Merchant Account 101 (part 2 of 2)

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Thinking of getting a merchant account?  A merchant account may be provided by a processing bank or by an agent for the bank. The factors in which merchant account provider to choose are relatively easy to weigh in.  They must be able to guarantee reliability, security and cost-effectiveness. The business owner should have his merchant account in the least of his or her concerns and not think about whether money is really coming in from the credit. However, since no merchant account provider is exactly flawless in terms of performance, they must be able to provide technical support in the event of a glitch. Technical support should be fast and accurate.  A business that deals with hundreds of transactions every second cannot afford to lose profit through a technical difficulty.

Security is also an important issue in getting merchant accounts. Many business owners fall victim to scammers who disguise themselves as providers. Make sure that the merchant account provider is registered to the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, also sometimes known as the Payment Card Industry (PCI). The council was organized by the five leading merchant account providers in 2006 and aims to standardize the credit card based commerce.

Lastly, another big factor in choosing a merchant account provider is the cost. Much of the cost is set by the card issuing bank although there are fees that would be asked by the merchant account provider. The largest portion of the fee is the interchange fee. Interchange fee takes into account different circumstances on how the transaction is made. For example, in a 3-tier pricing, visa and MasterCard classify these transactions into non-qualified, mid-qualified and qualified where the non-qualified classification gets to be charged the highest.

Some of the other fees that could be charged are the monthly minimum fee, authorization fee, batch fee and chargeback fee. Another factor to consider in the cost is the software used for the transactions. Renting equipments or software may be cheaper but may not be a good investment in two or three year time.

Merchant Account 101 (part 1 of 2)

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A lot of modern technology has brought us great convenience to the tip of our fingers. From travel, to fashion and even in business, almost every type of good and service is accessible. With businesses trying to make their product more sellable amidst a very competitive market, they have to get consumers not only look for quality and price of the product but also for the service that comes with the purchase. Hence, merchant accounts were born.

Merchant accounts are a way to for businesses to handle transactions through the use of credit cards. There is really no historical note on how merchant accounts started although it can be hypothesized that the service started during the rise of credit card use during the 1960s. Industry giants like MasterCard and Visa, which originally are non-profit organizations, pioneered the general use of credits cards.

In 2006, there are 292 million credit cards that are in use in the United States alone. Globally, it is estimated that there are at least 1 billion credit cards issued. Merchant accounts make business faster, easier and more accessible to their clients. Provided, of course, that the merchant account obtained is effective. Large businesses could avail of merchant accounts relatively easier than the small businesses although more and more merchant account providers are going after the small business sector.

Thinking of getting a merchant account?  A merchant account may be provided by a processing bank or by an agent for the bank. The factors in which merchant account provider to choose are relatively easy to weigh in.  They must be able to guarantee reliability, security and cost-effectiveness. The business owner should have his merchant account in the least of his or her concerns and not think about whether money is really coming in from the credit. However, since no merchant account provider is exactly flawless in terms of performance, they must be able to provide technical support in the event of a glitch. Technical support should be fast and accurate.  A business that deals with hundreds of transactions every second cannot afford to lose profit through a technical difficulty.

Knitting Needles (part 2 of 2)

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Circular knitting (socks, sweaters etc.) whereby a needle with a small radius is essential uses this short type of knitting needle. Another short type of knitting needle is used for forming permutations in the order of stitches in cable knitting.

Different countries use different sizes of knitting needles. They have set their size standards for different types of needles. One can determine the size of a knitting needle with the aid of a needle gauge. Although most needles have their sizes written on them, their size label fades out with the passing time. Needle gauges have holes of different sizes in which a person can insert his knitting needle to determine its size. They are in a size range of 3-5 inches.

Contemporary knitting needles are made from materials like aluminum, steel, wood, bamboo, casein, plastic and glass. Plastic needles have no pointed edges and can be safely used by children. Previously, wood and metals were used for making knitting needles. The beautiful antique needles were created using tortoiseshell, walrus tusks and ivory. But soon they were banned as they made use of endangered species of animals.

A knitting enthusiast can store his needles in several types of needle storages. Straight needles can be stored in attractive cases. Cylindrical containers with padding on their bottoms keep the needle points sharp. Circular needles can be kept dangling on hangers. In case they are coiled tightly, one should soak them in warm water before using them.

Despite the presence of high-tech knitting machines in the markets, many of us still prefer to use the good ‘ol knitting needles. These needles probably won’t ever fail to amuse use and keep us engaged.

Knitting Needles (part 1 of 2)

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A needle is the most important tool in the process of hand-knitting. In fact, the use of a needle is inevitable in this process of hand-knitting to produce knitted fabrics. The needle used in knitting is not quite like the small and sharp sewing needle. Most of these knitting needles have a long shaft and a taper at their end. Both, the shaft and the taper play important roles in the knitting process.

The active (unsecured) stitches of the fabric are held together by the shaft. This prevents them from disentangling. The taper is used for forming new stitches.

The size of a knitting needle is determined by its radius, which in turn determines the size of the stitch. The radius affects the length of the yarn loom drawn from the previous stitch. Fine needles are used for making petite stitches, whereas large needles are used for making big stitches. In case of uneven knitting, one can use several types of needles. One can influence the stitch size by wrapping yarn about a single needle for a multiple times. Large needles are used for large-scale projects.

Knitting needles come in several types and sizes. Probably invented in the 19th century, a straight needle is used by a large number of people the world over. This needle is capped at one end with a knob/head and tapers at the other end. It is used widely in the process of knitting two-dimensional fabrics mostly in squares and rectangles. The straight needle is used extensively in domestic knitting. It allows a person to create fabrics using extremely simple stitches.

Another knitting needle called the circular needle has two tapered rigid ends that are connected by a flexible cord. The long flexible cord holds the active stitches, whereas the tapered ends are used for creating new stitches. A short, straight rigid needle tapered at both ends is a popular variety of knitting needle.

Landscape Architects in Oregon (part 2 of 2)

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Landscape architects in the state of Oregon involve in the restoration and renovation process of degraded sites. They make some upgrading changes in order to improve the appearance and value of the property. They have planned and designed the Multnomah Falls in the state of Oregon which becomes a popular recreation site in Oregon nowadays. The landscape architects in Oregon also plan and design the renovation project of Portland parks.

Landscape architects also involve in planning and designing transportation passage and nodes in order to improve the functionality and appearance. The early landscape architects made some innovative plans which were then implemented by successive architects. Forty mail loop trail in Portland is the great example of the innovative plans of landscape architects in Oregon.

The landscape architects in the state provide an outstanding part to the uplift of the landscape areas in Oregon. Their role to preserve natural resources has made the state beautiful. They are planning and designing the Forest Park in Portland, Columbia George National scenic area and the Willamette River green way. These architects combine their knowledge of natural and behavioral sciences with their expertise in design and artwork.

Though landscape architects in Oregon work in various work settings like private offices, public places, colleges, Universities and so on, they never forget their responsibility of preserving natural resources along with the functionality.

Therefore they focus their plan and design conserving and managing lands and other natural resources.

Landscape Architects in Oregon (part 1 of 2)

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Can register with the Oregon Licensures, permits and Registration directory board as a landscape architect provided they have successfully completed two or more sections of LARE as a landscape architect in Training. They need to continue to register every year with the board as Landscape architect in training until they complete all the portions of LARE exam. Once they have passed the exam, they have eligibility to get licensure within the state of Oregon.

In order to register as Landscape architect in training with Oregon board the candidate needs to submit the application form for registration along with the proof of passing at least 2 sections of LARE exam. He\she also needs to provide original transcript of record.

It is important for a landscape architect in Oregon to register with the Oregon state Landscape architect board to practice his\her profession. Landscape architect in Oregon provides numerous services in the field of public health, safety and welfare of the people through planning and designing environmentally friendly projects. In fact the actual work of a landscape architect is to preserve and protect natural resources by planning the perfect use of land which preserve natural system and at the same time accomplishes the people’s needs.

Landscape architects in Oregon need to maintain their professional responsibility and service. Site design is one of the important works of a landscape architect and he\she needs to plan for a sensitive site design that does not compromise functionality and artistic appearance of the landscape. Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland is the most famous award winning space design of Oregon Landscape architects.

Living Wills And How They Work (part 2 of 2)

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In case the living will form necessitates the appointment of a patient advocate, he or she must not be any of the two witnesses. Your advocate should carry the burden of deciding for your health care and medical treatment in the unfortunate event of your incapacity to make the decision for yourself.

This person is also known as a health care representative. He or she may be a spouse, a daughter or son, a family member, a friend, or any significant person that you absolutely trust.

In essence, a living will becomes effective when the creator is no longer capable of making decisions with regard to medical treatment. It may be in the face of a terminal illness, permanent unconsciousness or coma, inability to communicate, mental incapacity, or vegetative condition.

In the event of any of these situations, the health care provider – a hospital, a hospice, or a nursing home – must be provided with a copy of the advance directive. The instructions contained within the legal document will serve as the basis for the continuation or withdrawal of medical treatment and other life-sustaining procedures.

The health care team, specifically the attending physicians, is legally bound to follow the directives indicated on a living will. However, although it is considered a legal document, the maker may revoke or change the contents of the will provided that it is carried out prior to becoming debilitated.

On top of that, the proper procedures for the revocation of living wills should be followed to make the act official.

Living Wills And How They Work (part 1 of 2)

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The concept of living wills may not be very clear to a number of people. Some may even equate it with the "last will and testament", which is a totally different type of legal document. In point of fact, a living will is more analogous to a "power of attorney".

Its primary purpose is to make it possible for you – the maker or owner – to formulate decisions in advance with regard to medical treatment or life support, and lawfully command the health care team to carry out your wishes in that regard.

Because of the presence of numerous advances in the field of medicine and health care, doctors are now capable of sustaining life – even if it means being in a permanently vegetative condition. This is one of the reasons why living wills have become such a necessity.

Not all people actually like the idea of remaining in an almost lifeless state for an indefinite period of time. More often than not, the notion of extending life even when death is just round the corner seems excruciating for both the family and the patient. It's like one way of prolonging the suffering.

A living will makes it possible for you to decide whether life-sustaining measures and medical treatment should be continued or withheld. The directive may also include the refusal to take artificial feeding. Aside from that, you may even express other specific wishes before you become incapacitated to make decisions for your health care.

In order for the living will to be legally binding, the appropriate form must be utilized and it must be accomplished in conformity with the state laws on the subject of living wills. A number of states require the presence and signatures of two valid witnesses, the attendance of a Notary Public, or both.

Surfing in Ink and Paper: Adventures in Magazine Publishing (part 2 of 2)

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Pitpilot

Pitpilot covers the British surfing scene. Combining sensible articles with just anything crazy, the magazine aims to be THE British surf magazine. It links up British surfers with the rest of the world.  The magazine has been a hit since only after six months since it started, they already had, in their own words, “a cushdy little office in town.”

Surf Girl Magazine
In a scene which seems to be dominated by men, surf girl gives it a fresh air. In fact, it is the only widely distributed magazine aimed at the female surfer. Orca Publications in Newquay, Cornwall publishes the magazine. It merges topic from the usual women’s magazine like fashion, health and beauty into the surfing culture. Articles on famous female surfers, surfing spots and environmental issues are also featured.

Zigzag Surf Magazine

Zigzag surf magazine is the fourth oldest surf magazine in the world. Started by Paul Naude, Doug MacDonald and Mike Larmont, the magazine was conceived after the team met up with publisher of the Backdoor, a Hawaiian tabloid magazine. The original shop is in the rooftop of Mike Larmont’s surfboard factory.  The magazine was later sold to Craig Sims and Rob Von Wieringen in 1988.  Presently, the team of John McCarthy and Will Bendix publishes the magazine.

Wave Action Surf Magazine

Like the other magazines, wave action surf magazine started out humbly, in a small apartment in Huntington, California. Surfers Mike Freihofer and Pete Rocky pioneered the magazine while still working for another magazine publishing company, International Surf. With two other friends, Tracy Mikulec and Jake Knight, they launched Wave Action Surf Magazine in 1993. The magazine publishing company went on successfully thereafter, creating four more publications.

Wave Action surf magazine initiated the idea for other publications to look out for the next top surfers by releasing an "All Grom Issue" with the article "Hot 100."

Surfing in Ink and Paper: Adventures in Magazine Publishing (part 1 of 2)

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For a lot of people, surfing is not only a sport, it is a lifestyle. The sport has attracted people from all walks life. Some had already built their everyday life around the sport. It has established a whole new culture by itself. With a culture of people with an intense love and commitment to surfing, they have posed themselves as a good market. It is a good niche of people that magazine publishing companies have definitely explored. Here’s a list of magazines that have dedicated themselves to the community.

Surfer

John Severson founded this very successful publication from his own garage in the 1960s. It originally served as an accompaniment to his third surf film, Surf Fever. The magazine proved to be a success, prompting Severson to launch The Surfer Quarterly which later on became the Surfer Bi-Monthly. Surfer was such a huge success that it helped to initiate the boom of the surf culture in the 1970s to the 1980s. It has opened the doors between surfers to talk about almost everything that is related to it.

One important outcome from the magazine was the environmental awareness and movement among the surfers. Articles about marine pollution, reef and harbor conservation have been featured on regular sections. This then has lead to the establishment of the Surfrider Foundation in the 1980s.

John Severson later sold the magazine to Better Living, Inc. Forty-one years later after Surfer was started in his garage, the magazine has undergone several changes in its staff and ownership. The company has also turned itself into a full-sized magazine publishing company.  It has since then hailed as the “surfer’s bible.”

iPhone Battery Replacement (part 2 of 2)

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However, Apple was able to determine the customer’s anticipation for battery replacement and so they offered the iPhone loaner for $29. The iPhone loaner can be used for three days while your iPhone is still with the battery service provider. Keep in mind that once your iPhone’s battery is replaced, the service process will also eliminate all the data on the gadget. Make sure that before you take the iPhone to the battery service, you’ve already backed up your music files, text messages, account settings, photos, contacts, and other important data. Apple will not be held responsible for any lost data and it is also highly advised that you remove all the iPhone accessories before the battery replacement procedure.

To answer the demands of the consumer, last July 2007, independent battery service providers emerged in the market which was not related in any way to Apple. These battery service providers charged lower fees and they also provided battery packs. The battery packs are now widely available but if you choose this alternative, you need to have a soldering iron in order to complete the task of replacing the iPhone battery. However, if you’re using the 3g iPhone, you can’t make use of the battery packs and you need to contact Apple first.

iPhones usually cost between $499 to $599 and you will also need to stick to the 2-year AT&T service plan which costs $60 per month; that is, if you don’t unlock your iPhone.

Apple should have disclosed the battery replacement info sooner so that the customers knew about it in advance. The damage has been done and if you have an iPhone and you need to replace its batteries, contact Apple battery service or you can simply purchase the DIY battery packs; so which alternative are you going to choose?

iPhone Battery Replacement (part 1 of 2)

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Do you have an iPhone? If you do, then you’re probably concerned about battery replacement. You see, the Apple iPhone’s battery cannot be replaced by the user. The battery is located inside the stylish gadget. Users can’t simply take out the battery and purchase a new one; they still need to send the iPhone to Apple Store just to have the batteries replaced.

Consumers are frustrated about the battery replacement issue of their iPhone but they can’t do anything about it. Developers of the iPhone are still trying to come up with effective ways to expand the gadget’s capabilities, including the removable battery. Hackers are also on the move because they want to find out how to switch the batteries of the iPhone without going through the usual process provided by Apple.

Most of the very first customers who purchased the iPhone were unaware that the batteries are not replaceable. They were simply attracted by the iPhone’s crossbred iPod and cell phone features, internet-capable device, and digital camera. Apple was able to post about the battery replacement procedure on its official site after the products were already sold in the market. Apple iPod players and the iPhone follow similar procedures when it comes to battery replacement.

Apple has its battery service provider where the consumers can have their iPhone batteries replaced. The whole process takes 3 business days and the service cost is over $70 plus the shipping cost of &6.95. So you see, you will not be able to use your iPhone for three days.

Expanding Your Business Branding Online (part 2 of 2)

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Weblog

Your blog is basically where you focus on producing quality content. This will help establish your company's brand as something that is of authority to sell a given service or product. There are several spammers that infiltrate the online community, so you have to separate yourself from them. You can do this by remaining consistent with your vision and highlighting your focus on producing a quality brand.

Social Profiles

There are several social networking sites online such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, among others. When you join any one of these social sites, always include your company signature or brand representative such as a logo. This will help visitors to easily remember your company and be on top of their list.

Business Branding Online Do's and Dont's

• Utilizing social network sites that you are interested in as an avenue to promote your brand online is beneficial for your business. Here, you can make connections and expand the reach of your brand. Getting more people into your page will produce major brand building traffic into your site.

• Just write useful and quality content on your site. When people begin to realize the importance of your site's content, it will eventually impact your performance on search engines.

• Try to offer advice or solution to the needs of the people. But refrain from spamming since it would basically ruin your business' reputation.

Business branding online has expanded the reach of your branding efforts to produce a more promising growth for your company.

Expanding Your Business Branding Online (part 1 of 2)

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Promoting business branding online is similar and yet different from typical marketing strategies. Therefore, you have to make unique approach to this method of promoting your business brand. And yet, the benefits of using web tools in making your brand distinct includes the ability to maximize your business efforts and expanding your business' reach. After all, it only makes sense to extend your branding efforts to the internet given the fact that most people nowadays use the internet as their source of daily information.

There are five major areas that you need to address when developing a strong business brand online.

URL Address

This is a crucial determiner for web browsers. Therefore, you must be able to produce a sense of identity for your website and provide a glimpse into your company even before they get the opportunity to see what your website is really about.

Keywords

The keywords are essential to help search engines connect you to the proper audience. Use keywords that are related to the nature of your website, so that it can be easily detected when people run a search on the internet. Try to be creative in coming up with keywords to use, especially those queries not directly related but associated to your business.

Website

This is where you get to showcase your company's vision and your offer of quality products or services. Therefore, you must create a website that speaks for your brand. There are several ways to do that, which includes the content, style, design, and color. You must also incorporate your company logo in the design of the website, to enhance the level of trust and confidence on the consumers to your website. Therefore, you must refrain from compromising the substance of your website for style. A website is just another form of marketing strategy and its objective is to communicate your company's message.

Early Introduction To Dressmaking (part 2 of 2)

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Effective strategies to get kids started on dressmaking

No matter how you look forward to having your child join you while you are dressmaking, parents must never force the kids to do what they don’t want to do. So, to spare you from the pains of forcing a child to get into dressmaking, you must access assess the child's personality first by observing him or her and by asking the child questions about his or her interest in sewing briefly. Here are other effective strategies to get kids into sewing and dressmaking:

1. Gauge the maturity of the child. Expert sewers would agree that the basic trait that the child to be able to enjoy dressmaking is his or her maturity level. This is because when the child is mature enough, he or she will develop the importance of finishing what was started. Maturity level can also develop dedication and discipline in your child because he or she already understands the pros and cons of what he or she is doing.

2. Measure the child's interest in dressmaking. Aside from maturity, you should also gauge the child's interest towards the craft. If you see him or her observing what you are doing while sewing and you feel the child's excitement about the outcome of the item, then you should give the child a simple sewing project.

3. Start simple. When teaching a child to sew, start with simple projects such as a handkerchief, tablemat, or a simple blouse. Start with the basic patterns so the child will be familiar with different patterns available. Also, choose designs and colors that are bright and happy to stimulate your child's positive attitude.

4. Teach basic sewing techniques. In teaching kids to sew for dressmaking, introduce him or her hand sewing first. When you see that the child has mastered sewing by hand, you can introduce him or her to using the sewing machine with your guidance.

Early Introduction To Dressmaking (part 1 of 2)

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Dressmaking can be a wonderful bonding activity for parents and children because it nurtures creativity and resourcefulness in both parties. Unfortunately, most children are not into dressmaking because the parents themselves do not encourage them to indulge in the craft.

If taught early, dressmaking could bring so many advantages to children. Aside from encouraging them to be creative, dressmaking also teaches these kids skills such as drawing. It also inspires them to make their own creations and will make them more aware about the independence they can get from this wonderful activity.

Teaching children the beauty of dressmaking

If you are a parent who is into dressmaking and would like your child to join you while you're doing the craft, you must first show him or her the beauty of dressmaking. You can do this by slowly introducing the child into the craft starting with the dressmaking tools, patterns that can be used, different designs, color scheme and selection, types of fabric, and accessories that can be used in sewing clothes, bags, and other items.

When you're teaching a child to sew, make sure that you explain the purpose and advantages of sewing. Explain how she or he can benefit from it and what are the different creations the child can produce. You can also let the child watch you when you sew to tickle his or her curiosity and try the craft by himself. When you are demonstrating the craft, make sure that you are confident with your work, and are ready to answer all the questions the child might have.

How To Communicate In Body Language (part 2 of 2)

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How You Can Impress Or Convince

It is simple to give a good impression by using body language. A good posture when sitting or standing is essential. Always remember not to slouch. Some people usually regard it as laziness or boredom. When sitting down, do not sit at the edge of the chair. This would make your back look stiffer thus making you look nervous. As much as possible, do not cross you legs as well. If you do so, make sure the direction of your body is towards the other person. When standing, avoid putting your hands in your pocket or crossing your arms over the chest.

You can also impress by giving a firm handshake with eye contact and a slight smile. This action will reflect that you are confident and comfortable. Hand gestures while talking is also a positive body language; it signifies that you know what you are talking about. But avoid too much hand gestures since it might distract the other person from focusing on what you are saying.

Give Signals Of Interest And Attraction

As stated above, long eye contact is one of the strongest signal of interest. Breaking eye contact and then going back again is a sign of interest being exchanged by two people who do not know each other yet. It is an act of eye body language used in flirting.

Other signs that you may use to show your interest includes leaning or directing the body towards the other person and nodding the head, which means “I agree” or “Go on, continue”.

Communicate In A Foreign Body Language

When you are visiting a foreign country or communicating with a foreigner, it is essential that you have a background on their culture and acceptable body language. Prolonged eye contact may be a sign of interest generally, but some Asian countries find it as intimidating and rude. Thus, learn how to communicate through body language appropriately to gain respect and good impression from other people.

How To Communicate In Body Language (part 1 of 2)

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Communication is the method of exchanging messages between two or more people. But words are not the only effective means of talking to another person. The use of body language is a type of nonverbal communication wherein one would use his body to express. This includes the gestures, posture, facial expression, and eye contact. The fact is that all of us are unaware most of the time that we are already sending signals and conveying messages.

Let Your Eyes Speak

The eyes are truly the windows of the soul. It can speak louder than any body movements, even words. The power that the eyes have is that they are truly expressive; no matter what we say, the eyes will prove one's sincerity or honesty.

The eye contact is a very strong reinforcement of your current situation. When the other person is talking and you are maintaining eye contact, it signifies that you are listening to her and you are interested in the conversation. When you are the one talking, eye contact indicates that you are being honest and sincere about what you are saying.

Your eyes can also show that you are undergoing boredom, anxiety, distraction, and lack of interest. Boredom and lack of interest is reflected when the eyes are dull or would break the eye contact and wander around the room. Distraction is also indicated by the sudden break of eye contact and the eyes will be directed to the source of distraction. Meanwhile, anxiety or tension is evident when there is an increase in one's blinking rate.