once said to a Ships Engineer whilst they supped beer in a bar one night. The Engineer was naturally complaining about the lack of spares that are made available to the ships he was on. NB: This is a frequent grumble of Engineers and probably does have value and meaning the world over, no company liking to part with expensive spares if they can help it. Anyway, the Superintendent, true to form agreed with the ships Engineer and blamed everything on the paper pushing bosses upstairs, current ships budgets and the economy, thus he followed all the usual avenues that Superintendents typically use in this regard. The superintendent unfortunately took one too many sips of his beer and forgetting that he had long since crossed the fence from Ships’ staff to Office staff, let slip a snippet of conversation that he had either been party to or that his big ears had accidentally sounded out.

The statement was relayed like this: “It is not our policy to purchase spares for our vessels, we would rather wait until the equipment fails and then claim it back on Insurance”.

Stunned is the word that comes to mind. Shock, disbelief and outrage could follow close second. The Engineer and the Superintendent naturally turned to other topics like discussing fellow Engineers and their faults before finally retiring to their respective beds and forgetting all about what had been discussed. Except for the Engineer who for some reason or other could never quite rid the Superintendents “slip” from his mind. And can anyone blame him?

Engineers struggle to perform their duties within parameters given and in often harsh and unforgiving environments but given the essential shore back up they invariably perform their duties well and to a high degree of end performance and safety standards. The dictionary states quite clearly that Engineers are qualified persons looking after machinery. Machinery needs both adequate spares and Engineers to provide a safe working environment and to keep the machinery and equipment in satisfactory working order. A machine that is awaiting a future Insurance Claim is not a safe working machine and the Engineer has failed in his duty to keep the Machine or Engine functioning. From an Insurance point of view an Engineer and required spares are the “things” that provide protection against a possible event.

Due to modern systems of communication and the fact that spares are readily available in most ports of the world it is not common practice to build up large stocks of spares on vessels. It is largely entrusted and accepted by Engineers and Office staff alike that when the Engineer orders spares he does so because he needs them. He orders spares through the company whilst retaining the knowledge that they should arrive at the next port of call or at the latest within one month or so. The Engineer furthermore orders them because he predicts a use for them. By placing such an order he is, without his being fully aware of doing so, enacting Insurance on the Machinery that he has ordered spares for. He is providing protection against a probable event, which in this case is his Insurance to keep the machine or engine in a functional and safe working condition - as prescribed by the duties of an Engineer.

To recap in simplified form: The Engineer insures his machinery by replacing worn or used parts as he sees necessary to maintain a certain piece of equipment in a satisfactory working and safe condition.

The Company in this regard have failed in their duty to the Engineer, by not supplying the necessary spares as the Engineer deems necessary to fulfill his duties.

Insurance contributions or money paid to an Insurer is a costly business when considering the size and scale of what is involved. To wait for failure and thus save money on spares and to have the cost attributed to failure, with the subsequent repair of the equipment paid for by the Insurance Company, must seem “great” to the Ship Owner/Manager. There he is having his money returned to him by those who take most out of his budget and into the bargain the Insurance Company pay for all damages invoked by the failure, stoppage times and subsequent replacement of the failed equipment.

An Engineer who is working on a vessel where spares will not be sent out upon request becomes a useless Engineer. Now preferably called a Caretaker with no skills or interest in insuring his property simply due to a lack of usable items to effect such. An Engineer is (was) Insurance against equipment failure as long as he has at his disposal the spares necessary - without these he negates any Insurance that goes with the title of Engineer. He is qualified to maintain and look after engines and equipment, but he only becomes Insured (the ‘thing’) if he has the necessary backup from ashore. Take that back-up away and we are left with a qualified yet uninsured Engineer. He cannot perform his duties satisfactorily, he cannot give insurance that his machines will perform well and safely under his care, he cannot fulfill his duties in any shape or form whatsoever and thus is a liability to all concerned.

An Engineer has thus become through no fault of his own an Insurance liability to all concerned and that is why we cannot use Engineer and Insurance in the same sentence - it hurts and badly.

Author and Webmaster of Seamania. As a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy he has sailed the world for fifteen years. Now living in Taiwan he writes about cultures across the globe and life as he sees it.

Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book, Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

1) cancer

2) rheumatoid arthritis

3) high cholesterol levels

4) cardiovascular disease

5) infection

6) impaired immune function

What makes green tea so special?

The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the “French Paradox.” For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.

Why don’t other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

Other Benefits

New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

We can say that Algebra is the heart of maths. If you really want to know about mathematics and its fundamentals then you should have a complete and in depth knowledge of algebra. Deriving the answer for the product of 223 and 112 is quite easy if you use a calculator. However, in a case where you need to work around the exponential of 223 and logarithm of 112, you will certainly need an algebraic problem solver. Graphing a circle will be easy for this given formula X ² + Y² = 4 but when it comes for an inequality like (X-2)² + (Y-4)² > 20 then it will be quite harder to plot the graph. In this situation algebra application can help you a lot because once you enter the inequality in the program, the graph will get plotted automatically within very little time. These software packages can very easily resolve any kind of algebraic, arithmetical and radical expressions of any level of complexity.

Looking for Domain and Range of a Function

Although, working out the domain and range of a function such as Y = X² can be easily found by considering the number range on the X-Y plane, defining the domain and range of a log(tan 2x + sin 3x) = cosine^(-4)(2x) will be excessively difficult. But now you can solve such critical and complex problems with an algebra calculator without breaking sweat and you will also be getting all the steps as well

Coordinate Geometry

It is now, easier than ever to find the vertex and directrix or whether a parabola opens up or down, using algebra software systems. In addition, subtraction and multiplication of polynomials, you are more likely to become exhausted because they require a lot of terms to be manipulated. However, by leaving the job up to algebra calculators, you will be able to get results within a shorter period with 100% accuracy. Similarly, algebra calculators can save the trouble for you in calculating matrices of 33 or 44 order or its opposite matrices.

So now you need not to start worrying when you see indices, rational numbers or exponential equations. Parabolas, hyperbolas or ellipses can all be easily graphed within computer algebra systems.

Internet sports wagering web sites are regulated by means of three assemblies. They are the OSGA (the Offshore Gaming Association), the IGC (Interactive Gaming Council) and the Fidelity Trust Gaming Association (the FTGA). bet gambling sports

The Offshore Gaming Association are an unbiased “watchdog” institute which currently keeps checks on the modern offshore gaming industry with a duty to also present gaming fanatics the ability to quickly determine trustworthy companies to play games of luck on, without anguish. The Offshore Gaming Association aims to protect client’s rights, also they don’t charge any association costs. The Offshore Gaming Association is a highly competent and unprejudiced third party agency which pronounces nonpartisan points of view, based around your assessments, objective studies, phone conversations, inside prompts moreover supplies industry information.

The IGC is a non-profit-making organisation. The organisation has been designed to furnish a platform for concerned people to talk through subjects furthermore to boost mutual matters in the international online sports betting trade, to ensure unbiased not to mention reliable professional precepts and procedures which heighten client confidence in online gaming products and utilities, and in addition to work as the offshore gaming trade’s extensive strategy advisor and it also operates as an information depot.

The IGC have built a reputation for upholding trustworthiness, equity and credibility due to the industry ethics it demands, and its appeal for business concerns of exemplary ethics. The IGC monitors offshore gaming through promoting a specific 10 step acceptable procedure guide and in addition charges gaming business concerns license fees for publishing their logo. Unsatisfied gamblers can furthermore recount any of their disputes to the Interactive Gaming Council.

The FTGA has been established in a venture to generate a standard which will raise the policies of on-line sports gambling trading operations. The authority think that by partnering with respectable businesses, they are able to establish an affiliation of the most sportsmanlike and professional overseas gambling companies world-wide. To sum up, there are bodies that supervise the transactions of networked betting and which should help to relieve a few of the insecurities experienced by gamers. Networked sports gambling websites are today totally secure, beacuse private data are not required also the rewards not to mention the gaming odds are usually equivalent to a typical Vegas-type stake. They cut back on traveling, but nevertheless keep the ethos of a regular Vegas gambling web site, only today you are able to play in the comfort of your trusted surroundings.

Life insurance is a kind of insurance policy that covers the costs after the death of the insured person. These costs include estate settlement costs, death taxes, or any charities. It is particularly meant for providing security for the insured’s dependents.

Life insurance policies are basically of two types: term insurance and permanent insurance. A term insurance policy is where the benefit is paid if the insured dies during the term of the policy. Term insurance polices can be renewed after the expiration of the policy. Some also contain a convertibility option through which it can be converted into a permanent policy. Premiums are generally small for term insurance policies. It is also difficult to get term insurance for older people, since their risk of death is greater. In a permanent term policy, the security is for the whole life of the insured. The premium is slightly higher for this policy. Other types of life insurance policies are: universal life insurance (the insured can select the premium to be paid); variable life insurance (the insured has the ability to direct the investments of the cash surrender value); variable universal life insurance, single premium life insurance (single up-front payment for the full life of the policy); and survivorship life insurance (joint insurance for two people).

There are many factors to be considered while choosing a life insurance policy. They are: the amount of insurance required, the type of insurance, affordability of the premiums, surrender charges, cash value projections, policy loans, dividends, mortality assumptions, the stability of the insurance company, and so on. Most insurance companies provide the same kind of offers. The best way to compare is to compare the premiums. If the premiums are the same, then compare the other benefits and terms and conditions.

There are hundreds of insurance companies that are offering attractive deals on all kinds of life insurance. You can contact an insurance agent for getting the right life insurance policy. The internet is also a very good source for obtaining quotes, comparing various policies and deciding on the best one.

“Insurance Policy provides detailed information on Insurance Policy, Life Insurance Policies, Car Insurance Policies, Health Insurance Policies and more. Insurance Policy is affiliated with Life Insurance Quotes.

You’re always hungry right? The last thing you have time for is to plan meals ahead. Don’t despair, you body was designed to be refueled continually. We are not camels and we are unable to work in tip top condition without the essential nutrients our body requires. Your body was designed for a regular supply fo good quality food throughout the day.

If you are a woman who eats less frequently than three ’square’ meals and an afternoon snack or a man who eats less than the three meals and a mid morning and afternoon snack… you *should* feel hungry! Probably your body is crying out for nutritious food and one of the first signs is lethary, tiredness and dimished concentration.

Exectutives rushing through the day not stopping for lunch? Moms running after small children and surviving on toddler left overs? Women skipping breakfast and then eating a salad or cup of soup for lunch? Any of these situations fit you? If so, then it is likely you can dramatically change your energy levels and sense of vitality through learning a few simple keys about food! It amazing that so few people realise the importance of eating what your body requires.

If you recognise yourself above, it may also be true that you are overweight. Despite the lack of food, you continue to find those unwanted pounds are impossible to budge! Those who have adequate amounts of protein in their diet, however, may find they’ve escaped being part of this alarming trend. That’s because the latest nutritional research indicates that protein has numerous dietary benefits that give a boost to weight loss and weight management efforts. Let/s look at some of the ways you can benefit from a healthy daily protein intake.

One of the principle advantages of protein is that it creates a feeling of fullness and satisfaction in the body that makes overeating much less likely. Besides being filling, protein is a smart addition to any weight loss or weight management programme because of the effect it has on carbohydrate cravings.

As nutritional research has documented, carbohydrates trigger the brain to crave more carbohydrates, leading to a cycle of carbohydrate eating that becomes hard to control. Protein can block that triggering effect in the brain. If you eat protein with a carbohydrate it will reduce the cravings caused by eating the carbohydrate.

So where do you find sources of protein? Protein is found in dairy and meat products. For example, milk, cream, cheese, turkey, chicken, fish, beef, pork and lamb. You will quickly see these may be high in saturated fats so it is best to ensure you choose predominantly white meats such as fish, and the white flesh of turkey and chicken.

Vegetable products are not normally high in complete proteins except for soya beans. If you have never tried soy products or you don’t particularly enjoy tofu or soy milk, don’t despair. There are may exciting and delicious products which can be eaten in a variety of ways. They are often low in cholesterol and low in calories and can make an excellent choice to control your hunger and provide energy that sustains which is particularl useful when trying to lose weight.

Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. This world renowned, medically approved program will give you results you’ll love and all the support you need! Estimate your healthy body weight, tons of recipes, articles, ezine and more at http://weight-loss-health.com.au