Schuetz

Everyone has items in their home that take up valuable room or are no longer needed. Why not sell those items in the world's biggest marketplace, get money for them AND free up some space? Here are some tips for selling your items on eBay:

Do Your Research

Before pricing your item and writing your description, make sure to search eBay first for exactly what you are selling. Take note of how much the item and similar items are currently going for in the last 30 days by searching the completed auctions as well. You'll also want to take note of the titles and descriptions of the auctions that sold for the highest prices so that you can incorporate similar information.

Category

Choosing the right category is also crucial to getting a sale. Pick the wrong category and buyers may not find your auction. Take advantage of eBay's category search form to get the most appropriate category for your item. Also, take note of the highest priced auction in the last 30 days and consider using the same category that that auction used.

Description

A good description of your item is absolutely essential to a successful auction. Be honest about the condition of your item, has it been used gently or does it have a lot of wear? Or is it still in the original box? Other important information to include would be the dimensions or size of the item, brand name, age, material it's made with, features, benefits and, of course, exactly what's included in the auction. Also be clear with the shipping cost, your return policy, and payment policy.

Photos

Photos are another extremely important element to any online auction. Try to include multiple photos showing multiple views and angles of your item. If you're selling an item that can be opened or has multiple uses, consider taking a picture of it each way it can be used. Make absolutely sure your item is in focus when you take the picture. Take photos in a well lighted area, with a neutral background. Avoid using a flash if possible, to avoid any glare. Once you have taken your photos, you should crop out any unnecessary areas. In your photo or graphics editor, be sure to resize the photos so that they don't take too long to load and save the photos in the JPG format. When taking photos of your items, take many shots, so that you can decide which is best. You can also make use of the sharpness and brightness features of your editor to further fix or enhance your photos. Most of all, make sure that your photos accurately depict your item.

Communication

During the auction, answer any questions promptly and post the answers on your auction, if appropriate. After the auction, follow up with the buyer promptly by sending an invoice and keep the communication lines open should they experience any problems.

Follow these tips for your eBay auctions and you're sure to have a successful selling experience.

Lydia Quinn writes for eBayBar.net, where you can search eBay, register for an account and find the most watched and most popular items on eBay. Visit us at: http://www.ebaybar.net/

Alopecia areata is a localized, patchy, non scarring type of hair loss, characterized by the presence of one or more round or oval hairless patches. The affected skin appears normal and smooth, unlike the fungal infections, where there is crusting of the skin and uneven breaking of hairs. On the periphery of the patches, a few short hairs, which taper and loss pigment as they approach the skin, may be seen. These are called "exclamation mark" hairs due to their resemblance to the mark.

Alopecia areata usually affects the scalp. Other hair bearing areas, especially the beard are also affected. Any age can be affected in alopecia areata; though the common age group is 15-30. The youngest alopecia areata patient I have seen was a 2 year old girl.

Causes of alopecia areata:

1. Autoimmune theory: Alopecia areata is thought to be an autoimmune disease where the body produces antibodies (auto'antibodies) against the hair germinal cells and cause their destruction in localized areas. The localization of lesions also point towards a neural pathway involvement. In patients with graying hairs, it is common to see that only the black hairs fall off in the patches. Sparing of the grey hairs in alopecia areata indicates that normal nerve supply and melanin pigment is necessary for the alopecia areata to occur.

2. Direct pressure: Many patients get patchy hair loss following direct pressure on hair bearing areas, e.g., from a tight fitting helmet, pressing the head against bed rails for prolonged duration while watching TV etc.

3. Mobile phones and alopecia areata: Another complication of the modern device! Before the hands free sets became common, a number of patients, especially those using cheaper brands of cell phones, presented with alopecia areata on their beards. Possibly the radio waves emitted by the mobile phone damaged the hair follicles and triggered an autoimmune inflammatory reaction in the area. Most of them also had dull aching pains in their ear on the same side.

4. Caries tooth: This is a very important factor usually ignored by patients and their doctors alike. In the Middle East where I practice, there is a very high incidence of alopecia areata. In my practice, I come across almost 6-7% alopecia cases among the total skin diseases. In addition to stress, one common factor that I noticed was the presence of caries tooth in almost all cases with recurrent patchy hair loss, especially on the beard. Research showed that alopecia areata of dental origin has indeed been mentioned in scientific journals.

Personally I make a habit of referring all my alopecia areata patients who come with recurring patchy loss of hair, especially resistant to treatment, to a dental surgeon. Most such patients stop getting recurrences after their teeth infection is taken care of.

Possible explanation of the relationship between caries tooth and alopecia areata: Tooth germinal cells and hair germinal cells have embryological and histological similarities. Hence, the antibodies forming against damaged tooth germinal cells and the bacteria attacking them must be affecting the hair follicles as well. This is only a hypothesis and need to be studied further. The involvement of nail (nail pits) in alopecia areata supports this hypothesis, as nail is another integument of the skin that is similar to the tooth and hair!

5. Stress: Most patients who come with recurrent episodes of alopecia areata also report a preceding period of intense stress in their life. How the stress causes hair loss only in localized patches, is however, not known. Hypothetically the nerve supply and altered immune responses in stress may be playing a role in the causation of alopecia areata. Corroborative studies where cure has been affected following implementation of stress management techniques in non responsive patients point to a positive role of stress in the causation of alopecia areata.

Part 2: Tips on Dealing with Alopecia areata.

Dr.Hanish Babu, MD is a Dermato-Venereologist, author, stress management trainer and a netpreneur. He has recently released a stress management package "10 Days to Stress Free Life". To subscribe to his Less Stress News Letter, go to: http://www.lesstress.net For Skin Care Tips, go to: http://www.skin-care-tips-from-dermatologist.com

Are radical gay groups or militant organizations (like Queer Nation and Act-Up) helping to heal the breaches or throw salt in the wounds? Do they help homosexuals to be further reconciled or alienated? Are they accomplishing their goals and airing their grievances, or being contentious just for the sake of being contentious? Are they actually doing more harm than good? Defeating their avowed purpose or attaining their aims? Isn't it immature to blame the government for not making us feel better? Is it always "others" fault that we haven't discovered a cure for AIDS yet? Don't we have the ways and means to do something about it ourselves? How much does it cost to abstain or practice "safe-sex?" It's in our power to save lives. Every person who's had sex ought to get tested to prevent passing AIDS on and to enable yourself to start treatment immediately if you've been infected. To do otherwise isn't only selfish, it's evil. High-risk groups ought to stop and think about what they're doing. It's not so much a lack of education, but of character. Irresponsible behavior is the cause for so many of the effects we see or suffer daily. Don't allow sin to emaciate you or separate you from your loved ones (Prov. 5:11; Ps. 38:11). Nobody gets a second chance.

Damaging stereotypes must go. Calloused misrepresentation is an injustice. Hollywood will be held responsible for its productions. But then again, in all fairness, aren't the stereotypes reinforced with every passing "Gay Pride" parade? Isn't much of the damage self-inflicted? And all of the negative publicity produced, in large part, by members of the homosexual community (Isa. 3:9)?

A Time and a Place

Are you an exhibitionist? Do you always insist on exposing your sexual preference whether it's appropriate or not? Why force the issue? We don't have to hide, but neither should we always lay everything out in the open (Prov. 13:16). It's not good to glory in our gory days or push our preference (Ephes. 5:12). And instead of having a gutter mouth, let's try and be gracious for once (Ephes. 4:29). Develop discretion. Tact, wisdom and diplomacy are wonderful attributes of a true ambassador (2 Cor. 5:20). There is a time and a place for everything, but even then we should ensure we're speaking the truth in love; facts with feelings, considering the sensitivities of others (Prov. 29:11; Ephes. 4:15; 1 Cor. 10:32). If someone's not ready yet to hear you out, or capable of appreciating what you're saying why make it more difficult for them (Jn. 16:12)? Just getting something off your chest isn't right if it's going to adversely affect others. We are to help bear one another's burdens, but ultimately we're on our own (Ga. 6:2, 5).

I know there are those who would object to my use of the term "gay" throughout this booklet. May they try and understand that this work's been written to address the issue of homosexuality, and therefore, "becoming all things to all men," I've chosen to speak in their language. I realize the adjective's been unjustly robbed of its former innocence, and I know that it's not the word God would use to describe homosexuals. God calls the practice an abomination, the lifestyle loathsome, and the desires detestable (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:24, 26). That's some pretty strong medicine, but we'd better take it (Rev. 3:19). If someone trys to sell you on some other idea (Ga. 1:8), don't buy it! Don't be fooled by smooth-talking salesmen or swallow their snake-oil (Ephes. 5:6; Rom. 16:18)!

Before you get all riled up, notice that the same "harsh" God considers incest as wicked, bestiality as confusion, and baptized paganism as abominable (Lev. 18:17, 23; Deut. 12:30-31). Two wrongs don't make a right, but I wanted to show we've all fallen short of the mark and have failed the test (Rom. 3:23). There isn't any teacher's pet! Jesus didn't just die for straight people, He bled to death for homosexuals as well. We've all nailed Him to the cross and we all need Him as our Savior.

A Sinful Savior?

Did Jesus engage in sexual activities? Have an active love life? What does the Bible actually say? Not only have those openly critical of Christ cast aspersions, but others have leveled serious charges claiming Him as one of their own. What about Mary Magdalene? Did He have a relationship with her? Or the apostle John - were they lovers? Could He have been a bisexual? Or was it just a close friendship? Did Jesus simply exemplify male-bonding in its purest form, like King David did with his best friend, Jonathan?

Jesus reply to His accusers: "I have kept my Father's commandments" (John 15:10). Those commandments include instructions against all immorality. If Jesus broke even one link of this gold chain, He wouldn't have only tarnished His good reputation, He would have disqualified Himself as our sinless Savior (1 John 3:5). But Jesus is our pure Passover Lamb (not Easter rabbit!), without any defect of character; accepted, approved, and received by Heaven.

Christ commands everyone, everywhere, to confess and forsake their sins (Acts 17:30; 1 John 1:9). We're to leave our sinful pasts behind and get out of compromising situations fast (1 Cor. 6:18). Don't be fooled: what you do will come back to you (Ga. 6:7)!

We're not free to flagrantly flout God's law (Jer. 7:8-10). We haven't been delivered to disobey, despite appeals for "liberty" (2 Pet. 2:19; Rom. 6:1-6). When God set our forefathers free from Egypt, it wasn't for the sake of freedom alone! We weren't left to just go our own way or do our own thing. No longer the slaves of men, we were to become the servants of God. We were expected to follow His clear-cut directions to make it to another land. A Land of Promise. A Sanctuary where we would be free to do as He instructed. God declared war on Egypt and took a slave-people to make them into His Servant-Nation!

Don't believe the popular fairy-tales of serpentine ministers (2 Tim. 4:3-4)! They're so confused they'd even accept brazen sinners and assure them everything's "kosher" (Jer. 23:14, 17), when it's clearly not. They're professing Christians, but their lewd lives contradict their claims (Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4). Such pornographic priests had better heed God's Word and listen to His Law (Isa. 1:10). They're warned to stop justifying themselves and abusing God's grace (Jude 4).

Previous Lives & Experiences

God calls people from all walks of life and performs a miracle in their minds: they're offered a fresh perspective, given a new outlook, and enabled to try a different approach (Philip. 2:5). Their former "records" aren't held against them and they're started out with a new attitude and identity (2 Cor. 5:17). God lists a litany of former lifestyles His people once practiced, and ends by emphasizing: "And such were some of you..." (2 Cor. 6:9-11). He acknowledges, thereby, they've sinced cleaned up their act and stand apart from the rest. All made possible by their Advocate who's expunged their past, gives them room to grow, a chance to change, and every encouragement to lead new lives.

But those who've refused to change, don't even attempt to get up and get over it, and have given up trying - are nothing more than the living dead facing a bleak future (Rev. 21:8; Heb. 10:27). God doesn't accept cop outs or drop outs (Luke 14:18), but expects us to keep plugging away and stay in the race (1 Cor. 9:24; Philip. 3:14). We're to do whatever's necessary to hang on to God and let go of sin, invigorated by the cheering examples of those who've already crossed the finishing line (Heb. 11; 12:1).

Recovering homosexuals haven't denied who and what they are; they've owned up to it and now seek atonement. They've honestly admitted to themselves their problem, have sought help, and are struggling to overcome and improve. They've accepted Christ's command and challenge to "...go and sin no more" (John 8:11). They're not denying that they're horny, human, and homosexual. They haven't gone back into the "closet" - but they have gone back, time and again, into the "prayer closet" to find the necessary strength to withstand temptation and continue their conversion (Acts 13:43). Those flying accusations are nothing more than shrapnel from that lying snake and murderer of mankind (Rev. 12:10). And besides, everybody must "come out" from under Satan's influence, and avoid him like the plague (Rev. 18:4; 2 Cor. 6:17)!

Sodom and Gomorrha

There is HOPE for homosexuals! Jesus even blasted certain cities of His day as worse than Sodom and Gomorrha, and indicated they would've repented given half a chance. He did state their "day in court" would be better than those who had seen the Light and yet chose to remain in religious darkness (Mat. 10:15; 11:2-24). God condemns their spiritual preference as inexcusable. Their lust for man-made traditions was greater than their love for God's truth.

Are homosexuals alone branded as Sodomites? Was that Sodom and Gomorrha's only claim to fame? Actually their sins ranged from downright snobbery to a lack of compassion; full bank accounts but empty lives. Obviously there was a great divide between the rich and the poor, but they all shared sin in common (Ezek. 16:49-50).

Their "anything goes" attitude and "do your own thing" atmosphere, reveals how low you can go. Their descent into depravity was undoubtedly hailed as a new era of "understanding," and their tolerance level for perversion praised as being "open-minded." So open-minded their brains fell out! Yet their DESTRUCTION is intended to dramatize the end result of living the wrong way. That warning message isn't only directed towards homosexuals (2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 7). God even refers to today's RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT as "Sodom and Egypt..." - too PROUD AND STUBBORN to change (Rev. 11:8)! We're reminded that this affliction affects both young and old, high and low, rich and poor (Gen. 19:4, 11). Sin doesn't discriminate. Iniquity accepts all.

Regardless of our sexual orientation, we're to get as far away as possible from our old haunts and tired ways. We shouldn't look back upon those days (daze) with longing. Don't linger in the past or you'll forfeit your future (Gen. 19:15-17). God's prepared something far better for us: a sparkling City that's "out of this world," a wonderfully warm and loving Home, and a Country that really does care (Rev. 21:2). Jesus has promised to personally insure our part and parcel in God's Kingdom (John 14:1-2). He should be interested: He staked His life on us! Jesus became human so we could become divine (Heb. 2:10)! We're assured that even as we're presently human-beings, we're capable of becoming God-Beings (John 3:3-7; Ps. 82:6). These are bold claims and astonishing statements, but it's past time that you've been told the plain truth and given a fair chance to consider it (Luke 4:32; Isa. 52:15; John 16:29).

A Change For the Better

Only by a resurrection can our conversion be made complete; our miraculous transformation from matter to spirit, from mortal to immortal, from human to divine (1 Cor. 15:49-53). Could it be any other way? As members of the Royal Family of God it's only befitting that we should be glorified. The gospel - THE GOOD NEWS - of the Kingdom of God is a true rags to riches, dust to divinity story (Ps. 113:7-8)! Pardon the analogy, but would Cinderella have gone to her ball inappropriately dressed? Neither shall we be presented to Christ in any other manner: only the best will do (Rev. 19:8).

As prominent Priest-Kings, reigning with but under Christ (Rev. 5:10; Dan. 7:27), our clothing and appearance must be immaculate (Mat. 17:2; 1 Jn. 3:2). Understand, therefore, that even as we'll reside in splendor and rule in glory (Mat. 19:28; Rev. 3:21), so too must our very bodies become brilliant (Philip. 3:21); the last Trump heralds our change of clothing and composition (1 Cor. 15:52; 2 Cor. 5:1-5; Ps. 17:15). The resurrection invests us with this power and affords us this hope (Rev. 2:26; Acts 26:6-8)! If we're ever going to make it, we've got to keep this VISION of God's Kingdom-Family clear to us, careful not to let it dim or lose its luster (Prov. 29:18). It must become our driving force and motivation (Mat. 6:33).

Vision inspires motivation which encourages discipline. Some restrain themselves - not because of character, but fear of the consequences. That's a beginning, but God hopes we pass that starting point (Prov. 1:7). As we grow more spiritually mature, love is to gradually replace fear as our reason for obeying God (John 4:18).

Mindful of all that God's done for us, we're to develop an attitude of gratitude that expresses itself in loving obedience (Luke 7:47). This all-important love strengthens our resolve to do the right thing, to grace the Gospel, and compliment.the Kingdom (1 Thes. 2:12; Titus 2:10). Even this loving desire to fulfill God's Will is his gift (Rom. 2:4; 5:5). God initiates our relationship with Him, but we must continue it (John 6:44; 15:14). After our favorable response, God then supplies the strength of character, the courage of conviction, and an extraordinary will-power to secure our friendship as a lasting one (Philip. 2:13; 2 Tim. 1:7).

Everyone Has Problems

The Christian life isn't exempt from the trials and tribulations that everyone experiences. the difference is that God promises to pull us through. If He doesn't deliver us from some circumstance or situation, He will help us to hold up. Remember: diamonds are nothing more than coal that's been put under a lot of pressure!

God will never forget or forsake us, and He'll never allow anything to come between us (Rom. 8:35-39). He promises to impart sufficient grace to enable us to survive whatever might come our way (2 Cor. 12:9; 1 Cor.10:13). All of these problems can help produce God's character in us and contribute considerably to our cause (1 Pet. 1:7).

When the weight of worldly cares start to get you down, and seems too overwhelming, don't get discouraged! Be encouraged to go to God for help. That's how recognizing your own weaknesses can become your strength. Once we accept that sometimes we'll have to go through "hell" before Heaven is established on earth, we'll be better prepared for the "unexpected" by knowing that there is a method to this madness and a purpose for this pain (2 Cor. 4:17).

Such an understanding helps us to put everything into perspective and enjoy a clearer focus, reassured that there is a happy ending to it all (Rom. 18:28; Ecc. 7:8). We don't always know what's going on or why God does (or doesn't do) this or that, but our faith comforts us that "Father knows best" and is in control of events that might appear out-of-control (John 13:7; Mat. 27:53); therefore, refuse to get upset with God's way of handling things or bother second-guessing Him (Mat.11:6).

One of the most difficult things to accept is God's apparent inaction. Especially when you're convinced of His ability to do something. We've just got to calm down and rest in the fact that He's obviously working out something that we can't see now, but will understand later.

Why didn't He set John the Baptist free? Wouldn't that have glorified God, revealing His power to over-rule the Romans? Instead He left him to "rot" in jail and later lose his head. Why didn't He save Lazarus from his terminal illness? Or come down off the cross? Faith and patience....

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer 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 the Beyond Babylon blog