ATM Technology Reshaping Rural Mindanao

ATM technology is no longer a novelty in affluent nations. In fact, the term "cashless society" is remarkably at work at the heart of the financial mainstream that many transactions are completed with the use of plastic cards. That is the ATM card, debit and credit card. However for developing countries, particularly in the rural areas, it takes quite a while for investments in electronic banking technology to set in and find integration with the routines of countryside communities.

It was only in early 2005 that ATM technology was rapidly set up in a number of far-flung municipalities and provinces of Mindanao--one of the main islands of the Philippines. In barely two years time, automated teller machines have successfully penetrated the rural mainstream to become an important financial tool. Apart from providing convenience and security in the handling of personal funds, it has become a way of life amongst rural folks.

For multinational firms and businessmen operating in rural Mindanao, ATM services offered by banks present in the locality avert them from the security risks related to the physical transport of payroll funds, in millions of pesos, from urban centers to remote municipalities.

It's actually interesting to see the contrasting effect of modern electronic banking devices set up in an otherwise laidback setting. More so with the long queues one is bound to observe in front of bank ATMs during the 15th and 30th of each month, as laborers line up to withdraw their salaries from the machine.

The ATM likewise finds purpose among the rural folks of countryside Mindanao. The thought of seeing their names printed on the ATM card makes them quite interested to open an ATM account. But more importantly, ATM accounts have become an effective alternative to costly fund transfer services.

In the past, parents based in rural Mindanao had to contend with the costs and delays prevalent with conventional remittance channels in sending allowances to children studying at the more urbanized cities of the Philippines. Today, the presence of a bank nearby and the availability of ATM services make it easier for them to send funds in real time, during banking hours.

It would probably take a few more years before ATM technology will find its way into every province and municipality of Mindanao. And this would depend largely on the willingness of local banks to invest and establish branches in areas where no banks operate. However, with the way things are going, setting up more electronic banking services in countryside Mindanao definitely holds much promise.

Calculating Ovulation to Know Your Most Fertile Days

When we decided to have a family, I quickly realized how it all comes down to timing: timing with my cycle, timing with our schedules and eventually timing with a fertility specialist. One thing I learned during the process is that you have to become knowledgeable on the subject of conception and pregnancy. The best place to start is to learn about calculating ovulation so that you will know when your most fertile days are. Fortunately for many couples, simply calculating ovulation is all that they need to do to help them achieve their goal of pregnancy.

There are many ways that you can go about calculating ovulation. The simplest way to go about doing this is to use an ovulation calculator which allows you to calculate your most fertile days each simply by inserting the first day of your last menstrual cycle as well as the average number of days in your cycle. In order to gain a little more information about your cycle, many doctors recommend calculating ovulation by charting your basal body temperature to see when you typically ovulate each month. At ovulation, your basal body temperature will rise. After charting each month you can compare the charts, thus calculating ovulation by the average day your basal body temperature rises each month.

Calculating ovulation is just one of the many things that you can do to help you on your journey to parenthood. While calculating ovulation is a good starting point, there are many other things that you can do to increase your odds of getting pregnant. For your free mini course on pregnancy and increasing your fertility, visit http://www.fertilityhelper.info/.

Andre Trevigne of The New 995 FM in New Orleans Gets Results

On Tuesday, June 19th, 2007, Andre Trevigne addressed that some appraisers who were subcontracted to do work for the Louisiana Road Home Program were not be being paid by intermediary company Hammerman & Gainor. That night, the appraisers were paid.

She went on to question why they even have an intermediary company. More layers of bureaucracy? “Professional football players get paid whether they perform or not” she lamented, why aren’t the appraisers being paid?

Andre, as she is affectionately referred to in New Orleans, has been getting results for years. She is a consumer advocate on the radio, a political watchdog, and an ongoing pursuer of simple common sense solutions. When you listen to Andre, you get the feeling there is a deep sense of caring and compassion for the audience. She wants to solve their problems and hurts when she can’t or things aren’t moving as fast as they could or in the right direction.

In the 80’s, Andre was on television as a morning anchor on Channel 4 Eyewitness News where she shared the desk with Eric Paulson who is still their today. Their pairing was awkward for me as Paulson, in my opinion, came across in a somewhat patronizing way at times. I don’t have the dates in front of me, but she was on WWL 870 AM radio for years before taking a break and then resurfacing on The New 995 FM post Katrina.

I suspect what drew her back to radio was Hurricane Katrina and the power she has behind her microphone to make a difference and help folks anyway she can. We, the people of the Greater New Orleans area, need her as she makes sure the politicians hear our voices.

Heart Health For Women - Some Healthy Heart Facts

According to the American Heart Association, "of the 13 million people who have had a history of coronary heart disease, more than half are women." While this is a startling statistic, new evidence has emerged indicating that symptoms in women are more atypical than in men. In line with this assessment, the National Institutes of Health reveal that women are more at risk for having heart attacks than men.

Some risk factors are common among both men and women. They include smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. A key difference is that the warning signs in women can be quite different from the standard signs typically found in their male counterparts.

Although the symptoms for both men and women experiencing a heart attack can be the same, including shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, and nausea, women describe a burning sensation which may be interpreted as heartburn rather than chest pain, which is the most common symptom in men.

It has recently been reported that stomach pain, along with the aforementioned symptoms, can be another sign associated with heart attacks in women but because it is atypical it is not diagnosed nor recognized as a heart attack. Moreover, "the heart and coronary arteries of women are smaller than men" which also accounts for problems in diagnosing heart disease in women.

While women are approximately ten years older than men when they have their first heart attack, their rate of recovery is tenuous due to an increasing number of health problems which hinders the recovery time as well.

Heart Disease is the number one killer of men and women in the world today. It is recommended that women seek immediate treatment for any symptoms that could possibly be heart-related.

Breast Plastic Surgery...Just How Safe Is It?

Currently, the only proven method of breast augmentation is what is known as a breast prosthesis or mammaplasty

Some plastic surgery on breasts can be done together, such as nipple and breast augmentation. Plastic surgery on breasts is now a fairly safe procedure providing it is carried out correctly. As with any type of operation, compile as much information as possible prior to selecting your surgeon. Look at pictures of his work, and if possible, seek the advice of others who may have had similar procedures.

Breast Lift Surgery can help sagging in breasts which have lost their firmness and sag limply without the benefit of a bra. Surgery can also be used to enhance breasts by making them either smaller or larger.

Breast Reduction is usually undertaken with the intention of providing a more attractive contour to the breasts and reducing the health problems which are often associated with large breasts. Healthy women who are free from any condition or illness which can slow healing are the best candidates for breast surgery.

Basically, the procedure for a breast lift or mastopexy takes place by removing excess skin from the breast and draping the tissue more tightly over internally supported tissue.

Do not expect breast surgery to be covered by insurance as in most cases, you will have to pay the full cost of the operation. After surgery, you can expect to suffer some amount of discomfort, as well as bruising and scarring.

Due to the high costs, possible complications and sometimes unsatisfactory results of breast augmentation surgery, many women are now exploring breast enhancement using more natural methods.

Women's Health - An Overview

Staying healthy at any age begins with good eating habits, maintaining proper weight, limit levels of stress, regular exercise, take quality supplements when appropriate and, recognizing and understanding the leading causes of death in order to take appropriate preventative steps to considerably reduce such risks. Men and women share several health problems but women like man have their own health issues that need special consideration.

It is very important that every woman has access to knowledge and basic understanding of health issues on all aspects of their body. Life span for women in 1900 was about 50 years. Most did not live long enough to be concerned for many of today's health issues. In 2003 according to Center for Disease Control (CDC) their life expectancy is 80.1 years. It is essential therefore to understand how to maximize their health.

While men and women are affected alike by many disease there are some diseases that occur in women at much higher rate.
For example:
Migraine headaches are 3 times more common in female than male.
Hypertension is more common in women than men after age 50.
Autoimmune disorders afflict more than 12 million Americans of which 3/4 are women.
Rheumatoid arthritis 2/3 of the people afflicted from the disorder is female.
Gallstones are 4 times more common to women than men
Osteoporosis affects both men and women however; it is a major concern for women
Urinary tract infection and irritable bowel syndrome affects women more often than men.

There is much information available just about any health problem, health problems such as depression, cancer, diabetes, smoking, heart disease stress and alcoholism. It is vital that women are well informed about the kind of therapies, preventative measures and help available to them. Good health requires a life time commitment to those things contactive to good health.

For example, it is important that women maintain a good nutritional and exercise daily program, optimum weight, maintain normal blood sugar, pressure and cholesterol. The Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention in 1996 concluded that all cancer risks could see a 50% reduction by following a diet that contains low- fat, high fiber, and little red meat, limited amount of alcohol, regular exercise, and quitting smoking.

The job of being a patient can be overwhelming, lonely and frightening . Getting frequent check-ups is one of the many things you can do to help stay healthy and prevent health problems and disabilities. It is also essential to seek help for sudden emotional stress and share your experiences.

Natural Remedy For Yeast Infection

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to talk about yeast infections, so I'm just going to jump right in. Until a few years ago, I chronically suffered from severe yeast infections. I had all the typical symptoms–perpetual fatigue, odors, irritability, discharge, joint pain. After trying some over the counter medicine, and even visiting several doctors for prescription medication I still wasn't able to rid myself of my yeast infection. It would temporarily go away only to flare back up at a later time. I became so accustomed to my symptoms, I thought it was simply a part of my existence. I began to live with it and it became "normal" to me.

After I realized that doctors and over the counter medicines weren't going to work for me, I began to research possible yeast infection remedies on the Internet. Be warned, there is some bad advice out there. Some yeast infection remedies actually recommend using boric acid–a toxic substance that is poison and has even caused death (I guess that's one way to get rid of your yeast infection).

I'm tired of taking prescription medication. For one it doesn't help. It only seems to mask the symptoms, and two, my body seems to just build a tolerance after a while. The good news is that after my experience I can honestly tell you that there are safe ways to treat a yeast infection. There is no reason yeast infections can't be treated safely, effectively, and most importantly NATURALLY.

When I was looking for cures for a yeast infection, I was amazed at the vast amounts of information that's just floating around waiting for you to grab at it, but is any of it good? I can answer that with an enthusiastic, "no!" I looked around at Barnes and Noble and other book stores, but was just to embarrassed to buy a book in public. Luckily, I found an e-book that changed my life and my health. "Natural Yeast Infection Cures" is a great book filled with the information you need to recapture your health. It is available as an e-book and also in audio book format so you can put it on your iPod or MP3 player. It is well worth the $17 dollars and I would recommend it to any one.

For more information about "Natural Yeast Infection Cures" please visit my website.

Understanding Menopause

Women are different from place to place, culture to culture; but no matter where we live or who we are, we share common ground when it comes to our gender. One such commonality is menopause – the permanent ending of our reproductive lives as evidenced by the cessation of our menstrual cycles. Menopause can occur naturally – as it often does – or be brought on by a surgical procedure, but the results are the same.

Menopause generally occurs during a woman's late forties to mid-fifties and is defined by the ending of egg production by the ovaries. In addition to the cessation of egg production, the ovaries will also cease to produce estrogen – the hormone responsible for keeping the intricate processes of a woman' body in balance. The end to egg production results in the end of the menstrual cycle. And the elimination of estrogen results in a number of menopause-related symptoms. Some of the more common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, disruption in sleep, memory loss, vaginal dryness, loss of sexual desire, and mood swings. However, not every woman experiences every symptom. And when symptoms are experienced, the severity with which they are experienced differs greatly from woman to woman.

Menopause does not suddenly happen. It is a gradual process that normally occurs over the course of several years. However, there is also medically-induced menopause that occurs as a result of a surgical procedure.

While it is true that menopause is a physical event and manifests itself through physical symptoms, it can also have a bevy of emotional manifestations. The ending of a woman's reproductive life can be enormously sad for some women and marks the closing of a whole chapter of life. And when you are feeling a host of symptoms – some of which can be disruptive to your every day routine – it can have emotional consequences as well.

However, the experience of menopause doesn't have to be a difficult one; today's medical advancements offer a host of therapy plans designed to minimize the effects of menopause. If you find that you are having difficulties through menopause, consult your doctor to see what treatment options are available to you.

Things You Need To Know About Menopause

It seems like women do it all these days. We work outside the home, we care for our families and we cook and clean everyday. Just when it seems like our lives "get going," (i.e. the kids are grown up, there are no more school lunches to make, etc) menopause hits us like a ton of bricks.

Most of us don't think of researching and learning about "the change" until it is already happening to us. Then, when we are miserable, we try to find a way out of the discomfort. There are many benefits in learning about menopause well before it happens to us, and there are even some things you can do before it happens that will lessen the suffering when it does come!

It is certainly recommended that you see your doctor while you are going through menopause, but there are also some herbal remedies that can help you through "the change." You can find an herbal pill called Black Cohosh at many department stores and drugstores. This herb will keep your hot flashes to a minimum, and it also relieves cramping and menstrual pain. Another herb that can help you is Chaste tree, a hormonal balancer that lessens depression set on by menopause.

The normal age that women start menopause is usually around fifty to fifty-one, but there are also cases where it starts early, like as a result of surgery, chemotherapy, cancer or other serious diseases. Menopause can also start early without a cause.

Before "the change" occurs, you will go through a phase called "Peri-Menopause." During this time it is normal to have very heavy menstrual cycles, mood swings and depression. The herbs discussed above (especially the Black Cohosh) will greatly improve these symptoms. The herb, "Liferoot," is another good treatment that helps eliminate hot flashes and alleviates those heavy periods. If you are experiencing depression, try taking Gingko or St. John's Wort to help improve your mood, stress and anxiety.

After the first phase, menopause really starts and more symptoms can develop. These symptoms can include:

• Hot flashes


• Night sweats


• Migraine headaches


• Insomnia


• Weight gain


• Aches and pains in joints and muscles


• Dizziness


• Fatigue


• Depression


• Skin problems

This list can be very overwhelming, but don't worry; they don't usually occur all at once! If you have any of these symptoms for a prolonged amount of time, and none of the herbal remedies are working, make sure you see your doctor.

Some people would rather go to their doctor and get a prescription than trust herbal remedies, and this can work for your menopause symptoms as well. Remember though, that some of these medications can upset your hormonal balance, and some estrogen supplements are really not healthy for you in the long run. Some of the things your doctor can give you are:

• Estrogen replacement


• Birth control pills


• Progesterone cream


• Vitamin supplements

Vitamin supplements should be taken whether or not you are going with herbal or prescription remedies for your menopause. Your body will be going through something stressful, new and extra vitamins are needed to help your body regulate itself.

Yeast Infection Signs -- The Symptoms of a Yeast Infection

Women with different conditions often misdiagnose themselves as having symptoms of a yeast infection. They take antibiotics that just cause problems down the line whenever they have a real infection caused by yeast. There are various symptoms of a yeast infection that that you should be aware of so that you don't make this mistake. This article will discuss some of the most common yeast infection signs.

Discharge

One of the most common yeast infection signs is a discharge. It can range in color from faint yellow to clear. The discharge can also be thick, watery, or clumpy and looks like ricotta cheese. Not all women who have infections experience this. If the discharge is present, odor will also be one of the symptoms of a yeast infection.

Odor

A discharge accompanying an odor is also one of the yeast infection signs. The odor has been compared to the smell of beer or bread. The discharge may also smell starchy, or even have no odor at all. One of the symptoms of a yeast infection that are almost always present is itching.

Itching

If you do not have a discharge then one of the yeast infections signs you should look for is itching. This intense itching and burning sensation is localized around the vulva and vagina. The area surrounding the vulva may also become swollen and turn red. The itching can make it very uncomfortable for some women to walk. In addition to the itching, pain is one of the symptoms of a yeast infection.

Pain

General soreness in the vaginal area may also be one of the yeast infection signs. You may experience pain during sexual intercourse or during urination. This pain is caused by acid in the urine touching irritated skin around the vulva. The pain starts whenever urine reaches the outside.

These are the symptoms of a yeast infection that you should be aware of. One of the most common yeast infection signs is a yellow or clear discharge that may also have an odor. Many women often experience itching, burning, and pain. If you have never had an infection, you should consult a doctor whenever you have any symptoms of a yeast infection. You don't want to take any over-the-counter antibiotics that will only kill good bacteria.

Menopause And Weight Gain - Two Things You Wish Were Not Related

Menopause and weight gain are unfortunately related. There are many reasons a woman may have weight gain even when they are not experiencing menopause. First of all the leading cause for weight gain is stress for most women. Yes, some women tend to lose weight when they are stressed because they do not eat, but a majority of women find that they gain weight when stressed even if they do not eat. Your body reacts to these other symptoms by adding weight because it believes you need the fat stores. Other reasons for weight gain during menopause are depression, cravings, and being tired.

Let us look at depression during menopause and weight gain. Depression affects people in many different ways one of those ways is eating. Some women tend to eat more when they are depressed because they are substituting foods for other emotions, such as happiness. You may have experienced this during a menstrual cycle if you had a tendency to be depressive during that time. You may have found comfort in food where you could not find it elsewhere. You can seek natural methods for alleviating your depression or speak with your doctor about certain medications if your depression is severe enough. This can help you battle menopause and weight gain.

We also mentioned cravings. Cravings are certainly one way to increase your weight during menopause. Like other times your body went through a change you felt a need for certain foods. You may over eat during these cravings or substitute chocolate for something healthier. The cure for this is to eat healthier. Most women find that when they eat a balanced diet with fruit, vegetables, and the proper amount of protein they do not crave other "bad foods" such as ice cream or chocolate. It is important to have "diet" you will follow and if you are eating healthy chances are your body will stop having these cravings.

When you are tired or fatigued, you do not want to eat properly. You feel it is easier to eat out rather than to cook a proper meal so you begin to experience the effect of salt and unhealthy foods, which are a direct link to weight gain especially during menopause. Remember you will feel less tired if you treat your menopause symptoms and eat correctly.

Menopause and weight gain are two things that are related, but you can fight the causes of weight gain during menopause by treating the symptoms you are affected with. Speak with a doctor to help you find a proper diet.

Paris Hilton - Her Qualities

We cannot to tell you more about her good qualities, that's quite impossible. But we will tell you some of the qualities that the public, the press and the Hollywood knows about her.

Hailed to be the real embodiment of America's True Princess, bypassing Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg and her sister Nicky Hilton in the third place, Paris Hilton seem to have captured the American majority opinion on what an American Princess should be like.

That was stunning indeed since for long years, Ms. Caroline had been reigning as the epitome of being the American Princess. But this result lead to the conclusion that an American Princess is very far from being an American Royalty where class, intelligence, finesse, beauty and everything admirable in between take the greater part of the pie. American Princess therefore means that the "princess' must be from a famous family (not necessarily a good one), and should be backed by great wealth and acceptable attitude. The rest of the criteria include a split between a multi-dollar home, jewelries, expensive clothes and a trust fund.

Well, that basically speaks Paris Hilton's qualities. Some calls that chic while others despise her fate.

Her absurdities- A Hollywood writer once commented that Paris Hilton is like a black hole, she sucks the light out by her mere presence. That's how absurd other people see her while other thinks in what she has said before-that she gives hope to the young American people and to the world.

Her money and its effects- Being the heiress of the hotel magnate, Paris is destined to practically get what her grandfather has earned through hard work. That virtually gave her the chance to live a life in full liberty, luxury and expensive items to swing over her neck. And unlike many other women who came from well-respected American royal families, Paris Hilton was raised as a princess but with the exception of refined character, intelligence and elegance.

Her immense money deprived her of the trainings that life could give her to become a well thought-of personality. Beautiful people, as it was once written, were those who have suffered trials, went into the deep caves of suffering, and endured life's tests and in the end, triumphed life's challenges and turned out to be the souls that contribute much for the benefit of the world and humanity. Well, that keeps Paris Hilton way beyond the borders.

Her money also bought her way into the spotlight of Hollywood. She can pay even the most expensive publicists without even scratching the surface of her wealth. These people can bring her almost instantly into the public's eye without having to endure the experience little people have to go through just to get even 30 seconds of fame.

Her popularity- Many people have various opinions on her popularity. Some people see her as nothing but anther beautiful face pampered with money while many maintains that she is someone worthy of all these media exposure. Some people admit that without her fortune, she would be reduced to a witless, skinny woman who, in case you have met her in the street, would not even catch your single glimpse.

It is a wonder for so many that she gets the popularity she has now. Maybe the media created her but also, maybe it is the public that brought her into popularity. But, definitely, she has contributed nothing, except pay some good publicists plus the leisure of subjecting herself and her unwanted attitude to extreme public scrutiny.

On some aspects, she is being treated like a beneficial goddess who has contributed much for the welfare of young people and the world in general. Well, she has promised some time ago that she would donate something for the unfortunate which could have made her popularity useful. There are still no updates on this issue though.

Further, there are lots of people who doubt her fame. Is she famous because she buys it with her money or is she famous because people see something special in her? This questions, along with numerous others, have doubted the mysteries of her popularity. Nonetheless, so long as people are eager to read or write her stories, so long as the media gives her airtime, so long as the internet continues to talk about her and so long as her money gives her the insurances, she will always be the epitome of an American Princess that speaks well of her qualities.