Social Media Man

Archive for July, 2009

When we look around us we see that society all over the earth want more from life, we all are seen to want to have more, to be more and do more with our lives. In order to be the best it is notable to fixate on core skills such as persuasive presentation skills as when we survey the most successful folks in society we see that they are the ones who have taken time out to target on how to increase self confidence and this is seen to be the foundation of their success. Many the masses are now choosing to purchase home study courses and to watch DVDs and attend weekend seminar on the subject of skills of persuasion so that they can improve their perseverance develops character and abilities in the shortest amount of time possible.

In line with concentrating on how to build self confidence as discussed above it is important to realize and acknowledge that we should also pay attention to how we use the power of positive thinking in our lives as the level of the secrets of success intensity and attention in our lives ties directly into how high and effective the level of our self confidence and motivation will be and as a consequence the level of the success that we will see and experience in life. For sure many folks neglect to fixate on their key self confidence and self esteem skills but when they realize that this is something that is key to success, with some concentrate for sure the level of improvement seen in life will skyrocket.

When we consider perseverance develops character and 21 success secrets of self-made millionaires together it is advisable to also note that some people also have to deal with issues such as how to prevent memory loss and this is an area of life that is receiving quite a bit of research and attention as we understand that if people have early onset memory loss issues then this links directly to how steps of positive thinking and self confidence and motivation affects and manifests in our lives.

Private High Schools can offer International Recognition with AP Courses

Outside the U.S., colleges in more than 60 countries recognize AP in their admissions processes. Because of this, students who are considering taking extra courses at a community college may want to think twice about taking an AP course at their high school or a school that offers AP. Not all community college courses will be accepted for transfer credit, and may end up being a waste of time and effort. In northern California, some Silicon Valley Private Schools are able to provide these AP classes.

Individual colleges and universities, not the College Board or the AP Program, set criteria for granting admission to their respective programs. AP Exam performance is typically considered within the applicant’s complete academic transcript. Because these courses are graded on a 5 point scale, top students can obtain a GPA of over 4.0. GPA’s of 4.2 or more are often required for admission to the best colleges. If your child can’t get an AP course at your local public school, try contacting a private high school. Cambrian International Academy is only one of the Bay Area private schools providing AP classes on a full time or class-by-class basis. Some will even offer the classes in the evening or on a weekend.

Because admission policies vary from school to school, interested students should contact the institution directly for further information regarding application procedures and policies. Appropriate contact information and URLs are provided on the College Board website.

For those who are actually suffering from hemorrhoids, simple home remedies are possible which will reduce the pain and discomfort associated with this. Mild cases of hemorrhoids will promptly respond to home remedies but acute cases must be treated with proper medication. Almost 95% of cases of hemorrhoids can be treated with H Miracle. Some natural hemorrhoid remedies are as follows:

1. Patients can sit on warm water or Sitz baths for 15 minutes three or four times a day. These will give lot of comfort to them. If Epsom salt can be added to water it will provide a very nice soothing effect and it will also help to reduce the swellings.

2. Plenty of fresh fruits, leafy vegetables and fibrous foods must be incorporated in regular diet. Regular exercising is must. Lot of water and fluid intake is imperative. Spicy foods, alcoholic drinks should be totally avoided.

3. The anal area should be cleansed with mild warm water. Unscented and mild soaps and uncolored tissue papers should always be used. Gently cleaning the area with a wet cleansing tissue is highly recommended.

4. Haste and excessive pressure should be avoided during bowel movements.

5. Sitting for a long time in the same posture is not recommended at all. This may cause unwarranted strain and pressure on the pelvic area and thus may increase the symptoms. So periodic movements of the body is needed. Short walks or stretching can help.

6. If natural home remedies are not having effect on hemorrhoids even after 1-2 weeks then the physician must be contacted. Proper medication should always be followed. Indulgence in over-the-counter drugs without physician’s prescription is a strict no-no.

Thus we can see that very simple natural home remedies for hemorrhoids are available. Another natural remedy is H Miracle. This is an online product which describes systems to fight hemorrhoid pain through 100% natural ways. Nearly 85-90% of cases do get solved by using the ways described in H Miracle System. H Miracle is a much better solution than repeated use of lotions and creams or OTC drugs.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purpose and should not be taken as medical advice. A registered practitioner must be consulted before any kind of medication.

In spite of its older brother Spyware Doctor’s reputation, PC Tools Internet Security is an interesting package. The reality is that it is a rarely sought after package. This is surprising. PC Tools Internet Security is built with the same foundational technology as that which gives us Spyware Doctor and PC Tools Antivirus! Additionally, this package has spamprotection in the offering as well.

I began to wonder if it might be amount that is keeping it from wide spread adoption. After checking on pricing, $59.95 (as of 9/26/08) is a reasonable amount. The only bad thing I found in reviews was its lack of heuristic scanning.

Heuristic scanning: “A heuristic probe is used to find new, unknown viruses in your systems that have not yet been identified. Only some antiviruses can do this type of probe, the majority are only able to find known viruses.” This doesn’t seem to be the reason either.

I will chalk it up to a lack of marketing. The reason I say this is because I see heuristic search capability incorporated in the latest release. Most importantly, I found out that most customers and potential customers are still looking for their antivirus and firewall as separate products.

Bob Metcalfe, the person attributed as the Inventor of the Internet exemplifies what choosing what is not so popular….”And I turned around to look at these 10, 12 AT&T suits, and they were all laughing. And it was in that moment that AT&T became my bte noire, because I realized in that moment that these SOBs were rooting against me. To this day, I still cringe at the mention of AT&T. That’s why my cell phone is a T-Mobile. The rest of my family uses AT&T, but I refuse .”

Granted, choosing PC Tools Internet Security will not be that dramatic but it could prove to be a good internet security application for your computer.

Adsense is indisputably one of the best ways to start making money online! Read this article and you will understand why your content sites can really benefit from the program. The concept is really simple, if you think about it. The publisher or the webmaster inserts a java script into a certain website. Each time the page is accessed, the java script will pull advertisements from the Adsense program. The ads that are targeted should therefore be related to the content that is contained on the web page serving the ad. If a visitor clicks on an advertisement, the webmaster serving the ad earns a portion of the money that the advertiser is paying the search engine for the click.

The search engine is the one handling all the tracking and payments, providing an easy way for webmasters to display content-sensitive and targeted ads without having the hassle to solicit advertisers, collect funds, monitor the clicks and statistics which could be a time-consuming task in itself. When you are on a mission to start to make money online try to give yourself a fair chance by using the advertising programs that are proven to work…

Concentrating on one format of Adsense ad. The one format that worked well for the majority is the Large Rectangle (336X280). This same format have the tendency to result in higher CTR, or the click-through rates. Why choose this format out of the many you can use? Basically because the ads will look like normal web links, and people, being used to clicking on them, click these types of links. They may or may not know they are clicking on your Adsense but as long as there are clicks, then it will all be for your advantage. Never forget to experiement with programs like project payday and scour the web for feedback from others on gpt programs like this send earnings review…

Create a custom palette for your ads. Choose a color that will go well with the background of your site. If your site has a white background, try to use white as the color of your ad border and background. The idea to patterning the colors is to make the Adsense look like it is part of the web pages. Again, this will result to more clicks from people visiting your site.

Remove the Adsense from the bottom pages of your site and put them at the top. Do not try to hide your Adsense. Put them in the place where people can see them quickly. You will be amazed how the difference between Adsense locations can make when you see your earnings.

Maintain links to relevant websites. If you think some sites are better off than the others, put your ads there and try to maintaining and managing them. If there is already lots of Adsense put into that certain site put yours on top of all of them. That way visitor will see your ads first upon browsing into that site.

Doing the wrong things in the Adsense and other forms of advertisements, whether intentionally or unintentionally, will result in a severe penalty, may get you banned and even have your account terminated.

People take vacations for all sorts of reasons. Some go on holiday for a bit of adventure. Others choose to explore the landscape of other surroundings. Some like to be pampered, waited on hand and foot as they soak in the sun’s rays alongside a sparkling swimming pool. Whether your preferred vacation includes outdoor activities such as hiking, sailing, or exploration, there is an ideal Hawaii vacation package that is right for you.

A lot of people think that a Hawaii vacation package will be out of their price range. These vacations can be very affordable! Using your budget as a guide you can choose what activities you want to do and which islands you want to visit.

You can do an Internet search of Kauai vacations, and find many fantastic, packaged deals. If you can plan well in advance there are many other discounts available for airfare, and hotels accommodations. You can also check for senior citizen or child with an accompanying adult discounts and save even more money.

When researching Big Island vacations, make sure you find out everything there is to do. The possibilities are infinite, and you will want to take advantage of them and do exactly what you want. Activities as varied as museums, snorkeling and hiking are among those offered by the Big Island of Hawaii in order to make your vacation a dream come true.

Discriminating travelers will be thrilled with all that Hawaii has to offer. Diverse day and night activities will appeal to all guests. With hundreds of things to choose from, no one will have trouble finding enough delightful things to do.Dinner shows, symphonies, sporting events, and nightclubs are just a few of the possible choices for your constant entertainment. Visit Hawaii and you will be thoroughly pleased.

Research by you or your travel agent is key to finding the best Hawaii vacation package that will meet all your needs. Do not make the mistake of letting the perfect Hawaii vacation pass you by. Hawaii is full of gorgeous beaches, beautiful scenery, and exciting adventures. Imagine vacationing in paradise and plan the ultimate Hawaii vacation.

Approximately 1% of the worlds population suffers from excessive sweating also known as hyperhidrosis. This condition generally appears in the armpits and palms and can cause enormous uneasiness to the sufferer, more so if his/her profession involves meeting and greeting people.

Sweating is formed by the sweat glands and is tremendously helpful as this way we can remove damaging toxins. However, in several people these glands become greatly stimulated, which consequently forms hyperhidrosis.

To take care of this condition several people use antiperspirants, although they can only work if the condition is mild.

One more rather general treatment is to utilize Botox shots, but the downside is that they can cost up to $1400 and they are quite painful.

If you have attempted to resolve this disease and nothing has worked, don’t despair. There is a entirely natural treatment you can use to stop sweating unnecessarily once and for all. Here are some suggestions that will get you on the right track:

Tace care of what you consume: there are some foodstuffs that increase your rate of sweat and they also cause your body to smell horrible. Try to stay away from peppery foodstuffs, onions, garlic, curries and red meat. Also stay away from caffeine as it causes your heart’s rate to rise and makes the situation worse. An additional thing you must positively lessen is the consumption of alcohol. On the other hand, there are many foods that can assist you in reducing perspiration like fruits, vegetables and alfalfa. Furthermore, you can attempt to use herbs like lemon balm, St. Johns and catnip.

Lose weight: it seems that many of sufferers are overweight. By losing a few kilos it will be easier for you to move and it will create a smaller amount of heat.

Find out a few recreation techniques: most of the times perspiring palms and armpits are attributable to anxiety, High levels of tension can lead to this situation. If you trust that this is the situation with you, then trying relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga can be very useful. how to stop sweating

PS. Medical information should be reviewed with your doctor or physician. Do not neglect any professional medical advice.

Investing in a steam cleaner is a very good idea so that every now and then you can clean your carpets to almost new condition. Whereas vacuum cleaners are obviously very useful for frequent use around the home, steam cleaners provide a better clean to the carpet.

It is not only carpets that steam cleaners can be used on though, as they are just as effective at cleaning other floor types, upholstery and vehicle interiors. They can be bought in handheld or portable versions to make it easier to clean different areas. The attachments, brushes and tools also make it easier to clean a range of surfaces.

Despite being called a steam cleaner, not all of these appliances actually use steam. A lot of models will actually use hot water as the heating method for cleaning. The heavyweight steam cleaners will have a built-in heating element which heats the water to create steam. The steam cleaners that use hot water are still useful, but you should know what you’re buying before you purchase.

Steam cleaners can set you back anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to over a thousand. The price varies depending on the make, cleaning capabilities, power and included brushes and attachments.

You’ll find a number of different brushes and tools that can be bought for steam cleaners, often with gimmicky names like “powerbrush”. Providing you buy a steam cleaner that is of good quality, it should come with all the brushes that you’ll need to clean your floors. Most tools will work in a rotating or spinning motion to agitate the dirt attached to the fibers in your carpet.

The steam cleaner should not douse the carpet with water more than it needs to be. Doing so creates the ideal breeding ground for mites and bacteria. Instead, the carpet should be cleaned thoroughly but dry within a few hours.

Make sure that the steam cleaner you buy comes with a full warranty for parts and labor. A lot of manufacturers only provide a 1-year warranty, but some will cover for 2 or maybe 3 years.

Introduction

Central to the mythology of mirrors is Narcissus a Boeotian hero, who disliked those who loved him for his own natural beauty. He famously gazed into a pool of water and was so fascinated with the reflection, that he was unable to bring himself to leave the image. Not realising that the image he could see was of his own natural beauty, he couldn’t bring himself to leave the image, and he perished.

The concept of how the mirror works is quite simple. It stems simply from the reflective surface of still water and therefore nature plays its part. When you look down into a puddle or a dark pool of water, the smooth water reflects the light straight back into your eyes. Mirrors work in exactly the same way, in that a mirror is made up of a coated glass surface which when a polished metal surface or metal film is applied behind the glass, light cannot shine through and so reflects the image back. Young children especially, are always fascinated when they look into a mirror for the first time and see their own reflection staring back at them. Anyone who has young children will remember the vision of their young child son kissing their image on a mirror. My eight year old daughter loves sitting in front of her mirror doing her hair nearly as much as my fifteen year old daughter!

Where would we be today without mirrors? Mirrors are generally used for personal grooming or interior decoration and have evolved from a luxury item into a necessity. There is an enormous variety of mirror shapes and sizes and over the years, mirrors have gradually developed to meet many different requirements. Today there is a large selection of mirrors , ranging from small mirrors to large mirrors, framed, unframed and includes bathroom mirrors, decorative mirrors, illuminated mirrors, LED mirrors, shaving mirrors, make up mirrors and demister mirrors.
Away from personal use, mirrors are also used in industryas part of scientific apparatus such as cameras, lasers, telescopes and periscopes, to reflect light and used as tools in dentistry and medical care.

History of Mirrors

The history of mirrors as far as we can see dates back over 8,000 years. The earliest known mirrors were made from pieces of polished stone such as obsidian, a naturally occurring glass from cooled volcanic lava flows. In Anatolia in Turkey, examples of obsidian mirrors dated at around 6000 BC have been found. In south and central America, polished stone mirrors from around 2000 BC on wards have also been found. From around 3000 BC mirrors of polished copper are known to have been crafted in ancient Egypt. In China bronze mirrors were manufactured from around 2000 BC.

The first metal coated glass mirrors are thought to have been made in the first century AD, in Sidon, known today as Lebanon. The Roman author Pliny makes reference to glass mirrors backed with gold leaf in his Naturalis Historia, one of the largest reference books to have survived from the Roman Empire, which focused on natural and man-made objects and was written in around 77 AD. The Romans also created a technique for making crude mirrors by using molten lead to coat blown glass.

In the 10th Century Arabian Physicists, considered different types of mirrors, reflecting mirrors and parabolic mirrors and another discussed concave and convex mirrors in both cylindrical and spherical geometries. In undertaking various experiments with mirrors, finding the point on a convex mirror at which a ray of light coming from one point is reflected to another point was solved.

During the period of the 14th to 17th Centuries, across Europe a method of coating glass with a tin-mercury amalgam was perfected by manufacturers. Venice was recognised for its glass making expertise and soon became a centre of mirror production using this new technique. Glass mirrors from this period were extremely expensive luxuries. Manufacturers also evolved in London, France and Germany.

The particular process of silvering to produce the first silvered-glass mirror is credited to German chemist Justus von Liebig in 1835. He developed a process to apply a thin layer of metallic silver onto glass through the chemical reduction of silver nitrate. The process was adapted for mass production and led to the greater availability of affordable mirrors and formed the basis of what we now consider the normal way to produce a mirror today.

The evolution of the mirror over the years is quite interesting, if like me you love mirrors! It has developed from a luxury item to an item which is now taken for granted in daily use. Today, walk into any shop to look at mirrors and the selection is vast, with many technology features now finding there way into mirrors, to give added simplicity, luxury and decoration.

Accessories available on backlit mirrors feature back lighting, LED lighting and demister pads.

How are Mirrors Made?

The manufacture of mirrors includes the application to a suitable material of a reflective coating. Glass is the most commonly used material, due to its ability to take a smooth finish and its rigidity. Glass is also more scratch resistant than many other materials.

Early mirrors were made of solid metal, bronze or silver and they were far too expensive for many. Metal is also prone to corrosion and because of polished metal’s low emissivity, antique mirrors were less suitable for indoor use. With indoor lighting at the time supplied by candles or lanterns, the metal mirrors reflected a much darker picture.

In modern times ‘float glass’ is used in the manufacture of mirrors, which is a flat ribbon of glass which is run out of a furnace and along the surface of a bath of molten tin. The temperature of both the glass and molten tin is controlled to enable both surfaces to be made perfectly flat. There are now three common types of mirrors: plain - which has a flat surface, and the two spherical types of mirrors: the convex and the concave. The concave and convex mirrors can be used in an entertaining way, when used at fairgrounds or amusement parks to distort peoples figures reflected in them through bloating, stretching and shrinking, the person or object in front of them.

In some applications, a mirror isn’t a mirror at all. For example, when used in public conveniences, particularly in public or factory toilets, where for reasons of cost and the need for greater durability, a single polished metal sheet is often installed as a form of mirror.

Different Types of Mirror

Throughout the ages, mirrors have been employed as symbols of truth, deception and vanity. Mention a mirror and you instantly know that if you look into one, you will see your own reflection staring back at you. The image you see will resemble your own appearance. In optical principles, the reflections in mirrors do not totally match the objects in front of them. When looking into the mirror, trace the contour of the reflection of your head in a mirror. The reflection may correspond in proportion, but will generally be half in actual size.
With such a variety and huge range of mirrors now available, much has been made of the amount of money spent in purchasing mirrors particularly by women, although in this day and age with an increase in men purchasing cosmetics, some men will also be vain enough to carry a mirror. I wonder if in another decade or two, me calling men vain for carrying a mirror will be thought of as ridiculous!

The vain Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs famously asked her special mirror, “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” Mirrors are synonymous with truth.
Mirrors are frequently used in interior decoration to create an illusion of space, and to decorate and amplify the apparent size of a room. They will be used around the home, the office, a pub, club or restaurant to good effect. They work particularly well in night clubs, reflecting the many images of light in the club or room to create a feeling of a much bigger space.

Infinity Mirrors provide an effect of never reaching an end, known as ‘symmetry breaking’ and are particularly effective when used in a dark environment. I remember experiencing this phenomenon for the first time as a child in a large department store lift, where mirrors where on all sides of the elevator car. For those who are not good in lifts I should think this effect probably does nothing to calm them, perhaps that’s why you don’t see lifts like this anymore Or is it just because I’m getting old and that was a particular style popular in the 70’s!

My next favourite kind of mirror after the infinity mirror is the heated mirror, these mirrors have a heating element or what is called a demister pad mounted on the back. The reason a mirror steams up when you have a shower is because the surface temperature of the mirror is colder than the air temperature and causes the water vapour in the air to condense on the mirror. Some bright spark realised long ago that it if you heated the mirror this would avoid it steaming up, brilliant!

For many years heated mirrors have only featured in very expensive bathrooms usually costing thousands, and quality hotels have used heated mirrors as a neat differentiator from the increasingly popular budget hotels and motels. Of course it is not until you step out of the hotel shower and see yourself in the mirror that you realise it is there! Whilst at the back of your mind you realise this is one of the reasons why this room is more expensive than the other hotel across the street.

Last week I heard the BBC Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce state that the best shave you ever had will have been in a hotel, to which he attributed the benefit of the heated bathroom mirror as the main reason. I have to agree, and every time I stay in (nice) hotel I always have a really good look at the bathroom with a view to reproducing the best of its features in my own home.

A new Demister mirror is great, especially if you prefer to shave when you get out of the shower.

In 1980, ska group The Beat had a UK top ten hit with ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’ and the bathroom is probably the location where we tend to study ourselves the most in mirrors. Many will say that it is not wise to look at yourself in the mirror first thing in the morning, but the bathroom is often the first port of call in the morning. Many bathrooms feature a main bathroom mirror positioned on a wall and a bathroom cabinet with mirror doors. Other than the “oh my god” do I really look like that expression, the uses of a mirror or mirrors in a bathroom will generally be to aid the application of make up, hair styling or shaving. One of the major problems with bathroom mirrors is that after showering or bathing, the mirror is steamed up.

A recent addition in the manufacture of heated mirrors is the inclusion of a demister pad which clears the mirror for use in just seconds. Just think never having to again wait for the steam of the bathroom to disappear from the mirror, or having to open the window, before using the mirror to shave or apply make up. The bathroom mirror demister or steam free bathroom mirror is a great invention. Some manufacturers refer to these products as fog free bathroom mirrors and there is now a huge range available, again some with back lights, LED lighting and built in shaver sockets.

Demister mirrors and steam free bathroom mirrors are not the only recent developments on mirrors. As suggested above another reasonably new product is the illuminated bathroom mirror. Illuminated mirrors maintain the features of a simple mirror, but will enhance any environment in which they are used with the addition of lighting. As with all mirrors, the range of illuminated mirrors is extensive, with a variety of sizes and shapes available. An Illuminated mirror with shaving point can also be purchased. Illuminated bathroom cabinets with or without shaver sockets are also available.

Mirrors with backlit LED lights will enhance any bathroom or environment in which they are installed. Being of low energy consumption LED, or light emitting diode, are more environmentally friendly than traditional bulbs. They are designed to withstand the moisture of the bathroom environment. So water vapour mist will not cause a problem. As a real luxury mirror, illuminated bathroom mirrors and bathroom mirrors with LED lighting can also include a demister pad, to demist the mirror in just a few seconds and an on/off sensor to activate the lights as soon as motion is detected in front of the mirror. Now bathroom cabinets are also available with inbuilt back lights, and LED lighting for that special something different in your bathroom.
As a bathroom accessory the mirror should come high on the list, in fact can you really have a finished bathroom without a mirror? The enormous selection of styles, types, shapes and sizes means that there must be a mirror to match anyone’s budget. Although some of the latest technological versions such as illuminated, backlit and LED mirrors could be considered to be luxury items, some are not as expensive as you may think.

A convenient feature for any man who likes to shave before they go in the shower is a heated bathroom light mirrors because, if like me, your significant other has had a shower before you get in the bathroom the mirror is all steamed up when you get to it.

Mirrors, Superstition and Auspicious Energy Flow

I have always loved mirrors, probably why I have ended up in the mirrors business! When I was at school I did a project on them, this was before the internet was invented mind so I trawled through piles and piles of reference books in both the school and local library for months. These days of course it would only take an hour on Google, kids these days don’t know how easy they’ve got it!

Once you get immersed in mirrors as I did all those years ago, or ‘mirros’ as I frequently misspelled it, and start researching them, you find that they play a major part in all aspects of life. Mirrors also feature in superstitions. One of the most commonly known superstitions is that someone who breaks a mirror will receive seven years bad luck. A popular belief for this superstition is that mirrors are a reflection of the soul and if a mirror is broken, then part of the soul is broken. Added to this, some believe that the soul regenerates every seven years in an unbroken condition, hence the seven years of bad luck. I bet you’ve always wondered why that was so I’m glad to share that with you!

It is also said that the mirror does not lie. A mirror can show only the truth. It is a very bad omen indeed to see something in a mirror which should not be there, a technique regularly used in scary movies! Some cultures also have a custom that a newborn child should not look into a mirror until its first birthday because its soul is still developing.

In the southern United States, it used to be customary to cover the mirrors in a house where the wake of a deceased person was being held. If a mirror was left uncovered or exposed, people believed that the deceased person’s soul would become trapped in any uncovered mirror. It was also thought that mirrors unexpectedly falling or mysteriously cracking were believed to be haunted.

In the ancient art of Feng Shui mirror placement is considered very important. There is a lot of information available about this, and it is a subject that can’t be covered in a mere paragraph or two here. But Chi energy flow can be influenced by mirrors so where the energy needs to be diverted, mirrors can be used for this to great effect. Personally I don’t really conform to these rules, although my mum has mirrors strategically placed all over her house to redirect negative energy! One of the principles I do follow though is to make sure I don’t have any mirrors facing my bed, or the kids beds, as this is said to reflect your dreams back onto you whilst you are sleeping, which is not a good thing if it’s a nightmare!

Conclusion

A mirror is defined as a coated glass surface for reflecting images. There is a huge range of mirrors for scientific use, and available in many shapes and sizes. The most commonly seen uses of mirrors are for personal grooming and interior decoration. As a race we are thoroughly addicted to mirrors. Who can honestly say that they can walk past a mirror without taking a look at themselves?

Over time, mirrors have evolved from a luxury item to an item of necessity and many particularly women will always carry a mirror in their hand bags. However, today with technological advancements, some mirrors will be seen as a luxury, particularly those which include illumination, LED or demisting devices. As individuals we spend many hours of our life in a bathroom, so why not treat yourself to one of life’s little luxuries and indulge in a stylish bathroom mirror? After all, let’s be honest, who can really live without looking in a mirror every day?

I am deeply fascinated by the grand worldwide success of the Harry Potter books. The Harry Potter books were written by the English writer J.K. Rowling. She was born on 31 July 1965. Her complete name is Joanne Rowling. But she writes under the pen name J.K. Rowling because in the beginning her publishing house thought it was a beneficial idea not to reveal the fact that she is female. The publishing house thought it might have a negative effect on the sales numbers if everybody instantly sees that the author was female. So, instead of using her first name she used two initials. As she has no middle name she chose Kathleen as basis for the K. in her pen name. Kathleen is the name of her fathers mother.

The very first Harry Potter book - Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone - was published in the year 1997 in the UK. Very remarkable is the matter that only 1,000 units of the first novel were printed at the beginning. The original title of the book was not Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, but Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. But when the novel was published to the United States marketplace in the year 1998, it was renamed Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.

After that Joanne Rowling wrote several more Harry Potter books. Today the Harry Potter series is made of a total of seven books. These are:

• Story 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone
• Story 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Story 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Story 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Story 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Story 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Story 7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The Harry Potter stories have been translated into more than fifty languages and have been published in a lot of countries. Besides the impressing success in the USA and Britain, Harry Potter is also noticeably favored in European countries. The Harry Potter novels have been released to the German audience under these headers:

• Vol. 1: Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen
• Vol. 2: Harry Potter und die Kammer des Schreckens
• Vol. 3: Harry Potter und der Gefangene von Askaban
• Vol. 4: Harry Potter und der Feuerkelch
• Vol. 5: Harry Potter und der Orden des Phoenix
• Vol. 6: Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz
• Vol. 7: Harry Potter und die Heiligtuemer des Todes

I must admit that I did not have the time to read all the novels. But there are fans who know them all, which is very impressive and contributes to the huge success.