Students Of Success

In today’s world, organizations are fast accepting the web and related applications as part of their overall business strategies. They understand that the Internet provides them with the potential to target a very focused set of customers spread across a very diverse geography.

For a successful Internet presence, it is important that the web server and web applications are reliable, scalable and always available, irrespective of traffic volumes to the site.

To achieve this, you must test all your hardware and software using tools to check your web site, usually called web stress tools. These tools should ideally be used even before the site is on the World Wide Web. They can provide a reasonably good estimate about the performance of your web site and a company can identify issues before they arise.

Such issues might include slow response times while opening the web site, a limited number of users able to simultaneously browse the web site, or a cap on the number of requests that can be handled by a processing application. Based on the results, a webmaster can identify the bottlenecks and take corrective actions before they result in lost sales.

What does web site stress testing do?

Web stress testing provides performance reports for varying elements. For example, users might be complaining that your shopping site is taking ages to load and most search results are showing errors message. Using a web stress tool, you can check the performance of your web server. To your surprise, the CPU utilization on the Server may be just 20%. But if you are also monitoring the database application, you might find that it is already running at 100% and is the most likely reason for poor performance.

Stress tools can be deployed as software solutions where you can monitor the key components of your servers such as the CPU, memory and hard disk utilizations. They are built with user-defined alerts that can be triggered if a particular parameter crosses a threshold set by the user. As an example, you can configure an alert that must be generated whenever the CPU utilization crosses the 80% mark. Although this is helpful in identifying system bottlenecks, the results are limited to web servers that are connected to your internal network.

Why a stress monitoring network?

If the target audience is across the globe, or even across the country, a company needs to monitor its web site and applications stress loads from different locations across the globe. The web server must provide reasonable performance from wherever customers are located. In such a situation the software solution is unlikely to meet the company’s requirements.

Organizations must use external web site stress monitoring tools, which provide detailed performance reports on servers that are tested from different locations. The outcome of these tests can help in fine-tuning the settings at their ISPs and in optimizing performance of the servers. Besides this, external stress testing also include monitoring of other network infrastructures that connect to the web server, such as routers, firewalls and leased lines that provide the back-end connectivity.

This is why Dotcom-Monitor’s load stress test tool offers its clients stress test agents located in various countries such as the USA, UK and Germany. This service provides performance data about the web site from these and other locations spread across the globe.

So if you run a business on the Internet, it is important that your web site and all associated web applications perform to their optimum levels. They handle transactions quickly and in turn offer faster response times to your user requests. Using web stress services you can get information you need to ensure superior throughputs and gain a reputation for high-performance dependability among your customers.

Vadim Mazo is CTO of the Dotcom-Monitor web site monitoring network, with more information about web site monitoring. David Leonhardt is a Canadian web site marketing consultant and a self-help books author.

Ehud Olmert, acting prime minister of Israel (whom I met briefly in 1995 at the grand opening of the Eucalyptus Restaurant in Jerusalem when he was mayor), is running in the Israeli elections on the treacherous platform to Auschwitz borders: the corrupt Kadima party, rotten to the core. Will the Kadima train to Auschwitz borders of self-destruction and death be stopped? Don’t get on the Kadima train because there’s no turning back!

Ehud Olmert was out for Jewish blood in Amona to perversely raise his election standing among the secular swine (the worst of the secular who love to hate the Jews of faith). Ehud Olmert is out for Jewish blood and Auschwitz borders! May Israel throw him out of political office and into prison for such a hateful and murderous campaign!

Aliza Karp shares how historically some have sought personal gain at Jewish expense, how massive amounts of Jewish blood paid the high price for such insatiable greed, and accurately applies the principle to what horrors we see unfolding in Israel today, whether the Judenrein policies enforced upon Gush Katif or the pogrom against Amona. Aliza Karp exposes how the leftist slogans have merely changed but the murderous hatred of the Left remains a clear and present danger.

May all beware and act accordingly, and return to God Most High to avenge such blood and save the nation from such traitors or Jerusalem will soon suffer under a German-Jesuit occupation that will show no mercy to either the religious or the secular, men or women, child or babe, ugly or beautiful, Arab or Jew (Daniel 9:11, 2 Chronicles 7:14).

David Ben-Ariel
***************

DEMONIZATION OF THE RIGHT WING EXTREME FANACTICAL FRINGE ELEMENTS
By Aliza Karp (with permission)

In his book Perfidy, while retelling the trial of Dr. Rudolf Kastner in 1955, Ben Hecht records the testimony of Joel Brand, who was given a strange and rare opportunity to save literally millions of Hungarian Jews from the ovens of the Holocaust. Amongst the tragedies that this testimony reveals, is the devastating effect that can result from the marginalization of upright individuals who do not submit to foul policies of a given establishment.

The calamity at Amona could only be carried out after the general public in Eretz Yisroel, and in America, have been convinced, to the point of being brainwashed, of the unlawfulness of the “extreme-right-fanatical-fringe-element” know as settlers.

In Perfidy, the establishment being discussed is the Jewish Agency of that time. Hecht explains that the British government founded the Jewish Agency and he refers to them as “A Jewish front for British policy in Palestine.” [1]

Brand’s story takes place in 1944. He has been given a proposal to save millions of Jews and must garner international support. Brand turns to the Jewish Agency. The Jewish Agency insists he travel to Aleppo, but Brand knows this is British soil and he risks arrest.

A Jewish Agency representative, Ehud Avriel, is assigned to Brand, to convince him that everything has been arranged for his safety in Aleppo, where in fact everything was arranged … for his arrest and detention by the British.

This tragic story holds a timely lesson.

I quote from Perfidy, “Aleppo-bound Joel Brand sits in his compartment with his friend Avriel, who smiles and chats like a parent calming a troubled child.

“The train stops in Ankara and fate comes aboard. A young Jabotinsky disciple from Palestine, Joseph Klarman, finds Brand in his compartment and speaks to him. He warns Brand. The British are waiting to arrest him in Aleppo. He begs Brand not to go on.

“Jewish Leader Avriel sneers upon hearing of the intruder. He knows him – one of the toughs from Tel Aviv, a Jabotinsky hothead.

“Unknowing, the million Hungarian Jews, still alive, wait for the outcome of this talk on the train at Ankara. If Joel Brand will believe what this “troublemaker” from Palestine tells him, the million may escape the German ash barrels. What a moment this is, a moment that could change history.

“But it changes nothing. Joel Brand does not believe the “troublemaker.” Brand is as Jew trained to believe only in respectability …” [2]

Those whom Hecht refers to as “troublemakers,” have now evolved into the “right-wing-extreme-fanatical-fringe-element.”

The marginalization and demonization of Jews who defend their right to live in Eretz Yisroel has tremendous power. It is what allowed the brutality at Amona to happen. In fact, it sparked the violence.

The misguided hatred for the right is so deep-rooted that many have said that PM Olmert’s orders for Amona stemmed from his desire to gain popularity by proving he is unyielding towards the “right-wing-extreme-fanatical-fringe-element.” Sadly enough, his followers derive satisfaction from the sight of Jewish blood.

Speaking on Purim of 5747 – 1987 the Lubavitcher Rebbe said, “G-d does everything for the good; what could be positive in this development of extremes, when there are also extremely negative results? The reason is that when evil remains concealed, it cannot be repaired. In fact, the person might even be unaware of its existence. Once this evil is revealed, however, it becomes possible to improve and elevate it.” [3]

Joel Brand was facing an evil that was concealed. When Brand tried to tell his story, his listeners “sighed, and turned away. There were too many Jews in Palestine babbling a little madly about what happened in Europe. About Germans… The incinerator smoke that hung in the sky all day and all night. Better to forget those things. Better, also, not to think wrong things about Palestine’s great Jews. What other Jews were there for the world to admire?” [4]

In contrast to Brand’s frustration to convey his experience, the attack on Amona has been widely publicized through pictures and videos. Breaking through the layers of conditioning that the unprotected settlers deserved to be beaten will not be easy, but an effort has to be made to convince people that what happened at Amona is in fact evil.

In order to do this the right wing camp has to be careful not to reinforce the stigma placed upon it by submitting to it. Right wingers are afraid to be labeled extremists. Self-incrimination by the right led to many reports marginalizing the rock throwing by protesters at Amona. The right should not be on defensive. They are the victims, not the aggressors! Even when rocks are being thrown… and let us not judge the rock throwers until we know the facts. If boys were throwing rocks on police who were abusing the girls, morality rests on the side of the defenders.

Either way, a few rocks do not justify trampling and savagely beating hundreds of unprotected, unarmed protestors. It justifies arresting the perpetrators, that’s it! But very few arrests were made, and very few vehicles were on location to take away arrestees. Clearly the intent of the police campaign was not to enforce the law requiring building permits. To find the intent, we can look at the outcome. Immediately following the Amona invasion, PM Olmert made a statement about the violent settlers. He staged the event, including the flow of blood, in order to make that statement. To once again besmirch the settlers and thereby control the blindfolded public.

To disassociate with “right-wing-extreme-fanatical-fringe-element” reinforces the deadly tactic that has been in place since 1944. Fearing the title strengthens the enemy. Denying its power strengthens the righteous.

This is clear from Jewish history. The right wing in Eretz Yisroel is in the position of being the Jew of the Jews (meaning the Jew of the Israelis). When Jews attempt to deny their true identity and present themselves as cosmopolitan, moderate, even handed, and open-minded, they are eventually mistreated.

When a Jew stands proud, he is respected. Mordechai HaTzadik – the “right-wing-extreme-fanatical-fringe-element” of his time – would not bow down. When Mordechai is first introduced in the story of Purim he is referred to as ‘Eish Yemini.’ Although this is generally translated as a man from the tribe of Benjamin, the literal meaning is man of the right. The commentary Tiferes Shlomo explains that to mean that Mordechai never swerved to the left. [5]

The process of unraveling the demonization of settlers and their supporters is slow. But it should be pursued. Silence is a stamp of approval. I will turn to Perfidy again for a suitable quote to make my point, “It is always a losing battle, this trying to out-shout the authority. Those who have been in one are left with the conviction that it is easier to waken the dead than the living. But what a hopeless world it would be without this record of lost battles.” [6] Letters to media and faxes to authorities, rallies and meetings may not change anything over night, but they can erase the stamp of approval of silence. When Jewish blood becomes cheap, silence is not an option.

——————————————————————————–

[1] Perfidy by Ben Hecht, Gefen Publishing House, 1999, page 234
[2] Ibid, page 239-240
[3] Sichos in English, Volume 35, page 8
[4] Perfidy, page 226
[5] The Megillah, Published by Mesorah Publications, page 55
[6] Perfidy, page 190

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer in Ohio and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out Beyond Babylon.

The Citi Platinum Select Card, which is offered by Citibank, was created for individuals with a good credit history. This card is a great platinum card with many of the standard services and benefits that are associated with Citibank.

Some of the platinum cardholder benefits that this MasterCard provides are auto rental insurance, fraud protection services and even up to $1,000,000 in travel accident insurance. These benefits are standard for most platinum cards.

The Citi Platinum Select Card has no annual fee, which is nice considering it is a platinum MasterCard. It has an introductory rate of 0% for both purchases and balance transfers, which is another attractive feature. Cardholders do not have to submit the balance transfers during your application for the card to get that low rate. They can be submitted at any time during that first twelve months.

Once the introductory rate expires, the variable APR of 10.99% is quite reasonable and is determined by the “Average Daily Balance” method. The variable APR jumps for cash advances to 22.99% and has a minimum cap. Even when the Prime Rate falls, the interest rate for cash advances on this card will not go below the minimum that Citibank has instituted. There is no cost for additional cards on the account, either.

Although there is no annual fee for the Citi Platinum Select Card, there are fees when you go over your credit limit, when you get a cash advance, and when you transfer balances (after the introductory offer). These charges are common for any credit card. A grace period of 20 days applies to all charges on the card.

So, when looking for a card with standard services and benefits, no annual fee, and an attractive introductory offer, the Citi Platinum Select Card may be just the MasterCard to look at. Although it has nothing extraordinary to offer, it is a credit card that may be just what you need.

Did you know that during the Civil War, more than 1000 different
types of bullets were used? This is one reason Civil War bullet
collecting has become a popular hobby. Another reason is that
the time of the Civil War saw changes taking place in the
development of firearms and ammunition. The old round musket
balls of the Revolution were being replaced with bullets in the
shape we are accustomed to. While musket balls are found on
Civil War battlefields, the most common type of bullet used was
the .58-caliber bullet with three rings around the base. Many
bullets found are splattered out of shape. If you’ve always been
fascinated by the Civil War and firearms, Civil War bullet
collecting is a hobby you will enjoy.

With the advent of Internet buying and selling, Civil War
bullets have become more collectible, and the prices have gone
up quickly. Not only this, sometimes sellers are not informed
and ask more than the bullet is worth. For these reasons, if you
are just starting out in Civil War bullet collecting, you will
want to buy a good price guide. You can even find a price guide
online if that works better for you.

Many Civil War bullet collectors also collect bullet molds and
other relics from the Civil War era. A real enthusiast might
even investigate the possibility of becoming a Civil War
re-enactor, acting out battles with others in towns and fields
across the Southeast.

Civil War bullets can be collected by buying from other
collectors, or you can begin by going directly to the
battlefields to dig and search. A metal detector will make Civil
War bullet collecting easier. You may also find buttons from
uniforms, bullet molds, belt buckles, and other metal items from
the battle. Some of the bullets may be buried quite deep. You
will need to wear a headset and pay close attention to the
changes in tone in your metal detector. Hunting Civil War relics
is prohibited on protected battlefields, but there are still old
home sites where battles were fought. Be sure to get permission
from the owner and fill any holes you dig.

Some people have the idea that hunting for bullets with a metal
detector indicates a lack of respect for the soldiers who died
there. They get this idea because sometimes bullet hunters find
bones along with the bullet. The fact is, however, that many of
the bullet hunters who have found bullets this way have
chronicled and mapped out there finds, resulting in many of the
facts that we now know about the Civil War.

The Civil War fascinates Americans because of everything it
stands for. While everyone agrees that slavery is a terrible
blot on the history of the U.S., there are some people who still
discuss the issue of states’ rights versus a strong central
government. Civil War bullet collecting is an interesting hobby,
though somewhat sobering at times when considering the great
number of casualties. The memory of brother fighting against
brother out in the cornfields and pastures will never go away.
Civil War bullet collecting is one way to commemorate this
monumental historical event.

Do you want to know why your prospects aren’t buying from you? There are three R’s or three things you need to understand if people walk out that door and don’t purchase from you. Most people are wearing a badge that says convince me, help me make a good decision. They need and want help. They want to be confident in making the right choice. That is what a great persuader does.

The first R is reason. You didn’t give them a reason to buy. Maybe you didn’t generate enough interest. Or there wasn’t a need, a want, or a desire from your prospect. Your prospect has their own reason to buy. And you see this with rookie salesmen. The rookie gives them a laundry list of reasons to buy the product. This sucks the energy out of your prospect, loses the emotion of the sale and usually uncovers one reason not to buy. You must always find the one or two main reasons why they want to buy.

This reminds me of a story of tapping into someone’s reason to buy. Airman Jones was assigned to the induction center, where he advised new recruits about their government benefits, especially their GI insurance. It wasn’t long before Captain Smith noticed that Airman Jones was having a staggeringly high success-rate, selling insurance to nearly 100% of the recruits he advised. Rather than asking him about this, the Captain stood at the back of the room and listened to Jones’ sales pitch. Jones explained the basics of GI Insurance to the new recruits, and then said, “If you are killed in a battle and have a GI Insurance, the government has to pay $200,000 to your beneficiaries. But, if you don’t have a GI insurance and get killed in the battle, the government only has to pay a maximum of $6000.” “Now,” he concluded, “which group do YOU think they are going to send into battle first?”

Reason

Interest

Need

Want

The second R is resources. Maybe they didn’t have the time for your product. Maybe they didn’t have the money; maybe they didn’t have the support. Support could be from a spouse, a peer group of friends that if they brought your product or service home that they would not support him. The last aspect under resources is ability. Maybe they can’t even use your product. If you’re trying to sell an annual ski pass to a rest home, they might not have the ability to use it.

Resources

Time

Money

Support

Ability

The third R is the rep. That’s you as a person. Did you not develop a trust? Did you not create rapport? Did you have the wrong type of style? Were they analytical, were they social? You could have used the wrong type of motivation. Or it could be what I call persuasion pitfall. Where you pushed a little to far or you said something where they felt like they were getting trapped into a corner. And this is the pitfall. And I know this has happened to you.

You go into a store and someone says the wrong thing or they push a little to far and it just doesn’t feel right and you leave and never go back to that store. And that’s what could be happening to you if you’re hitting the wrong buttons. So take a look at those three things, which are critical to understand why your prospects don’t buy.

Rep

Trust

Rapport

Style

Pitfall

Application Questions

What is the greatest reason people should buy your product/service?

When someone says your product is to expensive. What is your response?

When you have a conflicting style with a customer. What can you do?

Conclusion

Learning how to persuade and influence will make the difference between hoping for a better income and having a better income. It is the missing puzzle piece that will crack the code to dramatically increase your income, improve your relationships, and help you get what you want, when you want, and win friends for life. Ask yourself how much money and income you have lost because of your inability to persuade and influence. Think about it. Sure you’ve seen some success, but think of the times you couldn’t get it done. Has there ever been a time when you did not get your point across? Were you unable to convince someone to do something? Have you reached your full potential? Are you able to motivate yourself and others to achieve more and accomplish their goals? What about your relationships? Imagine being able to overcome objections before they happen, know what your prospect is thinking and feeling, feel more confident in your ability to persuade.

Go to http://www.prewealth.com/iq and take the free Persuasion IQ analysis to determine where you rank and what area of the sales cycle you need to improve in order to close every sale! Take your test now at http://www.prewealth.com/iq

Kurt Mortensen teaches over a hundred techniques to give you the ability to effectively work with every customer that walks in your door. Professional success, personal happiness, leadership potential, and income depend on the ability to persuade, influence, and motivate others. Kurt Mortensen’s trademark is Magnetic Persuasion; rather than convincing others, he teaches that you should attract them, just like a magnet attracts metal filings. He teaches that sales have changed and the consumer has become exponentially more skeptical and cynical within the last five years. Most persuaders are using only 2 or 3 persuasion techniques when there are actually 120 available! Learning how to persuade and influence will make the difference between hoping for a better income and having a better income.

Go to http://www.prewealth.com/iq and take the free Persuasion IQ analysis.

Autos are essential within many of our lives. Simply living in a big city may mean that we have to drive to our jobs, to school, and to play. Or, if you live within a small town that is sprawled out, you will need autos just to get from one place to the next to buy a gallon of milk or to take a friend to the movies. No matter where we live, having the right transportation is essential to daily life. It is in that that lays the reason why we need to invest wisely in our choices.

How many autos are there to choose from? Hundreds and even thousands of different makes and models are out there. It is easy to get lost in the shuffle trying to decide which the right one to invest your money in. But, there are several things that you can consider to make the right choice. Here is a list of things to think about.

First, know your budget. There is no sense in buying too much car or spending too much money and having to lose the car later. Or, purchasing a cheap car when you can afford something a little nicer is also a downfall. If it is going to break down on you within a few weeks, is it worth the purchase?

Know the features that you must have. Colder climates need salt resistance, strong heaters, and good tires. Warmer environments may not need these things but will need air conditioning.

If you are on a tight budget, things like power windows and locks may be an area to avoid. Extra features cost more money. So, choose wisely!

Then, you also need to consider payment methods of the autos you do choose. If you plan to make monthly payments, you will end up paying more once the interest is factored in. But, if you can’t afford to pay the entire price up front, this may be the next best option. But, choose the dealership with the best rates so that you do not spend too much money on interest.

Some autos offer warranties or guarantees on their construction and parts. Others do not. When purchasing any auto, ensure that it is fully running and working correctly. It is often wise to have a trusted mechanic take a look at it before you sign the paperwork away.

When purchasing autos, it is wise to shop around before you buy. It is ideal to know a little about the make, model, and relative price of the auto before you sign it away. You often can haggle the price down, but don’t expect to pay nothing. In the end, this essential part of life can either cost you big time or be an investment in your future.

Mike Wall, a talented author for Autos site. An info portal for Cars.

Choosing an Online Poker Site.

Choosing an online poker site involves a number of different
factors which the player should consider before depositing his
or her hard earned money, including:

Does the poker software work well on my computer?

Its a good idea to try the poker room out by playing some free
(play money games) before depositing funds. Some poker software
may work poorly on older computers and operating systems, or
machines on a slower dial-up connection. This may make play
un-enjoyable for you, and also others at your table.

Is it an active and popular poker site?

Visit the poker site at the times you will be playing to see how
many games of various types and limits are in progress. If you
like to play tournaments, find out what kind of tournaments are
available.

What kinds of features and perks are important to me?

Some rooms offer options and features such as letting you take
online notes on other players, letting you play in multiple
games at once, or offering bonuses or prizes for building up
loyalty points.

Is the poker room trustworthy and established?

Find out if the site you will be playing on is secure. Try a few
searches on your favorite search engine to see what others think
about the site. A ‘whois’ or ‘internet archives’ search will let
you know when the site was established, helping you avoid
‘fly-by-night’ sites.

What about payouts?

Find out which methods you can use to deposit money. More
importantly, find out how easy it is to withdraw money from your
account. Restrictions on withdrawals can vary by method, waiting
periods, and number of withdrawals allowed in a month, for
example.

Customer Service?

Does the site provide a 1800 contact number, or do they respond
to e-mails promptly?

Most of us make resolutions on a New Year’s Eve, because a new year is a mile marker of a lifetime and we want to be in control of our path while we travel on it. I used to make New Year’s resolutions every year, and sometimes not being able to carry them out, I ended up feeling discouraged and disappointed in myself.

The problem was, I set too high a goal to achieve and I expected too much of me. When I look back, I see that the younger and the more inexperienced I was, the grander were my goals. After stopping to make resolutions for a few years, I came across a workable way to handle my resolutions.

Most of us understand a New Year’s resolution to mean “firmness of purpose.” Now, there is nothing wrong in being firm in our purpose as long as we know we have the capacity to achieve what we set out for. Another thing is to be flexible and to remember not to beat on ourselves as if we have failed in everything totally, should life twist and turn and things do not go our way. After all, one goal unattained or one incomplete resolution is not a major loss in one’s entire lifetime.

* For a resolution to succeed, the first step is to intend on an attainable goal. Once you intend on what that goal will be, you must also intend not to blame yourself, should things not work out. Think of your resolution not as an obligation but something you want to do.

* Second step is to define the goal you are shooting for. Write down the resolution and why you want it. Then, find or devise a method or a system of achieving it. Separate it into small steps. Give each step a time period, still being flexible about it.

* Third, keep notes. As well as recording the steps you take and the difficulties you overcome, write down all the awards you receive and the nice things people say about you.

* Fourth, find a group of co-achievers to do it with and people who can support you along the way. Always ask for help if the going gets tough. Try to choose the right people. If those you have chosen turn out not to be of help to you, do not feel obliged to stick it out with them. There is always a way to let people down gently.

* If at any time while you are working at your goal, you feel discouraged, your efforts sag, or you run into a slump, take time off. Give yourself a tiny vacation to visualize or daydream about the result. See your achievement in color clearly as if it has already happened; smell it; taste it; hear it; feel it. Evaluate how much you have achieved up to that point and pat yourself on the back. Then get back to work.

May all your resolutions come to fruition.

Joy Cagil is an author on a site for
Writers (http://www.Writing.Com/) Her education is in foreign languages and linguistics. Psychology, mental health, and visual arts are also in her background and training. Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/joycag