Articles Page - From www.HumNRI.com

Monday April 30, 2001

Email Mistakes That Destroy Customer Trust

Is email your company's friend or foe? It depends on how you use it, how important new customers are to you, and how much you value existing customer relation
I was going to order a bunch of custom embroidered polo shirts for our team to wear at an industry event. I went to a well-known company, one I had ordered from in the past, and using a form on their web site I sent them the artwork for a free estimate of the process and the cost.
Nothing happened. There was no confirmation message and no message saying that the email had bounced. I forgot about it. Back in 1997 I might have called to ask if they received the email. Today we all simply assume that if it doesn't bounce back within a few hours - it was received.
It was four days later that I received the company's email newsletter promoting their products and telling me that there are just three more days to take advantage of a special sale.
I must say that was maddening. They had obviously received my request for a quote - since opting in to their email announcements was part of the process. And the email address their newsletter was sent to was the same one I used when registering on their web site. An address used sparingly.
So how likely am I to do business with them?
If they had responded to my submission saying that they would get right on it and send me the quote within the next - whatever period of time - and then delivered on that promise, I would have been pleased. That is what I expected.
I expected to hear from them acknowledging that my potential business was important and that they were paying attention.
Last summer I bought a small sailcloth duffle bag, the size for taking to the beach or as a carryon on the plane. The sailcloth is resilient and as it wears it will take on a persona of its own - like your favorite jeans or loafer
I bought it because I saw it on a local infomercial where we were vacationing - a retailers in the area piece. The company is a third or forth generation family business. I have interviewed for publication over 100 family business owners - so I thought, hey maybe these people will talk to me. I'll get a great story and they'll get some PR.
The company's web site was a first generation looking ecommerce web site. There was a single contact email, you know info@ so I had to send "To Whom It May Concern" sort of message.
I told them how much I loved the duffle and how pleased I was to learn of their family business and could we talk? I sent a link to 50 or so business owner stories we had published without charge in the past. I wanted to make it clear that this was no a solicitation of any kind.
Nothing happened. I expected something. I was a new customer - maybe I would buy more stuff in the future. I was offering to tell their story. Instead nothing.
How do you think this makes me feel about the duffle bag I just bought? How many more duffle bags will I (or anyone I know) buy from them?
Common courtesy demands that you respect your customers if you expect them to do business with you in the future.
A couple of months ago I had a little software script installed on our web site. It probably took the software creator fifteen minutes to set it up. Inexplicably two weeks ago it quit working properly.
My detailed explanation and answers to their questions and all the other back and forth between the developer and myself had been done using their automated support ticket system.
Rather than start this process again I logged on to their support area and re-opened the previously closed support ticket.
Four days went by and nothing happened. I opened a new support ticket and briefly re-stated the problem referencing the previous support ticket - so I would not have to recreate the entire message again from scratch.
Two more days went by and a colleague of the developer contacted me to say that there was no record of the original support ticket.
It had been deleted, but the system did not tell me that when I re-opened it. Now I have to start the entire explanation process all over with a different person. This is maddening.
So, the problem has still not been solved. I expected better treatment from people I regularly spend money with. I "know" they received the messages because I was taken to a thank you page after sending the message
And during the three plus weeks (so far) that have gone by with no customer satisfaction I have received numerous solicitations for more of their products and service
I am not naive. I know these sales emails were sent automatically on a schedule requiring little if any time on their part. Nevertheless some effort should have been made to make those of us waiting for service feel better about our situation.
Instead, even though I know it's all automatic, I get daily reminders that they are more interested selling new stuff than they are servicing what they have already sold.
This is not a good business building technique if you ask me.
What do your customers think about you? Are you paying attention? Are you listening? Do you telegraph how much or how little you care about them and their business?
If you have the courage, ask your mother to use every form on your web site, contact you with service requests, and new business quotes, etc.
If you REALLY have courage have your mother ask one of her friends, someone important to her that you don't know to test your email responsivenes
You won't have to wait long or invest any money to get the real opinions of real people.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Sunday April 29, 2001

The Dangers Of Using Lipitor

Atorvastatin, marketed under the trade name Lipitor, is used for lowering cholesterol. Atorvastatin inhibits the enzyme located in hepatic tissue that produces mevalonate, a small molecule used in the synthesis of cholesterol. This lowers the amount of cholesterol produced which in turn lowers the total amount of LDL (low density) cholesterol. In 2005, Lipitor sales totaled $12.2 billion, making it the largest selling drug in the world at the time.
Atorvastatin is indicated as an adjunct to diet for the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia. In a clinical trial, after 2 years, a relative risk reduction of 16% in the primary end point rate (death, heart attack, unstable angina, coronary revascularization, or stroke) was seen in patients receiving intensive treatment with the drug. The benefit of intensive treatment was apparent, in some instances, within 30 day
If you have high cholesterol, chances are your physician has already talked to you about Lipitor. Doctors like to prescribe it because it works quickly and easily. However, you need to understand the risk consequences associated with taking these sorts of drugs, because there is a potential for dangerous and sometimes permanent side effects. Some patients have suffered severe health consequences and were not adequately forewarned by their doctor
Some of the more well known side effects associated with drugs known as statins (statins is the scientific classification for drugs such as Lipitor) include liver damage, sexual dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. But there have been other studies that have revealed other subtle problems that develop within the patient, which can have huge ramifications for the health of that patient later in life.
In a study performed by Finnish doctors, doctors assessed the effects of the statin drug Zocor on 120 men ages 35 to 64. All of the men had high cholesterol levels, ranging from 232 to 309. One group of men was told to maintain their current diet, while the other group was required to reduce their daily intake of saturated fat to less than 10 percent of total daily calories, and to keep their daily cholesterol consumption below 250 mg.
Then, each of the 2 groups was divided into 2 subgroups. One subgroup would take 20 mg of Zocor per day, while the other group received a placebo. This was continued for 12 weeks, at which point each subgroup switched so that the subgroup that had been receiving the placebo would receive the Zocor for the next 12 weeks, and vice versa. At the beginning of the clinical trial, and after the first 12 weeks, as well as at the end of the second 12 weeks, the cholesterol, blood pressure, insulin, and weight of each patient were measured.
The Zocor clearly worked, because it decreased cholesterol levels by 20.8 percent, while diet alone only decreased cholesterol by 7.6 percent. However, there was an astonishing finding. It was discovered that the drug increased fasting serum insulin levels by 13 percent, and decreased serum concentrations of important antioxidant vitamins by as much as 22 percent. This was a huge revelation.
Decreased insulin sensitivity can lead to a whole host of problems down the road, such as blindness, diabetes, and kidney disease. And antioxidants protect us from a whole host of problems, such as organic brain disease, cancer, and atherosclerosis. So, even though these cholesterol drugs perform a valuable function (lowering cholesterol), they can cause a whole range of other problems and diseases that can make a patient severely ill later in life.
So, you should think long and hard before using cholesterol-lowering drugs. The aforementioned side effects may not be equally severe in all people who take the medication. However, you might be better off working closely with your doctor to develop a program of diet and exercise before using drugs like Zocor or Lipitor to lower your cholesterol.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Saturday April 28, 2001

Are All Laser Hair Removal Providers Created Equal?

Is waxing one of your favorite past times? Do you enjoy the thrill of shaving? Do you look forward to spending a portion of every week, or perhaps every day for that matter, diligently working to remove unwanted hair?
If so, you are not a good candidate for laser hair removal. You are also part of a small minority of individuals for whom personal grooming may be the highlight of your existence.
So have you thought about it yet? Have you been curious enough to try to learn more about what laser hair removal is all about? Can it really be permanent? If these questions have ever crossed your mind, have you considered how you might select a provider for these services?
If so, there are actually a number of factors that should be taken into consideration when evaluating your hair removal option
The number one thing you want to establish is the aptitude of your provider. Are you going to select a physician or a laser technician? There are a number of physicians who practice cosmetic medicine who may be ideal candidates. There are an equal or perhaps greater number of laser technicians working in medical spas or medical offices who specialize in skin care and hair removal that may be comparably skilled.
Why choose one or the other? It really depends on the individual. Make sure to ask about their training and experience. Did this individual attend a licensed and reputable institute for medical aesthetics? Often times the laser hair removal equipment sales person may provide an afternoon or single day of in-service training to the provider on the use of the device, but this may not be enough to ensure that your laser hair removal specialist is adequately prepared to assist every client who may walk through their door.
When it comes to health and beauty, certainly one size does not fit all. Everyone is different and should be evaluated and treated as such in order to obtain the most effective and safest result. There are specific laser hair removal training schools for that provide comprehensive education courses where a laser operator, physician or otherwise, can gain extensive knowledge and experience about their trade. Also be sure to ask if your state requires specific licensing or certification of these individuals and if they are in compliance.
Another important issue when it comes to selecting a source for laser hair removal services is the type of equipment that will be used for your treatments. The laser business is a fast moving technology industry that evolves more rapidly than computers. If your provider has a laser system that is more than a couple of years old, it may not work as efficiently as a newer technology.
This is of real importance when you consider the overall cost, time required, and effectiveness of your treatments. Laser hair removal can often be accomplished in about five treatments, but it can vary from four to twelve treatments in some cases. If your provider is using an IPL (intense pulse light) system, which differs from an actual laser, it is not uncommon to have upwards of twelve treatments before you may see optimal results. Many newer systems, such as Diode Lasers, can typically provide results in five to 6 treatments.
Treatment requirements are dictated by hair growth cycles, efficiency of the laser or IPL technology used, and the skill and experience of the provider. Would you rather complete your treatments in five sessions or twelve? How about when you consider that many laser hair removal providers charge per treatment session? That is when reality really sets in. It is possible to pay twice as much for a treatment program that may take twice as long.
Laser hair removal can be permanent. Technology has advanced to the point where the delivery of the product can meet the hopes and expectations of the consumer. These services are now readily available at most of the more than two thousand medical spas and cosmetic medical practices that are spread across the country.
It is important, however, to realize that they are not all the same. With dozens of different hair removal technologies on the market, and laser operator training requirements that vary from state to state, make sure to shop around and ask the right questions. It may take some time to find the right provider, but with no more shaving and waxing you will certainly make up for lost time in the long run.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Friday April 27, 2001

The Resource Box as a Traffic Builder

More and more people are learning the secrets of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Many webmasters have seen the impact articles have on their website traffic. Some have even created sites devoted entirely to providing articles that could be read by their website visitors and have links leading to related topics.
The sites may feature many articles on a wide range of topics. As a website visitor reads the articles they have searched for, they can find at the end of the article a resource box that can be clicked on to link them to the site that has submitted the article. Of course the article would relate to the site's topics and theme. If the article is about rotating the tires, the resource box may lead to a link to a site that sells tires or car parts.
A resource box is what you usually find at the end of an article. It will contain the name of the author, a brief description of the author, a brief description of the sponsoring site and a link. If a reader likes what they read, they would be inclined to find out where the article came from and to read more. The resource box is their link to the source of the article and should entice them to go to the site and do some more reading or research for the subject or topic they are interested in.
Now we know what resource boxes are. But what are the benefits of having a good resource box? Mainly it's driving traffic to your site. Many sites will happily publish articles because they add unique content to their pages. They also get affiliation with other sites that can be beneficial for them as well. For the sponsoring site, visitors clicking on links in the resource box increase incoming traffic.
So what is good content for your resource box? Essentially, you should use keywords that are popular and used by your target audience. There are many tools you can find online that can help you determine which keywords to use (Overture's keyword tool, for example).
You only get a small space for your resource box so you need to make the most of it. Try to catch the attention of your reader with enticing resource box content that will make them want to learn more. Unlike TV ads, you don't have visual aids to drive your point home. But you do have the power of the reader's imagination. With the right content, you can intrigue them.
Another tip is to use keywords that are specifically related to your site - don't mislead your potential website visitors. Establish your credibility so that more people will want to visit your site and see what you have to offer. Make the visitors click your resource box by providing content that makes a lasting impression. You only get one chance to wow them and hundreds of chances to repulse them. Be fun and creative but at the same time show that you have a great deal to offer. Hopefully that isn't too much to ask for in one paragraph.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Thursday April 26, 2001

Writing Quality Articles And Submitting Will Help Your Website Build Links

Writing articles is one of the best ways of creating one way links back to your site. Many marketers know that writing articles are great and powerful methods to marketing online. The techniques for writing articles are numerous and beyond the scope of this article. Simple, easy to read articles are quite effective in achieving your goals of increased website traffic and profits.
Every article you write should be aimed at a certain keyword. Every article you write should have a good signature line. Nothing you write is ever wasted.
Articles get indexed by search engines like Google and rank very well in search results. Your Ezine will normally get indexed by Google within a week of publishing it. The reasons you need to submit to as many article sites as you can because of the number link backs you will receive. Ezine publishers and sites will publish them People who visit the site or read the Ezine will also ask you if it's ok they use your article. What this means is that you will receive one way links to your site.
Remember "Content is King" and you can be that king. Of course, you still have the knowledge and are free to continue writing and publishing on the same subject. Original, informative content is a must. When you have content that is original you will see your search engine rankings increase. You need to make sure that the content that you submitting is relevant to the theme of your business.
For link building it is vital to search in the web and find out those sites that deal with similar product to yours. Once your article is submitted the link in your bio will be placed on many sites and it will be pointing back to your site which will increase your traffic. What you will notice about the articles though, is that they will come with link at the bottom of them. This link will lead back to the webmaster's website. Some directories allow one or two links within the body of the article, but they must not be perceived as advertising or blatant affiliate links. If this is allowed, then the link must be relevant to the context of the article.
Try not to get links to quickly search engines have been know to penalize those sites that get links to quickly. Add links between articles and related pages on your site. Links pointing back to your site is very important for link popularity but those internal links are also very important. Getting one good article with the appropriate keywords that is distributed among sites will improve your serps and build traffic. As more and more directories and individual websites display your article, your back links will increase, as will your ranking.
If you think one article will help you with build link marketing campaign you are wrong, you need to consistently write articles to do this. Continue to build on your article writing and submit the articles to steadily build your websites traffic. One of the best sources of traffic is article-writing and submission. Writing good quality article will definitely help you receive traffic to your websites.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Wednesday April 25, 2001

Leather Motorcycle Jackets 101

The primary purpose of the motorcycle jacket is protecting the rider. The most common motorcycle gear is motorcycle protective clothing consists of the helmet, motorcycle jacket, leather chaps, gloves and motorcycle boot
The reason why motorcycle leather jackets are so desired amongst motorcycle riders because they provide the best protection from cold and serves as a wind breaker. Reason leather jackets are worn by motorcycle riders is because of its aesthetics appeal. The most important reason why leather is used is because of its ability to protect the rider from potential injuries in the event of fall or accident.
According to sources leather jacket gained popularity during 1940's especially in 1946, and it was made popular by Marlon Brando in 'The Wild One.' The major protection leather jacket provides is the protection from the damage to the riders torso and arms. Recently motorcycle leather jacket has evolved into very modern and efficient product for a motorcycle rider.
The most modern leather jackets for motorcycle riders are equipped with should protection, back bone protection as well as elbow protection. The protective gear is stitched within the jacket and it is very light.
There are many kinds of motorcycle jacket available in the market. The two main types are leather motorcycle protective outfits, the colorful single-piece ones predominantly seen on the race track, and the traditional jacket and trouser type.
A most common leather jacket used by motorcycle riders is zippered, multi-pocketed and short in length. In the past most leather jackets were made of the cowhide. Cowhide is used for the thickness and durability it provides to the motorcycle riders. On the other hand the sheep skin is used for fashion wear. The more modern leather jackets are waterproof, to protect the rider from rain. Most of the water proof motorcycle leather jackets are also fitted with a liner.
A good motorcycle leather jacket has a usable pocket space, good weather protection, adjust ability and usability. The ideal thickness of the leather used in a motorcycle jacket should be 2-4 millimeter. The thickness of a jacket determines the kind of protection it allows to the motorcycle rider. Some of the other features of a motorcycle leather jacket are the slightly dropped back to keep the wind out when the driver leans ahead, and articulated or curved sleeve
The most popular motorcycle jacket makers are Harley Davidson, Wilson leather, Leather Vibe, tour master and Alpine star. A large variety of leather jackets are also available on internet at great prices.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Tuesday April 24, 2001

Colon Health: Why Colon Cleanse Can Almost Always Boost Your Well Being

Imagine yourself feeling healthier and more energetic. Can you see yourself having regular bowel movements without laxatives? Can you afford to ignore your colon health? Inefficient waste elimination from your body can lead to many sickness such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation,allergies, Candida, and chronic sinus infections. Regular cleansing can promote a healthy intestinal system.
When you perform bowel irrigation, it improves your digestion. This in turn helps your body better absorb whatever medications you are taking to treat disease and infections. You will find relief from illnesses such as bad breath, cold, constipation, flu, headaches, sinus, joint pain, and stress. Usually after colon cleansing, your complexion and muscle tone improves. It also slows down the aging process. As your system removes the toxins, your digestive system can absorb nutrients more effectively. Sometimes, you lose weight because of elimination of large quantities of toxin
Your colon acts like a septic tank. It stores waste and toxins. So, when it reaches above its storage limit, it cannot get rid of those waste fast enough. Some of your organs such as bladder and kidney will have to take the burden of eliminating those excess waste. If your body fails to get rid of them, the toxins will remain in your system and create health havoc for you.
To jump start your colon health, you should use cleansing methods such as colon hydrotherapy (colonic irrigation) and high enema programs. These alternative conventions gradually and gently cleanse the colon by purging your large intestine. The colonic irrigation pumps clean and warm water into the colon to loosen the waste which has hardened over the years. Your body can then easily remove the softened waste .
What if you decide not to have any bowel irrigation? Untreated bowel system may lead to serious conditions such as colon cancer. Colon cancer ranks second for cancer death in American men and women. 90 percent of colon cancer patients fall in the age group of 50 and above. It usually develops with a polyp which is not cancerous. Studies show that if the doctor detects your cancer earlier. your possibility of recovery increases by 50 percent. So, if your family has a medical history of colon cancer or polyps and you are below 50 years of age, you should undergo a screening. If you are worried about the medical cost, check with your Medicare as they should cover the cost of colon health screening.
Regular bowel irrigation can help you to achieve optimal colon health. Your body will attain more vitality than before after getting rid of toxins and contamination. Apart from relieving you from common diseases, it can prevent serious health disorders from developing.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Monday April 23, 2001

General Information about Patents

Patent infringement is a serious offense in the United States. It can lead to serious damage awards if the case goes to trial. Often in cases of it, research by the offending company was previously performed to avoid it. However, often patent infringement happens when a company believes they are not directly violating certain law
For the purpose of clarity, we will discuss it as it pertains to a fictitious weight loss candy. Weight loss candy that has been marketed as candy that encourages weight loss and has been patented now holds the market on the ingredients and the concept, as well as the brand name and labeling.
The most obvious form of it is a company who creates the same product as a previously patented product and markets it as their own. Laws can get confusing when you consider that the development of products turns into development of more products. Obviously someone developed fabric softener.
Obviously, there have been many fabric softener developments along the way considering the ample fabric softener choices there are in the store today. Patents on the initial product only last for a certain amount of time, however patent infringement can happen even after it is acceptable to reproduce varying brands of the patented product. The new product can not have the same exact ingredients as the original product and it can not be marketed as the exact same product.
It can occur in several ways. Another company introduces a candy that does not necessarily encourage weight loss, but the packaging of the candy induces the consumer to believe the product is the same or similar to the initial weight loss candy. This is known as induced patent infringement.
Induced patent infringement relies on the principle that the company does not need to actually create a product that infringes on the patent rights, it only has to be presented to the consumer as a patent infringement. The candy, which may or may not encourage weight loss, is packaged in a manner that allows the consumer to believe the candy will encourage weight los
Induced patent infringement relies on the company's ability to hide behind the fact that the product is not the same as the patented product. Packaging is usually carefully worded to argue that the intent of the packaging is left up to the consumer, however, this tactic usually doesn't work. Induced patent infringement is usually obvious despite efforts that may be taken to avoid being suspected of it.
It can happen when someone redevelops a product already in circulation in another country, or if there is a patent pending on a product. Patent infringement on a patent pending product is really a matter of legal hair splitting. If a patent is pending, it does fall under protection. Patent infringement on a patent pending item can happen accidentally, however, most products that are marketed under a pending patent are marked with a patent pending obvious wording.
This can happen either accidentally or with deceitful intent. Intentional patent infringement, also known as willful patent infringement, can carry very high damages awards. Willful patent infringement is often committed with full knowledge and an intentionally deceitful marketing plan. This can include intentionally misrepresenting the product through packaging, advertisement, or even ingredient labeling. Willful can end up closing down major corporation
These cases are definitely on the rise. This is in part due to the increase in marketing and research capabilities provided by the internet. Patent infringement awards tend to be some of the highest awards, if it was willful and the companies involved are both able and willing to take the case to court.
Patent infringement happens with large companies, small companies, and companies that are barely even on the radar screen. Unfortunately it is becoming more popular and more harmful. Patent infringement cases are becoming much more prevalent in the court room.
However it is important that those who have been victims of it, either via willful or induced, stand up and reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Patent infringement laws do help to better our society by providing financial motivation for the especially creative individuals to create products that make the world a better, safer place. Thus it is worth valuable time, money, and energy to seek out those who violate laws and hold them accountable for their actions.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Sunday April 22, 2001

You Can Do It If You Want, So No More Excuses

After all the scams, hype and 95% failure rate people want an effective system to help them succeed in a home business. It must find qualified prospects, overcome the lack of experience to close them, establish you as an expert in your field and build teams that duplicate on down the line.
In fact the only thing that can keep you from succeeding with a system like this is you simply don't want to succeed. That's right a system of this type will remove excuses. All you have to do is follow the system and your chances of success will increase to more that 70% instead of the normal 5%. That's why MacDonald's franchises succeed much more often than fail because the owners have a system that work
Your chance for success improves greatly when you get the right training, and resources like targeted prospects and Call Specialist to sign them up in your program. That's what's missing from the 95% who fail and what's included in the businesses of the 5% that succeed.
The five per centers have lots of people who know and trust them. They succeed because they have armies of loyal down-line members that will follow them when they decide to change programs. They have established relationships with there people and therefore, don't need leads, because they have their down-line members produce them.
How can you compete with this, a newbie with no experience, without the skills to build a team? You need a system to accomplish this, along with credibility and skills so people will want to duplicate your success. No one will follow somebody they know has no experience building a business. If you're new to building a down-line people will expect you to fail.
Now when you have a support mechanism to fill in the gaps of your inexperience with the ability to delegate tasks to people that know what to do, you'll have a much better chance of succeeding. And when prospects see your success in signing-up people into your business and showing them how to do the same thing, you'll see how quickly they'll want to join you.
Does the following sound familiar?
. You haven't called that prospect that went to your conference call, website or sizzle call.
. You didn't follow-up with a call because you remember the last call you made where the prospect slammed you and your opportunity.
. The phone looks like it weighs 100 pound
. You know you should be following up with prospects but you just don't feel like making the call
. You're uncomfortable talking to people you don't know.
If you're like 95% of network marketing business owners, you're guilty of some or all the above.
Now imagine this
1. A prospect goes to your website
2. He looks at your business opportunity
3. He's interested and fills out a form requesting a call
4. Your very own sales representative calls and signs him up
5. In addition your new team member is offered an opportunity for the same thing to be done for him.
Do you see how this could help more people succeed in building a home business and why others would want to follow them?
If you're not good at something learn how or get someone else to do it. It's just that simple. Success in any business comes from doing things in a certain way. What you have to do is find that certain way and do it every day.
When you practice this you will certainly attract success, and the rewards you receive will be in exact proportion to the definiteness of your vision, the focus of your purpose and the steadiness of your faith.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Saturday April 21, 2001

How Best To Use Debt Consolidation Loans

Debt consolidation loans can be a great way to fix bad credit or credit that is in trouble. A debt consolidation loan is a way to get debt under control.
Many lenders offer them and are willing to even extend a debt consolidation line of credit to someone who is facing credit problems. A debt consolidation loan can really help a person get their credit back in shape.
Debt consolidation loans are loans that are used to pay off debts. The idea is to pay off debts, especially those with high interest rates, so the borrower has only one bill to pay instead of multiple bills. Additionally, if the borrower can get a good interest rate on the loan, they can save a lot of money.
When getting a debt consolidation loan it is very important to get organized first. Before a borrower applies for a debt consolidation loan they need to figure out how much they need to borrow.
To do this they should gather all information for the debts they wish to pay off. If they are paying on debts that are in collections they should contact the collection agency to get the amount they will need to pay. This could be a good chance to get a settlement for an amount smaller than whet they owe.
The borrower should also get information on interest rates for each account. This will come in handy when searching for a debt consolidation loan because it will help the borrower to know what interest rate they will want to get.
It can be helpful to make a list with each debt amount and interest rate. This makes it easier to add up the amounts and find a good average interest rate. It also gives the borrower a visual of their actual debt situation. They may find they are not as bad off as they thought and see that getting a consolidation loan is not in their best interest.
Once the borrower has the amount they need to borrower they can start looking for lenders who can offer them the interest rate they need. It is very important to avoid an interest rate that is too high because in the end the total amount paid will be higher than if the original debt was paid to the original creditor.
Another point to keep in mind about debt consolidation loans is for the borrower to make sure they will be able to afford the monthly payment. After everything is figured, the monthly payment could end up being larger than paying each debt separately.
The point is to weigh what is more important - getting debts paid off now, or just following the original payment plans and saving money.
A debt consolidation loan can be helpful, but it can also lead to more troubles. There is no point in consolidated debts if it will cost more in the end. The borrower has to look at all aspects of the debt consolidation loan to make sure they are getting the best deal.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Friday April 20, 2001

Writing Article Outlines Eases the Pain

We were taught to do it in junior high school, then on into high school and university. Writing in an organized and efficient manner often requires writing an outline first. Writing a good article is no different.
While there are a great number of people who do not have the same attitude in article writing as others, there are still those who would rather walk in piping hot coals than do some article writing. What is the difference between these two groups? The former have established methods for writing articles that they adhere to religiously.
One of the methods you can use to prepare yourself when tasked to write some articles is to create an outline first. Creating an outline for all your articles makes you prepared. You have an idea of the order of steps to be accomplished. Being prepared makes the job faster and less laborious. Being organized will result in less frustration when writing.
An outline can act as the design or blueprint for your article. This will guide you in creating the introduction, body and conclusion of each article. Here you can write down some of the ideas and sentences that you feel will look good in your articles. You can include some of the focal points that will most appeal to the reader. Creating an outline for all your articles will help you breeze through the actual writing of the articles.
First do some brainstorming and jot down your ideas. Think of some ways to attract the interest of your reader. Designate a time frame for completing all of your articles. By this time you should have done all your research. Review and reread your ideas and notes, gain mastery and sufficient familiarity with your topic so that writing the articles will go smoothly and quickly.
Next, you need to decide on the subtopics for each article. You need to come up with compelling and concise titles for your articles. Try to be specific without being too wordy. Stay away from titles that are too generic and don't clearly state what the article is about. You will then want to divide each article up into skeletons with an introduction, body and conclusion.
Now it's time to add the flesh and meat of your articles. Your introduction introduces the topic softly usually in the last or second last sentence of the first paragraph. The body is made up of points for and against any opinions or advice you are giving. The conclusion provides a summary and ties up any loose ends. It should reaffirm what was stated in the introduction.
After the outline is created, it is typical to write a rough draft. This may take more than one attempt, but remember that it is called a draft for a reason. Each time you rewrite and edit this draft, it approaches a finished work. Grammar mistakes can be corrected and you can check for consistency and readability.
While editing your draft, always refer to your outline so that you don't drift away from your initial arguments. An outline serves as your guide when writing articles. Getting into the habit of writing outlines for your articles will result in a better finished product and a fulfilling writing experience.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Thursday April 19, 2001

Recovery from Illness

If you have been sick for a long time, and if you have been bedridden and unable to live the life that you want to live, it might be something that is hard for you to come back from. However it is important that as soon as your illness has passed, you begin to get back to the life you want to lead, and you begin to get healthy again.
One of the most important aspects of recovering from illness is to make sure that you are fully healed. Make sure that you take whatever medication you are supposed to be taking it and keep on taking the medicine even if you think that you should stop, until your doctor tells you it is okay for you to stop taking it.
Another important thing is to remember that if you have been sick a long time, your body is going to need to get used to doing the things that you have always done. You might need some extra time to get ready in the morning, and you might need extra time getting from point A to point B when you go somewhere.
It is always going to be important that you take whatever time you need to fully allow your body to recover from your illness and to get better. This is going to be something that is difficult for some people to get used to, but if you give it a little time, you should be fine. Ask for help when you need it, and let others also politely know when you do not need help.
Illness can also be very stressful for your body. It might take you awhile to recover. So, you should be willing to give it as much time as is needed so that you are able to get better. If you feel depressed or unable to handle the stress of illness, see a doctor.
Remember that when you are getting over an illness, you are going to need extra warmth as well as extra nutrients in your diet. Be sure that you are taking the time to eat all of the things that your doctor has suggested that you eat, and also be sure that you are dressing warmly and using enough covers at night so that you don't fall ill again.
Recovering from illness is something that our bodies can do, but it will take them awhile, so you should be patient with yourself. Sometimes, only time can help your recover.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Wednesday April 18, 2001

3 Basic Training Tips for Better Handling of Your Dog

Dog Training has been taught using many diverse theories. When teaching your dog new tricks and tackling obedience training, keep in mind that it is going to take both dedication and patience. Along with that it also takes skill and a sense of personal awareness of not only the actions of your dog, but your own body language and training practices as well.
Below are three tips or guidelines that any dog trainer can make use of when training their dog
1. Signals should be given to your dogs with only one hand and only one arm. In the most early stages you can exaggerate the signals to get your dog's interest, but after this has been done for awhile all signals must be given smoothly and swiftly without any extra body motion. The size or sex of your dog is not an issue here, as you can train almost any dog to pay attention to you and if he is paying attention to you he should see your signals.
There are some people who may disagree with this school of thought but those are the ones that have not yet learned how to make their dogs pay attention to them. You will have to monitor yourself very carefully so that you don't give out inadvertent body signals to your dog. It is quite natural for a beginner to nod his head, lean forward, or move his hands when he calls his dog. He is so engrossed in watching his dog that he is not aware of his own actions or movements. Have another person watch you so he can tell you when he notices you doing this. That is really the best way and sometimes the only way to really know if you are doing this or not.
2. Stay consistent - don't scold a dog for an offense one day and praise him the next day for the very same thing. You really cannot expect your dog to become familiar with an exercise if you keep varying your training methods each time you execute it. Dogs learn the basic work by repeating an exercise over and over and the entire training program should proceed easily and with as much consistency as possible. And keep in mind that the techniques you will use in training your puppy will be repeated in advanced exercises as your dog gets older and your handling manner should remain the same.
3. You should always be studying your dog so you can anticipate his reaction to any situation. You need to become attuned to your dog's sensitivities. If you have a gentle and quiet dog, do not provoke him by rough treatment. He will become very alert and responsive if you train your dog in a calm and gentle manner with consideration for his feelings. On the other hand, aggressive or overly playful dogs need a more forceful approach.
It may appear that the training of your dog requires a lot of time and patience as it does, but just remember that the payoffs will be immeasurable in the future.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Tuesday April 17, 2001

Lomi Lomi Massage

Lomi Lomi is an ancient massage used by the people of Hawaii. Originally, special people known as "ka po'e lomilomi" performed this massage. The massage practitioner use their elbows, feet, knees, fingers, knuckles, palms, forearms, and even sticks and stones. Styles differ according to family, and regional island
The Lomi Lomi massage therapy is based on the idea of massaging with loving hands. It works deeply yet gently into the muscles. Continuous flowing strokes are used, to caress and relax the body. This is one of the best stress relieving techniques. The therapist will often do a Hula Hula dance around the massage table to create atmosphere and the right energy flow for the massage.
There were 4 reasons that this massage was originally used for
1. Healing- by local doctors
2. A relaxation and aid to digestion-used by the ruling chiefs
3. A restorative massage-often used by families
4. The Hawaiian martial arts masters
The massage therapist uses large, broad strokes. They often gather herbs and say a prayer before starting, regarding the purpose the patient is having the massage done for. The atmosphere should be one of intense peace and quiet, with an air of complete stillness. Hawaiian people believe that when the body is tense it will also block nerves and cause all sorts of problems. This massage is meant to relax and soothe the body.
This technique both relaxes the body with soft slow strokes and energizes it with slightly faster ones. This means that you will release tension and also feel more energetic after a Lomi Lomi massage.
Lomi Lomi massage has become well known internationally. It is especially popular in Japan and Europe. Lomi Lomi massage therapists who have been taught in traditional ways are highly selective, and will not work in any random massage parlors or Spas. Ideally they prefer the tranquil atmosphere of the home or in a quiet private setting. Because this type of therapy is a holistic approach to health, the massage therapists sometimes recommend other natural techniques to their patient
This ancient massage therapy, which is steeped in traditions, is one of the nicest ways to relax and relieve your stress. Tension and stress give rise to many ailments and are very detrimental to your health. You can look up therapists on the Internet and also learn more about this "loving hands" massage. Try a Lomi Lomi massage today and feel your stress disappear and your overall health improve.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Monday April 16, 2001

The Future Of Electricity-Center Of Gravity Shifting To Asia

The global electric power landscape is changing fast, and increasingly, the action in it has been shifting to Asia. On average, in each of the last three years, China alone has added as much new generating capacity as all of existing capacity in Texas. The shift to Asia will continue.
CERA's Dawn of a New Age scenarios project that Asia will account for well over half of the increase in worldwide power generation capacity over the next 25 years. By comparison, North America will claim only a little more than 10 percent.
This move toward Asia has big implications for everyone connected to the power industry-plant developers, fuel suppliers, equipment vendors, engineering and construction companies, service providers and, of course, investor
The biggest factor in this change is China, which is industrializing on the strength of its vast coal reserves. Over the past three years, China added 200 gigawatts of coal-fired power-generating capacity.
This is equivalent to two-thirds of total U.S. coal-fired capacity, which, by comparison, was installed over the course of half a century. The Chinese government has ambitious plans to build more hydro, nuclear, renewable and gas-fired power plants to diversify its electricity sources.
But coal-indigenous, cheap and abundant-is set to dominate new power capacity in China for years to come.
China's current path is much like the one taken by the United States several decades ago. Rising Chinese power demand comes from both strong economic growth and increasing electricity intensity-that is, the amount of electricity consumed per unit of economic activity. In the 1990's, one percent real growth in Chinese gross domestic product (GDP) corresponded to 0.7 percent growth in electricity consumption.
But today, one percent GDP growth corresponds to 1.4 percent growth in electricity usage. China's recent record of 10 percent annual growth in real GDP thus translates to double digit annual growth in electricity consumption.
Many forces contribute to increasing electricity intensity infrastructure development to sustain high economic growth China's move up the value-added chain into energy-intensive manufacturing and rising middle-class incomes, which now support larger dwellings, with a full complement of air conditioners and modern appliances.
If we look at in those terms, this pattern starts to look familiar. And it should. The United States experienced something like it half a century ago. In the 1960's, coal-indigenous and abundant- was the leading option for expansion of U.S. power generation capacity. Real GDP grew 4.2 percent annually during that decade, while electricity consumption grew 7.3 percent, driven by industrial expansion, and by widespread adoption of air conditioning and electric heating.
Electricity consumption continued to grow faster than real GDP during the first half of the 1970's. But this changed quickly after the first oil shock of the mid-1970's. High oil prices led to improvements in end-use efficiency, and the recession of 1980-82 shook up the manufacturing sectors and led to the closing down of less competitive factories. These forces pushed growth in electricity demand below the rate of real GDP growth, where it remains today.
But China is still at the stage the U.S. was in the 1960's and early 1970's and so is likely to move along its current path of rapidly growing power demand for the coming decade, and perhaps longer.
What does the shift to Asia mean to those in the power business? Sustained economic growth in Asia has strengthened Asian power developers and produced financial institutions capable of handling the expansion of the Asian power system. Homegrown Asian firms are increasingly winning businesses away from their Western competitor
In addition, heightened concerns for energy security have reinforced the government's role in the power sector and an emphasis on using power generation equipment and design, engineering and construction services provided by Asian companies or by Western companies that work closely with Asian partner
For example, China's objective of self reliance means that all the resources needed for coal-fired power plants-such as plant design, boilers and turbines, and construction-are coming from Chinese companies.
Nuclear power development is proceeding along two tracks indigenous reactor designs and resources on one, and imports of Western technologies with heavy technology transfer requirements on the other.
Sustained growth of the Chinese power sector, combined with the government objective of self reliance and technology transfer, will likely lead over the coming decade to the growth of strong local companies in equipment manufacturing, design and engineering, construction, services and project development.
These companies will compete not only in the domestic Chinese markets, but also in the regional Asian market. The rise of strong Asian competitors in the power sector will intensify competition for Western firms. Some Western firms have sought business opportunities in Asia through partnerships, but many have found it difficult to get a foot in the door, and as they share technology, they fear that they also risk strengthening their competitor
Eventually, Western firms will face the prospect of competing with Asian players in Western markets. How will Western power companies respond?
Western utilities focusing on domestic markets will source components and services worldwide. Western firms that provide equipment and services will strive to maintain their competitive advantage by staying on the innovation frontier. Even with their much faster GDP growth, China and India will still have lower per capita income than North America and most of Western Europe for the next two decades.
Higher incomes in the West will support research, development and the use of advanced technologies, giving Western firms opportunities to stay at the technology frontier.
We can think of North American companies that are doing well amid fierce competition from Asia. These companies flourish not because they can pare costs to the bone, surviving on high volumes and thin margins, but because they remain at the frontier of technology and product design.
If Western firms in the electric power business can follow this strategy, they will find it a very competitive approach in a world of intensified competition.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Sunday April 15, 2001

How to Make Maximum Sales in Minimum Time!

How would you like to get more positive results in sales? I want to give you an exercise you can use to dramatically change the results you are currently getting.
Before I do that I need to give you a little background about how our minds work. You see your mind is a goal seeking mechanism, the most complex mechanism of its kind ever created. It will literally, bring in to existence any clearly defined end result or goal.
Now, your mind can either be an Automatic Success Mechanism or an Automatic Failure Mechanism depending on the programming it gets through your self image.
Your self image is the thermostat that determines whether you will be a success or a failure. If you have a poor self image, it doesn't matter what kind of success goals you set, you will never be a success unless you change the image you have of your self.
Let me give you an example. Let's say you are currently earning $30,000 a year in sales, and you would like to increase that to $40,000 a year. On January 1st you set a goal to earn $40,000 this year. You get excited and you go to work to achieve it.
Everything is going along wonderfully, you start making sales, and by the end of the first quarter you have closed $10,000 in business. You're right on target. However, something is going on inside of you. Maybe you start to get a little nervous, you begin to doubt, your self talk is maybe something like, "this is too good to be true". Or maybe you aren't aware of what's going on inside because you're working on autopilot.
You see if you haven't consciously done any thing to raise your self image, in your mind you are still a $30,000 a year salesperson. So what happens? The thermostat in your mind makes an adjustment and next quarter you only close $5,000. So by mid year you are right on track to what your $30,000 a year self image thermostat is set at.
There are proven documented examples of this. One company, took a $50,000 a year salesman, put him in the best market in the country and at the end of one year he earned $50,000. They took the same salesman put him in the worst market in the country, and at the end of one year he earned $50,000.
You see, you can't perform at a higher level than what your self image believes you deserve.
Now let me explain what is happening in your mind and how to change it. Your mind works in pictures. If you closed your eyes right now and pictured your car, a friend, the place you live, you would see a picture of what ever you focused on seeing.
Now close your eyes and see a picture of you as a salesperson. What do you see?
The picture you see is based on the beliefs you have about your self and how you will perform in any given sales situation. To change the results you are currently getting you must change the picture.
How do you change the picture from a $30,000 a year salesperson to a $40,000 a year salesperson? By imagining your self as a $40,000 a year salesperson. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is something called role playing, and if you let it, it may help you to double your sale
What is role playing?
(Quoted from Charles B. Roth's out of print book, How to Make $25,000 a Year Selling)
"Well it is simply imagining yourself in various sales situations, then solving them in your mind until you know what to say and what to do whenever the situation comes up in real life.
The reason why it accomplishes so much is that selling is simply a matter of situation
One is created every time you talk to a customer. He says something or asks a question or raises an objection. If you always know how to counter what he says or answer his question or handle the objection, you make sales...
A role-playing salesman, at night when he is alone, will create these situations. He will imagine the prospect throwing the wildest kind of curves at him. Then he will work out the best answer to them...
No matter what the situation is, you can prepare for it before-hand by means of imagining yourself and your prospect face to face while he is raising objections and creating problems and you are handling them properly."
I'm sure at some point in your sales career you have done some role-playing in a classroom, seminar, or at a sales meeting. By taking that type of role-playing and moving it in to your mind, you can progress from fumbling to perfection and success. You can then rehearse repetitively until it becomes "second nature" and your real selling experiences will mirror those practiced perfectly in your imagination.
If you are seriously interested in achieving greater sales success I challenge you to take some time this week to do this exercise.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Saturday April 14, 2001

Kensei: Sword Saint

I guess every kid, regardless of where they are from, at one time or another bangs a couple of sticks together and pretends he's a swordsman.
Back in my 'hood, I was always Zorro, my buddy Scott was always Robin Hood, and my buddy Larry was always Lancelot. Then Max showed up.
A Japanese boy by way of California, Max came out to play wielding 2 pieces cut from a broomstick. We were amazed. After all, who the heck uses 2 swords? Zorro needs his free hand for his whip, Lancelot his shield, and Robin Hood his bow...this 2 sword thing was blasphemous!
Even worse, Max began to call himself Musashi and insisted on wearing his bathrobe as we trekked through the wood
Now as a kid you just don't ask too many questions or for explanations (from other kids at least). We liked Max, so we just accepted his "weirdness", and went on with our adventures as usual.
Fast forward 15 years to when I made the changeover from Korean Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido, to Japanese Karate, Judo, and Jujutsu. And wouldn't you know it? That very first day, Sensei began class with a quote from "The Book of Five Rings" - The premier text of Japanese philosophy on close-combat written by...Miyamoto Musashi! (I almost shit my pants as I quickly pieced everything together)
Musashi was born in 1584 in the village of Miyamoto in Southern Japan. His father Hirata Munisai was a renowned samurai and considered by many to be the best swordsmen in Japan at the time.
Musashi started his warrior career early in life with a dual against a samurai named Arima Kihei. The samurai had posted an open challenge for any takers and Musashi signed up to fight the warrior.
Musashi's uncle, hearing that his 13 year old nephew had volunteered to fight to the death ran to prevent the fight. Musashi did not want to back down and entered the ring to fight Kihei armed only with a bokken - a wooden training sword. When the bigger, older, and more experienced samurai charged, Musashi dodged, grabbed, and brutally threw the man to the ground and beat him to death with his stick.
He would go on to win over 60 duals defeating or killing all that came before him in combat regardless of weapon. His challengers would use staffs, swords, and a variety of other weapons while he would use his katana or bokken. While many samurai used only their katanas, Musashi pioneered two-sword combat by using his wakizashi and katana together.
Eventually he would be honored with the rank of Kensei or "Sword Saint" because so many believed his swordsmanship to be perfect. When he later penned his philosophy of combat in "The Book of the Five Rings", he would attain literary immortality as countless martial artists, scholars, and executives would hang on his every word for generations to come.
Musashi would eventually pass on his valuable knowledge to his sons and students. A skilled artist, poet, architect, and businessman, Musashi felt every day was a day to learn, create, and live to the fullest. And that was his strategy for a good life.
Now what's pretty funny about Musashi (and why little Japanese boys love him), is that he was about as unconventional a Samurai as you could get.
The man rarely bathed, shaved, or washed his clothes. So good a swordsmen was he, that Musashi eventually completely stopped using a katana and would just use whatever was on hand to beat his opponents to death...a tree branch, a rake, even a boat paddle.
He would use other strange and "dishonorable" tactics as well...Showing up hours late to a dual to anger his prim and proper opponent...Showing up an hour earlier, hiding in the bush, then jumping out and immediately killing the unsuspecting fool who agreed to fight him...using horse stirrups as brass knuckles...and even attacking, running away, attacking, running away, and attacking again!
Scholars still to this day debate on whether Musashi did all these "crazy" things to toy with his opponents, test various strategy, and if these tactics were the very reason no one could beat him not his swordplay.
That's all well and good for the bookworms, but as "men of action" similar to Musashi, we all know better -
Just like many of the toughest and most dangerous men of today and throughout history, Musashi seemed to take himself none-to-seriously while at home or at the dojo.
But when life and death were on the line, Musashi simply believed that nothing should be left to chance and you must do whatever needs to be done to kill, or be killed yourself.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Friday April 13, 2001

Bayonets Not Bombs

Seems Iraq is not a "popular war". Which basically means that because we aren't full-out winning the war by the time the nightly news stops for a commercial break, people think twice about it?
And as of recently, I've been seeing many people make comparisons between Iraq and Vietnam. (Especially from the criminals in D.C. who're using the unpopular war opinion to further their own political careers)
Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska warned that President Bush's new plan to send in more troops would be "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it's carried out."
Well if protecting ourselves from the reaches of Communism (Vietnam), and from the fanatical evil of terrorism and religious nuts (Iraq) takes some third world hell hole to be completely annihilated and remade in the vision of an actual civilization, then so be it.
Our soldiers have a job to do. A job that they signed up for out of their own free will and sense of patriotism. If their commander in chief says "go protect us", then our elected representatives should not quibble and squawk like a bunch of washerwomen arguing over the dirty laundry.
Those troops are being sent over for a reason. And that reason is that we can't decisively win this war and change those goat screwing jerks that are shooting at our soldiers with electronics, smart bombs, or diplomatic hippy talk. Man to man, room to room, close quarters combat. That is how we're going to change that god-forsaken cesspool.
Listen, GWB sure as hell isn't perfect, but to see that he's doing the right thing now simply takes a look back at the Vietnam War. And one man in particularly...John Paul Vann
Lt Col Vann would return to the United States after serving his time in Korea and would have a typical career until he headed to Vietnam in 1962 as an advisor. Vann came to Vietnam with every intention of winning the war, but soon found nothing but problems.
The South Vietnamese government was corrupt and tried to avoid causalities while the United States military bombed areas all over the country killing civilian and guerilla alike. Vann knew by bombing these areas more local people would take the side of the Viet Cong. (Sound familiar?)
His approach was to engage the enemy in close combat, because by doing so would not risk any unnecessary deaths of civilians. It made for tough, slow fighting results, but it worked. And more importantly, it let the local people see that the war was against the enemy and not them personally, and resulted in rallying local support.
Unfortunately, like most men of action, Van was critical of those in charge and gave his full, unedited, and truthful opinion to the press. This quickly lead to Vann losing his position, and later leaving the military. But the fight wasn't over for Vann as he returned as civilian advisor working with both American and Vietnamese personnel and inspiring them with his "lead by example" attitude.
When asked about his tactics Vann said, "This is a political war and it calls for discrimination in killing. The best weapon for killing would be a knife, but I'm afraid we can't do it that way. The worst is an airplane. The next worst is artillery. Barring a knife, the best is a rifle - you know who you're killing."
Vann would continue to lead forces to victory even after the United States began to pull out, but was killed in action when his helicopter crashed.
President Nixon awarded him the Medal of Freedom after his death, but sadly, Vann's name cannot be found on the Vietnam Memorial with the other heroic men and women who died trying win an unpopular (but necessary) war that the liberal constitute of society used to further their own selfish position
This "getting close to make a difference" affects you too I hope you know.
While our soldiers are over in the sandbox doing their duty, they fully expect you to do yours while they are away. And that means preserving the freedom and way of life they left to go protect.
When you see someone being wronged...say something directly to the person doing the "wrong". When you see the weak being, preyed upon...target the "predator" directly and make him see the error of his ways. Bitching and moaning to a general audience or your peers (like those liberal pussies in the Senate) does nothing but spread confusing messages and diluted truths. We are in a fight so let's do what we have to win it.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Thursday April 12, 2001

Car and Truck Accidents and Whiplash Injury

Car, truck, and other vehicle accidents often result whiplash injuries. Whiplash injuries occur at various speeds and even low impact collisions have shown to cause whiplash and other soft tissue injury. What usually happens is that soft tissue is stretched beyond its elastic limitations, meaning it reaches a point when it loses its elasticity and cannot rebound to its normal position.
Whiplash injury occurs in car accidents when a person's vehicle is applied force usually, by another vehicle. The head is pushed in one direction and then when the vehicle is stopped the head is pushed in the opposite direction, this is what causes the soft tissue around the neck to stretch, often beyond its elastic limitations, this is often a source of not only neck pain, but also headache
Seat belts have been effective in saving lives, but there are also studies which indicate that the very same seat belts increase the risk of whiplash injury or injury to the neck. The seat belts keep the body and place, but the head is left with no protection and the rotation and forces applied to the head cause strain and injury to the neck. In at least one study it was determined that accident victims were more likely to suffer cervical injury (neck) when they were wearing seatbelts by a factor of 1.58 to 1.
Insurance companies often rely on engineers to testify in court concerning the forces applied as a determining factor as to whether or not there is injury. More often than not there is a reference to Delta-V, but studies have shown that injury cannot be predicted solely by knowing the delta-V of a collision. Even under controlled conditions the delta-V was insufficient to determine whether an injury would occur or not. Delta V is simply an equation taken from physics showing a change in velocity.
The typical crash analyses involves an engineer looking at pictures of the crashed car and then looking at a repair estimate to determine how it compares to similar cars or the same model car that have been crashed tested. The biggest problem with this analyses is that it is comparing apples to oranges. The crash tested vehicles are generally tested against a solid wall, where the actual crash for the injury claimant has crashed with another vehicle. The tested crash is under control conditions and the crash is done with great care. The real world crash has no such conditions. The timing in the crash is different for each crash the location of the damage varies. The angles of the vehicles at the time of the collision, the seating position of the driver and passengers, and the direction where the persons face varies in every single accident.
Injury cannot be predicted for any one individual because individuals vary greatly. Everyone has a different posture, different tensile strength of the ligaments, a different position in the vehicle at the time of the collision, different spinal canals, a different nervous system, and reaction to stimulus. Any one person can also change from month to month, maybe one started exercising three weeks ago, or changed the diet substantially, or had another injury, or over stressed the body.
Insurance companies nonetheless relay on these engineers to testify consistently on claims that low impact collisions cannot cause injury. Accident reconstructionists often use software to calculate speeds of impact by looking at several factors, sometimes just pictures. The software is usually not accurate enough for low impact collisions and the results can vary in extremes from engineer to engineer. The calculated speed for the collision varies greatly depending on how the calculations are entered, most software cautions that it is not reliable for low speeds and studies have shown that these computations are unreliable. The results also vary depending on the relationship between the engineer doing the calculations and the insurance company paying the tens of thousands of dollars to the engineer.
In addition to the engineers, insurance companies also hire medical doctors and chiropractors to render opinions. Opinions which are more likely than not biased.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Wednesday April 11, 2001

So You Want To Be A Lawyer

Television and movies often depict the career of an attorney as one of a hero that goes into the court room and saves the day. Often you see the attorney arguing with the judge and the witness on the witness stand. Sometimes they bring surprise witnesses and evidence, and on occasion the witness breaks down on the stand and confesses. Many a time the attorney also gives a speech in closing and opening argument that persuades the jury to hold for the attorneys' client. As glamorous and appealing as a career as attorney may appear to be, the reality is different.
For the most part attorneys spend their time persuading their own clients, opposing attorneys, and insurance adjusters. The real work is done in writing and it is the writing that accounts for many if not all victories.

It all starts with the complaint, the document that starts the lawsuit. These documents can be complex and require a careful analyses of the facts and the law. For some attorneys this is no longer true because there are now forms. In California these forms are called judicial council forms and are used extensively by personal injury attorneys and family law attorneys. Instead of writing complex documents these attorneys check boxes and are no longer required to do a lot of writing at the initial stage of the lawsuit.
After the filing of the lawsuit it has to be served, meaning someone has to present the lawsuit to the defendant and it has to be done right. If mistakes are made, the defendant's attorney can use the error to delay the case or dismiss the case. Delays and dismissals means the defendant has to refile the lawsuit and in most matters there is a statute of limitations which means the difference between having a viable lawsuit and having no lawsuit at all.
There is then more paperwork through discovery, motions, and pretrial motions. Then there are negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, settlement conferences, and other dispute resolution procedures. About 95% of these cases settled during one of these stages. If the case does not settle the case goes to trial, but even so some settle the day of trial. After trial a few cases are appealed to the court of appeal and a tiny few are appealed to the Supreme Court, but it is the supreme court that chooses cases to review.

Discovery is a process where information is obtained from each of the parties. This stage also requires a fair amount of writing, because written questions are asked and written responses are provided. During discovery oral questions are also asked of the plaintiff and defendant. This takes place with a court reporter. The procedure can be long and boring.

Many defense attorneys take very long depositions, because they bill their clients by the hour and it is an opportunity to increase the charges to their clients. Plaintiffs' attorneys are often working on a contingency basis and their compensation is based on the outcome of the case, so they generally do not take extraordinarily long depositions.
Motions are requests made to the court. The motions are written documents submitted to the court asking the court to order something. During discovery it could be a request to order a party to answer a question, it could be a request to issue a protective order so a party does not have to answer something, or perhaps a request to order a plaintiff to submit to a medical exam. At later stages there are different motions, before trial motions in limine are submitted which are requests to permit or prohibit certain statements or questions to be asked during trial or to keep evidence out.
Good attorneys are constantly analyzing the case and moving the case accordingly. It is a game of strategy that is worked up according to the goal. As discovery progresses and the attorneys get to know the parties involved they reevaluate the case, it is a game of strategy, but often the law is clearly on one side or the other and the process can be frustrating.
Sometimes the case seems like a lost cause, but you are not certain. Another aggravating point is that even when everything seems to be going wrong or right, things can change overnight. The personalities of the attorneys, the clients, and third parties can have a substantial impact on the outcome of a case. Seemingly excellent cases have turn into weak cases often characterized as dogs, and dogs sometimes turn into star
An aggressive attorney can increase the chances of success, but can also ruin a case. In describing an aggressive attorney, the legal community generally means an attorney that is not afraid to push for things and use all tools at his or her disposal. An aggressive attorney is not one what people normally consider to be aggressive, it is not an attorney that yells, screams, and pounds on tables.

These attorneys are generally regarded as obnoxious attorneys and are disliked by their peers and judges. Obnoxious attorneys usually do not do well in the practice of law. An aggressive attorney can be a very soft spoken attorney, but one that does a lot of legal research, makes many motions, takes advantage of all the tools available to advance the interests of his client, and takes the case to trial when need be.
The vast majority of cases, civil and criminal are settled, meaning there is some sort of an
agreement between the clients through their attorneys. A civil attorney may not see more than one to four trials a year, and four trials would be a very heavy load. It takes a great deal of paper work to get the case to trial and to prepare it for trial. All the paperwork that is done before trial will give an advantage to one party or the other. Poorly prepared attorneys do not do well at trial no matter how likable and well spoken they are.

Trial itself can take a couple of weeks and creates a tremendous backlog of work for the returning attorney. It would be similar to someone getting sick and then coming back to work that had been piling for two weeks and then repeating the cycle four times a year.

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Tuesday April 10, 2001

Guide To Business Travel

Despite the emergence of e-commerce, businessmen still travel more often for sales and business shows. Here are some tips to make your business travel a successful one
1. Plan your business trip long before you leave the office.
2. Always prepare a travel bag with complete necessities to be used on any emergency trip
3. Bring some ready to eat foods, it will save you a substantial amount of money, considering the high cost of foods in hotel
4. Be sure to have a buffer time between your flight and your scheduled meeting.
5. Choose aircraft that has better seats with ample leg room.
6. Put all your valuable materials in a small carry-on bag.
7. When calling your main office, use the 800 numbers as much as possible because it's much cheaper.
8. If you're a businesswoman, it is important to dress well. Additionally, you must bring casual clothes for your free time.
Not all hotels have inexpensive telecommunication systems from their rooms, so always choose your hotel's business floor, for these rooms are made especially for business traveler. These rooms should have dual telephone/modem lines, fax machine, and free communications between rooms. In order to save money on calls, use your calling card and place calls through your country's long-distance carrier or find a pay phone in the hotel's lobby. If available, use a nearby business center for your fax needs since fax service within your room will probably cost more.
These days, a business traveler has to bring a lot of electronic equipment such as cell phones, electronic organizers, laptop computers, etc. Here are some suggestions on how to keep your expensive business items safe
1. Put your laptop inside a bag that will not indicate that there's a laptop inside. The same works well for other equipment such as camera, electronic organizer, etc.
2. Don't expose your laptop to x-ray scanners at the airport security check, rather have it checked manually. X-rays could damage your electronic equipment.
3. Don't place your laptop on the aircraft's overhead bins instead place it near your seat or under the seat in front of you.
4. Always bring extra batteries for your equipment.
Today's business travelers are enjoying much comfort compared to their counterparts a few decades ago. Low airfare, plenty of airlines to choose from, communication equipment (especially cell phones and laptops) make modern day business travelers more efficient. Even on a business trip, parents can always be with their family members and co-workers can still get in touch with their office work, at least virtually.

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Monday April 09, 2001

Fun Halloween Party Food Ideas

A Halloween party is a fantastic method to provide fun and safe entertainment for all ages. An individual could arrange and design a wonderful event with costumes and decorations. The food and refreshments is an important part of this holiday. An individual desires to create a full theme Halloween activity. There are many methods to incorporate this day into the food that is prepared.
Ideas and thoughts are abundant in creating the most special food for this holiday. Creepy, gross, out of the ordinary and weird are all theme foods associated with Halloween. Recipes that can be found online are a great method for individuals that do not have any ideas on how to make this portion of Halloween exciting.
Creepy snacks are a wonderful idea for this time of year. They will go excellent with the costume designs and the other decorations. For outstanding drink refreshment an individual could create a steaming pot of punch with dry ice. If children are present at this affair be sure this is fruit punch. Dry ice is a great source for creepy and strange methods. Marshmallows and chocolate chips would make a fantastic specter cookie. Design the shape then add the chips for the eyes then freeze on wax paper. Sugar cookies could be displayed proudly with gruesome and scary faces and image
Candy and sugar is not the only thing an individual could use for their party. Pizza can be designed and baked with blood dripping down with a hatchet on the side of a head. Flour tortillas could be designed into any shape, perfect for the Halloween bash. Tortilla chips could complement a bean dip with ranch, which would be the brains of the evening. For a fun event and the purpose of a snack, an individual could bob for apples in a tin pot filled with water and red food dye to resemble blood. An individual could also add dry ice for a misty effect.
An individual could not throw a successful party without grossing out at least one individual. There are some excellent methods to bring a person through the disgusting stage. Deviled eggs are a wonderful party food however this Halloween create the most disturbing bloodshot eyes imaginable. With red food dye and an admirable imagination a person could create an extraordinary piece. An individual could cook up some meaty spaghetti sauce. Serve this is a bowl and add macaroni noodles to the side of the bowl and inside the sauce. This will appear to be maggots feasting on something that is no longer living.
An individual with a fantastic imagination could create the perfect Halloween party food. These methods are not difficult to design and it will add a wonderful flavor to each partygoer's taste buds. Everyone at the event will love the imagination of each piece of refreshment. Take the time and effort to make every item at the party spectacular.

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Sunday April 08, 2001

Management of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

If you have been experiencing symptoms associated with a lung condition, you most likely have seen a PPH specialist. If a physician has diagnosed you with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, there are many things to consider, most importantly, the management of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.
Unfortunately, at the present time, there is no cure for Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. The only treatments the PPH specialist can recommend are a series of drugs and, as a last resort, if your condition worsens, a lung transplant. While your anxiety may understandably become heightened, you have to find the strength to manage this disease.
One of the ways in which you can achieve this is by changing your lifestyle. This would include reducing stress through meditation exercises, and developing a positive attitude. While this may be easy to say, undoubtedly it may be a lot harder to do. But if you are to survive and live a qualitative life, you need to take immediate steps to ensure your state of mind is conducive to healing.
You may be happy to know that individuals with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension still go to work, have a home business, and still take care of their families. In fact, many individuals with PPH show no signs of illness at all, and enjoy most of the time symptom free. The key is not to take on any physical activity wherein you can overdo and not realize it.
In this regard, exercise is good therapy for individuals with PPH. A good 20 minute walk a day can make all the difference in how you feel. Moreover, if you have an advanced case of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and need oxygen, there are portable systems which you can utilize when you go out. There are also a variety of wheelchairs and scooters which you may have seen on TV, and for which you can utilize them on a daily basis as well.
For those who prefer not to take on activities that are strenuous in nature, there are certainly a plethora of activities that you can become involved in. Whether it's gardening, or joining a local community chapter which engages in morning or afternoon activities, you can certainly fill up your time and keep your mind busy.
For those of you who live in areas where the altitude is high, you may want to move where the oxygen level is higher, thus enabling you to breathe easier. It is also important to keep in contact with your PPH specialist, so that he or she can monitor you and see to your immediate need
Another way in which the management of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension can be achieved is through a proper diet regimen. Also, if you are a smoker, now is the time to quit. Ensure you get enough rest at least 8 hours of sleep a night.
In addition, if you are a woman of child-bearing years, and you have been diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension by your PPH specialist, pregnancy is not an option, since it will put an additional load on the heart. Moreover, oral contraceptives are not recommended either and, therefore, other methods of birth control will have to be used.
One of the most important aspects of having Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is to become as informed as possible through your PPH specialist. Having close family and friends with you on this unfortunate journey is important as well. Check your local community to determine if there are PPH support groups. Having the ability to talk to others who have the same condition can be immeasurable.
There is another critical factor in the management of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, and that is to ascertain how it was caused and what course of action you can take legally. After all, you have every right to sue a company who produced a drug that caused you pain and untold anxiety.
Moreover, if you had to leave your job or take time off, this should be compensated. If you took the drug Fen-Phen, you have legal recourse. Seek a PPH attorney who specializes in this type of litigation, and be sure to take legal action against the company involved.
If you took anti-depressants while pregnant, and your newborn has a lung condition, birth defects, or worse, you also have legal recourse to take this matter up with a PPH attorney.
The management of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension involves every aspect of your life. This includes your on-going treatment, surgery, compensation for lost earnings, punitive damages, and so on. A PPH attorney can help you. More importantly, you must allow yourself the ability to face down the cause of this disease, and live out the rest of your life in peace and tranquility.

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Saturday April 07, 2001

Use A Secured Loan To Put Your Financial Woes In One Basket

Perhaps the most common secured loan is a debt consolidation loan. A debt consolidation loan is secured most generally by using your home as collateral, once the equity on your home has been determined.
Debt consolidation is a system that reduced debt by allowing the consumer to take all her or his debts and combine them into one debt and therefore one payment. While on the face of it this secured loan does not seem logical. Taking unsecured loans and putting them all in one basket that threatens the roof over your head if not paid.
Where is the sense in that? Well, the sense in a secured debt consolidation loan is that you are replacing unsecured loans such as credit cards (that charge a very high rate of interest) with one whose interest rate is considerably less. This saves you money - sometimes a great deal of money.
There is also a lot to be said for the ease and time efficiency of paying only one bill. In fact, a secured debt consolidation loan payment is usually made for the debtor by the company. She or he does not even have to write the check or put the stamp on the envelope.
What is especially good about a secured debt consolidation loan is that you have a company and representative working with you that is often on a first name basis with many lender representative
She or he can step in and negotiate a really great low interest rate for you, may even get the balance reduced on your current debts, get your lenders to write off some late fees, and set the term when all your debts are going to be paid off. The amount a consumer can save with a secured debt consolidation loan can be very great.
Using this kind of secured loan to get yourself out of debt is so much more financially advantageous than just continually paying off the minimum balance on each of your credit cards for the rest of your natural life.
Perhaps even more important that the savings you will see with this kind of secured loan is the fact that your creditors relish your consolidating your debts in this manner. Creditors fear the alternative - your bankruptcy - which could wipe out their debt and their ability to recoup their money, or at least most of their money.
For the consumer the secured debt consolidation loan is preferable to a bankruptcy because the first improves your credit standing. The second destroys it, for at least seven years anyway.
There are literally hundreds of debt consolidation lending firms in the United States alone, with many opportunities online to apply for a debt consolidation loan, get advice on the best options, compare rates and terms and even be approved.
Some debt consolidation firms will purport to give you an online quote but actually ask the questions and then ask for your contact information so their sales people can call you with the estimate. You will want to avoid these if you can.
Look for an online secured debt consolidation lender site that actually provides the estimate of what you could borrow and at what rate and payment schedule and then allows you to be pre-approved - all on the Web.
What you will typically need to supply is the market value of your home, the balance on your mortgage, your payments and your rate of interest, how much you need to borrow, and your zip code. From this you will get an idea on what your secured loan would look like.

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Friday April 06, 2001

Adverse Credit Loans - Do Not Let Your Credit History Run You Down

For a variety of reasons, whether it is youthful foolishness, unexpected job loss, loss of employed spouse in a one-income house or severe medical problems, people get into debt and ruin their credit history.
They then find themselves in trouble with the bills they have already accrued and things just get financially worse. For those who want to get out of debt and repair their credit there is help in the form of adverse credit loans.
These loans usually cost more than those given out to borrowers with good credit. The interest rates are higher because the lender assumes more risk. With some help or a little careful searching you can find adverse credit loans whose rates are not adverse as well.
It is easier, for example, to get a better rate on a poor credit loan, if you have paid back or settled the bills that gave you the poor credit history in the first place.
The trick that makes the financially positive difference for the borrower is that she or he take on these adverse credit loans and then pay them back on time. In other words, the consumer must not miss or be late with even one payment.
Adverse credit loans have far stricter repayment expectations than standard loans to those with good credit scores. Miss one payment on a bad credit loan and your rate will go up, and you may even be facing a foreclosure.
No matter how low or high that interest rate on the adverse credit loans you are considering there are a few things you should be cautious of. If you can, avoid adverse credit loans that include late payment increase
Lenders have discovered recently that they may in fact make more money just raising adverse loan rates for late or missed payments rather than hurrying to foreclose. While the ideal is to never miss a payment, you would be wise as a consumer to avoid bad credit loans that have this stipulation.
Avoid if you possibly can poor credit loans - or any type of mortgage or other loan, for that matter - that has a clause allowing for a prepayment penalty. If you are trying to get yourself out of debt it makes no sense to sign on the dotted line of a plan that says if you can pay your bill early it will cost you more. That is essentially what a prepayment penalty i
This penalty means that is you pay more than you are required to do so each month or even one time only so that your balance is paid prior to the predetermined end of the loan you will incur additional fees and charges. Besides, who wants to do business with a lender who wants to get rich off of your misfortune?
Bad credit loans can have balloon payments built in. What this means is that you make an attractively low payment for a considerable period of the loan but then you are required to make a huge payment of the balance at the end of the loan period.
This makes no sense. If you were able to make a huge payment you would not have needed to look into adverse credit loans in the first place.

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Thursday April 05, 2001

Self Cert Loans - Special Lending For The Self Employed

Even as recently as a decade ago being self employed was a distinct disadvantage when you went to get a loan in the United Kingdom. UK Lenders just did not like it that they could not ask for that pay stub as proof of employment when you wanted to get a mortgage or other secured loan. Thanks to self cert loans that problem has been resolved for the self employed.
As often happens with change, the market dictated it. More and more people are leaving their jobs behind and becoming entrepreneurs and firms are hiring contractors rather than taking on more full time staff in record numbers. Lenders had to introduce options such as self certification loans or risk losing a vast market.
These self cert loans basically let you state your income without having to provide any pay stub. Some high street lenders but primarily loan specialists offer self cert loans. Of course, with anything that decreases the preparatory verification and increases the risk for the lender there are disadvantages to the borrower, generally in fees or interest paid.
The self cert loans are no different. The catch is that with these loans the borrower almost always pays a lager deposit and yes, interest rates that a little higher than the standard loan or mortgage. The additional fees will run a little more as well.
Different self certification loan companies in the UK will have different lending criteria for the self cert process. Some will concern themselves most with the borrowers affordability, others will place a lot of emphasis on the entrepreneurs job title and credit history while other mortgage or other financial companies will want to look at bank statements or other financial paperwork.
No matter where you get your self cert loan - a specialist lending agency or a high street lender - you will be paying at least a five percent deposit and probably more like ten percent. It generally is true that the bigger deposit you pay up front the lower the interest rate will be for the life of the loan.
This makes simple sense. The more money you spend the less money the lender most risk. A small up front deposit also has the disadvantage of incurring more loan fees.
Even if you have not acquired three years of self employed accounts you may be able to get a loan that is not self certified as well. As lenders apply more and more sophisticated tools for scoring credit without that all-important pay stub they are better able to weigh their own risks with the self-employed as borrowers.
Entrepreneurs and netpreneurs can now realize an additional advantage as well. With a 25 percent deposit on a loan most self-employed borrowers can be assured of choosing from several mainstream loans in addition to their current self cert loan options.
One very important note of caution is that UK legislation frowns on falsifying income on self cert loan applications. Over inflation of income is illegal. They key is to be truthful and borrow only what you must have.
A flexible loan will give you the ammunition you need to overpay, underpay and take an occasional payment holiday as your revenue spikes and drops with your industrys seasonal changes.

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Wednesday April 04, 2001

Understanding Grace Periods

If you are someone who pays their credit card balance off in full each month, then you probably don't need to worry about grace periods. However, if you are someone who does not pay off your balance in full each month, then you need to know about the different types of grace periods and how they work. Here is some advice about how to understand grace periods and use them to your advantage.
What is a grace period?
A grace period is the time you will have before you start paying interest on your new credit card purchases. This period is usually between 20 and 25 days, after which you will pay interest on your purchases. If you pay your balance off in full each month, then on most cards you will never pay the interest because you are always clearing your debt in time. However, if you don't pay your balance in full then you need to make sure you get a card with the right grace period for you.
Typical grace periods
Most typical cards have a grace period that means you will pay nothing if you pay the bill each month in full. However, if you don't pay the whole bill then you will pay interest on your balance, including any new purchases that you make. This balance is calculated daily. If you pay your balance off most of the time but not always, then this sort of card will probably be fine for you.
Full grace periods
Although most cards offer a typical grace period, some cards offer a full grace period. This means that you will get the benefit of the 20-25 days without paying interest on new purchases even if you didn't pay your balance in full each month. These cards are generally more expensive but are great for those people who never pay off their balance in full each month.
No grace periods
Beware of cards that carry no grace periods. Although these cards are fine for people usually have a typical grace period card and don't pay their balance off, they can really hurt those who pay their balance off each month. If you pay off your balance in full you will still get charged interest, which means that you aren't getting the benefits you normally would get. If possible, avoid cards with no grace period.
Grace periods a factor
When choosing a card, you should look at the card's grace period as well as its interest and fees. Although other factors such as interest are very important, getting a card with a grace period to match your spending habits will reduce how much the card will cost you in the long-term. If you already have credit cards but are unsure of their grace periods, then check with your card issuer. Knowing the grace periods you currently have could help you to save yourself money by reducing the interest that you pay.

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Tuesday April 03, 2001

How To Consolidate Your Debt Efficiently

Mortgage, cell phone, car payment, insurance, cable, household utilities and various other loans can all add up and be difficult to keep track of. Before you know it, you feel like you're doing nothing but paying bills and feeling like the items you own, own you. It's a cycle that never seems to end and only gets worse over time. One way to keep a cap on this is to consolidate your debt. There are a few ways you can manage your debts by consolidating them into one lump sum to save you money.
You can consolidate by using credit cards. The goal is to take all of the credit cards that are currently in your possession, and try and find the lowest interest rate between all of them. After you find the lowest issuer, try to transfer all of the balances over to one credit card. You will have one large balance, instead of ten semi-large ones, and you will also only have one payment to make a month.
You can also apply for a new card and make a transfer so that you only have two cards, with obviously two payoffs. However, be careful when applying for new cards. Too much credit can equal a lower rating for your credit score.
Another method you can use is a home equity loan. With this kind of loan you can borrow against the value of your home with a fixed amount of money for a standard period of time. Usually these loans will offer lower rates, lower payments, and their amounts can be tax deductible if you itemize. You may also choose to refinance your home and take out money in order to pay for some of your bills.
There is also another type of loan called a personal security loan. This loan can be tricky because the only thing that you are offering for a guarantee is yourself. These loans are more risky so it is likely that the loan will be more expensive, and you will be repaying on that loan for an average of 10 to 15 years. The personal loans can be harder to get if you have a substantial amount of debt.
You may seek counseling for your debt, but a credit counselor is not going to consolidate your debt, rather they will work out a feasible payment schedule for you to follow. You will make one payment to the credit agency and they will turn around and pay your bills. However, most do not offer this service for free, so make sure that you are unable to get your act together before enlisting the help of a professional.
Many people are now choosing the debt settlement route. This option is when you stop paying your bills and the creditors contact a debt settlement company instead of you. The debt settlement company will then try to negotiate with the creditors on your behalf, and they usually can reduce the amount of your balances (sometimes up to 50%). Many people find themselves debt free within two years of hiring one of these service
When it comes to being in debt remember that you are not the first, nor the last person to be in a tight situation. Before debt totally consumes your life investigate some of the more common solutions to managing your finances. Try to find other people who may have gone through the same thing you are experiencing and see what they did to get themselves out of debt.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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Monday April 02, 2001

UK Secured Loans - What They Are And How You Can Get One

The most prevalent of the UK secured loan options is the home loan, with the home used as collateral against default on the loan. Here are the basics of the UK secured loan for home buying, home improvement, and other money raising needs.
Right now is the easiest it has ever been to get a UK secured home loan. You can do your own comparison shopping easily online, through the sites of the various lending and banking institutions, mortgage firms, realty sites, loan directories and non-profit self help lending association
The UK government can even help information you about how to get a UK secured loan. Not only can you enlist the help of your own real estate agent but you can also enlist the help of an online or offline financial broker whose job it is to assess your own particular needs and financial situation and find you the best buy in a UK secured loan.
The world of the UK secured loan is busy, crowded and highly competitive. What that means for you, the UK consumer, is lower rates and more competitive terms for your UK secured loan.
The disadvantage and difficulty in looking for and finding a UK secured loan is that the markets competitive nature has created a very complex world of government and association regulations and confusing rule
What this means for the consumer is that just because she or he can get a UK secured loan more easily than in years and decades past, that does not necessarily translate into paying off the balance more easily.
In fact, the UK consumer may find it considerably more difficult. In the case of a home loan this is a serious thing, as you risk the roof over your and your familys head.
Before the recent legislation stepped in to regulate the UK secured loan the consumer clearly understood the serious nature of the transaction and the responsibility they were taking on. That is not necessarily the case any longer.
Before you submit an application for a UK secured loan with your home as collateral, there are several things you must keep at the forefront of your mind.
First, do not ever forget that if you do not pay the loan on a timely basis, you can lose your home. Technically you can miss one payment or be late on two or three and have your home repossessed.
You should have a solid idea of what your income and career future looks like and how much you and any other wage earner in the home is going to be making for as much of the life of the loan as is reasonably possible.
You might even consider, especially if you and your spouse work and one of you is of child-bearing age, that one of you will be unemployed for up to five years and factor that into the income equation.
In the UK a secured loan generally offers monthly, quarterly or semi-annual payment options. Think about what is best for your finances.
Make sure that you are not signing for what you think is a cheap loan to find out after that that low rate of interest means bad news such as balloon payments, prepayment penalties or a hefty rate increase if you miss one payment. All these things are possible and do happen. Read the fine print before signing.

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Sunday April 01, 2001

In The Last Couple Of Years Child Care Has Become Very Popular

Having a baby at home is a wonderful experience. Looking after the baby and caring for it is an even more fulfilling experience. When calculating how much to feed a baby, on average a baby needs two and a half ounces of formula for each pound of his weight. A baby does not distinguish night from day. If it's your first, your baby is going to make a big difference in your life. Of course babies cannot understand what you are saying because they don't have a grasp of the English language but they do understand sounds and tones, and if you talk quietly and make happy noises the baby know this.
If both parents are working and you need to balance the care of your child between day care centers there are many things you can do to accomplish this, even if you are single parent many day care centers will work with you to help out. If both parents work a day job maybe you can arrange to have one of the parents working either at night or a staggered shift, say starting at noon and working to 8 or 9. And usually the best time to do this is in the summer when both parents might be off work.
As you look at the child care alternatives of day care center, day care at someone else's home, or a dedicated child care worker in your home, there are two other factors you should take into consideration it may be best to consider only state licensed day care providers and your friend or co-worker's considered choice might not be the best one for your family.
In a childcare center you will need at least one certified trained person that should oversee everything, this is very important if something should happen during operational hours. How can a parent be sure they have made the right decision? A parent wants the best possible care for their child. Today child care centers are very expensive, sometimes parents wonder if it is cost effective for both parents to work, because it is so expensive many think that the day care centers are money magnets.
The most important parts of providing daycare for your child and that's your child's nutritional needs. Certainly the daycare center is not going to let the child starve and the food the child is given to eat will certainly be good food. Trying to find good quality daycare is very hard.
When the child care deductions came about many parents were very happy about this because it put more money in their pockets. Many laws have changed since 2001, this was around when all the tax cuts were happening and in fact increased the tax deductions for the number for children. Children who are under the age 12 the parents are eligible to receive a tax break for them and this is a life saver for many. If you didn't know about this tax advantage there are many accountants or professional tax planners that can help with this, and show you how you can claim this deduction on your taxes.

Posted by devasia at 2:44 PM

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In The Last Couple Of Years Child Care Has Become Very Popular