NeoVia News and Info

This is another one of the traditional Southern dishes served on New Year's Day. Eating black-eyed peas is said to put change in your pocket.

1 1/2 pounds of bacon, coarsely chopped
four cups onions, coarsely chopped
three cups of celery, coarsely chopped
1 bottle of Italian dressing- I use diet, as the oil from regular plus the bacon grease makes the dish too oily
10 cups black eyed peas, washed and soaked
8-10 cups rice

IN your largest cooking pot, saute the bacon over a medium heat. When the bacon starts to brown, add the onions and celery, and saute until soft. Add the black-eyed peas, the Italian dressing, the rice if you are using regular rice, and enough water to more than cover everything- water level should be about an inch from the top of the pot. Bring the pot to a boil, making sure that you stir everything up throughly several times (else the onions and celery will burn). Simmer 20 minutes or until beans taste soft and cooked. If you are using instant rice, add it and then remove the pot from the heat and let sit 5-10 minutes.

but before I tell you, let me ask if there is anyone that doesn't understand viral marketing (?)
Perfect example is a fellow marketing person I know, I won't mention any names, but I'll explain what he did.
He was just getting started and wanted to make a big splash and get his name out there fast,so what he did was he developed a little product, it was a windows software that did something that many people could use, then he just gave it away free everywhere he could!
Of course this software had his name all over it, so very quickly many people knew his name.He also collected email addresses from everyone that downloaded his software and built a list very
quickly. What happened was because he gave it away free, everyone the got it told some friends, and they told friends, etc.
and very quickly, thousands of people were using this new software
because it spread like a virus (viral marketing) he gave it away free and collected email addresses.
Now let me tell you what happens when you do this:
first of all, if you give someone something of value for free, you are automatically gaining their trust
and when they see how well the free thing works, anything you have later that has a price, they will automatically feel "it must be great if the stuff he gives away free is this good"
remind you of the TV commercial, "if it costs this much, it must be good!"?
We've been working on a second piece of software in secret
it's something that anyone in internet marketing would love to have, and fills a very specific need. We will be releasing it in a few days, right before the release of the JV software.
Any user of the free software will also get special prices on products that non-users don't get
- one more reason people will want to get their own copy of the viral software
Basically, the software is going to be a simple little program to organize all of your web site and blog info, links, notes, etc-
for example, you might have 10 web sites, each web site has a link to the site, link for the hosting
control panel, links to scripts that run on the site, etc
thats a lot of links to keep track of, right?
Well, with this tool it will be simple
all of your business links, logins, everything right at your fingertips.
This way when you have tasks you want to do, like maybe you want to login to all of your web sites and check the stats for traffic
you just fire up this program and click the links
plus, you can keep notes with each site or blog
sort them by topic, alphabetically, etc.
Anyone that is running more than one web site and blog would have use for this- its like a "my favorites" on steroids
Of couse you can add in any links you want, Myspace, forums, etc
not limited to only your web sites.

Coming SOON- Stay Tuned!!

If you are physically challenged, you or those you look to for guidance and support may easily assume it is too difficult to leave your secure environment and venture into unknown areas. That's a shame, because those unknown areas are full of wonderful experiences and discoveries you truly should not miss. Life is too short to skip them, and being disabled is no reason why you shouldn't go. We know this from experience.

We have been a disabled couple for almost 20 years. When we first began to put our lives back together, I asked my wife what I could do to bring her more happiness. She said she wanted to travel.

Seemed simple enough. But wow, was I wrong!

I had no idea how hard it would be to fulfill her request, because traveling disabled is anything but simple, especially outside the United States. Transfers to trains, planes, buses, and cars not suited to someone in a wheelchair. Hotel rooms are too small to turn around in; besides, you can't get into the elevators or roll into the showers. And safety is an issue everywhere.

As if that wasn't enough to make you think twice about traveling, we have also found an attitude that seems to prevail in the minds of many who are not familiar with special needs people. Their attitude, the minute they hear you are disabled or in a wheelchair, is to instantly think "disabled" means "unable." They jump to the conclusion you can't do anything that "normal" people can do.

Nancy and I have always had a good, positive, expectant attitude about everything, and we were determined to succeed in finding a way we could travel. As we started, we encountered a lot of difficulties, and I admit there were times we wondered if our expectation of being able to go where we wanted was unrealistic.

We kept at it, however, and looked upon each trip we took as a learning experience, an opportunity to gather information we could use that would make the next trip we took easier and more enjoyable.

Our perseverance has paid off. Now, two decades later, we have been on all seven continents, and in more countries than we can remember without an atlas. And we have certainly learned a lot about traveling disabled!

Editor's note: Nate and Nancy have put gathered everything they've learned in their 20+ years of traveling as a disabled couple…and put it all online for you to download free. See http://www.disabledtravelersguide.com for a full list of their adventures (and some great photos).

Before you get out the pet carrier and hit the road with your best buddy, you may want to think twice. Some pets do better with a pet sitter or a boarding facility. A pet sitter will at least enable your pet to remain in familiar surroundings, which is important for dogs and cats.

If you do decide to take your pet with you on your travels, here are some useful tips:

All US airlines are required by law to permit assistance dogs and other service animals used by persons with disabilities to accompany the person in flight. However, airlines treat live animals as cargo, and your pet could be subjected to extremes in temperature, poor ventilation, and other life-threatening conditions. If you plan to bring your pet on vacation, consider driving instead of flying, or taking a bus or train. Neither Amtrak nor Greyhound allows pets. Don't ever ship pug-nosed animals such as Pekingese, Bulldogs, or Persians in the cargo holds. These breeds have short nasal passages that leave them especially vulnerable to oxygen deprivation and heat stroke.

Much of the same advice for dogs applies to cats. If you are taking a cat in a pet carrier on a plane, make sure that your cat’s claws have been trimmed prior to the flight. Do not feed your pet for four to six hours before the flight. Always travel on the same flight as your pet and ask the airline if you can watch your pet being loaded and unloaded onto the plane.

Proper ID is very important to make sure that your pet does not get lost permanently. Make sure the pet carrier has an ID sticker- usually provided by the airline, with your name, address, and contact information, including a contact number at your final destination. Carry a recent picture of your pet with you when you travel. This will be invaluable in case your pet does become lost. Put a collar on your pet- make sure that it cannot become stuck in the carrier doors so that strangulation does not take place. On the collar, fasten two kinds if identification: a permanent ID with your name and home address and telephone number, and a temporary travel ID with the address and telephone number where you or a contact person can be reached.

When you arrive, check your pet over to make sure that they are ok. If all does not seem well, get your pet to a veterinarian immediately, and make sure all signs of injury or illness are documented.

By deciding to take up Yoga, you'll probably be very
pleased with your choice. Doing yoga on a regular basis
increases your strength and flexibility, helps you focus
your mind, and teaches you how to reach a state of
tranquility in a busy, uncertain world. Best of all, you
won't need much equipment for your new exercise program.
The one major thing you will need is a Yoga mat.

So what makes a mat a good Yoga mat? Here are some simple
points to consider:

- The mat should extend the length of your body.
- Yoga mats should be somewhat sticky so that when you plant
your feet, your feet will not slip. Some yoga classes use a
felt-like blanket that cushions your body when you lie on it.
- You can also choose to use rubber mats, Giaiam mats,
the eco-Yoga mate, or Earth Elements mat. These are
generally a little more expensive but very much worth it if
you are concerned about toxins in the environment.

Selecting the right sticky yoga mat for you is an important
first step to practice yoga. Once you have a good mat, you
are well on your way to enjoying the benefits of yoga.