An informed opinion piece is commonly called an editorial or “op-ed” which means opinion editorial. Opinion articles give you an opportunity to present your extended opinion on a particular issue, event, or other happening that the daily news covers. People with experience and knowledge in the subject area write most op-eds.

A letter to the editor column is not the same as an informed opinion piece, even though they both allow expression of opinion. The readers of the publication write letters to the editor. An expert, celebrity, or well-known public figure authors the informed opinion piece.

Tips for writing an informed opinion piece:

1. Base your article on current, timely, recent news stories. No one cares about an opinion on outdated news.
2. It needs to have a local relevance and be of interest to the readers of the publication submitted to. People take interest in events that are not local, but your opinion of distant activities do not interest them as much as events taking place close to home.
3. Be concise. Be clear and to the point in your writing. Use a strong argument in both the introduction and last paragraph of the piece.
4. Be specific. Write about only one specific issue at a time. Make sure that the reader understands why your argument or opinion is of interest to them. An op-ed piece is not a forum for general broad hitting complaints.
5. Keep it short, 600-750 words is the recommended length for your article.
6. Use simple, everyday language. The general readership has to understand your writing without experiencing doubt about what the subject or your opinion is.
7. Give suggestions of possible solutions or recommendations to the situation.
8. Keep your punctuation simple. Exclamation points have no place in an op-ed piece.
9. Provide facts, base your opinion on well-documented facts, research, statistics and examples. There is no room for personal emotions in the piece.
10. Proofread your article. Your piece needs logical organization. As in all writing the spelling, grammar, and punctuation are vital. Use the normal language of your reader. Avoid clichés, racism, personal attacks, and sexism.

The target readership of most publications includes people from many different backgrounds and experiences. The piece must have relevancy to the general audience. A good op-ed piece opens with a strong opinion and ends with a hard-hitting summary or final thought-provoking point.

Consider your format; mix long and short sentences to piqué the reader’s attention. Use short attention-grabbing paragraphs. Ensure that the reader does not have to “work” to get your point.

Provide current and accurate contact information. The publication requires your name, address, e-mail, phone number and signature.

This piece of advice comes from the self-professed rock god, Gene Simmons: “If you look at YOURSELF as the brand, then you will understand an intrinsic truth: People judge.”

In school you heard it as “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But guess what? People do. Why else do authors pay people lots of money to conceptualize and design book covers? Why aren’t all book covers just black with the book title in simple white lettering? The reason is simple: people do judge, and once you realize that you have the key to how to become a realtor who makes a good living.

You are the brand. This is just as important as if you were Beyonce, Michael Jordan, or Karl Lagerfeld. In fact, as a realtor, your brand may be even more important because you rely so much on referrals. The Beyonces of the world have a PR machine to help make them a household name; you, as a realtor covering a small geographical area, have no so such PR machine. You are just a realtor in a small but always competitive area, and you need to build a brand fast.

You may be thinking that you do not need to build a brand because you are part of an established brokerage. That is why you need a brand even more; you have to stand out from the crowd. The brokerage’s brand helps a potential client choose that company, but what will make them choose you? Do you exhibit that little Je Ne Sais Quoi that will make people point in your direction and say, “I want to work with her.”

So while you are taking your classes and studying for your exams, you should already be thinking about what your brand will be. The coursework, exams, and relationship with a broker just allow you entry into the real estate industry; they do not ensure your success in this industry. Building a client/referral portfolio is essential to having a successful real estate career, but how can you build a career that is lucrative and long lasting?

The answer to that question is the piece of advice dispensed at the beginning of this article. Yes, the advice comes from a man dressed in black leather and with enough black-and-white paint on his face to blend in with a pack of zebras. Nevertheless, it is salient advice. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you will be on your way to real estate success.

In the wheel industry monoblock and 3 piece are two of the most popular types of forged wheels. The terms “monoblock” and “3 piece” refer to the construction of the wheel, but the similarities end there. In fact, there are many differences between the two types that make each ideal for different kinds of automotive applications.

Monoblock wheelsare also referred to as “one-piece” wheels, meaning that they are forged into a single part without any removable components. During the manufacturing process a monoblock wheel begins as a single, round block of 6061-T1 aluminum alloy. The aluminum block is compressed and subjected to intense heat which creates a dense grain structure and forms a round, blank piece of metal. The single piece of aluminum alloy is then flow-formed and placed in a CNC milling machine where the spokes are formed to finish the manufacturing process.

Being that monoblocks are made from a single piece of aluminum alloy, they are the lightest of forged wheels. Their low weight is sought after as they help to reduce unsprung mass which can reduce acceleration times, enhance braking, and improve handling. Monoblock wheels are often less expensive than their 2- or 3-piece forged counterparts, as fewer parts are used for construction. However, if a monoblock wheel is damaged or bent they are difficult to repair, often requiring a complete wheel replacement.

3 piece forged wheels offer different advantages over monoblocks, mostly from a styling standpoint. A 3 piece wheel has three main parts: a center, the outer hoop or “lip”, and the inner hoop. The manufacturing process of 3 piece wheels is similar to that of a monoblock, except more aluminum alloy blocks are used due to the increased number of parts. After all of the pieces are milled, they are fastened together using a number of perimeter bolts and sealed using Silicone RTV.

The construction of 3 piece forged wheels allows manufacturers the ability to offer a wider range of widths and fitments for customers. 3 piece wheels are also the most customizable as any of the components can be easily painted or chromed to create a unique color scheme. If they sustain any damage it can be readily replaced. In addition, 3 piece forged wheels retain the highest resale value amongst used wheels. 3 piece wheels are not without their disadvantages. They are the most expensive forged wheels because of their multi-piece manufacturing, and if the RTV Silicone seal is broken, leaks can form.

With today’s super sized homes, you’ll find some even have three or more bathrooms, necessitating the purchase of quite a few toilet seats. But if you could take a peek inside all of those homes, you’d see that the they’re as unique as the people owning the homes.

From the outrageously tacky to the uber cool, one thing is clear – gone are the cute, everyone-thinks-just-alike boring white toilet seats. Plain white ones are becoming less and less standard as people decide to break free from the ordinary and put a little bit of their own personality into their bathroom décor.

You might think that a toilet seat is just a toilet seat and that people will go for any seat as long it’s functional but that’s not the way it is. People are very choosy about the seats that go in their bathrooms and with good reason.

No one wants to sit on an uncomfortable seat in a boring bathroom. Besides, you deserve a throne room fit for a king or queen and it should be one of the nicest rooms in the house. Enjoy the luxury of having what you want. So what is it exactly that most people do want when it comes to taking care of business in the bathroom?

There are three basic criteria people look for – comfort, décor and extras. With most of the decorative, get-your-attention-seats for sale, they can deliver both. If it has both comfort and suits the décor, many people enjoy choosing one that’s also a conversation piece.

From tropical fish to Spongebob Squarepants, you can find exactly what you’re looking for. You don’t have to be an outdoorsman to appreciate the beauty of one that feature works of nature such as fish or deer. You can find ones depicting fishing lures, deer in the woods and even camouflage seats.

And you don’t have to live near the beach to appreciate toilet seats that give an under the sea appeal like you find in the stunning beauty of the Elongated Clear Seashell and Seahorse Resin toilet seat or in the Blue Dolphin Sea Shell seat that’s made for standard toilets.

It actually has real shells made into the lid. If you’re looking for long lasting durability with a great design, Comfort Seats has one in their C1B6R9-BFCH model and that one has colorful butterflies in the design.

On top of design, people want extras. The extras will vary according to what the user is looking for. Some of the extras people prefer are things like easy removal to clean, self cleaning, or one touch closing. There are also toilet seats that offer top rated personal hygiene like the popular selling Toto SW524-01 Washlet C110.

“PTSD is not something you want nor is it something you’re aware of while it is happening. It sneaks up on you and can devour you if you don’t get help.”~ LPS

A Piece of Me: You Can’t Bury the Past

Feelings and emotions we think are long-forgotten can come back at any time. It happened to me after a mentally deranged former student cornered me in my classroom. Following that incident, I found myself haunted by my past. My emotions were out of control. I felt alone, anxious, ashamed, guilty, hopeless, overwhelmed, ugly, and unworthy. When I felt threatened, I had heart palpitations. I dreamed of being chased or assaulted, with flashbacks of past abusers.

I cleaned obsessively, purging my closest and my dresser drawers. I got rid of anything that reminded me of teaching, which I had loved. I stopped smiling. I lacked joy. I was isolated from friends and from doing activities I normally enjoyed.

I felt disconnected from those closest to me. It was difficult to concentrate, to sleep, and to eat. I was a mess. At times, I walked for hours. I felt numb. I’d tremble uncontrollably. I would only go outside if someone accompanied me. I felt cold. I dropped weight without trying. I didn’t recognize myself. I felt out of control.

My skin turned gray, my legs gave out often, and I would fall on my snow-colored carpet. When I fell close to the bed, I would grab the covers tightly and pull my body up to a standing position. The paralysis would only last for a minute. Then I’d return to my daily routine. Sadly, part of that routine was lying in a fetal position on my bed with covers over my head to muffle the sounds of my crying. My clothing hung like drapery. I found my reflection repulsive, and a taste like that of a dirty ashtray made it difficult for me to eat. Any loud sound startled me. My reactions were frightening. I’d lie hibernating in my bedroom with one sliver of light. I was afraid. I didn’t know what was happening. I’d cry until there were no more tears. I’d see things. I was convinced that crows were haunting me. Evil surrounded me. I could feel it. I was scared, and I needed help. I prayed, and God put me in the hands of caring doctors.

“You are not crazy,” they assured me. “You are suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). You have to open the box, so you can move on.”

I tried to keep it closed, but it didn’t help. So I surrendered everything to God and the memories rushed out like a roaring spring river. After I took back my senses, I realized I had forgotten that God was always with me. I began to understand that my emotions were normal reactions to extreme stress. My problems were the result of what happened to me, not because of anything I had done.

I learned from experiences that many weight issues and eating disorders issues are the result of situations or circumstances beyond our control. It is up to us to find solutions to our problems and not run from them. Denial is dangerous! Life is full of surprises. It doesn’t always go according to plan. Bad things happen. Parents divorce. Good, hard-working employees lose their jobs. Life requires that we dig deep and remember our goals and dreams. There’s where the original P.I.E.S. (physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual) philosophy formula can help. (A formula I created as a youth for survival.)

Original P.I.E.S. formula

Desire

+

Motivation

+

Commitment

+

Flexibility

+

Acceptance

= Change

For most of my life, I followed that formula. But for a time, I let emotions take over. This enabled others to control and have power over me. It also influenced how I saw and felt about myself. It created havoc with my self-image and self-esteem, something I would have never allowed before workplace harassment.

Determined to get my life back, I had a good, old- fashioned come-to-Jesus conversation followed up a prayer to God and request to the universe. It reminded me that pain must be managed, not stuffed in a box. This light-bulb moment prompted me to find the motivation to share what I learned about self-image, self-esteem, nutrition, fitness, eating disorders, and life.

Emotions can be managed. So can your eating habits. It’s not going to be easy. However, it can be done. It must be done. Before we enter the world of eating disorders, try to determine whether or not you use food to cope or fuel.

As President of a Vintage Car Club and a Director of its performance driving program, I get to test a variety of automotive accessory items. This seems to be my Carroll Shelby product test month and the new product being tested is a 3 piece luggage set that has been custom designed to fit the trunk of the Shelby GT500 -After instalation of the trunk mounted shaker 1000 speaker system.

Before discussing the quality and utiitarian details, I’d like to write a few words about the clever, subtle design features that enables 3 substantial luggage pieces to fit in, what appears to be, severely limited space. The deepest part of the trunk, just behind the rear seats is slightly over 9 inches high with a slight down slope. The wheeled overnight bag -22″ X 14″ X 9″ – with a Shelby signature extendable handle, is a rigid, molded frame bag that not only qualifies as an airline carry on, but maintains its shape in the small area allocated. The large capacity – 26″ X 15″ X 15″- soft sided wheeled duffle not only has Mag Style Wheels, a Shelby signature extendable metal handle, but also a separate lower framed section for suits, dresses, etc. The third piece is a large capacity – 24″ X 15″ X 14″ – hand carry duffle that fits on it side facing the trunk locking unit. When all 3 pieces are in place, there is still room in the drivers side wheel well for a computer bag or briefcase.

Over the past month, this luggage has been put through the wringer. The hand carry duffle, being used to carry my driving suit, shoes, helmet and a variety of track necessities, spent a weekend being pushed, pulled and tossed around our small garage at the track. The other two pieces shared the truck bed with tools, tires and back up engine parts. It was not a pretty sight, but this ‘Ballistic Nylon’ luggage had virtually no scuffs and cleaned up with a damp cloth. The luggage also made 300 (plus) mile road trip up the Pacific Coast followed a week later to another 300 (plus) miles to Joshua Tree National park. I’m still looking for significant signs of wear.

The utilitarian features of the luggage includes a soft but tough Polyester Broadcloth lining, multiple cosmetic and accessory pockets with rugged zippers and a built in laundry pocket in the large wheeled duffle. The extendable metal handle on the rolling pieces has a well fitted grip and the (Mag Style) wheel assemblies ran smoothly and, imagination being a wonderful thing, they appeared to corner as if they were cambered and toed out.

The attention to detail- metal Carroll Shelby Badge, signature replications and correct logo designs embroidered strategically on the luggage, correct signature on the extendable handle, rubber molded logo in the carry handles of the rolling pieces – all add to the overall quality appearance and feel.

With the cost of hardwood these days, it can be prohibitive to turn anything on a lathe let alone practice. Many beginning turners and even the experienced move to the firewood pile for turning wood. While the practised turners will have little trouble mounting the wood, beginners need a couple of hints to get started.

A lot of firewood will come in sixteen inch lengths and will be spilt in halves or quarters of the log. For spindle practice select a quarter log about three inches on a side with no splits on the end. If there are small splits they can be dealt with in the shop. Cutting an inch off the ends will generally get rid of the small splits in a quarter section of log. If it does not, cut off another inch or get another piece of wood from the firewood pile.

As you examine the face of the quarter log you will realize that you can get about a two inch turning square from the quarter. For all intents and purposes divide the width of the quarter (three inches) by three and multiply by two. If you have a bandsaw you can cut the waste away to leave a rough square or it can be done laboriously with a hand saw. This is not a good cut to do at the table saw.

Another option is to remove the waste at the lathe. Starting at the corner of the section measure in an inch and up an inch on each end. This will give the centers of the two inch square. At the wood lathe choose one end for the headstock and the other for the tail. Center the spur center at the headstock on the center mark of the wood and hit it on the other end with a mallet to drive the spur center home. Some turners object to this for fear of hurting the bearings but this if a bearing will be hurt by such an event it is too light for woodturning.

Bring up the tail stock and center the tail center on the mark for the square center. Tighten the tailstock and advance the center to hold the wood firmly in place. Because of all the extra wood on the log section it will be very unbalanced. Learning to deal with it is a good exercise in lathe work.

Make sure, with the lathe off, that the wood clears the tool rest and tighten the rest down. Stand clear of the wood and turn the lathe on to its lowest speed to make sure the wood is secure in the centers.

Sharpen a roughing gouge and prepare to rough down the wood. The tool should be held firmly on the tool rest and held so that the tip is above the spinning wood. It will bounce on the uneven wood but not cut. The handle of the tool rests on the hip and the planned cut will be very near one end of the wood, usually the tail stock end. As the handle slides up the hip and the tip moves down the wood a chipping cut will begin as the tool nears forty five degrees. Cut towards the end of the log. After the cut is done move down the log a little and repeat. This continues until the other end of the log is reached. At this point move the tool rest in towards the wood so as to give better control and repeat until the wood is round. Now it can proceed as any other spindle.

Firewood is a great source for practice wood and also for advanced projects. It is dry enough to work and provides an excellent supply of local hardwoods for woodturning enjoyment.

When you look at a bodystocking, this promiscuous piece of sexy lingerie, all you can think is “WOW!”. Yet, what is this piece of lingerie, are there different types? What do you know about the bodystocking? Read this article for information about this naughty piece of sexy lingerie.

History of the bodystocking

It is not exactly known when the first bodystocking was made; it does however have an interesting history perfectly fitting in with this piece of sexy lingerie. In 1861 the bodystocking caused a prudish outrage, when Adah Issacs Menken wore it in a theatre play, on the stage. Her role was as a man and she used the body stocking to preserve modesty while appearing naked. It’s a good job that she didn’t use some of the sexy lingerie bodystockings made today!

Bodystockings became widely used on stage to give the illusion that the actor/actress was naked. A mass produced body stocking hit the shops in 1965. It was used as a control aid, to keep the whole body in control, like stockings do with your legs. The sexy lingerie bodystocking of today is a far cry from the modest pieces that covered you up in the past!

Bodystockings of today

Today’s sexy lingerie body stocking covers up your legs, torso and sometimes your arms. This is not an item to be used in public or for sports – it is an under-garment for the bedroom or under your clothes. It has also been incorporated into some belly dancers and exotic dancer’s costumes.

The bodystocking is designed to be worn with nothing underneath, however for the more modest of us you can still pull it off with a gorgeous set of bra and panties underneath.

Bodystockings are usually sheer and revealing, the sort of material used are lace, satin and fishnet. With a variety of designs you can even find modest ones out there. They don’t have to completely cover your body either – some designs have panels cut out to give the observer a naughty glimpse of bare skin. They can be awkward if you are wearing them under clothes and nature calls, as with some body stocking you will need to take the whole item off. If this doesn’t appeal to you, there is crotch-less varieties out there as well.

Summary

This is definitely an item of sexy lingerie designed to steam up windows. So ladies why not try this naughty piece of underwear, even if it is to wear under your clothes to give you a boost of confidence and sexuality.

You might have heard this; “Get to succeed far more by capitalizing on your opponents mistakes than you will by the greatness of your own play.” This will be true when we realize that The lucky player is usually the player that knows how much to leave to chance. The mechanics of playing poker, hand reading and adjusting to opponents / situations are all important aspects of winning in the game… however there are many skills which are equally important including:for the sake of discussion we can call them “Skilled.”

On the flip side of the coin, We also see some really talented poker players who spend money like it’s water, and keep playing higher, and higher until they go broke.You really need to be in control of your money if you want to get anywhere, and if you’re constantly putting it at risk by playing at too high stakes and by not keeping focused, all the skill in the world isn’t going to help you.

Ahhh! that makes sense. I had also wandered the same thing. I still don’t get how some sites are banned, but other sites with poker in the title get through fine in this regard. Why so? Choosing a guiding book for poker depends somewhat on your current abilities, if you are a beginner. I’ve always seen and heard about people reading good poker strategy books but don’t know where to start in this category. For those who are yet still just starting out and need to get their feet wet before tackling more in-depth strategy books. Some books are called How to beat sit &go poker tournaments by some author as a good guide to Sng’s so hope that helps ..Thanks for this opportunity to share with you all. And I’ll let you know what I think after finding them.

It is quite acceptable to compare your prospective literary piece with a pre-written example eulogy for an uncle. In fact, this is a great way of gauging as to how your eulogy will compare with another piece that has already seen some public time. At the very least, you can compare your work against a professionally written piece by a person who actually knows how to make a great eulogy. Technically, there really should be no comparison. A eulogy, particularly the one you are currently writing for your uncle should be about your uncle – and no one else.

However, a lot can be gained by simply trying to learn with pre-written ones; or copying key points of an example eulogy for an uncle in order to write one that is applicable to your situation. In case you are in this situation, here are some key points that you should look out for.

1. It is always about the introduction. There is nothing worst than a fidgety introduction that sounds like “Good day to all of you.” Needless to say, this is not a greeting one usually reserves for a eulogy reading. Try to see how the example eulogy for an uncle starts off. It can start off as an anecdote (i.e. “When I was growing up, Uncle X used to say…”); or a formal introduction to the occasion itself (i.e. “We are here to celebrate the life of a good man…”) The former one sounds more personal, while the latter one does sound a bit too formal and aloof. However, you can make both introductions suit your writing style as the eulogy progresses.

2. Compare length. There is only so much that your “audience” will be willing to sit through during a eulogy. If you can compare your two pieces together, you will see that the effective lines on the example eulogy are the shorter and more concise lines. Longer lines do work, but it takes a skilled speaker to know when to pause and when to push through a long-winded statement. If you are confident on your speaking skills, then go for the lengthier statements. It could actually work if you put in some rehearsal time before your speech.

Also, you should take note as to how long the entire piece is. More often than not, the shorter eulogy pieces are more memorable because people have a way of remember one or more components of the speech. If you make your literary piece beyond the usually 8 minute mark; then there is the possibility that no one will remember what you said about your uncle. More likely, they will remember just how long your speech is. Remember, this is a time to talk about your uncle. Your goal would be: to make sure that your “audience” does that after your speech.

3. In the example eulogy for an uncle, exactly what makes the entire piece more heart rendering? Those would be specific instances where personal anecdotes are injected into the written texts. The more personal the details you write; the more likely that your audience will appreciate your eulogy writing efforts.