http://www.pickbrains.com Straight answers on your questions about money, or life in general. Improve your life with tips, money ideas and other interest items. en-nz Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:17:22 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/xml-sitemaps <p><img src="http://www.pickbrains.com/file?thumbnail=magnifying_glass.jpg&amp;width=75" width="75" border="1" align="left" hspace="3" vspace="3"/>After reading an article saying XML sitemaps are overrated, I decided to point out why they are important for indexing large sites.... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/xml-sitemaps">More</a></p> Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:17:22 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/xml-sitemaps googlegoogle sitemapseoxmlxml sitemaps http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/ratings-and-the-stock-market <p><img src="http://www.pickbrains.com/file?thumbnail=rating.jpg&amp;width=75" width="75" border="1" align="left" hspace="3" vspace="3"/>Investigates how the stock market is affected when Standard and Poors or another credit rating company downgrades a credit rating.... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/ratings-and-the-stock-market">More</a></p> Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:52:34 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/ratings-and-the-stock-market creditcredit ratingsinvestingsharemarketsharesstockstock exchangestocks http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/impulse-purchase <p><img src="http://www.pickbrains.com/file?thumbnail=credit-card.jpg&amp;width=75" width="75" border="1" align="left" hspace="3" vspace="3"/>In the world of sales, impulse purchases are the most important. Impulse sales alone can account for over 50% of general purchases. Impulse purchases also help businesses to successfully release new products and maximise profits.... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/impulse-purchase">More</a></p> Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:26:40 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/impulse-purchase impulse purchaseimpusemarketingsales http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/signs-of-lying <p><img src="http://www.pickbrains.com/file?thumbnail=businessmen_shaking_hands.jpg&amp;width=75" width="75" border="1" align="left" hspace="3" vspace="3"/>People tell you lies everyday that you do not notice. This list of clues will give you the indication that someone is not telling you the complete truth. You will be amazed at how many people lie to you.... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/signs-of-lying">More</a></p> Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:23:05 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/signs-of-lying body languagelyingtruth http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-light-affects-interior-colour-schemes <p><img src="http://www.pickbrains.com/file?thumbnail=Green+wall%2C+orange+chair.jpg&amp;width=75" width="75" border="1" align="left" hspace="3" vspace="3"/>Make rooms inviting and attractive with clever lighting and a good colour scheme. Learn how natural light will change the feel of your rooms, and find out which areas will appear darker.... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-light-affects-interior-colour-schemes">More</a></p> Sun, 24 Feb 2008 07:24:35 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-light-affects-interior-colour-schemes colourlightpaintingrooms http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/lesser-known-facts <p>Quick facts that you can use to impress your friends and workmates. Have people wondering about strange and unusual topics such as "Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated" and that "There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball".... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/lesser-known-facts">More</a></p> Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:27:34 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/lesser-known-facts facts http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/carpal-tunnel-syndrome <p><img src="http://www.pickbrains.com/file?thumbnail=Wrist-with-splint.jpg&amp;width=75" width="75" border="1" align="left" hspace="3" vspace="3"/>As computers have become part of everyday life, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) has become more widespread in the general public. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is caused when the median nerve travelling through the group of bones (the Carpal Tunnel) in the... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/carpal-tunnel-syndrome">More</a></p> Sun, 07 Oct 2007 23:06:35 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/carpal-tunnel-syndrome carpalcomputersyndrometunnel http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/7-tips-for-efficient-sleep <p><img src="http://www.pickbrains.com/file?thumbnail=sleeping.jpg&amp;width=75" width="75" border="1" align="left" hspace="3" vspace="3"/>The modern world is fast paced and a good night sleep seems to be somewhat of a luxury. Understanding how to get a good night sleep is often the first step to ensure you can fit this luxury into your life. Monday morning blues After a hard week or ... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/7-tips-for-efficient-sleep">More</a></p> Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:40:44 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/7-tips-for-efficient-sleep alcoholcaffeinesleep http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/anonymous-surfing <p>It is common for people to worry about their privacy. The companies around us like to compile as much data on us as they can and this is too much for some people. What advertising company really needs to know that you have just spent 1 hour on-line loo... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/anonymous-surfing">More</a></p> Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:14:07 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/anonymous-surfing anonymousanonymous surfingproxysurfing http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/invest-in-bonds-or-shares <p><img src="http://www.pickbrains.com/file?thumbnail=sharemarket-graphs.jpg&amp;width=75" width="75" border="1" align="left" hspace="3" vspace="3"/>Many beginner investors always start asking this question and it is good to know the difference. Bonds and shares are quite different when compared by their risk, returns and payouts. What are bonds? Bonds are a form of debt, where the owner of the bo... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/invest-in-bonds-or-shares">More</a></p> Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:01:56 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/invest-in-bonds-or-shares bondssharemarketsharesstockstock exchange http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-research-stocks-to-buy <p>One of the most important parts of 'playing the market' is researching companies. Instructions STEP 1: Obtain corporate financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You can get such documents without charge via www.... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-research-stocks-to-buy">More</a></p> Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:01:37 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-research-stocks-to-buy buyresearchstocks http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-give-up-coffee <p>Millions of people around the world begin their day with a cup of coffee, believing that they cannot wake up without it. However, there are other ways to get going in the morning - to wake up naturally, without a dependence on coffee. Instructions ... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-give-up-coffee">More</a></p> Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:01:37 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-give-up-coffee coffeesleep http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-sleep-soundly <p>Sleep may be as natural as breathing and eating, but many of us find ourselves tossing and turning instead. Sleepless nights can be caused by a wide variety of factors, especially stress and your sleep environment. Preparations Instructions ... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-sleep-soundly">More</a></p> Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:01:37 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-sleep-soundly sleep http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-jog-your-memory <p>The busier life becomes, the easier it is to forget names, numbers and important dates. These mnemonic tricks can help you out. People's names Instructions STEP 1: Repeat the name when you first hear it: "Nice to meet you, Harold." STEP ... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-jog-your-memory">More</a></p> Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:01:37 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-jog-your-memory jogmemory http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-avoid-losing-money-on-bad-investments <p>Whether you are a first-time investor or a savvy investment guru, know that mistakes happen. The key to avoiding mishaps is to keep on top of investment rules, tax codes and annual reports. Instructions STEP 1: Study. Read financial news, pers... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-avoid-losing-money-on-bad-investments">More</a></p> Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:01:37 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-avoid-losing-money-on-bad-investments avoidinvestmentslosingmoney http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/psychology-of-writing <p>Do you ever come accros a webpage adorned in colors and why it is all these colors, while none of the other writing tips pages are so adorned?&nbsp; It is called psychology.&nbsp; You were cruising along through the pages, then you clicked to a page an... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/psychology-of-writing">More</a></p> Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:01:37 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/psychology-of-writing psychologywriting http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/12-tips-for-writing-articles-on-the-internet <p>I have compiled a list of 12 tips I think should be helpful when you are writing articles on the Internet. Use lots of white space. People like to read in 'chunks' of information so have lots of space in your background. Use short paragraphs. Fol... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/12-tips-for-writing-articles-on-the-internet">More</a></p> Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:01:37 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/12-tips-for-writing-articles-on-the-internet articlestipswritingwriting articles http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/psychology-of-setting-prices <p>Pricing is one of the four major components of marketing. Psychological pricing forms one of the key elements of demand pricing wherein the consumer demand is the main focus. The price and quality relationship that governs the central theme of the con... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/psychology-of-setting-prices">More</a></p> Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:01:36 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/psychology-of-setting-prices pricespsychology http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-build-self-confidence <p>Don't settle for topical solutions to increasing your self-worth. True self-confidence isn't an overnight acquisition. It takes dedication to realize you are a good human being that is worthy of respect and love. Steps Try to think more posit... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-build-self-confidence">More</a></p> Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:01:36 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/how-to-build-self-confidence confidenceselfself confidence http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/body-language-myths <p>Being able to read "nonverbal communication"-body language-is essential in business dealings. Problem is, we usually interpret a smile or lack of eye contact through an emotional screen, not a scientific one. Sometimes a smile is a sign of happiness-an... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/body-language-myths">More</a></p> Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:01:36 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/body-language-myths body languageliesmythssmiletruth http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/body-language-tactics-to-sway-interviewers <p>Before a job interview, do you peruse magazines or review prepared notes? When the meeting begins, do you wait to be told where to sit or choose your own chair? And do you give passionately expressive or carefully controlled responses? In each of t... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/body-language-tactics-to-sway-interviewers">More</a></p> Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:01:36 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/body-language-tactics-to-sway-interviewers body languageinterviews http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/physical-activity-in-your-daily-life <p>At Home It's convenient, comfortable and safe to work out at home. It allows your children to see you being active, which sets a good example for them. You can combine exercise with other activities, such as watching TV.&nbsp; If you buy exercise eq... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/physical-activity-in-your-daily-life">More</a></p> Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:01:36 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/physical-activity-in-your-daily-life activitydailyphysical http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/shyness-putting-shyness-in-the-spotlight <p>You've been thinking about that hot new kid all month. So when you see the object of your affection by the lockers, you take a deep breath and head over. As you approach, though, those clear green eyes turn your way and suddenly you can't breathe &mda... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/shyness-putting-shyness-in-the-spotlight">More</a></p> Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:02:26 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/shyness-putting-shyness-in-the-spotlight shyness http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/al-capone <p><img src="http://www.pickbrains.com/file?thumbnail=capnemug.jpg&amp;width=75" width="75" border="1" align="left" hspace="3" vspace="3"/>Al Capone is America's best known gangster and the single greatest symbol of the collapse of law and order in the United States during the 1920s Prohibition era. Capone had a leading role in the illegal activities that lent Chicago its reputation as a ... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/al-capone">More</a></p> Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:02:26 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/al-capone al caponechicago http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/heres-why-you-hate-mondays <p>Scientists have discovered a cure for the dreaded Monday morning blues - stop sleeping in on weekends. A new study has found that lazy Saturday and Sunday lie-ins can disturb your body clock, leaving you fatigued at the start of the week. Flinders ... <a href="http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/heres-why-you-hate-mondays">More</a></p> Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:02:26 GMT http://www.pickbrains.com/articles/heres-why-you-hate-mondays mondayssleep