The Publishers League

On of the big growth areas for many brokers who offer algorithmic trading services to their customers these days is in algorithm customization.

The Buy-side is generally a lot more sophisticated than it used to be, so the Sell-side has to cater to that. Accordingly, brokers are now helping clients to customize their strategies and fine-tune the algorithms so that they work exactly how their clients want them to work.

Many brokers offer “canned strategies” as standard and then tweak them to suit the needs of individual clients. Some even allow the clients to tweak or tune the strategies themselves.

Of course there is a difference between tuning an algo trading strategy that is already available and building a new one from scratch. But even a “canned” algorithmic trading strategy generally has a number of parameters that can be adjusted by the client from their own desktop.

In this way, algorithmic trading is evolving, particularly with the introduction of FIX ATDL (Algorithmic Trading Definition Language). This technology allows changes to be made to an algorithm, by a client, at parameter level.

This is how some brokers are now differentiating themselves in what is becoming an increasingly crowded market. The brokers who are ahead of the game are those who are able to offer this kind of framework, for customised algorithms, to their clients. The ones who are struggling to keep up are the brokers who are unable to offer this service.

As recently as five years ago, most brokers were only able to offer customized algorithms as “one-offs”, which was expensive from the client perspective. But since the introduction of FIX ATDL, there is now a standard framework in place for delivering algorithms to a client and giving them the flexibility to tweak and fine-tune those algorithms. FIX ATDL provides a solid foundation for rapidly deploying and delivering custom algorithms.

This is a key differentiator for the brokers who have adopted this standard. They can deliver custom algorithms more quickly and more flexibly to their clients, at a much lower cost.

For more information about this topic, listen to the Algorithmic Trading Podcast

Diabetes is one of the most common and fast-rising lifestyle diseases today. Each year, there are more than 82,000 amputations reported. This does not include the unrecorded cases, not to mention those undiagnosed and even unaware that they have the disease. Diabetes can strike anytime on anyone and even the seemingly healthy people do not know that they are already suffering from it.

Diabetes can either be genetic or acquired. It occurs when the body rejects insulin or there is an excessively high level of blood sugar in the body. The immune system is suppressed, disabling white blood cells from attacking infections. This results in several complications like cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure, impaired nerves, atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries walls, high cholesterol level and high blood pressure. But one of the urgent problems resulting from diabetes is amputation. Since there is loss of sensation on the feet, a diabetic patient is unable to determine if he or she has a cut or blister that, no matter how small at first, and when neglected or left untreated, will gradually develop into an infection caused by fungi or bacteria slowly eating up the skin. Because there is poor blood circulation around the feet, further complicated by delayed wound healing, the infection spreads up and in order to stop it from further affecting the other parts of the body, the infected part has to be amputated. This is why people with diabetes should take extra care of their feet.

Men tend to be more prone to foot problems than women. This must be because they are usually more physically active and therefore sweat a lot. Because of this, men’s socks for diabetes are especially designed to protect the feet while making it as comfortable as possible. Diabetic socks are made of hypo-allergenic, micro-fiber, moisture-wicking materials that prevent sweating of the feet. Moisture and sweat are perfect breeding grounds for fungi and bacteria that’s why diabetic people should always keep their feet clean and dry. Unlike regular socks, diabetic socks are seamless to prevent abrasions. They are made of elastic cotton material for a snug fit. Tight-fitting socks cause red lines around the feet which can easily lead to infection. Socks that are too loose on the other hand, slide down and inside the shoes, causing another stress to the sensitive feet. Diabetic men’s socks fit just right to feel both protective and comfortable. Moreover, they have a wider toe area to provide more space to breathe and move in when wearing shoes.

Aside from its functional and therapeutic benefits, diabetic socks also come in different styles, lengths and colors to appear fashionable. And since men are usually involved in sports, diabetic men’s socks are designed to provide protection for each specific activity. He can therefore choose from calf-length socks, crew socks, and quarter socks, among others. These are usually gel-padded socks made from soft and breathable materials to absorb shock and cushion the feet while doing physical activities. Some men’s socks also have colloidal silver particles woven inside the soles to absorb the moisture from excessive sweating.

Having diabetes is not the end of your world. In fact, with proper diet and exercise, regular check-ups and medication, and sufficient knowledge and vigilance of the disease, men, and women alike, can go on with their lives, active and happy with their family and friends.

There are many myths surrounding laser hair removal as well as a lot of interest in it. It sounds so futuristic as if little men in space ships are coming to zap our unwanted hair and kill it. But the truth is a little more mundane. Here are three things that may sway your decision about whether to use the laser hair removal technique to get rid of excess hair.

1. Hair is Not Immediately Killed

One session of laser hair removal does not remove hair and stop it ever growing again. The object of the exercise is to damage the hair follicles so that they lose their ability to produce hair. But the damage must be done at the right time – while the hair is actively growing – and also must be extensive enough to have the desired effect. This means that several treatments will be needed to have an effect on any one area of your body and hair will continue to grow between these sessions until it has suffered enough damage at the right time.

2. It Does Not Work for Everyone

Those with blond, red or gray hair need not apply as laser treatment is ineffective unless hair is dark. (The laser attacks the pigment in the hair.) If your skin is dark things will be tricky too because a standard machine will also target the pigment in skin too and damage it. A particular type of machine is needed for dark skin which may or may not be available in your local laser hair removal clinic. And in any case it is not so effective as treatment on those with fair skin.

3. It Offers Only Permanent Reduction

After spending hundreds (and, more usually, thousands) of dollars you may find that some of your hair still grows back. Laser treatment can only be offered as a method of permanent reduction (rather than removal) in unwanted hair. Having said that, most people who have the treatment are happy enough with the level of removal or reduction that they are ready to go on to treat other areas of their body.

photo credit: PhotoVandal

The Internet is a fantastic resource if you want to find a program that will help you increase your vertical leap. However, choosing what among them to employ can be a really difficult task because there are so many jumping programs available these days. If you too want to increase your vertical with the help of a jumping program, here are a couple of tips for you to ponder on. Read on…

1.) Never base your decision primarily on the cost of the product. Many aspiring jumpers normally go for the cheapest programs that are available mainly because they fear that the program might actually suck and would not work, so it is just okay since they paid less for it. Most, if not all, of the cheap programs that you can find are very hard to understand and follow.

2.) Always check and do a bit of research. There are tons of websites on the Internet that offers jump programs, so do not just focus all your time and attention on the first site that pops on your screen.

3.) You should also conduct your research on the creator of the program and not just the program itself. Check their credentials and their background. Who are they, are they certified trainers or athletes themselves? Do they actually use the principles themselves? This is very important so you could avoid acquiring any injuries and also to ensure that the routines or exercises included in the program will work and suit you.

4.) You also need to make sure that the program you pick employs a safe and reliable payment method. You do not want your personal credit card information and details to be stolen now do you?

As a suggestion, there is this one great program that is making a mark online these days and that is the jump manual. Why not go and check it out?

In order for removal of black mold to be effective it is important to get right to it. The longer you let it go, the more likely it is to take control. Don’t allow it to take over as it’s be extremely harmful to anyone living in the household.

Mold can grow in any home that has too much moisture or a warm and humid climate. Eventually, small mushroom like fungi will start coming out of the seams of walls and ceilings leaving all vulnerable to severe sickness. This is especially harmful to anyone who has asthma or other respiratory problems.

Most people find these spores growing in rooms that have a hot and humid environment such as bathing and kitchen areas. They are also often found in damp basements. However, any room can develop them.

Eliminating mold spores

Do away with any mold that you see on walls or ceilings the moment that you encounter it. The task can be easy if you take the proper measures. By acting quickly you will get rid of any spores and deter future growth.

Before beginning the process make sure that you turn on fans and open windows throughout the house. The fumes that come from cleaning mold have the ability of making a person violently ill if inhaled. Wear rubber gloves and cover your face with a cloth or mask.

Almost all molds is easily removed by simply mixing a normal bleach water solution. Combine this with the scrubbing power of a sturdy sponge and your home will be free of spores in to time at all. Wipe all of the walls around the infected area to prevent missing any fungus from being left behind.

Black mold removal is really not a time consuming or difficult task. Just be sure to follow the safety steps and don’t be careless. Get rid of the water and materials that were used in the process. Leaving them around the house will encourage new mold growth.

photo credit: youngthousands

LCD TV’s are the current newest, nicest way to watch TV. That being said almost everyone is either in the market to buy one or has already bought one. Once you buy the LCD TV you will want to purchase a stand for it. There are all sorts of stands to choose from and you don’t want to get overloaded with making the right choice for your stand.

There are several things to factor in during the decision making process. What style, what color, what material and what design do you want to go with? There are also options such as do you want drawers or storage space for your other media related items i.e. dvd player, cds, dvds etc. Other things to consider is the quality of the LCD TV stand you are looking for, this will directly affect the amount of money you will be spending on the item. The stands come in a variety of price range choices. The higher end models such as mahogany and oak will have a much higher asking price then the models made from glass or metal.

Keep in mind all the options you want to have or don’t want to have as part of your stand purchase. Many stands have the ability to hold other items you may want to showcase. It is not uncommon for a stand to come complete with a glass door area for your cd or dvd collection. If you do want to go this way there are several nice options. Again, the more options the steeper the price. There are certain stands that allow you to hang your tv on the wall.

As a rule you will need to buy the stand even if you only use the hanging brackets. This is actually a good option as you will always have the choice of hanging your TV on the wall or mounting your tv onto the stand. Keep in mind you will always want to check the weight limit each stand is able to hold. While you need minimal space for the stand, you do need to make sure that you are not overweight for the particular model you buy. The last thing you want is your new TV crashing to the floor.

Lastly, there are also interchangeable stands as well as transparent stands available. A transparent stand will enable your friends and family to focus more on the TV then the stand itself. Interchangeable stands allow you to mount more then one type of flat screen on the stand.

Purchasing LCD TV stands is very simple. They are available throughout retail and media stores as well as in every electronics department of your favorite brand name stores. You may also search popular online shopping sites and bid on one or buy one there. This enables you to not have to leave your home to find what you are looking for.

photo credit: Genealogy Photos

A baby needs a safe and sound space of her own. She needs proper care since she cannot express if something is hurting or uncomfortable. So finding a perfect baby crib for your infant is not an easy task. If you are meticulous, the task becomes even more difficult. Safety, budget and durability are some of the factors that need to be considered during the purchase, while additional features, styles, themes and flexibility can also influence your decision.

Whether you got an infant in your home or you are expecting a baby, you are definitely going to need a baby crib. Since babies spend most of their time sleeping in their cribs and are left unattended, the crib needs to be very comfortable and delicate.

Cribs are generally made of metal or wood. Baby cribs can be convertible, rocking, sleigh, and round or have another variety. Round ones take less space and are trendy, while rectangular ones take a little more space and are traditional. Your crib should have the minimum safety features. Though babies know no gender, yet they have their habits and preferences. There are separate cribs specially suited for boys and girls.

Modern baby crib comes with plenty more features than a traditional crib. They come in various innovative designs, colors, sizes, and materials and can be mobile. Baby crib bedding is as important as the crib itself and you got plenty of choices for it like firm, extra firm, innerspring, with or without coil, cotton, waterproof and so on.

A convertible baby bed crib will be multi-purpose. You can turn it into a toddler’s bed, day bed or even full-sized bed. You can remove sides of the crib, or remove the rails whenever needed. A convertible crib will go a long way with your child but it is a bit costlier than the regular ones.  You can check out, your baby crib site for more details on these products.

photo credit: tachyondecay

Just like you, your cat needs to eat good food in order to stay healthy. It is important to your pet because eating good pet food the only way that their bodies can get the nutrition that it needs. You may not know this but pet food is a big business and generates over $28 billion dollars per year, that is quite a bit of money.

Decades ago, it was common practice to feed cats a combination of raw meats and what ever it was leftover from dinner that night, in other words, the same foods you and I eat. Over time pet supply companies began promoting cat food as being, “healthier for your cat”. This is truly funny because nowadays, most pet food companies claim that their pet food is better because it is more like out foods.

So what should you be worried about? The first thing that you need to know is that the FDA monitors pet food suppliers much like they monitor human food and drug manufacturers. This means that there is a certain degree of security involved when it comes to cat food. Although, like human food there are healthy things that you can buy… and not so healthy things.

Many cat food companies use a great deal of fillers in order to lower manufacturing costs for their products. Lower quality manufacturers, such as, Special Kitty cat food have a much higher percentage of  these fillers in their products. Fillers may not be dangerous to your cat in the sense that they are poisonous but they provide not nutritional value what so ever. This is because you pet is filling up on garbage and is no longer hungry, even though they may not have gotten the right amount of vitamins and minerals.

So a word to the wise, make sure you read the label on your cat’s food, especially cheaper brands, to make sure that you know exactly what it is that you’re feeding your pet.

photo credit: Visentico / Sento

A lot of people think that if they can’t get a mortgage today, their only option is to remain a renter until they qualify.  For many people, the idea of continuing to throw money away on rent is very discouraging.  The good news is that there is another option that you may not have considered.  Why not get an owner financing or a  rent to own house?  This alternative gives you many of the benefits of home ownership and also allows you to move in the direction of your goals.

Enjoy the Benefits of Home Ownership Now!

Owning a home is a core need that many people have.  When you rent, somehow it just does not feel the same.  However, because the ultimate goal when you get an owner finance home or rent to own is to eventually get a mortgage in your own name, many people feel like the home is theirs from the start.  The ability to maintain the home as you see fit and make changes and improvements that you want contributes to the feeling that the home is yours.

Build Equity While Repairing Your Credit

Credit repair can take time, sometimes a few years.  This does not mean that you should continue to throw money away on rent while you are repairing yours!  When you get a rent to own home, you begin building equity from day one.  A portion of each monthly payment is credited to the purchase price in the form of a rent credit.  Additionally, you get the benefit in any appreciation that takes place during your rental term.  These two things combined mean that very often, when it comes time to get a mortgage, you are not required to make any additional down payment.  Of course, mortgage guidelines change all the time, so you should be prepared to make a down payment if necessary.

photo credit: yukop

There are such a large number of dieting myths out there and if you let them influence your diet, you may experience some adverse effects or just an altered diet experience. But we aren’t going to let that happen – we will bust those myths right here and now. Let’s look at the top 10 dieting myths:

1. There have to be a severe calorie restriction

A severe calorie restriction will slow down your metabolism and make it difficult to lose weight, so try to avoid diets like that. To weigh off your portion sizes, use a electronic kitchen scale – it will make it much easier.

2. The diet has to be very low in fat

A diet doesn’t have to be very low in fat to work; all you need is a low fat diet. You still need a fair amount of good fats to keep you full and happy.

3. The only good protein is tofu

There are lots of good quality proteins that you can use in a diet – it is not only limited to tofu.

4. The diet must work in less than 3 weeks

Lots of people want instant gratification, but a diet doesn’t have to work in a short amount of time to be successful. The longer the diet takes to work, the longer the weight stays off.

5. You should avoid eating after 6

The time of day that you eat doesn’t play a role on your weight – it is the total amount of calories consumed that matters.

6. Carbs are the enemy and should be avoided

You need carbs to give you energy and to keep you full. Don’t avoid all carbs; there are still lots of good carbs that you can eat.

7. When you diet you don’t have to exercise

It is true that with some diets you should avoid exercise (with really strict, calorie restricted diets), but with most diets a little bit of exercise will actually do you good. Invest in some discounted fitness equipment and make your own home gym.

8. The best way to lose weight is by eating only once or twice a day

The fewer times you eat a day, the slower your metabolism and the lower your chance of weight loss.

9. Vegetarian is one of the best ways to lose weight

If you like vegetarian foods, fine go on a vegetarian diet. But don’t just do it for weight losses sake if you hate vegetables.

10. I have to feel hungry on a diet

There is no need to be constantly hungry on a diet. You can be full all day and still lose weight.

This article has hopefully shed the light on the many diet myths that are available these days. If it did, you will no longer fall in their traps and they won’t interfere with the success of your diet. So watch out for these myths and you will have a happy and effective diet journey.