Decision with a mortgage calculator when to foreclose

One of the best places, you hope, to sink your capital for a good return is in real estate. However, when you provide the financing for someone to purchase their own home, your capital is tied to their ability to pay back the loan. If they start to miss payments, then you need to start considering your options. A mortgage calculator which specializes in foreclosure loss helps you to decide when the time is right for starting action against the homeowners.

In theory, if you own the loan, you own the property if the mortgage you're financing goes into default. However, this doesn't mean that you will automatically see a profit - or even not suffer a loss - should you need to foreclose. There are a number of things to take into account which a foreclosure risk of loss mortgage calculator can call to your attention so that you don't allow things to get out of hand.

For example, the mortgage calculator may ask you to input the amount of interest you receive on the loan each month. Then it asks for how many months you received no interest leading up to the foreclosure. The longer you keep the non-paying owners there, the more this will amount to. You'll start seeing just where your cash flow is going.

The mortgage calculator may want to know the amount of the loan, and the value of the property (remember: this is the value now, not when the mortgage was taken out.) This should be in your favor unless the property has been allowed to fall into disrepair during the time the owners had it. Sometimes, when they can't make the mortgage payment, they lose interest in even basic maintenance.

Another factor that the mortgage calculator considers is any property taxes which are unpaid. Once you foreclose on the property, you become liable for these and if they haven't been paid for quite some time this could account for a serious deficit in your funds! First there are the taxes; and then, there are penalties; and the final total includes interest. While the mortgage calculator take these into consideration, don't forget to follow up. It is possible to check whether or not the property taxes are up-to-date prior to foreclosure by contacting the county or parish in which the property is situated.

Legal fees are another area that the mortgage calculator might remind you to take into account. No matter how long you allow the arrears to go on, the legal fees will be waiting for you. There will be the legal fees associated with the foreclosure; and then another set of legal fees when you resell the property to another buyer.

Other miscellaneous entries that may be entered on a mortgage calculator will include:

* selling costs

* any discounts that you give in order to sell the property quickly and not lose more interest than necessary

* any necessary clean-up and repair costs,

* even insurance of the property in the interim period between foreclosure and exchanging contracts with the new owners of the property

After all that, you begin to wonder if you're making a profit. Well, using a foreclosure mortgage calculator before it becomes absolutely necessary to foreclose will show you the value of working with your clients to help them stay in their home.

Clock is ticking for independent women

Independent Women, a song popularized by the group Destiny's Child is part of the official soundtrack of the movie, Charlie's Angels. The song best describes the women of the new millennium. Women today are doing a lot more than you can imagine. Many of them are recognized as achievers, leaders, or top professionals in their chosen fields. Women are now more focused on pursuing a career, getting another degree, and becoming financially stable. They want to get what they want on their own, just by themselves. And as they are enjoying their time because of this independence, some women are placing marriage and pregnancy at the back seat. These career women are mostly in their late 20s and early 30s, often comfortable in their status as a single person without a partner or a child of their own. But eventually, some of these career women do realize that all their material and personal success would never be enough. Some realize late in life that having a family is one of the few things that would truly make them happy. Even if some of these women do get married, the prospect of getting pregnant becomes a challenge. After spending their early years in pursuit of career success, the task of getting pregnant becomes a biological hurdle that many find as impossible to overcome.

Over the last 10 years, there was a dramatic increase in the number of women over age 35 requesting medical intervention for infertility. Approximately 20% of women in United States are having their first child after age 35. This is most likely due to a combination of older age at the time of first marriage and more significantly due to the delay of childbearing in marriage. Countless clinical trials have revealed that a woman's fertility declines significantly when she gets older, yet aging only minimally affects male fertility.

In addition, research supports that this decline in female fertility is more likely related to the aging egg and less likely due to an aging uterus. The healthiest and most fertile eggs are ovulated when a woman is in her teens through her late 20s, a woman's time of peak fertility. When a woman reaches her mid to late 30s, the remaining eggs have substantially less potential for fertilizing and establishing a healthy pregnancy. This is mostly due to chromosomal injuries that normally occur as eggs age within the ovaries.

The vast majority of eggs ovulated have a normal chromosomal composition on women less than 35 years of age. An increasing number of her eggs are likely to be genetically abnormal, aneuploid, as the woman progresses beyond 35 years old. This is a natural process of aging.

With even the most recent dramatic advances in infertility treatment, age related infertility remains as one of our most difficult challenges. Reproductive specialists have known for years that the pregnancy rate is inversely related to the female partner's age. Early explanations for this trend included decreased coital frequency, diminished desire for childbearing, decreased overall time to try for a pregnancy, and diminished ovarian reserve with advancing age. As women age, even while still regularly menstruating, there are subtle shifts in hormonal patterns that may make the endometrium less receptive, which will make them difficult to get pregnant.

Women who are delaying their plans of getting pregnant should somehow learn from past generations and apply the wisdom of their parents or older friends to be responsible, to savor life, and learn from life's hard lessons. Independent women should take charge and enjoy what they have right now. They must realize that their biological clock is ticking.

Press release why seo experts should not use press releases

Rumor has it that press releases are the next big thing in the SEO business, and many companies are spending top dollars trying to write the next big press release announcing the next big balloon breaking technology. But is this really the next big thing?

By definition, a Press Release is a kind of news item released by the company on whom the news is being reported. As such, you will have to compete with all the other press releases and hope that your will get picked up.

Why Will Your Press Release Be Trashed?

1) Unless you are writing a press release about Microsoft, Adobe, Sony or one of the other mega-companies, or at least about a company that is relatively well known, forget about it. Journalists and news editors receive thousands of press releases a day and there is no way that they will waste more than a quick glance. So why should you pay a company seven to eight hundred dollars for them sending your press release to thousands of editors and journalists when they are going to junk it anyway?

2) Unless you are announcing a truly revolutionary product or technology (which I assume you are not since you are only interested in using the professionally paid and written press release to boost your search engine rankings), whatever you make up or announce such as some new free deal or new portal offering something unique, your chances of being picked up are very slim. Yes, the PR companies will tell you that they have vast experience in writing Press Releases that will make yours stand out and get picked up but this is not accurate. The only way your PR is going to get picked up is if it truly is something out of the ordinary or something that no one has ever thought off.

3) Unless you plan to spend millions of dollars and then just by sheer volume your site will go ahead in the search engines, this is not a good option. Why? If you send a large number of press releases then these will be placed on the different PR companies websites main page. Since most of these home pages have a very high page rank, your site will get a boost. The question is whether this boost is worth the large amount of money you will put into the PR companies pocket. No it is not. Use that money to buy (though I do not recommend this) links from high-ranked websites and you will pay less and receive more benefit.

4) Any press release, even if it has been accepted, will remain on the different pages for just a short time, making the time and effort and even more so the amount of money you paid fruitless.

Conclusion:

A press release is useful if you wish to contact the press and maybe get some free publicity, but it is of no use if you wish to use it as a tool in order to advance your website in the search engines.

The new bankruptcy law

With the new bankruptcy law in effect as of October 17, 2005, there is a lot of confusion with regard to the new "means test" requirement. The means test will be used by the courts to determine eligibility for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The purpose of this article is to explain in plain language how the means test works, so that consumers can get a better idea of how they will be affected under the new rules.

When most people think of bankruptcy, they think in terms of Chapter 7, where the unsecured debts are normally discharged in full. Bankruptcy of any variety is a difficult ordeal at best, but at least with Chapter 7, a debtor can wipe out the debts in full and get a fresh start. Chapter 13, however, is another story, since the debtor must pay back a significant portion of the debt over a 3-5 year period, with 5 years being the standard under the new law.

Prior to the advent of the "Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005," the most common reason for someone to file under Chapter 13 was to avoid the loss of equity in their home or other property. And while equity protection will continue to be a big reason for people to choose Chapter 13 over Chapter 7, the new rules will force many people to file under Chapter 13 even if they have NO equity. That's because the means test will take into account the debtor's income level.

To apply the means test, the courts will look at the debtor's average income for the 6 months prior to filing and compare it to the median income for that state. For example, the median annual income for a single wage-earner in California is $42,012. If the income is below the median, then Chapter 7 remains open as an option. If the income exceeds the median, the remaining parts of the means test will be applied.

This is where it gets a little bit trickier. The next step in the calculation takes income less living expenses (excluding payments on the debts included in the bankruptcy), and multiplies that figure times 60. This represents the amount of income available over a 5-year period for repayment of the debt obligations.

If the income available for debt repayment over that 5-year period is $10,000 or more, then Chapter 13 will be required. In other words, anyone earning above the state median, and with at least $166.67 per month of available income, will automatically be denied Chapter 7. So for example, if the court determines that you have $200 per month income above living expenses, $200 times 60 is $12,000. Since $12,000 is above $10,000, you're stuck with Chapter 13.

What happens if you are above the median income but do NOT have at least $166.67 per month to pay toward your debts? Then the final part of the means test is applied. If the available income is less than $100 per month, then Chapter 7 again becomes an option. If the available income is between $100 and $166.66, then it is measured against the debt as a percentage, with 25% being the benchmark.

In other words, let's say your income is above the median, your debt is $50,000, and you only have $125 of available monthly income. We take $125 times 60 months (5 years), which equals $7,500 total. Since $7,500 is less than 25% of your $50,000 debt, Chapter 7 is still a possible option for you. If your debt was only $25,000, then your $7,500 of available income would exceed 25% of your debt and you would be required to file under Chapter 13.

To sum up, first figure out whether you are above or below the median income for your state (median income figures are available at new-bankruptcy-law-info. com). Be sure to account for your spouse's income if you are a two-income family. Next, deduct your average monthly living expenses from your monthly income and multiply by 60. If the result is above $10,000, you're stuck with Chapter 13. If the result is below $6,000, you may still be able to file Chapter 7. If the result is between $6,000 and $10,000, compare it to 25% of your debt. Above 25%, you're looking at Chapter 13 for sure.

Now, in these examples, I have ignored a very important aspect of the new bankruptcy law. As stated above, the amount of monthly income available toward debt repayment is determined by subtracting living expenses from income. However, the figures used by the court for living expenses are NOT your actual documented living expenses, but rather the schedules used by the IRS in the collection of taxes. A big problem here for most consumers is that their household budgets will not reflect the harsh reality of the IRS approved numbers. So even if you think you are "safe," and will be able to file Chapter 7 because you don't have $100 per month to spare, the court may rule otherwise and still force you into Chapter 13. Some of your actual expenses may be disallowed. What remains to be seen is how the courts will handle cases where the cost of mortgages or home rentals are inflated well above the government schedules. Will debtors be expected to move into cheaper housing to meet the court's required schedule for living expenses? No one has any answers to these questions yet. It will be up to the courts to interpret the new law in practice as cases proceed through the system.

Be careful with 125 loans

Many borrowers think they have found the perfect loan -- the 125. But you should be cautious when considering this product.

A 125 loan is named for the amount of equity you can pull out of your home, which is usually 125%. Some of the loan is secured by your home and some of it isn't, making it a mixed loan type. The portion that is unsecured causes your interest rate to be higher than with a fully secured home equity loan.

Many borrowers turn to 125 loans because they can simply make one payment to their lender instead of several payments to many lenders. The single payment is often lower than the total of all the payments it replace, due to differences in interest rates. The rates are often much better than credit card rates, but if you roll other loans in, such as student loans, you may actually be raising some rates on your debt.

For example, you may have a car loan with a balance of $11,000. You have an interest rate of 8.5% and 4 years left of payments. You roll the note into your 125 loan, which has a rate of 11.5%. You've actually raised your interest rate.

If you roll in a credit card with a $12,000 balance and an interest rate of 19%, you are lowering your rate. But you will be looking at upwards of ten years of payments.

The real danger comes in when borrowers take out a 125, roll over their credit card debt and then go out and max out those cards again. This is called reloading. You now have double the debt to repay. You are in a worse situation now and are risking losing your home.

When you take out a 125, you have to be dedicated enough to cut up each credit card right then and there. This will help you avoid temptation.

You may be saying, but wait -- I get to deduct the interest on a 125 on my income taxes. Yes, you are saving 28 cents for every dollar you spend. Doesn't make a lot of sense. Plus, the amount of interest on the loan above the value of your home is not tax deductible. If you deduct it, it will bite you in the taxes.

You are also now upside down in your home equity. You owe more than your home is worth. You can't sell it until the value of the house increases or you pay off the loan enough to reduce the balance below the value of the house. That takes around five to 10 years in most cases.

If you are forced to sell your home, you will probably have to pay money at closing just to get it off your hands. You are paying to sell your home. If you plan to stay in your home for a long time, you may not need to worry about this as much.

But keep in mind that the unexpected happens. When you open yourself up to a lot of debt, you are putting your future at risk. Taking out a 125 loan to get rid of the debt isn't necessarily your best option. It certainly isn't the easy way out, as you may have been told. It is the same debt, just new place. Be very careful, it's your house on the line this time.

Jello shot article

Making jello shots are large fun for every one, regularise in the mentation and making of the shots can be a lot of fun. A gelatin missile or hydrocolloid expert has ever been a humiliate hit in exerciser, night clubs, motif exerciser at interior and parties.

Pretty much any position that would secure the use of any write of fuel, ordinarily rum, vodka, tequila or in uttermost cases (if your disagreeable to ending something) flatbottomed caryopsis drinkable. The drink is old to backup any of the h2o or production succus victimised to solidify the hydrocolloid missile mix.

An Indweller mathematician by the repute of Tom Lehrer is thought to somebody been the 1st to skill the hydrocolloid play in the nearby opening 1950s time excavation for the NSA, where he formulated vodka hydrocolloid, this was his genius strain to pussyfoot intoxicant onto the soldierly pedestal with out any of the superior officers getting rain to it.

The maximal alcohol thing is somewhere in between 18 & 21 oz. of vodka per 3 oz. encase of Jell-O explosive, or nigh 30% (ABV) fuel by intensity.

Alternatives

A few gelatinous desserts can be manufactured using medium instead of hydrocolloid, allowing them to set far quicker and at higher temperatures. Gum, a vegetable by set made from seaweed and is utilized especially in hydrocolloid projectile powder mix for an expedited scene clip and Dweller jello desserts, but also as a match that is unimpeachable to vegans and vegetarians. Agar is far author intimately consanguine to pectin and a few additional gelling works carbohydrates than to average kickshaw.

There is one otherwise vegetarian prime to kickshaw, it is titled gum. This disjunctive how e'er sets harder than agar and is ofttimes used in kosher name cooking. Though it, too, is a type of seaweed, it does not bed the duplicate bad operation of odour when existence seared that you would sometimes acquire when you navigator with gum Alchemy

Unsoured pineapple should rattling be avoided when making hydrocolloid shots, it contains the enzyme bromelain which moldiness can never be allowed to mix with the hydrocolloid pellet combining as this enzyme gift foreclose the hydrocolloid from scope, this enzyme is popular in most citrus and hot fruits. Papaya and papaw contain the enzyme papain, inhabitant production contains actinidin, and figs hold ficin - all with akin effects. Cookery denatures the enzyme, performance it inoperative so if you essential these hydrocolloid chance flavors get the woman to firing up the stove.

What are the essentials of high quality loose leaftea

Demand for high quality loose leaf tea is experiencing strong growth and for those interested in high quality loose tea, more information will aid in decision making. Critical elements in the process include:

Source of the Tea

Manufacturing Processes

Purchasing, Quality Control and Customer Service

Source of the Tea

All tea comes from the plant Camellia sinensis but there is where the similarity between high quality loose leaf tea and other, lesser quality ends. From the time the tea leaves are plucked until the time the consumer tastes the brew, a number of critical events affect the tea experience.

High quality loose leaf teas are carefully selected as only the finest of these rare orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and hand-crafted with extreme care.

Tea, like wine, is harvested and processed into the final product on the grounds of the garden or estate. The taste and quality of any tea varietal depends upon the specific growing conditions. Factors such as altitude, climate, soil, weather, and plucking season all affect the final product.

To produce just one pound of quality loose leaf tea, it takes approximately 3,000 hand plucked leaves. Only the most tender leaves and young buds are selected. After the leaves are picked, the precise art of tea making begins.

Manufacturing Processes

Tea is manufactured by two different processes.

Most ordinary tea is machine processed by the C. T.C. method (crush, tear, curl). The resulting small, broken pieces are used in tea bags or iced tea concentrates. Less than 2% of the world's tea is of superior quality, hand-processed in the classic, time-honored method known as orthodox manufacture.

High quality suppliers are dedicated to offering outstanding, whole-leaf teas of the greatest quality and finesse. Whole-leaf varietals retain the subtle nuances of flavor so prized by discriminating palates throughout the centuries. The highest quality loose teas are hand-plucked and meticulously crafted to enhance leaf character, aroma, color, clarity, body, complexity, and above all, flavor. Connoisseurs will find no soggy paper tea bags and no trendy herbals from high quality loose tea suppliers; only real tea from the Camellia Sinensis bush. And, of course, only the finest.

Purchasing, Quality Control and Customer Service

Access to high quality loose leaf tea is the final element. Most loose leaf teas are not available in retail outlets. Nevertheless, quality tea is easily available through e-commerce outlets on the internet.

Increasingly e-commerce over the internet has proven to be an efficient and easy way to purchase quality products and those e-commerce sites that are customer friendly also offer convenient and low cost home delivery. Loose leaf tea is ideally suited to e-commerce because it is light and easy to transport.

When evaluating e-commerce sites, the consumer should consider those sites that are interactive, easy to use and offer rich features such as auto shipping, multiple destination shipments, gift shipments and delivery flexibility.

The loose leaf tea experience is all about quality and quality does not end with manufacturing. Those suppliers that are truly dedicated to quality will maintain quality control over each shipment received from the producing tea garden.

Since almost all quality loose leaf tea comes from other countries such as China, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and others, choose a supplier who cups or tastes each shipment before acceptance. This measure of quality control will guarantee consistent quality but most loose leaf tea suppliers skip this important step. Check with a potential supplier to determine their cupping commitment.

In addition to quality control, customer service is a critical element in the loose tea relationship. Since the purchase of high quality loose tea tends to be a long term relationship, consideration of the needs of the customer and customer satisfaction is paramount.

The best suppliers have a culture of customer service, open lines of communication to customer service personnel and solicit feedback from customers as a way to maintain consistent quality.

How do you dispute an error on your credit card

If you have ever ordered anything using your credit card and you haven’t received it but you were billed for it, you have some options. Once you get over your initial anger, calmly follow these steps.

Write to the credit card issuer at the address for "billing inquiries," not the address for sending your payments (the address for billing inquiries is often found on the back of your most recent monthly statement); include your name, address, account number and a description of the billing error.

Send your letter so that it reaches the credit card issuer within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was mailed to you.

Send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you have proof of what the credit card issuer received. Include copies (not originals) of sales slips or other documents that support your position. Keep a copy of your dispute letter.

It is important to send the letter to the correct company. In the case of Visa and MasterCard, you should send it to the bank that issued the card.

The credit card issuer must acknowledge your complaint in writing within 30 days after receiving it, unless the problem has already been resolved. And the credit card issuer must resolve the dispute within two billing cycles (but not more than 90 days) after receiving your letter.

What happens while your bill is in dispute?

You may withhold payment on the disputed amount (and related charges), during the investigation, but you must pay any part of the bill not in question, including any finance charges on the undisputed amount. Hi-light or circle the disputed item(s).

The credit card issuer may not take any legal or other action to collect the disputed amount and the related charges (including finance charges) during the investigation. While your account cannot be closed or restricted, the disputed amount may be applied against your credit limit.

You placed an order with a catalog company and they charged your credit card immediately. The catalog company contacts you two weeks later and says the shipment will be delayed 60 days. You agree to the delay. The 60 days have passed and you don't have the merchandise. Can you still dispute the charge?

Maybe. In delayed shipment situations, credit card issuers often are more generous when they calculate the time for allowing disputes. To take advantage of this flexibility, include the following information in your dispute letter.

Tell the credit card issuer if the premature charge was unexpected. Some credit card issuers make an exception to the general industry rule against merchants charging before shipping if the merchant tells you about its practice at the time of sale. If you're certain the merchant said nothing or wasn't clear about its charge practice, the credit card issuer is more likely to allow the dispute.

Tell the credit card issuer when delivery was expected. In no delivery situations, some credit card issuers will use the expected date of delivery rather than the charge date as the start time for you to dispute charges. If you dispute the charge within a reasonable time after the expected delivery date passes, chances are good that the credit card issuer will honor the dispute. When you order or when a merchant notifies you of delayed shipment, it's important to keep a record of the promised shipment or delivery date. Include a copy of any documentation of the shipment or delivery date when disputing the charge with your credit card issuer.

What if you used a debit card to pay for the merchandise? The consumer protections for a debit card fall under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) and may differ from protections for a credit card under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA). So you may not be able to dispute a debit and get a refund for non-delivery or late delivery. Still, some debit card issuers voluntarily offer protections and solutions to problems like the failure to receive merchandise bought with a debit card. Contact your debit card issuer for more information about particular policies and protections.

What if you financed your purchase through the merchant? If you financed your purchase through the merchant, you also may have protections under state and federal law. Check your credit contract for the following language: Notice: Any holder of this consumer credit contract is subject to all claims and defenses which the debtor could assert against the seller of goods or services obtained with the proceeds hereof. It means that you may be able to claim that the seller failed to deliver the goods as stated in your credit contract.

Don’t just suck it up and take the loss. It may take a little time to resolve your problem, but the law is on your side. Just follow the steps to file your dispute, provide the necessary paperwork, and let the system correct the problem.

Loans are not only for homeowners get tenant loans

Loan market is increasing with increasing cost of living. Earlier it was believed that if you own a home there are better chance for getting a loan. This is not a false statement; yes your home can get you better deals. But what about those people who are living as tenants and lacking anything to offer as collateral. Are they left out from the race of getting a loan….???. No they won’t…..with the arrival of tenant loans, popularly known as unsecured personal loans, you can apply a loan without offering anything as security.

Tenant loans are loans for you personal needs like debt consolidation, business financing, and education, health, buying property, boat, car and other such personal needs. The best thing about these loans is that you don’t have to mention the purpose of the loan to the lender. You can use the amount the way you want to use it.

Tenant loans give you the freedom from the stress and anxiety of loosing your asset as in case of secured loans. As the valuation of the collateral is not involved these loans are approved faster. Reduced and hassle free paperwork allows you to apply for these loans quite easily. Like any other unsecured loan, a tenant loan comes with a slightly higher interest rate. You can apply for a tenant loans if you are a tenant, a student or even a homeowner who don’t want to put their property at stake.

One thing which needs to be taken care of while applying for a tenant loan is your credit score. As there is no collateral, no security for the loan, only your credit score gives him some assurance that he is going to get back his money. You can obtain your credit score from credit rating agencies. They will also suggest you the ways to improve your credit score.

Normally you can apply a tenant loan for amounts ranging between ₤1000 to ₤25000. You may get higher amounts and better interest rates with little negotiations with the lender. Remember the effort is yours because the money is yours. It is highly recommended to not to apply for a loan amount which you can’t repay afterwards. Always determine your repayment ability before deciding any such loan amount.

The last but most important thing is to research properly for loan lenders. Beware of loan sharks and frauds in the loan market. Properly read terms and conditions of the loan agreement as it may contain hidden terms which can cost you later. So start searching now and get the best deals in tenant loans for your personal needs.

Find natural relief from depression and anxiety

If you suffer from depression or anxiety, life might seem overwhelming at times. Depression can cause even minor problems to seem unbearable, so you might choose to ignore normal daily tasks and withdraw from those you love. Anxiety and panic attacks can cause insomnia, and you may feel helpless at times. Panic attacks can be very scary even when your body seems to be healthy otherwise.

Taking prescription medications can help both of these conditions, but many people don't realize that there are natural ways to find relief as well. Learn about these healthy and affordable alternatives below.

The Stress Connection

Did you know that stress is deeply connected to many health conditions including depression and anxiety? Stress comes from many directions - work, family problems, or finances. Finding ways to relieve stress is important because it helps reduce your risks of depression and anxiety. Through exercise and either medication or a natural remedy, you can tremendously reduce your amount of daily stress and start living a happier, more fulfilling life.

Prescription Medications for Depression and Anxiety

Although there are many types of prescription medications that can help with depression or anxiety such as buspirone, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and benzodiazepines, these are not always the best remedy. There are several disadvantages to taking these types of medications. Some medications are very costly and may cause adverse sexual effects. They may be habit-forming, may cause insomnia or extreme fatigue, or may have cardiovascular risks.

Also, you might already be taking pharmaceutical medication for another health condition that could react with the depression or anxiety medication in an undesirable way. You should consult with your doctor to be sure the medications will not counteract one another.

Natural Alternatives

With a natural supplement, you might find relief from depression or anxiety without spending a fortune on doctor bills and prescription medications. Sometimes the answer can be as simple as taking a certain herbal remedy such as Amoryn or making minor changes to your diet. Studies with Amoryn, for example, have shown positive results for 90 percent of those with depression and 88 percent of those with anxiety. Amoryn is a natural antidepressant that boosts the brain's natural capacity for happiness.

Seredyn is another natural supplement that helps relieve anxiety and panic attacks by calming you and giving you a sense of control as you go through the day.

Benefits of Natural Supplements

With natural supplements, you can enjoy relief while avoiding many of the unwanted side effects that can occur with prescription medications. These are not usually habit-forming and often produce positive results within a short period of time. You can now research these online to find the right herbs for you. If you suffer from severe depression or anxiety, share your findings with your physician to come up with a viable solution.

Don't let depression and anxiety control your life. Take back control with natural remedies and start living once again!

Take on the world with american express business credit cards

“Don’t leave home without it,” actress Kate Winslet admonishes. Do you know what she wants you to lug around all the time? American Express business credit cards!

From the 1970s to the 1980s, American Express ran ad campaigns that captured the imagination of a purchase-hungry nation. They featured actor Karl Malden, winner of an Academy Award for his role in the 1950’s film “A Streetcar Named Desire.” The ads featured the basic American Express credit card. Today, American Express ads include more contemporary celebrities such as comedian Jerry Seinfeld and basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. The company offers outstanding credit cards, including several American Express business credit cards.

American Express business credit cards

American Express business credit cards provide useful financial services for companies. Each card is tailored to meet specific needs of businesses.

The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card

One American Express business credit card is the Business Gold Rewards Card. This card lets your earn a “bonus point” for almost every dollar you pay. You can also earn additional points after your initial purchase, and after you have spent certain amounts during a month or year.

Why Racking Up Bonus Points Matter

All bonus points can be used to avail of a variety of items, ranging from tickets to musical concerts to high-quality products, such as a barbecue set or a pair of tools. The number of bonus points one can accumulate is unlimited and the points never expire. They can be redeemed at designated reward centers.

The American Express Business Platinum Card

The American Express Business Platinum Card is another American Express business credit card. This card also has several benefits. For example, you are guaranteed a 4:00 PM checkout time at fine hotels and resorts. Or, if flying is your cup of tea, the Domestic Companion Airfare Program provides you with free coach airfare, for flights within the United States. And between flights, the American Express Business Platinum card treats you like an airport VIP, in various airport clubs. If you prefer dining out in style, the card lets you eat like a king after making evening reservations at any of the best restaurants around the globe. Lastly, this American express business credit card gives you access to exclusive cultural and sporting events.

How to Apply

You can apply for American Express business credit cards by telephone, mail, or online. You only need to fill out some forms and supply information about yourself and your financial capacity to meet debts.

Services and Benefits

If you are approved for a credit card, you can benefit from the services extended to cardholders. For example, you can receive technical assistance to card-related concerns all day, every day of the week. Also, emergency services are provided. For instance, lost cards can be replaced quickly. In addition, Insurance Protection allows you to be free of worries when you travel. Moreover, it guarantees that all of your purchases are covered. Lastly, roadside assistance is available to American Express business credit card cardholders. These services include repairing flat tires and getting assistance when you have locked your keys in your car.

Help for Small Businesses

Small businesses can also receive special benefits when using American Express business credit cards, through the company’s “Open” program. Over the Internet, you can manage your account and trace your charges. Also, the “Open Savings” program lets you save on services such as hotel stays, car rental, and ship travel. Lastly, these credit cards have no finance charges or spending limits, and even better, you can choose to extend your payment.

American Express business credit cards provide their holders with good prices and customer service. With an American Express business credit card, you can have the world at your fingertips. This is why you should never leave home without one.

High gas prices bring flood of bad products

In a world where gas prices are at record heights, there are lying scumbags who will take advantage of your desire to get more miles to the gallon. Lately there have been a flood of products on the market claiming to boost gas mileage, but very few of them actually work.

First, there are fuel additives like the Platinum Gas Save and the BioPerformance pill. Neither works, and the BioPerformance pill has been proven to be nothing but moth balls, which are toxic.

Then there are the Fuel Genie and Tornado, which are mounted in the air flow meter of your car. They are supposed to affect the way air is sucked into the car, but have yet to be proven effective in improving mileage. However, altering the air flow of your car can make it overheat, possibly causing permanent damage.

There is also the Predator and many similar knock-off products. The predator costs a hefty $400 and reprograms your car to ignite the fuel earlier, which makes the fuel burn longer. Though the initial aim is to increase horsepower, customers have reported getting better gas mileage as a happy side effect. And these products DO work like they say. But, they're risky. When the engine burns less fuel by this method, there is the risk of overheating it. Since the car is using less gas, it doesn't have the ability to cool itself properly. Again, this can cause your engine to overheat and perhaps even ruin it completely.

No one want to save a few bucks on gas just to blow their engine!

Many mechanics are wary of all these additives and gizmos. "Yeah, you might get a little better gas mileage out of it, but you might have just taken 50,000 miles of life off the motor by trying to do it," said Larry Perry, the Magic Mechanic radio host.

The Environmental Protection Agency has been looking for and testing gas-saving products for over thirty years and has found very few that meet its standards. So be careful.

How to get back in shape

Before starting to work out make sure you get a full physical from your doctor and a letter stating it is ok for you to do physical activity. Many gym and aerobic centers will require this before letting you start.

Depending on how long it has been since you last did regular exercise it is recommended that you start off slow and gradually build up your workout to harder levels.

It is generally recommended to start off at the gym with just the treadmill and the lifecycle for the first week or 2. This is to wake the muscles up and to slowly get you prepared for a harder workout.

You will generally want to find a speed on the treadmill that is a pace you can keep up with little discomfort and do it for 20 minutes. After this take a 5 minute break, stretch a little and have a drink of water, then go back and increase the speed just a bit then do another 20.

Remember that pushing yourself too far is taking a gamble that you may not be able to live with. In a casino you can put everything you have on the roulette table and maybe you win and maybe you lose, but in the gym if you push too hard you can die, so take things slowly.

Many people make the mistake of getting back into an exercise program and going all gung ho an trying to get back in shape in just one hour, well let me tell you this will not work. The only thing this will do is make you very sore the next day and you will not be able to workout that day, and it will make you lose interest fast in the gym. Discomfort in ok pain is not.

Depending on how long it has been since you last worked out, I recommend working out 4 or 5 days a week. This may seem like a lot but if you were trying to win a poker tournament you would go to a casino or an online casino and poker room to practice almost every day right? So you will have to do the same with the gym.

Working out 5 days a week does not necessarily mean you have to go to the gym every day. I recommend the gym 3 times a week and the other day or 2 you can just go for a long fast paced walk around your neighborhood. Try to vary the things you do so that you do not work out the same parts of your body 2 days in a row.

Most professionals will tell you that if you work out your arms and chest on a Monday do not exercise those muscles again for at least 48 hours. This is to give the muscles time to heal and grow. It is this straining and resting of the muscle that makes it grow not just the working it out. If all you did every day was work the same muscle group in a few days the muscle would be more likely to tear in a painful experience and the only thing you will be able to do for several months will be playing in an online casino from your laptop in bed.

Shape great looking eyebrows with tweezers

Tweezing is the most inexpensive way to remove unwanted hair. A pair of Tweezers will cost between two to five dollars, but the effect of a well shaped eyebrow through tweezing can be very astounding. Your eyebrow’s shape should go along with your brow bone’s natural line. The arch should come out to be the highest at the pupil’s outer corner. To know exactly where the brow should start, align a pencil straight up from the inner corner of the eye. To know where it exactly should it end, a pencil, held diagonally from the outer corner of the eye to the brow bone can help. The very first time you pluck your eyebrows, it could be painful. But after two or three sessions, you feel almost nothing. Eyebrows shape should have an arch. Ideally, it should be over the iris of the eye. Be careful not to overdo it; it should come out natural and conforms with your eye.

1. How To Pluck Eyebrows:

- Look and study your brows in the mirror.

- Pluck when your pores are open. Do your eyebrows immediately after a shower, or apply warm compress to your brow area to open up the pores. This will help in minimizing the pain that plucking can create.

- Apply a baby’s teething pain preparation. If you are plucking your eyebrows for the first time, it will be helpful to apply a baby’s teething gel, to numb the are so you can pluck with comfort.

- Be certain that there is enough natural light available in the room.

- Use a pair of tweezers that you can handle easily. Test that it can grip the hairs well, so it can pull the hair from the roots well, without slipping every time you pluck.

- Soften the hairs with a skin conditioner or moisturizer, so hairs can slide out easily.

- Brush the brows upward so you can see your natural arch and shape your brows from there.

- From time to time, stand back, take a few steps away from the mirror and examine your brows.

- Be conscious always of your eye’s natural shape. Don’t make a super arch if that is not naturally you. It will be very obvious and will give you a funny look. Make the arch as natural as possible.

- With an eye pencil, draw first the desired shape of your eyebrows before you start plucking.

- Focus your plucking on the stray hairs first. These are usually finer and will not be as painful to pluck. Also, they won’t give as much attention, in case you make a mistake.

- Note that you should only pluck the hairs at the bottom side of your brow. Never pluck the hairs at the top.

- First tweeze under the brow and pluck in the direction of the growth of the hair.

- Be sure to pull hair one at a time and close to the root.

- With your thumb and first finger, stretch the skin area tightly so you avoid pinching the skin, which can be painful.

- Comb the brows upward, using your eyelash comb, and trim off any hair extending beyond the brow bone.

- When finished, pat with tea bags to soothe the area.

2. Don'ts Of Eyebrow Plucking!

- Don’t pluck after you have applied lotion to your face. Plucking will open up your pores; lotion may instantly go in the skin and can contaminate it.

- Don’t use electric tweezers. It can be very dangerous.

- Don’t use tweezers for pulling out nose hairs.

- Don’t use alcohol after plucking, as this can irritate the eyes.

- Don’t dye your eyebrows, not only that it can cause severe eye irritation, it could also look bad.

- Don’t soak your tweezers in detergents or in plain water.

3. Tweezer Care:

- Always disinfect it with alcohol before and after each use.

- Always place a cap to protect the tips of your tweezers.

- Be careful not to drop the tweezers as this can dull and miss align the tip.

4. Choosing Tweezers:

When just starting, it will be wise to buy at least four tweezers of different materials, such as stainless steel, copper or plastic coated, so that you will know which ones will quickly tarnish. Stainless steel also do come in different grades. Note that the price of the tweezers does not affect its quality. Both expensive and affordable ones, performance wise, may have the same grip and the same tip that can function well. However, those with high quality materials will cost more, such as a high grade stainless steel. Pay attention to the tip of the tweezers; it should have a wide surface so that it can grip well. Test it to make sure it does the job. Whatever size of tweezers you choose, long, short, wide or narrow, it really depends on your own preference, on which tweezers you can handle best.

Las peliculas de poquer mas recomendadas

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Desde la йpoca de oro del Oeste, jugar al Pуquer ha siempre sido un juego popular en Hollywood. A pesar de que muchas de las pelнculas de Hollywood que se localizan en pуquer no son muy buenas, y a veces presentan al juego de una manera ridнcula, mirar el juego desde la gran pantalla es muy divertido, especialmente si eres un jugador de Pуquer.

Acб te presentamos las mejores pelнculas que fueron producidas en Hollywood. Algunas son excelentes aparte de ser sobre el pуquer, mientras que otras el juego es el tema principal de atracciуn. De todas maneras, si eres fanбtico del pуquer, disfrutaras mucho de mirarlas!

1) The Sting, dirigido por George Roy Hill, 1973:
Esta pelнcula es menos a cerca del pуquer y mбs a cerca el arte de manejar las car6tas pero te proveerб dos horas de diversiуn sofisticada. El ganador de los Premios Academia de 1973, presenta al joven Paul Newman como el mejor artista de todos quien conduce a Robert Redford al arte de los trucos de carta. El trabajo de David S. Warn es basado en historias de juegos reales.

2) The Cincinnati Kid, dirigida por Norman Jewison en 1965:
Este clбsico es conocido por su estremecedor mano final y la inolvidable frase: "Llega a lo que se trata, no? Hacer la movida equivocada en el lugar preciso." The Cincinnati Kid es a cerca de la batalla entre Steve Macqueen que es un joven jugador de pуquer conocido por "The Kid", y el veterano apostador de pуquer conocido por "The Man" actuado por Edward G. Robinson, durante la gran depresiуn en New Orleans.

Es una de las mejore pelнculas de pуquer que he visto en la gran pantalla.

1) California Split dirigida por Robert Altman en 1974:
Puede que esta no sea una de las mejores pelнculas de Altmans, pero es una de las mejores representaciones de la vida de dos apostadores profesionales actuada por George Segal y Elliott Gould. La narrativa no es particularmente directa y el final no es exactamente feliz, pero si logra describir una experiencia autentica. Tambiйn, los fanбticos de pуquer trivial disfrutaran de aprender que el legendario jugador de Pуquer Amarillo Slim actъa un papel pequeсo.

2) Rounders dirigida by John Dahl en 1998:
No es claro si el йxito de la pelнcula empujo al boom del Pуquer en el siglo 21 o la popularidad del pуquer hizo Rounders un йxito total. De una manera u otra, Rounders es una de las mejores pelнculas de pуquer que ha habido en la pantalla. El tema de la pelнcula se basa en una maratуn en la que Mat Damon y Edward Norton tratan de ganar dinero para pagar deudas de apuestas. EL campeуn mundial de Pуquer Johnny Chan tambiйn aparece en escena.

3) Maverick dirigida por Richard Donner en 1994:
A pesar de que Maverick no es una pelнcula brillante en el бmbito del pуquer, es una divertida y entretenida pelнcula par mirar. Te puede dar una idea bбsica de lo que era ser un jugador de pуquer en el lejano oeste, con Mel Gibson como un maverick que trata de ganar suficiente dinero para el torneo del gran torneo final.

Addiction when gambling becomes a problem

While most people enjoy casino gambling, sports betting, lottery and bingo playing for the fun and excitement it provides, others may experience gambling as an addictive and distractive habit. Statistics show that while 85 percent of the adult population in the US enjoys some type of gambling every year, between 2 and 3 percent of will develop a gambling problem and 1 percent of them are diagnosed as pathological gamblers.

Where can you draw the line between harmless gambling to problem gambling? How can you tell if you or your friend are compulsive gamblers? Here you can find answers to these questions and other questions regarding problem gambling and gambling addiction.

What is the Meaning of Problem Gambling?

Problem gambling or compulsive gambling is defined as an uncontrollable urge to gamble despite the destructive effect of gambling on the gamblers life and despite feelings of guilt and remorse. Problem gambling tends to have a negative effect on the gamblers financial state, relationships and daily life. Severe cases of problem gambling can be defined as pathological gambling.

Am I a Compulsive Gambler?

1) Do you gamble until your last penny runs out?

2) Do you gamble to win back your former losses or debts?

3) Did you ever had to borrow money to continue gamble?

4) Did your gambling habit ever made you lie to your friends or family?

5) Did you ever skip work or other obligation to gamble?

6) Do you tend to gamble to forget about your personal problems or to celebrate happy occasions?

7) Does gambling have a negative affect on your daily life or relationships?

If you have answered yes on at least one of the questions listed above, then you have a problem.

Can Anyone Become a Compulsive Gambler?

Theoretically, yes. Any gambler can develop gambling problem regardless to the type of gambling he is occupied with, the amount of money and time he is spending on gambling. Researches show that slot machines that can be found in bars and convenient stores are the most addictive type of gambling activity, while lottery draws and bingo games are located on the other end of the scale. Gambling addiction is an emotional problem; its symptoms, causes and treatments are similar to any other form of addiction.

How Can I treat Gambling Addiction?

1) Group Therapy:

Gamblers Anonymous offers a 12 step self help program similar to the one offered to alcohol addicts in Alcoholics Anonymous. Group therapy also offers gambling addicts advice and support from professional counselors and other gambling addicts in different phases of their recovery process. Gambler Anonymous centers are available in more than 1,200 locations statewide.

2) Individual Therapy:

Cognitive or behavior therapy can help gambling addicts to identify their unaware thinking and acting patterns, which led them to gamble compulsively, and to replace them with controllable and healthier ways of thinking.

3) Psychiatric Medication:

It has recently been proven that antidepressant medications from the family of SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be affective in treatment of gambling addicts.

How to be true to yourself and be in a relationship

The Three Stages Of Relationships

Stage 1: The Dependent Relationship

Woman were dependent on men. Men were not supposed to express their emotions and were confined to the role of "breadwinner". Woman were confined to the role of housewife, with little political or economic power and few opportunities to move beyond their household lives. We needed each other in order to feel whole and complete. The first stage partner says “I need a partner to complete me.” Both partners come from feeling incomplete.

Stage 2: The 50/50 relationship

Two independent people, whole unto themselves, coming together as equals and evenly splitting the responsibilities of the household finances and childrearing. Even though this was a great step from dependency most woman were finding out they had to cover or hide their unique and natural expression of "Feminine radiance in order to succeed in today’s more Masculine oriented economy. This model was very beneficial for many years and now seems to be shifting due to the side effects of men and woman becoming more sexually neutralized, unable to give each other what they really want in intimacy. When we focus on dividing the pie equally, our intimate embrace often becomes more like a business handshake or a business deal than a delicious swoon that dissolves two lovers into a single heart of desire. Ultimately what we have accomplished is protecting our hearts from each other. The second stage partner says “I don't need a partner and if I let one in it will be 50/50 with everything.”

Stage 3: Intimate Communion.

There is a deep surrender and commitment to love, not necessarily to each other. The priority is to love. The thirds stage occurs when two people come together from wholeness and with two trustworthy individuals. The surrender of self into love is the basis for Intimate Communion. In our culture to surrender into love is considered an act of weakness by many. For the third stage partner this deep surrender is a sign of strength and commitment to love deeply. It is an ongoing practice of sexual union, emotional openness and spiritual trust. It is a practice of love and surrendering the fearful boundaries that guard your heart. To practice opening your heart in every moment, including when you feel hurt. Rather than turn away or close down, you practice loving. It’s not about striking back, closing down, or becoming distant. The third stage partner says “ Because of the all the love I have . . . I need a partner to open my heart and deliver us to God.” The questions to ask . . . does being in this relationship open me to love? Am I and the world being served more by being in or out of this relationship? The third stage partner says "I need a partner to take me to surrender me to love as I am unable to do this alone." “Is this relationships opening me to love?”

First level - Feels like prison.

Second level - Feels like a 50/50 game.

Third level - The experience of true freedom

This is how it is possible to remain authentic and commit to a relationship fully. It is a daily commitment to love not a life time to a person. It is a commitment to love and only love. I don’t have to give up me to be loved by you! This place of true freedom is completely free falling. Free falling into the depths of unknown and uncharted places. It’s very vulnerable, scary and very exciting. You have virtually no references for this place and yet deep in your heart you have longed for the deep union for a lifetime. You hope that somehow your relationship would evolve into this instead of eroding it. The erosion began when we enforced boundaries, rules and isolated with huge walls around our hearts leaving us to feel a deep emptiness within. The emptiness we feel is about the loss of love we are not experiencing as men and women.

The emptiness is due to our getting off track of what is most important.

The most important work a man does is to discover and live his purpose. Until he knows his purpose a man cannot ever commit to a woman , be happy in his work or with himself. He will continually feel a deep emptiness inside. His constant fear is that he will die with his music left in his heart. He will look to fill this hole with a lot of busyness, pushing toward career goals, women, sex, alcohol, drugs, anything to avoid feeling that deep void. When a man is on purpose . . . he is extremely attractive to other women and men. It is not a man’s purpose to commit to a woman or a relationship. That may be how he demonstrates his purpose, but it is not a man’s purpose. A woman truly respects a man who stays on his purpose. A women will test her man to get him off purpose. If she succeeds in taking her man off purpose she loses respect and searches to replace him. If a man stays on purpose during a woman testing him, she acknowledges that he trustworthy and will open deeply to this man.

A woman's greatest power is her ability to radiate her feminine essence. What does showing up like a genuine radiating women look like in the world? Surrendering to life and receiving. To nurture from a receiving place versus a giving place. The key is, to be willing to go deeply into everything. Not staying on the surface. The surface is masculine . ..the “get it done” energy. The feminine is deeply immersed in the feelings and wants to take her time and enjoy each precious moment.

Who are models of radiating feminine essence in our culture? You can see it in their eyes. You can see joy emanating and it looks like they just ended a wild dance with the divine.

Questions

1. What does the new genuine man and woman look like?

2. Who are the roles models in our society that emulate this,

The Genuine Woman

Her deep commitment to love is her beauty.

Willing to go deeply on a moment notice.

Is spontaneous and present to the moment.

Does not need to plan because she trusts the divine plan to unfold perfectly.

Sees the oneness in everyone eyes and in everything around her.

Surrounds her life with beauty and finds the beauty in all things around her.

Is vulnerable and open.

Naturally radiates love in her eyes and movement.

Listens really well.

Takes extraordinary care of herself because she knows how much it matters .

Says no easily without harshness.

Trusts her inner voice.

Practices her relationships with the divine on a moment by moment basis.

Longs to be opened more deeply by every experience in her life.

Is fearless without distraction.

Trusts her inner voice.

Women who radiate feminine essence

Jackie Onasis, Catherine Zeta Jones, Maya Angelou, Melanie Griffith, Natalie Wood, Princess Diana, Audrey Hepburn, Liz Taylor, Annette Benning, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Lange, Grace Kelly, Meryl Streep, Kim Basinger, Juliette Binoche, Sade, Norah Jones, Cher, Celine Dion, Dianne Carrol, Nicole Kidman , Goldie Hawn Who would you add to this list?

The Genuine Man

He does not confuse wealth and material possession with the quality of himself.

Knows his purpose and is living it in a giving non-egoistic manner

Has a very strong presence without any need for domination

Is inspired by and embraces a woman's radiance

Can go deep

Does not allow a relationship with woman or business/society to take him off purpose

Goes deep comes out fearlessly and shares lovingly and honestly

The 3rd stage man says, 'If I'm going to be with her, I'm going all the way with her.' That doesn't necessarily mean sexually, it means all the way to God.

So strongly balanced in his emotional nature that clarity and comfort to express needs is easily & readily available

He does not confuse wealth and material possession with the quality of himself.

Enjoys expressing his feelings

Shows up with integrity and does what he says he will do

Protects his woman

Is loyal and trustworthy

Is whole and complete unto himself

Is responsive

Is awake and aware

Is secure with himself

Is energized by intimacy

Men who live on purpose and have great masculine presence:

Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, Antonio Bandereas, Sean Connery, New Warren Beatty Colin Powell, Martin Luther King, Humphrey Bogart, Denzel Washington, Paul Newman Yul Brynner, Clark Gable, John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Seal, Sidney Poitier, Samuel Jackson

vWho would you add to this list?

Smoking more expensive than you think

Are you a smoker? Have you ever tried to give up the habit? The chances are that you have, but like any addiction it can be (and usually is) extremely difficult to stop, and even attempts to cut down rarely last very long. Part of the problem is that smoking can be very enjoyable, but only too often something can turn up which will instantly remove the enjoyment. Unfortunately that ‘something’ will very often be loss of health.

The insurance industry is well aware of this fact, so not surprisingly they try to ensure that they do not lose money by covering high risk customers at low risk rates. At the same time non-smoking customers for life insurance have been piling on the pressure in their search for lower premiums. This is where the internet comes into the picture.

It used to be the case that at best, anyone looking for competitive quotations for life insurance had to be prepared to spend a lot of time searching adverts and telephone directories for likely companies. They also had to be prepared to spend a lot of time on the telephone collecting information, and then to settle down to long and careful comparisons, covering bits of paper in confusing and often indecipherable notes.

But all that has changed. Now all they have to do is go online and check out as many companies as they wish. They will find information which is very carefully presented for maximum clarity, because a confused enquirer is highly unlikely to become a customer. It is now so easy to reach a decision that a ‘price war’ has developed and some very competitive quotations are available. This competition has however had an inevitable effect in that insurance companies have had to tighten up their procedures or risk losing money on the narrower margins.

So they have hit the obvious target – smokers. Whilst the life insurance premiums for non-smokers have been steadily reducing, smoker’s premiums have moved away in the opposite direction. This has resulted in rates for smokers which are 100% or more above standard rates and still climbing. This, on top of the cost of the cigarettes (currently estimated to be approaching Ј100,000 in a lifetime and still climbing) means that anyone who still smokes must be very determined not to curtail their enjoyment.

Critical illness insurance is another policy which many people take out, to provide financial security for their families in the event of loss of income due to lengthy illness. It is reasonably self-evident that this too will be a great deal more expensive for smokers, simply due to their greater propensity for such illnesses as a result of their addiction.

So do you dig your heels in and continue to enjoy smoking, or do you give way to the financial pressure (not to mention the widespread anti-smoker climate) and give up the habit. The sad news is that even if you grit your teeth and stop smoking, as far as the insurance companies are concerned you are not out of the woods (or the Woodbines) for at least 12 months or maybe much longer. Some may require complete cessation for at least five years – contact your intended insurers after 12 months completely smoking free and see how the premiums look now. A considerable cost reduction should be evident.

Some folks cheat themselves and their friends by claiming to have stopped smoking when they are still sneaking the odd one in dark corners. This is up to the individual, but don’t try it with your insurers; it would not be difficult for a relatively low-key enquiry to expose the lie and your cover (in both meanings of the word!) would be blown. All the effort, the subterfuge, the self-deceiving would have been wasted. You would not be insured.

Right, you have made the praiseworthy and not inconsiderable effort and you are now a non-smoker. You can feel some justifiable pride as you tick the ‘NO’ box on a form with a smoking query. Now take advantage of your position, get on the internet and shop around for insurance quotes. You may be pleasantly surprised by some of the offers which you get, but don’t let your euphoria get the better of you. A move too soon, before everything has been confirmed, could leave you with a cancelled policy with your old company and an oversight leading to rejection by your new company; result no cover. Check the details carefully, finalise all the figures and then change to your new insurer.

Finally, don’t let those savings in expenditure just melt away. Add the money saved on cigarette purchases to the money saved on reduced premiums and invest it, and just watch that total climb!

Money making idea - building a successful you

Okay, this is the first thing you should remember. YOU are the absolute most important factor for building your success to make money, whether your business is online or offline. This is a making money opportunity for everyone to consider.

I have personally researched successful and unsuccessful people throughout my history of resources and nearly all successful people have important factors in common. The same thing goes for unsuccessful people too. It's all about your business attitude (confidence/competance), business plan, and well-being.

First of all, you must be willing to take action to change your life factors, without depending on others to take care of it for you, or waiting for that special miracle that will most likely NEVER happen. Most every successful person is willing to take action right away. Most unsuccessful people are almost clueless of what to do and often have a "book of excuses" or only wish that they could be successful without making the sacrifice.

That brings us to our first important factor... laziness and unwillingness to succeed. Laziness does not necessarily determine your failure. There are PLENTY of people who are extremely lazy that still have the drive to take it upon themselves and take action to improve their life. Most of the time, the reason is so they could stay just as lazy and still make plenty of money. Hey, whatever gives you the motivation, right? But, don't confuse laziness with unwillingness. Often times, success is generated from being at the right place at the right time. But, I wouldn't wait around to find out if that's the case or not.

Success is brought by sincere ambition, with the unwillingness to fail. But, don't keep poking at a dead horse hoping that it will kick back. There must be a strong business plan and it must be carefully thought out. BE COMPETANT and careful on what business you are plunging yourself into, before you sink to the bottom with it. Make sure you have a backup plan, even though you shouldn't need it if your business plan has truly been researched appropriately.

The wrong attitude will not make a business work, I'm here to tell you. Most unsuccessful people will have bad attitudes brought on by personal friends/family, employment, lack of strive to succeed, or for whatever reason. Don't let this take your success away from your future. Everyone is entitled to their fair share of success, but must be willing to make the change. Many will feel that there is not enough time, with everything going on in life, or they just aren't smart enough to do so. That brings us to the next step.

KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION is the key resource to any business and is absolutely the most valuable commodity that can be obtained. Now, in the "old days" before the internet was accessible, information was very difficult and inconvenient to reach. Now there are no excuses. We have the internet. The whole world is at YOUR fingertips and it's up to you to find it, in the comfort of your own home of course.

Time does play an important role in research, as it does often take much time to find whatever it is you're looking for. But, it's not enough of an excuse to fail. It's up to you to make today and tomorrow count! Opportunity doesn't always knock on everyone's door, so get out there and FIND IT YOURSELF. Find out what works for others and do the research to see if that's what you're looking for. It's MUCH easier to make money than you may think, and I'm not talking about $20 or $50 dollars an hour. I'm speaking of 20, 50, 100 grand a month residual income. In other words, your business works for you, instead of the other way around.

Another important factor that cannot be overlooked is your health. Take care of yourself and yourself may take better care of you. Many things can be sacrificed to bring your success, but sacrificing your health should not be an option. Your success will not be as meaningful and fulfilling, if you can't enjoy it!

So, remember that your steps are to:

Realize that you are in control of your future success to take action now.

Mild laziness is acceptable as long as you are willing to take the necessary steps to further your growth.

Do your research and get the required information to make your business work.

Maintain good health so you can enjoy your future!

But, until next time, please take care and have a wonderful time!

Curb appeal first impressions count when selling your home

People selling their homes via real estate brokers get lots of coaching. People selling their own homes as FSBOs need the same. One of the most important topics on which FSBOs can benefit from coaching is “curb appeal.” How does your home look when a potential buyer drives up to the curb and takes that all important first look?

Be Sure It Looks Great

Single family residences require the most work. The FSBO seller of a single family home also has the most control of what is seen from the curb, so let’s start there. Make sure grass is cut, leaves are raked, sidewalks swept and edged, and planting beds are freshly mulched. That’s just the beginning.

Narrow walks leading to front doors are not inviting. If you can afford to have the walk replaced with a wider one, do it. A walk with some curve to it is often appealing. One which is wider where it meets the public walk and wider as it reaches the front steps can look particularly inviting. If two men can approach your front door side by side without jostling each other, your walk is sufficiently wide.

What if you have a narrow walk and a small budget? You can improvise with brick, stone, or concrete pavers from Lowes or Home Depot if you’re handy and healthy. Choose whichever material is most compatible with your house. Dig out the grass on either side of your walk and lay a line of the chosen paving materials parallel along each side of your walk. Fill in with mulch (not the colored type, just good earth toned natural stuff, please), sand, or river gravel. Make sure there’s a crisp edge where the grass starts.

Large, overgrown shrubs that crowd the house and cover windows are a negative. Prune them back. If there is a narrow planting bed along the front of the house, widen it. Have the bed swoop in a curve around to the side of the house. Depending on the size and scale of the house, plant something like a dogwood, a butterfly bush or a holly in the curve at the corner of the house. Make sure it will not be so close or so large as to overwhelm the house in a few years. Fill in with smaller plants at the front of the widened bed. Mulch. Mulch. Mulch. But the mulch should be only two or three inches deep. Don’t let it pile up on the trunks of trees.

Plant colorful flowers in containers on either side of the front door if the season is conducive. Geraniums work well in sunny spots. Impatiens are good in shade. Make sure the containers are of natural materials. Most plastic containers look tacky and cheap. Advertisements for luxury cars show them near expensive houses and beautifully dressed people for a reason. Association. You want the things seen on the way to your front door to be in good taste and of excellent quality. Fortunately, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have to be expensive. Clay pots are good. Old iron urns are great with traditional homes. Oak barrels can look wonderful with rustic homes. The addition of a bit of trailing ivy or sweet potato vines can be attractive. It’s possible to achieve a miniature garden by combining several sorts of plants in larger containers.

Make sure the front door is clean and the paint is in good condition. Be sure it swings on its hinges well. It needs to open and close well and firmly. The doorknob should work well and not have any “bobble” motion when it’s used. Exterior light fixtures should be clean and free of rust. Front windows should be clean and shining.

When preparing to sell your house, make sure you get everything in order. As superficial as it may sound, curb appeal is a dominant factor in getting sales.

Burglar proof your business now

Make your business burglar proof before you suffer a break-in! Most business owners do not think about security, taking only basic steps to protect their premises until a thief strikes. Do not wait until it is too late to take action. Make your business a safer place by using simple and inexpensive ways to deter the wrong sort of people.

The Mind of a Burglar

The best way to start is to approach your business from the outside. Walk around your business and ask yourself "if I was a thief how would I break in?" "How easy is it get on to the roof?" "Are there any ladders around?" "Are the doors and windows secured?" By asking yourself these simple questions you will uncover most weaknesses in your premises.

Can you spot any easy ways for a burglar to get in? Most burglars look for easy opportunities, and if your premises seem secure they will move on the next building.

Light Up Your Premises

Thieves like to work in darkness. By installing sensor lights around your premises, this alone is good enough to deter many opportunistic burglars. Make sure that all the doors and windows are well lit because this is often the first point of call for a criminal!

Remember it is not only your premises that you have to be concerned about. You and your employees will also feel safer walking to and from your cars in winter if your car park is brightly lit.

Places to Hide

Thieves love hiding behind bushes and bins. By moving your bins and keeping your bushes short you will cut down their opportunity to sneak up on your premises. Move or remove any obvious hiding places.

Solid Doors & Locks

Make sure you check your exterior doors and windows. Thieves love hollow doors. Use solid wooded doors with decent locks. Buy decent locks for your windows, use break resistant glass and install some bars or shutters. Most thieves usually break-in through your windows and doors!

Check your Roof

After doors and windows the next place a burglar will examine is your roof. If your roof is not secure enough and easy to access then you will be forced into buying an alarm system with sensors that can monitor for any movement inside your premises. If you have windows in your roof, then make sure they are secure and the glass is tough. Add metal bars so that a thief can not just break the glass for easy access!

Buy a Safe

Buy a decent safe and make sure you bolt it on the floor. A friend of mine bought a safe but did not use the bolts provided. The thieves stole the safe! Buying a decent safe and then securely bolting it to the concrete below will ensure that your valuables are safe even if you have a break-in!

The majority of break-ins occur directly through your doors and windows. A smaller percentage of burglars come through the roof. By taking simple, inexpensive steps you can deter almost ninety percent of all burglars.

The pros make the golf swing look so simple

I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say "the pros make it look so simple" or "it looks like the pros are swinging so easy, yet, they hit it a mile". Here's a question to all golfers out there. If the pros look like they are making this simple movement, why are you twisting up in circles and swinging out of your shoes on every shot? It makes sense to me that if the best players in the world have a simple, easy movement, you should be trying to copy what they are doing. Unfortunately, as much as you want this simple, easy swing, you can't do it. Why? Because simple ... is difficult.

Simple is Difficult?

What do I mean by simple is difficult? What I mean, is the less you move your body in golf, the harder it is. Now you're probably thinking that this just doesn't make sense. Everyone knows that If you were to move less it would be much easier! Well if this were the case, you would be seeing everyone with nice, compact, easy golf swings out there and I would have no reason to write this tip. Here are the reasons you don't have a simple, easy, compact swing:

1. Human Nature

A couple of ways human nature affects your swing is that it is telling you that the farther you swing back, the farther you will hit the ball. It's also saying that the harder you hit the ball, the farther it will go. Both of these thoughts involve your arms and hitting the ball hard. Unfortunately, you are only so strong. If golf was a purely a strength game, every body builder would also be a professional golfer. Also, if golf was a strength game, you would have never heard of Chi Chi Rodriguez, who, in his prime, was only 128 lbs.

Now that you understand that you don't have to have a long backswing to generate power, how far should you go back? I tell my students that once their shoulder rotation stops, so should the club. You want the shoulder rotation to determine your backswing length instead of your club still going back long after the shoulders have stopped. At first, this shorter backswing will feel like you don't have a lot of power so it will be more difficult to do, but as you get used to it, you will soon see your shots fly just as far, if not farther, with half the backswing.

The feeling of hitting the ball hard must be eliminated from your swing as well as the long backswing. This is because harder you try to hit the ball, the tighter your wrists will become. If your wrists tighten, the club will actually swing slower and the clubface may be held open at impact causing you to spin the ball to the right. In order to understand the proper feeling you should have in your wrists, think of them like a hinge on a door. The hinge on a door is loose and free flowing. There is no resistance. If you keep your wrists as loose as a hinge on a door, you will allow the club to whip faster and square up through impact. This whipping action is what gives a pro tremendous clubhead speed with what looks like an effortless swing.

2. Distance Doesn't Necessarily Equal Effort

Throughout your golfing life, you have equated "X" amount of power, with "X" amount of distance. As an example, if you were to swing really hard, your mind is saying that this should produce a really long shot. Unfortunately, the harder you swing, the shorter the shot ends up going. As I explained above, the harder you swing, the tighter you get, the more the clubface will hit the ball in an open position. So when I tell you that you should swing easier and looser, you have to convince you mind that this is going to produce shots that will go farther than ever before. If you don't believe me, think back to the time you hit that one drive 30 - 50 yards farther than any other shot in your life. What did you feel when you hit this shot? I bet you said that you felt "nothing" and that it was "effortless." This means that you could not have swung really hard yet you produced a shot that went farther than ever before.

The hardest part about swinging effortlessly is that it goes against what your brain is thinking. Your brain is thinking that swinging hard equals more power and swinging easy equals less power. If you think about the pros, they look like they are barley swinging and yet they can hit the ball a long way. So forget about trying to smash it as hard as you can. Swing in control and you will be amazed at how far you will hit it even though it doesn't feel like you are putting any effort into it at all.

3. Less Movement is More Strenuous

Now I know you're shaking your head at this topic because you know for a fact that if you move less it can't possibly more strenuous right? Wrong! Moving less in the golf swing is more strenuous because moving less creates a tighter, more coiled up swing. To understand what I mean, think about your backswing. Imagine turning your shoulders back while resisting the lower body rotation. If you did, you would feel very tightly coiled because your hips would move approximately half that of the shoulders. This tight, coiling in the backswing will allow your body to uncoil quickly in the downswing. Think of it like a spring. If you coil up a spring, it will snap back very quickly. Now imagine if you were to turn your shoulders back but this time you lifted your left heel and turned your hips excessively. If you did, you would move more than if you resisted with your hips and you would not develop this tight, wound up, feeling. If you are not tightly coiled, you will not uncoil properly thus causing you to use your arms to hit the ball. So turning back more is actually less strenuous because by turning more, you don't get the same tight wound up feeling you get when you resist your hip rotation in the backswing.

Here's a re-cap of 4 things you can do to make your swing look like that of a pro:

1. Shorten up your backswing. When your shoulders stop, so should your club.

2. Keep your wrists looser to allow the club to whip faster.

3. Convince yourself that swinging easier will hit the ball farther than swinging harder.

4. Resist the lower body rotation to create a simple backswing and tighter coil.

If you can work on these 4 things, you will start to look like the pros you idolize. The more you look like them when you swing, the more you will start hit it like them when you play.

Until next time,

Paul Wilson

Getting your credit card reward

There are many credit card deals that are aimed at people with a lot of debt to manage. These credit card deals offer 0% balance transfer rates and low long term interest rates to credit card customers. But people who pay off their credit card balance in full every month do not gain a lot from those deals. Those people would be better off shopping around for a credit card that offers a reward. There are several credit card reward schemes to choose from.

Cash Back Rewards

Cash back rewards are rewards where credit card customers get a cash rebate that is linked to the spending on the card. Usually this will be a percentage of the amount spent, anywhere from 0.5% or more depending on the card. Some cards offer a rebate of Ј1 for every Ј100 spent, others offer as much as Ј3. This soon adds up. This is paid at different times. This can be an attractive reward for people who put large balances on their credit cards and clear them each month.

Earning Air Miles

Many credit cards also allow cardholders to earn air miles. Again this is linked to the spending on the credit card. Cardholders earn a specified number of points for every pound spent. These can then be applied to travel with major airlines. Some airlines, such as British Airways, BMI and others, have their own points schemes. Others use the international Air Miles program. Air Miles can also be used to qualify for other airline rewards such as upgrades to airport lounges and so on. Other types of travel rebates can also be earned.

Earning Points With A Credit Card

An alternative to cash back rewards is a point earning system. Each pound spent equates to a certain number of points. An example of a points scheme is the Nectar scheme, one of the largest in the UK. Like supermarket loyalty card points schemes, credit card points schemes allow cardholders to exchange their points for vouchers, cash or discounts on goods and services.

Other Rewards

Some credit cards allow customers to apply their points to other rewards. For example, the GM credit card allows you to save your cash back to apply to money off a car. Some credit cards allow members to use their points to book holidays, pay for flights and buy wine. And one credit card offers a concierge services, multi-trip travel insurance and executive lounge pass.

What To Watch Out For

Many of the reward cards have high interest rates compared with the 0% and low interest deals. This should not matter for people who clear their balances in full each month. However people who do not clear their balances in full but who still want to benefit from the rewards will need to be careful. Many cash back reward cards have a cap on how much cash back a cardholder can earn each year.

When choosing a reward card, look for the credit card that offers the highest reward or the one that will give rewards that are useful to you. Air miles are only useful if you go on holiday, while discount vouchers can be used in a range of stores, so you will easily find one that is useful for you.

Rewiring for audio conferencing

Back in the day, smoke signals were good enough for the American Indians. They would control the size and shape of the puffs to signify different things. In this way, coherent messages could actually be relayed over a distance. But poor visibility or a torrential downpour would make them pretty much useless. And smoke puffs weren’t varied enough to convey anything truly complex anyway.

Ring Mah Bell?

Then along came Thomas Graham Bell and his marvelous invention, the telephone. Suddenly, people could actually hear one another over a distance too great to be covered by even the loudest human voice. It converted sound into electric signals at one end.

These signals would then be carried over wire and converted back into audio on the other end. In its current incarnation, the telephone does this in virtually no time at all. And now, the advent of cellular phone technology and satellite communications means that wires are no longer a constraining factor.

Get The Party Started!

But what happens when a number of people want to engage simultaneously in conversation using current technology? No, they don’t all gather around one telephone and yell over the handset so they can be heard. How would they hear the other party? A speaker phone partially solves that problem if there are only two groups of people that want to interact.

But what if there are more than two groups of people? What if different individuals in multiple locations want to speak to one another in real-time? Since telephones were first designed as a point-to-point method, something else had to be developed. Enter audio conferencing.

Audio conferencing takes the conventional telephone technology and expands it into a much more flexible communication tool. It does this by allowing three or more callers to connect to a conference bridge. So instead of the phone call going to a single recipient, it connects to this point which serves as the connection point for all the other parties that will be in on the call.

A slightly different example would be audio conferencing within a limited geographical area, say an office building. All calls for parties within the building don’t go out into the larger phone system. They are connected through what is called a PBX or private branch exchange. In essence, this is a miniature telephone network for that building.

Audio conferencing has also been adapted for use with the Internet. This is usually referred to as VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol. In this case, the audio is converted into digital data to be transmitted over the Internet.

Let’s Connect!

Audio conferencing is a prime example of a simple idea that maximized what was available to become a reality. The telephone was a world-changing invention. Audio conferencing is the interconnected world striking back. It is the development of a technology into a ubiquitous fixture of boardrooms and bedrooms alike. Connecting groups of people for business and pleasure alike, audio conferencing will no doubt be a fixture from boardrooms to bedrooms.

Fruits you don t see everyday in america

The list of exotic and tropical fruits is ever-growing and lengthy, here are some key facts about just a few!

Durian

Labelled the "king of fruit," this spiky melon originally hails from the forests of Southeast Asia. Since Durian literally means "thorny fruit" in Malay, its spiky exterior makes it hard to attempt opening the fruit, as some consider it more dangerous to touch than most cacti. The inside of a Durian consists of pods that are filled with a custard-like substance. The smell can be strong to the point where some find it intolerable, but a sign of a ripe Durian is a strong smell that isn't sour.

According to Proscitech. com, "To choose a Durian, pick a fruit which is comparatively light and who's stem appear big and solid. When shaking a good Durian, the seed should move." Durian lends itself well to milk-based foods like milkshakes, ice cream, and even cakes. The custard-like consistency can be used on its own for a rich dessert.

Durian season is typically summertime (from June to August). They can be found in many mainstream supermarkets in the East, particularly in Japan. But in the West, they're often only found in Asian groceries and markets. Aside from its countries of origin, (Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei), the largest exporter of the Durian fruit is Thailand.

Kiwano (Horned Melon)

The kiwano has taken on so many different descriptions in its day ranging from having the seeds of a cucumber, the look of a pomegranate, and the smell of a banana. The only sure facts about the kiwano are that they have yellow skin with spikes throughout, and bright green gelatinous insides with seeds throughout.

The fruit that bears such an aptitude of names like melano, jelly melon, and others in addition to kiwano and horned melon, was born in the Kalahari desert of Africa. Also called the African horned melon, is now also regularly grown in California and New Zealand.

Lychee

Another Southeast Asian native, the lychee is part of a whole family of small rough nut-shaped fruits. Along with its cousin, the rambutan, the lychee is often red in color with white gelatinous insides. Used in some desserts, the flavor is sweet and citrusy.

The fruits are harvested during early summer, and are supposed to be eaten fresh. But, there are also such fruits as sun-dried lychees that take the name of lychee nuts. This preservation method was the only way lychees were consumed prior to 1950, according to Proscitech. com

Pitaya (Dragonfruit)

A fruit of cactus plants, the pitaya has a bright reddish pink leathery skin with green long and curly spikes protruding from it. The insides are white with black specks throughout, making this fruit one of the most variable in color. Some variations of the fruit have red flesh, or yellow skin.

The dragonfruit was originally found in Mexico, Central and South America, and is now cultivated in China, the Phillippines, Israel, Taiwan, and many Southeast Asian countries. Only growing at night, the pitaya is also labelled "Queen of the night."

Guava

Guavas are native to the Caribbean, Central and South Americas, and Mexico. They grow on trees with tropical shrubs and white flowers, and can be yellowish-green or red in color. Both have a red juicy flesh on the inside that tastes sweet and flavorful, hence why guavas are often particularly used in desserts. With a long list of cultivars, the guava fruit thrives in humid weather, according to the Purdue University Horitculture Department.

Noted for its strong odor, the guava has also been cooked and prepared in salads and main courses, in addition to desserts. Some eat the guava raw by itself, or with cream cheese. The fruit can be round or pear-shaped and its seeds can be chewable.

Carambola (Starfruit)

The carambola fruit comes from the Carambola trees of Sri Lanka, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries. The yellow plasticky skin with distinct green edges gets its "starfruit" nickname from the shape it creates when cut latitudinally (please tell me it goes without saying that that would be a star). Carambola is now readily available in the United States as it is commercially grown in both Florida and Hawaii.

Carambolas are crunchy and juicy in texture, with a citrusy taste. Some believe that carambolas taste similar to apples or grapes. A significant amount of oxalic acid is present in the fruit, which can be dangerous for those with kidney trouble. It's also said that the consumption of starfruit with certain drugs can increase their effectiveness, so consumers should be careful.

Starfruit can be used to make wine in some countries, and in Myanmar is known for being a main ingredient in tea pickles.

Mangosteen

The mangosteen is seen as a precious commodity in the States these days because it wasn't until recently that it became available. Still very expensive in the West, mangosteens are grown in Southeast Asia, along with Durian and many of the other exotic fruits. One of the interesting facts about mangosteens is that it naturally possesses an acid that deters insects.

The sweet flesh is the only edible part of the mangosteen and is said to be creamy, citrusy, and remniscent of a peach's flavor. "The ripe mangosteen is dark red and tastes best if harvested before turning purple or blue-black," according to Proscitech. com.

And unlike what you might think, the mangosteen has no relation to the mango.

Sources:

Proscitech. com - Tropical Fruits

Wikipedia entries

Purdue University - Horticulture Department