3 tips to staging the outside of your home like a pro

Are you considering putting your house up for sale, but not sure where to start? Afraid it will take too long to sell, or that you won’t get the price you want? Think about “staging” your home, or in other words, setting the scene for immediate buyer interest in your property.

To be really effective, you need to look at both the outside and the inside of your home. Here are 3 tips to get you started with the outside of your home:

1. Go stand on the street to see what clients see when driving up to the house. Be aware that any negative impressions they get outside the house (landscaping not maintained or non-existent, peeling paint, etc.) is just going to make them think that the house itself has not been well taken care of. So even if you have spent the time and money to fix up the interior, it would all be wasted if the clients get a bad first impression as they drive up to the house.

2. Next, step outside your front door and close the door; then stand on the stoop and look around for 5 minutes. While the realtor fumbles for keys and tries to figure out how to open the door, the clients are standing behind and looking around. So what are they seeing? Dead plants, old Halloween decorations in the middle of January, cobwebs? Again, not a good first impression!

It’s definitely worth it to take some time and clean it up. Want to go a step further? Try a new coat of paint or some new furniture or accessories.

3. Don’t forget the backyard. While that might not be part of the potential buyers’ first impression experience, you still should make sure it’s in the best condition possible. Pull up weeds, water plants, do some sweeping (if that’s applicable in your case) and maybe even purchase new furniture or accessories (plant pots, bird houses, etc.)

And the biggest tip of all? Imagine yourself as a potential buyer looking at your property for the very first time. What impressions are you getting? Would YOU buy your house? What would you like to see changed before you put an offer on your house?

And don’t worry about spending several thousand dollars to get your house ready to sell – you’ll get it all back when your house sells. Proper staging helps you sell your house in a shorter time and at the price you want.

Does the american government see its citizens as its children

In Americas 230 year history the government seems to have forgotten that there job is to run the government as the people see as best and not the government telling the people what is best for them.

The most recent example is the Internet gambling Ban signed into law last week by President Bush. The bill makes it illegal for banks and credit card companies to transfer money to casinos for the purpose of wagering on sports or games of chance, like roulette, blackjack and poker.

These games are harmlessly enjoyed regularly by millions of Americans everyday, but some people become addicted to these games so the government is telling all of its citizens that no one is allowed to play these games in an online casino.

This is not the first case of the government going against the wishes of the people, in the early 1900’s the government decided that the consumption of Alcohol should be banned, because some people were developing health and mental problems related to drinking too much. So rather then educating the people on the ill effects of prolonged Alcohol abuse the American government banned Alcohol.

But instead of reducing the consumption of Alcoholic beverages it increased, and because the government was not allowing the production or importing of Alcohol, organized grime got into the moonshine business, and eventually the Government saw the error of their decision and repealed the law.

Another great example of a failed policy to protect the people is the war on drugs that the government has been aging since the early 1980’s Billions of tax dollars a year goes into the war on drugs, but what are the results?

The price of drugs has risen, and to support their habits many drug addicts have had to commit acts of robbery and murder to get their drugs.

The American prisons are packed full of people whose only crime was possession of these illegal drugs.

Instead of being an industry that is regulated and controlled you have people selling these drugs to kids in school playgrounds, and shooting each other to protect their territory.

Had the government decided not to criminalize drugs but make it a heavily controlled industry, they could use the tax money for social programs like schools ad to give Americans universal health care.

Please do not misunderstand me I am not in favor for legalizing hard drugs, but the current system is not working at all, but I am all in favor for legalizing online casino gambling.

If I choose to play some hands of blackjack or poker from the comfort of my home what rights does the government have to tell me not to, and what sense does it make that I can not play in a casino over the internet, but I can drive down the street to the local casino and play there.

To enforce this ban millions if not billions of dollars of software and computer hardware will be needed to monitor all of the banks transactions and that money will come from taxes instead of the government taxing online casinos or even having all the online casinos government controlled then they get all the profits to be used to improve the lives of the American citizens, millions of which are bellow the poverty line if not homeless.

The American government needs to start re-thinking its policy of treating its citizens like small children, or the American people need to demand a new government.

Find more than just a degree of success at california community colleges

It's a great pleasure and honor studying, working as well as teaching at some of the prestigious California community colleges. I moved in 1977 across from back east of the country with two suitcases and 300 dollars, to take advantage of the educational system in California in general and of California community colleges—for starters—in particular. Besides being unbelievably affordable at that time it was also extremely reputable as fine preparatory, or transitional, institutions of higher education. During my first semester at College of Marin, for instance, besides buying my texts, I paid only $3.00 for the whole semester. That was for the Health Fee.

California community colleges are not quite so low-priced—though they are still affordable—in recent times, but they are still brilliant first - and second-year colleges and trade/occupational training sites. Those graduating either from the neighboring high schools or returning to college after years away attend courses and programs in almost all of the major disciplines and/or take up vocational courses for example those in the Automotive Mechanics or Cosmetology divisions at almost all of the 72 regions’ California community colleges.

As the Chancellor of the California community colleges reveals in the mission statement (at cccco. edu/faq_cccco. htm#mission), basic aims of all of the California community colleges are to offer “essential and important functions” such as basic skills instruction, English as a second language (ESL, or, English for speakers of other languages, ESOL) education and practice, adult non-credit instruction, and student and community support services.

While funding is the contingency (and often the bane), some California community colleges engage in outreach, research, and other related projects and programs. They often present a small degree of health services, offer social and academic guidance and support (for honors charters, for instance) and extracurricular access (as, for example, student associations and clubs as well as sports teams).

Despite the fact that I taught and worked at and am thus partial to select California community colleges in the Bay Area (in Northern California), they are some of the best kept secrets all over the state. Below is the list with individual colleges where you can find additional information online by either typing in the name of the college and dot net, or dot cc dot ca, or dot edu:

American River College, Sacramento

Butte College, Oroville

College of San Mateo, San Mateo

Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill

East Los Angeles College, Monterey Park

Feather River College, Quincy

Grossmont College, El Cajon

Hartmon College, Salinas

Imperial Valley College, Imperial Valley

Laney College, Oakland

College of Marin, Kentfield

Ohlone College, Fremont

Palomar College, San Marcos

College of the Redwoods, Eureka

Skyline College, San Bruno

Taft College, Taft

Ventura College, Ventura

West Hills College, Coalinga

Yuba College, Marysville

Why are people buying shoes online let me count the ways

These days, finding the perfect pair of shoes is only a click away. The enormous selection at Shoebuy. com is something that your local shoe store just can’t match. Whether you are looking for boots, dress shoes, casual shoes, athletic shoes or some comfy slippers you will find exactly what you need at the price you want and in the size that fits you. Why are people buying shoes online? It’s easy, for selection, price and convenience.

Shoebuy has the largest selection of shoes anywhere, online or offline. Shoebuy represents 250 top brands with the most styles per brand, the broadest range of materials, colors, sizes, and widths, and with the most up to date fashions. Find shoes in sizes ranging from a women’s size 2 to a size 17 or a men’s size 1 to a size 20, with width’s running from extra narrow to extra wide.

The sale center provides savings of up to 65% off, so why would you want to shop anywhere else? Plus, you can see what other customers think by checking out customer’s reviews and ratings on the thousands of shoes and accessories; enjoy free shipping with live customer service and free returns, all available at Shoebuy. com.

There are great savings every day at Shoebuy and with these great savings, you won’t be hit with any additional sales charges or fees. Shoebuy offersfree shipping and free return shipping anywhere in the United States and you will receive your order within three to ten business days. First time customers receive an additional 10% off their purchase and the opportunity to save more on future purchases. Whether you’re a first time buyer or not you can review other customer’s ratings from the thousands of products across the website. Find out if a shoe runs a little wide or narrow from others who have bought the same item.

Another advantage to online shopping is not worrying about the hassles of long lines and all of your returns are free and come with a 110% price guarantee. That’s right, if it doesn’t fit – return it. Not only is shopping online fast, easy, and hassle free, but Shoebuy. com offers advice on how to purchase shoes online for wide, narrow and all shoe sizes that most people have a difficult time finding. In fact, Shoebuy provides printable fitting charts and bandwidth for men, women, and children to help your shoe buying experience an absolute success. All you need is a printer and you can use our printable fitting chart. Similar to the foot-shaped devices you find in a traditional shoe store, simply stand on the printable fitting chart to determine your shoe size. The printable fitting chart works for men, women and children. No printer? No problem, you can use our measurement table. Simply measure your foot with a ruler or tape measurer, then find the closest measurement on the measurement table that is equal to or greater than the length of your foot.

After you’ve found your shoe, read the reviews, and are ready to make your purchase, you also enjoy the advantage of no sales tax on every order because Shoebuy pays all applicable sales tax for you. And whether you are making a return or an exchange, Shoebuy will provide you a pre-paid shipping label for your order to send your return. All you have to do is choose from the largest selection of shoes online.

The choice is simple, with the advantages of purchasing without any sales tax, and enjoying great sales and discounts from your own home, secure purchasing, live customer service, and free shipping, you can see why everyone is shopping online. Make your next purchase with Shoebuy. com.

Hoodia gordonii can solve your weight problem

Having lots of delicious foods that are made available for us, lots of people tend to eat everything that they want. They eat what they want without considering their weight, but as soon as they found that they are gaining so much weight, they look for ways to lose weight.

Gaining to much weight can bring to other health problems which absolutely you do not want to happen. So you have to start doing something to make you lose weight before it can come to a point that it can harm your health.

Yes, being overweight can ruin your life since it can bring about lack of confidence and it can change the way you relate with other people.

But there are weight loss products that are available in the market that can make you lose weight. There are pharmaceutical medicines that are available out there to make you lose weight but because of the risks of having side effects that people can have when they use such medicines, more and more people are afraid to use it and prefer to switch with natural weight loss products.

One of the effective weight loss products that you can use to lose weight is hoodia gordonii. Hoodia gordonii is a famous weight loss product that more people are using since they believe that it is the most effective and safe weight loss product that can make them lose weight without any side effects.

With in terms of effectiveness, yes, hoodia gordonii is proven and tested to be effective. Hoodia gordonii is a cactus like plant that can be seen in Kalahari Desert of South Africa. San people used to eat this plant by removing the spikes and skin of this plant. So scientists tested this plant to make sure it is non-toxic. Scientists found out that this plant has a miracle molecule which is called p57 which works by tricking the mind by telling that you have eaten and satisfied. This came to such results by testing the p57 with animals. The San people used this plant for centuries to suppress their hunger and thirst especially when they are out for log hunting.

This is the reason why more and more dieters out there prefer to use hoodia gordonii because this product is known to be safe since it doesn’t have the risks of having side effects and it is effective. So if you are having weight problems, you can take hoodia gordonii.

It is recommended that you take hoodia gordonii and combine it with eating healthy and exercising. You do not have to let the product do all the work for you, do not rely so much with the product, you have to help out as well in order to see great results.

Changing your habits can be hard for you but you have to do it. You can do it by making it a step at a time. Yes, you need to change your eating and exercise habits, but you can take it slowly. You can replace pasta or cake with fruit and vegetable. You can replace soda with water. These little things can help out in losing weight until you can finally control your habits.

Yes, taking hoodia gordonii can make you lose weight but you have to follow instructions carefully to see great results.

Plug-in profits -- just another scam or the real deal

-- 3 Step Money making formula -- yeah right!

-- No Experience Necessary -- sure I've heard that before!!

-- $40000.00 per month in earnings -- how many times have I seen those claims before?

Well the three steps are not at all a money making formula, they are just the three steps to getting your website. "Build it and they will come". Yes it is a very good website but as I am sure you are aware, unlike the above quote, the internet does not work like that You will only get visitors from your marketing and advertising efforts.

The training provided in the 30 days to success guide is very good. Yes you could probably get some results with out any experience. You would need to be an exception to the typical internet newbie, and be able to focus entirely on the training process and not get distracted by the various other offers made by the numerous websites you will be referred to along the way.

$40000.00 per month. Well that is the claim of Stone Evans, "the Home Biz Guy" who is the founder of the program. He certainly provides plenty of evidence that this is a true statement. Just remember like all of these successful internet marketers, they make that amount of money because they developed the program and are at the top of the system. If you are looking at using these types of systems and they can be very useful and profitable, However you will never match their earnings. Your expectation must be to use it as ONE OF your income streams and as such you would need to set your expectations based around how much time and money you are prepared to spend promoting it.

Like most products offering a pre-loaded website you get it for free. In this instance it is a very comprehensive site.

The program is based around joining 6 key affiliate programs. The affiliates are some of the best going around like Success University, SFI Marketing, and Traffic Swarm.

As you may be aware these programs are not all free to join. This may be an initial deterant. If you were interested in Plug In Profits I would recommend not to sign up for any of the paid programs to begin with. You can always sign up at a later stage. However You will need to sign up for a hosting account. This will cost $25.00 per month.

One of the best features of the system is the 30 days to success training program. So by the time you have gone through the training you will be able to judge the overall viability and suitability for yourself. At that time you can join the programs that require a monthly commitment.

The training is delivered daily to your email. It is also available to view in full in the back office of your website, so you could go through it more quickly if you wish. Each of the daily modules is about the right size and should not cause brain overload. If you are not familiar with the topics I suggest you just do one unit a day or even take a couple of days to fully absorb the concept and do your own research to see if you would like to implement that strategy.

During the sign up period and also in some of the training, you are directed to a variety of paid options for advertising. once again while I do support many of these forms of Advertising I would recommend that the training be completed before any additional capital were outplayed.

Overall, no it is not a scam, if you do your research you will find that it is a worthwhile program, probably better suited to those that have some understanding of the basic forms of internet marketing and advertising. If you are setting up or already have a home based business this would be a good platform to generate a solid regular income.

Pros and cons of reverse mortgage payment

California Reverse Mortgage is a loan where the lender either pays you a lump sum at one go, makes regular monthly payments, extends a line of credit, or a combination of the three. You continue to own your home and pay property taxes, operating expenses and maintenance. But because you make no regular pay outs on the loan, the balance owed rises each month with the interest applied to it. In the event of your death, your heirs would be responsible for paying the total debt, which is often done by selling or refinancing the house. There are a number of pros and cons for the various California Reverse Mortgage Payment Options.

A. Line of Credit: This is when the access funds are at your discretion. The Pros and Cons of this type of California Reverse Mortgage payment are as follows

Pros: Flexibility - One of the Pros of this Reverse Mortgage Payment is that you can access funds anytime, whenever you need them.

Potential - Another Pro of this Reverse Mortgage Payment is its growth feature. The unused balance grows. This does not mean you are earning interest. The growth factor takes into consideration that your home has appreciated in value over the past 12 months and that you are one year older.

Extra Income - You can use your equity to supplement your retirement income. You can take a lump sum of cash and a monthly check. You can also take a monthly payment and have a line of credit you can write checks on as you need.

Cons: Spending lure - One of the Cons of this Reverse Mortgage Payment is that is that the funds can be easily exhausted.

Red tape - To access your funds, you must submit a written request to the loan servicer managing your account. It includes several rounds of official documents and meetings to get the amount approved.

B. Term: here you receive fixed monthly payments for a set period of time. The Pros and Cons of this type of California Reverse Mortgage payment are as follows:

Pros Instant transfer - Funds are instantly and automatically deposited to your bank account meeting your instant finance or emergency needs.

Regular money generated - You can receive large monthly advances helping in planning out your regular expenses.

Cons Fixed amount - The amount of funds you receive each month is fixed, so if you need additional funds, you will have to request a payment plan change which is a time consuming process.

A major disadvantage of this Reverse Mortgage Payment is that monthly advances are not indexed for inflation.

C. Tenure: here you receive fixed monthly payments for as long as you live in your home. The Pros and Cons of this California Reverse Mortgage Payment are as follows:

Pros

Worth it - The monthly advances continue for as long as you live in your home, even if the total amount you receive exceeds the value of your home. Despite this, you will never owe more than what your home is worth.

No money worry - You can keep receiving payments for as long as you live. Your spouse will keep receiving the payments if he or she is still alive. You never have to sell your home even if you outlive the equity. The income you receive is tax-free.

Cons The amount of funds you receive each month is fixed, so if you need additional funds, you will have to request a payment plan change.

You leave less equity for your children if you choose the wrong program.

Become an expert carp fish fisherman

Carp fishing is both dreadful and irritating. The carp are smart enough to reject food that they don’t trust. The feeling of watching the entire action, that gets over with the blink of an eye is great. It’s awesome when the reel is trembling noisily as you hang for dear life.

To keep the carp on the surface is easy. You just have to keep supplying the pellets, biscuits, chickpeas, bread and re-hydrated corn by attaching them to the hooks. Carp prefer bread. You can also use biscuits but soften them by dipping in water for around 2 minutes. Then for an hour, keep them in sealed sandwich bag. To find out which biscuit would be firm enough to cast, test different brands. Super gluing the pellet into the shank is another way to hook baits.

Let them be at ease, around the bait as they start feeding. This is an ideal situation for the fisherman as the carp stop being suspicious. For zig rigs too, this tactic is applicable. Once carp are feeding, drop the bait but not directly on them. Drop the bait away from the feeding area, and then slowly bring it closer. Keep on supplying food while the bait is hanging so the carp remain in the same position.

Tips to start

•For success use hair rig. Use food items that carp like. They will not come near if the food is not to their liking.

•Spider Line, 50 lbs test, can also be used. After that a leader material that fits the situation can be tried.

•Hook the hair loop but before that thread the bait on the baiting needle. To enhance the attractiveness of the bait, use foam dipped in a flavor.

•By straightening a long shank hook, make a baiting needle. First slide the bait on the shank and then onto the hair. Slide the bait using a needle.

•It is favorable to use a float as this helps in further distancing and easy identification of the location.

•The controller float rig is important. To the mainline of at least 3 feet length with a 10 lbs Drennan double strength, a leader can be attached with the help of a swivel. A low diameter mono will do if it is properly visible while it floats.

In the words of experts, the method in which the bait is introduced is what helps in catching the carp rather than the bait itself. If food is positioned in one place for a few days before the bait, the carp can be fooled. They will stop being suspicious. Their numbers will multiply too. So to be successful, try to be patient.

Find out everything there is to know about student loans

For those students who are at a financial disadvantage and find that they are having a hard time making ends meet; the good news is that they might be eligible for a student loan.

There are many types of student loans that cater to the different needs of individuals.

Some student loans do not have to be paid until the student has graduated from college. But this type of loan tends to be limited in amount. Almost all students may qualify for this type of loan. There is also a six month interval before students have to start paying their loans. This is called the grace period.

While there are other student loans that are directed towards the parents of the students. Since the parents are the ones that are going to have to make the payment, this type of loan offers a bigger amount.

The important thing to know with this type of loan is that the parents would have to start repaying immediately. There is no grace period when it comes to this type of loan. The interest rate for this kind of loan is around 8 percent.

Another way to go is to secure a private student loan. A private student loan comes from a variety of sources, such as financial lending institution, banks, etc.

When it comes to availing of a private student loan, a person's credit history counts a great deal. Those individuals who have an outstanding credit history will receive lesser charges and fees than those who do not have as good a credit record.

Before applying for a student loan there are few things individuals need to do such as:

1. Figure if they are eligible for a student loan. There are various grounds for eligibility depending on the situation of the individual. In different countries there are different stipulations that specify who actually qualifies for a student loan. Parents' income are often one of the consideration that goes into the assessment.

2. Payment method that a student loan is requiring.

3. The grace period being offered in the student loan.

4. They must also look into the rate of the interest that they have to pay.

For those who have graduated and have gone on to more lucrative jobs, but find that they are still struggling paying for the loans that they have incurred as a student, they can also benefit by consolidating their loans.

Consider loan consolidation

Loan consolidation is a great option. This basically means that all of the loans that students borrow from various financial institution will be combined into one loan that they would then only have to pay.

The great thing about loan consolidation is that individuals will be able to save money this way by eliminating the various interests that add up from all the loans that they would have to pay.

Many financial institutions that offer loan consolidation offers individuals flexible payment plans. They can choose to have a longer payment plan. Allowing them a longer period in which to pay their loans. The down side to this is that a longer payment plan tend to have a higher interest rate.

Paying for a college education is expensive these days. This is why students need all the help they can possibly help. Thanks to student loans - students would have the opportunity to complete their education, and be given the best chance to be successful in the future.

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Calculating car loans

Choosing a new or used car is a big job. There are countless styles to choose from. Problem is, many people put all of their attentions into choosing a car, and don't even consider shopping around for a car loan.

Calculating car loans is an important step in borrowing the money you need to purchase a car. This is because a car loan calculation allows you to estimate the monthly payments required to own the car, before you make the final purchase.

There are many factors to consider in calculating car loans. There are three very important questions that you must be able to answer:

- What is the interest rate?

- What is the loan period?

- What is the loan principal?

A qualified lender will happily provide you the answers you need. This information may also be available online. Once you have the answers you need, you can then begin calculating car loans to help you make the final decision. Your car loan calculations will allow you to estimate your total costs, and confirm how much you're able to afford based on your income. To fully understand these calculations, you need to know what all of the financial terms mean.

Interest Rate

The interest rate is generally expressed as a percentage. This is the amount of money paid on top of the initial amount borrowed. It's considered to be the cost of financing. Let's say you borrow $10,000 to buy a car, but at the end of the term you've actually paid $18,000 in monthly payments. The extra $8,000 is the interest, and it's calculated to reflect the current interest rate. Rates do fluctuate, so shop around to get the best deal.

Loan Period

This is the "life cycle" of the loan. It's the length of time that the borrower has agreed to take to repay the loan. Most car loans are for periods of two, three or four years. The principal and interest payments are spaced equally throughout the loan period.

Loan Principal

When calculating car loans, the loan principal is the amount of money originally borrowed. Loan principal is a term used in finance that refers to the original amount of the debt, before additional fees or interest. Your total interest charges at the end of the loan period will depend upon the amount of the loan principal, as well as the loan period. With this in mind, it's easy to see that the loan principal is the foundation of calculating car loans. In some cases, the loan principal is used to refer to the amount of money owing, after the debt has been partially paid. In other words, it's the outstanding balance. With each monthly payment, this amount slowly and steadily decreases, until eventually the entire balance is paid off.

Don't be surprised if you check on the principal balance after a few months, and find that it's barely been touched. That's because your first few months of car loan payments cover mostly interest, and very little principle. Only a small percentage is used to pay off the balance. This repayment plan is common in amortization loans. After these initial months, your monthly payments will be divided in half, with equal amounts going to pay off the interest and reduce the principal. This trend continues until the remaining principal balance has been paid.

Buying a car takes a lot of research and smart decision-making; and choosing automotive financing should too. Calculating car loans is essential to arranging financial assistance that you can afford, and making your dream of car ownership a reality.

What is mental math and why should we study

What is Mental Math? Lot of you out there are trying to find an answer to this question. Well, answer is quite simple, mental math is nothing but simple calculations done in your head, that is, mentally. So now you are wondering – well, what is such a big deal, I can easily calculate 10 + 5 and 95 + 100, my 10 year old child can easily calculate 80 + 20. These are some simple calculations. But often in our day to day life, neither we come across such easy calculations nor will your children in future. Rather we come across a bit tougher calculations.

Let me draw your attention to your visit to a restaurant. Have you ever wondered, jeez, how much is 15% of that or 18% of that. Have you been to a grocery store and wondered – how much tax was charged to you? These are the kind of simple calculations I am talking about and not just 95 + 100. So now you got the gist as to what to expect in this article? So before I show you some techniques, let me explain you why mental math is catching so much steam these days.

First, let me tell you some of the long term benefits of learning mental math at early child age. Learning mental math at early age can help boost your child’s confidence when it comes to mathematics, develop mental calculation abilities, provide a sense of achievement as the child's proficiency improves, lead to greater mental capacity, promote intuitive thinking, enhance problem-solving capability, enhance creativity and last but not least, improve concentration and mental endurance.

Read what past president of National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) has to say about mental math: “the time has come to invest in helping students build the mental math skills in their tool kits as part of their comprehensive mathematical understanding. The payoff for this investment can be tremendous both in improving students’ mathematical abilities and in giving a visible sign that we are committed to preparing students with the kind of mathematical proficiency that the public can readily appreciate.”

We all have had our share of difficulties understanding and learning math in the past. And the same difficulties face to our children. Let me tell you that yes math is difficult and boring if the numbers and the relation between these numbers are not understood well. Today, most of our public schools teach us mental math in some form or the other and I can guarantee you, more then ninty five percent of the time it will be the most adverse and boring technique of rote memorization.

So what is the alternative? Alternative is what asian students have been learning for decades now. There are two different systems in Asia that can help you conquer and master math. You and/or your child can calculate 1478 + 3456 + 98 – 29 in less then 5 seconds and that too without any help external modern day electronic gadgets such as calculator. One system is the Abacus mental math method which has it’s origins in east Asia and another system is the Vedic mental math method which has it’s origins in south Asia.

The right musical instrument

Music is an important tool to calm the mind. Its healing effects have to been to humans for hundreds of years. People practice music for different purposes. While some pursue it as a mere hobby or a means to pass their free time, others are more serious and practice it in a professional manner. Music does not have any kind of barriers. It can be leaded by people of all regions or ages. The only important thing here is that the person must show curiosity to learn all the nuances of music.

After the decision to learn music has been made, next comes the task of selecting the right musical instrument. If we think as far as a decade ago, the number of musical instruments available was less. But this is not the case today. The range of musical instruments available has been increasing day after day. Before setting off to buy musical instruments there are some basic factors which you need to consider.

a) Firstly, you must observe the type of sound that each instrument gives out. The main point here is that the type of sound given by the instrument should be satisfying to you when you hear it. Instruments producing cacophonic sounds should not be selected. There are a number of ways to go about this task. There are a number of websites on the internet which have sound clips of sounds produced by different musical instruments. Some CDs of music composed by many great performers playing different instruments can also be found in the local CD stores.

b) Trying out each instrument – some music store owners are very harsh and don’t let you touch the music instrument unless and until you buy it. However, there are some other music stores which let you the instruments to observe the sound they produce. Pick the instrument which produces the sound that pleases your soul.

c) The sound produced by the instrument should also match with the personality of the individual. Shy and silent persons should do well with instruments producing soft sounds and the same type of reasoning holds well with tough persons.

d) You will also need to consider the money that you will have to spend on purchase and subsequent maintenance of the musical instrument.

e) Instruments should also be selected depending on the surrounding in which they will be played so as to prevent inconvenience to the people around you.

Golden house of nero

Rome has another attraction for the visitor to see. Actually, the Golden House of Nero has been there since 64 AD. It was rumored that the fire that left only one third of the city standing, was started by Nero. After this fire, he built the Golden House, an extravagant palace which was partly covered in gold foil, with jewels and ivory pasted onto the ceiling. All of that extravagance disappeared after Nero’s death. In the Renaissance, the Golden House ruins were rediscovered and at the end of the last century, a massive restoration effort was at last completed. The ruins are now opened to the public.

Nero’s palace and its grounds spanned three hundred and fifty acres. It contained a man made lake, some vineyards and the villa itself. The palace had three hundred rooms but none of them were bedrooms. This could have been purposely done as Nero was known to have great parties that would have lasted for many hours. There was a one hundred and thirty foot statue (40m) of Nero himself on the site but the statue was moved to the Colosseum. The bronze base can still be seen in that location.

Time has destroyed a lot of details but there is enough to fill a tour of an hour or two in the cool surroundings of the Golden House. It is nice to get out of the heat. Rome’s temperatures can be up in the eighties in October.

On the ground floor, you can go through the audio tour which has may fresco vaults painted by Fabullus, a well known artist of his day. His style was familiar to those in the city of Pompeii, not far from Rome.

In fact, Raphael used these frescos as models for his work, the site had been newly discovered during the Renaissance and other artists such as Michaelangelo also went to view the frescos. Their signatures can be seen scratched on the walls. Other well known persons of the age have left their mark too, for instance the Marquis de Sade and Casanova.

The condition of the ruins vary, some areas have mere shadows with hardly visible markings whereas others are golden marble walls with paintings more or less brought back to life.

There are plenty of grottos underneath to tour. The most remarkable area is the Octagon Room. Nero was an admirer of Greek art and it was in this room that he kept the statue of the Dying Gaul. This statue is now on display at the Pallazo Altemps museum.

There is a reconstruction of this octagonal room outdoors where visitors are able to get an idea how it was to live there. The garden has also been reconstructed to show how it would have been like at Nero’s time.

Natural remedies and treatments for allergies

When allergies strike, most allergy sufferers head to the drugstore where they purchase an antihistamine. They take it, and soon their symptoms begin to subside. They’re all set until the next outburst.

Over-the-counter antihistamines are effective but unfortunately, taking them often causes unpleasant side effects such as drowsiness and a feeling of lethargy. If you’re tired of feeling tired when allergies strike, maybe it’s time you reach for natural allergy remedies instead.

Natural allergy remedies come in all forms and are made from many different types of ingredients including herbs, plants, ground up honey bees, and other vitamins and nutrients. Most natural allergy remedies have been designed to either stop histamine outbursts from occurring in the first place, or they act to combat the individual symptoms that occur with the release of histamines. They accomplish these tasks naturally, which is why unpleasant side effects are non-existent.

Besides treating allergy symptoms with all-natural ingredients, the term “natural allergy remedies” has come to mean something more. In addition to being a natural and effective way to treat allergy symptoms after they develop, the term can be used to describe taking control of your surroundings so that you limit exposure to the allergens that cause you trouble. For example, if pet dander is a problem, don’t keep pets. Or if you must, you’ve got to be vigilant about keeping pet dander under control. Likewise with dust mites. You need to protect your furnishings with casings that keep this type of problem under wraps.

Watching what you eat is important if you’ve got food allergies, so taking steps to control your diet can also be considered a natural allergy remedy. In addition to closely monitoring what you eat, there also are foods you can consume that are known to contain naturally-occurring histamine combatants. For example, Quercitin, a flavinoid found in onions and apples, is capable of blocking the release of histamines which cause the familiar allergy symptoms like runny nose, congestion, and itchy, watery eyes. Besides being effective against allergies, there are countless other health benefits of eating these and other types of fruits and vegetables, like lowering your risk of developing heart disease and keeping your blood sugar levels stable.

If you’re like a lot of people and find that monitoring what you eat is too much work, then consider taking a daily multi-vitamin. Many of the vitamins and minerals benefit the immune system which in turn helps keeps the symptoms of allergies under control.

With so many natural allergy remedies being offered, understanding the ingredients as well as the actual benefits of each can be mind-boggling. Even though these types of products are available without a prescription, if you’re confused, it might be advisable to speak with an allergist or someone who specializes in natural remedies. These specialists can help explain how each of the individual ingredients work and why they’re thought to be effective. This type of information may help you decide whether natural allergy remedies are right for you.

Five things that you should know in a divorce

Though it is good to have a happy marriage, when you face a hard situation like divorce, you should have the courage to overcome it. Usually circumstances for divorce occur bit by bit and not suddenly. If you happen to unfortunately enter into the divorce market, you may have to consider the following things on divorce to overcome the process smoothly. Relying solely on friends and family alone for advice would not help you much.

1. In US, law on divorce differs from one state to another. For example divorce in California is different from divorce in Wisconsin. Though they differ mainly on division of assets, divorce can be filed only in the state where you live. You can not go to another State which offers more on division of assets.

2. Nowadays, an uncontested divorce, also called as no-fault divorce has become more popular and common amongst spouses opting for divorce. Under this divorce, they have to mutually agree and understand that divorce is the only option for both spouses, after arriving at a basic agreement on splitting up of jointly owned assets. The process becomes easiest when there is no involvement of children out of the wedlock. For no fault divorce, lawyers are only required either on a minimal basis or they are not required at all.

3. Some states insist on a ‘test’ divorce, under which separation is required during a trial period before grant of divorce. During the period of separation, the couple opting for divorce should live apart without any interaction in between. Under the circumstances of separation, couple will get to know each other and will try to live without the partner. Many times, people suddenly discover that they do not any more require divorce during the period of separation, and get willing and prepared to make adjustments on past differences.

4. In an ‘at-fault’ divorce, any one of the couple breaches marital contract and has committed abandonment, infidelity or cruelty to the other partner. There are different kinds of cruelty such as verbal or emotional cruelty or physical cruelty. Some of the States do not require an initial trial separation for at-fault divorce. When both spouses become guilty of committing breach of marital contract, the principle of comparison rectitude is employed. This method compares the guilty parties and determines which party is guiltier. It is very difficult to prove the degree of guiltiness through mere word of mouth which can drastically change the direction of case and decide upon division of assets and property.

5. If you are facing the divorce right now, you should know the specific divorce law relating to your State in which the case is filed, even if you are under a stressful situation. A proper homework will enable you to face the situation with great courage and you will come to know and understand what to expect out of the case.

Ezine marketing - what to do and what not to do

Every day more and more people start working from home on line. An Ezine is something that a lot of people who work online have, or better said started. Many of them start writing an Ezine and then begin loosing readers or even worst never get off the ground because they don’t send newsletters on a regular basis to their readers.

Today I’m going to talk to you about what you should and shouldn’t add in your newsletter.

If you ever find yourself asking what to write next in your newsletter then it means you should start looking for some inspiration. You can browse the internet and see what people working in the same field as you are sending out. What articles they include and how do they advertise their business. Remember that your newsletter can be a very good way to advertise your business or to include information about different products you might be selling.

If you for whatever reasons can’t write the articles you can use free article websites such as ezinearticles. com where you can find the articles you need. It is a simple way of getting a good article, and you just have to tell the author than you plan to publish his article. This is a good thing in general since the author will most probably forward your newsletter since his article is featured in it.

Also always try to expand your mailing list. A good way to do this is to get your ads out there. So for example I write an article which I publish in a newsletter. I allow 4 ads per issue and I could charge for those ads, but if reaching a larger audience is what you are after then you should try exchanging ads with another newsletter owner. They get their ad on your newsletter and you get yours on theirs.

In your newsletter you should also add information about new members or about you. Also any new book release or any information that is related to the topic of your Ezine. Always remember to add in your newsletter information about your services and include your website’s URL. It would be wise to include in your issue unsubscribing instructions and to point out the benefits your readers get from your newsletter.

It isn’t that important how often you send your newsletter. What is important is that you make it on a regular basis. You can send your Ezine once a month, twice a month, weekly even if you want. The only thing you must look out for is keeping your readers interested in what you are writing.

From my experience here are some pointers to a successful newsletter: Use spell check, white space and do not overcrowd your newsletter. Only use ads that are important to the content of your Ezine, include unsubscribing information and make sure your readers can have some input in the way your Ezine looks.

These are just a part of the things that a newsletter should have and should follow. If you follow these steps you can be sure that in no time your newsletter will grow and start attracting more and more people. Getting a good customer base will ensure that you will have enough people to spread the word about your Ezine, and thus receive free advertising.

Don t overload motorcycle backrest bags

The motorcycle backrest bags not only provide valuable support but can be used to carry light items on long cruises. It is important to keep the bag light, because a heavy load at a high point in the bag can have an adverse effect on low-speed handling.

The features that you need to look at while buying a motorcycle backrest bag are:

1. Mounting systems: Your backrest bag needs to fit snugly on to the bar. So make sure that the bar is neither too tall nor too wide for the bag. Also keep in mind that some bags can be rested on the pillion seat while others need a luggage rack.

2. Rigid vs. soft: It is worth considering whether you would want to have a rigid or a soft bag. Rigid bags have a definite advantage: they fit better and are easier to pack and unpack. You can also put them on the passenger seat and use it as a backrest.

3. Weatherproofing and durability: Most bags have their own waterproof covering. But you should be selective about the weather proofing material. For example, leather may look better but heavy-grade nylon is probably more durable.

4. Capacity: Bigger does not mean better. Loading a big heavy bag on the back of your bike can alter a motorcycle's centre of gravity. This can result in poor handling and even loss of control.

5. Convenience: Most backrest bags now have additional features. There are backpack straps and roller wheels. Make sure that the straps are padded and roller wheels have a low profile.

Some of the popular brands available in the market are:

1. Harley-Davidson Universal Roller Bag: This bag, which is 17.5 inches high, 16 inches wide and 10 inches deep, has the following features:

-- Waterproof Climashield fabric

-- 1.8 cubic foot interior with small pockets and compartments.

-- Front zip opening for cargo

-- Metal handles and rollerblade wheels.

2. Kuryakyn Full Dresser Bag: This bag, which is 16 inches wide, 11 inches deep and 28 inches high, has the following features:

-- 2.5 cubic foot capacity

-- 1200-denier Cordura exterior

-- Fully lined interior for weatherproofing and durability

3. Dowco Rally Pack Universal Luggage System: The important features of this backrest bag which is 17 inches high and 14.5 inches wide are:

-- two-piece combination of Jumbo Pack and Roll Bag.

-- Cordura nylon exterior

-- 1.5 cubic feet of volume

4. Marsee Products 50-Liter Cruiser Bar Bag: This is a big bag, 22 inches high, 17 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Its notable features are:

-- 1050-denier ballistic fabric

- 50 litre capacity

-- bag converts to backpack with straps

-- fits on most cruisers

The other popular backrest bags available in the market are: Willie & Max BlackHawk Max Pax, Tour Master Cruiser II Sissybar Bag (Large), T-Bags Universal Lone Star, Saddlemen Super Taos Sissybar Bag, River Road Classic Bike Pack & Travel Case, Rev-Pack Rest Pack and Nelson-Rigg CTB-900 Deluxe Tourer.

Free online classes

When it comes to taking online classes over the Internet, especially free online classes you want to make absolutely sure that they are legitimate. That you aren’t just fooling around with something you aren’t going to get out of, but the wasting of your time and efforts. Not all of the free online classes offered on the internet are like this, however most of the free online classes deal with different issues other than major instructional courses.

In another words the free online classes could mean getting your GED, or learning another language perhaps, something of that nature. However, it really does depend on which web site you are looking at and referring to before you actually know. And in some situations there are free online classes for a period of time, and after you are so far into the course you have chosen, there will be fees, some expensive and others less costly.

You might want to be sure to read all the print according to the free online classes you take as well, when they say free and you have to pay out all amounts of money on additional materials they say you will need such as software and other items, this is where they could get you as well.

They might very well be offering free online classes however you’ll pay for quite a bit of software or other things to get through and complete the classes.

Believe me when I say I did a search on free online classes and got over twenty thousand search results so you might want to be specific on what you are looking for as far as free online classes.

Its amazing all the colleges that are on the Internet that offer these free online classes however there is always usually something you need to purchase. Oh, don’t get me wrong not all of the web sites are like this, however those with degrees or a PHD these will not be free online classes or courses.

Some people like the idea of not having to actually be in a classroom and being able to obtain some king of skill or learning and it is in fact free online classes that can provide this for them, while others are accredited colleges however like stated above, they will offer so many free online classes if you continue with a course for a longer period of time.

For example, its like getting three months of cable free when you sign up for a years service from the cable provider. This is how some of the colleges work on the Internet, they will offer free online classes when you go through a course where you do in fact pay a certain amount in order to actually finish the classes or courses you have chosen to take on the Internet.

There are also databases that can assist you when searching for free online classes however, here too you need to be specific on what type of free online classes you are looking for or you are going to get hundreds of results, and remember it is always best to look at more than just one, do that comparison on the classes and see which one will benefit you or help you as far as being free online classes and what goes with them, such as software or additional items.

The art of video game design

Beginning in 1979, video games slowly started to invade homes and occupy young children and adults alike. The first video game was created in Japan and it has evolved greatly over the years. Video games have not only become a hobby for young children, but they have become an obsession for young adults. Individuals are constantly in competition with one another to have the latest and greatest video game. They also race one another to conquer all the levels of the most challenging games. With individuals constantly looking for new challenges, the area of video game design has increased in popularity.

Children are becoming fascinated with video games at a younger age. To prevent them from becoming zombies in front of the television, video game design companies are incorporation education, as well as physical activity to most of their video games. Games such as V-tech and Leap Frog use colors, numbers and words to educate young children on how to read and count. One recent game that has revolutionized the video game industry is Nintendo’s Wii. This game console uses video games to incorporate physical activity. Game users are required to use their physical skills to complete tasks such as fishing, bowling and tennis. While these games aim to educate and increase physical activity among youth, there are still traditional games on the market that simply aim to entertain.

What once started as a recreational activity, video gaming has now become a sport to some people. There are actually tournaments around the world where individuals compete against one another in the latest video games. Individuals also create teams to compete against individuals from all different countries. While most people think individuals play these games for fun, it is actually a very competitive sport. Individuals train for months, even years to master the skills need to conquer a game. They study each video game design and try to learn all the tricks and special features of each game. Individuals are not competing for bragging rights. Some tournaments offer prizes in excess of $500,000, proving that these games are not to be taken lightly.

With the increased popularity of video game tournaments and leisure activities, the career field of video game design is in high demand of qualified candidates. Colleges all over the country offer programs to teach students about video games and how to design them. Courses include work in graphic design, script writing and drawing. Classes are also offered in a variety of different specialties aimed to make individuals marketable in a variety of different fields. Students learn essential computer skills such as Photoshop, animation and cinematography. However, these computer skills are also important skills in different career fields, therefore opening numerous opportunities to graduates in this specific program

Upon completion of a video game design program, students can work for numerous different companies. Design companies are constantly looking for fresh thinkers and creative individuals to take their video games to new levels. Students in design programs learn how to conceptualize, design and plan animations and video games. They also learn how to produce and evolve character models and design levels in video games. Along with these important video game skills, students also learn marketing, business and entertainment law to make them a well-rounded candidate.

With a video game design degree, students can not only use their imaginations to create games, but they can also manage the production of games or be a critic with the skills they learn through this particular program. What was once thought of as simply entertainment has become an increasing popular industry.

Staging your home during the winter months

Staging your home for a quick sale can be a time consuming task, even more so during the winter months. Not only does one have to contend with other homes on the market, and numerous buyers, but the weather can present a problem in terms of access to the home and the cleanliness of the interior. In some areas this is not really a big deal. Places like Arizona and Florida do not have to contend with snow and ice. In order to ensure your home shows to its full capacity during the winter months, here are some good things to do.

Access to a home is crucial during the winter. Sidewalks and driveways can easily become danger areas as ice and snow can turn even the nicest yard into a skating rink. Its a daily task to ensure that the driveways and walkways are clear and safe. Keep a good supply of rock salt or another de-icing agent on hand. The last thing you want is a prospective buyer to slip on their way to the door. Remember if people have to trudge through knee deep snow to reach your front door, it won't look good for you as a seller. Keep the driveway shoveled and de-iced at all times. Its also a good idea to clear snow off the eaves and edges of the roof. Make sure there are no dangers to the visitors to your home.

Keeping the inside of a home clean while the weather is cold and snowy presents a different challenge. This is compounded if your home is a popular showing. With numerous people coming in during a day, its a great idea to have plastic shoe covers to help stop the problem of snow and dirt getting tracked into your home. During the cold months is a great idea to keep the house warm and inviting. If you have a fireplace, light it. The ambience and warmth will help visitors to stay longer and explore all that your home has to offer. Ideally you would like your home to be as inviting and interesting as possible. The winter months give a homeowner the opportunity to showcase their homes during the dreary winter weather. It's a chance to turn your home into a winter palace that will interest buyers from the moment they see it.

Credit card debt - on the rise

Credit card debt can be the source of needless stress in our lives, and has the potential to have a negative impact on your life. Credit card debt is not just a problem in the U. S. it is also increasing in industrialized countries as well. Credit card debt is also a major issue in a large number of consumer bankruptcies. Credit card debt will make it more difficult to live the life that you deserve.

Students

College students are among the most vulnerable to credit card debt. Credit card debt is growing faster among students than in any other part of society. Students are often offered incentives to apply for credit cards, and some requirements are often waived. With the ability to buy something now and pay for it later can be hard to resist for students, and most are already struggling financially. The Public Interest Research Group's - "PIRG" Student Credit Card Trap study in 1998 found that most students who received credit a credit card from campus tables had higher unpaid balances than other students who received the credit cards elsewhere and were more likely to roll over their balance from month to month.

Interest

Credit card companies have started to take an interest in educating credit card users because knowledgeable consumers are much less likely to be overwhelmed by debt, leaving them in a much better position to make their payments on-time and avoid getting bad credit and even bankruptcy. If your already overwhelmed by credit card debt, consider a debt consolidation loan, so instead of having a lot of high interest credit card bills due, you now will have one bill that is due once a month usually at a lower rate. Consolidating credit card debt can be as simple as contacting one of the many credit counseling agencies on the web. According to the Consumer Action, (a public interest organization) who does a survey once a year of over one hundred credit card companies, card holders can be hit with late fees of up to $39 and raised interest rates.

The increase in credit card debt is rising at an alarming rate. Some popular economists are predicting that the rise in credit debt is likely to continue. Many people do not realize how debilitating credit card debt can be to their lives.

Formal cruise wear night - the agony and the ecstasy

Formal night on the cruise - The agony and the ecstasy! How better to describe the romantic night when cruise passengers don their best formal cruise wear and strut their stuff?

For some men, it's the agony of picking out your finest formal cruise wear, carefully packing them in your suitcase, unpacking and un-wrinkling them, and then, worst of all….. having to put the threads on. For other men, it's the romantic ecstasy of seeing your dazzling beauty dressed in her finest, and walking arm-in-arm through the elegant dining room.

For some women, it's the agony of deciding what to pack for the formal cruise wear night. Should it be black or brightly colored? Long or short? Or should it be slacks or a gown? For other women it's the ecstasy of a wonderful romantic night of elegance.

Formal wear is somewhat subjective when it comes to cruises. Most often for men, it will mean wearing a dark suit or jacket and a tie. Tuxedos on some cruises are more common. In fact, many cruise ships will have tuxedos and formal cruise wear available for rent - in advance from the cruise line. You will however want to pre-plan and book your rental as soon as possible before you sail so you won't be disappointed.

That was easy for the men. There is formal cruise wear available for rent for women as well. The same early planning and booking applies as for men. For many women however, the task of preparing formal cruise wear can be much more exciting or much more daunting. Formal evening gowns are elegant and can be show-stoppers. But pant suits and slacks or skirts and tops can be glamorous as well! In fact a very practical article for any woman to pack is a pair of black silky "cocktail" type slacks. They take up very little room in the luggage and resist wrinkling! Matched them with a couple of tops, and you have formal cruise wear ensembles with very little fuss. And, most have stretchy waistbands so you can enjoy the wonderful culinary masterpieces in comfort! Flat or low heeled shoes make navigating onboard much easier and more comfortable.

These formal nights can make your cruise a wonderful romantic getaway! Exquisite cuisine, elegant dining rooms, intimate lounges, stage shows and reviews all lend themselves to enhance romance on board. Imagine a nightclub filled with tuxedoed men and sequin covered dresses on women. And everyone is basking in the radiant delight of the evening.

Some of the cruise lines request that you remain in your formal cruise wear for the entire evening. Others are more relaxed about the attire. And some, like Norwegian cruise lines operate on a relaxed "Freestyle" cruising atmosphere.

For those of you who absolutely despise getting all gussied up, most cruise ships have dining areas that always allow casual cruise wear. Remember however that most reservation only dining restaurants require formal or informal dress attire as well.

It's always best, if you have any concerns about what constitutes formal cruise wear on your chosen ship, to check with the cruise line in advance.

So…..now you can relax. The tough formal cruise wear packing has been taken care of! Check out some of the other informative pages.

White sand and golden tan welcome to miami - travel information

Modern-day Miami is the idyllic vacation destination for most Americans as it is a balanced blend of urban and tropical, a resort locale on one hand with all the big city trimmings of a booming economy on the other. Small cafes and art deco bars of Miami Beach exist alongside the megaclubs and skyrise hotels of Downtown’s Financial District. Somewhere in between, the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve provides exciting sea adventures for the whole family and the Port of Miami supplies access to the Florida Keys and the Bahamas by way of major cruise ship.

Cosmopolitan Chic: a Global Retreat

Finding airfare to Miami from any destination worldwide has become easy since Miami has positioned itself on the international map culturally, financially and demographically over the last few decades. Miami struggled with an influx of immigration from the Caribbean, Cuba and South America combined with a massive exodus of financial capital throughout most of the 20th century. Today, Miami has bounced back with full force, overflowing with the swankiest restaurants, premier nightlife, designer shopping and restored historic art deco hotels that glitter the oceanfront avenues of South Beach.

A walk along Collins Avenue in South Beach will reveal the charm of rehabilitated 1920s architecture, commingling with a Latin and European flair of sidewalk cafes, designer boutiques and the buzz of multiple languages afloat through the air. Farther north into main Miami Beach along Ocean Avenue offers the luxurious beach club hotels that Miami is famous for. These hotels offer panoramic ocean views, self-contained clubs and lounges and a pool with private access to the crashing ocean waves.

The dining in Miami is just as representative of its multicultural population. Do not miss a Cuban meal (or two) and the Argentinean special of flash-fried steak. Ask a local for the best authentic cooking and make sure to brush up on some Spanish ahead of time. Miami has also become the epicenter of sophisticated cuisine. Celebrity chefs Nobu Matsuhisa and Emeril Lagasse have opened restaurants in South Beach and the Blue Door inside the breathtaking Delano Hotel is also a notable standout. Make sure to have stone crabs at one of your meals, a local specialty!

Feeling the Salty Breeze of Miami

Aside from eating, drinking and otherwise resort and spa life, Miami has an endless array of activities for all levels of interest. Snorkeling and Scuba diving are the most common activities, along with boat and Jet Ski rentals from most major ports along the bay. Book a sunset ride at the Tropical Park Equestrian Center or rent a kayak to take a scenic tour of the majestic mansions the line the bay along the mainland.

It’s time to come see the dramatic beautification and restoration of Miami for yourself. Book your airfare to Miami now and reserve a few nights in one of the historic boutique art deco hotels along Collins Avenue to get the full South Beach experience.

Spirituality information - journey in the fields of forever part 76

“Good to see you again, Pandayji,” I replied as I seated myself across from him. I was anxious to ask him about his experiences in the meadow, but thought I’d wait a while. Over breakfast, we discussed my schedule for the week and agreed there would be enough free time to visit some interesting sites in the north, if I felt like it. Still not a word from him about last night, so I brought up the subject. Since I wasn’t sure whether the whole event was the result of my overactive imagination, I was rather cautious in my approach. “I had some weird things happen last night, Pandayji,” I said.

He looked up immediately and said,“Yourroomwasn’t comfortable? I’ll speak with them.”

“No, not my room, Pandayji. Just some dreams I think,” I replied.

He creased his forehead, as if trying to recall, and said,“Now that I think of it, I, too, had some dreams in which you and Mardai, Jonathan and Malika were present. But I can’t remember anything else. Seems like others were there, too.”

“What others?” I asked, “Gideon and Marla?”

“I know them through your books, John, and yet, I’ve never personally met them. There’s a familiarity with the names, but really, I have no idea who else might have been in my dream. And even if I had met Gideon and Marla, I wouldn’t have known who they were.” He smiled and said that he had slept well and was sorry he couldn’t remember the rest of his dream. However, I knew he believed dreams were important and had a beneficial effect on our daily lives. Mardai was right, I thought. Pandayji forgot that he had met us last night. Then he asked me what my dream was about.

“Well,” I replied, “I saw Mardai and the children. Gideon and Marla were there too, but the strangest thing was that you were there speaking with Gideon and Marla. To me, it was more than a dream, Pandayji. It was so real . . . as real as our sitting here right now. Perhaps, it wasn’t a dream at all. Perhaps, it really happened.”

“There are many mysteries on Earth, John,” he said, “many dimensions to life. We probably exist in all these dimensions simultaneously. But I think we only remember them vaguely so that we don’t confuse them.”

To read the rest of the story visit spiritual-simplicity. com

Spread betting is worth the risk for clued-up traders

THE persistent refusal of Chancellor Gordon Brown to make any commitment to reform Stamp Duty Reserve Tax on share transactions - at 0.5 per cent the highest in Europe - has played a large part in the remarkable growth in popularity of Contracts for Difference (CFDs) and spread betting.

Since, unlike conventional instruments, CFDs (read more about them on contracts-for-difference. com) and spread bets do not confer ownership of the underlying asset - traders buy or sell the price movement in the underlying equity without ever taking delivery of it - neither is subject to stamp duty. And because spread betting falls within the gaming laws, it is also exempt from Capital Gains Tax.

The other key appeal of spread betting is that, as a margin product, it enables traders to gear up their investments. And because, as a margin product, traders could potentially lose a multiple of their initial stake, spread betting is recommended for use only by professionals, day traders and experienced investors.

But while there are risks attached to spread betting, there are various tools available - such as guaranteed stop losses - that can help manage that risk by, for example, inputting to the system parameters to alert traders to specified price movements.

Another reason for the recent growth in the popularity of spread betting can be attributed to the fact that, in addition to speculating on the underlying equity, investors can trade on the various indices. Indeed, spread betting enables traders to profit from both up and down movements on a wide variety of financial markets, whether indices, individual shares or commodities, such as gold or crude oil.

Unlike fixed odds betting, under spread betting traders don't risk a certain amount per bet, and there is no fixed profit or loss.

That's because the profit and loss on a financial spread bet is always open as the trader is betting a stake - usually pounds per point - on the direction of the market.

For example, a trader might expect the FTSE 100 index to rise and so decide to buy it at Ј2 a point using a spread bet. If the trader bought the FTSE 100 index at 4950, risking Ј2 a point, and then sold it when it rallied 50 points to 5000, his profit would be Ј100. But if the index moved lower and the trader subsequently sold his bet at 4925 to take a loss, then he would lose Ј50.

This is the difference between fixed odds betting and spread betting - a trader's ultimate profit and loss with spread betting is never known until he liquidates the bet.

Using spread bets a trader can also bet on a downward market by selling short. If he was bearish towards the FTSE 100, expecting lower prices in the future, then he could sell the index short at say the market price of 4950, and then cover this bet or buy it back at 4900. If his stake was Ј2 a point then his profit would be a tax-free Ј100.

But if his view is incorrect and the FTSE 100 rises, and so he decides to take a loss by buying back his down-bet or short trade at 5000, losing 50 points multiplied by his Ј2 stake represents a Ј100 loss.

The most significant cost in spread betting is the spread - the difference between the bid and the offer price - and this is the main reason why hedge funds use CFDs and not spread bets. The wider the spread, the more a speculator will pay to trade.

Fortunately, though, spreads are getting tighter due to increased competition as investors are beginning to realise the advantages of financial spread betting.

Spread betting appeals to the same kind of market as CFDs, namely experienced traders, active in the market who understand the risks associated with margins and gearing. Much of spread betting can be short-term trades, volume-based, high volume day traders coming in and out of positions.

Experienced traders all spread bet for the simple reason that if they can make Ј10,000 from spread betting, then they can keep Ј10,000 spread betting, rather than handing over a significant proportion of it to the taxman.

The benefits of buying and selling locally

Shop at a flea market in Oaxaca, Mexico. Trade with a vendor in London, England. Or sport your wares to collectors in Geneva, Switzerland. You can virtually do just that when you shop or sell goods at an online auction site. You know those global auction Web sites, the ones that allow you to bid on thousands of items against millions of other competitors. Sure, they allow you to expand your world and uncover cool knickknacks from around the world. But these very same sites also open the door to you getting ripped off by someone four thousand miles away. More than 8 billion dollars were spent on auction sites in the last three months of last year, but how many dollars were lost along the way?

Aside from these global auction sites, there are the LOCAL classified sites that are transforming the Web into the spot for neighborhood shopping. These local classified sites offer convenience, selection, and low prices that would expect to find online, along with the safety and privacy of local shopping. Best of all, you can feel good about buying from—and also selling to—your neighbors.

Wheel and deal on collectibles, vintage clothing, sporting goods, even real estate—all with people you know and trust in the comfort and privacy of your living room or study. The benefits of these local classified sites don’t stop with these intangibles. They have concrete advantages, such as:

Spontaneous delivery.

Package deliver in your neighborhood may not be instantaneous, but you definitely won’t have to wait two to six weeks if you buy something locally.

What shipping?

You can agree to drop off or pick up the sale item at one of your homes, or meet at a convenient middle-of-the-road spot. You also won’t need to worry about finding those shipping peanuts under your couch, your sheets, and in your fridge two months later.

No frazzle.

Tracking codes are supposed to help you locate your packages in transit, but sometimes they can be more of a headache—especially when they don’t help find your lost package.

A friendly face.

Local classified sites let you meet the person whom you’re doing business with. Of course, you control if, when, and where this happens.

The test drive.

Whether you’re dealing with a car, a mattress, or a tennis racket, you can actually touch and try out your item before you put down cold hard cash. For sellers with product as promised, that makes closing the deal that much easier.

Simple switcheroos.

Local shopping opens up the possibility of refunds and exchanges if you and the person you’re doing business agree.

More ample assortment than auctions.

Imagine buying a refrigerator or a couch at an auction site. Then imagine receiving that package at your door! Not very realistic, right? These sorts of purchases and sales, though, become a definite possibility with local online classifieds.

No tax tests.

You open a can of worms buying and selling across national and international borders when it comes to taxes. Who owes what? And whom? Local commerce simplifies the whole issue, if taxes are applicable at all.

A step ahead of scams.

Knowing whom you do business with, face-to-face transactions, simpler lines of communication—these qualities of local classified sites all reduce your risk of getting with shysters and scam artists.

A stronger community.

Shopping around your hometown not only gives you a warm, cuddly sense of community. It also provides the practical economic support that keeps communities and businesses vibrant and healthy.

So there you have it. There are no losers when it comes to online classified sites that allow you to do your shopping locally. Buyers and sellers enjoy an old-fashioned sense of community, while enjoying the high-tech benefits of convenience, safety, and comfort that come with Web shopping. Let those auction risk takers have their Oaxaca, London, and Geneva. You’ve got your Houston, Texas

Effects of steroids

Steroids are available as anabolic-androgenic steroid drugs, anti-estrogen drugs, and growth hormone and peptide drugs. These drugs are powerful performance-enhancing drugs. There is a wide range of available steroids, such as Anadrol ® (oxymetholone), Dianabol (methandrostenolone), Testosterone, Stenox, Clomid (clomiphene citrate), Viagra (sildenafil citrate), Cialis (tadalifil citrate), Evista (raloxifene), etc.

There are many effects of steroids. The positive effects of steroids are visible when they are used for several medical purposes including stimulation of bone growth, appetite, puberty, and muscle growth. The effects of steroids (anabolic) impressive when they are used for the treatment of several chronic wasting conditions, such as cancer and AIDS. There are anabolic effects of steroids in protein synthesis, muscle mass, strength, appetite and bone growth.

The anabolic effects of steroids are superb when they are used in treating conditions, such as delayed puberty and some types of impotence, which are resulted due to abnormally low amounts of testosterone production in the body.

However, side effects of steroids have made them controversial drugs, but the side effects of steroids are linked with steroid abuse. There are a number of side effects of steroids, if they are over-used wrongly for wrong purposes. Some of the side effects of steroids include elevated cholesterol (increase in LDL, decreased HDL levels), acne, elevated blood pressure, hepatotoxicity, and alterations in left ventricle morphology.

These side effects of steroids have made these drugs stand among the abused drugs. Listed as Schedule III in the Controlled Substances Act, steroids are controlled drugs in United States. Canada and Britain also have laws controlling the use and distribution of steroids.

Cooking in cast iron cookware

ou can probably recall your grandparents using cast iron frying pans and skillets. On Sunday, you were sure to have fried chicken cooked in a cast iron frying pan and some delicious gravy to cover that rice.

There are many pieces of cast iron cookware. Many a fine meals have been prepared in cast iron frying pans and skillets. Cast iron has handles that can endure the heat. When you're not using your cookware, it is best to grease it down to prevent rust . Cleaning cast iron is rather simple if cleaned while warm. Wash out and towel dry. Storing food in cast iron is not recommended. Moisture can form and cause rust to develop . This could be very harmful.

Cast Iron Cookware : Fry Pans - great for frying chicken or fish Dutch Ovens - Can be used for many purposes. This can be used when camping out or cooking your favorite pot of soup or beans. Cornbread Pan - ideal for cooking cornbread or small pieces of fish. Flat Bottom Square Skillet - used for frying up that bacon or sausage. Country Kettle - makes some great chili, soups and stews. Cast Iron Charcoal Grill - great for grilling on picnics. You can find this cookware at ball games where tailgating is permitted.

Campers use cast iron cookware to prepare their outdoor meals. Haven't you ever eaten that fried bacon, eggs and outdoor toast? Catching fish and frying them up outdoors by the creek is awesome. Sporting events , is an excellent place to see cast iron cookware put through a test.

Cast Iron cookware isn't all that expensive. It does require more maintenance than other cookware. Preserving your cookware is simple. Keep it clean and greased down.

If your parents and grandparents used cast iron cookware , you can believe that it is durable and can stand the heat. The weight of the cast iron helps to equalize the heat. Cast iron is great for slow cooking .

When selecting your cookware , cast iron is the only one that has multiple uses. Indoor and outdoor usage. Having cast iron cookware will benefit your family for generations to come. Carry your children and grandchildren down to the creek and fry those fish up. Camp out and enjoy the scent of that bacon cooking and that coffee brewing. Your life will never be the same , once you invest in cast iron cookware. Prepare to hand down your cast iron cookware to your children. It is that durable.

Repairing mountain bikes

It would seem that bikes that can cost upwards of two or three thousand dollars would include more information about mountain bike repair than a few pages in booklet form. Regardless of this lack of information, every rider needs to become familiar with a few of the basic needs of mountain bike repair simply to maintain their bike in good working order. After all, a wheel falling off during a downhill run can have devastating effects on the rider as well as the bike.

One of the first things everyone needs to know about mountain bikes is how to keep them clean. This involves not only the tires and handlebar grips, but also the wheels to prevent erosion and the chain to help detect potential breaks. To minimize the need for mountain bike repair, preventive maintenance can save time and money along the trail, and knowing how to perform a few simple repair procedures can get you back on the trail in a hurry.

Having a chain tool in the toolbox can be helpful if a link needs to be replaced and knowing what lubrication works best under the conditions in which you ride, also helps make chain breaks less frequent. One of the most common mountain bike repair procedures is fixing a flat tire. With mountain bikes, especially those with several gears, adjustments to the chain ring are usually required after the back wheel has removed for tire repair and then replaced.

While few parts on any bike will last forever, especially under the conditions in which most mountain bikes are ridden, simple steps can prevent the need for extensive mountain bike repair procedures. Like oil in a car’s engine can prevent the need for a new engine, keeping a bike’s brake cables lubricated can prevent them from snapping. When the brakes are needed and the cable is rusty and frayed, it can cause them to fail. This can lead to not only needing more repairs on the bike, but can also result in personal injury to the rider.

Listening to the bike, more accurately the noises that may be heard can often offer hints of needed mountain bike repair. A slight rubbing noise may be the result of the tire hitting a brake pad, or a steady sliding noise may indicate problems with the rotor on dick brakes. A simple adjustment may cure these issues before mo extensive mountain bike repair becomes necessary.

For buying and selling used or new (second hand) bikes and motorcycles check the link bharathautomobiles. com/motorcycles-s2_0.html

Starting a greeting cards business - retail

What business offers high profit margins with sales all year round? Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Easter, Valentines Day, Birthdays & Christmas are just some of the many occasions celebrated around the world and they all demand greeting cards and associated products.

Retailing greeting cards, small gifts, tags, ribbons, bows, key rings & fridge magnets all offer high profit margins. The minimum mark up is over a hundred percent but because the retail price is low, people do not mind paying a decent premium.

Most suppliers are happy to give thirty to sixty days credit whilst your customers pay cash! Cashflow is important in any business and this business offers great cashflow.

Location is key to the success of this business. Find a busy road where other retailers have set up shop and there is a high foot flow. It is not necessary to be in the town centre where rents and rates can be far too high. A busy market or main thorough fare is good enough.

The hours are good as mainly you will have to be open at 9:00am and finish by 5:30pm six days a week with Sundays off. I know of one retailer who starts a little later around 10:00am but then stays open until 6:30pm to cater for people buying a gift on their way home from work.

The design of the shop front and interior can make or break this business. Creating a front that is appealing and then spending money on quality shop fitting is money that will be well spent. Many small greeting card retailers make the mistake of not displaying their wares correctly.

You will need a minimum of 1000 square feet of display plus somewhere to carry your stock. The premises should be carpeted and well lit so that your customers feel a warm and friendly atmosphere. By using warm spotlights properly you can highlight the merchandise and emphasize the fast moving items. Proper use of glass displays will help in selling those high profit margin small gifts.

Stock management is important in this business. If you buy too little stock, your customers will end up going elsewhere. If you buy too much stock, then you will have to wait until next year before you can sell it again!

Ensure that stock levels are maintained and remove stock immediately once the season is over so that your customers always see the right cards at the optimum time. Some suppliers will even offer to take your excess stock back once the occasion is over.

You will have to accommodate for most budgets and tastes. This will involve carrying a large range of styles and different formats so that you can cater for people of all ages. And do not forget your wrapping solutions… from gift wrap, gift bags, bottle bags and money wallets.

Many suppliers provide retailers with beautiful stands on free loan provided that they are used to display their cards only.

By offering a tremendous selection of good quality greeting cards and using proper stock rotation this will translate into decent sales, repeat customers and great sales! People love buying beautiful greeting cards and if you get the shop front right, offer great service and your display is spot on, then there is no reason why you can not be a successful greeting cards retailer.

You deserve to do what you love

When we pursue doing what we’re passionate about what does that mean? John Dir says in his article How to Find Your Passion, “Passion is a pure form of motivation or compulsion that provides an energizing constant which is independent of environmental demands. It is an irresistible drive to focus one’s attention and energy to accomplishing something of personal worth, which cannot be daunted by a sense of failure to accomplish the goal.” Did you ever wake up one morning way before the alarm went off just because you were going to do something you just couldn’t wait to do? What was it? You deserve to do what you love! In fact it’s exactly what you’re supposed to be doing.

Oh, you knew that already? So how do you figure it out?

Let’s start with the obvious:

1. What would you do if you were independently wealthy

and no longer had to do anything to earn money?

2. What do you enjoy doing so much that you would do it

everyday for free?

These questions are not easy for some people to answer. Many people consider these questions frivolous. After all, I’m not independently wealthy and I can’t afford to work for free.

Well, back up. I didn’t ask if you were wealthy I asked what you would do if you were. Please… allow yourself the opportunity to dream. This is a key. I know you know how to daydream you do it everyday.

You see if you get stuck on how to make money with your passion you’re not going to allow yourself to figure it out. Go back to question #2. What are you doing now for free that you love to do? Listen to your heart, not what you think others expect of you.

Plan the time in your life to do more of what you enjoy doing. Put it on your day planner if you have to. If you love to travel, plan it. Go online and study the places you want to go. Read about the hotels and the sights. Envision yourself doing those things. Plan day trips around where you live go find the unusual things in your neighborhood. Get guide books on your state and become an expert at finding the places that interest you. Practice traveling in your back yard. Take a picnic if you can’t afford to stop and eat. Do It!

I spend at least an hour each day studying Philosophy and Personal Development. I can’t get enough information it consumes my free time but it’s what I look forward to everyday it’s what I’m excited about each morning. What am I going to learn today that I can share with others?

Now let’s get to the money part. You may never earn a penny from your passion but what does it matter if you’re doing what you love. At least in your spare time. However, if you become knowledgeable in a particular area that you love and over time you know more about it than most other people guess what? You have value in that area. How do you market that value? Write an eBook and sell it through ClickBank, build a website, write a book to get published, share what you’re learning with others when you have the opportunity, teach it at an adult learning center, write articles to submit on the internet. Information today is like gold, it has great value and there are people everywhere looking for it. And just imagine how much joy you will get out of sharing what you love with others. They will not help but see your passion. I have read that after about 4 years, people who have pursued their passion start to make close to what they made in their old unfulfilling jobs – often even more.

I offer one more quote from John Dir’s article How to Find Your Passion, “Your life’s passion may be discovered in an instant, or take many long years to uncover. You will know you have it when your heart of hearts tells you, “I don’t care what other people think. I know this is what I want to do, and I am going to get started making it happen. I don’t care how long it takes, or how difficult it will be for me to accomplish; I just know I need to see where this idea will take me.””

Pay yourself first making money without getting paid

You might not be used to depositing checks earned by the sweat of your pen (yet). That doesn’t mean you can’t start becoming financially savvy with your writing. One of the top tips for becoming financially empowered is to pay yourself first. How can you do that without incoming cash? Set your intention, and take a little action. Here are eight fun steps to make money a part of your writing, even before you get paid from others.

1) Begin by setting your intention to marry money with writing. Do this by opening a bank account for your writing life. Get a savings account and label it ‘writing’ or another inspiring name that will remind you of your intention.

2) Fund your account by paying yourself when you submit a query, finish a chapter, or achieve some other writing success. Don’t wait for others to acknowledge your progress. It doesn’t have to be a lot; even ten dollars for each success reminds you that you value your efforts.

3) Use your writing funds to pay for contest entry fees, subscriptions, and all that postage you’ll need to mail your monster-sized manuscript. Or, earmark your account for a big reward for your writing such as a writing retreat or conference.

4) How we spend our money reveals what we value. Keep track of your writing-related expenditures. Make writing a priority and investigate how you can shift your financial priorities to support your writing. Keep a log of your writing money and see where you are spending more money than time on your writing.

5) Calculate the return of ‘psychic payment’ on the writing you do. These include the side effects, or benefits, that you get from doing something. Psychic payments from writing could be: feeling of satisfaction with yourself, surge of power from expressing yourself, excitement over completing and submitting something. How do these non-monetary rewards ‘pay’ you?

6) Take a tip from Jim Carrey, a supremely successful creative person. Carrey wrote himself a check for 20 million dollars and carried it in his wallet during his struggling actor days. Try this for yourself. Write a whopping check and in the memo line, put Book Advance. Carry it around or post it in your writing zone.

7) Make your money goals clear. Write down when you’d like to put your work into the world for pay, what you’d like to get paid, and what you’re willing to work for. Set a standard for yourself and stick to it. For instance, your intention might look like this – After January, 2006, I publish only for payment in money (not clips or copies).

8) Get dreamy. What will you do with the money you earn from writing? You might take a trip, pay off your computer or fund a writer’s conference. Write down your big vision of how you will spend your hard-earned cash. I suggest funneling the money back into your writing.

You will be surprised at the results of connecting money to your creativity. By bringing awareness and financial focus to your writing, you prepare yourself for the day when others pay you for your words. Keep track of emotions, ideas, and external events that stem from your efforts. Take steps toward putting your work out there for pay. And have fun with it!