Great lease purchase strategy - the assignment

The assignment is by far the easiest of the Lease Purchase strategies and requires the least amount of investment and risk in order to do the deal and profit upfront. Instead of taking the property and subletting with an option or sandwich leasing you can actually sell the contract to another. You have created a valuable marketable commodity! You can sell and even create a note by financing the sale of the lease purchase agreement, too.

An assignment is when we negotiate the deal with the owner of a property and it contains all the terms of the transaction within the specialized written contract. We can then assign (which means to sell) the contract to a third party. This can be either the Tenant/Buyer or another investor. This is normally a lease purchase agreement which contains a specific assignment clause with the right to sublet, transfer or convey any rights within the original contract with the owner to another principal party.

Example: I found a property in a good neighborhood/school district. The owner had tried to sell it, had put up a for rent sign since he'd be moving to a new state and didn't want to get stuck with two mortgage payments. The property was worth $100,000 and the seller had a mortgage for $95,000. His payments were $1000 per month PITI (principal, interest, taxes, insurance). The real estate agents wouldn't list the home because there was not enough profit to pay a 6% commission. I offered to lease purchase the home with the right to assign and purchase for the balance of the mortgage. I would also pay the $1000 per month with a five year contract and would be responsible for any monthly maintenance/repairs under $100. I would pay $1000 down as option money and the first month rent with a 20 day lead before payments were to begin.

The owner agreed and I began calling all my tenant/buyers from previous ads. One tenant/buyer (with kids) had just files a bankruptcy, but was looking for a home in a good school district and safe neighborhood. He knew that he would need at least 2 years before he would be able to get a new mortgage and save the down payment. He was perfect for this home. I told him he could move into the home, purchase it for the balance of the mortgage and that I will sell him the contract (assignment) for $6500. He only had $3500, but he really wanted the home. I told him that I would take the balance of the assignment fee as a personal note (unsecured) at 0% if he paid on the first of the month. He could pay me $250 per month and pay off the note in 12 months. He agreed. I recovered my $1000, made a $5500 profit ($3500 cash and a $3000 note) and I was out of the deal. Assignments are great for flipping homes without buying them. As usual, everyone wins in a lease purchase.

Successful internet businesses develop a network

It seems like just the other day we were aimlessly browsing the web in search of free and low-cost methods for posting our website links and ads. FFL (free-for-all) pages and classifieds were bombarded with eager entrepreneurs looking for quick and easy exposure.

It was about posting a few ads, submitting to search engines and making a few link exchanges. After the hard work we would sit back with excitement knowing hundreds of new visitors were on the way. Unfortunately, the visitors never showed so we moved on to banner and link exchanges.

Around that time banner ads were a fortune and website submission services were making bundles of profit. Many search engines were backlogged with submissions for weeks and sometimes even months.

Was anyone working in partnership during this time?

Today it’s hard to miss the harmony of ecommerce entrepreneurs building new relationships. Smart business owners are no longer wasting time submitting their websites to free classifieds or spending their budgets on URL submissions to hundreds of useless search engines.

Instead, business owners are working together in community-oriented ways. It is easily seen by the emergence of discussion forums, blogs, RSS feeds and the overall increase in sharing of information. Today, it’s about networking with each other.

Networking involves the creation of a supportive system of sharing information and services with other individuals and groups having a common interest. Not only is networking a vital part of online marketing, it is probably the most important skill for ensuring a successful online business. If you are not networking, you have no chance of making or building business relationships. If your company has no relationships than obviously no one is caring about it.

So, what can be done to improve networking skills? Here are several helpful business networking tips and resources.

Create a website.

Hopefully you have done this already.

Develop an ezine.

This is the same as an email newsletter. You can send it out weekly, monthly or quarterly – but you should be consistent.

Join affiliate programs.

Focus on developing a strong network of users willing to distribute your products and/or services.

Use pod and web casts.

These tools offer a great way to develop new relationships.

Create and distribute a press release.

Don’t underestimate the power of sending out a press release. They can bring in many new contacts.

Survey your website visitors.

Create a brief form linked from your home-page for users to easily provide feedback.

Install blogs and forums at your website.

Encourage free ways visitors can discuss ideas, share information and collaborate.

Join business networking sites.

The following sites will help you locate new contacts. Pick and focus on 3-5 that are most ideal for your target market. LinkedIn. com, FastPitch. com, Ecademy. com, OthersOnline. com, Craigslist. com, SmallBizPod. com, MyBlogLog. com, Explode. org, Xing. com, GlobalBusinessMarketing. com, InsiderPages. com, MerchantCircle. com

Join a club.

It doesn’t matter which one as long as you enjoy it.

A few things to remember while building your network:

GAIN KNOWLEDGE

It’s all over the internet – you simply need to absorb it. Read… read… and then read some more!

SHARE KNOWLEDGE

The more knowledge you have the more you can share. The more valuable information you can share the more positive relationships you will create. Strong relationships are the foundation to a powerful identity.

-be memorable and interesting

-be accurate and fair

-follow up with all of your contacts

-stay patient

-navigate and explore

GET INTERACTIVE!!!

Guide to playing poker for the first time

The limits tell you two very important things: how much money you need and what type of opponents you'll face.

A good rule of thumb for a starting bankroll is 20 times the "big bet," so if you were playing 3/6 Hold'em, you should buy in for $120. You can buy chips from a cashier, or an attendant will bring them to you at the table.

Low-limit games tend to be populated by locals who play very conservatively. You'll find these games mostly at the Downtown and off-strip poker rooms like Binion's and Palace Station. There's not a lot of action, and the rooms aren't very inviting.

High-Limit and No-Limit games (15/30 and above) are the realm of "Rounders," professionals who make their living playing poker. The Bellagio is Las Vegas' premier high-limit room. Unless you can stomach losses measured in the thousands or have a lot of poker experience, it's best to avoid these games.

The best bet for the casual player is the low - to mid-limit. These games offer nice surroundings and players with varied experience levels, which translate into friendly games with lots of action.

Once you decide where to play, be sure to budget plenty of time. Cause sometimes, the wait can be well over an hour.

The game itself demands a lot of time too. Despite what you see on T. V., the vast majority of your time is spent mucking your cards.

The good news is that your money lasts a long time. Only the two players to the immediate left of the dealer are forced to ante each hand: a "small blind" equal to half the lower betting limit and a "big blind" equal to the lower limit. A full table has 10 players, so even if you folded every hand in a round, it would only cost you 1.5 times the lower limit: $6 in a 4/8 game. 10 bad hands at a blackjack table will cost you $100 in a fraction of the time.

There are some other casino-related costs to consider, however.

In exchange for the safe environment, fair game and free drinks, the poker room charges a commission called the "rake." This is typically a percentage of each pot up to a set maximum. In the 2/4 game at Binion's, the rake was 10% up to a maximum of $4. So the house always wins, but at least it's only when you do too.

The dealers depend on tips for a large portion of their income. While not mandatory, 3% of your winnings are considered standard.

If you don't have time for all this mucking and raking, and just want a quick shot of No-Limit Hold'em excitement, then tournaments are the way to go. Tournaments allow you to play with a lot more chips than you could otherwise afford, use a rapidly increasing blind structure to speed up the action, and offer the chance to win thousands of dollars.

For $130 to $330 (depending on the day of the week), players get $500-$750 in tournament chips and play until someone has them all. If less than 50 people enter, the top 5 finishers share the purse; if more than 50, the top 9.

If that sounds like too much to risk on the long odds of beating 50 other players, show up at the poker room at 1 o'clock to sign up for a satellite. These 1-table mini-tournaments last about an hour and are the best poker value in Vegas. For $35 to $75, 10 players receive $300 in tournament chips and the top 2 finishers win a seat in that night's main event.

So the next time you're in Vegas, talk to a brush and tune in to a satellite. It may not be exactly like T. V., but it'll sure feel like it.

Pure water - the amazing health benefits

We should pay more attention to the water we drink, as it has important effects on your health. First of all, the title begs the question: what is pure water? Well, to start off with, tap water is not pure water. Pure water is high-quality bottled spring water, or water filtered by a high quality water filter.

It is essential that your water be pure water, as just tap water has impurities in it that can be harmful to your health. One of the main problems with tap water is the chemicals used to purify it from pathogens. Most water sources use chemicals such as chlorine, and other chemicals which are very unhealthy. Also, most tap water originally comes from poor quality sources. A good example is the city where used to live. They got their water from the local river, which was far from clean. Several upstream cities dumped (treated) sewage into the river. There were also many farms upstream that contributed agriculture chemicals to the mix. In fact, most people would not even eat fish caught in the river. But that was where our drinking water came from.

So, once you have a pure source of drinking water, what are the health benefits of drinking plenty of water?

Overall improvement in health

Water is one of the most important things that your body needs to function. In fact your body is made up of mostly water. When you drink plenty of pure water, your body just plain and simple functions better.

Weight Loss

Research has found that individuals who drink plenty of water are more likely to lose weight than individuals who don't. One of the reasons for this is that without enough water to remove the toxins stored in your body fat, your body will not burn the fat, as it has nowhere to go with the toxins.

Removal of Toxins

You may not realize it, but your body takes in many toxins each and every day. The food you eat, the air you breath, and the tap water you drink are all full of toxins. A plentiful supply of pure water helps your body to flush out and remove toxins from your liver, fat, joints, and other places they are stored.

Improved Intestinal Health

When you drink plenty of water, your digestive system is able to run much more smoothly. Many health problems can be at least partially traced to your digestive tract, and the easiest, best way to increase your digestive health is to drink plenty of pure water.

Improve your Immune Function

Your immune system is another system in your body that a plentiful supply of water is important to. If you want to boost your immune system's ability to resist viruses and bacteria, one of the things you can do is to drink more water. Your immune system's job is to kill pathogens before they make you sick. Part of the immune system's job is also to remove these pathogens from your body. How does it do that? You guessed it! With water!

Other ways

The ways we've listed that water can help improve your health are just a sampling. Water is one of the most important “nutrients” that your body needs. When you drink plenty of water, every single system, organ, and cell in your body benefits. Of course, as we covered earlier in the article it must be pure water. So start drinking lots of pure water today and watch the benefits grow!

Is a raw food diet right for your pit bull terrier dog

Many Pit Bull owners are choosing to feed their pets a raw food diet rather than use the commercially formulated mass produced feeds. Others have never heard of the raw diet, also known as the bones and raw food diet, but are seeking more information about what this type of diet can offer their pet.

The raw diet entails feeding your Pit Bull or other pet mainly raw meat and meaty bones. The raw meat diet also includes some vegetables be added in as well. Leafy greens mixed in with the raw meat helps give your Pit Bull a nutritional meal. As an added bonus, finely chopped garlic can be added as a natural way to give added protection against fleas.

In the wild dogs are omnivores, which means they eat both meat and plant material. If you choose to try the raw diet, you’ll need to be sure and balance his diet by adding some vegetable material into each meal. Some owners who are fans of the raw diet like to add additional proteins like cottage cheese or eggs into the meat and veggie mixture.

It has been reported that dogs on the raw diet tend to lead healthier lives. Proponents of the raw diet say that canine allergies as well as dysplasia and a wide range of other canine ailments are mainly due to the commercial dog foods with their non-meat proteins and additives. The commercial market has also been accused of using the grain content in their feed simply because they are cheap fillers, and aren’t there for the true benefit of the pet.

Those who choose the raw diet also say that they feel they are giving their dog the diet that nature intended, and that commercial dog food kills any real benefits of the proteins in the cooking process. This in turn, they say, can cause problems to the animal’s immune system and cause other health related problems.

Raw diet advocates also state that the commercial dog food makers put special additives into the food which makes the food more appealing to the dogs so they get addicted to the commercial foods.

Of course the commercial feed makers state that there’s no difference in cooking a dog’s food as there is to cooking a human’s food, and that the nutritional value is still there. Commercial feed makers claim that dogs have very sensitive digestive systems and that the raw food diet can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

As a responsible pet owner, it’s up to you to decide on how your Pit Bull gets his nutritional needs met. If you have concerns about your Pit Bull’s nutrition, or before you change your Pit Bull’s diet, talk to your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can give you more information on the raw diet, as well as recommend any changes which may need to be made.

The benefits of article submissions

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Search engines, we all agree, are critical to the success or failure of your website or online venture. If the search engines don't find your business within the first page or two of search results, you're doomed to mediocrity at best, failure at worst. But most of the giant websites have millions of dollars of capital to throw at regular advertising campaigns; you couldn't advertise at a kindergarten football game, let alone the Superbowl.

But there's another route for those of us with great ideas and work ethic, but little cash: directory submissions. These are sites that store free articles for sharing, contributed by website owners who get one critical item in return: a resource box with the contributor's link, formatted in the manner he or she prefers.

And you simply give the article to the directory.

Give A Little, Get A Lot

Most people who hear about this for the first time are appalled. Give away articles? They're hard to write, time-consuming, and besides, you want them for yourself so you can have fresh content on your own site.

But that's not the point. Fresh content and search-engine-optimized articles are helpful to a degree to be listed well on the search engines, but links back to your site and the amount of traffic you get are becoming increasingly important. Content today is much more important for keeping the customers that the search engines first send to your site.

If you have good content already, you can gain the audience to enjoy it by donating articles. When you're listed in an article directory, three things happen:

• The search engines pick it up as a quality inbound link; many directories are top-ranked on Google and other search engine sites.

• Your website will be naturally indexed, which is a much better way of getting it into search engines than waiting for them to pick it up.

• You'll gain traffic from the directory itself.

All that from a single article submitted to one directory.

Give A Lot, Get Even More

If you want to rise in search engine rank more quickly, you can submit the same article to hundreds of article directories. Each directory, though, is time-consuming. It can take up to a half-hour with some systems to submit your article, and that's after you locate the directory and assess its quality.

Many webmasters go to specialists instead of performing this task themselves. Article Submission companies and contractors will take your single article and submit it to dozens of websites by hand, resulting in hundreds of inbound links to your website that will be tracked by the search engines. The best news: these companies can submit your information faster and cheaper than you could imagine, freeing you to developing your website, serving your customers, and filling orders.

Be careful who you choose, though. Many directory submissions services submit low-quality packages that article directories will reject, providing you with little or nothing for your money. Look for directory submissions companies that guarantee their work and who operate quickly. Then watch your rankings in Google and other vital search engines rise!

Cheap trampolines that are fun and safe

If you've been thinking that trampolines are too expensive for your checkbook to handle, you may be surprised at how cheap some of the budget models actually are. Manufacturers realize that not everyone can afford a deluxe trampoline with all of the bells and whistles and many of them have developed a line of cheap trampolines. Some people are afraid to buy a cheap trampoline because they think of poor workmanship or unsafe products when they hear cheap. However, lower cost trampolines are actually referred to as budget trampolines by the manufacturers and are simply a bit more cost effective.

Of course, not every budget trampoline is made the same way. Models that are made by a reputable manufacturer, such as AirMaster or Jumpking, are going to be made following the same safety standards and using the same quality workmanship used on more expensive models. Unbranded trampolines may not be made with the same attention and care and could be badly made or even unsafe.

If you do not consider the manufacturer and quality of the product as you look for a cheap trampoline, you may find that your enjoyable new purchase is nothing but one big frustration. Having your cheap, shoddily constructed trampoline break while the kids are jumping on it for the first or second time means that you've spent twenty five to fifty dollars a bounce! Of course, a poorly built trampoline is not just an annoyance; it is a safety hazard. You won't want to risk the health of your children with an unsafe model.

Luckily, there are quite a few trampoline manufacturers that care about quality and safety, even when they are making products for their budget lines. One clue that can help you decide if a company cares about its products is whether it stands behind them. If the budget trampoline you are looking at doesn't offer a guarantee or a warranty, then the manufacturer may not believe in its own product to offer one.

As you begin your search for a quality budget trampoline, you may be wondering if you can even afford to buy it. However, a basic eight foot round trampoline for beginning bouncers can be as inexpensive as $160 from an online store. This usually even includes shipping. If this is still a bit higher than you can afford, check out eBay. There are quite a few trampolines on eBay and many of them start at around $40. While some of these are used models, there are new ones, as well. Factories that are cleaning out their warehouses or companies that are having to liquidate their stock often use eBay to sell trampolines at wholesale prices.

If you prefer not to use eBay for major purchases, there is another option that may make that budget trampoline more affordable for you. Ask the online store of your choice if there is a financing option for more expensive items. As you check around, you may discover that some stores even provide interest free financing on models that are already in stock. This is the best option, since paying finance charges makes that cheap trampoline cost much more in the long run.

Best of all, once you have your new budget trampoline, you may find you save even more money than you were expecting. You may just bounce your way into shape and right out of that expensive gym membership you weren't using.

Wedding reception site rental check list

When you book your reception site, be sure that you understand what is and is not included in the rental fee. Each facility is different, so you have to clarify with the manager of the property what can be provided by the venue, and what you must provide. As always, make sure that everything you have agreed upon is put in writing.

Depending on the venue you may need to supply some, if not all the items listed below:

Chairs – For a seated dinner or seated buffet you need to provide seating for all reception guests. For a buffet style reception you may able to get away with enough chairs for half or more of the total number of guests. You may need to rent or purchase chair covers separately. High chairs for children should be available from rental companies.

Guest Tables – Smaller tables like a 36-inch round will comfortably seat 4-6 guests and be appropriate for a buffet type menu. Larger tables like a 48-inch round will seat 6-8 guests, or a 60-inch round seats 8-10 guests. Regardless of their size, all guest tables are pre-set with flatware, glassware, linen napkins, and coffee cups that work well for a seated dinner.

Cake Table – usually a 48-inch round works well, but the appropriate size will depend on the size of your wedding cake. Make sure you include the decorative adds to the cake display like floral or linen accents. Be sure the cake table is located in a highly visible, but low traffic location. You want to show it since it is part of the decor, but keep it out of the high traffic areas to keep it safe.

Groom’s Cake Table – If the groom’s cake has not been served during the rehearsal dinner, a 36-inch round will work flawlessly.

Head Table – The most important factor about this table is that is facing the guests. A very common head table arrangement is several rectangular tables placed end-to-end to seat your entire wedding party.

Buffet Tables – If you have decided on a buffet dinner, you’ll need to arrange several food stations, such as meet carving, etc. (Buffet tables may be provided by the catering company.)

Gift Table – The wedding gifts are placed on this table, the size should depend on the number of guests you are expecting.

Guest Book Table – A small table for your reception guest book.

Linens & Tableware – Linens and tableware may be included with the rented tables, or you may need to source it elsewhere.

Tents – Could be lifesaver outdoor receptions to protect guests from the sun or rainfall. Maybe used as a plan B for a rainy day.

Life versus lifestyle

There is a difference but what constitutes a life and what constitutes a lifestyle is pretty ambiguous. One thing that seems pretty clear to me is the lifestyle is observable while a life can have many internal aspects to it. A lifestyle can include people, material things, environments, how we spend our time, energy, and money. A life includes things like our beliefs, our values, our commitments, our soul’s dream, and our vision. If you choose a lifestyle first you could wind up with an empty fortress. If you choose the life first, you will design your lifestyle to support the life.

Since most of us already have a lifestyle, and a default life, we usually have to do some redesign work. Choose a life and then redesign our lifestyle. It is possible that the lifestyle you currently have will never support the life you truly want to live. It is possible the lifestyle you currently have has many supporting structures and only minor renovations need to occur. It is possible that you are a highly intuitive person and your lifestyle is in perfect alignment. I know very few people who fall into that category. My dad does but what I notice about him, is he and my mother made a conscious decision to structure their lives around their spiritual values. They made that decision early in their marriage and lived true to it. Now it’s interesting that my parents are actually old enough to be my grandparents, (my mother is no long living) and I noticed that many earlier generations were not given to having transformational conversations so learning was a very different process then than it is now. The fact that we have e-courses and teleclasses and magazines and tons of books that are created to help people learn to live more meaningful and personally fulfilling lives represents a shift from how things use to be.

As we evolve we begin to look at various aspects of our lives for congruence to our values and commitments. The disparity shows up with exclamation marks behind them and sometimes our response is discouragement and self-disappointment. We act as if we should have known better when the truth is how could we have known better? So the first thing to get over is “I didn’t know” and then after we get over that we come to “but I know now…now what?” It takes a courageous person to see this and then set their intentions on bringing integrity into their life so that their lifestyle gives them a life that serves their higher self. You will notice some people trying to work around it, pretending it doesn’t matter that their lifestyles don’t measure up to their core values.

The real problem is once you see the inconsistency, not doing anything actually makes things worse and you lose ground really fast. It cost you big time to keep that inconsistency in place. You can’t be with yourself and be at peace in your life. It wears you down like water will wear down a mountain over time. Your life will devolve instead of evolve. If that is not a price that’s too high to pay, I don’t know what is. Just think about it and choose wisely the path you will follow.

Beyond washing the dog

Keeping your dog clean is an important responsibility for every dog owner. Fido depends on you for general hygiene. Clean ears, teeth and a coat free from fleas and ticks are all the conditions you check for a healthy pet. Bath time is a great time to bond with your dog as well as check his well-being.

A healthy dogs actually don’t need to be washed all that often, but humans prefer to bathe them so that they smell fresh and clean and not like...well…dog. Although most dogs don’t like to be washed, they will appreciate the contact and attention that they receive from their owners during a bath. It is also a good time to perform some other necessary “dog maintenance” such as cleaning the ears, checking for ticks and fleas, and brushing the teeth. Since many dogs do not like to sit still for any of these activities, it can be a good idea to do them all at once.

Brushing your Dogs’ Teeth

Brushing your dogs’ teeth is just good dental hygiene. Most vets recommend that it be done at least twice a week to ensure your dog maintains healthy teeth and gums. If you’ve have been doing this, it’s never too late to start. The dog should have its own toothbrush and special toothpaste designed for dogs. You pick up everything you need at your favorite pet supply store. Make sure you brush the back teeth in small circles, the same way you would your own, and brush up and down the length of the “pointy” canine teeth. Dog toothpaste is made to have a pleasing taste, to dogs that is, and this should help make your dog willing to let you perform this activity. If you cannot brush his teeth, the next best thing would be to give him teeth cleaning dog biscuits but brushing is definitely preferred.

Checking for Ticks & Fleas

Ticks are nasty little arachnids (they’re eight-legged creatures like spiders, and therefore are not insects) that will latch onto your dog’s skin and feed on his blood supply. They are most common in wooded areas, but your dog should be checked for them regularly because they can carry a number of diseases. The best place to look for these bugs in under the collar or on the dog’s underbelly, buried in the fur. If you find a tick, be sure to use tweezers and remove the tick by its head.

Fleas can be found in the same places, under the fur. The presence of fleas can be betrayed by the sight of their droppings on the dog’s coat. They look like flecks of pepper. The fleas themselves can vary in size, from tiny infants to larger adults, which are about an eighth of an inch long. They can’t simply be picked off the dog like ticks can, they will jump before you can catch them. If you do find a flea or their droppings, you know it’s time to start the dog on a program to control and eliminate these pests.

Cleaning his Ears

Pet supply stores sell special solutions for cleansing a dog’s ears. Dogs can easily get ear mites. These small insects live in the ears and feed of the waxy secretions there. Over time, the bodies of these short-lived creatures build up and form a black, dirty substance. Using a cotton swab dipped in a bit of this solution, gently clean the inner ear. It may be difficult to hold the dog still for this procedure, but it doesn’t take long. The result will be clean ears and the avoidance of potential infection and earaches for your dog.

So you see, the quality time you spend bathing your dog will not only make him smell great to you but it will make him FEEL great.

The push to learn chinese in our schools

Recently, a trend has developed in high schools and communities around the United States. Many people want to or are now learning the Chinese language. This could be a good turn of events, but it can also be problematic. This is particularly so for those who know nothing about Chinese culture, history and the state of affairs in China today.

In mainland China they no longer use the traditional Chinese characters that go hand in hand with Chinese history. For some reason, the Chinese Communist Party decided to alter the Chinese language and thereby change the vehicle for written communication.

Traditional Chinese characters evolved naturally over a period of time from pictographs or small drawings. By contrast the simplified Chinese created by the Chinese Communist Party has watered many of the traditional characters down to the point that they no longer are rooted in more ancient traditions.

Here is an example. The traditional Chinese character for the word 'love' contains a picture of a heart in it. This makes sense because love is closely associated to the heart. Not so in simplified Chinese. There is no heart in the word 'love' in simplified Chinese. One may ponder how you can love without a heart.

Just as this example shows, in many ways the Chinese Communist Party has removed the heart of the entire language, distorting and altering it into a water downed version of its former self. In Taiwan, however, they still use traditional characters.

So if your community or children's school is planning to teach Chinese, you may wish to ensure that you are getting the traditional variety. It more fully encompasses the rich history of China and the Chinese people. By contrast, those who teach our children simplified Chinese are from mainland China and unfortunately, they will also be passing on the values and ideas of the Chinese Communist Party. Whether they do so on purpose or automatically as a result of growing up in that environment, the end result is the same. Only you can decide if you want the influence of the Chinese Communist Party imparted to your children.

Be sure to insist that our children are taught traditional Chinese and not the simplified version. This way the richness of traditional Chinese culture can be more fully enjoyed and appreciated. There will be a more solid foundation to understand the more ancient Chinese traditions.

Housing market cools but more needs to be done to assist buyers

The figures show that house price inflation slowed to only 0.1% in April, significantly slower when compared with a 1.1% increase for March, and the annual house price change fell to 4.8% in April from 5.3% in March, leading to an average UK house price increase of Ј1490 to Ј163,573, from Ј162,083, up by nearly Ј7,500 more than at this time last year. This is equivalent to a price increase of more than Ј20 per day over the last twelve months.

According to Nationwide's Group Economist, Fionnuala Earley, “The cooling in prices in April was not unexpected given the surge in March and shows the wisdom of not placing too much emphasis on one month’s set of numbers. However, the underlying picture remains reasonably healthy as demand conditions have remained quite firm. While the number of house purchase approvals fell back sharply in February, from 121,000 to 115,000, this remains a buoyant level of activity, well above the ten year average of about 100,000 per month.”

On the whole, this represents good news for the housing market, as prices settle following on from the high levels of house price growth seen throughout the rest of the year, however a legacy of price increases has lead to the nation’s mortgage debt burden hitting the trillion pound barrier. Deirdre Hutton, Chairman of the National Consumer Council warned, “With 6 million families already struggling to keep on top of their credit commitments, even a small increase in interest rates could tip many more into a spiral of financial despair. Stories of individual misery lie behind these headlines. Now is the time for people to take stock of their borrowing commitments and to think twice before taking on further debt.”

Bradford & Bingley, has highlighted difficulties experienced by first-time buyers and the trend for reliance on parents in order to get onto the housing ladder. Their survey suggests that about 40% of first-time buyers get financial assistance from parents, with half of those parents providing a large proportion of the initial deposit required, while 15% actually contributed towards the monthly mortgage repayments and 10% helped out by taking out a joint mortgage with their offspring.

According to Richard Brown, Chief Executive of financial data comparison site Moneynet ( moneynet. co. uk ), changes are needed to redress the balance within the financial industry, “It’s not rocket science, and it does not take a genius to work out that, as more and more people throw off the shackles of PAYE wage slaving in order to strike out on their own, they are going to require more flexible and enlightened lending strategies. As much as anything else, the professionals who control the credit purse strings need to keep up with our changing times, as it has longer term ramifications for all of us and the well-being of the wider economy. If mortgage lenders turn away applicants who do not meet their rigid criteria of so many times salary and the like – even though they are well able to repay the loan - then this will ultimately have a knock on effect on housing market growth. We need new borrowers to keep the market ticking over. It’s time to overhaul core lending policy,”

The main highstreet lenders such as Barclays Bank mortgages ( barclays. co. uk/woolwichmortgages-index ) have seen the need to provide different products that meet the requirements of many different groups of consumers, especially first time buyers by providing cashback, lifetime tracker and fixed rate options, and even arranging discounts with major stores for the necessary household purchases required by first time buyers. While these tailored mortgages help many buyers to get onto the property ladder, a period of stability within the market is also highly desirable to encourage buyers to commit.

Fionnuala Earley predicted, “Looking forward, we continue to expect some month to month volatility in the house price numbers as the market settles down after the unseasonably strong winter months and adjusts to the economic conditions on the horizon. While we do not expect any early move in interest rates that would stimulate or dampen the market, there are other economic factors that will affect it through their impact on disposable income and confidence.”

Disclaimer:

All information contained in this article, is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as advice under the Financial Services Act 1986. You are strongly advised to take appropriate professional and legal advice before entering into any binding contracts.

Choosing a bra

Your brassiere or bra for short is an everyday lingerie that you wear almost every single day. For many women, buying a bra can be such a headache because they are overwhelmed with the many choices they have to make as to size, fit, color and style.

Many women actually do not know their proper bra size which results in a bad fit and an uncomfortable one at that. Before you go out to buy a bra, you should know your correct size. A bra that is perfectly fitted not only gives you the maximum comfort but helps you look stylish as well.

To know your correct size, you must measure yourself with your bra on tightly around the band which is below your bust and above your rib cage. Get the measurement in inches and if it is an even number add 4 but if it's an odd number add 5. For instance, if the measurement of your band is 32 then your bra size is 36 (32+4).

Your cup size is represented by a letter. To obtain your cup size you again measure yourself but this time on the bust at the fullest point. The difference between your bust measurement and your band measurement in inches will represent your cup size with a one inch difference being an A cup, 2 inches differences a B cup, 3 inches difference a C cup, 4 inches difference a D cup, 5 inches difference a DD cup and 6 inches difference a DDD or E cup.

The bra's band should not be tight but instead feels snug. The shoulder straps should not dig into your skin or fall off but instead should be comfortable on the shoulders. The straps are meant to hold up the bra. The bra's cup size is meant to support the breasts. The breasts should be held comfortably without spilling over the sides. If the breasts tend to spill over the sides or over the top, you may need a cup size larger or one with more top coverage. On the other hand, if you find that your breasts are not filling in the top of the cups, then it would be wise to go a cup size lower.

For plus size women, a plus size bra would give the best fit, comfort and support.

In addition to the size, the fabric or material of the bra should be breathable for added comfort. Silky bras though would look best under all types of fabrics. It is important that you get yourself fitted every year even if may not have gained any weight.

It s my body i ll exercise it if i have to

Lately, I have noticed a lot of news regarding all aspects of the body. According to one report I read, this is a multibillion dollar-a-year business. I never knew my body was worth so much money. I’m tempted to sell it, or at least rent it out on a part-time basis.

I did not know how big of a deal this was until one night this past week I had a little trouble sleeping.

One reason I have trouble falling asleep is my deep fear of falling. Actually, it’s not the fall that worries me so much as that sudden stop. For some inexplicable reason I always stop three inches past the floor.

I would not worry so much about falling asleep if I knew I was going to fall on my pillow instead of the floor. However, I can’t count on anything these days. Not even my fingers.

I once woke up in the middle of the night engaged in a vicious life or death pillow fight. Unfortunately, the pillow won and I cannot find anyone to take my case.

I did find one lawyer but he was three-sheets-to-the-wind and my case was no breeze.

One fear I have in the middle of the night is falling into the hands of some vicious nightmare because of my horsing around the day before. My wife keeps nagging me about my daytime activities but I have a hard time harnessing these erratic urges.

Often when I have trouble going to sleep or when I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep I simply get up quietly so as not to disturb the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and turn on the television. I once disturbed her and when I came to, I vowed never to repeat that offense.

You would think with so many channels on television there would be something interesting to watch in the middle of the night. Something that would make the time spent profitably. Unfortunately, the nighttime airwaves are devoted to things holding no interest for anybody still clutching to a slim strand of sanity. You don’t have to be crazy to watch nighttime TV; it’s just a consequence of watching nighttime TV.

What I do not understand is why they run so many infomercials for exercise equipment at two o’clock in the morning. Who in their right mind is up that time of night? I know I’m not.

Using my remote, I channel surfed for probably 20 minutes and found nothing but people demonstrating exercise equipment and taunting me that I need to begin an exercise regimen if I’m going to live a healthy life. One man’s healthy life is another man’s pain in the back, the knee and the elbow. After all this exercise, I only end up with a tennis elbow and athletes foot.

Not only exercise equipment, but also a good portion of these infomercials touted on the latest fad diet. According to one commercial I can lose all the weight I want to lose in a six-month period for only six easy payments of $99 which they would gladly charge to my credit card account. “Call right now,” they invite through the television screen, “for this special one - time offer.”

This “special one-time offer” is conveniently offered every night. The only weight being lost is from my checking account. If anyone ever had a gander at my checkbook, they would readily see that my goose is cooked. Perhaps I could start a new fad diet: Cooked Goose. I could market myself as the “Cooked Goose Gourmet.”

All this hype made me hungry, so I raided the refrigerator and kidnapped a tasty snack and immediately put it out of its misery and into my middle-age spread.

I say enough is enough. I am tired of other people telling me how to take care of my body. It takes all the strength and energy I have to drag my body from one place to another, let alone adding exercise to my daily schedule.

For a person my age I get plenty of exercise, more than I really need. A typical day for me always includes a rigid exercise regime; jumping to conclusions, running my mouth even when I’m told to be quiet from You Know Who and throwing my weight around every chance I get. After a full day of this, I am thoroughly exhausted.

For my money, it’s my body and I’ll exercise it if I have to, thank you. However, right now, I have more important things to do. Places to go. People do see. Experiences to enjoy. I can’t think of any right now, but anything is better than some artificial exercise program. Who do you think I am? Jack LaLane?

With all this emphasis on exercise, I wish some of these people would exercise the right to keep their viewpoint to themselves.

In my opinion, the apostle Paul had the right attitude about all of this. I like what he writes to a young man by the name of Timothy. “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8 KJV).

The body exercised is no substitute for the daily exercise of godliness. To exercise godliness is to make the best possible use of each day.

Dog training teaching puppy not to jump or bite

You finally have your adorable, cuddly new puppy. You are happy to have him and he is happy to have a family. But wait - it's just the beginning. There are 2 behaviors you need to deal with almost immediately - jumping on people and biting.

Jumping on people

This is a problem that you or others might inadvertently encourage. He is so little and cute, that little tail is wagging and, after all, isn't socialization and getting used to people important? Of course socialization and getting used to people is crucial but allowing him to jump on people isn't the way to do it. Imagine your cute, little puppy as a full grown 80 - 100 pound dog. Will it be so cute when he jumps on people then? No and it will be dangerous if he jumps on children or small adults because he could easily knock them down.

The best time to take care of this is, of course, when he is a puppy. When the puppy jumps up on you or someone else, gently place the puppy's feet back on the floor. When he remains standing there, be sure to praise him extensively. Give him an alternative to jumping up. Puppies jump up on people to express their enthusiasm, so it is important to redirect this energy in a more socially acceptable direction. Try teaching the puppy to present his paw instead of jumping up. When teaching the puppy to not jump up on people, it is important to be consistent. Consistency is important in any training program, and all members of the family as well as friends must understand that the puppy is not permitted to jump on them - ever.

Biting

Biting is one of those things that every puppy seems to do, and every puppy must be taught not to do. Like many behaviors, such as jumping up on people, biting and nipping can seem cute when the puppy is small, but much less so as he gets older, larger and stronger.

Left to their own devices, most puppies learn to control their biting reflex from their mothers and from their littermates. When the puppy becomes overenthusiastic, whether when nursing or playing, the mother dog, or the other puppies, will quickly issue a correction.

Unfortunately, this type of natural correction often does not occur, since many puppies are removed from their mothers when they are still quite young. It is therefore up to you to take over this important process.

Socializing the puppy with other dogs and puppies is one of the best and most effective ways to teach the puppy the appropriate, and non appropriate way to bite, and to curb the biting response.

Many communities and pet stores sponsor puppy playtime and puppy kindergarten classes, and these classes can be great places for puppies to socialize with each other, and with other humans and animals as well. As the puppies play with each other, they will naturally bite and nip each other. When one puppy becomes too rough or bites too hard, the other puppies will quickly respond by correcting him.

The best time for this socialization of the puppy to occur is when it is still young. It is vital that every dog be properly socialized, since a poorly socialized dog, or worse, one that is not socialized at all, can become dangerous and even neurotic. Most experts recommend that puppies be socialized before they have reached the age of 12 weeks, or three months.

Another reason for socializing the puppy early is that mothers of young children may be understandably reluctant to allow their young children to play with older or larger dogs. Since socializing the dog with other people is just as important as socializing it with other dogs, it is best to do it when the puppy is still young enough to be non threatening to everyone.

It is important for the puppy to be exposed to a wide variety of different stimuli during the socialization process. The socialization process should include exposing the puppy to a wide variety of other animals, including other puppies, adult dogs, cats and other domestic animals. In addition, the puppy should be introduced to as wide a cross section of people as possible, including young children, older people, men, women and people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

While socialization is very important to providing the puppy with life lessons and preventing him from biting, it is not the only method of preventing unwanted biting and mouthing. Giving the puppy appropriate things to play with and bite is another good way to control inappropriate biting. Providing a variety of chew toys, ropes and other things the puppy can chew is important to preventing boredom, keeping his teeth polished and keeping him from chewing things he should not.

As with any training, it is important to be consistent when teaching the puppy not to bite. Every member of the family, as well as close friends who may visit, should all be told that the puppy is to be discouraged from biting. If one person allows the puppy to chew on them while everyone else does not, the puppy will quickly become confused, and that can make the training process much more difficult than it has to be.

Check out Dogs Rule on Squidoo, the next great search engine, at squidoo. com/dogs-rule

Mazda rx 4 luce rotary different names same vehicle

In Japan, the Mazda RX 4 was known as the Luce Rotary. Despite different names, though, the Mazda RX 4 and the Luce Rotary was still the very same vehicle from the Mazda Motor Corporation which has its headquarters mainly located in Hiroshima, Japan.

The Mazda RX 4 has had other contemporaries, equals, and peers that also are under the Mazda brand’s line up of vehicles. Each of its peers are rotary powered. Contemporaries for the Mazda RX 4 include the Mazda RX 2 and the Mazda RX 3. The former was based actually on the Mazda Capella, as with the latter, it was actually based on the Mazda Familia.

Comparing the Mazda RX 4 with the two vehicles, the Mazda RX4 2 and the Mazda RX 3, the Mazda RX 4 is still larger than both. Despite that, the Luce/929 chassis that the latter holds is the very same one that both of the other two vehicles use. The Luce/929 chassis actually replaced the R130. This replacement was done in October of 1972. Originally, the Mazda RX 4 was made available as a hardtop coupe and also as a sedan. Come the year 1972, this vehicle make was then made available as a station wagon. The station wagon was introduced so as to replace the Savanna Wagon.

When it was first introduced, the Mazda RX 4 held a 120 horsepower 12A engine. However, later on in 1974, this was replaced by the larger 13B engine. This was made for export purposes. This new engine gave the Mazda RX 4 the chance to be environment friendly for it was what Mazda called the “AP” version. “AP” stood for “anti pollution”. The vehicle also used a strut type independent suspension in the front part as with a solid axle in the rear. The brake discs were mounted in the front and the drum brakes were installed in the rear. The vehicle held a curb weight that could get as low as 2620 pounds.

20 dieting success tips part 1 1-10

Dieting is not easy. If it were, we would probably all be thin. Since we are not, here are some tips that successful people use to lose weight so that others can benefit, too.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 1:

DRINK 8-10 GLASSES OF WATER EACH DAY

Okay, for many people this is a big problem. Water doesn’t taste all that great generally because water doesn’t really taste like anything. Drinking water 8 to 10 times each day gets easier the more you actually do it. It is simply a matter of conditioning your taste buds, and yourself, so that it becomes easier to do. Once you get started, you will begin to crave water.

To begin with, you should drink a glass of water in the morning first thing, before you eat. This is probably the easiest glass you will drink all day and it will help you remember to drink water all day long. Better yet, why not drink two glasses?

If you really cannot bear the taste of water, try using a water purifying pitcher or filter. You can also add a few drops of lemon or lime to your water but no sugar or sweetener! Ice also helps.

Check out flavored waters on the market, too. Just keep an eye out for additives.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 2: EAT BREAKFAST

Do not skip breakfast. If you need to go to bed a little earlier so that you can get up 20 minutes earlier each morning do it! Breakfast is so important to your good health and to weight control. According to Dr. Barbara Rolls a professor of nutrition at Penn State University, "Your metabolism slows while you sleep, and it doesn't rev back up until you eat again."

Eating breakfast is not only good for overall weight loss, it will help you stay on track with your diet the rest of the day. You are more likely to binge on something sweet and in the bread group if you skip breakfast.

You can always keep a couple of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge or some high-fiber, low starch fruit around. If you plan to eat fruit at all during the day, breakfast is the perfect time to do it.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 3: EAT AT LEAST 3 MEALS AND 2 SNACKS EACH DAY

This can be one of the hardest adjustments to make. After all, you are busy! You already have a full-plate. When do you have time to worry about filling your plate with more frequent meals?

Just like eating breakfast will increase your metabolism, so will eating more often. This will also help you curb your bad-carb intake by making sure that your snacks are planned and occur regularly throughout the day.

Really, it will just take a minimal investment of planning time at the grocery store and at home each morning before you head out for the day to make some healthy food choices and prepare a few healthy snacks and meals. For suggestions, just see the handy list of snacks and appetizers listed later.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 4: AVOID WHITE FOODS

This is one easy way to remember what not to eat. If it is made from sugar, flour, potatoes, rice or corn - just say no. Remembering this rule of thumb will make it easier to recognize those rice cakes as an unhealthy high-carb snack.

Always look for colorful fruits and veggies to substitute for the white ones. Buy broccoli, lettuce, bell peppers, green beans and peas, brown rice in moderation, leafy greens like kale and spinach, apples, melons, oranges and grapes.

These foods are not only colorful they are also high in fiber, nutrients and important antioxidants. Eating colorful fruits and vegetables will give your diet variety as well as give you added health benefits.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 5: EAT YOUR VEGGIES

It is so easy to use a low-carb diet as an excuse for poor nutrition. Resist this temptation. If the only vegetable you have eaten in the last 5 years has been the potato, now is a good time to begin experimenting with other vegetables. This is important for your overall health and to avoid some nasty side effects of not getting enough fiber in your diet.

If you try hard enough, you will find vegetables that you enjoy eating. Experiment with grilling veggies and cooking with real butter to add flavor. You can also search for new recipes on the Internet or in cookbooks.

Remember, if you are only eating 40 grams of carb a day or less, two cups of plain salad greens contain only about 5 grams of carbohydrate. You have no excuse not to eat your veggies.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 6: PREPARE YOUR OWN FOOD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

While more and more restaurants are offering low-carb friendly menu items, many of them are still not ideal low-carb fare. There are many recipes for quick and easy meals that you can prepare yourself at home. Try to do this as often as possible.

If you cook your own foods, you know exactly what the contents are and you will be able to better control for hidden sugar and otherwise processed foods.

Another benefit is the cost savings over the long run. Even if you must go to the grocery store more often, you will save a significant amount per meal as opposed to eating at restaurants and fast food establishments.

It will also be easier to maintain your diet with your own favorite fresh food selections on hand.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 7: INVEST IN A GOOD SET OF FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS

Having food storage containers of various sizes on hand will make it so much easier for you to plan your meals and snacks. When you buy nuts, fruits and vegetables in bulk you can simply prepare, separate and store them for easy use later.

For instance, you can pre-slice your apples and snack on them over several days. Simply cut them, rinse them in pineapple or lemon juice and store. This will make a quick and easy snack for later.

Fix your lunch and take it with you to work. Better yet, fix your lunch and 2 snacks for work.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 8: EAT SOME PROTIEN AT EACH MEAL & AS A SNACK

In addition to everything that’s been discussed before, eating protein helps you burn more calories. Jeff Hample, Ph. D., R. D., a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association says that, "Protein is made up mainly of amino acids, which are harder for your body to breakdown, so you burn more calories getting rid of

them.

Just think eating a protein rich snack can help you lose weight. How about a few slices of turkey or ham or some string cheese?

Eating protein will also help you feel full so that you are less likely to crave unhealthy snacks.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 9: DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTER EACH SNACK

This will help you get in your 8 to 10 glasses of water each day but it can also have other benefits. Ever feel hungry after eating a handful or standard serving of nuts? Try drinking water afterwards. The water will help you feel full and prevent overindulgence.

Drinking water after a snack will also help remove the aftertaste from your mouth and can help curb your desire for more.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 10: EAT SLOWLY & ENJOY YOUR FOOD

You will feel full and more satisfied if you take the time to savor your food and chew it slower. Don’t get in the habit of eating while standing or eating quickly. Sit down and chew.

Eating slower will help you enjoy your food more, pay attention to what it is you are actually eating and get a better sense of when you are actually full.

Make decisions choosing accommodations pattaya hotels on vacation

The starting price should be used as a general indicator only. You can also browse Pattaya, Pattaya hotels by price, alphabetically or by class. Below is a comparison of the price range and facilities of three Pattaya hotels that can help you choose your accommodations on vacation. Agents rates for on-line bookings at international class hotels in Pattaya.

Beaches in Pattaya are urban beaches, mere steps from hotels, guest houses, restaurants and food stalls. View each Hotels Pattaya page to find guest reviews, pictures and photos and to do searches for hotels in Pattaya. Our guide to Hotels Pattaya provides a wonderful directory for helping make decisions on choosing accommodations. The Pattaya hotels and resorts guide provides a brief summary, customer ratings and reviews for hotels or resorts. For a quick summary see the list of hotels and resorts in Pattaya.

These shops are located mostly around the main street of South Pattaya and inside the upmarket hotels. Moreover, these hotels and resorts are located the most popular locations in Pattaya. Or you can just relax yourself on Pattaya beach; enjoy various services and food from numerous hotels and restaurants. Or you can just relax yourself on Pattaya beach ; enjoy various services and food from numerous hotels and restaurants. For detailed Pattaya hotels information or to make a reservation, select a hotel and let asiahotels. com be your Pattaya travel agent.

Read Pattaya hotels descriptions, reviews by former hotel guests or place your own Pattaya hotels review. Many Pattaya hotels are situated on the beach with magnificent sea views from room balconies. Amenities within Pattaya's hotels are second to none, with fine dining in multiple cuisine restaurants and coffee shops, bars, pubs, karaoke and games rooms. For others types of rooms, please use the search box and check rates for Pattaya hotels. Sports were always a key attraction in Pattaya from the early days when hotels introduced tennis courts and clinics.

We have every kind of lodging, cheap hotels, discount resorts and villas, luxury accommodation in Pattaya and all over the world. The hotels are not so grand, the restaurants smaller, and here you will find the beginning of Pattaya's bar-beers, or open-air bars. A thriving metropolis, Pattaya has a great many resorts and hotels to suit every pocket. Nightlife beyond Pattaya's hotels is more liberated, with discotheques, transvestite cabarets, nightclubs, karaoke bars, go-go bars and open-air bars. rabbitresort. com/

Good things to know about singapore

Singapore is the perfect destination for tourists in search of relaxation, peace and quiet. The diamond-shaped island of Singapore is a magnificent oasis of exotic vegetation, consisting of various magnificent species of plants. The beauty of the botanical gardens and parks found in Singapore is renown all over the world. One of the most treasured Singapore places of interest is the National Orchid Garden, which contains an impressive collection of more than 3000 species of orchids, some of them growing only on this particular island.

Situated in the South-eastern region of the Asian continent, Singapore is a very important center for trade and tourism. Singapore communicates with Malaysia through a set of bridges, while the access to the neighboring islands of the Indonesian archipelago is facilitated by the presence of many ferry ports along the coastal regions, ferry boats providing a quick means of transportation by sea. A major center for tourism, Singapore also has an extended and modern network of airlines, facilitating the tourists’ access on the island by air.

The vast, beautiful beaches found on the island are a major Singapore attraction. The tropical climate of Singapore renders the island the best destination for people in search for a memorable vacation by the beach. The beaches of Singapore are packed with tourists over the entire duration of the year, as the island preserves its warm climate regardless of season. The only impediment for tourists who enjoy sunbathing and swimming is tropical rain, which wets the surface of the island in brief, sporadic showers. However, the good news is that rain predominantly falls in autumn and winter, more rarely showering the island of Singapore during spring and summer.

A very famous Singapore place of interest is the world’s first open zoo, which shelters a wide range of species characteristic to various geographical regions. The zoological garden found in Singapore is a major attraction for tourists, allowing visitors to closely observe the various animal species sheltered by the island. Unlike conventional zoos, the zoological garden in Singapore doesn’t confine animals inside cages. The simulated environments and landscapes themselves separate the species that grow here, while additional man-made barriers prevent visitors from getting too near from the animals.

Apart from these common attractions, the ancient cultural and religious monuments found on the island are also major reasons for you to visit Singapore. Additional Singapore places of interest such as Thian Hock Keng temple, the shrines built in honour of Ma Po Cho - the Mother of the Heavenly Sages and the abundance of other religious monuments and statues render the island of Singapore an appropriate destination for tourists in search for mystical places. Whether you decide to visit Singapore for its sunny beaches, the splendour of its gardens or the intriguing ancient Oriental worship sites found on the island, a vacation in this region of the world is definitely a unique and unforgettable experience!

The next world series champion

Just like clockwork, every spring brings the same hopes to major league baseball teams all over the country. Some fans of teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers are just hoping to stay in the pennant race after the first few weeks of the season, while other fans have higher aspirations.

Take the rabid fans of Boston Red Sox nation or the equally intense fanatics who root for the New York Yankees. Not only do these fans demand that their teams be in the playoffs or World Series every season, they also demand that the two clubs beat each other.

Boston and New York are separated by about four hours in a car, but their baseball fans and ideas are separated by much more space than almost anyone can imagine.

The best word, although not too politically correct, is “hate.” It is not a stretch of any imagination to say that the fans of these clubs hate each other. Every year, fights break out in the stands or in sports bars across America, and they are all involving Yankee or Red Sox fans. Ever seen or heard about a Cardinals and Braves fan fight?

Both Boston and New York have fans who are living in various cities away from their hometown, and this has spread the rivalry across many time zones. Trust me from first-hand experience, you can find New Englanders and New Yorkers almost anywhere in the USA.

The rivalry and bad blood runs fairly deep for me, and I would not be able to write with such certainty on the topic had I not been so directly involved through many years.

Being born and raised in New York, you have a choice between teams. Once you select the Yankees (in my case, passed down by dear ol’ Dad), the next step is to immediately work up a hatred for Red Sox fans, Red Sox management, New England Clam Chowder and even anybody foolish enough to be wearing actual red socks.

The Yankees are a 4-to-1 Favorite @ WagerWeb. com to win the World Series

If you’re a Yankees fan, that is your first given in life – hate thy Red Sox fan. With their annoying accents, general lack of knowledge toward the game, their laughable track record of winning over the years and barrelful of excuses for losing, it is fairly easy to work up a good lather against them.

Another year is upon us, and 2006 will see these two teams meeting 19 times. The first pair of these games takes place on May 1-2 in Beantown. If you’re a baseball fan and you’re not watching these games, you either better be getting married or mourning a death in the family. If you’re a Yankee or Red Sox fan, there is no excuse not to be watching—just keep the volume low on your mini TV and nobody at the funeral should get too upset.

But emotions and people getting upset are actually the hallmark of this rivalry. It’s easy to go back and cite all the times on the field that these two teams have mixed it up, which in turn usually carries over to the stands or the bars.

More recently, we had Alex Rodriquez taking on Jason Veritek, and Don Zimmer battling it out with Pedro Martinez. Granted, the names and faces change, but the intensity between the two teams and their fans is legendary.

I can personally attest to one infamous episode during Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship series. It was the game where New York recovered from a 5-3 deficit to defeat Boston with a home-run from Aaron Boone that sent the Yankees to the World Series.

Drinking a beer amidst hoards of Red Sox fans at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, I was resigned to watching the Sox advance to the World Series. Soon, the Yankees mounted their comeback, and my bravado had started taking the best of me. Although very conservative in my early remarks, I saved the best for last: When Boone’s shot landed in upper reaches of Yankee Stadium, my outburst lasted for several minutes—which most likely felt like hours for Red Sox fans.

Now this incident took place before Boston finally won a World Series title, so Red Sox fans were more surly than usual.

With my yelling ringing in their ears and their sorrow turning to desperation, two New England tourists started hurling insults my way, and we exchanged profane remarks for several minutes before your classic dimwitted Red Sox fan charged at me, telling me to keep quiet.

Now, telling a Yankee fan to keep quiet is like telling Pam Anderson not to show any cleavage, so it quickly turned ugly. In the end, Red Sox fan lost the fight but had some red blood to show for it on his nose, and his wife was also the recipient of some collateral damage.

If you’re curious, all charges were dropped.

I would expect nothing else from the loyal, overzealous fans of either team. In the end, being a Yankee or Red Sox fan is like defending your country. If attacked and provoked—or just not a fan of a particular nation—let them know you’re serious and that they best not challenge you again.

Winning a World Series title hasn’t made Red Sox fans any smarter or relevant, it just gave them a one-year sense that everything was fine—but pinstripes will always be the real color of choice.

MLB Baseball Betting Odds and Future Betting @ WagerWeb. com

Care and maintenance for butcher blocks countertops and kitchen islands

The wood is widely considered the healthiest building material in the world. The solid wood represents a reliable, sturdy material that can last very long without requiring excessive protection. However, wood is a natural living material and, unlike man-made materials, it reacts to different environments in specific ways. We would like to draw your attention to the basic maintenance instructions for the solid wood countertops, island tops or butcher blocks. Following these directions will result in having a great looking, easy to maintain custom countertop that will last for many years.

Tops with a Mineral Oil Finish

The panel must be oiled carefully on top, bottom and sides, giving a special attention to the end-grain area, as the section that the wood is most likely to absorb humidity through. Each cut or drill you make in the panel (either for size adjustment, sink cutout or other purposes) must also be oiled thoroughly. Proterra mineral oil (Hesse, Germany) is a product that we recommend for kitchen tops applications given that it was specially designed to come in contact with foods. For situations where there is a great deal of humidity involved (like sinks, water faucets, etc) the mineral oil only will not assure the best protection and it is advisable to use polyurethane or any other similar finishing instead.

With a soft brush, oil the wood generously on all sides or simply pour a small quantity of oil on the wood and then spread it with the brush. Let the wood soak the oil for about 20-30 minutes and then remove the excess with an absorbent paper towel. When the top is first installed, it is advisable to apply 2-3 successive coats of oil, after which, the oil can be applied once several months or whenever needed. Every time you sand the area to remove scratches or cut marks, a new coat of oil must applied.

Maintenance

In order to keep your wooden top clean, periodically scrape or brush away any food residues existing on its surface, wash with warm soapy water and dry it well using either a dry cloth or paper towels. Apply a new coat of oil any time needed. Alternatively, you can warm up a 1:4 combination of beeswax and mineral oil until the mixture becomes homogenized and then apply it uniformly on top’s surface, thus getting supplementary protection against both stains and humidity.

Avoid setting your wood top next to extreme heat sources like stoves unless there is appropriate insulation between the heat source and the top. Avoid spilling vinegar on a wood top having a mineral oil finishing, as it can cause cupping or cracking. Do not use corrosive chemicals or excessively harsh detergents on a wooden top having a mineral oil finishing, as they can cause irreversible depreciation.

Repairing

If properly installed and sealed and periodically oiled, there is no reason that your top won’t last a long period of time in the same good shape it was when new. Sometimes however, due to poor maintenance and improper environmental conditions, some problems might arise; it is our duty, therefore to inform about these problems and the way to solve them.

· Cupping and warping

Are prone to appear whenever there is a significant difference of moisture between the topside and the bottom side of the panel. If possible, place the top on a flat, hard surface, concave side facing down. On the convex side, uniformly place some fairly heavy objects. It will take up to 12 hours until the panel will straighten completely, after which, oil it abundantly on all sides.

If it is not possible to manipulate the top, simply apply generously mineral oil on the concave side until the panels straightens. In this case, however, you might need to repeat this operation several times to obtain the desired result.

· End splits

Will manifest whenever the panel is placed in an excessive dry environment without being properly sealed. To repair, mix wood sand with a small amount of water-based wood glue and fill the cracks thoroughly. Allow 15-20 minutes to cure, sand the area with a 120 grit sand paper and then oil the top freely.

· Scratches, cut marks and food stains

Can be removed by sanding uniformly the affected area, brushing away the resulting wood dust and applying a new coat of mineral oil. The finger-jointed panels can be sanded to a 3/8” depth, while for the continuous lamella panels and the end-grain butcher blocks, there are no such restrictions.

Tops with a Polyurethane Finishing

A solid wood surface finished with polyurethane based finishing requires no maintenance at all. However, scratches, cut marks and other damages will be difficult to repair; therefore extra care is required.

New yard trainers make outdoor activities with pets easy

These are great trainers for working in the yard or around the house with your dog because they are so affordable and easy to use, they are ideal for obedience training as well as starting a dog on field commands. The SportDog yard trainers have a 100-yard range that is sufficient to work with dogs around the yard, park and other environments. The regular Yard Trainer is for small-to average-size dogs and the Stubborn Dog Yard Trainer is for larger or stubborn dogs. They both feature a waterproof collar/receiver and a safety shut-off mechanism. They’re designed to be very simple to use, with ten correction levels that can be set easily with a thumbwheel on the transmitter. In addition tobeing very affordable, both of these trainers are backed by a lifetime warranty. SportDog specializes in products for hunting enthusiasts and people who enjoy outdoor activities with their dogs. Products include remote trainers, yard trainers and trackingdevices to aid in hunting. Click here for product descriptions

SportDog is a subsidiary of Radio Systems Corporation, the maker of PetSafe brand products. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, the company is the industry leader and prime innovator in the development of safe, reliable and technologically superior pet management solutions. Products include electronic containment systems, bark control systems, pet doors, remote training equipment and tracking/locating systems.

The art of listening

Everyone has a story to tell. However, not everyone may be willing to listen. Sometimes, we are amazed - in an unpleasant way – over the fact that we have not been paying attention to the one speaking to us. At some point along the story, our mind has wandered off, and we only drift back to reality when suddenly asked, “Are you still listening?”

That would be most unfortunate, since next to our visual skills, our ability to listen allows us to reap various benefits. If we listen to our mentor as he shares with us useful thoughts on life, we become good apprentices. If we listen to our professor as he lectures about the day’s lesson, we become good students. If we listen to our boss as he explains the rationale of the company’s recent policy, we become good employees. If we listen to our parents as they advise us regarding career choices, we become good sons/daughters. If we listen to a friend in dire need of unloading his troubles, we become good friends.

In short, listening is vital in developing good human relationships. To maximize our listening capability, here are a few tips.

1. Focus. It is but a single word, but its message conveys far more. Being focused means paying attention, and a lot of it at that. It means temporarily forgetting about other matters of consequence and lending a few minutes of your time to hear someone speak his mind out. It means giving interest to whatever it is that the speaker might want to say. It is taking his words seriously into consideration in whatever decision we are to make. It is placing his story in the context of his emotions, and trying to understand him within the events occurring in his life.

2. Watch out for non-verbal cues. The message need not always lie on the words, but also in movements that the speaker makes. If we also pay good attention to the speaker’s eyes, facial expressions, and gestures, we will be able to receive the message in totality. Moreover, if the speaker realizes that we are sincerely listening, we are boosting his confidence.

3. Be sensitive. A good measure of sensitivity is also essential to maintain enthusiasm in the part of the person speaking. If the person is at the peak of his emotions, do not interrupt. After all, if someone is extremely angry or anguished, it will be a form of catharsis to remain patient until he has calmed down. Unless the person is already causing bodily harm, it will do him well to let him be purged of his bad feelings.

4. Show unconditional openness. We may not always agree with what someone has to say, but being there to listen may be the least we can offer. While we may have different opinions about several issues, keeping our horizons wide is a healthy attitude. With these perspectives in listening, we become open to a world of unlimited learning and diverse experiences.

Cholesterol gallstones

Gallsontes are crystalline bodies that are formed inside of the body by accretion ("growth or increase in size by gradual external addition") or concretion ("a spherical or ellipsoidal nodule formed by accumulation of mineral matter after deposition of sediment") of normal and abnormal bile components.

The largest single makeup of gallstones are cholesterol stones, which are generally green, but have been found to be white/yellow in color. Cholesterol stones account for approximately 80 percet of all gallstones, and are composed primarily of cholesterol.

The remaining twenty percent is composed of pigment stones. Pigment stones are small, dark stones that are composed of calcium salts that can be found in bile. Both cholesterol stones and pigment stones make up gall stones. There is alot of risks that are apparent with pigment stones such as cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and hereditary blood cell disorders, such as sickle cell anemia.

Although there is the two distinct stones above, it isn't unusual for stones to exist that are mixed in origin. Gallstones aren't limited to one particular section - they can occur anywhere within the bilary tree. The bilary tree includes the gallbladder and the common bile duct. Gallstones vary greatly in size and numbers. It is possible for the gallbladder to develop one single stone that is as big as golfball, or for it to create several thousand which can be as small as a grain of sand.

On a budget get cheap car insurance

Good news for drivers on a budget: Car insurance does not have to cost you a fortune. There are many ways you can save money on your car insurance, and even find cheap car insurance. You just have to put forth the time and energy into finding a cheap car insurance policy, and by following these steps, it will not take much time and energy at all.

Choose your car insurance company wisely. Choosing a car insurance company and policy is like choosing the perfect parking space – you want to make sure it is safe, easy to get in and out of, and close by when you need it. Talk with people you know about the car insurance companies they use, and check the ratings of the car insurance companies you’re considering.

Ask about all car insurance discounts. Most car insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who have taken driver education courses, have good driving records, and drive safe cars. Some car insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who pay their premiums twice a year, or annually, rather than once a month. However, these days more and more car insurance companies are providing rewards to drivers who have been customers for a certain period of time, and/or have superb driving records, i. e., no accidents and no traffic violations.

Purchase the minimum liability car insurance policy. This option is touch-and-go, because you may end up needing more coverage than the minimum liability policy provides; however, choosing the minimum liability policy until you are in a situation to purchase more coverage is an effective way to get cheap car insurance on a budget.

Raise your car insurance deductible. By raising your deductible, you will have to pay more in the event you are involved in a car accident or your car is damaged in some way, but your car insurance premiums will be much cheaper than if you had a lower deductible.

Some of the many things to do in key west

Key West is one of the most beautiful places in America, and a trip there can be a trip of a lifetime. Key West offers many different attractions that can make your stay there unforgettable.

The only bad thing that I can see about Key West is that there are so many different things to do; if you do not make a game plan before you go you might be overwhelmed. However once you get an idea of the different activities that you can do during your stay, you should have no problem having a great time. Key West offers many different attractions including fishing, snorkeling, museums, shopping, and many different tours of the area.

Fishing in Key West is out of this world. Key West boasts many professional fishing tournaments every year, because of the many different species that thrive in this area. You can catch blue marlin, sail fish, many different species of shark, as well as red snapper or grouper. If you would rather swim with the fish instead of catching them, then snorkeling might be right up your alley. The beautiful crystal blue waters of Key West allow you to swim with more than 200 species of fish.

If you would rather go back in history then the museums in Key West will take you where you want to go. From the Curry Museum, to the Ernest Hemingway museum, you will get an insight into the life that was enjoyed by the people that lived here many years ago. Of course Key West would not be a great place to visit without great shopping. This area offers many great places to shop from wineries, to island shops, to wonderful hand made furniture stores. Everyone can find what they need or want during their stay in Key West.

If you feel like you just do not know where to start then you can always take one of the many different tours that are available in Key West. The tour guides here are very friendly and very knowledgeable about the area, and are more than willing to help make your stay a memorable one.

House listings in westwood

Westwood, California the northern central portion of L. A.’s West Side. If you are looking to get a little bit out of the way, from LA, you will find this is an area you will have fun, and you will find close to everything you need at the same time. Westwood is bordered by Brentwood, Bel-Air, Century City, and Beverly Hills, along with West L. A., Sawtelle and Rancho part. The Westwood home boundaries are considered Olympic Blvd on the southeast Beverly Hills on the northeast side, Sunset on the North, the San Diego Freeway on the southwestern. You can access many shopping areas, as well as find a job in just about any of the surrounding areas you would like to work. If you are already living in CA you know how beautiful the seasons are, and Westwood is no different, great scenery while still being accessible to many highways, byways and areas.

Westwood is the place for many movie premieres and has many vintage movie theatres like Art Deco Crest and Mann Bruin, so you want to explore entertainment, this is a great area to live. They are a great place to spend an evening or Saturday night when you want to get out on the town. Westwood is also the home of Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, which is the resting place for many stars just think about it - who knows who your neighbor, is going to be! Since this is the place of the stars, Westwood would not be complete without a couple museums in honor of the many rich and famous who have left their mark on society rather it be off or on the screen. If you want to learn more about movies, or enjoy the movies, or even if you want to break into the movies yourself, you can find all types of entertainment can be found in Westwood.

Westwood, for awhile was known to have it’s troubles, much like L. A., but over the years Westwood’s good name has been shining and Westwood is once again a good place to live. It is to be predominantly tourist, but California has once again re-claimed Westwood and many people purchase homes in Westwood. In fact, Westwood is one of the safest neighborhoods in the city and has a pretty good retail sector, though Santa Monica, Century City, and Culver City is some of the best shopping areas located in Westwood.

When it comes to the ethnicity of the residents, many are from European and Persian decedents. Many of the well do live in high-rise apartments and in Holmby Hills. Today in L. A. single-family houses tend to be east or southeast of UCLA; which is near Sepulveda, Santa Monica, Westwood, and Wilshire.

There is a high demand for homes and apartments in the Westwood Area and that is why they tend to be so expensive. Even if you are planning on renting, you should be prepared to pay a higher price than in most areas. The price is all worth it, since Westwood homes are very good investments and are worth every penny. When you live in Westwood, it is not that far fetched to see some actors or artists in Westwood. You can always go down to the huge theatres and see all the “A listers” going to their movie premiers. Westwood is the ultimate L. A. area. If it is ethnic that you want, Little Persia is located along Westwood Blvd.

While looking for Westwood real estate, you want to take inconsideration the smaller neighborhoods that make up Westwood, like Little Holmby, Century City, Westwood Hills, Cheviot Hills, and Rancho Park. You will always know where you are because each neighborhood has their own little marker or characteristic and they also share some common boundaries with landmarks. Westwood Village is the place to go for shopping sprees, movies, and the college crown. The area is very upscale and elegant with the traditional and Spanish-build homes. For recreation you can find several different basketball courts, handball/racquetball courts, soccer fields, picnic areas, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, and some indoor gyms. You will also notice that Holmby Park has a golf course, running trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, and many other recreational activity areas.

As you can tell, Westwood was something for everyone and for any type of budget. You should be able to find a home in Westwood rather you are middle or high society class. Westwood reality companies will let you know where you best bet is to start your search for that perfect home or apartment and they will also tell you the best schools that are located in the area. Your realtor should be able to answer any questions that you may have about the area and the schools or whatnot that is located in the area.

You should also be able to find a Westwood, California condo that would be perfect for your type of life and living style. Westwood condos are some of the best that are located in the L. A. area. In fact, all Westwood homes are some of the best in L. A. that you will be able to find in your budget. Westwood homes and real estate are located in one of the safest parts of L. A. and are mostly big, beautiful investments. It is also not just for the richie-riches, Westwood is affordable to practically anyone in California. Although a lot of people who are higher class purchase a home in Westwood, it only gives the area more credibility. Don’t be intimidated by the fact that celebrities are frequent in the Westwood section because you deserve to live and a safe and beautiful home for your family.

The house listings in Westwood are very diverse in style and price. If you were to sell your home in Westwood, you would have no problem just for the fact that Westwood has a high market demand for homes, condos, and apartments. When it comes to selling or purchasing a Westwood home, a good realtor will allow both the seller and the buyer to get a good or fair deal. Westwood homes for sale can be very elegant and look like they are worth a million bucks, and some can be. The average price listing for a house in Westwood would be anything from $350, 000 and above. This price range is not bad considering that is a great area to raise children and to purchase a home. You can find anything from a one bedroom, to a five bedroom, an apartment or even a condo in Westwood to raise a family while being close to the action in CA.

If you feel that you are ready to see a Westwood home, contact a Westwood realtor. They will be able to answer all your questions and they will make sure that you find the best home, apartment, or condo that fits within your budget. Westwood is a great place to live and realtors will make that evident when you are shown just how nice the area can be and how the Westwood environment stands. Both buyers and sellers realize that they are making a good investment on Westwood real estate and that’s why Westwood homes and apartments can be expensive, but they are worth the added money, because Westwood is one of the best places to live in the L. A. area.

Achtung stay away from adjustable rate mortgages

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If you are thinking of mortgage refinancing then there is one thing you might want to know and that is - you should stay away from ARMs ( adjustable rate mortgages ) ...

And if you are wondering why anybody would want to do that, especially since ARMs promise such low interest rates, well here's why ...

Adjustable rate mortgages are a great idea when the interest rates are all set to go down for the next several years ...

And interest rates go down only when the Government wants to increase consumer spending. Interest rates go down when the Government is looking at ways to stimulate the economy, boost consumer spending ...

But you might want to ponder whether this is the case now ...

Consumer spending is extremely good and real estate prices are increasing at record growth rates that may not have been seen before. In fact, in some areas the rates are so high that some experts are actually wondering if anyone but the really rich can actually own property there.

And if the real estate prices keep increasing at the same or even higher rates for a long time, then possibly only the rich will actually be able to buy any houses in many areas ...

And if that happens, the housing markets might actually see steep fall in prices because most of the people cannot afford houses ... and due to this, lots and lots of houses might remain unsold.

Would that be a healthy trend then ? If you think it's not, well ... that might be something even the Government might not want that to happen ...

And what do they do to prevent very high inflation ... like what is discussed above ?

The answer : They increase the interest rates ...

And when interest rates increase, adjustable rate mortgages increase too ... and if the interest rates increase significantly, the adjustable rates increase significantly too ...

That's possibly why you might want to stay away from adjustable rate mortgages.

And what do you choose instead ? Well, you might want to consider fixed rate mortgages ... since the possibility of fixed rate mortgages increasing is relatively low.

And here is one other thing you may want to do before you consider refinancing, and that is ...

Get Multiple Refinance Quotes ...

And why would you want to do that ?

Well, let's say you have 10 refinance quotes to choose from instead of a single quote ... you now get to know what the market conditions are, you now get to see the lowest rate you can have, you now get to analyze the terms much better ...

And one happy coincidence of all this is that you may make a much, much better decision about refinancing ...

You are actually educating yourself in the process, and saving a lot of money too.

And remember - you might want to consider fixed rate mortgages instead of adjustable rate mortgages.

To see how you can invest less than 10 minutes and have several refinance quotes, you might want to see low-rate-refinance. com .