Credit counseling a path to financial freedom

Living from paycheck to paycheck... getting a loan to pay off another loan... filing of bankruptcy --- these are situations faced by thousands if not millions of Americans who have somehow buried themselves in debt. No wonder, many people are increasingly being diagnosed with depression. The sordid financial trouble people face leads them to more negative thoughts of hopelessness, insecurity, and desperation.

Four years ago, the U. S. Federal Reserve reported that consumer debt had already hit $1.98 trillion. The figure was the aggregate amount of debt from credit card and car loans alone. The total debt for mortgages was not included in the said figure. The American Bankruptcy Institute also came up with a report which indicated that 1.6 million Americans filed for bankruptcy in 2003. Credit card debt figures for 2005 was reported to have reached $753 billion in debt for the United States alone. Based on recent estimates, the average American household has $18,700 in debt.

But why do many people fall into debt?

One major reason for indebtedness is uncontrolled spending. The lack of control over spending habits starts a cycle of spending more money than what one makes; and the compulsion to apply for a loan to acquire more things. In some cases, the loans are made just to repay other previous loans. In terms of credit card abuse, a person falls into debt not only because the list of payables grows long. A person falls deeper into debt because of the interest. It is not surprising to hear of people who have been in credit card debt for such a long time. After excessive use of the credit card and no increase in their capacity to pay, they are left to face the reality that they are only able to pay-off the interest without decreasing the principal amount of debt. Aside from the interest, not paying a debt on time also spells trouble for the undisciplined card holder since late payments entail a “late payment penalty.” Late payment charges can can range anywhere from ten dollars to forty dollars. Using the credit card over one's credit limit will also entail an over-the-limit fee which usually starts at $39 per transaction.

The next logical question is, “Why do people overspend?” Many people seem to have lost control over their finances because of status anxiety, an emotional and psychological problem that makes a person feel insecure about his or her sense of personal worth and significance. It can also be a compulsion to become or appear to be popular, wealthy, and “above everybody else.” Many call this, in layman's terms, trying to “keep up with the Joneses.”

If a neighbor passes by sporting a brand new car, a socially insecure person would might feel the need to rush to the bank to get a car loan since he can no longer “afford” to be seen driving a 2001 Nissan sedan even if he really cannot afford to pay for a 2007 Mercedez Benz SLK Class that comes at $43, 500 plus loan interest. Seeing an officemate brandishing the 4-gigabyte i-Phone worth $499 instantly creates a need to buy the 8-gigabyte model worth $599.

This desire to be seen as good or even better than one's neighbors in terms or social standing, material possessions, and influence is a cause of anxiety for many people. Financial woes have also increased the level of stress and anxiety among individuals who have uncontrolled spending habits and social insecurity. The emotional and psychological problems brought about by financial difficulties are also causes of physical illness that include migraine headaches, depressive behavior, heart ailments, to name a few.

So, how can people stop themselves from committing financial self-destruction? One easy step is to inquire from the credit card company if they offer free consumer debt counseling. This form of counseling focuses on helping consumers learn the wise uses of credit and various strategies for debt payment and reduction. The usual advice starts with the theme of “not spending more than what you earn.” This advice is usually followed by convincing the person in debt to list and determine what accounts should be settled first. Almost as a given, many credit counselors also try to convince people to start on a savings plan. Professional debt counseling services also include the more technical process of computing taxes, interest rates, and payment timelines that should be followed by an over-spender who really want to regain financial freedom.

Frivolous spending may actually be more than just a case of financial illiteracy or lack of discipline in money matters. In some cases, people with enormous debt must also consult a psychologist or psychiatrist to determine the root causes of overspending.

Living from paycheck to paycheck...paying one loan after another is surely not the way to live. There is a way to financial freedom, and everyone must start by making a financial choice of using money for what one merely wants or for what one really needs.

The importance of special education

Special children should be given a great deal of help. Special education is offered to children to help them live normally and deal with their society. When you are helping an autistic child, there are instances that you may feel a little frustrated or disappointed.

Special education conducted to these children should have continuous, multi faceted and special approach of intensive guidance and care. These autistic children with 60 to 70 IQ rating have better chances of learning compared to children aged 5 to 6 who have spontaneous speech.

Here are some special education guidelines and tips that can help you take good care and provide special attention to autistic children.

1. You have to make your child feel that he is a part of the family. However, it is better if he feels that he is not the center of attention in the family just because he is special or disabled. Like normal children, special children need proper attention to help them when dealing with their environment.

2. You may use behavior modification skills to change those common undesirable behaviors that your child portrays. You may use practically known rewards that he usually likes. In this way, you will be teaching him how he can increase his motivation.

3. It is advisable that you compliment him with good praises. You may provide him ten complimentary statements for every effort of change and corrections.

4. You should always look attentively to his warning signs. Make an effort to observe and study his movements. You may teach him how he can recognize and follow some basic instructions and directions.

5. You should allow your child to observe you as you show him that he is special and should be treated differently. Usually, most autistic children are confused with the changes that are happening in his environment.

6. You should find the best educational institution that can provide him the needed skills and best childcare program. Know your child’s special needs so that you can assess the educational program that you choose. There are early intervention programs that offer special education to autistic and disabled children who are not yet ready to get into schools.

7. You should always be consistent in providing him the needed knowledge and assistance. You may create a special routine that he can easily notice. Special education programs can provide you guidelines and tips things regarding child behavior and mental development.

8. Make sure that you have an organized and well-executed movements and routines. If you are trying other things and you are unsure of the things you are teaching him, he may be confused and will tend to lose focus.

9. Special education programs suggest that you use the same set of words or statements every time your child is praised or corrected. Many autistic children do not easily learn well from experiences. They just follow an organized routine that they see and hear from the people attending to them.

Finding a support group in your community is one good way in motivating your child and the whole family. You may join a parent groups that have the same case of having autistic children. Most importantly, love is the most important factor that will help your child learn and cope with his environment.

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Podcasting technology what is it

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Podcasting: Everyone is talking about it. But what exactly is it, and how does it work? Simply defined, podcasting is the dissemination of syndicated files, either audio or video in content, over the Web for use on handheld audio/video equipment and computers. The term itself is a combination of two words, "iPod" and "broadcasting." The word refers to both the file that's downloaded and the technology to transfer it. Keep in mind that an iPod is not necessary for accessing podcasts. A podcast is also known as an audio subscription service. Listeners can subscribe to and download as many podcasts as they want. As a new method of downloading and transferring information, podcasting is revolutionizing the way we communicate. Podcasts differ from streaming video and audio. Podcasts are usually a continuous series of programs, with many episodes featured in serial format. Podcast subscribers can listen to the content on MP3 players or computers whenever they want. Unlike streaming video, no Internet connection is necessary to review the content of a podcast. But, due to their nature as stored files, podcasts can never be experienced live, in real time - again, unlike streaming video.

Podcasters, or people who create podcasts, have Web sites where their content is available for downloading. Can any old Joe start his own podcast? For better or worse, the answer is yes. All a would-be podcaster has to do is put his files on a web server that’s accessible to the public. The file should have an internet address (URI). Podcast files can be any kind of files, from a PDF to a text file. The files can contain audio or video content. The would-be podcaster begins to create a series of files, creating a feed or list of URIs, so the entries in the series can be easily found and downloaded. Each entry is usually accompanied by a date, a title and some kind of content overview. The podcaster links the file to an identifiable place on the web server. This place is usually permanent, and it’s called the feed URI.

The popularity of these informational feeds has grown astronomically since 2004, when podcasting first became popular among bloggers and software developers. Podcasts cover all sorts of subjects, from technology to politics, to art and literature. Apple made podcasting part of its iTunes package in 2005, and last year, Sony Entertainment released a statement saying that its Play station Portable would be compatible with podcasts.

Now, podcasting has become a part of conventional media. The technology is being used by news stations and newspapers around the world, including The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, the BBC, ABC in Australia, and Sirius satellite radio. The popularity of podcasting is expected to continue to grow, as print media becomes a less vital part of day-to-day communication. Check out New Technology TV for more information.

Go beyond goals and achieve your dream

As important as goal setting is, goals alone do not ensure that you will achieve the success you desire. A written goal is not some kind of magic talisman whereby whatever you set your heart on manifests in your life out of thin air. That being the case, what is it that makes the difference between a person who achieves their goals and a person who doesn’t? The answer can be summarised in a single word: lifestyle. The only difference between those who achieve their goals and those who don’t is the way they live each day. Destiny does not determine your lifestyle. Your lifestyle determines your destiny!

The vast majority of people who aspire to success in life aspire to a particular kind of result. They see successful people on TV, at the movies or in their neighbourhoods and they think, I want that. They look at the wealth, the fame, the physique, the career success, the fulfilling relationships and all the other results of success, but they don’t look at the kind of lifestyle which led to that success. If they did, they would realise that these successful results can all be had, but not apart from the successful lifestyle which precedes them.

Get this point clear in your mind right now:

You can have any kind of success you desire if you are willing to adopt the kind of lifestyle which precedes that success.

I meet many people who, on discovering that I am a writer as well as a life coach, tell me that they too have always wanted to write. I have a great idea for a book, they say. And I’d love to have my name in print... and receive those royalty cheques. It must be absolutely wonderful!

If you put my life in those terms, then I have to agree. It would be absolutely wonderful to spend my life getting ideas, having my name put in print and collecting royalty cheques.

Unfortunately for the dreamers, there is a lifestyle which precedes all of those results. For example, at five o’clock this morning when everyone else was cosily tucked up in bed, I was in the shower. At five fifteen I was eating a bowl of breakfast cereal. And at five thirty I was sitting at my desk, putting words on paper. And because I have clients to coach today (and most days) I’ll be here for a while yet.

I don’t want this to sound as though I dislike my work. The fact is that I love writing and coaching. I actually enjoy getting out of bed early in the morning and spending almost all of my day helping people to achieve their dreams. The point I am trying to make is that if you want success as a writer, you have to live the lifestyle of a writer. That means writing, day in and day out.

The same applies to any other form of success. If you want to achieve the goal of being fit and healthy, you need to adopt the kind of lifestyle which places importance on regular exercise and eating habits. If you want to achieve the goal of having strong family relationships, you need to adopt the kind of lifestyle which places importance on regular family gatherings and good communication skills.

Once again, let me put it this way:

Destiny does not determine your lifestyle.

Your lifestyle determines your destiny.

Now compare this strategy with the ones contained in the vast majority of self-help titles and you will find their fatal flaw: Most self-help systems claim that the lifestyle is the goal, the end result of having achieved success. Wrong! The adoption of a properly planned lifestyle is the route to achieving success in the first place. If you still need convincing then consider this: How do you think most currently mega-successful people lived before they achieved the success they now enjoy?

Did Bruce Willis spend five hours every evening watching soap operas or the latest action movies on video? Was Anthony Robbins a regular at his local bar, content to happily watch the evenings pass by with just a few drinking pals and beers close by to keep him awake? Did Meg Ryan spend all day watching daytime television and eating cheese puffs? Was Nicole Kidman content to work in a dead-end job for little money? Did Stephen King spend every spare afternoon at the race track or bumming around with a group of loser friends?

Of course, the answer to all of these questions is no. But aren’t these exactly the kind of things that unsuccessful people do all the time? And aren’t these the kind of things that unsuccessful people actually defend when challenged about their lifestyles? Yes!

And that’s the only real difference between the people who achieve their goals and those that don’t - the things that they do day after day, week after week and month after month.

I realise that all of this sounds incredibly simple, but the fact is that personal success is simple. It may not be easy, but it certainly isn’t complicated.

Real estate agent in texas

Texas is a very big state, nearly 900 miles from east to west, with dramatic diverse landscapes and over 500 cities to explore. This remarkable state is organized into seven regions, each with its own Texan personality. Texas real estate comprises of Texas homesites, farm and ranch properties, riverfront properties on the Colorado River, fine custom homes and commercial properties in different counties inside Texas.

People who are involved in active buying and selling of real estate properties to earn commission are realtors or real estate agents. There are many real estate agents working inside Texas to help people in buying, selling or relocating a home.

A good agent will first listen to your needs, desires, and will help you find a dream home. Customer satisfaction will be their first priority. They will also help the customer to sell their home for top dollar and in a timely manner. Again, if someone is moving to Texas, the agent will assist him/her in collecting the information; they need and make their transition as smooth as possible.

Role of a real estate agent in Texas;

1. Help you find the right community

2. Negotiate on your behalf

3. Schedule inspections, closings, and document review

4. Ensure all deadlines are met

5. Provide consultation services during transaction

Unless specifically contracted, all real estate agents in Texas are seller’s representatives, since the seller pays the commission and the selling agent is acting on behalf of the listing broker. Many present themselves as buyer’s agent, but there is no legal relationship unless a specific contract is signed between buyer and the real estate agent. There are many licensed real estate agents in Texas. If you want to purchase a home and wish to use an agent, then you can hire an agent to represent your interests. That makes him a buyer’s agent.

In Texas, second home sales have been increasing over the last few years with more people becoming second homeowners. Over 40 percent of homes sold were second homes. Healthy rise in home prices have contributed to this development in the second home market. With the help of real estate agent, who have a proper knowledge of these kinds of properties, you can relax a bit. Whether you are a buyer or a seller, the professional real estate agent you select, always plays an important role. Therefore, a real estate agent is one of the most useful resources for a real estate investor.

The cheapest car finance can be found with a specialist

Although you can search for car finance yourself, if you want the cheapest car finance then you are better going to a specialist website and allowing them to shop around on your behalf and find you the best deals with the cheapest rate of interest from some of the top UK lenders.

The specialist will be able to search the car finance marketplace so that you can be sure of getting the best deal and if needed then all specialist sites will offer free advice and information by way of articles and hints and tips so you are able to understand what it is you will be comparing. While the specialist will be able to bring together the best quotes it will be down to you to decide which loan is correct for your needs and whether it is the best deal. All quotes that are found should come with the key facts of the loan so that you can make an informed decision and it is essential that you read the small print before taking on the loan as this is where you will find the full cost of the loan and any additional fees such as early repayment.

In order for the specialist to be able to find you the cheapest car finance you first have to decide how much you need to borrow for the loan, if you can put up a substantial deposit against the car then you will have to borrow less and so you will save on the amount of interest you pay. The longer you take out the loan for will also boost up the cost of the loan with the interest although the monthly repayments will be less, if you can afford to pay a little more each month then you will save on the amount of interest you pay for the entire loan. With this in mind you have to decide which is best for your needs but above all make sure that you can afford the loan each month as the car is not yours but the lenders until you have paid the final repayment on the loan.

The interest rate that you will be expected to pay on the loan will depend on how good your credit rating is, if you have an excellent credit rating then you will get some of the best and lowest interest rates, however if your credit rating is low then you cannot expect to get the best interest rates. If your credit rating is particularly low then you might have to consider taking out a bad credit loan but whichever type of loan you choose to go for a specialist website will be able to search on your behalf for the cheapest car finance possible. Always remember when budgeting for your car loan to take into account that you will also have to pay for the running costs of your new car such as taxing and testing, insuring the car, paying for repairs and wear and tear, and fuel.

Phentermine and healthy weight loss

Today’s World is the age of competition and to be ahead of others one needs to be smart and dashing. In this regard, weight is the most distracting factor that hinders the youths in present day scenerio. To over come the over weight factor, there are various medicines and pills available in the market. But all these medicines do not fulfill the requirement of loosing weight and at same time you invite various types of side effects. Here is a magic pill that will help you in shedding your extra weight in shortest possible of time with out any side effects. This magic pill is none other than Phentermine. This medicine has been showing best results and is commonly recommended by the health authorities for all of the age groups.

Phentermine started to spread its roots from 1950 onwards and do due its positive results it was approved by the FDA in the year 1959. Phentermine is a medicine that makes you slim you in a short period when compared to other medicines available in the industry. Various people and dieters have been using this medicine for the last 55 years. The main cause of increase in weight is the metabolism and this particular magic pill reduces the metabolism and helps the individual to fight against obesity battle. Phentermine has provided a new dimension in the field of medicine. The process of medication is simple and pleasant.

Phentermine contains amine, which resembles to amphetamine and various properties of phentermine are similar to that of amphetamines chemical. There are two methods that help to reduce weight with the help of Phentermine. First method is by stimulating the central nervous process that helps in reducing the food intake or the appetite of the individual. In this process, the neurotransmitters available in hypothalamus are affected and make the nervous system active.

The second method utilized in Phentermine is, increasing the heart beat rate of an individual and in turn the metabolic rate is increased to the required level that helps in destroying the extra calories. Along with this Phentermine, if regular and simple exercises are performed, it provides a faster result.

It is advised that you should follow the calorie controlled diet schedule along with the regular exercises.

Both these programs work in conjunction with each other so that one can achieve the result in quickest possible time. In case of the first medication, if the results are not up to satisfactory level then you have to provide enough rest to the body and then only you should start the second medication process.

There are various combinations followed nowadays and one among them is the union of Phentermine and Fenfluramine and that is popularly known as Phen Fen. Even though this combination was effective but resulted in various side effects of hearts. Due to the heart problems the FDA was forced to withdraw the approval but Phentermine was not blamed for the side effects.

Second combination was with the Dexfenfluramine and that was known as Dexphen-Phen but in this case also, the Dexfenfluramine was not up to the satisfactory levels of the FDA approval.

Next combination was with Prozac and was called as Phen Pro. The Prozac may be replaced either with Luvox, Trazadone, Celexa, and Effexor or with Zoloft.

Nowadays, this combination is very popular as there are no side effects of this combination and in other words, it is a super slimming cocktail available in the World so far. In case of United States of America, this super combination is normally recommended by the health practioners to their patients but yet there is no approval from the FDA authorities. The major advantages of Phen-Pro combination are that it has longer effects to hinder the appetite strongly and the phentermine is well suited for over-weight patients.

Los nombres detras de las bandas de musica

Muchas bandas de mъsica son nombradas a partir de diferentes situaciones, personas o cosas que jamбs te haz imaginado. Aquн te contaremos todas las historias detrбs de las bandas de mъsica mбs famosas de la historia. Los orнgenes de las bandas de rock y seudуnimos de artistas son un misterio que te revelaremos aquн. Diviйrtete!

1) Los Bee Gees:

Los hermanos Giba primero tuvieron en mente el nombre de " Los Rattlensnakes" para su banda. Luego tuvieron la idea de honorar las iniciales de los dos hermanos Giba y un amigo cercano y uno de sus primeros soportes, DJ Hill Gates, quien no tiene nada que ver con el fundador de Microsoft. Es asн como Los Bee Gees fueron nombrados luego de las iniciales Bill Gates.

2) Bob Dylan:

Su nombre original es Robert Zimmerman, y era demasiado largo y ademбs el era un fanбtico de Dylan Thomas.

3) The Doors:

Primero fueron nombrados Psychedelic Ranger. Luego fueron inspirados por una cita de William Blake: "si las puertas (doors) de la percepciуn serian lavadas, todo aparecerнa al hombre como es, infinito."

4) Elton John:

Su nombre real es Reginald Dwight. Tomo su nombre artнstico de otros mъsicos britбnicos, Elton Dean y John Baldry.

5) Elvis Costello:

Naciу llamado Decнan Patrick McManus. Cuando comenzу su carrera musical, adopto un alias creado por una combinaciуn de Elvis Presley y Lou Costello, simplemente porque representa lo opuesto de el otro Elvis.

6) Eurythmics:

Su nombre es originado en un sistema de instrucciуn musical de 1890 que se focaliza en respuestas fнsicas.

7) Everything but the Girl:

Se inspiraron en una propaganda de ropa britбnica que vendнa todo menos a la chica (Everything but the girl). La implicaciуn era que todo estaba en rebajas menos las cosas de chica.

8) Green Day:

Si fumas marihuana y luego te relajas todo el dнa, has tenido un dнa verde (Green Day).

9) Guns and Roses:

De los nombres de Axl Rose y Tracii Guns.

10) Marilyn Manson:

El seudуnimo del lнder de la banda mezclo dos de las celebridades favoritas americanas: Marilyn Monroe y Charles Manson. Otros miembros de la banda usan los pseudonimos Ginger Fish, Twiggy Ramirez y Madonna Wayne Gacy.

11) Nirvana:

En el budismo significa el estado de bendiciуn perfecta obtenida por la destrucciуn de uno mismo.

12) Pet Shop Boys:

En la disco gay "underground" habнan los cuartos oscuros en los cuales no sabes con quien estas teniendo sexo. Una variaciуn son los Pet Shops: no sabes con lo que lo estas haciendo.

13) Queen:

Una palabra que caracteriza a los travestis y la realeza. Connotaciones perfectas para el nombre de la banda en los ojos de Freddie Mercury.

14) Ramones:

Una historia un poco "freaky". En el principio de su carrera, Paul McCartney se llamaba a si mismo Paul Ramone.

15) R. E.M:

"Rapad Eye Movement" Movimiento rбpido de ojos, que es un estado de sueсo.

16) TLC:

Las iniciales de los apodos de los miembros de la banda son T Boz, Left Eye y Chilli. Tambiйn sugiere los acrуnimos de "Tender, Loving y Care".

17) UB40:

La banda fue desde un principio relacionada con temas polнticos y fue nombrada a partir de un formulario de desempleo en britбnico.

18) U2:

Un tipo de aviуn espнa usado por los estados unidos, Bono explico una vez que U2 creciу de pensamientos de interacciуn con la audiencia... como en "you too" (vos tambiйn).

19) Velvet Underground:

Nombrados a partir de un titulo de un libro de sexo desconocido que uno de los miembros de la banda habнa encontrado tirado en la calle.

20) XTC:

Esta banda de punk fue formada en 1976 antes de que usar drogas sea popular. La banda habнa cambiado su nombre original Star Park luego de mirar a Jimmy Durante clip en el que dice:"Estoy en Йxtasis!"

21) Yeh Yeh Yeh:

De acuerdo a Karen O, la inspiraciуn de esta banda de Hip hop vino de la frase Newyorkina que significa "Whatever".

A short history of herbs

The world of today is a world of progress, no one doubts about that. We have managed to do in 200 years of continuous industrial revolution, what we couldn’t do in thousands and thousands of tumultuous history. And yet, with all these technological breakdowns and synthetic substances, artificial food, not to mention the reign of King Plastic, some people still find the power and the wisdom to ask themselves how people in the past remained healthy and fit without nutritional supplements, drugs, even antibiotics. Their secret was that that they used what Mother Nature gave them: the plants to cure themselves. Fortunately, this knowledge hasn’t been forgotten; even if they’re not so widely used, plants have found their place in our civilization.

The story begins thousands of years ago, before the recorded history, when man didn’t know how to write or read, but knew how to follow their instincts. They discovered that certain herbs could alleviate their pains, others could make a wound disappear and others could even kill them. In the course of time, societies developed and with them appeared the means to transmit their knowledge other than orally.

5000 years ago, in Ancient China, people used rhubarb (Rheune palmatum) as a purgative without knowing anything about the actual active substances they contained. Also, they used Ephedra to treat asthma, even though the substance called ephedrine was discovered much later, in 1887 AD. All oriental ancient civilizations had their insights into the fascinating world of botany, as plants were one of the few elements to which they could resort to heal themselves. The famous king Hammurabi of Babylon (18th century BC) recommended mint to cure constipation and other digestive disorders. Mesopotamian doctors considered that the best time to take a herbal medicine was at night or early in the morning, a principle which is confirmed nowadays by modern studies. The Indians had an entire system of rules, prescriptions, remedies and practices, called Ayurveda, many of which involved the use of plants. They also had strict rules about when, by whom and from where the plants should be collected

People in Ancient Egypt knew and used the castor-oil plant, wormwood, saffron and oregano to heal and disinfect wounds; they also put coriander in their tombs so that the spirit will remain healthy in his afterlife. There are written records of their use of garlic (especially for the workmen who built the pyramids), indigo, mint and opium. The Greek and Roman civilizations have made a major contribution to the medical science. Although much of their studies stemmed from other cultures (Mesopotamian, Egyptian), they added precious information and, in time, they became more and more concerned about the diseases and cures as natural and realistic processes, rather than spiritual or magical. Physicians like Hippocrates, Dioscoride and others have recorded their discoveries; their works would enlighten the pre-medieval civilizations for many centuries after their death. Dioscorides wrote De Materia Medica (1st century AD), which contained a list of hundreds of medicinal plants, along with their description and curative qualities.

The Dark Ages met with a lack of any further recorded herbal studies; the knowledge was probably transmitted from generation to generation – parents taught children, monks, even herbalist taught apprentices. However, there lived a great Persian physician by the name of Avicenna (Abu Ali al-Husayn ibn Abd Allah Ibn Sina) who wrote one of the most famous books in the history of medical science: The Canon, which also contained information about how plants should be used and their properties.

In1527, the Swiss thinker Paracelsus demonstrates that only a small part of the plant has an effect upon the human body (1g per 20 kg of plant), which is what we now call active substance. Later on, scientists have developed methods to isolate these substances.

However, the first complete categorization of all known medicinal plants was printed in a book called Theatrum Botanicum by John Parkinson in 1640 AD. In 1649 Nicholas Culpeper pulished A Physical Directory, which is considered one of the best herbal pharmacopoeia manuals still quoted today.

As chemistry as a science developed, physicians started to use more and more widely synthetic medicines, such as aspirin, which proved to have side effects. Yet all pharmacists and drug producers confirm the fact that, unlike artificially synthesized substances, medicines extracted from plants are more accessible to the metabolism and friendlier with the human body.

Are sat prep courses worth it

SAT importance has changed dramatically over the past few years. Many students strive to score as high as possible, because a high SAT score may translate into acceptance, and in some cases, scholarship money.

The basics of testing can be learnt quite easily; however the focus of this article is whether spending several thousand dollars for a prep course is ideal. At some private schools, more than half the students don’t think twice about spending thousands on a good coaching company.

Do you need a prep course? It depends on how you learn best, and what is your motive for taking up such a course. Most of the techniques in prep courses are already mentioned in prep books that are sold in bookstores for thirty dollars.

Top students seldom gain much from coaching. The effortless insight that marks the best standardized test-takers cannot be taught. On the other hand, a student who lacks motivation may not benefit from a SAT prep course either. For diligent students, the benefits from a prep course will vary. If you are the type who is well-organized and initiative, you’d probably do as well with self-coaching software and books.

If you are enthusiastic about a prep course, by all means, take up one. If you believe that a prep course will raise your score, chances are that it will. Other types of students who may benefit from a prep course include students who learn best with adult direction. They often need help in staying focused, so a prep course will be a good idea. It depends on how you learn.

Before you sign up for a test prep course, be sure you research thoroughly what exactly you will be taught. Meet the instructor firsthand. Don’t pay too much attention to guarantees; they are not reliable indicator of how effective a particular course is. It’s always a good idea to try to take up a prep course BEFORE the first time you take the SAT. That way you’ll avoid a sudden spike in your score – an event likely to raise suspicions in the admissions offices – which is the result of a cram course.

Letting excel-fr comfortouch keep you safe

As a hardworking man or woman chances are pretty good you have found the need for specialty work wear. This often ranges from medical professionals all the way to foundry professionals. Needless to say, when you need hardworking work wear, you know you can trust Excel FR Comfortouch for all of your flame resistant needs.

Excel FR Comfortouch is made from the best fabric on earth when it comes to offering flame protection: Bulwark®. This is a heavy duty fabric specifically designed to withstand the rigorous conditions that often put you or your loved one in the fire.

You need unbeatable protection; you need long lasting protection. That is Excel FR Comfortouch’s job – to keep you safe longer.

With this line of flame resistant work wear you will find you have the comfort of cotton with the durability of nylon. The cotton / nylon blend is 88% / 12% offering you the best of both worlds. These particular work wear pieces are engineered to work for the life of your new garment offering the same flame resistance protection a century down the road that it offers the first day. Nobody understands your needs like Excel FR Comfortouch.

There are multiple categories you have to choose from:

Shirts

These shirts are designed to be great looking as well as protective and professional. You get your choice of colors, and the long sleeves with secure cuffs offers you total torso protection. There are even pockets on the front to add to the functionality of this high quality, superiorly constructed work wear. This is a favorite among many individuals because they look like everyday work shirts, but add the protection of fire resistance.

Pants

Of course, you will find you need pants or trousers. These particular pants or trousers are perfect for protecting you from the waist down. They look good enough you can wear anywhere, but when you need protection form the flames you will find this is one piece of work wear that takes a beating and keeps on ticking. These FR pants or trousers come in an array of sizes and colors to give you the choices you want while getting the protection you need.

Unlined Coveralls / Bib Overalls

When you need a bit of extra support in your FR work wear, you will find these unlined bill overalls and unlined coveralls offer you the ability to work without a belt. No possibilities of your pants or trousers falling down, or for your shirt to come untucked. These unlined coveralls and unlined bib overalls offer you full protection. Because they are unlined, you will find you can purchase separate liners, or even get the protection without a lot of addition weight.

Hoods / Jackets / Parkas

Excel FR Comfortouch offers a complete line of accessories that will help complete your working ensemble. You get hoods, parkas, and jackets that all offer the same level of protection and perfection. Nothing can complete your safe working day like trusting the company that brings you the finest in Bulwark® apparel. More people that know trust the name Excel when it comes to fire resistant work wear.

Please explain what a secured loan is

Confused by the massive array of loans available to you today? Feel if you wanted to that you could buy a house, a yacht or a dream holiday in a matter of minutes, but want to make the right decision by taking out the most appropriate loan?

There are numerous ways to borrow money:

• Secured loan – An advance on your mortgage (see detail below)

• Unsecured personal loan – Tends to cost more in interest and needs to be paid off quicker than a secured loan.

• Credit card – If you pay off your balance every month in full, this costs you nothing. However, if you don’t, interest rates can be high and can outweigh the initial amount that you borrowed on it. You will be charged if you miss a payment and some charge an annual fee.

• Store card – Similar to a credit card, although the interest rates can be even higher. Not a problem if you pay the balance off every month, but it soon adds up if you don’t.

• Hire purchase – Used for buying expensive items, such as cars or kitchens, but tends to have a high rate of interest and a much shorter repayment term than a secured loan.

• In-store interest free credit deals – Often they are only interest free for a certain period. If you do not pay off in full during that time, you could be landed with a hefty interest bill.

• Current account overdraft - Access to a monthly amount of money, that you pay interest on. It can involve high rates of interest, monthly overdraft fees and sometimes set-up costs.

However the advantages of secured loans are many and are well worth looking in to. A secured loan is a way of borrowing by releasing equity (money) from your home, to be used for a variety of reasons.

What can a secured loan be used for?

• To consolidate other debts – makes things more manageable

• To fund a wedding – do it in style

• Pay for a dream holiday – ever feel life’s too short!

• Do vital maintenance to your house – prevention is better than cure

• Buy a new car – live the dream

• Build a new garage – add value to your property

• Create an extension on your home – much cheaper than moving house

The advantages of a secured loan:

• As the loan is secured against your property, so of less risk to the lender, the interest rates offered are generally far more competitive than an unsecured loan (such as an overdraft). Borrowing on the value of your home is by far the most cost effective way to borrow a lump sum. Even if you haven’t owned your property for very long, you will probably find that it’s value has probably increased more than sufficiently to make an advance a worthwhile and money-saving investment in what is probably your biggest asset.

• A sensible way to borrow money for expensive, one-off type products or experiences

• If necessary you will be able to reduce your monthly payments by paying the loan off over a longer term – as long as your mortgage if you choose. By taking out a secured loan your monthly repayments will be far more manageable than using a credit card or unsecured personal loan.

• Unlike other types of borrowing, homeowner loans can allow you to pay off the amount in line with the length of your mortgage. This can make repayments far more manageable, as a loan repaid over 20 years will involve substantially smaller repayments than one that has to be paid off over five years.

• You tend to be able to borrow larger sums than with unsecured loans, such as credit cards.

• If you have any outstanding loans that aren’t secured on your property, ideally pay them off. If this isn’t possible, add them to the homeowner loan, for a much more competitive rate – which will save you money in the long run.

Issues regarding gout treatment

Due to improper diet, sedentary lifestyle and obesity, many people suffer from gout these days. Gout predominantly affects men and the disease is most likely to occur at a more advanced age. Men with ages over 50 usually develop forms of gout. In some cases, women can also develop the disease after the age of 60.

There are many factors that facilitate the development of gout, but the actual cause of the disease seems to be the body’s excessive secretion of a substance called uric acid. Uric acid is a residual product that is excreted from the body through urine. The surplus of uric acid inside the body leads to its accumulation in the form of uric crystals. These crystals deposit in different regions of the organism, causing inflammation. Gout mainly affects joints, especially those of the lower body limbs. Gout causes inflammation, swelling and intense pain of the affected areas.

Although the disease can be corrected through an appropriate gout treatment, there is no specific cure for it. Many medicines prescribed for gout usually control its symptoms, rather than the actual causes. However, some of the causes of gout can be overcome through the means of a good, healthy diet. It is very important to reduce the consumption of alcohol when suffering from gout, as it interferes with renal activity. Smoking is known to cause damage to arteries and it can also slow down the process of healing.

Gout usually involves intense pain of the joints. Pain episodes tend to become more intense during the night and sometimes people with gout have trouble sleeping. Although some medicines don’t prevent pain attacks from reoccurring, they are effective for temporarily reducing it. Common medicines prescribed in gout treatments are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethacin, ketoprofen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and naproxen). They are efficient in calming the inflammation and also ameliorate the pain. Anti-inflammatory drugs are usually well-tolerated by the body. They are administered orally, in the quantities prescribed by the doctor.

Another substance used in gout treatment is Colchicine. Although it considerably reduces pain and discomfort of the regions affected by gout, it also has a lot of side effects. Due to this fact, Colchicine is only administered to patients suffering from acute gout or to those who don’t respond well to gout treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Corticosteroids are also used in some gout treatments. They quickly relief the pain and they can usually be injected directly into the affected joint. However, they are used only in extreme cases, due to their multiple side effects.

Although proper diet and drinking larger quantities of water are a natural way of getting rid of the surplus of uric acid from the body, some medicines can also help to normalize the levels of the substance. Such medicines are usually used in chronic gout treatment. Allopurinol is an inhibitor that decreases the quantities of uric acid secreted by the body. Uricosuric Agents like probenecid and sulfinpyrazone improve the activity of the kidneys, aiding the process of excretion.

Many symptoms of gout can be ameliorated by following an appropriate gout treatment. However, when suffering from chronic forms of gout the symptoms reappear after certain periods of time and ongoing treatment is necessary.

Apply online for a credit card in canada

If you are an American living in Canada, you have to consider that owning a credit card is essential in your everyday life, you may not always have the money to cover your expenses and the card will come in extremely handy. With it, you will be able to make purchases even if you still don’t have the money to pay for your purchases. This will mean that you will be able to purchase all the things you need in your everyday life with a credit card and pay it back later on a monthly basis.

In Canada, you have to consider the fact that there isn’t as much choice of credit cards as there is in the United States. Although you can still find great deals on credit cards in Canada, there will only be limited choices of credit cards available. This is because the market majority for credit cards is focused mainly on the United States. So, before you go online to apply for a credit card in Canada, make sure that you know what to look for in order for you to get the best deals possible for credit cards that credit card companies in Canada has to offer.

Firstly, you would want the best credit card deals there are. In order for you to get the best credit card deals in Canada, you can simply go online and shop around for quotations. When you do come across a great offer, such as low APR or low interest rates and zero annual fees, you need to read the agreement before you apply. This is because the agreement will disclose all the information that you need to know about a particular credit card that their ads don’t specify. Usually, low interest rate credit cards and low APR credit cards are only offered for a limited period only. This only serves as a promotional offer in order to attract more potential cardholders.

When searching for different kinds of offers for credit cards in Canada, you should try typing in "credit cards Canada" or "Canadian credit cards" in your favorite search engine. You will see that there are quite a lot of options that you can choose from and each website can also offer you quotations and instant online application for a credit card.

When comparing credit cards, the first thing you have to look at is the APR or the annual percentage rate. You should remember that the APR is the main factor that will affect your monthly bills and also other charges, such as late payments, and cash advances. A low APR is what you are looking for in a good credit card.

Since there are quite a number of credit card offers available in Canada, go for the least possible fixed interest rate and also go for a reliable credit card company.

When applying online for a credit card, make sure that you don’t do so in public places, such as an internet cafй. This is because you will not be sure if the computers there are secured and there may be some people who will be looking over your shoulder that can easily steal your personal and financial information and use it to purchase items.

Your own computer should also be secured when applying for a credit card online. Make sure you install antispyware software to get rid of potential keyloggers and other kinds of spyware software installed in your computer. These are some of the things you should remember when applying for a credit card online in Canada or in any other country.

Laxing andorra

Andorra, The Principality of Andorra is a very small, landlocked principality in south-western Europe. It is located in the Pyrenees mountains, bordered by France and Spain, and is a very interesting country to travel to. Once an isolated country, Andorra, has currently become a very prosperous country because of tourism and for it's benefits that it offers to international corporations for taxes.

The name of the country, Andorra most likely originated from the Navarrese word andurrial, which translates to shrub-covered land. Tourism is the staple of Andorra's small, well to do economy. This accounts for roughly 80% of the Gross Domestic Product. It is estimated that nine million tourists visit Andorra annually. These tourists are attracted by Andorra's duty-free shopping and also by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's advantage has recently shrunk as the neighboring economies of France and Spain have slackened up, providing more availability to goods and lower tariffs on them. With its tax haven status, The banking sector, also contributes in a lareg way to the economy of the Andorra. Agricultural production is so limited because only 2% of the land is arable. This means that most food has to be imported. Lifestock that does exist, is mainly sheep. Local Manufacturing consists of cigars, cigarettes, and furniture.

Andorra, although not a 'full member' of the EU (European Union), still enjoys a special relationship with it. An example of this is that Andorra is treated as an EU member for among EU members. This means that there is no tariffs. Andorra really does lack a currency of its own, because it is uses the currencies of its two surrounding nations.

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the following caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

Popular ideas for science projects

If you are in need of ideas for science projects, there are several ways to get started. To begin with, look at a list of science categories and select one that interests you most. Once you select a category, narrow it down to one particular project or idea that you feel would make a successful project. You can also find a great idea for science projects by thinking back to a time when you, yourself, wondered how something worked. If you can recall such a time, turn that in to a science project. You can also watch television commercials, news, read the newspaper and gather some information on current events.

If you are still in need of a few ideas for science projects, take a look at these . . .

- Are dogs really color blind?

- Which type of soils are best suited for house building?

- What material serves as the best insulator and why?

- How does a sunspot affect radio and television reception?

- What are the symptoms and treatments of various eating disorders?

- Will eating breakfast help in school or work performance?

- What is in our drinking water?

- How polluted is the local water supply and what can be done to help improve it’s quality?

- How do changes in the air pressure affect our weather?

- Diet vs. Regular - What’s the difference?

- How does a tooth decay, what leads to this occurrence and how can it be prevented?

- How to develop pictures.

- How can we rid our home of airborne allergens?

- What is water filtration and does it really work?

As you can see, there are a variety of ideas for science projects to fit every individual and interest. In order to create the perfect science projects, students may need to refer to encyclopedia’s, textbooks, internet research and may even find it useful to interview an expert in the field of choice. An example would be science projects that deal with weather, which may benefit from an interview with a local meteorologist.

When selecting science projects, the most successful outcomes will be derived from subjects that are of most interest to the one conducting the research. If a child is interested in one particular area of science, or is extremely knowledgeable in one area, that may be the one to give the most consideration to when choosing science projects. As a final thought to science projects, the goal is to learn something new, be able to verbally explain it to others and most of all, enjoy the process of learning.

Cement home ownership with 30-year mortgage rates

A house is made of walls and beams, while a home is built with love and dreams. Both house and home have one ingredient in common, however, and that is mortgage. If your house is the substance your dreams are made of, mortgage payments may be fodder for several nights' worth of nightmares.

Loan Term

In home loan lending, loan term refers to the period over which you must make payments. Different loans have different terms. The safest term to go for is fixed-rate mortgage. Under this type, your monthly mortgage payments do not change over the life of your loan. You may take your pick from a multitude of terms, such as 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. This article will focus on the merits of getting 30-year mortgage rates.

Advantages of Getting 30-Year Mortgage Rates

A 30-year mortgage is the granddaddy of all home loans in home loan lending. As a rule of thumb, the longer the loan term, the lower the monthly payments. If you get 30-year mortgage rates, your monthly dues will be so affordable you will have more disposable income for your living expenses. Furthermore, you will be able to funnel more money towards your savings for retirement, tuition, or whatever purpose you have in mind.

The good thing about having extra cash is that you may use it to make additional payments on your mortgage balance. This will help shorten the term of your loan.

Another benefit of availing of 30-year mortgage rates is that it is easy to get a loan approved if it comes with longer terms. In fact, with longer terms, you may even be able to get a larger or finer house. In home loan lending, long-term loans are often perceived as more stable compared to short-term loans.

Advantages of Fixed Rate Mortgage

Fixed rate mortgage, particularly those involving 30-year mortgage rates, are recommended because:

1. you know exactly how much you will be repaying every month, for the next 30 years. This makes budgeting easy.

2. even if rates skyrocket, your rate is locked in for the next 30 years. Your monthly repayments will always be the same.

3. you do not have to remortgage every two or three years.

Disadvantages of Fixed Rate Mortgage

Admittedly, 30-year mortgage rates are not without their drawbacks. Some believe getting 30-year mortgage rates is not in their best interest because:

1. if mortgage rates fall, the fixed rate given to you will be higher than prevailing rates.

2. fixed rate mortgages generally require you to pay an arrangement or booking fee.

3. longer-term fixed rate mortgages require early repayment charges during the duration of the fixed period.

The decision to go for longer-term fixed rate mortgages is one you should make with care. Prudence and well-timed monthly payments can be the two things that separate the house-rich from the homeless.

How sharing our information can change your life

Internet is a powerful tool that can create an increase in your personal income.

All you need is to know is how to use it!

When you’re online you’re connected to the world! With access to over 6 billion people.

Not everyone is on the net but those who are search for information.

Information is the keyword in the 21st century.

Everyone wants to know all there is about a certain subject of their interest.

Excellent internet marketing techniques have been developed to give people exactly what they are searching for. This can be profitable to you and other people if you have the information they are looking for.

If you have interesting information you can share this with other people.

You can give some information for free but if you think your information

Is substantial you can try to sell that information.

One way to provided that information is the form of an Ebook.

Ebooks are digital books.

Some people already have many ideas and know what the want to write about.

They are very passionate about the subject and if you believe that people want your information you’ll be write an outstanding Ebook.

Are Ebooks difficult to write?

No, if you can read and speak you can write a best-selling Ebook.

With the right instruction and software tools you can write an Ebook within 10 to 14 days.

Are Ebooks profitable?

You can finish your book one day and start selling the next.

There are no printing, distribution or postage costs.

If you sell your own Ebook you keep 100 percent of the profit!

You can keep selling it for as long as you want, and keep all the money for yourself!

You can make minor adjustments to your Ebook easily and change the whole appearance of it!

After you’ve written an Ebook you need to publish it so that other people will be able to read it.

One of the best ways to publish an Ebook is to use the file format known as “PDF”.

PDF stands for “portable document format”.

There are several good reasons to use PDF.

I

They are easy to download from the web.

It works on every computer when the right software is installed.

It’s reliable and stable.

There is plenty of good software that tells you how you can create good PDF documents.

After you have written a best-selling Ebook and published it you want to tell the world about it.

Learning good internet marketing techniques will help you to sell your Ebook online.

go to powerfullmarketingtools. com

Bad credit mortgage lenders comparing interest rates and mortgage programs

Bad credit mortgage lenders offer an invaluable service by helping individuals with low credit scores purchase a new home. In a perfect world, everyone who applies for a mortgage will have taken the necessary step to improve their credit beforehand. However, situations do arise that make it difficult to maintain a high credit score. Bad credit mortgage lenders recognize this difficulty.

How a Bad Credit Mortgage Loan Can Improve Credit

Bad credit can happen overnight. Unfortunately, repairing a bad credit history is not as simple. The quickest way to boost a low credit rating entails getting approved for new lines of credit, and making timely payments. Once your credit is damaged, unless you take the steps to re-establish a good payment history, credit scores will never improve.

Those who get approve for a mortgage loan, and make regular payments, will realize an improvement in their credit rating. Improvements occur over the course of several months. However, within the first year of having a mortgage, you may be able to obtain other lines of credit at reasonable interest rates.

Choose the Right Bad Credit Mortgage Lender

When shopping for a mortgage with bad credit, bad credit lenders will likely offer better rates. Some banks and credit unions offer sub prime or bad credit mortgage loans. However, because these lending institutions do not concentrate on these sorts of loans, they tend to charge higher rates for a bad credit mortgage loan.

Instead, begin your search by requesting quotes from three or four sub prime lenders. These lenders offer a wide assortment of loans. They offer bad credit loans, no money down loans, bad credit refinancing, etc. Whatever your situation, there is a bad credit loan to match your needs.

How to Compare Mortgage Lenders

Comparing mortgage lenders can be either easy or difficult. Some homebuyers choose to phone individual lenders for information or quotes. To make the process a little easier, use a mortgage broker. Brokers function as the middleman. They research suitable loan programs and compile quotes for their clients. A large number of mortgage brokers have online quote request forms. Simply submit an application, and expect a response within minutes.

Can the fed stop the bleeding

Surely “they” wouldn’t let the worst happen, would they?

The “subprime” debacle in the last few weeks seemed to come from nowhere to suddenly infuse panic into financial markets from stocks to mortgages to hedge funds to banks to precious metals to consumer spending. Of course, as I have explained in my newsletters and daily updates (and in my book), it did not come from nowhere at all. Blind Freddy should have seen it coming. Nor was it sudden. It took a lot longer to happen than I ever imagined.

As at the date of writing (August 18), central banks around the world (the European ECB panicking the most) have tipped hundreds of billions of dollars into “the system” to try and combat the sudden fear of and thus freeze on lending, even from one bank to another. And now the Federal Reserve has lowered its “discount rate,” which is the desperado last resort that banks can turn to for loans if there is nowhere else, by 0.5%. Will this work? Will this stop the hemorrhaging in the credit markets which threatened to send mortgage rates through the roof and stock and other financial markets into a dive, not to mention the economy?

In a word, NO!

There is a mistaken belief, which is very widespread, that “they” (which usually means governments and/or central banks) can take whatever action is necessary to stave off any monetary or economic disaster that threatens. The belief (hope) is that we could never have another 1930s style depression because we have so many “safety nets” in place and authorities are so much wiser and the global economy is so much stronger than it was 75 years ago and technology advances, China, India, blah, blah, blah.

That is all nonsense! And very few people who believe that pipe dream can back it up with any facts, figures or even any historic evidence or economic fundamentals.

Before I explain why “they” cannot stop an out-of-control speeding locomotive, let’s look at a couple of recent examples that demonstrate just how powerless governments and central banks are in the face of a stampeding herd once the public mood turns sour.

Example 1

At the beginning of the 1990s, against all odds, first the Japanese stock market, then the property market in Japan, then the Japanese economy, went into freefall, and were to remain at or near the bottom of the abyss until this day. Share and property markets fell 80% and the Japanese economy has been in virtual permanent recession, if not depression, accompanied, notably, by deflation, for the better part of two decades. How this could happen, when in 1990 Japan was the post-war “modern-day economic miracle of the world” (like China today, take note) is another story that I have not only written about but strongly predicted back in 1989. The important thing here is how powerless “they” proved to be in trying to not only prevent it, but to fix it once it broke.

The Bank of Japan lowered interest rates to zero. The Japanese government spent trillions of yen on (mostly useless) infrastructure. Did they succeed in getting the economy moving? No. Did they succeed in getting people to spend again? No. Why?

Example 2

Immediately after Thanksgiving Day 2000 the US economy “hit the brick wall.” It was like magic. As if overnight the public just stopped spending. No-one noticed that this happened nine months after the stock market started falling, but that too is another subject.

The point is that the then chairman of the Fed, Alan Greenspan, panicked. On January 3, 2001 the Federal Reserve dropped short term interest rates by 0.5%. The effect was immediate. The S&P 500 spiked up 5% in one day. Yee-hah! The Fed won!

Did it? Over the next 18 months the Fed lowered interest rates a further twelve times in a row, not stopping until the Fed Funds rate got to 1%. Wow, that must have sent the stock market soaring. How much did it rise? The S&P 500 FELL 44%! Why?

The reason is that governments and central banks are followers, not leaders. Any action they take will have at best a temporary effect and any short term “reaction” by the public will always be fully reversed. At worst it will invariably add to the debt mountain which was the underlying fundamental cause of the problem in the first place.

Why is this? Socionomists know the answer. The most powerful force on this earth is the living, seething mass of humanity that moves backwards and forwards, up and down, like the waves in the ocean. Periods of optimism produce growth. But like the worm that has to pull back before he can move any further forward, these periods of progression must be interrupted by periods of regression (backwards). There is nothing that central banks or governments can do about it. And our flawed money system only exacerbates the problem.

The remarkable thing is that collective human behavior has a pattern to it. Mainstream economists ignore this patterning and thus have a wonderful record of getting it wrong. They did not even label the last Great Depression as such until 1933, four years too late to save people from financial ruin. They cannot see this one coming either.

The title of my book is "How to Profit from the Coming Great Depression". Focus on the first three words and you may realise it is not a pessimistic tome. Read that and you will understand what I am talking about.

I reiterate that central bank intervention will not prevent the catastrophe that will flow from the “subprime mortgage crisis,” no matter what form it takes. Subprime is only one symptom of the underlying cause. Only the Wave Principle can explain that real cause.

(These comments are based on my daily update for Monday August 20, 2007).

Happy wave watching

Investigation of steroid use in baseball sports world

:
A deep investigation has been developed in the Baseball world after the use of steroid by Barry Bond, as the Major League Baseball reported.

According with the information given, the baseball player has been taken steroids, human growth hormone and insulin for the last five seasons, since 1998.

Two recent books have revealed the case, these are: ‘Game of Shadows” written by two Chronicle reporters from San Francisco and “Love me, Hate me: Barry Bonds and the Making of an Antihero” by Jeff Pearlman.

The investigation will be headed by the U. S Senate majority leader George Mitchell. Additional declarations have confirmed that baseball player Bonds and any other player that is a part of this investigation will be allowed to play while the case is developing.

On the other hand, according to an unknown source of the New York Daily News, the baseball player does not want to cooperate with the investigation.

In Baseball there were no tests for performance-enhancing drugs until the 2002 season. It would be hard to penalize any baseball player for the use of these substances before September 30, 2002, when the joint drug agreement was created. Baseball players’ tests started in 2003 and the penalty followed in 2004.

About the author

Jill Woods is part of the skill writers’ team on sports for the gambling industry at I Bet IAS Sportsbook. Feel free to reprint this article just as it is posted.

Getting the best out of your digital camera

Any digital camera has an array of functions and uses that enable the handler to take excellent pictures. However, many of the functions are not fully understood and the pictures are not of the best possible quality. Understanding these features enable the user to have complete control over their machine, and therefore get the best possible images.

Firstly the quality of the image that can be produced relies upon the resolution of the digital camera. This is made up of mega pixels. The number of mega pixels determines the level of detail in the picture. The pixels are the tiny dots of colour that make up image. These look fine on the computer or screen. However, once transferred to the computer and enlarged, images containing a lower number of pixels show these dots and so the image is flawed. Therefore, for good quality images the best digital camera to choose is one that has a high number of mega pixels.

The quality of the digital camera lens will also affect your picture quality. The lens should have a zoom feature, which enables you to zoom both in and out to create the perfect composition for your image. Each device will differ, but the concept is the same. The lens should be labeled with two zoom numbers; the smallest states the shortest possible zoom distance and the biggest number shows the longest possible distance. Consider the type of photographs that you are going to take when choosing your digital camera. If the pictures will mainly be indoors, then a lower number is required to be able to zoom out in enclosed areas.

The average digital camera will have an inbuilt auto focus function which will serve most amateur photographer`s needs. However, for more effects or for advanced photography, select a camera that has a manual focus option also. The auto focus can be turned off in some devices, which is an exceptional feature as the photographer can choose which option is best for the photograph being taken.

Another consideration is the shutter delay on the digital camera. The shutter delay affects the quality of focus and composition. The delay means that the picture is actually taken some time after the button is pressed on the camera. This means that the subject of the composition may have moved, clouds may shadow the expected lighting effects, or that your hand may shake and so the image is distorted and blurred. A good way to combat this is to only half press the button when you are composing the picture. This activates the auto focus and prepares the device for the shot. When the button is pressed, the photograph will be taken much more quickly, and will help combat any distortions.

Memory space is important if you want to take good photographs with your digital camera. Not only does this enable lots of storage, it also gives you the opportunity to take several photographs, in search of that one perfect shot.

Any digital camera will have inbuilt storage but this is minimal, averaging around 16 megabytes in total. The memory space can be added to with the use of a memory card or stick. The type chosen will depend upon what is compatible with your camera. Any memory card or stick is good, and they go up to 2GB in size. It is important that the type chosen is compatible with your home computer so that the images can be transferred and stored, giving you access to more photographic opportunities.

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author's name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

Quitting the stick can save lives ---even your own

Smoking is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. This is a warning that has been trumpeted by governments around the world. Almost every pack of cigarette produced today has this warning emblazoned across the cigarette logo. Yet it seems that nobody is listening. People still smoke despite the dire consequences associated with tobacco use.

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco use is the probable cause for at least 25 different diseases. The WHO even announced that smoking is now, in fact, is now “...the greater cause of death and illness than any other disease.” In the United Kingdom alone, at least 20,000 people die of smoking-related lung cancer every year. Doctors have been very emphatic in their warnings about the links of smoking to cancers of the mouth, liver, kidney, bladder, stomach and cervix. Aside from chronic bronchitis and emphysema, other lung and respiratory illnesses are blamed on tobacco use. Smoking is also a very serious risk to pregnant women --- those who actually smoke during pregnancy and pregnant women who are exposed to so-called secondary smoke. The US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that smoking harms nearly all organs in the human body. CDC records show that 438,000 people, or almost one in every five deaths in the U. S. is related to excessive smoking. Fact sheets released by CDC state that 90% of lung cancer deaths in women and 80% of lung cancer deaths in men in the United States were positively linked to the excessive use of tobacco.

But if the effects of smoking are so plainly dangerous to one's health, one do people smoke?

Based on current estimates, there are now 1.1 billion smokers around the world. Each smoker may have a different reason or combination of reasons for using tobacco. One common reason given by smokers for using tobacco is their claim that tobacco helps them deal with stress and anxiety. Many adults with problems at work or in their relationships use smoking as an outlet and a “coping agent.” The “upper” effect of cigarette use can actually help relax. Stress and anxiety, they claim, can be handled a bit easier with the use of a couple of sticks. Among young people, cigarette use is often linked to the desire to “appear” mature. Smoking is seen as a sign of “coming of age” for most teens. A closer look would reveal that many teenagers, too, suffer from stress and anxiety. Their distress can come from their difficulties at home or with schoolwork. The pressure to “belong” also forces some young people to adopt the smoking habits of their peers. But another common yet little spoken of reason for smoking is weight control. Some people claim that smoking helps them reduce their appetite. This claim has solid basis since smoking dulls the taste buds on the tongue. Those who quit smoking usually gain weight because they suddenly find that their food tastes a bit better compared to the time when they still used tobacco.

But no matter the cause of anxiety, one thing is clear: Smoking Kills.

The good news is, smoking is not a habit that is impossible to break. There are a number of ways to quit smoking. For the fortunate ones, they can quit smoking “cold turkey” --- or even without preparation. These people are able to drop the habit without the need for medication or therapy. These “cold turkey” quitters know that smoking is definitely not an anxiety treatment. On the contrary, they have realized the continued, uncontrolled smoking eventually becomes the cause of anxiety, and much worse, an assortment of debilitating health problems. People who have come face to face with their “filthy” habit have a range of options to choose from once they decide that they want to quit. Smokers who need medical assistance may be prescribed with Buproprion, a sustained-release oral medication that is used to help quit smoking. This medication is commonly marketed under the brand name Zyban. There are other forms of medications or products that can be used to help a person quit smoking. Nicotine patches and other anti-smoking products have been released in the market to help thousands who want to “quit the stick.”

Indeed, these past few decades, the campaign against smoking has been pursued non-stop. Still, millions of people around the world continue to “puff” their lives away in exchange for the temporary pleasures of smoking. Given the frightening statistics regarding smoking-related illnesses, people would do well to start listening to the “Government Warning” and to good, old-fashioned common sense that smoking does kill. Every smoker that makes a decision to quit, has indeed, saved his own life. By telling others about the risks of smoking and the many ways to quit the habit, former smokers can even help save others like them who once became unwitting slaves of the stick.

Lease a private jet and travel in the lap of luxury

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If the executives of your company have to travel regularly, leasing a private jet can help you in your business to a great extent. Whether you are concerned about time, flexibility, safety or privacy, a chartered executive private jet seems to be the order of the day. Luxury private jets are the signature of high-flying business people. Leasing a private jet for personal use is also beneficial.

The cost of leasing a private jet may be a little high, but the safety and time-savings that they offer easily justify the cost. Leasing a private jet has several advantages:


It’s Hassle-free

While using commercial flights, you have to go through the mandatory time-consuming security check-ups. Removing shoes, unpacking and repacking carry-on luggage, standing in queues takes up a lot of time. You may even be required to arrive at the airport several hours early.

On the other hand, imagine no luggage or security checks, no removing your shoes, no queues and no delayed planes. With private jet charter; pilot, crew members and stewardess are available for you 24/7. Your chartered private jet is waiting for you to take off, rather than you waiting for your flight to take off.


Save Precious Time

Time is money for top corporate executives. Being stranded at a commercial airport for several hours is a complete wastage for time. Executive’s time is valued at and its wastage can’t be justified at any cost.

Therefore, executive private jets become the best option. It’s time efficient and maximizes productivity of the employees by saving their valuable time.


Luxurious Interior

On a private charter jet you are offered a luxury which you can never dream of receiving in a commercial plane. The seats are extremely comfortable with plenty of leg room. They almost look like a comfortable living room with TV, phone lines, computer as well as fully stocked bars.

Apart from that, the oxygen flow in the interior of a private jet is much superior. On a commercial plane, pilots often reduce the oxygen level to minimize costs aggravating the effects of jet lag.


Guarantees Confidentiality

Executives of giant companies have a busy life. They like to work when flying. Now commercial flights don’t make it possible. After all it’s like risking your company’s confidential information by working on a laptop which half a dozen people can see.

Traveling on a private jet ensures the confidentiality of your business. You can work or even conduct business meetings aboard with a relaxed mind without being bothered about spying eyes.


Additional Comfort

You can have menus and drinks customized according to your needs and demands. If your trip is for pleasure your favorite forms of entertainment are also arranged.


Stay grounded

Hold a conference inside the cabin, or talk to people on the ground. As majority of the private jets have excellent, sophisticated communication equipments, you can always stay in touch.



Whether you’re flying for business or pleasure on a private jet you are assured personalized service in every aspect of your travel. It truly is the ultimate way to travel. Enjoy the opulence and luxury of a private jet, save time and have peace of mind.

Children s bedroom sets - what features should you look for

If you are shopping for children’s bedroom sets, you have a lot to consider. There’s a wide range of choices, styles and features and it is difficult to know which ones are right for you. Of course, your children’s comfort and safety come first, but the features you choose can make a big difference in the value you get from your bedroom set.

Quality can vary widely between bedroom sets. It is important to get your furniture at the lowest price, but buying the cheapest furniture is not the best way to go. Low-end furniture could easily end up costing you more. First, it simply will not last as long as higher quality furniture. Second, it might not be as safe for your children. Many low-end bedroom sets are finished with toxic substances, or have ill fitting pieces that can harm your child.

One feature you might want to look for when buying a children’s bedroom set is a convertible crib. The ability to convert your crib into a toddler’s bed and then into a full-sized bed for teens will give you many more years of use from your entire bedroom set.

There are many other features to look for that will increase the enjoyment and value you and your children get from a bedroom set. Make sure your set has a lot of storage space. Babies, toddlers and teens all need more storage space than you think and many bedroom sets feature clever storage ideas, like drawers under cribs or beds, which make life easier.

Mix and match sets also help you get more use from your furniture. If you buy a crib set, you might want to add a desk later on when your boy or girl starts going to school.

Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards builds high quality children’s bedroom furniture sets with the features you need, at surprisingly affordable prices.

Auto dealer in you city and town

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Auto dealer can be easily found in your city and town. Auto dealer has got an huge collection of auto which provides the largest selection of vehicle to which customer get attracted.

Buying vehicles from auto dealer is the best as they guide us in buying and they do provide us with their services. Before buying any vehicle we can also take an test drive and see the comfort and then we can decide it to buy or not which is very interesting.

If your are looking for selling out your used vehicle then is bets to contact an auto dealer as they have an good contact which help us to get a proper buyer for our vehicle. So if you are looking for buying and selling your vehicle contact your nearest auto dealer.

Auto dealer certified many vihicle program, cosumers will be able to conduct a search for the make and model of the vehicle they choose and specify that they are interested in viewing certified vehicle results only, from among more than 1,700 nationwide dealers participating in the certified program. All certified search results include detailed vehicle descriptions, as well as color photos of the vehicles.

Consumers have the benefit of an easy and convenient search experience for high-quality,
factory-backed, certified used vehicles from top manufacturers. In addition, customers can learn more about each manufacturer's certified program. Auto dealers monthly user and unique visitors, resulting in increased leads and potential sales.

I am Free Lance writer and currently for this website Automobile Dealer . I have just started to write article and press releases which are related to this mentioned site. This article is prepared on the basis of reliable sources. If you find any error or mistake in this article please email us immediately at this email address annajosephs@gmail. com so that we can take immediate action.

Used hybrid cars

Since hybrid cars are slowly becoming all the rage for those who are seeking to promote energy independence, it should come as no surprises that deal minded individuals are looking to purchase used hybrid cars. Of course, used cars have their positive and negatives and associated risks. When it comes to purchasing used hybrid cars – or any cars for that matter – there are instances when purchasing a used can be quite a deal. In other instances, purchasing used cars can be a complete disaster. Ultimately, the positives or negatives associated with purchasing used hybrid cars will b based upon the prior owner of the car and the actual condition of the car.

It has been said to avoid purchasing used cars because purchasing used cars is the equivalent of purchasing “someone else’s problems.” In other words, the mechanical defects of the car that currently exist will become the new owner’s problems and the need to repair these problems will be pawned off to the new owner. There is truth to this in the event that the car has mechanical problems. If the car does not have mechanical problems, then there should be no issue to contend with when purchasing used hybrid cars.

Probably the best way to avoid any associated problems with purchasing used hybrid cars would be to seek a car that is being offered privately by a single owner. This is not to say that one should avoid purchasing a car from a dealer or a lot, but potential consumers need to realize that purchasing from a single owner as opposed is a somewhat safer venture.

Of course, in order to get the best deals on a used hybrid car, one needs to search for a hybrid car that has been established in the marketplace as a top of the line car. After all, a car that has a reputation for possessing high qualities would be a better purchase than one that is notorious for a multitude of problems. Of the hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius is one of the best reviewed models. The status of the Toyota Prius has reached “loftiness” mainly because it has consistently received top consumer reviews and has an established track record for being a reliable car. As such, a used Toyota Prius may be a solid choice if you are shopping for a used car.

For information on buying and selling new and second hand cars and bikes visit bharathautomobiles. com/index. php

Window glass repair part 2

This week we are going to continue our series on single pane window glass repair. Let's talk about broken glass in a fixed window, usually referred to as a picture window. The most common type will have metal stops on the outside, around all four edges of the window glass. Sometimes these stops will be held in place with screws, and other times there will be aluminum stops that snap in place. In some rare instances there will be a rubber material in place of metal. If you have the screw type, you remove all of the screws and each piece will come out. If you have the metal snap in stops, carefully pry the stop from the frame using a small, flat screwdriver or a putty knife. You want to start in a corner and work along the stop until it comes out. Don't pry too much because the stops can bend very easily. If you have the rubber type, pry a corner away using the screwdriver, grab it with your fingers, and pull out the rubber. The glass shouldn't fall out because there is a glue or tape on the edge, holding the glass in place.

From here, You can get your measurements for the new piece of glass. The glass edges will be exposed, and you can hook your tape measure to the edge and get your width and height. If there is a hole in the glass, measure the glass thickness. If there isn't a hole, put on some gloves and carefully push on the glass where the crack is located. This will expose the edge so you can measure it. When you go to get the new glass, you're going to need a tube of silicone to replace the glue or tape holding the glass in place. Once you get the glass home, you need to remove the old glass. Go inside and cut between the glass and frame using a utility knife with a new blade. This will cut away the silicone or tape that is holding the old glass. Be sure to wear heavy gloves during this process to avoid getting cut. Start at the top and cut across from one corner to the other. Then cut down one side, from top to bottom. Do the other side the same way. At this point the glass should fall out. You should place a tarp or sheet under the window to catch the glass as it falls out. Using a stiff putty knife, scrape off the old silicone or tape from the frame. If there were setting blocks on the bottom, be sure to reuse them. They act as shims to raise the glass off the bottom.

Now run a bead of silicone about 3/16" thick around the perimeter of the opening. Grab your new glass on the sides, angle the bottom in and the top out, set the glass on the setting blocks, then slowly raise the glass up into place. Push just hard enough that all four edges of the glass contact the silicone, but not so hard that the glass makes contact with the metal frame. Install your outside stops. Don't clean the glass for 24 hours so the silicone can set up.

Potential risks of getting a tattoo

The majority of tattoos are applied without any problem, but there are some that result in a less than desirable outcome. For this reason, the potential risks associated with getting a tattoo cannot be overlooked. Unsanitary equipment is the main concern that most individuals face when getting a tattoo. The potential for contracting a disease is high with equipment that is not properly cleaned after each use. In addition, tattoos can often result in a skin infection if either the equipment used to create the tattoo is dirty or if the individual does not properly care for the area following a tattoo’s application.

If excessive redness, swelling or pain around the area of the tattoo develops, a licensed physician will need to inspect the tattoo in order to determine whether or not it is infected. Common treatments may include medication, but an infection that has gotten extremely bad may require that the patient be hospitalized. In addition to the obvious concerns that may arise immediately, a physician may again be needed later on if the patient ever decides to have that tattoo removed. Surgery is the only way to completely remove a tattoo and, as with any type of surgery, this carries additional risks.

If an individual decides to remove his/her tattoo, the procedure may be either an out-patient process or one that requires a minimal hospital stay. The ultimate determination will be made by a physician, who will consider the patient’s overall health and the likelihood of developing any type of infection. In addition, patients who experience complications during surgery or a possible allergic reaction to medication will likely be admitted to the hospital for further observation.

The next risk associated with tattoos is not so much one of health, but of appearance. If a tattoo is done by an amateur or simply not done well, it’s appearance may be ruined. At the same time, if a tattoo is every removed, there is a great possibility that a visible scar will remain. While it is true that most scars become less noticeable in time, they never completely go away and will forever be a reminder of the tattoo that was once there.

Just as with every decision in life, there are pluses and minuses to every ordeal. If you are considering a tattoo, take a moment to carefully think about why you want the tattoo, how you will feel about it 10 years from now and whether or not the tattoo is for you or for someone else. When making a permanent marking on your body, you should do so only because you want to and not because anyone else wants or expects you to.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Before deciding on getting a tattoo or having one removed, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for medical advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual healthcare needs.

How to defeat terrorism

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Stopping terrorism is not like gambling, in poker there are different variables that can affect the outcome but it fighting terror the only way to win is to fight to the end.

Many people thing that the terrorist feel they have been wronged by something or someone and that giving them something will end the fight be it land or money, but history has repeatedly shown us that by appeasing the terrorists we are only giving them what they want, and prolonging the fight. They will continue to take everything they are given but they never stop wanting more.

An example of this is clear in the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. Israel allows the PLO to return to the west bank and Gaza and form the Palestinian Authority, Israel supplied weapons and the Americans provided training to the Palestinians so they could start a army to fight crime and terrorism.

Israel was repaid by the terrorists by suicide bombings in malls, restaurants, clubs and busses.

More recently Israel pulled all Jews from Gaza and gave all the land to the Palestinians. The Israelis left behind infrastructure and greenhouses, which could have been used for businesses by the Palestinians. The moment the last troops were out of Gaza the terrorists destroyed what the Israelis left behind and again repaid them with rockets on Sderot and Ashkelon, two Jewish cities bordering Gaza.

Many of you are thinking that these problems were brought on by the Israelis stealing Palestinians land, but what was it that the United States did that angered Al Qaeda?

Many will say it is because America has troops in Saudi Arabia where the two holiest locations to the Muslim people are, these people are wrong. This fight is not about the terrorists wanting America out of the Middle East.

This was is about the pride of one individual. Osama Bin Laden, and that’s all it is about.

In 1991 when Saddam Hussein Invaded Kuwait, Saudi Arabia was worried and was looking to get help to protect its oil fields. Osama Bin Laden offered his assistance to help protect his homeland with the help of his Mujahadim, who had helped protect Afghanistan from the Russians in the 80's.

But rather then gamble on Bin Laden's holey warriors, the Saudis asked for help from the United States, and this wounded Bin Laden's pride. Now Bin Laden is on a quest to show the world that he is the true protector of Islam, do not be fooled this is a war of religion.
The only thing that has ever worked is not to try to negotiate with these people but to fight them with force. You will find that with any military action against terrorists once you start to make some headway they will start to yell about a Hudna or temporary cease fire.

When you are in a poker tournament in Casinos Online or land based and your opponent is almost out of chips, do you back off and let your enemy regroup or go all in and force him out.

The Only way to defeat terrorism is to fight terrorism whenever and wherever it shows its head, and to never let up on those who would use terror to forward their goals.