Reference Variable

Six Basic Kinds of Life Insurance
Regardless of how fancy the policy title or sales presentation might appear, all life insurance policies contain benefits derived from one or more of the three basic kinds shown below. Some policies due combine more than one kind of life insurance and can be confusing.
Term Life Insurance Endowment Life Insurance Whole Life Insurance Variable Life Insurance Universal Life Insurance Variable Universal Life Insurance
Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance is death protection for a term of one or more years. Some companies are offering policies with terms up to thirty years. Premiums on term insurance remain level during the life of the policy. Term Life Insurance has no cash value account. Death benefits will be paid only if you die within that term of years. Term insurance generally provides the largest immediate death protection for your premium dollar.
Some term life insurance policies are renewable for one or more additional terms even if your health has changed. Each time you renew the policy for a new term, premiums will be higher. You should check the premiums at older ages and the length of time the policy can be continued.
Some term insurance policies are also convertible. This means that before the end of the conversion period, you may trade the term policy for a whole life or endowment insurance policy even if you are not in good health. Premiums for the new policy will be higher than you have been paying for the term insurance.
Life Insurance "Endowment"
An endowment insurance policy pays a sum or income to you, the policyholder, if you live to a certain age. If you were to die before then, the death benefit would be paid to your beneficiary. Premiums and cash values for endowment insurance are higher than for the same amount of whole life insurance. Thus endowment insurance gives you the least amount of death protection for your premium dollar.
Whole Life Insurance
Whole life insurance gives death protection for as long as you live. The most common type is called straight life or ordinary life insurance, for which you pay the same premiums for as long as you live. These premiums can be several times higher than you would pay initially for the same amount of term insurance. But they are smaller than the premiums you would eventually pay if you were to keep renewing a term insurance policy until your later years.
Some whole life policies let you pay premiums for a shorter period such as 20 years, or until age 65. Premiums for these policies are higher than for ordinary life insurance since the premium payments are squeezed into a shorter period.
Although you pay higher premiums, to begin with, for whole life insurance than for term insurance, whole life insurance policies develop cash values which you may have if you stop paying premiums. You can generally either take the cash, or use it to buy some continuing insurance protection. Technically speaking, these values are called nonforfeiture benefits. This refers to benefits you do not lose or forfeit when you stop paying premiums. The amount of these benefits depends on the kind of policy you have, its size, and how long you have owned it.
A policy with cash values may also be used as collateral for a loan. If you borrow from the life insurance company, the rate of interest is shown in your policy. Any money which you owe on a policy loan would be deducted from the benefits if you were to die, or from the cash value if you were to stop paying premiums.
Variable Life Insurance
Variable life insurance, provides permanent protection for you and death benefits to your beneficiary upon your death. The value of the death benefits may fluctuate up or down depending on the performance of the investment portion of the policy. Most variable life insurance policies guarantee that the death benefit will not fall below a specified minimum, however, a minimum cash value is seldom guaranteed. Variable is a form of whole life insurance and because of investment risks it is also considered a securities contract and is regulated as securities under the Federal Securities Laws and must be sold with a prospectus.
Universal Life Insurance
Universal Life insurance is a variation of Whole Life. The insurance part of the policy is separated from the investment portion of the policy. The investment portion is invested in bonds and mortgages, the investment portion of Universal Life is invested in money market funds. The cash value portion of the policy is set up as an accumulation fund. Investment income is credited to the accumulation fund. The death benefit portion is paid for out of the accumulation fund. Unlike Whole Life Insurance, the cash value of Universal Life Insurance grows at a variable rate. Normally, there is a guaranteed minimum interest rate applied to the policy. No matter how badly the investments go by the insurance company, you are guaranteed a certain minimal return on the cash portion. If the insurance company does well with its investments, the interest return on the cash portion will increase.
Variable-Universal Life
Variable universal life insurance pays your beneficiary a death benefit. The amount of the benefit is dependant on the success of your investments. If the investments fail, there is a guaranteed minimum death benefit paid to your beneficiary upon your death. Variable universal gives you more control of the cash value account portion of your policy than any other insurance type. A form of whole life insurance, it has elements of both life insurance and a securities contract. Because the policy owner assumes investment risks, variable universal products are regulated as securities under the Federal Securities Laws and must be sold with a prospectus.
Rates and coverage vary form state to state. Shop around on your own and talk to an independent insurance agent to make sure you get a plan that's right for you. It's amazing how much rates may vary from company to company for the same coverage.
Matt McWilliams is one of the co-founders of HometownQuotes.Com, an online insurance quotes web site. He is originally from Pinebluff, NC and attended Middle Tennessee State University. He is considered an expert in the field of online insurance shopping and finding new ways to help consumers save money on their insurance. For more information visit http://www.hometownquotes.com

The mortgage market in the United Kingdom is considered one of the most innovative and viable in the world. Compared to other countries, intervention in the market by state-funded entities and borrowing is controlled by either mutual organizations or proprietory lenders is limited or none at all.
The market got deregulated with important and essential innovations and differences in methods to attract borrowers since 1982. This has lead to a wide range of mortgage types:
The money market as well as deposits became the chief source of funds among lenders. As such, most mortgages returned to a variable rate, either the lenders standard variable rate or a tracker rate, which was to be linked to the underlying Bank of England repo rate (or sometime LIBOR). To attract new borrowers, an incentive deal was initially offered.
A fixed rate. Rate of interest does not change for a specified period of payment ranging from 2 to 10 years. Longer term interest rates are more expensive compared to shorter term rates of payment.
A discount rate. A margin of reduction is in place for a given period typically 1 to 5 years in a standard variable rate. The discount is sometimes declared as a margin over the base rate and sometimes stepped.
A cashback mortgage is a mortgage where the lump sum is typically a small portion of the advance
A capped rate. Rate of interest cannot be more than the cap but can change beneath the cap. A collar is coupled with a minimum rate imposed. Rates are often similar to a period equal to a fixed rate.
The lender may be offering a lower rate than the market cost of the borrowing with each incentive. If the borrower repays the loan, a penalty is imposed on the borrower. This is referred to as redemption penalty or tie-in, however they have been referred to as early repayment charge with the regulation of the Financial Services Authority.
UK Mortgage Process
A chartered surveyor is paid a certain fee, called valuation fee, for visiting the property and ensuring that is enough to cover the amount of the mortgage. Since it is not a full survey, all the defects that a house buyer needs to understand cannot be identified. A contract is not formed between the surveyor and buyer, so the buyer can sue the surveyor if no major problem has been detected. A building survey can be carried out by the surveyor for a cheaper fee.
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Web site analytics, for those who might not be familiar with the term, is the tracking of various performance metrics for a given web site. The metrics themselves can range from the simple (and relatively useless) count of " hits", i.e. requests for a given resource such as a single web page, image file, etc., to the measure of far more complex interactions. These complicated interactions can be totally arbitrary; for example, you might want to know the number of orders from visitors who were referred by search engines and scrolled at least halfway down a long sales page.
That assumes, of course, that you can figure out how to configure all that tracking, interpret the results and afford the monthly fees for the providers of the service. The cost issue is apparently solved: Google Analytics (http://google.com/analytics) is currently free in its beta version, and early indications are that it will remain so. However, a word of caution is in order: The Terms of Service referenced on the Google Analytics home page seems to indicate that Google can and will make use of your site's data, at least in aggregate form (that is, mixed in with everybody else).
In many minds Google is starting to become a Big Brother-like presence on the web, hence its motives are suspect pretty much by definition. Personally, I consider my site's aggregate data a fair trade for the value I will extract from their software, but you will have to make up your own mind. If you're not bothered by Google knowing as much about your web site as you do, then Google Analytics looks very promising. It is a smart, easy-to-use implementation that hits the sweet spot of web analytics.
The Sweet Spot: Easy Yet Powerful
The sweet spot I'm referring to is really the point where most of us live. We don't have the technical know-how to configure the most complicated tracking scenarios and even if we could, we don't have the analytical savvy to make any sense of the data. Google has found the sweet spot by making tracking configuration quite easy, and providing pre-cooked role-based reports that provide lots of information you may not have even realized was readily available. In short, you can get an awful lot of strategic data for very little effort.
Configuration
Let's walk through setting up a simple and common scenario: We want to know how well our sales letter is converting web site visitors to customers. Where Google Analytics shines is how much valuable data it automatically gleans from such a simple test.
Google calls a tracking scenario a "profile". Although you can include URLs from many web sites in a single profile, it is easiest if you organize things such that a profile is fundamentally the same as a web site.
As part of setting up your profile, you provide the URLs of all the pages for which you want data. Google then provides you with a JavaScript snippet to include on each page. The snippet is self-contained and requires no editing; it looks like this:

_uacct = "xx-yyyyyyy-zz"; urchinTracker();
You can put the snippet anywhere inside the tags of your web pages.
Next, you want to specify a "goal". The goal in our case is sales; we know that the goal has been achieved when the customer reaches our "thank you" page, which we send them to immediately following a purchase. Therefore the URL associated with the goal is that of our thank you page. More sophisticated goals can involve defining a "funnel" of multiple pages; this can be extraordinarily useful in identifying a weak spot in a more complicated sales process.
At this point our setup is finished! You then need to just let your site run and accumulate statistics for at least 24 hours.
Reports
When you return and select View Reports, you will see an amazing array of statistics at your disposal. The first thing you'll notice is a pop-down menu with several roles, namely Executive, Marketer, and Webmaster. Each role has a suite of pre-cooked reports likely to be of interest to someone in that role.
We'll focus on the Marketer role; when you choose this option you'll see the Marketing Overview by default. It includes four charts:
- A line graph showing raw page views over time
- A pie chart showing the proportion of returning versus new visitors
- A world map showing the geographic distribution of visitors
- A pie chart showing the visitor counts based on the referrer, i.e. Google, Blogger.com (for my blog), etc.
The Overview is general data useful for knowing the overall popularity of your site and where your visitors are coming from.
The Marketing Summary report is a numerical chart that shows the top five referrers, the top five keywords used by searchers, and the top five campaigns. A campaign is indicated by a code that you attach to a URL. Even so, by default you get several campaign totals. These default campaigns are:
- Organic: Indicates visitors referred by an unpaid search engine listing.
- Referral: Indicates visitors referred by links which were not tagged with any campaign variables.
- Not set: Indicates visitors referred by links which were tagged with campaign variables but for which the campaign variable was not set.
- Direct: Indicates visitors who typed the URL directly into the browser.
The next report of interest is Overall Keyword Conversion. Since we have indicated a goal of "sales" and linked it to our thank you page, the Overall Keyword Conversion report is able to tell you which search engine keywords result in the most sales. This is a really useful and potentially profitable report.
The Campaign Conversion report shows which campaigns are creating the most sales and the Conversion Summary produces total visits and total goal percentages (i.e the number of visitors that achieved each goal).
Finally, the Entrance Bounce Rate is an interesting report that also has valuable data, even in our simple scenario: It provides the list of pages for which customers land and then leave right away. For some pages, our product download page for example, we expect a 100% bounce rate. For others it can illustrate a weak or problematic page.
Google Analytics provides an astonishing amount of data for very little effort—and no cost (so far, anyway). Although there a few advanced reports missing from its arsenal, it makes the bulk of the web site measurement you'll want to do very easy indeed.
Ross Lambert is the founder of MidnightMarketer.com, a community of web marketers (http://midnightmarketer.com). He also authored Sonic Page Blaster(http://spbsavestime.com) and Ross's Guide to the Masters of Marketing (http://saleslettergenius.com).

Imagine you have a 200 page MS Word document with repeating text elements like an address, a name, or a date which repeated over and over throughout the document.
And imagine, after finishing the document, or when it's time to update it, your boss tells you to change the name from "John" to "Bob."
One way to do it of course is to use a global Find and Replace.
But what if you'd like to replace only some of the "John"s to "Bob"? Are you going to check them one by one? Or what if you want to do it automatically without the need to remember to do a Find and Replace?
It's easy. You first mark the source text with a bookmark.
1) Select the text.
2) Select Insert > Bookmark from the main menu.
3) Enter a Bookmark Name (no spaces) and click Add. To see your bookmark on the screen, select Tools > Options > View Tab. Check the "Show Bookmarks" check-box.
The next step -- for all the other instances of this text, enter a REF (Reference) FIELD that points to the BOOKMARK of your reference TEXT.
1) Place your cursor where you want the next instance of the source text to appear.
2) Select Insert > Field from the main menu to display the Field dialog box.
3) Find the REF field in the "Field Names" scroll-down list box.
4) Select REF and then select your BOOKMARK in the "Bookmark Name" list box in the middle.
5) Click OK and your text will be inserted with a gray background screen (which will not be printed), denoting that this is not normal text but a variable field.
Now, every time you make a change to your original text, all other instances will also be changed automatically AFTER you do the following:
1) Select the whole document by selecting Edit > Select All from the main menu, or pressing Ctrl + A.
2) Press the F9 key and BINGO! You've got all instances of your text updated automatically.
P.S. Be careful not to delete the bookmark markers when you are editing your original text. That's why it is important to work by displaying your bookmark markers.
************* Creating RUNNING HEADERS and FOOTERS
Another great use of Bookmarkers and the REF field variable is in the Headers and Footers.
Imagine you'd like to include the Document Title (not the File Name but the actual name of the document printed on the front cover of the document) or a section title either in the header or the footer. This is also called a "running" header or footer since the header/footer on a page changes depending on selected section headings or titles like the way, for example, you'd see on any phone directory or dictionary page.
Adobe FrameMaker takes care of this much more elegantly by allowing you to assign one or more variables to your header or footer, variables that are fully customizable and indexed to your paragraph tags, so that you can actually have multiple levels of running headers and footers displaying on your pages.
Although MS Word does not provide the same easy functionality to key the headers/footers to paragraph styles, it still can be done by inserting bookmarks and REF variables.
This is how you do it:
Assign a bookmark to the title (or any other source text of your choice) and then insert its corresponding REF field variable into the header or the footer. After updating the text, go back to your header or the footer editing mode (View > Header and Footer) and press F9. All your headers or footers (within that given section) will be updated as well.
NOTE: There is a formatting problem with updating the headers and footers this way since MS Word has the tendency to insert the source text with its original formatting.
If, for example, you are referencing a 24 point document title in your header, your headers will look huge. You can of course select the header text manually and re-format it to a smaller size.
If the next time you update the source text, the length of the updated text is equal to or smaller than the original text, then the header/footer preserves its latest formatting properties.
If, however, your new updated text is LONGER than the previous one, then for only that part of the text which is longer, MS Word switches the formatting back to the original source text format.
For example, if your original document title is composed of two words, "Word Tricks," and your updated document title is either "Word Techniques" or just "Word," then the headers and footers are updated (after going into the header/footer editing mode) nicely by preserving your latest formatting corrections.
However, if your new title is "Word Tricks Explained," then the last extra word "Explained" is displayed in the headers/footers with the original formatting of your document title, creating a lop-sided and aesthetically unpleasant header/footer. In those cases you need to go back to your header/footer and reformat the extra new word(s) as well to match the rest of your header/footer. This is a bug that I hope Microsoft will take care of in the future.
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Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Senior Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation. He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 corporations since 1999.
He is the editor of PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS web site http://www.privatetutor.us
In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).
A true movie fan since he was a child, Akinci provides FREE MOVIE PLOT IDEAS every day of the year at SCRIPT BOILER. Visit http://scriptboiler.blogspot.com today.
You are most welcomed to visit his COPYWRITING WEB SITE http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.

And I thought I was the only one knowing it! Over the past three days I have received six telephone calls and four e-mails all from alarmed people (one my own niece) very concerned about rising mortgage interest rates, and all asking the very same, panicking question: 'Now what'? For one thing, you could try doing nothing about it - it normally works well for me and, who knows, perhaps with a little luck tomorrow interest rates will drop. For another thing, you may want to hug your Teddy Bear - and buy one also for your friendly neighborhood banker, turned overnight into a voracious T-Rex.
When you last went shopping for a mortgage you found yourself facing an array of options, from a six-month 'open' to a 10-year 'closed' and everything in-between. And chances are you didn't quite grasp or paid attention to the differences among all those many options, mostly because you never envisioned a time of interest rates increase. Now that the tide is changing direction, of course, the basic question becomes the most important: which option is the best to minimize mortgage costs? To answer this, let's take a look first at a few definitions.
For starters and contrary to popular belief a mortgage is not a loan. It is both an interest in land created by contract and a type of security for a debt. In essence, a mortgage is not a debt but, rather, the evidence of a debt. More importantly, a mortgage is a transfer of a legal or equitable interest in land on the condition that the interest will be returned when the terms of the mortgage contract are fully satisfied. This usually means upon repayment of the underlying debt. Mortgage Law originated in the English feudal system as early as the 12th century. At that time the effect of a mortgage was to legally convey both the title of the interest in land and possession of the land to the lender. This conveyance was 'absolute', that is subject only to the lender's promise to re-convey the property to the borrower if the specified sum was repaid by the specified date.
If, on the other hand, the borrower failed to comply with the terms, then the interest in land automatically became the lender's and the borrower had no further claims or recourses at law. There were, back in feudal England, basically two kinds of mortgages: 'ad vivum vadium', Latin for 'a live pledge' in which the income from the land was used by the borrower to repay the debt, and 'ad mortuum vadium', Latin for 'a dead pledge' where the lender was entitled to the income from the land and the borrower had to raise funds elsewhere to repay the debt. Whereas at the beginning only 'live pledges' were legal and 'dead pledges' were considered an infringement of the laws of usury and of religious teachings, by the 14th century only dead pledges remained and were all very legal and very religious. And, apparently, they are still very religious in the 21st century.
Mortgages are better known to consumers by their re-payment schemes:
Interest Accruing Loans
Typically used by builders, an Interest Accruing Loan is one on which no payment of interest and no repayment of principal are required to be made during the life of the loan. These type of loan may be 'closed', i.e. booked at an interest rate fixed throughout the term of the loan or 'open', that is with a fluctuating rate. In effect, in this type of loan the lender actually lends to the borrower the additional amount corresponding to the interest payable during the term.
Interest Only Loans
Typically preferred by lenders, in this type of loan the borrower contracts out to make fixed payments of only interest to the lender, with the principal due in one lump sum at the end of the term. Obviously, the principal amount never increases because interest is discharged at fixed intervals.
Straight-Line Principal Reduction Loans
Favored in the United States and continental Europe, this type of loan has an equal amount of principal repaid every interest compounding period plus interest for the period. For example, a mortgage may call for complete repayment of principal over a fifteen-year period through monthly payments of interest, so that 180 payments will be made in the entirety of the term of the loan. The principal balance and the amount of interest due decrease over time.
Constant Payment Repayment Schemes
Favored in Canada, England and throughout the Commonwealth, these can be fully amortized or partially amortized. Payments are equal throughout the life of the loan and consist of both principal repayment and interest. However, as each payment installment becomes due, an increasing portion of the principal is repaid thereby reducing the outstanding balance on which interest is charged during the next period. As a result of the decreasing principal balance on which interest is charged, interest as well decreases over time thereby increasing the amount of principal repaid on each subsequent installment. When fully amortized, the principal balance is fully repaid at the end of the term. However, most loans are partially amortized so that repayment of principal plus interest are calculated so as to repay the debt over an amortization period which is longer than the term of the loan. This means that at the end of the term of the loan the principal ourstanding balance must either be paid off or it is refinanced for an additional term. Also, because of the way payments are structured, early payments consist largely of interest and little repayment, so that typically the principal outstanding balance at the end of the first terms is large.
Variable Rate Mortgages
This type of loan differs from a costant payment mortgage because the interest rate charged may be changed during the term of the loan. Generally, these loans are initially set up like standard, partially amortized payment repayment loans based on the current interest rate, then the rate is revised at fixed intervals and the mortgage repayment scheme is altered as well by changing either the size of the payments or the length of the amortization period, or a combination of both.
Open Mortgages
The term 'Open' does not refer, like many people believe, to a fluctuating interest rate. The term 'Open' refers to the possibility granted to the borrower to pay off the loan without penalty prior to maturity. In general, lenders do not like Open Mortgages because the early payoff reduces the interest they earn. Open Mortgages can be written either with a 'fixed rate' or with a 'variable rate'. In Variable Rates Open Mortgages the payment stays the same, but what changes is the ratio of interest to principal. If market rates increase, principal repayment decrease during the life of the loan.
Closed Mortgages
In general, Closed Mortgages offer a better rate than Open Mortgages but the drawback is the borrower is not afforded the right of payoff at anytime. If the borrower intends to payoff the loan, a penalty is applied typically amounting to three months interest payments. If the borrower anticipates making only fixed payments and no early payoffs, Closed Mortgages are usually preferable.
Convertible Mortgages
These are yet another variation of the same product wherein the rate is fixed for an initial period, say six months or even one year, with the provision that at any time during this period the borrower may 'lock in' into a longer term with little or no cost. This is clearly the best mortgage if rates are in a downward trend.
Now that I have managed to drive you up the wall, let me point out that another couple of considerations ought to be made by the expert consumer (which, by now, it is definitely not you …):
Fixed v.Variable Interest Rate Mortgages
The choice is whether the borrower prefers the security of fixed payments as opposed to the volatility of the market. Typically, security of fixed interest rates comes at a premium: the borrower can fix the principal repayment and interest for a term ranging from 6 months to 10 years, but the longer the term the higher the rate. On the other hand, Variable Interest Rate Mortgages will fluctuate sometimes literally overnight with the market, but interest rate will typically be less. So really, the choice is between the security of fixed rates and the potential savings afforded by a fluctuating variable rate.
Short v. Long Term
Short Term Mortgages are appropriate when the borrower believes that interest rates will fall substantially by the time renewal date comes up. Alternatively, Long Term Mortgages are suitable when current interest rates are reasonable and it is deemed preferable to lock in so that a budget can be laid out for future fixed payments.
So, again, going back to the original question which option is best to minimize costs? To find out, Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) developed the measure of effective mortgage rate differential between five-year and one-year mortgage rates over five-year moving spans between 1980 and 2005. The model assumes that the borrower has the option every year of taking on a five-year mortgage term or a one-year mortgage term at the rates then prevailing, and that there is no difference in mortgage principal. The results are surprising. CHMC has found that it is cheaper more than 85 percent of the times to opt for a one-year term and roll it over than to take a five-year mortgage up front.
More importantly, CHMC has found that borrowers with Variable Rate Mortgages benefited of substantial savings over each five-year span than their Fixed Rate Mortgages counterparts. Whereas they paid more interest in the short term they ultimately and invariably ended up saving more over the long run, which then gives credo to the belief that security and peace of mind when it comes to mortgages are purely a matter of perception.
Luigi Frascati
Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.
Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Living with bipolar disorder is difficult at best, whether you have the disorder or are supporting someone who does. Although researchers are working on it, there is still no cure for bipolar disorder at this time. Still I pose the question - is recovery possible?

When we're discussing cancer, the term "in remission" is used rather than the term "cured." In other words, since there is no cure for cancer as of yet, when a person goes into remission it means the alleviation of the signs and symptoms of their cancer.

With bipolar disorder, we don't use the term "in remission," but the terms "unstable" and "stable" are heard quite frequently in medical circles instead. When signs and symptoms of the disorder area present, the person is referred to as "unstable" (i.e., in a bipolar episode), and when they are absent, the person is referred to as "stable." However, what you don't hear a doctor say is that you or your loved one are "recovered" from bipolar disorder. I believe this is because the term "recovery" is associated with the term "cure" and, again, there is no cure for bipolar disorder.

After all this discussion of terms, I think it just comes down to semantics. Let's get away from the term "recovery" and use the term "stability" instead. I definitely believe that as far as bipolar disorder goes, stability is not only a possibility, but a probability (as long as certain variables are in place).

For example, there can be no stability without medication. However, as long as you or your loved one take your medication as directed, you can achieve stability with your bipolar disorder.

Therapy would be next as far as degree of importance when it comes to stability variables. Medication is half the treatment for bipolar disorder, while therapy would be the other half. People who take their medication and also see a psychiatrist and therapist achieve the greatest stability with their disorder.

Another variable in the stability equation would be sticking to a good sleep schedule (8-9 hours per night). Exercise and a healthy diet are two more variables as well. The more variables you add, the greater your chances of stability with bipolar disorder.

Other variables for stability might include any/all of the following: strong support system; mood chart; journal; hobbies; productivity; volunteer work; part-time job or home business; spirituality; social life; family ties; leisure time; relaxation; and enjoyment.

Although there may not be recovery from bipolar disorder per se, stability is a definite possibility - if not probability - for those who are willing to do the work necessary to attain that stability; for those who will add the above variables into their lives.

David Oliver is the author of the shocking new report called Bipolar Disorder "The REAL Silent Killer" Visit http://www.how-bipolar-disorder-kills.com for free information on this new report so you can discover how and why bipolar disorder is killing people

Offering a calendar to your site is a popular and easy addition to any site. In this article I will explain the relatively simple logic to allow you to create your own calendar. To be more specific, we'll create a calendar which shows either a monthly or weekly view and assume you can pass variables into the program.
The first thing needed are the minimum variables or parameters necessary to give ourselves a fair amount of flexibility. These variables will be the starting day, number of days to show, and any offset needed. The first two variables are pretty obvious, but the purpose of offset may not be clear. offset can be used to show previous and next calendars while maintaining view (e.g. monthly or weekly).
Next, considering that we would like to be able to show periods such as "this week", "this month", "next week", etc. we will need to create some logic to handle these options. To do this, we'll have 3 variables the program will accept: calendar, showdays, & offset. calendar will be used to request a specific calendar (e.g. "this week") while the other two variables come from those defined above. Our script will need to take the calendar and offset variables to populate the starting day. Note: All code shown here is pseudo-code and will not work in any known language. For the example calendar script in PHP, please visit the author's site.
// First, establish the starting day and number of days to show.
// Express number of days using "month" for a monthly show because months vary in number of days.

IF calendar = "this month"
start_day = first of the month
num_days = "month"
ELSE IF calendar = "this week"
start_day = last Sunday
num_days = 7
ELSE IF
... continue for all acceptable forms
ELSE
start_day = default day
num_days = default number
END IF

// Now modify start_day by the appropriate offset and establish number of days (count_max) to
// show appropriate for the value of num_days
IF num_days = "month"
start_day = first of the month adjusted by offset number of months
count_max = number of days in the month
ELSE
start_day = start_day adjusted by offset number of days
count_max = num_days
END IF

// Determine the day of the week start_day falls on
start_day_of_week = day of week for start_day, this should be a number from 0 to 6.
We have now collected all the information necessary to show the appropriate calendar. Moving on, we now need to generate our calendar. Our calendar should output the header information and the name of the month as a caption. Then all which remains is to output each row. Let's take a look at how that can be achieved:
column_position = start_day_of_week

IF column_position > 0
OUTPUT: empty TD cell spanning column_position+1 cells
INCREMENT: column_position
END IF

original_start_day = start_day

current_day = start_day

WHILE (current_day - start_day) < count_max)
IF (column_position MOD 7) = 0
OUTPUT: open TR tag
END IF
OUTPUT: TD cell with current_day in it
INCREMENT: column_position
INCREMENT: current_day
IF (column_position MOD 7) = 0
OUTPUT: close TR tag
END IF
END WHILE
This will output each of the rows, wrapping on Saturday, but will leave the last TR tag open, so be sure to close it and the table. Then, all you need to do is save your file and use the code, setting the appropriate variables, wherever you would like! Now, this is an extremely simple example and adding features such as navigation and event management are definite pluses. For a copy of this script with functioning code, please see the author's website.
Jeremy Miller - Webmaster of Script Reference - The *NEW* PHP Reference & Tutorial Site For Non-Programmers

As you surf the web take a look around at many of the sites you see. Do you notice anything that seems strange? Well, let me point it out to you. There are hundreds of thousands of web sites that just don't get much traffic. Some of these sites house hundreds of articles, reviews, tutorials, tools, products, forums to mention a few things, yet still they do not receive large amounts of traffic. What is their problem? They have the content. What is left?
The problem is these sites aren't optimized for the search engines. SEO, Search Engine Optimization, SE Friendliness, however you refer to it doesn't matter, the fact is it works and I'm going to tell you what's involved.
Before we continue let me familiarize you with some relevant terminology in my own words.
**Search Engine Optimization**
Search engine optimization can be referred to as the addition and modification of all variables and extended variables of a web site in hopes of achieving a better position in the search engines. By variables I mean components of a website such as META tags and content. By extended variable I mean things such as links from other sites.
Different SEOs, search engine optimizers, may have different opinions on this but alas this is only my own.
**What is a Search Engine Optimization Company? **
A search engine optimization company is a company that offers the service of creating and adjusting all the variables involved in search engine optimization in order to get your web site the best ranking they can achieve, during the designated project period, for all the major search engines.
**Search Engine Optimization Hurdles**
Back to the question of why these sites rich with content aren't bringing in the numbers. There are several reasons why sites small and large aren't optimized for the search engines, fortunately these can be remedied.
1. Many webmasters/site owners believe in "If You Build It They Will Come". This attitude will get your web site no where fast. Sure if you build it you will get users maybe even a decent amount of users but you will not be unleashing the real potential of your web site.
2. Not feeling that your site can do better than it is. Websites can always be further optimized. Search engines change their algorithms all the time so what worked 2 months ago may not work as well or at all in present times. For any of you that fee you can get your site optimized better, think of the story of the Little Engine and don't think you can, KNOW YOU CAN.
3. Laziness is also a major contributing factor. Many webmasters feel it is just too hard or too time consuming to do search engine optimization.
This is partially true. Search engine optimization is not easy but then again, anyone can do it. It does take time though and time is a precious commodity. In situations where you just can't devote the time to search engine optimize your site I would recommend seeking the services of a professional search engine optimization company. You can choose one here http://www.lilengine.com/seo-companies.php
4. Time + cost = a deterrent. For a situation like this I would recommend optimizing little by little on your own. Eventually you will become better and better at it and be able to accomplish more in less time.
5. Another problem is many people think "Well my site is only a small site, there is no way I will be able to compete with the larger sites that have top spots in the search engines". If you think like this I'd like to say this to you. It is possible that that if you optimize your web site you may not be able to compete with the larger sites and may not be able to get a page 1 or 2 ranking in any of the search engines, BUT, what if you did. Always shoot for the stars so if you fall short you will at least hit the sky.
Now for those of you who plan to better your websites via Search Engine Optimization here are the stages you need to follow in order to have an efficient and effective SEO campaign.
**Planning Your Search Engine Optimization Campaign**
Planning is an essential factor in your SEO campaign. Knowing exactly what steps you are going to make and in what order and how you are going to go about achieving each of those steps will save you not only time but it will save you frustration as well. Planning is essential.
**Researching the Most Effective SEO Strategies**
What works and what does not. You will need to learn as many optimization strategies as you can that are currently effective with the search engines. This will be one of the most time consuming steps in your SEO campaign as you will have to sift through information as well as participate in SEO related forums to get additional information from professional. You can take this process in stages and apply your newly gained knowledge as you get it. There is also some useful software available both free and paid that will greatly help with this effort. WebPosition Gold is one of the more popular ones.
**Search Engine Optimize Your Site**
This should be done in stages so you can see the effectiveness of the applied strategies you are using. Don't change your entire site all at once, instead, change a few areas at a time and see what results they produce. If you are satisfied with this then move on and optimize another section.
Search engine optimization does not only deal with your site it also deals with the relationship other sites have with yours and yours with theirs. Keep this in mind when utilizing your link building strategies.
**Monitor Your SEO Progress**
There are many ways to do this you will have to find the best method for you. You will need to monitor your search engine ranking for the keywords you are targeting after each update. Changes should be recorded and used as references to monitor progress and for strategy adjustments. There are many tools for this process as well. I recommend SEOCount.com for monitoring your progress on the Google search engine as it is very easy to use and you can monitor several domains and keywords all from within the same account. It also gives you the option of viewing the number of backlinks.
These steps follow the Plan Do Review methodology which is a proven strategy for engaging in any task. It is again unfortunate that there are so many webmasters who overlook this entire process; hopefully this article will stop you from making this same mistake. For more information on search engine optimization visit http://www.lilengine.com
Copyright ฉ LilEngine.com 2003

We've all seen those messages on some websites warning not to click a button more than once or negative consequences, like paying a bill twice, may result. Sometimes we can cause these problems by hitting the back or refresh buttons. In this article I will explain a methodology whereby a site can ensure each form is submitted only once, thereby demonstrating that such warnings are unnecessary and, depending on the nature of the problems caused, worth repairing immediately. Let's begin by taking a look at the process we are studying: Form Submission. As pedantic as it may seem, it will be worthwhile to detail each of the steps in this process: Visitor requests a page from the server which has a form on it.Server retrieves form and sends to user.User enters data on form and submits to server.Server processes form data and returns resultant page. The scenario we now need to analyze is when the user re-triggers a previous form submission process. What we need to find or create is something which changes during the form submission process which does not depend on the specific form being submitted and which we can tell changed. That was a loaded sentence which fully details our solution, so let's break it down. Find or create something which changes during the form submission process,does not depend on the specific form being submitted, andwe can tell changed.
Since the item which changes does not depend on the form being submitted (e.g. it doesn't matter if it's a newsletter registration form, customer signup form, payment form, etc.), the item is not something which already exists and therefore must be created, so let's create a form variable called submissionId and assume it has the 3 properties mentioned above. So far, so good -- or so it appears! The third "property" is that "we can tell [it] changed", but "changed" is not a property of a variable, so we need to look at this more closely. In order to tell something changed, we must have a reference point, an answer to the question "changed from what?" This is where a session variable will come into play. If we define a session variable, say $_SESSION['nextValidSubmission'] and treat it as a reference point, we will have all of the tools necessary to protect our visitors. The idea will be to keep the session variable updated with the last submissionId sent out and change the submissionId each time it is sent out to the user. Then, if they try to resubmit the data, they will be submitting an old submissionId which doesn't match nextValidSubmission and we will know not to re-process this data. Let's look at this in terms of the processes: Visitor requests a page from the server which has a form on it.Server retrieves form, generates a new submissionId which is embedded into the form, updates nextValidSubmission, and sends to user.User enters data on form and submits to server.Server processes form data, changes nextValidSubmission, and returns resultant page. Now, if the visitor somehow resends the data, they will be sending the old submissionId which will not match the new nextValidSubmission. So, you can now say goodbye to relying on javascript to remove/disable buttons, silly warning messages, and upset customers by preventing form re-submission.
Webmaster of Script Reference - The *NEW* PHP Reference & Tutorial Site For Non-Programmers
See here for more detailed information, an example using PHP, and an alternate method which doesn't require sessions.

There are many different types of life insurance. There are two types of ordinary life insurance. One is the very common, Term Insurance. The other is what is called Permanent insurance. The two types of insurance are absolutely separate forms of insurance with well distinguished characteristics, respectively. If it is Permanent insurance that is being referenced that means insurance that will last for the life of the policy owner.

Conversely, Term insurance is only valid for the Term, or period of time, that the policy was written for. Most commonly used terms are 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years. Sometimes this is referred to as Temporary coverage. It does not build cash value.

Moreover, there are other life insurance products that are deemed Permanent policies. There is Whole Life, Variable Whole Life, Universal Life and Variable Universal Life. For Whole Life there is a fixed death benefit and a fixed premium that are characteristics. The growth of the cash value has fixed and guaranteed features. With Variable Whole Life there is a variable death benefit with minimum guarantees and a fixed premium characteristic. The growth of the cash value here is variable and there are no guarantees like with the regular Whole Life.

The next kind of product mentioned is the Universal Life policy. The death benefit with this type of policy is adjustable. Unlike the Whole Life policy features, Universal Life policies have two death benefit options, a level and an increasing. The increasing death benefit is when the amount of the face value of the policy is added to the policy's cash value. These two added together create the increased death benefit to be paid out. To purchase this type of policy would be somewhat more expensive than a policy with a level death benefit. But the advantage with the increasing death benefit Universal Life policy is that the insured is buying more pure insurance protection in this scenario.

Then there is Variable Universal Life policies where the death benefit is variable and adjustable. The variable feature is based on an underlying securities account, such as stocks, bond or a money market. A policy owner would allocate a selected percent of the cash value to be invested. Additionally, another characteristic of these types of policies is that the growth of the cash value is variable and doesn't have guarantees.

The difference between the Whole Life policies and the Universal Life policies with reference to the premium payments is that Whole Life has premiums that are fixed. With Universal Life policies the premiums are flexible. This means that premium payments can be made in any amount and any frequency desired by the policy owner. The only thing that needs to be done is that their needs to be enough premium paid to keep the policy in force.

There is a lot to learn about life insurance. If you are thinking of getting a quote for a purchasing a policy it is a good time to start learning about the different and unique aspects of life insurance.

Know more about Individual Life Insurance and Benefits of Life Insurance

There are various artificial life or synthetic life intiatives aimed at creating from non-living components, quasi natural life forms, chemical systems that are self contained and infinitely self-replicating. If such an effort were successful it would provide a great deal of knowledge about the nature of living systems. It would also provide methodology for engineering new life forms on a new level beyond the current genetic engineering methods.

Many scientists will assume that a living system is simply a molecular mechanism no different from in its fundamental nature from an artificial mechanism. However, there are other scientists who have suggested that perhaps this isn't true. An early example of such a comment was made by the physicist, Erwin Schroendinger. In a thin volume entitled, "What is Life?", he suggested that living systems are perhaps not fully covered by known laws of chemistry and physics. However, he didn't really develop the idea in his book.

Perhaps the first formal development of such an idea is contained in an essay by another physicist, Eugene Wigner, entitled "The probability of the existence of a self-replicating unit". His conclusion is that the probability is zero. In this model, a living system is represented as a state vector: v. Its environment would also have at least one state which permits the organism to multiply: w. The total state vector of the system, the organism and its environment would be represented by the direct Kronecker product of these two vectors: v X w. After replication, the state vector would be represented as v X v X r, that is two vectors representing a pair of organisms in the altered environment. This interaction was assumed to be random, more specifically, to be governed by a random symmetric Hamiltonian matrix. This assumption might be questioned, however, it was the same assumption that enabled John Von Neumann to complete a proof that the second law of thermodynamics is a consequence of quantum mechanics.

This is an article for a popular audience so these comments probably go over the heads of most readers. Suffice to say that Eugene Wigner and John Von Neumann most definitely were not cranks.

In 1964, P. T. Landsburg, a professor at University College in Cardiff, England published an article in Nature that reiterated Wigner's results and developed them further. More recently, Prashant Chakrabarty has compiled various arguments along these lines in a paper called, "Non existence of quantum mechanical self replicating machine" that can be found on-line. So there has been some suggestion over the years that a self-contained, infinitely self-replicating system is paradoxical from the standpoint of quantum mechanics.

In this article, we try to develop this idea and suggest some implications and possible experiments.

Perhaps the most pressing and immediate implication is that any effort to create an artificial quasi-natural self-replicating system based on the the assumption that such a system can be purely mechanistic may encounter problems. The products of such an effort may not be infinitely self-replicating. They might divide a few times, but there may be a cumulative degradation of the species with each replication that causes each lineage to eventually terminate as a result of non-viability.

One of the problems may be that a quasi natural system must necessarily exist in an aqueous environment at room temperature. Under these conditions, there is a large amount of molecular motion within the system that will cause disruption to any structured activity. The result is likely to be a chaotic system. As such, it exhibits characteristics for which chaotic systems are known such as:


Sensitive dependence on initial conditions.
Bifurcations that exist at intervals of a reference variable that are dictated by Feigenbaum's number.
While definite statements might be made about average state of a population of such systems, it is impossible to predict the outcome in any specific instance because of the sensitive dependency and the effects of Brownian motion which are essentially random.

Therefore, with each successive generation, there may be a cumulative divergence from a vector state that is the functional equivalent of a known good initial state. The inevitable average outcome may be a divergence that is so great that it results in non-viability.

What sort of stabilization would keep the system "on-track". It would have to be plausible yet obscure. An idea that occurred to me a number of years ago is derived from what is known as Landauer's principle, first argued in 1961 by Rolf Landauer, a researcher with IBM. Roughly speaking, the idea is that a single bit of information is equivalent to an amount of negative entropy equal to k ln 2, that is, Planck's constant multiplied by the natural logarithm of 2.

Now most physicists would say that entropy is not a thing - it is an abstraction. It is the capacity of a system to do work, a convenient method for computing efficiency of heat engine cycles among other things. However, like everything else, as the frame of reference becomes smaller and smaller, there develops a sort of granularity. Space, for example, no longer conforms to the model proposed by Euclid. The number of points in a given volume are still infinite, but the infinity is now denumerable (a term taken from set theory) and the scale of this transition is defined by Heisenberg's principle of uncertainty. Likewise, going down to a molecular level, it may be that entropy no longer conforms to a Euclidean continuum of classical physics but starts to congeal into quanta: k ln 2 being of very plausible size of such a granulation. However, a quanta of entropy starts to assume characteristics associated with a "thing". It might possess something equivalent to a location within a system or it might associate itself in some way with a particular part of a molecular system.

One might imagine many such quanta in a cell, moving around, actually being used in such a way as to convey data from one part of the cell to another. After all, a quanta of entropy would be the thermodynamic equivalent of a bit of data. An artificial system might be able to use such a concept, however, artificial systems are generally far too large for such an effect to relevant.

So is this concept verifiable? Well, first of all, would-be creators of life may find that artificial systems have a very small amount of viability compared to natural systems. That would provide an impetus to look at this aspect of the problem much more carefully. Chemists will swear up and down that a molecule of synthetic biochemical is identical to a molecule of the same compound derived from a natural source. But it may turn out, that examination of individual molecules using something like force probe microscopy will show that molecules from a natural source are not quite the same as molecules created synthetically. They might exhibit quantum entanglement, which is a well-known and experimentally demonstrated effect. But it may be something of a more subtle nature such as residual entropic quanta that are still bound to the molecules. With entanglement, once it is detected, it is destroyed. So it may be possible to show that the effect is reproducible in a population of molecules but it may be inherently impossible to replicate a single measurement. Such is the almost ephemeral nature of quantum mechanics.

I thought of trying to develop the theoretical basis of this speculation further. I bought a copy of Schaum's "General Topology" and a book by Sterling Berberian called "Introduction to Hilbert Space". But I have to conclude I am not up to it and I have other projects to work on.

This article as well as others are posted on my forum at:
http://www.rimkor7.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=105#p117

Understanding printing is a rite of passage for all professional graphic designers. Some designers never understand it. Good thing the Internet came along to keep them employed. I truly love printing. It's a detailed, tactile process with possibilities limited only by imagination (and budget). When Johannes Gutenberg built his press in 1436, he invented an artform that would lead to the social and industrial revolutions that followed. The Chinese invented a system of printing using movable type as early as the 9th century, but it was Gutenberg's movable metal type that granted permanence and durability to the printed word. Gutenberg's press was all about getting ink on paper. Basically, someone would organize metal letters to make words, paragraphs and pages. Then someone else would roll ink on the tightly packed letters, put a piece of paper in the press, and mash the tightly packed letters against the piece of paper. Voila! The very first TV Guide.
Since 1436, the process has changed very little. We're still putting letters together to form words, paragraphs and pages; someone rolls the ink on the letters and then mashes the letters against a piece of paper. The digital revolution didn't change that. It did change how we put the letters together, and technology moved us from metal type to a more precise printing plate-making process, but we're still putting ink on paper.
My new clients typically fall into two categories: those who know they need a project designed (i.e. annual report, brochure, direct mail campaign), and those who tried to develop something in-house and gave up when it came time to print the thing. The former category typically ends up ahead of the game. Design and print are like the cast of Seinfeld—taken apart neither is very effective. They work together, so if you are a marketing or communications professional, your basic knowledge of the printing world is just as important as your ability to recognize good design.
The most important thing to remember is that printing is confusing. Even with a simple project, there is only one right way to print the job and about a thousand ways to print it wrong. If you need 5,000 copies of your fax form, you can confidently bring the original to a local print shop yourself. If you need 5,000 full-color brochures, call in the design troupes. Keep in mind that there are ways a designer can make a 2-color job carry the strength of a full-color job, or make a 1-color job exceptional by adding embossing or a die cut for the cost of a second color. If the words Pantone, spot, CMYK, and 4-color process make your head spin, please download this handy chart to help clarify these terms for you. The chart defines basic commercial printing terms and describes the variables that make print jobs rise in cost and complexity.
In honor of his invention, an international panel of scientists chose Gutenberg as the most outstanding person of the millennium. I agree. Today, printing is second to Agriculture as the largest industry in the world. It makes sense—who needs more than breakfast and the paper on a Sunday morning?
Audrey Nezer is an award-winning graphic designer in Seattle, Washington. Her company, Artifex Design, creates playful, edgy and effective marketing and communication materials for companies and organizations throughout the United States. Visit http://www.artifex.net to learn more (and win a prize!)

Toronto (Concord), ON February 6, 2004--Get the latest changes, tips, and info on the latest release of the world's favorite CAD software โ€" AutoCAD 2004. This guide will guide you through the basic, most-common tools in AutoCAD that will help you get up to speed in a jiffy. Learn about toolbars, dialog boxes, and command lines. Understand how to set up a drawing, change drafting settings, set up boundaries, select & modify objects, and work with coordinated in 2D and 3D. That's not all, this guide also covers zooming, panning working with dimensions, creating & modifying layers, hatching, properties, model space, templates, text, blocks, plotting, and much more. Get started on the hottest design application today!



C Language (ISBN: 1-55080-954-7) $3.95 U.S./$5.35 CDN



If you want to be a programmer, you have to know โ€œCโ€. This guide is a great place to start. Jam-packed with keywords, ASCII codes, operator precedence charts, data & data types, type-specifiers, notes, structures, unions, enums, and more. Learn about pointers, common errors, good habits, format indicators, escape sequences, storage classes, flow controls, loops, and variable names, too. That's not all. ANSI C standard library functions, character handling functions, math functions, standard I/O functions, and more are also included. A great place to start your C language studies.



AutoCADยฎ 2004 (ISBN: 1-55080-955-5) $3.95 U.S./$5.35 CDN



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Except for identical twins, each human has his or her own unique genome--the complete set of DNA, or genetic material, found in the 46 chromosomes of each cell. Scientists estimate that individuals differ in about 0.1% of their 3 billion DNA base pairs. Although people who make up a particular population group share common ancestors and are more likely to share some genetic sequences, scientists believe that individuals within a group are genetically more variable than the groups are.

Given these differences, all humans still share the same basic set of genes and genomic regulatory regions that control the development and maintenance of their biological structures and processes. The Human Genome Project's goal is to determine the DNA sequence for a complete "reference" human genome that will help orient researchers and provide them with tools for further studies of fundamental human biology. Because the genome of each person is unique and different samples will be used for sequencing, the reference sequence will not represent an exact match for any one person's genome.

Some researchers outside the Human Genome Project are beginning to look more closely at differences in DNA sequences of particular genomic regions to study the role of genetic variation in disease and susceptibilities. Researchers in the Environmental Genome Project, for example, plan to sequence about 200 genes from 1000 individuals to investigate how some genetic differences influence susceptibility to environmental exposures. Another group seeks to catalog genetic differences in groups around the world (see the Human Genome Diversity Project). Through these and other future studies, scientists will begin to identify and understand factors influencing health.

When applying for low interest credit cards, you may think you know what you are looking for. After all, it seems pretty clear. The lower the APR, the less money you will have to pay, right? In reality, this is not always the case. In fact, one factor you will need to take into consideration is whether the APR is variable or fixed. Then, you can make a far better decision when choosing from among the available low interest rate credit cards on the market.
Low Interest Credit Cards with Variable Interest Rates
Low interest credit cards with variable interest rates are those that fluctuate with the prime rate. The prime rate is the rate top United States banks pay to borrow money from the Federal Reserve. Therefore, you will often see interest rates written as the prime rate, plus an additional percentage APR in order to provide the bank with a profit.
When the prime rate is in a downward swing, as it has been in the past few years, these cards can be quite attractive to the consumer simply because the APR is lowered. On the other hand, these cards can have skyrocketing interest rates when the prime rate is soaring. In addition, many credit card companies place a minimum APR on the cards. This means the APR will never fall below a specific rate, regardless of where the prime rate stands. At the same time, your interest rate will increase as the prime rate increases - and you won't see credit card companies placing caps on how high these rates can become.
Low Interest Credit Cards with Fixed Rates
Low interest credit cards with fixed rates are those with interest rates that do not fluctuate or change. For example, if a credit card offers a 7.99% fixed interest rate, it means the interest rate will not become higher or lower that 7.99% - no matter what the prime rate may be. A word of caution, however: credit card companies have the right to change a fixed rate to a higher fixed rate by simply sending you a 30 day written notice. These notices can be very unassuming and in small print, and simply slipped in with your monthly billing statement. Therefore, it is important for you to read all paperwork included with your bill and to keep an eye out for changes in your fixed rate.
The Introductory Rate
When you shop through the numerous cheap credit cards available, you most likely pay the majority of your attention to the introductory rate. Usually, introductory rates on low interest rate credit cards are minimal and fixed. In fact, it is not unusual to see cheap credit cards with APRs of 0.00%. What you need to look at, however, is the APR after the introductory period is complete and whether it is variable or fixed. This is particularly important if you do not foresee yourself being able to pay your balances in full after the introductory period is complete.
The post-introductory period rate is often referred to as the "go rate." With most low interest credit cards, the go rate is variable and based on the prime rate. The go rate is not always the same from customer to customer because credit card companies generally offer better APRs to the customers with the best credit history.
Deciding Which is Best
Determining which of these types of low interest credit cards is best for you depends on your financial situation. If you pay your balance in full at the end of each billing cycle, it really doesn't matter if your rate is variable or fixed. On the other hand, it can be incredibly important if you do carry a balance. The perk to a fixed rate is that you are always sure of what your interest rate will be from month to month, so long as you make sure to read all information inserted along with your bill each month. This makes it easier to plan a budget and keep a closer eye on your finances. At the same time, you might save money in the long run by taking advantage of low interest credit cards with variable APRs when the prime rate is low. If you are disciplined enough to keep an eye on the fluctuating market and to take advantage of cheap credit cards when the rate is low, variable APR cards may be your best bet.
For more detailed information on variable, fixed and low interest credit cards, Robert Alan recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com.

Let's look at this above statement
How does the NASD feel about Variable Annuities? Living Benefit's consumer oriented product line? or National distrust? you decide...
This above position taken by the NASD is what continues the problems with the Variable Annuity industry because there is no official position taken on suitability and in it's marketing of living benefits to the seniors/retirees that are led to purchase a risk product with a false sense of safety conveyed that somehow their money is really not at risk.
But if the NASD is convinced that their Variable Annuity no longer presents itself as a risk,within the market risk products now because of all the added new enhanced living benefit guarantees? Then maybe they should petition the SEC to have it reviewed as a non-risk product regulated by the NASD.
After all any product that uses the word guaranteed as many times as in the Variable Annuity Presentation sale certainly must not be of any risk to any consumer.
I disagree with the above NASD statement and their broad position that it's not a question of whether the product is good or bad? What is considered real compliance with the National Association of Securities Dealers? Only that their products offered are OK ?
IT'S NOT GOOD AS CURRENTLY DESIGNED PEOPLE ARE MISLED BY THE USE OF THE WORD GUARANTEED IN A RISK PRODUCT...{ It's not the product but how it's being sold and to whom }
Is this for real ? Is this then being Compliant ?
It's a product by current design that in itself mis-leads.The word guaranteed is a word that should never be allowed to be expressed with a risk product. It conveys some type of assurance that's it's OK for you to buy this product and if this that or any other thing occurs you will be all right ! ! !
These problems will never go away because of this "misuse of the meaning guaranteed in a risk product." Is this suitability? Is this being compliant? Is this a commingle of product designs and definitions?
Does the NASD rules send out mixed signals? Are they now a regulator of ambitiousness? Are their rules an exercise in contradictions? Why all the problems? Is this type of risk confusion that they allowed in the Variable Annuity now reached a point beyond their regulatory control?
This extra fee layer that you can buy back part of your loss/risk should not be allowed to be used in any same/similar manner as the word is used in a real guaranteed from loss product. The only real guarantee is that you will have to pay fees...
It tends to convey total safety from any real market loss when in reality there is none and then again tries to change this risk product the Variable Annuity by design and definition into a thing that it's not.
Real product risk should be highlighted not hidden in design that can create this false sense of safety for a product that has direct exposure to the market and it's real potential of loss for any purchaser let alone a senior or retiree.
Unacceptable meaning in product design definition is the real issue folks.
Once again the recent March 2006 decision expressed by the NASD that it's OK for you to exchange you Variable Annuity for another because of better living benefits. Is this their idea of being in Compliance?
Then they get upset with product being offered that by design avoid principal loss and risk attack them as competition when in reality they are the ones who have decided to allow a [ commingle of two different product worlds ]{guaranteed from loss products vs risk products with so called "living benefits"} & actually wonder why all so many complaint's still abound.[ Jump Ball vs Ping Pong Ball ] The Index Annuity vs the Variable Annuity.
The NASD refers to a Index Annuity as a "jump ball product" this is a term that should have applied to their "new Variable Annuity with living benefits" allowing to make a risk product into something it is not....a pretend to jump from risk to no risk with a introduction of the the word guaranteed in a risk product.
I'm really not sure the NASD does understand any real product difference.
Their boss had said Index Annuities are just too complicated to understand ! so based on these type of comments they just not might understand any real product difference between a true guaranteed from loss product compared to the Variable Annuity with living benefits? It could be rethinking time for the Annuity basics for the higher ranks instead of attack misdirect and then attack some more.
The accreditation method of Index Annuities is not the real issue as the NASD would like you to believe although it does have many methods to reflect your potential for gain without risk to principal. It's not so difficult or confusing that almost 27 billion a year are marketed within this safe product.
These different accreditation methods offer great selection choices for the consumer. This is what's known also as fair market competition between one product or Annuity carrier with another.Just as in any case not all of the safe Index Annuity products are suitable for each and every clients needs.This is why the Index Annuity is offered in different accreditation methods and also different time spans of involvement.
It should not to be the issue as the NASD describes that the the two products are similar in risk etc. A Index Annuity is considered a"safe money product" where a Variable Annuity is considered a" risk product" both by design and definition trying to create confusion in this area is a NASD tactic only.
The Variable Annuity has direct exposure to market risks where as the Index Annuity uses market performance as a external guide only an without direct exposure to the markets and your principal is not a risk.
The NASD representative your Variable Annuity writer dodges a suitability bullet by marketing the Living Benefits in bulk to their consumer then takes a position that because of the guaranteed living benefits all suitability issues have been resolved is this safe thinking for the senior and retired needs?
The NASD as well as the SEC is happy to go along with this BS.. up until of course the next "major complaint unfolds" then it's time to be fined..... only in America. Complaints and fines will continue Variable Annuity products do mislead and it's not in how they are sold and to whom but what it's claims it will do and doesn't after all is not sales perception everything.
Greed to capture the fixed rate{real guaranteed market}is now what's caused all these problems to begin with and false benefit guarantees that have been allowed to be fee forced on the Public in a risk product.
Living benefits are a"misrepresentation in risk reality"created to increase fees and misleading guarantees that allow the misuse of the word guaranteed that serves only to create an illusion that you are not in a risk product at all.
Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefits GMWB Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit GMIB Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit GMAB Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits GMDB. I could go on and on. These fee based riders are designed to increase the cost of risk products yet "pound into the buyer is the word guaranteed" leaving them then think that by the conclusion of the sale process"their money is not really at any risk at all" but actually is guaranteed from any market loss.
Now they have convinced the SEC to join them in "witch hunts" starting in Florida to go after anyone giving "seminars to Seniors" I guess looking for more fine money they really can't be taking a position the retired are better off in a risk products for all their retirement money or can they?
The NASD has to clean up it's own act starting with this guaranteed Variable Annuity nonsense first and the SEC should be on their case also instead of looking at those who are trying to protect seniors/ retired from product that create false issues.
Why is there still so many complaints/ fines is it because of the guarantees that don't? and why do they call these living benefits when death is required to collect on sum? If this were my retirement money I'm not so sure I would like to die or wait the remainder of my life to get back just what was put in..
If any regulatory agency deserves to be fined it's the NASD for allowing this to continue.The annuity industry flounders on any clear cut rules for senior and retiree safety allowing State regulators to be set off on their own style of interpretation of what's to be safe and considered suitable or not etc.
Do they want to keep [ all retirement dollars at risk in retirement? ] I don't think this type thinking really meets the Principles and Code of Ethical Market Conduct ?
State regulators can not really regulate security products already a tilt in fairness has been created against the fixed/index annuity industry.
Once it allowed this word "guaranteed" to be bounced around the room in a Variable Annuity presentation without prejudice and any avoidance as much as any ping pong ball knowing all too well that any misuse of this word in any sale presentation for any risk product is all to easy to lead into the many misunderstandings that can be created for any age bracket.
This should not be allowed to happen when dealing with any ones retirement savings.
The"living benefits"might have saved the Variable Annuity industry but at what cost?
Never has any product generated so much national public distrust it really abounds but the NASD taken in a fortune in fines. They have allowed this problem to continue and are the only ones who can resolve it. Take away the NASD ability to profit from fines and objectivity might return to the issues at hand.
Does the Variable Annuity Industry today reflect National Distrust? 464,000 pages in just one browser below but it's the Index Annuity that they want to take the heat! Why is that..........
Has any risk product generated so much in fines for the NASD?? Do you think the misuse of the word & meaning for guaranteed product has created this problem?? At the rate the "NASD fines everyone" you would thing that they only have total idiots to market this risk product amazing.
I don't believe that at all but what is very obvious the NASD has found a good thing with Variable Annuities in more ways then one. Some how the words regulating and or orchestrating have seem to create these not so impressive results that have been achieved here. [ 464,000 pages of complaint issues ] on just one browser not a record I would like to hang my hat on.....The question who is really paying for these remarkable results has to be asked?
Variable Annuity Complaints Results 1 - 10 of about 464,000 for Variable Annuity Complaints. (0.16 seconds) http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Variable+Annuity+Complaints&btnG=Search
NASD Should You Exchange Your Variable Annuity?
(Updated March 2, 2006) is this for real?
There are various reasons why a variable annuity contract holder may want to exchange an existing variable annuity contract.
Many annuity contracts now offer premium - sometimes called bonus - credits toward the value of your contract, of a specified percentage ranging from 1-5% for each purchase payment you make. Also, in recent years, there have been new developments in annuity features, especially in variable annuities, that are valid reasons to consider an exchange. The number of investment options has increased. Less expensive variable annuity contracts have been created. Death and living benefits have been enhanced. Also, with the growth in the stock market in the 1990s, many insurance contract holders have wanted to take part in that growth.These are all valid reasons for considering exchanging one insurance contract for another.

The P variable is a special data array identifier that can be used to reference any indicator or price plot. Although it's called the 'P' variable it doesn't work like a variable. It works similarly to other data array identifiers, the only difference being it's more versatile.

The reason it's called a variable is because it can be changed depending on which indicator or price plot it's referencing. To select an indicator or price plot, click once on the item and small squares appear evenly spaced along the item. When selected we can now use this information by referencing the P variable. The syntax is simply 'P'. Thus, by simply typing 'P' in a formula, in place of other data array identifiers, we can reference our selected information. (e.g., 'HHV(P,20)' and 'Mov(P,10,E)' etc).

EXAMPLE

The following example was taken from MetaStock's help file:

The following custom indicator plots an "MACD-type" indicator (i.e., the difference between a 12 period and a 26 period exponential moving average) of the plot it is dropped on.

Mov( P, 12, E) - Mov( P, 26, E)

If you plot the predefined Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator and then drop the above custom indicator on it from the QuickList, the result will be an MACD of the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator.

Of course, you could write the preceding formula without using the "P" identifier as shown below, but you would have to modify it if you wanted an MACD of an indicator other than the Relative Strength Index (RSI).

Mov( RSI(C,20), 12, E) - Mov(RSI(C,20), 26, E)

APPLICATION

Although there are numerous uses for the P variable, perhaps its most functional use is within an exploration. By using the P variable it becomes possible to compare securities against a selected base security. This concept forms the basis of our Relative Strength Comparison (RSC) explorer. Later, in The Explorer chapter, we'll examine this in depth (Refer to page 154).

That said, here's a bit of a teaser. Basically the P variable represents a pre-selected price plot that is chosen before the exploration is run. Then wherever we've made reference to the P variable, MetaStock will reference this selected price plot. In that way, we can use a base security by which to compare other charts. For example, we can compare market sectors against a chosen market index. We can then rank these sectors to find out which ones are performing the strongest; and from there we can identify which shares fall within these sectors.

Who Else Wants the Simple Secret to Make Metastock Easy & Identify Profitable Trades? Simply visit our site: http://www.meta-formula.com/

VIENNA, VA โ€" April 9, 2002 โ€" FMS announces the release of Total .NET XRef, the only developer solution that instantly generates cross-reference Microsoft C# and Visual Basic .NET code using a completely integrated Microsoft Visual Studio .NET parser. By knowing and understanding all the uses of items such as classes, variables, properties, and methods, developers can use Total .NET XRef to successfully confront the challenges of understanding all parts of their Microsoft Visual Studio.NET applications. Designed exclusively for Microsoft Visual Studio .NET, Total .NET XRef performs real-time impact analysis to identify which objects a code change actually affects.



Completely integrated into Microsoft Visual Studio .NET, Total .NET XRef's numerous features include the following:



โ€ข
Runs directly in the VS.NET IDE appearing as a tool window.

โ€ข
Instantly generates a list of every reference to any name defined in code.

โ€ข
Displays every line of code containing the reference along with its class name, member name, line, column, and type of reference.

โ€ข
Supports C# and Visual Basic .NET code.

โ€ข
As code is changed, the background parser remains current, making new search calls extremely fast.

โ€ข
Reference lists can be sent to an HTML page for printing, saving or emailing at any time.



"With Total .NET XRef, Microsoft Visual Studio .NET developers can simplify their development efforts and manage more complex projects,โ€ said Luke Chung, FMS president and founder. โ€œTotal .NET XRef is the first of our new line of Visual Studio .NET developer tools. We look forward to supporting the needs of the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET community with our innovative developer solutions.โ€



โ€œWith Visual Studio .NET's amazing advancements in usability and productivity, our entire team has been able to design and develop sophisticated applications in far less time than in the past." said Dan Haught, FMS Executive Vice President.



โ€œIf you ever had to write code that deals with text file manipulation โ€" especially parsing - you will surely think something is wrong with XRef after you try it for the first time. It is blazingly fastโ€ฆI was completely astonished at the speed of this tool,โ€ said Thomas Wagner, Informant Publications and eTechPartner, Inc.



Total .NET XRef is among the first FMS releases for the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET platform, which offer a wide range of tools that simplify the development efforts of Microsoft Visual Studio .NET developers using Visual C# .NET and Visual Basic .NET, and increase the functionality of their applications.



Product Information and Availability

Total .NET XRef http://www.fmsinc.com/dotnet/xref



Total .NET XRef is licensed on a per developer basis. Pricing is $199 per license, $599 for five licenses and $1,999 for 25 licenses. Larger quantity discounts are available by contacting FMS directly. Total .NET XRef can be purchased directly from FMS, corporate resellers, and international distributors. All FMS products offer a 30-day money back guarantee. A trial version of Total .NET XRef is available.



About FMS

Founded in 1986, FMS is a privately held software firm located in Tysons Corner, Virginia. FMS is a world leading provider of tools for developers using Microsoft Access, SQL Server, Visual Studio .NET and Visual Basic. With tens of thousands of customers in over 100 countries, FMS customers are comprised from a variety of public and private organizations including 90 of the Fortune 100. Committed to innovation and quality, all FMS products are developed by an in-house team of experts including several Microsoft MVPs, published authors, and conference speakers. FMS is a Microsoft Certified Partner, a Microsoft Independent Software Vender (MSDN ISV) and a member of the Association for Competitive Technology.

For more information, visit: www.fmsinc.com

.Variable Whole LIfe Insurance is much like a traditional whole life policy in that it has a fixed premium with the addition of an underlying investment account commonly referred to as a "separate account". It does not however, contain the same guarantees of principle or interest that are typically found in traditional whole life contracts.

The major distinction between the two is that the owner of the policy (policyowner) may allocate the policy premium, after deductions for expense costs, into a sub or separate account that is held by the insurer.

This is different from other forms of permanent coverage that have the monies held in a "general account".

In a sub or separate account, monies can be invested into bonds, growth stock funds, money market accounts, real property accounts and a balanced fund account. The insurer has to keep a separate account for the purposes of these sub accounts that are available to the policyowner. This is primarily due to the fact that insurance companies are partially restricted as to what types of investments that they can make with monies held in general accounts.

Variable Whole Life Insurance was primarily designed to act as a "hedge against inflation". In return for the POTENTIAL growth of investments in these sub accounts, the owner of the policy has to assume the downside risk of poor investment performance.

When selecting a company to purchase a Variable Whole Life Insurance Policy, be sure to carefully review the accompanying prospectus filed with the SEC, which should always be provided by the insurance company prior to contract signing.

Before you make a decision, compare the rates, investment accounts and policy premiums of several companies.

Make an educated decision. http://www.lifeinsurance4all.com is a free tool that you can use to instantly compare life insurance policies and quotes from the nation's top insurers.

Christy Love is a retired life insurance agent with over 30 years of experience in helping people protect what matters most... their families. As an Ezinearticles.com expert author, Christy enjoys sharing her knowledge of life insurance with the online community.

Though most of the time variable data digital printings are being done in digital presses, however knowing does it work is still relevant for who knows you will need it at one point of your life. Knowing things that are related at your kind of work is really practical.

Knowing how variable data digital printing are being prepared and printed really make sense for you to be able to relate and understand its processes. Let us go first on how it is being prepared. Since variable data digital printing is just like any other kind of digital printing that requires significant things that would give corresponding successful results.

Have a list of your design and the concept that you want to emphasize in the document. Documents maybe brochures, letters, postcards, business cards, catalogs and others that will be sent to prospect individuals so, let your concept and design mix and match with each other to achieve a total desirable effect.

Choose your specifications. Put an indication in your file that the certain part of the document will be retained in every printing with specific fonts and font sizes were indicated. Consider also the part in the document that will be changed according to theme or specifications given.

Along with that the paper and the color that will be needed should also be indicated and well harmonized with one another. Remember that the color of your printed document would draw-in or not your target customers. You just need to do necessary adjustments and customization in order for your document to fill in their interests and needs.

All those digital files should be in a database or spreadsheet. That would make every important file to be used in your document safe and for reference purposes. However, if you will let a commercial printing services do it for you, they have skilled and creative professionals that would link your documents from the database to the digital press that would print your final document. Final result of excellent unique printed documents would come out because of variable data digital printing. High quality printed customized documents ready at your doorstep.

Journal of Community Guidance & Research, November 2007, Vol. 24, No. 3, p: 253-261.
INTRODUCTION

Electronic culture is of universal prevalence. The impact and ambience of electronic technology is invariably and inevitably felt by everyone throughout the world. The indisputable reality today is that individuals and organizations inextricably exist in an E-world. Today, much of human needs are gratified by the use of electronic goods and services. This fact is explicit from the numerous electronic products available and used by people in their homes, offices, public places and also those they personally carry. The emergence and rapid spread of technologies like e-commerce, e-learning, e-medicine, e-governance, e-business, e-communication, e-banking, e-entertainment, e-homes, etc, also emphasize the importance of electronic medium in the gratification of our psycho-social needs.

The information and communication technology (ICT) effectively championed by Internet has culminated in e-culture. It has resulted in the simultaneous deconstruction and reconstruction of fundamental ways of thinking about humans, worlds and technology. It has also led to shifts in attitudes, skills and behaviour (De Haan & Huysmans, 2002). Personality development from e-cultural perspective involves acquiring digital skills. E-culture is a transnational and global phenomenon; it is both technological and a social development. Internet, especially, is expected to bring in sweeping and lasting cultural transformations. The emergence of e-culture has implanted new demands upon individuals and organizations (Robbins, 2003).

The approval of e-culture concept is reflected in the keenness with which political decision-makers have taken it over at all levels- local, regional, national and transnational. More accessible and transparent information is an easy expression, something that is unequivocally good both from the point of view of social resources and democracy. According to Mitchell (2003) the ideas of an information society and e-culture have also implied expectations of economic growth and stability, opening up of new sectors of production, increased productivity and the advent of a new, fluctuation-proof economy. In the views of Marsh (2003) the emergence of e-culture leads to cultural homogenization and immense concentrations of financial power thereby cautions that "learn English and buy a computer or you're out." De Haan & Huysmans (2002) emphasize that e-culture makes it imperative to develop digital skill concerning the handling of electronic products and especially the use of computer and Internet.

Currently, studies on e-culture are at a rudimentary level. The concept of e-culture is evolving and is far from conclusive. However, today e-culture is increasingly perceived as a new digital media culture or digitalization of culture. Netherlands council for culture (2004) argues that, within the context of the 'digitizing society', e-culture should be seen as the integration of ICT into the primary processes of productivity, distribution, presentation, preservation and (re)utilization of cultural expression. According to the view of De Haan and Huysmans (2002) the term 'e-culture' is stated to refer to the diffusion of new technology, its application for various avenues such as information and communication in addition to shifts effected in related attitudes, values and norms. Patel and Rajendran (2005) have defined "electronic culture" as "increased use of electronic goods by individuals in various areas."

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

E-culture though prevalent widely, is a recent phenomenon. The scientist community has just begun to study it. The exploration of e-culture may only be the start of a long-term process of change taking place at a global level (De Haan and Huysmans, 2002). The impetus for the new interest is the realization that e-culture is widespread, inevitable and places adaptive demands upon people.

Looking around one finds a vast and versatile spectrum of electronic products used commonly by the people. In general, the indefinite progress made in the field and frontiers of electronic technology has ameliorated the quality of life of all. The e-culture scenario in India is not much different from the international one. The spread of e-culture would be influenced by a plethora of factors. Few among them may be socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, income, education, native place, marital status, etc.

The review of related literature indicates that research studies of e-culture are scarce and negligible. Since e-culture is the recent development there are no much standardized tools available and accessible to assess it both at national and international levels. In India, unfortunately, the research efforts in understanding and investigating the status of e-culture have not yet gained momentum. The research and academic community are dormant regarding the influence of e-culture. Reviews on e-culture in Indian context indicate that it has received poor attention. Deplorably, many researchers belonging to various disciplines are yet to take up this issue. In particular, from a socio-demographic perspective, e-culture still remains unexplored. A socio-demographic approach to e-culture in Indian context is lacking absolutely and is worth conceivable in the light of the modern unfathomable dimensions attained by it. Hence an attempt is made here to study, assess and evaluate e-culture in India from socio-demographic perspective. This study is a pioneering effort made to explore e-culture from a psychological perspective in India.

METHOD

Sample

The sample for this study comprised of 326 educated individual (200 males and 126 females) randomly selected from three different towns of Tamil Nadu, India, namely, Chidambaram, Coimbatore and Erode. All the respondents were between the age group of 20 to 76 years (mean age= 42.5 years). Samples were selected from the universe based on the judgement of the researcher. In this study people with above higher secondary level of education (plus 2) were considered as educated. The sample taken include persons from various occupational background like college teachers, school teachers, engineers, doctors, Government officers, psychologists, lawyers, merchants, technicians, assistants and housewives.

Tools used

The research tools used in this study for data collection were the (1) E-culture Inventory and (2) Personal Information Schedule.

(1) E-culture inventory

This inventory was developed by Patel and Rajendran (2005) to measure e-culture. The inventory consists of 42 items with 2 responses, i.e., "yes" and "no" respectively for each item. The 42 items are classified into 4 areas, namely, home=16 items, office=11 items, personal=8 items and public=7 items. The score for 'yes' in home area is 2, in office is 1, in personal area is 3 and in public area is 1 were as the score for 'no' in all the areas is 0. The maximum score possible in this inventory is 74 and the minimum score is 0. High score indicates high e-culture and low score indicates low e-culture. The reliability and validity co-efficient for this inventory were found to be highly significant at 0.001 levels.

(2) Personal Information Schedule

This personal information schedule was designed by the investigator of the present research. This aim of this schedule is to obtain relevant demographic and biographic information from the respondents. This schedule consists of 6 items such as gender, age, marital status, native place, educational qualification, and monthly income.

Procedure

The primary method of data collection was adopted in this study. The informants were contacted individually by the researcher. The data collection was done over a period of 2 month. The obtained responses were scored and statistically analyzed.

Statistical analysis

Mean, standard deviation, t-test and F-test were the statistical analysis done.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This research study is an attempt made to explore e-culture from a socio-demographic perspective. The current study investigates the influence of various socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, educational qualification, monthly income, native place, and marital status upon e-culture. The results revealed that only 4 out of 6 demographic variables studied do differ significantly in their e-culture.

It can be inferred from the results summarized in table 1 that gender differences tend to influence e-culture. The comparison of mean values indicates that females are more in their level of e-culture than males. The mean score of the males (32.57) is less than the mean score of the females (35.98) which indicates that females are more on e-culture than males. Perhaps the reason for such an outcome may be a compensatory response. Digital culture (e-culture) demands soft skills (digital skills) permitting females to easily operate electronic products, hence here they may try to compensate by dominating males for their shortcomings in those areas which demands physical stamina. Maslach (2000) observed both gender and culture influenced well-being, it was found that increases in the level of emotional inhibition decreases well-being for the females. In this regard it seems that women are involving more in e-culture than men and tend to use it as a platform for emotional expressions thereby enhancing their well-being. Roberts and Helson (1997) has empirically observed that the culture of individualism has affected the attitude of women and also shaped their personalities and adult adjustment, women showed increase in the index of individualism. The digital world may appear more conducive for women to express their individuality and establish their self-identity.

The results in table 2 and table 3 reveal that chronological age and marital status does not influence e-culture. This indicates that there is a homogeneous distribution of e-culture among both married and unmarried people. E-culture seems also equally spread across different age groups. People use electronic products irrespective of their age and their marital status.

Table 4 indicates that nativity influences e-culture. The urban group (36.42) seems significantly differ from the rural group (28.25). The differences in mean values indicate that urban people are more in e-culture than their rural counterparts. This finding is in accordance with the popular expectation that people reared in industrially advanced and technologically sophisticated urban environments tend to more exposed and accessible to electronic culture than people hailing from relatively inferior rural environments. This is congruent with the finding of Doody et al (2003) who cited 'lack of accesses as one common cause for not using Internet. Van Dijk (2001) also indicated 'possession of technology'- that is the availability of equipment and an Internet connection at home or at work, school or university and 'possession of digital skills' as two among the four conditions for the emergence of e-culture.

The tables 5 and 6 show that educational qualification influences e-culture. The entire sample classified into four groups based on their educational qualification viz., UG, PG, M.Phil and PhD were compared. The mean e-culture scores of the four groups were found to differ significantly. Presently, electronic technologies find more scope and applicability in the field of education. Internet, combining information and entertainment has evolved as a medium of infotainment. Many universities and colleges have launched their own websites offerings admissions and online courses through them. This finding is defended by Krzysztofek (2003) who observed that the number of educated people in Europe is rapidly growing; thousands of private educators compete to lure new students by offering many attractive course possibilities through digital platform. Vijay Kumar and Murthy (2001) observed the e-status of libraries in India, and found that INFLIBNET a national level library network, established by UGC (Universities Grants Commission), engages in development of national union databases and has already hosted an online database of Indian theses.

This survey reveals that monthly income of the people influence their e-culture (table 7 and 8). The entire sample was classified into five groups based on their monthly income. The mean scores indicated that there existed significant difference in their level of e-culture. Langer (2003) stated that the adoption of third generation technologies mainly depends on its affordability and availability, which in turn depends on the income of the people. He also mentioned about the digital divide, that there are two groups in society; one which has access to the new information technologies and the other which has not.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals that gender, nativity, education and monthly income influence e-culture but age and marital status does not influence it.



Table 1 Showing the Mean, SD, SEM and t-test for e-culture score of the groups on the basis of gender.

Gender N Mean SD SEM t-value LS

Male 200 32.57 16.10 1.14 1.96 0.05

Female 126 35.98 14.79 1.32

Table 2 Showing the results of One-way ANOVA for e-culture score of the groups on the basis of age level

Age N Mean SD SEM F-value LS

20 to 25 years 76 33.91 16.69 1.91 0.24 NS

26 to 30 years 105 33.71 15.07 1.47

31 to 35 years 57 32.51 15.37 2.04

36 to 40 years 32 35.66 17.98 3.18

Above 40 years 56 34.57 14.68 1.96

Total 326 33.89 15.67 0.87



Table 3 Showing the Mean, S.D., SEM and t-test for e-culture score of the groups on the basis of marital status

Marital status N Mean SD SEM t-value LS

Married 203 34.80 15.46 1.09 1.35 NS

Unmarried 123 32.37 15.96 1.44



Table 4 Showing the Mean, S.D., SEM and t-test for e-culture score

of the groups on the basis of native place.

Native Place N Mean SD SEM t-value LS

Urban 225 36.42 16.16 1.08 4.87 0.01

Rural 101 28.25 12.91 1.28



Table 5 Showing the Mean, SD for e-culture score of the groups on the basis of educational qualification.

Educational qualification Group N Mean SD

U.G. A 82 35.12 14.21

P.G. B 141 36.00 16.87

M.Phil C 62 28.39 13.35

Ph.D. D 41 32.46 15.86

Total 326 33.89 15.67

Table 6 Showing the results of One-way ANOVA for e-culture score of the groups on the basis of educational qualification.

Sum of Squares Df Mean Square F-value LS

Between Groups 2713.11 3 904.37 3.78 0.01

Within Groups 77113.68 322 239.48

Total 79826.80 325





Table 7 Showing the one-way ANOVA for e-culture score on the

basis of Monthly income.

Monthly income Group N Mean SD

Below 5000 A 118 29.32 14.37

5,001 – 10,000 B 87 36.64 14.17

10,001 – 15,000 C 59 37.29 17.82

15,001 - 20,000 D 31 34.06 16.32

Above 20,000 E 31 36.87 16.25

Total 326 33.89 15.67

Table 8 Showing the one-way ANOVA for e-culture score on the

basis of Monthly income.

Sum of Squares Df Mean Square F Sig.

Between Groups 4079.627 4 1019.907 4.32 0.01

Within Groups 75747.173 321 235.973

Total 79826.801 325

REFERENCE

1. De Haan, J and Huysmans, F. (2002). E-culture: An Empirical Exploration. The Hague: Social and Cultural Plan Bureau. pp. 145-155.

2. Doody, M., Aizlewood, A and Bourdeau, J. P. (2003). E-citizenship and civic participation in Canada. In S. Dragojevic., D. Dodd., B. Cvjeticanin and C. Smithuijsen (Ed)(2005): E-Culture: The European Perspective- Cultural Policy, Creative Industries, Information Lag (From the proceeding of the round table meeting, Zagreb, 24-27 April 2003). Zagreb: Institute of International Relations. pp. 53-64.

3. Krzysztofek, K. (2003). Will the www.e-culture be more edu or com? In S. Dragojevic., D. Dodd., B. Cvjeticanin and C. Smithuijsen (Ed)(2005): E-Culture: The European Perspective- Cultural Policy, Creative Industries, Information Lag (From the proceeding of the round table meeting, Zagreb, 24-27 April 2003). Zagreb: Institute of International Relations. pp. 73-80.

4. Langer, J. (2003). About the Cultural Texture of the Digital Divide. In S. Dragojevic., D. Dodd., B. Cvjeticanin and C. Smithuijsen (Ed)(2005): E-Culture: The European Perspective- Cultural Policy, Creative Industries, Information Lag (From the proceeding of the round table meeting, Zagreb, 24-27 April 2003). Zagreb: Institute of International Relations. pp. 65-72.

5. Marsh, J. B. T. (2003). Cultural Conflict in the Information Society. In S. Dragojevic., D. Dodd., B. Cvjeticanin and C. Smithuijsen (Ed)(2005): E-Culture: The European Perspective- Cultural Policy, Creative Industries, Information Lag (From the proceeding of the round table meeting, Zagreb, 24-27 April 2003). Zagreb: Institute of International Relations. pp. 21-30.

6. Maslach, C (2000). The Influence of Gender and Culture on the relationship between emotional control and well-being. The Berkeley McNair Research Journal. Pp. 99-114.

7. Mitchell, R. (2003). Information Society and E-culture: On the Rise and Popularity of the Concepts. In S. Dragojevic., D. Dodd., B. Cvjeticanin and C. Smithuijsen (Ed)(2005): E-Culture: The European Perspective- Cultural Policy, Creative Industries, Information Lag (From the proceeding of the round table meeting, Zagreb, 24-27 April 2003). Zagreb: Institute of International Relations. pp. 9-18.

8. Netherlands Council for Culture. (2004. English Edition). From ICT to E-culture: Advisory report on the digitalization of culture and the implications for cultural policy (Submitted to the Netherlands State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science, June 2003). The Hague: Netherlands Council for Culture Publishing.

9. Patel, J. M. A and Rajendran, K. (2005) E-culture Inventory. SCOPE- Annamalai Psychology Journal, Vol. I, pp. 1-11.

10. Robbins, S. P. (2003). Organizational Behaviour (10th Ed.). Delhi: Pearson Education, Inc. pp. 459-464.

11. Roberts, B.W and Helson, R. (1997). Changes in culture, changes in personality: The influence of Individualism in a longitudinal study of women. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 72, No. I, PP. 641-651.

12. Van Dijk, J. (2001). The accessibility of ICTs and the quality of infrastructure and services. In: Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management of the Netherlands (Ed.), People in networks: A contribution to the discussion of the Ministry of Transport to the debate about the Digital Divide. The Hague: Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

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