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Ring in the R&B

R&B ringtones continue to be some of the most popular and most downloaded ring tones in the market. They consistently top the ringtone charts and message boards are often clogged with requests for R&B songs. What is the cause of R&B’s appeal?

Short for rhythm and blues, the term was first used by Billboard magazine’s Jerry Wexler to describe the unique sound performed by African American artists of that time. This combination of jazz, gospel and blues was characterized by a catchy back beat. Today, the term has also expanded to include soul and funk, and other songs that were inspired by African-American pop that replaced disco as the “sound” of the 80′s.

R&B typically has a background of guitar, bass, saxophone, drums or keyboard. It includes doo wop, which was a precursor to rock and roll, and hard bop. Jazz and R&B are so closely intertwined that many artists did both, swinging between the two genres.

The first well known R&B artists were Jay McShann’s, Tiny Bradshaw’s, Johnny Otis, Count Basie and. Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson (he was the best example of one-man fusion, who was both a skilled bebop saxophonist and blues shouter). R&B later developed regional variations, such as the New Orleans sound. Great artists included Great Fats Domino, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Frankie Ford, Irma Thomas, The Neville Brothers, and Dr. John.

But it was in the 80′s, with James Brown’s soul music and the psychedelic innovations of Sly & the Family Stone that R&B began to develop its “modern” sound and fully infiltrated mainstream music.

R&B is sometimes called urban contemporary or urban pop. It’s known by its sophisticated electronic productions, with cathy drum beat and very smooth vocals. Luther Vandross, Prince, Michael Jackson made R&B very popular, along with female singers like Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson. Tina Turner made a comeback, while New Kids on the Block and The Backstreet Boys sent millions of girls screaming. Keith Sweat, BellBivdeVoe and Boyz II Men all brought their own innovations, as well as R&B balladeers like Babyface and Brian McKnight.

In the 90′s R&B took an edgier tone with alternative rock, adult contemporary, and gangsta rap. Mary J. Blige. Blige. R. Kelly, Montell Jordan, Brandy, and Aaliyah introduced slang and attitude to the R&B scene, and their influence can be seen in the works of Jaheim, Ashanti, Amerie, and Keyshia Cole. Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell hve also tried to combine R&B with other genres.

With so many R&B songs, in distinct styles and with their own particular appeal, it’s not surprising that R&B is so popular. There is R&B ringtone for everyone. Ring it on!

Philip Nicosia is the webmaster of GetMeRingtones, a site specialising in the different genres of ringtones, including polyphonic ringtones, and true tones.

What Are the Earning Potentials For Medical Transcriptionists?

Okay, Let’s get real about this profession, shall we? If you read the ads out there, you will see claims of $70,000.00+ on some web sites for what a transcriptionist earns.

Here are the latest statistics from the U.S. Dept. of Labor:

Employment : 86990. Mean hourly wage : $15.44. Mean annual wage : $32,120.

What do these numbers mean, anyway? Well, let’s go through them:

This says that there were, as of May 2007, about 87,000 people employed as medical transcriptionists, and their mean annual wage was about $32,000.

And what does “mean” mean? “Mean” is simply the average wage. So you total all the wages and divide them by the number of transcriptionists. This number is really about as meaningful as the average temperature in a state or city. The average temperature is 68 degrees, but it starts out at 38, and goes up to 98. Quite a range there!

So what does that mean in terms of what you might earn when you start out, and after a few years in the business? For that we need to look at the next set of numbers:

These are a little more educational. They say that 10% of the transcriptionist population earns an average of $22,000, and the top 10% earns an average of $44,000 per year.

If we throw out whether a particular area of the country pays better or worse than another, and assume that everyone gets paid the same rates everywhere, then we can look at this as a sliding scale according to experience. The most experienced transcriptionist will get paid more than a newbie. Percentile wage estimates for this occupation: Percentile: 10%. Hourly Wage: $10.65. Annual Wage: $22,160 Percentile: 25% Hourly Wage: $12.73 Annual Wage: $26,470 Percentile: 50% (Median) Hourly Wage: $15.02 Annual Wage: $31,250 Percentile: 75% Hourly Wage: $17.95 Annual Wage: $37,330 Percentile: 90% Hourly Wage: $21.19 Annual Wage: $44,070

According to the Government, in Averageville, USA, if you are just starting out in transcription and you are working full time, you can expect to make about $22,000.00 per year, or about $10.65 per hour. Not too bad, and it goes up, after several years, to about $21 per hour.

The question one needs to ask themselves is, “Can I make more than this doing something else?”

Since these are averages, unquestionably there are folks out there that are making more (and quite a bit more) than $44,000 per year. Are you going to be one of them? And do you know what you need to know to get there?

For the truly dedicated and talented transcriptionist, the potential exists to make a comfortable living. But as with all things, the cream rises to the top. Make sure you check out all the available sources of information to help you get there.

Pam Lyon is the author of “Inside Medical Transcription” Discover how to get the most out of your typing speed and get to that top earning tier in the shortest time. Use the tricks the pros use ad get there fast. Visit => http://insidemedicaltranscription.com

Teddies Aren’t Just For Hugging

I have a teddy in my bedroom and it isn’t a teddy bear. It’s a teddy, not just any old teddy I use it for business, uh I’m not sure you are clear in what I do for a living. Believe me it is perfectly legal and I’m well respected. Get on the fashion track because teddy lingerie is for more than just the bedroom! In the fashion world a teddy is an all in one piece of undergarment. Teddies can provide for an alluring, seductive look and can be matched with a camisole and panty. Many fabulous teddies (and teddy bears) are popular in the bedroom.

Teddy lingerie isn’t just for the bedroom. The word lingerie is actually derived from the French word ‘lin’ for linen. The concept of undergarments being visually appealing is relatively recent. The fashion industry has expanded in the 21st century with lingerie designs that double as outerwear. The French refer to this as ‘dessous-dessus’ which basically means inner-wear as outerwear.

I didn’t realize that what I wore as a part of a business suit was actually considered lingerie . I found this fabulous teddy and thought it would make an absolutely great top and never once did I look to see what department I had purchased it in. So many stores are laid out today where you turn one hundred eighty degrees and you’re in an entirely different department. When I told the clerk what I had in mind for the top she thought I was a genius.

My entire business suit complete with teddy is quite chic and it has a nice snap crotch so when duty calls I can slip away from my desk and take care of personal business. I enjoy wearing teddy lingerie as an actual top. It’s sexy and I feel awesome wearing something so bold underneath my business suit.

As teddies become more and more a part of every day fashion. I recommend that you try on a few sleek pieces. Whether you’re in the boardroom or in your bedroom I’m certain you’ll know how to make the men swoon.

For those of you that want to keep turning a man on in the bedroom you’ll do just fine with teddy lingerie. The styles and designs vary greatly so you can be seductive or coy all depending on your mood.

Mary Shane is the owner of Silk and Satin Lingerie which features a wide variety of teddy lingerie, camisoles, and corsets.

Iodine and Hair Loss

You know your body needs vitamin C, protein and carbohydrates among other nutrients to survive, but did you know it also needs iodine to stay healthy? Iodine is an essential element in keeping our body in good working condition. Our thyroid glands need iodine to properly control the metabolism of cells. A lack of iodine slows down the metabolism of cells often leading to hair loss. Very few men struggling with hair loss are aware that the cause may be that they are not getting adequate iodine in their diets.

Iodine can affect hair loss because it directly affects your thyroid gland which, in turn, directly affects the health of your hair follicles. Hair follicles are delicate and very susceptible to being damaged. Healthy hair follicles grow shiny, thick, healthy hair, while unhealthy follicles lead to just the opposite. The best way to make sure you’re getting enough iodine is to put table salt on your food at least once a day. All modern table salt producers add iodine to their salt to help supplement people’s intake.

If you are restricted from eating salt or do not enjoy the taste, try supplementing your diet with sea vegetables such as kelp, wakame and dulse or with seafood. These foods will provide you with more than enough iodine to help prevent hair loss. Other foods that also have iodine, although not as much, include eggs, lima beans, potato skins, molasses, garlic and watercress.

If you think low iodine levels may be causing your hair loss, consider checking your thyroid with a basal thermometer by placing it in your underarm for ten minutes as soon as you get out of bed in the morning. The temperature on the thermometer after ten minutes will help you determine whether or not your thyroid is working properly. A reading between 97.8 and 98.2 degrees C indicates healthy thyroid function. You should take the measurement every day for five to ten days to be sure your readings are accurate and consistent. If your average temperature is below 97.6, you should consult your doctor right away. In this case, you almost definitely have low thyroid function, which can cause significant hair loss.

The United States Recommended Daily Allowance for iodine is 80 -150mcg. If you are experiencing hair loss, try keeping a food diary to track how much iodine you are consuming daily. If it is less than 150mcg, you may want to consider changing your diet or taking an iodine supplement to ensure that you’re getting sufficient amounts of iodine. If you change your diet to include plenty of iodine rich foods such as kelp and seafood, you may be pleasantly surprised when your hair suddenly starts growing faster and thicker!

Clifford Young is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about iodine and hair loss, please visit Hair Loss Guru for current articles and discussions.

Should You Earn Your MBA Online?

Having an MBA gives you the great opportunity to advance your career and increase your income. If you are in a mid-career level who are waiting for a good career opportunity to move your career to next higher level, taking an MBA is a good decision because an MBA will certifies you as a master in business administration. With the MBA qualification, you are putting yourself to a competitive edge to grab any good opportunity which may open to you along your career path. With the available of online education, you have more options to choose whether your want to pursue your MBA traditionally or earn it through online MBA program.

The worry about whether degree earned through online education can be widely accepted in the job market is not valid anymore since many job market survey reports have proved it’s accepted by most employers. The only question is whether you can fully benefits from online education if you choose to pursue your MBA online.

If you are already in the workforce full-time, and the constraint of your commitments and obligations might keep you from earning your MBA in traditional way. Online MBA may be the best way to allow you to continue your job and earn the degree at the same time. Moreover, selecting an online option to pursue your MBA, you do not need to worry if you need to travel for job assignment, or can’t finish your job on time for classes, because you can logon to online classes from anywhere and at any time, you plan for it.

Basically, you can benefit from the advantages of online MBA as most of online MBA programs do take into consideration factors that best fit the working adults. But, one downside of taking your MBA online is you will lose the interaction with professors and other students face-to-face. It’s becomes more difficult to build a network with your colleagues which will be very helpful contacts throughout your career. However, if you can create relationship with your online instructors and online classmates in cyber-environment, you can make up for some of the loss interaction.

Choosing an online MBA school is an important step when selecting your MBA program. You should not simply choose one because if you accidental select an MBA program offered by diploma mill, you will not only lose your money, but the worthless degree issued by diploma mill won’t help you in grabbing your career opportunities later. Do your homework about each online business school that you’re considering. Information such as accreditation by which the accrediting agency and what other people talk about these schools on internet can be a good reference in your decision to choose one of the MBA programs that best suit your interest.

Since, many online MBA students failed to complete their MBA program with all sort of reasons, don’t let you be part of them. In order to be a success online MBA student who will complete the MBA program and earn the valuable degree that will help in your career, you must be prepared to adapt yourself with the online learning style and have a self-motivation to push yourself through the online study process.

Summary

Earning an MBA degree can be your best decision if you are looking to advance your career and increase your earnings. You should pursue your MBA online if you can fully benefit from the advantages of online education.

Jullie Harvard is an author who writes on various education related topics. To find more information on online MBA programs, online business schools and other online education information, visit http://www.studykiosk.com.

Forensic Chemistry – Using Laboratory Chemicals to Reveal Fingerprints

You have seen it on your favorite CSI TV program when the police scientist uses gaseous fumes to expose fingerprints found at a crime scene. Have you ever wondered what those fumes are? Have you ever heard of terms like “Super Glue” mentioned by the characters on CSI?

In this article, I will discuss the various kinds of laboratory chemicals that are used to reveal invisible fingerprints.

In many crime labs, there are four kinds of chemical reagents used to expose invisible, or latent, fingerprints. They are cyanoacrylate, silver nitrate, iodine, and ninhydrin.

What is cyanoacrylate? Perhaps you know this item by its trade name, Super Glue. It is this same Super Glue that you can purchase at any Home Depot or Walmart. Cyanoacrylate is the active ingredient that makes up 98% of Super Glue. This item has become a very practical and innovative forensic tool. When cyanoacrylate is heated or mixed with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), it releases fumes that interact with the amino acids that are found in the fingerprint residues found on an object, thus making a white print.

After exposure to cyanoacrylate, the fingerprints can then be captured on film as is or treated with a fluorescent pigment that sticks to the fingerprint. The fingerprint then fluoresces, or glows, under a laser or ultraviolet light source.

An object that is suspected to have latent fingerprints in this method many times is exposed to the fumes inside a gadget called a fuming chamber. The end result is that the fumed fingerprints are now hard and stable as one would expect from Super Glue. In place of setting up a fuming chamber at the scene of a crime, CSI technicians often times use a hand held wand-shaped tool that heats up a small cartridge of cyanoacrylate mixed together with fluorescent pigment. This tool then releases gases in close proximity of the latent prints, allowing the technician to fix and dye the fingerprint simultaneously.

Silver nitrate is a chemical ingredient found in black-and-white photographic film. When CSI technicians apply silver nitrate to a latent fingerprint, the chloride found in fingerprint residue interacts with the silver nitrate and forms another compound called silver chloride. This new compound reveals a black or reddish-brown fingerprint in the presence of ultraviolet light.

The third chemical used to reveal latent fingerprints is called iodine. When heated up, crystalline iodine releases iodine fumes into a fuming chamber, where the iodine interacts with the oils found in the latent print thus producing a brownish colored fingerprint. Unfortunately, this kind of print has a tendency to fade rather quickly. Therefore, it must be captured on film right away or fixed by spraying it with a “fixing solution” made of water and starch. This fixing solution allows the print to last for weeks or even months in lieu of a few minutes.

The fourth kind of chemical reagent used to reveal latent fingerprints is ninhydrin. Ninhydrin, also known as triketohydrindene hydrate, has been used for many years by CSI technicians to reveal latent fingerprints. An object suspected of containing latent fingerprints is sprayed with a solution of ninhydrin. It may take several hours for the fingerprints to show up due to the fact that ninhydrin reacts very slowly with the oils found in the fingerprint. However, heating up the object to a temperature of 80 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit can reduce the reaction time. The resulting fingerprint will be a purple/blue print.

Hopefully, you have been educated on the kinds of chemicals used on your favorite CSI show. The next time you hear any of these chemical tools used on TV, you will know exactly what they are talking about.

Fabiola Castillo is an online marketer for the website NinjaCOPS SuperStore. This virtual store specializes in personal defense products where you can buy the best pepper spray, kubatons keychains, hidden video spy surveillance cameras, nunchaku training videos, civilian Tasers, expandable steel batons, and many other home security products.