Virginia Workers' Compensation and Social Security Disability: Is the Disability Test the Same?

You are injured at work and you wonder if you qualify for both Workers' Compensation and Social Security Disability. You would like to get both benefits but can you get both benefits at the same time and is the disability test the same?

First, Virginia Workers' Compensation is a program to pay the injured worker who suffers an injury on the job. Generally, Workers' Compensation Insurance pays two thirds (2/3) of one's salary. It is non-taxable. It also pays for medical bills caused by the accident. Any employer in Virginia who has two or more employees is required to have workers' compensation insurance. If the worker due to the injury is unable to perform the duties of his occupation, then the insurance company will pay "compensation" to the worker based on two thirds (2/3) of his salary. Generally, the worker does not have to be "totally disabled" rather the worker due to his injury must just be "incapable' of performing the duties of his/her job. Injury compensation in Virginia is governed by the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. If there is a dispute between the injured worker and the insurance company over his/her disability status that dispute is resolved by a Deputy Commissioner at the Commission in an administrative hearing.

Second, Social Security Disability (SSD) is a federal program and is not run by states such as Virginia. Its benefits are a monthly stipend based on the worker's earnings records and Medicare after receiving the stipend for two years. Generally, unlike a workers' compensation claim, in a SSD claim the worker will have to show he or she is "totally disabled" for work. The definition of disability Social Security uses is a disability that has lasted can be expected to last more than twelve (12) months which prevents you from earning more than $1,000.00 a month. If SSD is initially refused, your case will ultimately be decided by a federal administrative law judge in a hearing.

Third, the contrast is Virginia Workers' Compensation only requires you to show you can no longer do the job you were doing at the time of injury. Generally, SSD requires much more. Especially if you are under age 50, it will require you to rule out and "any" job that exists in the national economy. After age 50, the Social Security test becomes a bit easier. At 55 it becomes depending upon one's education and skills, it can become much easier. At age 60 Social Security Disability has made the disability test very easy. In contrast, Virginia injured worker compensation does "not" consider age at all in determining ability to work.

Fourth, if your injury is severe, you can possibly show not only that you cannot do your old job (qualifying for Virginia Workers' Compensation) but you cannot do any job (qualifying for SSD).

In summary, the disability test for Workers' Compensation in Virginia is very different from the disability test for Social Security Disability. Due to the complexity of this issue, an injured worker would be well-advised to consult an attorney who does both Virginia injured worker compensation and SSD.

What Is a Last Will and Testament?

Last will and testament: what is it?   A legal document that lists decisions regarding how the writer's property will be managed after his or her death is called a last will and testament. A last will and testament makes sure that the writer's assets are handled in the way he or she would want if still alive. Upon death, a last will and testament is used to determine how money or assets are used to care for any minor children left behind. Any investments or savings accounts will be managed by a person appointed as responsible in the last will and testament. This legal document may also list any advance directives or other health care decisions important to the writer.   Last will and testament requirements   The most important requirements for a last will and testament are related to the validity of the document. It must be signed by the writer, also known as the testator, and signed by witnesses who can confirm the will is valid. The testator and witnesses should be able to demonstrate that the last will and testament was written without force or provoking and that the writer was in a proper state of mind. The last will and testament should also name an executor, or someone to carry out the wishes of the last will and testament.   Do I need a last will and testament?   Whether we realize it or not, death could be right around the corner for each of us and a last will and testament can prepare us and our survivors for the end of our lives. There are some basic legal requirements for the testator of a will. In most states the testator must be at least 18. If you have any assets or personal property, that is, if you own anything, you have the right to decide what happens with it when you die. If you have minor children, you can extend this right to decide what should happen to them as well as your property.   When should I create a last will and testament?   Opinions vary on when to create a last will and testament. As soon as children enter the family life, parents should create a last will and testament to plan for the care and provisions for their children. Having one's wishes recorded in a legal document can provide peace of mind when potential changes occur. A last will and testament should be updated with each major family change, such as the birth of a child or the death of a spouse. These changes must be made in the same way that the original legal document was created, and signed by the testator and witnesses. It must be noted that these amendments supersede any previous editions of the last will and testament.   Who is involved in my last will and testament?   The testator and the witnesses are involved with the creation of the last will and testament. Upon the testator's death, the estate attorney determines who gets a copy of the last will and testament. This list of people usually includes the executor, any beneficiaries or guardians, the testator's accountant, governments, and the Department of Public Records. If a last will and testament is filed for probate, it is then available for anyone to read.

25 Factors That Affect Corporate Video Production Costs

Web based corporate videos are an excellent way to increase brand awareness for a variety of companies. The good news is that today corporations of nearly any size and with just about any budget can produce quality corporate videos. In fact, in its most basic form corporate video production can be essentially free. Through the use of the Internet and simple inexpensive camera technology an individual can organize, shoot, edit and upload a corporate video in a matter of minutes. Conversely, the cost of full-blown corporate productions can easily climb into the millions of dollars.

Corporate professionals should be encouraged by the ever-decreasing cost of film production. As technology continues to advance the cost of producing a corporate video will continue to decrease. With this in mind there are indeed at least 25 factors that currently affect the price of corporate style video production. We will consider these factors here and offer an opportunity for corporate professionals to better judge anticipated costs associated with corporate video productions that are intended for web audiences.

1. Cost of Actors

Carefully considering who will represent your corporation in a web video is key to overall cost. To realize substantial savings in video production companies should consider using a real company employee for video production. Professional actors can easily cost well into the thousands of dollars to hire.

2. Script Writing

Having a script for a web video simply means having a good plan. Those within the corporation closest to its products or services will sometimes produce the best script material. One cost-cutting approach to script development is to contract the work out via online crowd sourcing or freelance writers.

3. Cost of Editing

The editing process is where a web video really comes together. Often times the quality of a video can be determined by the quality of editing. With advanced software such as Apple's Final CutPro, individuals within a corporation can easily produce top quality editing. In maintaining an awareness of costs it should be important to note that professional editors can earn upwards of $200 per hour for their services.

4. Professional Production Company

A key factor in determining the overall cost of a web video is deciding whether or not to incorporate the services of a professional production company. The cost of professional production can range anywhere from $50 per hour to well over $300 per hour. Consider keeping production in-house to keep costs at a minimum.

5. Camera Quality

Camera quality plays a large role in the total cost of a web video production. Cameras can range from a few hundred dollars to easily over $50,000. A good digital HD camera will average around $10,000. In this instance quality is often proportional to cost. Striking a happy medium between quality and costs in this case will help to control the cost of production.

6. Support Crew

Depending on the size and scope of a video production there will be a requirement for some type of support crew. Very simple one-man productions will certainly keep costs at a minimum. On the other hand, full-scale professional type productions will require several support crew members.Corporations can expect to pay on average around $50 per hour for each support member.

7. Tools and Equipment

Equipment such as microphones, lens, booms, and various types of lighting equipment all factor into the total cost of a video production. Costs for tools and equipment range from $20 per hour to easily over $100 per hour to lease.

8. Shooting on Location

This is a highly variable factor in the overall cost of a web video production. Certainly shooting on-site at corporate headquarters will keep this cost at virtually zero. On the other hand, shooting at unique outdoor locations or other indoor locations can easily cause the cost of production to quickly escalate.

9. The Cost of Props

When a web video production requires the use of props or unique equipment or vehicles this can certainly have an impact on the overall cost of a corporation's production.

10. Studio Rental

When a corporation's web video production requires a studio or soundstage for certain audio requirements such as musical scores, this will certainly impact production costs. Other considerations include the use of green screen facilities for certain special effects. Studios can range in cost from under $100 per hour to easily around $500 per hour.

11. Additional Footage or B-Roll

B-Roll footage is simply footage that is in addition to the primary actor footage and is often used to enhance the quality of a film. B-Roll costs are variable and can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to well over several thousand dollars.

12. On-location Variances

Where a film is shot can have a large impact on the expense of production. For example, shooting in a small rural area will be far less expensive than shooting in a large metropolitan city. Consider location when calculating the cost of a Corporation's web video production.

13. Stock Footage

Purchasing stock footage and images can enhance the quality of a video and reduce the cost of filming. Search online for a variety of stock footage providers to compare costs.

14. Audio Files

Another consideration when determining costs related to corporate video production is audio. Supplemental audio or sound effects can incur minimal additional costs or can easily reach into the thousands of dollars.

15. Cost of Narration

Narration can add a professional tone to your production, but can also add to the overall cost of the production. Consider the benefits of narration and the cost involved which can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over several thousand dollars.

17. Cost of a Teleprompter

The cost of a teleprompter can easily average around $500 per day. The upside of using a teleprompter is that it can reduce the overall cost of filming by improving on actor efficiency. Less "takes" means more overall savings for the corporation.

18. Video Length

Typically the cost of the video is directly proportional to its length. As would be expected shorter videos will be more cost-effective for corporations. The good news is that the trend is towards shorter to-the-point videos these days.

19. Film Handling

Once a film has been shot it is far from complete. Film production requires digital services, the rendering of film, as well as the uploading of video files. These services can vary in cost and should be considered when looking at the overall cost of a web video production.

20. Royalty Fees and Licensing

Always consider the costs involved with royalty fees and licensing fees such as union related costs when calculating the overall cost of a corporate video production.

21. Agency Cost

The cost of video production can be reduced by working directly with a production company as opposed to an intermediate or third party agency.

22. Video Hosting

An online web video production requires some type of hosting to store the video files. The good news is that when incorporating services such as YouTube into your production the cost is essentially zero. Other hosting services are available and the cost is usually minimal.

23. Variations in Language

Consider the cost of language translation and closed captioning when determining overall costs of a corporate video production. Much of this type work can be done in the editing phase of the production.

24. Technology and Formatting

Consider how your finished product will be formatted. The requirement for international distribution and other factors will determine the types of formatting required. Offering a wide range of formats in the finished product can add to overall cost of production.

25. Petty Cash

All other costs such as permits, food, transportation, and legal fees can be included in the petty cash fund. Depending on the size of production this fund can be a few hundred dollars or easily tens of thousands of dollars.

Conclusion

Consider these 25 key factors when determining what the overall total dollar amount of a web video production for a corporation will ultimately be. As is noted here there are a wide range of variables when determining or estimating the overall cost of a corporate web video production. Technology and the Internet have greatly reduced the cost of nearly all of the factors that have been discussed here. Keeping this in mind it is easy to see how a corporate video could easily be produced for nearly nothing. Conversely, taking all these factors into account it is also easy to see that a full-blown major corporate video production could range into hundreds of thousands of dollars. Cost aside, one thing is certain when it comes to a web video production, and that is that having a web presence for a corporation is critical to success in today's business world. Asking the question what does a corporate web video cost can only be answered by each individual corporation based on their specific needs and desires.

Hotel Remodeling - Renovation And Interior Design Setting New Trend In Hotel Construction Management

The past three years have been the best for the hotel industry in more than two decades and is expected a boom in coming years. Revenue per available room has jumped to 10% approximately as compared to last year, the biggest increase since 1984.

Hotelier who wanted to capture the market share, increase the revenue per available room of their hotel and enhance their guest's experiences it is suggested to get some remodeling, interior design or hotel renovation work done to make their success their priority.

Just keep in mind hotel remodeling also accounts complete hotel renovation services, such as restaurants, spas, golf courses, marinas, casinos etc.

The hospitality industry relies heavily on the ability to achieve superior ratings from guests. Defining the guest experience depends on many subtle factors such as the bed quality, fabrics, linens, mirrors, the completed hotel interior is essential for success. And it is very necessary to tailor and cater carefully as per the tastes and demands of individual guest.

To feed this emerging demand to hotel industry, professional companies are stepping forward to provide complete Hotel Construction Management services inclusive of Hotel Remodeling, Interior design and Renovation services.

These Hotel Construction Management companies do not offer hotel operation services; they are only concern with the hotel operation and work deliberately with the property management team to insure on time completions with little or no guest inconveniences. These companies are having trained staff that manages and accomplished their job smartly and insures hardly or no trouble to hotel customers.

If you are hotelier is interested to reinvent his / her brand start, it is suggested to refer such a Remodeling and Renovation cum Construction Management service provider. As they can provide you a quality work which can definitely prove a cost effective strategy for your hotel brand.

Humulin or Lantus, Which Insulin For Your Child?

Humulin or Lantus? When my daughter, who was 8, was first diagnosed the Children's Hospital that was treating her put her on an insulin program of short acting Humalog NPH and long acting Humalin N. You should have seen me that first day of training after a long night in the emergency room where she was diagnosed. I was a raving lunatic to begin with so my brain was mostly mush at that point. Add to that everything began with "H". Mix this "H" with that "H" but first charge this "H" with air, then draw this "H" first followed by that "H" but make sure you roll this "H" between your palms and for crying-out-loud don't shake that "H". Anyway I guess osmosis worked and all of that information finally seeped in. We were officially diabetic now.

For those of you who may not be familiar with it, Humalog and Humalin (short and long acting insulins) are mixed in the same syringe and injected 3 times a day usually before meals. Your child is allowed a certain amount of carbohydrates for each meal that the doctor figures out based on age, weight, etc., and that's your number. My daughter's was 65 carbs max per meal and 35 max per snack. However your child hits their magic number that's it. Whether it's 65 slices of ham or half a pop-tart. Plus she had to eat 6 times a day at certain times everyday.

Well the time came when she decided she wanted a little more freedom of choice and asked me about trying Lantus. My first thought was if it's not broke don't fix it. But I can have a cupcake whenever I want so I decided my opinion was secondary. So we looked into it. Lantus is a long lasting insulin. One shot at night and she had a 24 hour basal dose of insulin. "One shot" I'm thinking to myself "that's great". But wait, you also have to take a shot of short acting insulin (a bolus) every time you eat. 10 meals 10 shots, 3 meals, 3 shots. Even I could figure that out. You base the amount of short acting insulin on the number of carbs you are about to eat. Talk about freedom! Compared to what she had been doing it was like being re-born. she didn't care that it would mean more shots. All she heard was she could eat what she wanted when she wanted. Birthday cake, pizza parties, popcorn at the movies, boy she was ready to go. The first thing she wanted to have was a Blizzard from Dairy Queen. I looked at the chart on the wall and it read 125 carbohydrates. That was half a days carbs in a paper cup! After a couple of days of gluttony things got back to normal pretty quickly.

Remember that freedom I mentioned, it came at a price. This insulin regime is a lot of shots. Add those to the required blood tests and your talking about a lot of holes per day in a little girl. One more thing, her nighttime Lantus shot was 19 units. that's a lot of insulin all at once. In her case it went in like battery acid. These shots are no fun. However, after several months on the Lantus regime her life and the rest of my family's lives are pretty close to pre-diagnosis normal. All in all it was the right thing to do. If your doctor is suggesting Lantus or your child is asking about it, consider all of the above. We're glad we did it.

Avoid Disasters While Vacationing in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, in Broward County in South Florida, is a fun place to vacation in. Thanks to its proximity to the Atlantic Coast, the pristine beaches, and the boats that horde the harbor of the city, Fort is also called the 'Venice of America'. Though the city is an outstanding holiday retreat, you will need to look into the following tips to stay safe in Fort and avoid disasters that ruin your vacation.

Though Fort Lauderdale is a safe city and the tourist areas including the beaches and the boulevards are particularly crime-free, you must still exercise caution. You are advised to stick to your group and never attempt to walk around on your own, especially at night. While in crowded places, you must see to it that you check your belongings from time to time. Incidents of pick pocketing are rare but they do happen. Hence, you are advised to be vigilant always.

The North East and South East parts of Fort Lauderdale are safe. However, when you visit the North West and South West parts of the city, you must make a note of the crime in the area. You are not advised to venture in the western suburbs at night, either solo or with your group. Areas like the Florida Turnpike, Andrews Avenue and the Broward Central are not good for tourist visits. Do not schedule any sightseeing trips to these places at all. You'd better stick to the beaches, downtown Fort in the East, and Las Olas for shopping.

There is a different kind of threat if you decide to explore Wilton Manors, a gay hangout, in the middle of the city. Straight tourists do not like the obvious passes and seduction that many gays are notorious for, in these parts. Thus, if you are straight and hugely moral, you'd be better away from the Wilton Manor locality in Fort Lauderdale.

Rental cars in Fort are popular places for thieves to loot. Thus, you will need to ensure that your rental cars are locked always, and that you never leave any valuables in the car. You are not to choose a rental without proper insurance papers, as stoppages on the road for paper verifications are common practices.

Other tips to stay safe are exercising caution in the beaches, and avoiding tourist traps in commercial centers of Fort Lauderdale that charge you extra for purchases. Otherwise, Fort is one of the most pleasant places to visit.

Why Is Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle The #1 Best Selling E-Book On The Internet?

It's because thousands of women and men of every age are burning off BODY FAT - not muscle or water weight - and they're doing it naturally, without supplements, pills or "magic potions," simply by using the proven, scientifically-accurate and common-sense advice found inside this amazing diet and fitness guidebook.

Tom Venuto, a respected fat loss expert, natural bodybuilder, and personal trainer, has not just pumped out yet another "diet program" into an already over-saturated market. Tom's Burn the Fat can be more accurately described as a "Fat Loss Bible." It is quite simply one of the most complete, detailed, and precise guides to fat loss you will ever read. What makes it so much different than other weight loss publications on the market?

Well first of all, it's not a "weight loss" program, it's a "fat" loss program. This may seem like semantics or wordplay at first, but once you've read just the first three chapters, there will be no doubt in your mind that pursuing "weight loss" is not only the wrong goal, it may be the reason that you've failed to reach and maintain your ideal body weight. Burn The Fat shows you exactly why it's fat you must lose, not "weight" (which includes muscle, water and other lean tissue) and then goes on to show you exactly how to do it.

Secondly, what makes Burn The Fat different is the amount of attention that is paid to each and every element of successful, healthy, permanent fat loss. Burn The Fat not only thoroughly dispels the lies, myths and fallacies surrounding a very confusing subject, it is simply the most detailed book about fat loss ever written. By reading Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, (or better yet, "studying it"), you will learn more about fat loss than you could from an entire semester of nutrition classes or from an entire shelf of maintstream diet publications at your local bookstore.

You may be wondering, "Is this a low carb diet? A high protein diet? A high fat diet? what type of program IS it???" The truth is that Burn the Fat is neither a high protein diet, or a low carb diet. That's because with the information in this book, you will be able to easily determine your own ideal protein, carbs and fats ratio. You will be able to analyze your body type (are you an endomorph, ectomorph, or mesomorph?), you will determine your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate, or the amount of "maintenance" calories your body requires every day), and you will find out whether you are carb tolerant or carb intolerant.

This personalized approach makes perfect sense because each of us is a unique individual and no two people are exactly alike in terms of body physiology and personal goals.

One of the most powerful chapters in the book is the first one called, "How To Set Powerful, Compelling Goals That Will Propel You Forward and Charge You Up with Unstoppable Motivation." In this chapter, you will learn what is probably the ultimate secret to burning fat and getting in shape... and it has nothing to do with diets, supplements or training programs.

If there is any drawback to the Burn The Fat ebook, it's that it contains so much information, that some readers may find it a bit overwhelming. Those who are looking for a "cliff's Note's" quick start type of fat loss program, might be a bit intimated at first. The good part however, is that even these types of readers can feel confident and assured that it will be worth the effort because this will literally be the last book they ever have to buy on the subject.

Who will benefit most from Burn the Fat?

In the broadest sense, anyone and everyone who needs to lose weight will benefit from Burn The Fat. Men, women, bodybuilders, fitness enthusiasts, and especially motivated individuals and avid readers will love this book. Although it was written by a bodybuilder, this book is certainly NOT just for bodybuilders.

You will find no "30 lbs. in 30 days" miracles at work here. It's all about intelligent eating choices, planning, hard work and lifestyle change. As Burn The Fat author Tom Venuto says,... "Burn the Fat is simple, but it's not easy."

In terms of graphic design, Burn the Fat is a clean and professionally formatted PDF e-book. It's a little on the plain side, being just text, but that makes it ideal for printing and reading in the comfort of a favorite chair. Because of it's size, it does require a robust printer and a good stack of paper.

Initially, some people thought that Burn the Fat was priced a little on the high side because $39 might seem like a fair chunk of money for an ebook download. However, after they saw the amount of information contained within Burn The Fat's 340 pages, along with the special bonus ebooks and reports that come with it, they said it was not only worth the $39, but many times that amount.

As with any how-to publication, you're not really paying for the materials used to compile the document, but for what the information can do for you, and clearly, this publication has changed many lives and the hundreds of testimonials and success stories found on the Burn The Fat website are proof of that (I recommend you take a look at that "testimonials" page on the Burn The Fat website because some of the before and after transformations are simply incredible - as well as inspiring).

The Bottom line?

Anyone looking for a quick fix solution to fat loss, anyone looking to be told fairy-tales, and anyone looking for a "magic bullet" offered by the likes of body wraps, fat burning pills, diet shakes, or "fat-burning" creams and gels might be best advised to steer clear of Burn the Fat.

On the other hand, anyone tired of "spinning their wheels" going nowhere, who wants the truth about fat loss and who is ready and willing to put in the hard work and discipline and make the lifestyle changes necessary to get a fat free body, will find Burn The fat to be one of the best investments they ever made in their lives.

Don't Censor the Music and Artistic Expression

Ann Powers said:

"Don't censor the music and artistic expression."

Eminem's music, in particular the songs "Kim" and "Stan," is a continuation of a tradition in music and American art in general: the Gothic murder ballad, which has been with us ever since the blues or Appalachian folk music. "Stan" is just like an Edgar Allan Poe tale, if you think about it. Johnny Cash shot a man just to watch him die. This is something that's had a very solid, longstanding role in culture.

Self-styled moralists are getting up in arms about something that has always been part of the literature of development. If you're a kid, you have to learn about violence, about hate, about death, about fear. That's part of becoming an adult. And if it's not fed to you by Eminem, you're going to get it from your own nightmares. The illusion that kids need to be protected from that is connected to a kind of fetishizing of innocence, which is unrealistic." Ann Powers

Music critic, the New York Times

We live in a society where we are taught to hide our true feelings and emotions. When I look back at the way I have been educated at school and and home, I now know how hypocritical it was. Teachers and parents tried to hide some reality.We were pictured a safe world with nice people. Religion ( particularly the way it was taught) increased that wrong impression.

Eminem's work appears to be progressive for conservative people. But the same conservative people would also have rejected Baudelaire or any other controversial poet or writer centuries before. Conservatism is a form of intolerance in general.

I have felt insecure a great part of my life and I didn't know how to act the right way with people, being too much afraid to speak my mind.

There is something I will probably never get: why are references to suicide so taboo in people's mind? Many people also blamed Goethe for his work "Die Leiden des Jungen Werthers" ("The Sorrows of Young Werther") because a lot of young people committed suicide after reading his book. Not Goethe is to blame, but rather those young people's decision...but do we really need somebody to blame? Anybody has the right to end his life if he feels like his pain is unbearable. My cousin committed suicicide when I was 15. I was shocked, but I don't judge her for that. It was her decision to stop her immense sorrow.

MTV also censors notions that have to do with suicide.

The "Tatu" video "Not Gonna Get Us" was considered as shocking and would be censored not because it pictured two lesbian girls, but because they seem to commit suicide at the end of the video. I was very surprised to discover that the word "die" in the sentence "I'm so sick and tired of bein admired/ that I wish that I would just die or get fired » from Eminem's song « The Way I Am ». How is that possible ? How could MTV censor a word like « die » as if death didn't belong to our every day reality ?

They allow sentences such as « People killin', people dyin'/Children hurt and you hear them cryin'» from sugar sweet songs such as « Where is the love ? » from Black Eyed Peas and they dare censoring « die » in « The Way I Am » video ? How far should we push hypocrisy ?

So many writers and poets such as François Villon in the 15th century in France have been considered as shocking for their use of vulgar language. Many people want to do as if vulgar and popular language didn't exist (I'm sure the same people use it in their privacy as well). Popular and vulgar words are part of our culture too, there is no reason to ignore it.

Why should we censor notions such as suicide, murder and death that are present in the music when our kids already play violent games on their PlayStation and watch "Hannibal" and "Scary Movie" on TV? A little bit of violence helps kids to get rid of their own aggressively and shouldn't be viewed as necessarily dangerous and negative.

The best way to protect our kids is not to hide reality. The closer they are to reality, the better they are armed to face real battles in life.

Six Mistakes to Avoid in a Workers' Compensation Deposition

The insurance company lawyer is taking your deposition because you filed a Virginia Workers' Compensation claim. You claim you were injured on the job and you wish compensation and medical coverage. The insurance company lawyer hopes to trap you in a mistake that will cost you your case. There are Six (6) mistakes you should avoid in your deposition.

1. Don't lie you must tell the truth. It is mistake to think you can get away with lying in your deposition. You need to be truthful about what happened to you. Remember your testimony in a deposition is under oath. Anything you say can and will be used against you are the hearing by the other side.

2. Don't guess. If you do not know an answer then just say you do not know the answer to a question. This is especially true about distances and measurements of any kind.

3. Don't fail to prepare. You need to review your medical history. You need to review what you have said on medical reports about your injury, accident reports about your injury, and recorded statements about your injury given to the claims adjuster. If a doctor did not take down a history of your injury, you will have to explain this omission.

4. Don't fail to listen to the question. You are only required to answer the question. It is not a time to be making speeches. If you don't understand the question ask for it to be repeated. Try to give truthful concise answers to every question.

5. Don't fail to review Interrogatory Answers. If Interrogatory Answers have been already prepared and filed, you need to review them with your lawyer before the deposition. To the extent you can, you need to be consistent with any prior answers you have given.

6. Don't volunteer information. You have been injured and you want to tell your story. You want to tell how this has harmed you and your family. You want to tell about all the problems you are having. Unfortunately, the defense attorney is not going to care about your problems. You may say something that will harm your next so just answer the question that is being asked.

In summary, if you listen to these pointers you will not make any of the mistakes listed above and "hopefully" your claim will be approved. Of course, if you have a lawyer, you should review these pointers with your lawyer to avoid any of these mistakes.

Why Direct Mail Advertising Works And How To Lower Your Costs

I met a lady who said she received a notice in the mail from a company offering plaques of various animals. She knew her daughter would love them as a gift and ordered them. This lady said, "I don't know how they got my name but I sure am pleased to have found out about those beautiful plaques, my daughter just loves them."

THAT is direct mail advertising at work.

If you have a product or service that needs exposure you can mail 1,000 or more sales messages at reduced postage rates. That's a savings of at least 14 cents on lettersize and 51 cents on oversize for each piece by using Canada Post's Addressed Admail(TM) postal option. Postage could be even lower but that depends on your list.

Mailing in quantities of 1,000 or more can present you with challenges you never thought about. That is why Sasha Peters has written a simple, easy to use guide book that explains all the intricacies of using addressed admail(TM). Your list, the various postal options and how to work with a mailing service all work together to make your mailings go smoothly.

The thing you have to keep in mind is that before this book there was no one source for learning all you need to know. You basically had to learn through trial and expensive error.

Sasha has been in the mailing business for 16 years and discovered that businesses need something to guide them through the processes. With technology and mechanization advancements, there is an even greater need to understand how it all flows. Mailing costs can increase from $25 to $80 a thousand all because the envelope has a flap in the wrong position.

One company's mailing costs were decreased quite substantially. They mailed 20,000 newsletters bi-monthly. By alerting them to a postal option they weren't aware of, they saved $2,500 in envelopes and $1,200 in mail processing fees for each mailing, a $22,200 annual savings!

Whether beginner or advanced direct mail user, getting the whole picture ensures your mail a) gets delivered, and b) goes out at the lowest postage rate.

Use Online Audio to Make a More Personal Connection

Audio can be the perfect vehicle for business owners - especially speakers, trainers, consultants, coaches and other infopreneurs - to distribute their message and promote their business. It makes a stronger connection than just written text, and it's easier to produce than high-quality video.

In the past it was costly and difficult to provide audio online. The Internet was slow, special software was required and the quality was poor. But that's no longer the case. Now it's easy to deliver high quality, fast loading audio content on your website.

Why audio?

Here are some benefits of using audio on your Web site and in other ways:

Make a personal connection: Audio creates a more personal connection than written text, because the audience hears your voice. Create an experience: You can combine music, voice, sound effects and more into a richer experience than written text. Portable audio devices: People don't have to listen at their computer, and can do it while multi-tasking. Easy to create: It's easy to record audio - all you need is a microphone. Teach something: Some of your educational material might translate well to audio. Take control: It's relatively easy to record, edit and publish audio yourself. Gain a competitive advantage: Despite these many advantages, most businesses are not using online audio effectively.

Why now?

Three things now make online audio feasible and attractive:

Better Tools: There are easy tools for you to create high-quality audio clips and publish them on the Internet. You no longer require specialized complex equipment and software. Broadband Internet: The cost of broadband Internet has decreased, and more and more people now have access. In the past the problem with audio was that it took a while to download and streaming audio quality was terrible - a jerky buffered sound. Broadband has now made it possible to have high quality streaming audio and easier download of large audio files. MP3 and embedded players: In the past, there were many different audio formats and players. So it was a bit "hit or miss" as to whether your users could listen to your audio clips. Now this has sorted itself out into two standards: MP3 as the de facto standard for audio files; and HTML5 or Flash as the commonly-used technology for playing audio on Web sites.

What content works best in audio?

There are many types of content you can publish - here are just a few:

Articles: Read your newsletter articles out loud. Teleseminars: Record your teleseminars and publish the recordings. Webinars: If your webinars aren't highly visual, you can publish them as audio as well. CD extracts: If you have already created CD products, convert them into downloadable MP3 files. Interviews: Interview other experts, or ask them to interview you. Book reviews: When you finish reading a book, record a brief book review. Presentations: Record your workshops, seminars and other presentations. Consulting sessions: Record private coaching, mentoring or consulting sessions. Audio books: Read your book out loud to convert it into an audiobook. New material: Create brand-new material!

Inspiration for the Fired Soul

You're Fired! is a book that tackles the real story's behind these two little words that pack so much punch.

This is an eBook that gets people motivated and inspired to take a different approach to being fired. I encourage you to open up about your own experiences. With new story's from the readers, this book will have no end.

Take a look for yourself: [http://www.yourefiredbooks.com]

Tristan Becker has re-invented the term "You're Fired!" with motivational words of wisdom and a new outlook on the old term that has impacted so many lives in so many ways. The web site that promotes and distributes the Ebook, takes the reader into consideration in many ways. Getting the readers involved is the main focus of the book as well as the site. Each month will offer a new opportunity for the readers to WIN a day of pampering at the SPA, or one of many other promotions to warm the sences and rejuvenate the soul. Everyone deservers to be pampered, and each month the first One Hundred customers to buy a copy of " You're Fired!" will have the opportunity to do just that.

You can purchase this eBook through the web site, and tell your own story if you have one to share. More and more people are being fired in today's world; some much so, that the topic is no longer taboo.

The author has a twist of humour that is refreshingly obvious throughout the book, which makes the reader feel at ease and allows for a much better reading experience.

Visit and enjoy.

Spanish Food - The Perfect Paella

Looking for a traditional Spanish recipe? Without doubt, the best-known is going to be the prodigious paella ... that tasty, adaptable, gregarious dish famed throughout Spain and the World.

And, what an impressive choice of recipes exist for a pleasurable paella: seafood, chicken, rabbit ... or a mixture of all three! Perhaps you are non-meat eating ... well, just opt for one of the several vegetarian paella recipes. Bit of a health fanatic? Then substitute white rice for whole-grain rice or wild rice.

Got a large family and not much money to feed them on? Use plenty of rice and imagination along with a tasty stock, plus whatever you can find in the cupboard! I have certainly enjoyed many paellas where there have been more bones/shells than meat/seafood! And, very tasty they have been too, the richness of the company more than compensating for any paucity in the ingredients.

So ... how do you go about making the perfect paella? First of all, you need to choose your rice. The short-grained rice from Valencia - where most Spanish rice originates - is fine for making paellas. However, the "bomba" rice grown in the neighboring region of Murcia, is the "king" of paella rice: again, short-grained, it has the ability to absorb the stock whilst remaining firm.

Another "must" is to use saffron ("azafrán") to create the gentle, yellow color for which this delectable dish is renowned. Yes, it is possible to buy cheaper, artificial colorings but ... go for the traditional - it will bestow a wonderful aroma and unique flavor.

Many Spaniards swear a perfect paella can only be achieved when using a tasty, home-made stock. Whatever you decide, allow at least double the amount of liquid to rice. If, during cooking, the dish becomes a little dry, just add a dash more water or stock.

Another tip I have been told, on more than one occasion, is to gently fry the rice for a few minutes before adding the stock, ensuring that it is well-coated in oil. I think all Spaniards would agree that, once cooked, it is best to leave your paella to stand for a good five minutes before serving.

Perhaps the most important ingredient for making that perfect paella, is to use lashings and lashings of love whilst preparing it - for surely, that is something we can all afford - and to enjoy to the full the marvellous company of those who will share it with you.

I shall now have to choose a paella recipe to offer you as an example! I think I will opt for a seafood paella, typical of the region of Valencia, where I live. The ingredients are for a hearty four servings. If you are not a hefty eater, or on a diet, then reduce the amount of rice/stock slightly.

Paella Valenciana - Paella From Valencia

Ingrediants:

- 4 cups rice. - 8 cups fish stock. - 8 king-sized prawns/langoustines. - 8 mussels. - 200 gr shrimps. - 200 gr peas (fresh or frozen). - 2 tomatoes, skinned and chopped. - 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced. - 3 strands saffron, crumbled. - Olive oil for frying.

Method:

1. Sauté garlic in a paella-type pan.

2. Add tomatoes, peas, shrimps and saffron.

3. Cook for a few minutes.

4. Add rice and stock.

5. Simmer for approximately 20 minutes.

6. Decorate with prawns and mussels.

7. Cover paella with a lid.

8. Poach the seafood for a few minutes.

9. Decorate paella with lemon quarters.

10. Enjoy!

6 Easy Ways to Make Newsletters Interactive

Imagine a camping or hiking trip without your Swiss army knife. This one tool does everything from removing a splinter to opening bottles to cutting string. Its versatility makes it valuable. This is also true of the email newsletter - your hardest-working marketing tool.

A newsletter not only allows you to share valuable information about your industry and business, but it also invites your audience to engage with you through the content. Over time, engagement helps build relationships which in turn builds trust - and trust is huge when vying for a customer's business.

The key to ensuring your newsletter's versatility and potency as a marketing tool is to enhance its interactivity: Allow multiple ways for readers to engage with your content and, in turn, readers will engage with you. This doesn't mean riddling your newsletters with promotional offers, but honing in on focused content that will appeal to your specific audience.

eMarketer Denise Keller knows that quality interaction is the goal:

"Long gone are the days when sending coupons and special offers was enough to provoke a response. Recipients get enough of this as it is, plus falling into that trap only makes it harder for you to stand out from the bunch... it's all about engaging the reader."

Here are six tried-and-true methods for getting readers to click through your content:

Video downloads - Embed an interesting video clip and provide a short description of what readers can expect to see. Just make sure the clip is relevant to your audience. Polls - People love to be asked their opinion. Use your newsletter to conduct a simple poll about your business and its offerings, then share the results with your audience. You can benefit from the feedback, and participants may feel empowered that they had a hand in helping you evaluate your business. Contests - Instead of simply offering a discount or freebie to readers, stoke their competitive fires and get them involved through simple contests: industry-related trivia, best photo caption, 100th reader to respond, etc. Contests can add a fun element to your newsletter and generate a higher response rate than a simple offer. Requests for feedback - Invite readers to share their thoughts on your business and its products/services. As with polls, you can benefit from the results of the feedback and your audience will feel empowered by sharing their opinion. Links to contact pages of website - A newsletter is a vehicle, not a destination! Ultimately your newsletter should navigate readers via hyperlinks to more in-depth information about your industry, company, products and/or services, and how they can contact you. Downloads for white papers - White paper offers can be a powerful tool, especially in B2B marketing. Offering exclusive information in a well-written, highly focused white paper can get executive-level readers clicking and engaging in ways other tactics cannot. Make the download offer obvious and easy - a name and email address should be enough to permit access to the white paper.

Clearly, eNewsletters and interactivity go hand in hand. As you explore ways to make your newsletter more interactive, make sure you remember that relevancy, value, and timing are essential to a newsletter and its components. Simplicity and readability are also key, especially when you are asking readers to do something; they can't act if they don't understand what's being asked of them.

"eNewsletters that are easy to read promote involvement," says Pat Friesen of TargetMarketingMag.com. "Simplicity increases understanding. And consistency encourages brand recognition and anticipation for the next issue to arrive. It all adds up to more readership and more response."

This may sound easy, but it requires a great deal of detailed planning and expertise to create an effective newsletter. Proven Systems is highly experienced in helping companies generate newsletter content that is relevant, timely, valuable, easy to digest, and of course, interactive.

Testing Your Facebook Ad: What to Look For

This month we're going to be covering the basics of tracking and testing your Facebook ad campaigns.

You may be pleased with the results of your campaigns, but if you haven't actually tested them, how do you know they're performing as well as they could be?

I highly recommend tracking and testing every aspect of your campaign, and fine-tuning it to achieve optimum results. A few things to keep in mind throughout the testing process:

When testing multiple ads, remember to keep all factors equal, except for the one you're testing. For instance, if you're testing the image, keep everything else equal, including ad copy, landing page, even the time of day. Be patient: a couple of days may not be enough to accurately see results of your testing. Let tests run for up to a week for best results. Create separate campaigns for each ad you're testing. If you create multiple ads in one campaign, a higher portion of your daily budget will be allocated to higher performing ads, skewing the results.

Testable Aspects of Your Facebook Ad

Basically, every component of your ad can and should be tested. You'd be surprised at how changing just one element of your ad can impact your CTR and conversion rate.

Internal Vs. External Landing Page

Are you linking to your Fan page or to an external URL? What's the difference in terms of CPC? CTR? As Facebook favours ads that link to fan pages, your ad will be higher up on the page, and will likely have a lower CPC. Even if your external URL converts slightly better, does it outweigh the lower cost of linking to your fan page?

Call to Action

Which calls to action result in higher CTR's? Which end up with higher conversions? Using language that evokes mental pictures of taking physical action ("grab yours now", "claim yours today") work well. Try out various wording and see which works best for your product or offer.

Images

You can test completely different images, or variations of the same image. For instance, if you're using a photo of a smiling woman, try zooming in closer, adding text to the image, try adding different coloured borders, etc. The variations of limitless!

Ad Copy

What performs best? Copy with a more personal touch? More formal? More text? Short and sweet? First words capitalized or not? Copy that mentions targeting criteria or not?

Headline

Direct headline? Question? "How to"? Testimonial? Which ones get you the most clicks? Which ones end up converting better?

Next week we'll cover some of the tools that are available to help you track your Facebook ads most effectively.