Going overseas protect your passport

When entering some countries or registering at hotels, you may be asked to fill out a police card listing your name, passport number, destination, local address, and reason for travel. You may be required to leave your passport at the hotel reception desk overnight so that it may be checked by local police officials. These are normal procedures required by local laws. If your passport is not returned the following morning, immediately report the impoundments to local police authorities and to the nearest U. S. embassy or consulate.

Passport Fraud

Law enforcement records show that U. S. passports are sometimes used for illegal entry into the United States, or by criminals abroad seeking to establish another identity. This can cause embarrassment to innocent U. S. citizens whose names become associated with illegal activities. To protect the integrity of the U. S. passport and the security of the person bearing it, consular officers overseas have found it necessary to take precautions in processing lost passport cases. These precautions may involve some delay before a new passport is issued.

Safeguard Your Passport

Carelessness is the main cause for losing a passport or having it stolen. You may find that you have to carry your passport with you because you need to show it when you cash traveler's checks or the country that you are visiting requires you to carry it as an identity document. When you must carry your passport, hide it securely on your person. Do not leave it in a handbag nor in an exposed pocket. Whenever possible, leave your passport in the hotel safe, not in an empty hotel room, and not packed in your luggage. One family member should not carry all the passports for the entire family.

Guard Against Thieves

Coat pockets, handbags, and hip pockets are particularly susceptible to theft. Thieves will use all kinds of ploys to divert your attention just long enough to pick your pocket and grab your purse or wallet. These ploys include creating a disturbance, spilling something on your clothing, or even handing you a baby to hold!

You can try to prevent theft by carrying your belongings in a secure manner. For example, consider not carrying a purse or wallet when going along crowded streets. Women who carry a shoulder bag should keep it tucked under the arm and held securely by the strap. Men should put their wallets in their front trouser pockets or use money belts instead of hip pockets. A wallet wrapped in rubber bands is more difficult to remove without notice. Be especially cautious in a large crowd _ in the subway, on buses, at the marketplace, at a festival, or if surrounded by groups of vagrant children. Do not make it easy for thieves!

Do you need bluetooth

When buying any digital electronic device, whether a cellphone, PDA, or notebook computer, it is important to check the specifications to ensure that it will serve your purposes. Bluetooth is becoming an increasingly popular offering in personal electronics, but do you need it?

What Is Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is a wireless PAN (Personal Area Network) transmission protocol standard. In layman’s terms, Bluetooth is a technology that enables a device to communicate and share data with other Bluetooth capable devices – cellphones, headsets, PDAs, notebook computers, desktop PCs, computer peripherals, printers, cameras, and others – through radio wave transmission (so there is no need for wires) at a range of around 1, 10, or 100 meters, depending on the class of your Bluetooth device (Class 1 has the longest range and Class 3 the shortest).

If a device has a Bluetooth chip, it can communicate with other devices that have a Bluetooth chip. Users can share pictures, movies, datasheets, documents, and all sorts of information among them as long as their devices are in range (they do not need to be in direct line of sight). For instance, a Bluetooth-capable digital camera can communicate with a Bluetooth-capable printer for direct printing. Likewise, a Bluetooth-capable cellphone can be connected to a Bluetooth-equipped headset so that a person can take and make hands-free telephone calls.

Bluetooth can be used for internet connectivity as long as a Bluetooth-enabled computer is in range of a Bluetooth modem. Bluetooth devices can also form a small wireless network (called a piconet) of up to 8 devices. For security, devices can be paired and transmissions encrypted. So that it causes only minimal interference, Bluetooth periodically changes frequency channels.

Bluetooth uses the same radio frequency that 802.11 Wireless Networking does, but it is much simpler than 802.11 technology, negating the need for complex network configurations. Bluetooth also has lower power consumption, making it more economical, though its range is shorter.

You Need Bluetooth

If you wish to have an extremely basic home network, Bluetooth is for you. There are no wires to trip you and there are no complex configurations like network permissions or addresses to deal with. Piconets are temporary, so a new device can immediately join or leave a Bluetooth network with nothing more than a simple device discovery. It is important to note, however, that piconets are no substitution for a traditional home network (whether through Ethernet or 802.11 Wireless), which are much more reliable and offer much more full-bodied security options.

If you have a notebook computer, there is a good chance you will want to have Bluetooth connectivity so that you can take advantage of the many Bluetooth-equipped peripherals, thereby eliminating the need for bulky wires. You can also easily synchronize data between your handheld devices and your notebook computer. Moreover, if you are fond of sharing data with other handheld device users, you definitely need to have Bluetooth for easy and convenient data sharing.

You Don’t Need Bluetooth

It is important to note that Bluetooth can present a security risk if you store sensitive information on your Bluetooth-enabled device. If you are traveling with sensitive information on your computer, cell-phone, or PDA, it is wise to disable Bluetooth temporarily to prevent data theft or exploitation. Please also note that some corporations and government entities disapprove of Bluetooth and similar convenience-based additions, so please check with your employer if you intend to use your Bluetooth-enabled notebook for business.

This article may be republished freely as long as this copyright notice and box of resource links are included at the bottom.

Copyright © 2007 MALIBAL, lLc

Creating a unique look with myspace layouts

If you are a member with the MySpace community, then there is a good reason for you to be unique. By being unique there are a lot of chances to create better opportunities. These opportunities will include forming new groups of friends, and networking with various other individuals. MySpace layouts make it possible for all members to be unique.

The number of layouts available is astounding, and there are various unlimited possibilities to pick one. There is no need to be scouting around for too long either, as you will be able to find them easily on the web. All members can create a unique outlook with MySpace layouts, as there are so many themes to relate to. Many of them would have not even seen such themes.

It would be surprising to find themes of your favorite movie star or some cartoon of your choice. Using these layouts should be encouraged because of the vast number of users on this site. There are millions, and imagine if these millions all had the same layouts. It would definitely become boring. Thus to create a better look and feel to the profile, versatile MySpace layouts are offered.

It is no exaggeration when you talk about creating a unique look with these layouts. They are definitely unique because no two layouts are similar in any way. Then one can imagine how many there are, and how they are being offered. Being unique should be the first priority for any member on MySpace. This is because this is the only way to stand out among the crowd.

By standing out among the crowd, one is always making the results of the profile better. There would be no reason for any visitor to complain as such. The visitors to the profile will enjoy reading it, as there will be different layouts from other profiles. Sometimes the variety is so large, that not even one will be repeated in many profiles.

This is the reason you can make it unique. Creating such a unique look to the profile is easy and the chance must also be used, as no other networking site offers such opportunities. This is the reason that most members enjoy using MySpace layouts, as they are free and also can be changed whenever they please. Trying to be unique is also a primary reason that MySpace layouts exist.

They try to offer the best options so that members will never get bored with the usage of the layouts. Being unique is probably what all the members on the site want to do, so they may use this chance to do so. They must also try to pick what they think is the best, and what they think is the right one to match their profiles.

Disneyland-and-disabilities-421

Disneyland and Disabilities

Even if you are confined to a wheelchair or on

crutches, you can still enjoy Disneyland. If you are

on crutches, you should consider renting a

Disneyland Scooter to get around the park. The

rental fee is $35 per day, with a $20 deposit. A valid

driver’s license is required, and you must be

eighteen years old or older.

You can also choose to rent a wheelchair, which is

not electronic. The rental fee for a wheelchair is $8

per day, with a $20 deposit. You do not have to rent

your wheelchair or Scooter from Disneyland. You can

choose to rent the apparatus from a private company,

and have the wheelchair or scooter delivered to your

hotel room. You may find that it is cheaper to rent

from a private company, as opposed to renting from

Disneyland.

All of the restaurants and shops are wheelchair

accessible, as are the entertainment areas. When it

comes to wheelchairs, your problem will be

accessing some of the rides. Some rides are not

appropriate for people who are in wheelchairs,

while others are perfectly suitable. For instance, you

will not be able to enjoy Donald’s Boat, Sailing Ship,

or Tarzan’s Tree house.

However, there are many attractions that you can

enjoy, such as The Disney Gallery, Disneyland

Monorail, the Disneyland Railroad, the Tiki Room,

The Golden Horseshoe, It’s A Small World, Mark

Twain Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island. Some

attractions will require you to be transferred from your

wheelchair, such as Alice in Wonderland, Indiana

Jones, and the King Arthur Carrousel.

Cast members and service personnel will be happy

to help with Guest wheelchair transfers, and if you

should lose a wheelchair or scooter that you’ve rented

from Disneyland, simply show the ticket for the

wheelchair or scooter, and Disneyland will happily

supply you with another one. However, if you lose a

wheelchair or scooter that was rented from an outside

company, Disneyland will not be able to help you

replace it, and you may have to pay the rental company

the full value of the chair. This is something to consider

when you are trying to decide whether to rent from

Disneyland or a private company.

Whether you can enjoy a ride in your wheelchair, or

you must be transferred from your wheelchair to the

ride, you can actually enjoy most of the rides at

Disneyland. Do not allow the fact that you can’t walk

around the park keep you from planning a Disneyland

Vacation. Again, Disneyland was designed with

everyone in mind!

(word count 421)

PPPPP

The real estate market in scottsdale arizona

Scottsdale is hot, hot, and hot. Well, at least the temperature is. The real estate market in Scottsdale has been very cool for some time notwithstanding national trends.

The Real Estate Market in Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale is located just to the north and east of Phoenix. With the growth explosion in both areas, it is becoming more difficult to tell them apart. Nonetheless, Scottsdale has a population of just less than a quarter of a million people and his home to the famous Phoenician Resort. With massive growth over the last 15 years, the city has a definite new feel to it.

The average selling price of a home for sale in Scottsdale is just over $210,000. This figure is about $30,000 over the national sales price for similar homes. Unfortunately, the market has been suffering a down period with appreciation crawling along at a little over four percent. Despite these numbers, real estate market appears primed for a rebound.

As with any part of the country, a prime indicator for real estate is the local economy. In Scottsdale, the economy is picking up steam. Job growth is at a strong four percent with much stronger growth projected through the foreseeable future. Practically speaking, this means salaries and worker demand should increase. These people are going need places to live and will have money in the bank. This surely represents a solid real estate market project for Scottsdale.

With its close proximity to Phoenix, practical amenities are plentiful in Scottsdale. With the exception of snow skiing, you can find practically anything you need within 20 minutes. From an education standpoint, schools in Scottsdale are of high quality and consistently rank above national averages. Health care costs are also on par with national averages, while violent crime rates are about half of the national average.

As you might imagine, it gets dry and hot in Scottsdale. Recently, the area went four months without any rain in the middle of winter. Historically, it has received about nine inches per year. Average temperatures in the summer are a robust 103 degrees on average, but winter days can cool down into the forties.

While the weather is mostly blazing hot in Scottsdale, the real estate market seems to have missed out on the recent real estate craze. Perhaps it is just a little late in getting to the party.

How the internet sparked the boom in forex trading

Unless you've been living under a rock the past decade or so, you've undoubtedly heard a new word enter the English lexicon -- forex. Before the advent of the Internet, almost no one had ever heard the word, let alone knew what it meant. But now, it seems like everyone and their brother has a "foolproof" system for reaping tremendous profits trading currencies on the forex. While most of these systems quickly bite the dust -- along with the traders employing them -- thousands of individual investors join the largest financial market in the world, the forex, every day, and many of them do realize their financial dreams without ever leaving the comfort of their home offices. And to think, none of this was possible just a few years ago, before the widespread adoption of the Internet.

The Forex-Internet Boom

For those that don't know, "forex" is short for "foreign exchange," and it is the market in which international currencies are traded. Historically, government central banks, hedge funds, major international banks, and extremely wealthy individuals have been the big players in the forex: George Soros, for example, made his fortune trading currencies -- he made over $1 billion in a single month once! But ever since the Internet reached the masses, the forex has become a favorite trading platform of everyday individual investors like you and me.

Why has the Internet been so important to the expansion of forex participation? Well, for one reason, forex trades have zero commissions. This means in the days before the Net, investment advisors couldn't make money convincing their clients to trade currencies, and without the Information Superhighway, individual investors had no way of placing forex trades themselves. But now, with worldwide cyber-connectivity, anyone and everyone can play the forex -- it isn't just for the Alan Greenspans and George Soroses of the world, now.

A Few Caveats...

It is important to note that while there are no commissions charged on forex trades, there is a spread between the bid and ask prices of each currency pair. For example, the currency pair of the U. S. dollar and the Canadian dollar, expressed as USD/CAD, may have a bid price of 1.0590, and an ask price of 1.0595. What the heck does that mean? It means that that you can obtain 1.0590 Canadian dollars for every one U. S. dollar; or you can pay 1.0595 Canadian dollars for every one U. S. dollar. In other words, you have to pay more for Canadian dollars than the bank is willing to buy them from you -- if you've ever exchanged Canadian dollars outside of the forex, (i. e. on a trip to Canada), you're undoubtedly familiar with this spread.

Secondly, it's important to note that forex accounts allow you to have a tremendous amount of leverage. Typically, you can control $100 of currency for every $1 in your account. So, for example, if you were to risk $1,000 of your actual money, you could control $100,000 worth of currency. If the currency appreciated (went up) by 1%, you would make 1% of $100,000 -- $1,000 -- i. e., you'd double your money on a 1% move! But if the opposite occurred, if your currency depreciated (went down) by 1%, you would lose 1% of $100,000 -- i. e., your entire investment. And you can imagine what would happen if your currency went down by 2% or more!

So the best advice is to play it safe. Read up on the forex and open a practice account before risking real money. The forex is the largest and most exciting financial market in the world, and you don't have to be a genius to make money in it, but you should at least have the basics down. Good luck!

Desert storm veterans

Desert Storm Veterans

Even though the Desert Storm war was over very quickly, it does live on in the history books. While it was triumphant for the United Nations and for the United States, many veterans have not forgotten about what took place there. It is important to remember these men and women for their efforts. They put their own safety on the line to be able to fight for their country.

Many of these veterans of Desert Storm have stories to share of what their personal experience was. This is the type of information you won’t find just by reading history books. Hopefully you can get these stories first hand from family or friends who were a part of Desert Storm. Some of the veterans come to speak at assemblies as well. There are plenty of stories these veterans can share with you online as well.

Through the eyes of the veterans of Desert Storm though you will see a new picture of the events. Too many people have the believe that it was a quick and easy plight due to how fast it was implemented and then over with. Yet these veterans can tell you storms of being afraid, if seeing death, and of wondering if they would be going back home or if their fate would also be to die during the war.

There are various memorials in place to show our honor to the veterans of Desert Storm. This is an effort to help ensure they will always be remembered for their bravery. We also need to be providing those same veterans with the medial help them need. Some of the scars from this war are on their bodies. They need help getting around and doing their daily activities. Others have illnesses that may be related to chemical weapons initiated by Iraq. They have attacked their nervous system and other parts of their bodies.

Other scars they suffered from Desert Storm are emotional though and you can’t see them. The number of veterans from this war diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is very high. As a result there is ongoing treatment for them including counseling and even medication. This continued support is important in order to repay each of these veterans for what they did for us.

Tips for delectable soy smoothies

Many people in today's busy world have found that a fruit-packed smoothie made with soy milk is a good way to get essential nutrients when they're on the go.

Research shows that soy milk is good for you and your family since it's high in protein, fiber and calcium. It's also a great choice for people who avoid dairy products.

Many physicians, such as Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, recommend choosing foods made from whole organic soybeans. This is because soy milk made from whole organic soybeans contains all of the nutritional goodness of the bean as nature intended - not concentrated or diluted.

"Organic soybeans are not genetically modified and have been grown without the use of toxic pesticides or other toxic chemicals," said Greene.

For your soy smoothies, try Organic Valley Soy, which is produced by families of organic farmers. Here are some tips for smoothie success.

* To boost creaminess, freeze the fruit (except for citrus fruit). You also can add a few tablespoons of Organic Valley Nonfat Dry Milk Powder for a rich, creamy taste without the guilt.

* For extra protein, add a handful of raw almonds.

* Blend a few tablespoons of raw flax seeds for omega-3 fatty acids. Add a handful of raw sunflower seeds for your daily dose of omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids as well as vitamin E.

* Add liquids first and gradually add seeds and nuts and then frozen fruit. Liquid extracts (such as vanilla or almond extracts) go in last.

* Serve or freeze immediately to retain the full flavor and nutrients.

SUPER MAMA SOY SMOOTHIE

(Makes 2 servings)

2 cups Organic Valley Vanilla Soy beverage

1/2 cup blueberries

2 medium bananas (peeled, sliced and frozen)

1 tablespoon flax seeds

1 tablespoon raw almonds

Whirl all of the ingredients in the blender until smooth - up to 5 minutes - and enjoy! - NU

Criminology views on crime

Criminology Views on Crime Exposed

Criminology is a theoretical science that is used in order to try to explain not only the relationship between the criminal and society, but also the relation of judiciary committee in the social setting and the criminal element in the social setting as well. By looking at different pieces of the scientific puzzle, it is possible for many people to come up with theories to explain how society functions with crime, in response to it and as a means to perpetuate the crimes. Through these specific theories, it is possible for individuals to understand some different stances on how crime is created in a society and how a society may influence an individual’s decision to commit a particular crime. In some cases, it is also used in order to determine how time and the general implications on moral and immoral behavior in a society. This can be one of the biggest considerations that are taken when a government is thinking about making an amendment to their laws.

For example, homosexuality was considered, for a long time, to be illegal within the United Kingdom, including England. However, what ended up happening in 1967 was that a law was passed that allowed individuals to act in homosexual ways if they chose to, but only if the individual was over the age of 21. This helps to expose that there was likely nothing wrong with the specific act, but the people of the time that viewed the act. This is how criminology approaches crime. They look at the specific crime, and then look to determine how society or laws may have affected the crime at that period of time. As a result, criminologists are able to use these crimes and examples in order to understand more fully how individuals react in a society when it comes to laws and regulations. Criminology does not study crimes and specific laws. Rather, they simply study the reactions between individuals that are exposed to this type of situation. This helps them to be able to accurately understand how society functions. Crime seems to be an inevitable part of society. If we can one day understand why this is so, we stand a better chance of being able to one day eliminate crime from different societies.

Criminology is a unique field because it does not try to eliminate crime conclusively right now. They understand that first it is necessary to research and understand how society and crime are interrelated in different societies. Once this is clearly understood, we can begin to eliminate the criminal elements within a society. Because there are so many different societies, and crime does not relate the same way in all of them, it is very important to make sure that blanket theories are not created in order to try to attack crime on all points within the world. Rather, there are different rules and structures that play within different areas and may affect crime. Criminology views crime as something that cannot be avoided at the current time, but perhaps could be at some point when we understand more about interactions between the community and the individual.

Take the free card at low limit holdem

Certain advanced poker strategies used by pros have been well written upon, but many players seem to forget the exact poker situations described and tend to use certain tactics in the wrong game. The 'free card' poker play in Holdem is a perfect example of a strategy that should be used more often in a loose passive low limit game and less in tournaments or no-limit sessions.

The 'free card' poker play in Holdem is when a late position player bets or raises on the flop with a drawing hand in an attempt to show strength and to get the other players to check after the turn card is dealt. If the strategy works, the player then has the option of not putting any more bets in the pot on the next 'free' card (which is ideal when on a draw that needs to hit to win).

Low limit Holdem games are categorized as 'show down' games since many players will stay in the hand until the river and showdown. Straight forward play works better at these tables as most opponents won't be paying attention to your extra aggression or attemts at trickery. If players are likely to bet into you regardless of your play on previous betting rounds, raising in hopes of getting a cheap or free card will obviously not work. Since betting with a draw only has value when opponents will actually fold on occasion or as a strategy to get them to check to you, the semi-bluff should be attempted less often in loose games and checking in turn with hopes to hit your draw is suggested.

In tournaments where players are considering their stack size and survival, along with no-limit games where bluffs can be more successful, bets on a draw can be carried through with much more success and results. Many one-pair hands will fold when facing pot-sized bets or bigger and the likelyhood that your foes will muck hands like these should always carry weight when considering if you should wait to hit your draw or fire again in hopes to win immediately.

Concept Example : You raise with AsKs in late position after four players entered the pot, the big blind and the other four limpers call, so 6 of you see the flop for two bets each. The flop comes down 6c, 8s, Qd. It is checked to you, you bet and get 3 callers. The turn is the 2c.

With this type of board a tournament player will often consider making another big bet after the turn card. You can win by eventually hitting your outs or by getting the others to fold their hands. At the low limit tables however, checking is the suggested play since players will likely call down with any pair to the end in a pot that size when facing cheap limit bets.

Have a love affair with your mailbox

Several years ago, I developed an irrational fear of my mailbox. At the time I was struggling through severe financial difficulties, and it seemed like each day's mail delivery brought new "horrors" in the form of mounting bills, late notices, shut-off notices, and general bad news.

Eventually I learned how to turn that trend around and begin attracting greater prosperity into my life, but I was surprised to discover one day that I still clenched up in fear and anxiety every time I went to check the mail - or even walked past my mailbox! By this time I was well-versed in the power of the Law of Attraction when it comes to abundance, so I knew that my waves of mail-related anxiety weren't serving me - in fact, they threatened to send me right back to the Land of Lack!

I decided it was time to have a "love affair" with my mailbox.

Each morning when I awoke, I'd visualize my mailbox bursting with checks, gifts, and good news. I'd imagine myself feeling lighthearted and happy as I went to check the mail, and jumping excitedly up and down as I received my abundance each day.

Before I went to check the mail each day, I'd be sure to get myself into a state of joy and enthusiasm for the "goodies" that would be delivered that day - even if I wasn't sure what the day's mail would hold. I made sure NEVER to check the mail when I was feeling tired, irritable or lack-focused in any way.

The result? It was like a tidal wave of goodness came crashing into my mailbox! I started receiving unexpected checks, rebates, free gifts from companies I had purchased from before, and so on. I even received an unexpected refund from my insurance company because I had overpaid without knowing it!

All of this great stuff just came rushing forth because I altered the energy I was emitting regarding my mailbox. Rather than attracting negative things, I began attracting more positive things - even things I couldn't possibly have imagined!

Has your mailbox developed an ominous aura too? Do you cringe when you reach for your mail, worrying about the latest "horrors" that await you?

It's time to turn the tides of lack into a tidal wave of prosperity!

Here's how to do it:

1) First, as described above, begin visualizing your mailbox holding only GREAT stuff! Imagine receiving unexpected checks and gifts in the mail, and feeling calm and confident about any bills you receive. Know that you always have enough money to pay them. Create a warm glow of peacefulness and joy when it comes to your mailbox. Do this every day until you no longer feel anxious or fearful about what the mail will bring.

2) Before you go check the mail each day, be sure to get yourself into a state of high, strong, positive emotion. Generate feelings of excitement, joy, happiness, and love. Allow yourself to feel calm, peaceful and confident that the mail will hold only good things each day.

3) If you do happen to receive something negative (like a collection notice or a bill you can't pay yet), be SURE to stay CALM about it. Simply affirm that it will all work out for the best, you will have the money to pay your bills on time, and so on. Avoid investing any negative emotional energy to what you don't want (more lack)! Stay with your positive emotions, no matter how much willpower it might require at the beginning.

4) It's also helpful to open "gateways" through which prosperity can enter your life, if possible. As I described above, the universe can find plenty of ways to deliver greater prosperity into your life, both expected and unexpected! However, your results may be quicker if you take action to help the process along. Possible gateways might include: buying a lottery ticket, applying for a better job, entering contests, sending in rebate requests for recent purchases, and so on.

5) Give it time to work. Remember that you're constantly experiencing a residual effect of your previous thoughts, emotions, and expectations so don't be surprised if this process takes a few days to turn around. However, know that it CAN turn around immediately too! It all depends on the intensity of positive energy and belief you devote to it.

Remember, what you focus on EXPANDS! The more positive thoughts and emotions you can direct toward your mailbox - or any area of your life - the more positive results you're going to see there.

3 elements that make your ad successful

When was the last time you bought a car? Did you really NEED a car? I mean REALLY need a car? Chances are the one you were driving was still running when you bought the car you have now. Yep, Americans rarely buy because they need... they buy because they want to experience the feeling that comes with buying.

We enjoy new purchases. Sure, we can convince ourselves that we really needed a new one, but if we're totally honest we'll have to admit that would could've got by without it. What does this mean to your advertising campaign?

1. State The Benefits Of Your Product or Service

Capitalize on the ways a customer will improve his lifestyle by making the purchase. Will he increase his own business profits by 50 percent? Say so in the opening statement of your sales letter, or at the top of your Web page.

Don't obsess with the features of the product itself or your credibility. Frankly, customers could care less. Let's face it... they're a bit selfish when it comes to dishing out their hard earned money. All they want to know is what's in it for them.

2. Paint Word Picture That Let Them Experience the Benefits

"Wake up tomorrow, with no boss! You can spend the day with your family or on the golf course... there's nobody to tell you what to do."

A Multi Level Marketer may want his audience to feel the freedom of having no one to answer to if they become successful in the business. He'll dramatize that desire, and put the listener in the seat to inspire it to take hold until the listener is ready to sign up and get started.

3. Inspire Immediate Action

Hey, let's face it... the longer a customer lolly gags, the greater the chances he'll never take the plunge. Don't let him off the hook that easily!

Set a deadline. Put on the pressure to buy now, or miss out on the deal. Chances are pretty good that the procrastinator will get with it just to save a few bucks.

What about your sales materials? Have you taken a good look at the things you are advertising? Make sure you are focused on the benefits the consumer will experience from the purchase, and not on the features of the product or service.

Auto insurance comparison by state

A large number of vehicles in USA are increasing day by day, along with it the need of cheap auto insurance is also increasing. According to the data provided, there are more than 190 million motorists with 240 million registered vehicles. In this article we will study the auto insurance policies in the different US states:

Auto insurance companies in California: Every state has some rules and regulations that should be followed by all insurance companies. All auto insurance companies in California provide compulsory coverage’s fixed by government.

Coverages offered by auto insurance companies in California:

1. The amount of protection given for accident or injury caused in an accident ranges from $15,000 to $ 30,000.

2. Property damage coverage figured out up to $5,000.

3. Optional coverages offered by auto insurance companies in California are collision and comprehensive, medical payments and bodily coverage of underinsured or uninsured motorists.

Elements considered by “auto insurance companies in California” at the time of deciding rates.

1. Your age.

2. The kind of vehicle you possess.

3. Your driving record.

A Brief Insight to the Auto Insurance Rules and Coverage in Virginia

Auto insurance laws of Virginia do not match with other states. Motorists here bear responsibility for any damage or injury caused by accident. Virginia Beach auto insurance provides coverages in three forms.

a. Bodily injury coverage.

b. Property damage liability.

c. Underinsured and uninsured insurance coverage.

d. Liability minimums are 25/50/20.

Minimum Coverage provided by Virginia auto insurance:

1. Coverage in one accident or injury is $25,000.

2. Coverage in all injuries is $50,000.

3. Property damage coverage is $20,000.

Auto Insurance Rules and Coverage in Texas

Texas auto insurance requires you to have minimum liability. Many offers, discounts and lucrative deals are available. Your job is just to find the lowest quote for your self.

Minimum level of coverages:

Bodily Injury Liability (BI): $20,000 per person.

Property Damage (PD) coverage: $15,000 per accident.

With this comparison we can come to conclusion that auto insurance companies in California are comparatively expensive but they provide better coverage.

Important facts about saving bonds

Unlike traditional bonds, saving bonds are not subject to the ups and downs of the stock market. Savings bonds are low risk, government-backed bonds with guaranteed rates of interest. There is a tax advantage to savings bonds because the owner may be able to partially or completely exclude their interest from Federal income tax.

There are three types of saving bonds: I, EE/E and HH/H. They are issued by the US Treasury Department. They can only be purchased in one of three ways: 1) through authorized financial agencies, such as a bank; 2) through payroll deductions; and 3) through an electronic service called TreasuryDirect. All saving bonds are registered and held in name of the person who owns them. Savings bonds are registered securities. They can be replaced if they are lost or destroyed.

Series I bonds are available at face value only. Series I bonds come in $50 to $10,000 denominations. No more than $30,000 (face value) of paper bonds and $30,000 of electronic bonds purchased each year. They must be held for a minimum of 1 year and they will accrue interest for 30 years. Interest on the Series I bonds is based on a fixed rate (announced by the Bureau of Public Debt in May of each year) and an annual inflation rate (announced in November of each year).

Interest is paid when the bond is redeemed. If this happens before the bond is five years old, there is an interest penalty equivalent to the three most recent month’s interest. Interest is not subject to State and local taxes. It is, however, subject to State and local estate, gift and other excise taxes. Interest on the bonds is also subject to Federal taxes. If the bonds are used to finance an education, all the interest or only part may be excluded from federal income taxes.

The series EE bonds replaced Series E. EE bonds are very affordable and can be purchased at one half of their face value. They come in denominations from $50 to $10,000. Individuals can buy no more than $30,000 (face value) worth of paper bonds and $30,000 of electronic bonds annually. EE bonds purchased between May 1997 and April 30, 2005 earn a variable market-based rate of return. Those issued May 2005 onwards earn a fixed rate of interest. They will generate interest for 30 years and the interest is compounded semi-annually. The Series EE bonds are similar to the Series I Bonds in regard to interest payment and time of redemption. The biggest difference between EE and I bonds is that interest rates are figured differently. EE Bonds receive 90% of 6-month averages of 5-year Treasury Securities market yields.

Prior to September 2004, Series HH savings bonds could be purchased only in exchange for Series EE/E bonds. After that date, they could be purchased without them. Series HH bonds are available in denominations ranging from $500 to $10,000. They are purchased at their face value. There is no limit on the amount that can be purchased.

The interest on Series HH bonds is fixed on the date of purchase and will continue to accrue for 20 years. The interest is deposited directly into the owner’s checking or savings account. Series HH Savings Bonds must be held for a minimum of six months. Like Series I and EE, the interest on Series HH bonds is not subject to State and local taxes. It is, however, subject and State and local inheritance, gift and other excise taxes.

The best sony playstation 2 game ever created

God of War II for the Playstation2 is a 3rd person action game that has won awards for its brilliance. While the original God of War game was amazing, the updated version has bettered it and in doing so, created a must-have game on Playstation2.

Enter a world of Greek legend where you become Kratos, an evil brute, recently crowned the new god of war.

The game is beautifully paced, giving you seemingly endless areas to explore with truly believable atmospherics in a way not seen before. To complete the mission, you'll have to fight some fearless creatures, uncover the answers to problems that bar your way, fight your way past seemingly unbeatable boss characters, and prove that you're the most brutal being ever created.

God of War II really does emphasize combat over everything else and gives you more combos to perfect, new moves and an array of weapons than you would have dreamed to own in the first title. While God of War I only offered you one weapon, GOW2 gives you several, which can be made stronger with attack power and special moves and abilities. Choose your own style of combat, with levels that offer up constant surprises. Re-playability is excellent as well – you can store your upgrades for the second time around, giving you several options when meeting tough foes again.

For those of you interested in how this game was made the second CD has a detailed guide. Everything is shown, blowing the lid off the secrets of how such an amazing game came to happen.

The graphics and sound of GOW2 is truly awe-inspiring. The orchestral soundtrack definitely helps you to get into the game, and always feels in perfect sync with whatever you are doing, blending nicely with the action.

The animations are spectacular, with fine attention to detail, and a camera that doesn't cause problems and instead gives an improvement in gameplay massively – always keeping you visible and able to view all the action. Even the voice-overs are great, and the sound effects bring it to life.

The fantastic lighting and special effects of the game, along with the core visuals and backgrounds, additionally add to it’s already impressive appearance, and help to make God of War II truly the most beautiful game ever to grace the Sony Playstation2.

God of War II is for only for mature gamers, but it is definitely the best action-packed game on the Playstation2 and a must see experience in its own right. Its non-stop nature, huge re-playability and unbeaten atmosphere make GOW2 the greatest Playstation2 game you can own.

Static authority sites vs dynamic authority sites

Which way to go? What to read? In today's world each and every topic needs some research. We need to have good information and perfect facts about every hard and soft news floated. By static authority sites we mean the sites in which the information always remain static and never change. We can compare a static authority site to a news paper. Like once news printed cannot be changed, information in a static authority website once published can never be changed till next edition just like a newspaper and book.

On the other hand when we talk about dynamic authority sites we talk of those websites which are free and have a free flow of information. The dynamic authority websites use programming in addition to the layout to not only allow the flow of data in and out but to make a very meaningful and fruitful relation with the data. An online business directory allows all types of businessmen to open up their profiles and allow them to sign up. Individual can make their own profiles and carry on business through web. Visitors to the site may sign in to the website and search for all the information they need.

The dynamic authority websites empower individuals with the ability to upload their views in reference to the context. This facility is not available in static authority websites. These web sites do not allow individuals to upload their ideas and views in the sites. Visitors can read through the information but no personal views can be presented in these types of sites.

We can further look into the financials aspects when launching such sites. If the business is small then it is good to go for static authority websites. And if there are not a lot of products to display then people can go for static authority websites. But if there is a big business to launch and has a lot of information to offer then one can go for dynamic authority websites. Dynamic sites offer a whole host of direct and related information as well as allow visitors to give their own angle and opinion creating a two-way flow or share of information.

A simple example of this choice would help you understand the difference better. If you want to book or rent a small house you can go for the static authority website where you can get some area specific information about the price, options and contact information. But if you want multiple options and want to go through your house hunting process with a real estate broker then it is better to opt for a dynamic authority website which will have multi-layered information and databases to match your search.

In order to be better profiled for your online business, and get the best results from your Internet marketing strategies, opt for a dynamic site. It gives a comprehensive feel to your content and since it is reciprocal in nature, it goes a long way to make your site an authority website.

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Valentine Radar Detectors

I freely admit that I have a problem with driving over the speed limit. I figure there's no sense in owning a top-of-the-line sports car if I'm not going to open it up every time I hit the road. Of course, my sweet ride makes me an easy target for cops, and I've definitely received more than my fair share of speeding tickets over the years. However, that's all going to end now that I've got a Valentine radar detector on order.

Until recently, I was under the impression that all radar detectors worked in pretty much the same way and therefore gave drivers the same protection. But after talking to a buddy of mine, I realized that's not the case at all, so I decided to do a little comparison shopping on my own. I soon learned that Valentine radar detectors have the best overall ratings and the most positive reviews from regular consumers like me, mostly because of the advanced technology used in the devices.

I liked what I read, so I went down to a local electronics shop fully intending to pick one up. Then I saw the price tag and had to back off. I certainly didn't know that Valentine radar detectors cost so much! I realize that you have to pay extra for quality sometimes, but I just didn't have that kind of money. Plus, I was convinced that I could pick up the Valentine radar detector that I wanted for much less than what that shop was selling it for.

After I got back home, I started checking out a bunch of websites to see what kind of prices online merchants were offering. Just as I expected, I saw several sites advertising Valentine radar detectors at significant discounts. The model I wanted was in stock at most of the sites I looked at, so I simply picked a place that included free shipping in the bargain. My device should be here by the end of the week, and after that, I likely won't be getting very many speeding tickets anymore.

Sure, I suppose I could drive the speed limit and save myself the few hundred bucks I spent on my Valentine radar detector, but where's the fun in that? I'd much rather be able to enjoy my car to the fullest, even if it makes my wallet a little lighter. I'll just consider this purchase an investment and hope that it saves me money (and court appearances) in the long run!

7 simple steps to real estate investing

Whether you are BRAND NEW to real estate investing or an expert in the game, it’s critical that you understand these 7 Simple Steps to real estate investing.

First things first…

• Real Estate is NOT a get rich quick scheme. However, if you learn the foundations and put them into practice, you will make more than enough money to realize any and all of your dreams and goals.

• The real estate bubble is not going to burst! The real estate market will, however, shift and the real estate market will change – just as it always has! What’s “hot” now may turn ice cold in the next 3 years (or perhaps even 3 months). But, there are ways to “bubble proof” your real estate investments. It’s actually quite simple.

Did you know that in the United States, in 1975, the median home price was $33,300? In 2005, the median home price was $195,000. Historically, the average home doubled every 7 years. If you do the math, it should be well over $200,000.

OK… Now, having said that… The real estate market WILL change and what is “working” today in real estate may not in the future… The rental market was strong a decade ago, but has been soft in recent years. We are getting ready for a turn once again.

Real Estate IS a cycle… and cycles have some degree of predictability. With predictability, you can grow your real estate business into a cash-producing, profit-pulling machine that runs itself WITH the changing real estate market trends. It is still possible to make money in real estate. In fact, now is just as good a time as any to get started in real estate investing.

But, you’ve got to make wise investments. Sure, you may make some SERIOUS cash in pre-construction, but what happens if (no, not if – when) the market shifts and there are suddenly 35 identical properties on the market for sale in the same building? How long can you afford to carry a negative cash flow on the property?

Or how about taking over property ‘subject to’? Sure, it’s a great strategy and lenders may be inclined to turn the other way and not exercise the “due on sale” clause as long as the interest rates are at rock bottom prices (You know, those sellers that you’re usually taking property subject to from usually don’t have the lowest interest rates, right?) If the interest rates spike to 10-11%, don’t you think lenders might be MUCH MORE inclined to exercise their option to make you pay off the 6.5% note?

What this means is simply that you must be experienced in the basics – the tried and true techniques, strategies and systems that have worked in the past, are STILL working and will work in the future. You’ve got to have all the tools in your bag so that you can go with the flow and not be affected when real estate markets begin to shift (which they are already in the process of doing, in case you’ve missed that memo! ;-)

Step #1 - Set your plan: Figure out what your long term real estate goals are (aka retirement and wealth building) and figure out what your short term needs are with regard to making money in real estate. Then, set up the proper entities and put the plan in place.

Step #2 - Determine what your target market will be: You cannot be all things to all real estate markets. If foreclosures appeal to you, start investing in the foreclosure market. If you want to be a landlord, look to out of state owners to focus your real estate marketing efforts.

Step #3 - Be consistent and persistent: Real Estate is not a get rich quick scheme. Real Estate is get wealthy over time and put some quick cash in your pocket today. You’ve got to follow your plan and stick with it to see real results in real estate. You’ve also got to continue to increase your education and your experience.

Step 4 - Don’t fall into the “Analysis Paralysis”: Learn to analyze properties quickly. Don’t get caught up overthinking. It’s quite simple actually: What’s the property worth? What does the property need for repairs? And how much can you get the property for? It all comes down to numbers!

Step 5 - Become a master of finance!: Real estate is the business of marketing and finance. You must learn about mortgages and interest rates and loan programs that are out there. You must know how to use finance to negotiate your deals and to sell your properties.

Step #6 - Become a skilled problem solver: The reason you will get real estate deals that others don’t, is because you are able to solve people’s problems. Anything goes on the real estate playing field. You’ve got to be ready!

Step #7 - You must continue your education: It is important that you are always investing in your education and learning new tactics, strategies and tips that will help you make more in real estate.

If you enjoyed this article, make sure to look up the other articles discussing The 7 Simple Steps To Making Money on Real Estate. The next article discusses Step #1 – set your plan in further detail!

Bad credit no problem cash advance loans are here to help

All of us at one time or another find ourselves needing assistance with emergency repairs or unexpected expenses. In today's economy, we are all stretched thin.

Yet when we need help the most often we find that most of the traditional means of getting financial help have slammed their doors closed because of not-so-perfect credit. It's ironic that those who need help the most often have the hardest time getting help. Yet there are people out there who have made it their mission to help those that others turn away - the cash advance loan industry. They often say yes when everyone else says no.

It's easy to get a blemish on your credit report. An unexpected hospital stay can put you in debt for years. Your husband loses his job and suddenly you fall behind on a few payments. It doesn't matter that you caught the payment back up in just a few short months, those late payments will haunt you for years. The credit industry feeds off of hardship. They make their money off unfortunate life events and then make sure you end up paying for it for years to come. As a result, many of us find ourselves with less than perfect credit. We are hardworking people who pay our bills each month, but because we were a few months late three years ago we are labeled as high risk.

So what happens when something unexpected come up in life? Say you find your car needs a new starter so you can get to work but you are short on cash. Banks just laugh at you. Credit card companies won't give you a card because of those late payments years ago. Even friends and family have a habit of disappearing when you need them the most.

Instead of thinking the world is stacking the deck against you, check out the modern convenience of a cash advance loan. The only loan in the world that requires almost no credit check and virtually everyone who applies gets approved. Those old late payments won't haunt you here - they don't care about them, they just want to help you get your emergency taken care of so you can get back on with your life.

Cash advance loans are designed to help those out who need a small boost until their next payday with small, manageable loans that have a flexible repayment schedule and best of all have no credit check. As long as you have a job, you qualify. You could call those loans designed for the working man and woman instead of traditional loans designed for the filthy rich!

So stop worrying about your credit problems of the past and get your emergency taken care of today. In many cases you can get your loan and walk out the door with it the same day. Even better, you can often fill out the application online and have the loan direct deposited into your bank account the next day - talk about convenience.

The cash advance industry is here to help everyone who needs financial help regardless of your past credit problems. They say yes when everyone else says no.

Drug interactions the dangers of mixing up medicines

Health is wealth. This is why it is important for people take better care of their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Nowadays, there are more ways than ever to learn about what is good for one's health. The mass media, as well as the internet, provide relevant information about health issues such as drug interactions.

Types of Drug Interactions

There are people with medical conditions who take more than one medicine at a time. Some people see more than one doctor for different reasons. Still, even with the subtantiated proof on the efficacy of Western medicine, many still choose to take herbal supplements for health maintenance. It is to the patient's advantage as well as the doctors to be aware of all the medicines and supplements that are being taken in order to avoid possible negative effects of drug interactions. Below are 3 classifications of drug interactions.

1. Drug-Drug Interactions – is experienced when two or more medicines react with each other resulting in unwelcomed side effects. Taking a sedative or sleeping pill together with anti - allergy drug or antihistamine can slow down one's reactions making car driving or operating machineries too risky.

2. Drug-Food/Beverage Interactions – occur when drugs react with foods or beverages. For example, mixing alcohol with some drugs may cause a feeling of fatigue or slow your reactions.

3. Drug-Condition Interactions – may happen when an existing medical condition makes certain drugs potentially harmful. An example of this is when someone has high blood pressure, there could be an experience of adverse reaction if you take a nasal decongestant.

Effects of Drug Interactions

The effects of drug interactions may be as mild as making your drug less effective, or it can cause unexpected side effects such as allergies, palpitations or dizziness. It can also increase the action of a particular drug which can be detrimental to the health condition of the patient. As safety precaution, it is important that one should read the label of non-prescription or prescription drugs and should learn about drug interactions which may be critical to your health and can reduce the risk of potentially harmful interactions and its side effects.

Herbal Remedies

There is a growing number of alternative therapies such as herbal products and other supplements that are currently enjoying widespread acceptance in the United States. However, users seldom inform their physicians about it. People should be aware that these herbal products are not tested with the scientific rigor required of conventional drugs, and they are not subject to the approval process of the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Hence, herbal products are not supposed to be marketed for the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. However, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 enables these products to include in the labels statements about their alleged effects on the human body such as alleviation of fatigue or how they can help in promoting the general well-being of a person such as mood enhancement. These declared effects of herbal products have been analyzed and are proven to resemble claims of clinical efficacy for various diseases and conditions.

Morever, unlike conventional drugs, herbal products are not being regulated for purity and potency. This is the reason why some of the adverse effects and drug interactions reported for herbal products are attributed to such impurities such as allergens, pollen and spores. In addition, the more potent the herbal product is, the greater the possibility of its adverse effects.

Over-The-Counter Drugs

Over-the-counter medicine labels usually contain about ingredients, uses, warnings and directions that is important to read and understand including vital information about possible drug interactions. In addition, drug labels may change as recent developments about the drug are discovered. That is why it is of great significance that labels are read every time you use a drug.

Safety Precautions

Consult with your health care professionals about the medicines and supplements you take. Everytime your physician would give a new prescription, be sure to discuss all OTC and prescription drugs, dietary supplements, vitamins, botanicals, minerals and herbal supplements you take icluding the food that you eat. See to it that whenever you buy medicines from the pharmacy, the package insert for each prescription drug is included for it will provide you with more information about potential drug interactions.

Coastal vacation scams equal bad vacations for you

Coastal vacation scam artists take people’s money with promises of phony vacations. Many of these offers use words like “cheap Hawaiian vacation” to lure travelers.

Most people dream of taking a coastal vacation. They may hope for a cheap Hawaiian vacation package or dream of a coastal vacation resort weekend.

But many coastal vacation scams disguise themselves as legitimate offers. Police report an increase in coastal vacation scams in recent years.

The Internet spawned a new breed of coastal vacation scam artist wanting to cheat honest consumers out of their money. Anyone who types in cheap Hawaiian vacation package into a “Google” search engine will find over one million his.

The Federal Trade Commission reported 3,600 consumers scammed in 2002, amounting to $3.5 million. How can consumers tell the difference between a coastal vacation scam and an honest cheap vacation package?

1. Many people operating coastal vacation scams will ask for a credit card or other financial information early in the conversation. Many of these so-called vacation companies want consumers to give their financial information online for a “cheap Hawaiian vacation.”

The desire by the company to receive financial information before the consumer feel comfortable doing so should indicate a red flag and a possible coastal vacation scam.

Many cases of identity fraud started with coastal vacation scams. Consumers receive their bank or credit card statements and find that in addition to their “cheap Hawaiian vacation,” charges of cash advances and purchases of high-dollar merchandise.

Consumers who fall prey to identity fraud should contact their local law enforcement immediately about the coastal vacation scam.

2. The company operating coastal vacation scams will offer the consumer very little details about the planned trip. The person on the other line, on the phone or on the Internet, will offer constant assurances the hotel in the cheap Hawaiian vacation package features Oceanside views, luxuries rooms and private balconies---very broad descriptions.

The “seller” of the coastal vacation scam may claim they stayed there many times but cannot give specifics.

The company asks the consumer not to contact the hotel or resort directly about the vacation package, another sign of a coastal vacation scam.

If the consumer cannot confirm the reservations with the hotel directly, the consumer should look elsewhere for a cheap Hawaiian vacation. Consumers should get the details and take charge of their coastal vacation and not fall prey to coastal vacation scams.

3. Coastal vacation scam artists use word like “free” or “vacation offer.” Often these so-called “offers” include a daylong presentation before families can use their free tickets--a common coastal vacation scam technique.

If consumers cannot see the islands on their cheap Hawaiian vacation and must sit through lengthy presentations, the vacation may not seem so “cheap.”

4. The Better Business Bureau and other government agencies maintain lists of coastal vacation scams. Smart consumers check these lists and report any contact by these coastal vacation scam artists.

One of the more popular ruses offers a cheap Hawaiian vacation or a cheap family vacation package.

Fear of a coastal vacation scam should not keep consumers from seeking out great vacation deals, like a cheap Hawaiian vacation.

Many companies offer legitimate family vacation packages and an honest travel incentive program that saves families even more money on their vacation costs. Coastal vacation scams should not discourage travelers.

Advice to surf the web anonymously

So, let's talk privacy, and then let's talk about how you haven't got any. That's right, if you are surfing the Internet, and you aren't doing it through some third party proxy server, the sites you surf to can potentially learn everything about you-your habits, your likes and dislikes, who your buying preferences and more.

In this way, advertisers can serve up those annoying pop-up ads, spyware can quietly download to your computer in the background and track your every move, government agencies can watch you, and hackers can slither into your hard drive and steal your world.

Paranoid yet?

If you aren't re-read the the opening to this article slowly. While you are reading it, remember an advertiser's spyware could be phoning in your private information for future use as you read.

What is anonymous surfing? Remember the old punchline, "On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog?" Well, if you practice Anonymous Web Surfing 101 nobody will know whether your Fido, the family pet out looking for the latest craze in dog food or the parakeet looking for warmer climes.

But seriously folks, put simply, anonymous web surfing erases any trace or trail of where you've been or going on the Internet.

Your private world remains private and no one, not even your Internet Service Provider (that's the guy you pay $20 to $40 dollars a month to get on the Net) won't have a clue about who you are. This is how it used to be, and this is how it should be. Period. End of story.

Beyond simple paranoia, people have various reasons to surf anonymously ranging from general terror about losing their privacy to wanting to keep their personal surfing sites that they go to on the job away from the prying eyes of their employers.

Beyond the obvious, what are spy websites looking for, and how do they accomplish it. Websites use a variety of methods to gather intel from the most basic which is your IP address to placing cookies on your website.

Your IP address is where you started from, like your home street address. Cookies are little bits of information placed on your computer that keeps track of your habits.

One of the easiest cookies is kept by Internet Explorer, when you visit and log in to a website, IE will ask you if you want it to remember your username and password. If you say yes, it will download a small file with that information to your hard drive. Forever more, or until you clear your cookies in IE, whenever you visit that site, it will automatically fill in your log in information.

Neat, huh? Well that's okay. But what about the cookies that are downloaded that you don't know about. That's where the grey area of invasion of privacy comes in. That's also where anonymous web surfing stops it dead in its tracks.

Sites use a variety of techniques to gather and collate this information, but the two most basic are examining your IP address and placing cookies on your PC. Matching your IP address with your cookies makes it easier for them to create personal profiles. If you'd like to see what kind of information sites can gather about you, head to these two sites, which peer into your browser and report what they find.

http://analyze. privacy. net gives a comprehensive report plus an introduction to privacy. net which shows you more about cookies, gives you a look at what others see when they look at your computer and more.

Browse Spy located at http://gemal. dk/browserspy/ goes even deeper into your system and gives an eye-opening report on what's on your system right down to the software you own.

Now that you know why you should surf anonymously and how easy it is for others to violate your privacy, how do you stop it? It's actually easier than you might think.

There are a couple software packages out there for anonymous surfing. I personally like Tor and Vidalia located here. It runs in the background through my Firefox settings, and while it slows down my surfing a little, The Tor/Vidalia combination is a bit tricky to set up so if you don't need heavy-duty protection, you might want to select one of the packages listed below. Either way, I no longer have to wonder who's virtually following me around taking notes.

Like most anonymizers, it sends my information through a special series of computers called proxy servers which screen me from the websites I'm contacting.

My computer contacts a proxy server instead of the website directly. The website, in turn, doesn't see me, it sees the proxy servers IP address and proxy servers are like the aircraft carriers of the net.

They have so much armament to block cookies, popups and other web parasites that it never gets infected or passes anything on to its clients.

Other programs that facilitate anonymous surfing include Guardster, SnoopBlock and Mega Proxy and Anonymizer. My second favorite anonymizer, is one of the four I just listed. Anonymizer is recognized as the leader of the pack and is relatively simple to use.

It's where I started before I got involved with servers and such, and is really good for web surfing protection.

Last, if you are at work and can't load a bunch of stuff to your workstation, simply surf to http://www. the-cloak. com/anonymous-surfing-home. html. It's web based, easy and with nothing to download, a real godsend. Give them a donation and you can log in and surf to your heart's content.

It's not the prettiest site to look at, but it is functional and it has never failed me for fast cloaking.

It's done by having a special computer -- called a proxy server -- screening you from the websites you are contacting. Your computer contacts only the proxy server, which contacts the website for you.

The website, in turn, sees only your proxy server and not you. In addition to hiding your IP address, a proxy server will usually block cookies, pop-ups and other annoying web parasites.

With some systems you have to go to an anonymous service website and access your favorite website from there. With others, you download and install software which finds an anonymous server for you.

There are numerous services and programs that facilitate anonymous surfing such as Guardster, SnoopBlocker and Mega Proxy, but Anonymizer is the pioneer and recognized leader of the pack.

Odors can make or break the sale of your home

It’s amazing how important the sense of smell is to many people. If you’re selling your home, and this applies across the board to houses, townhouses, condos, apartments, or whatever, you need to be aware of the power of odors. An odor like cigarette smoke can cause potential buyers to leave quickly without ever really considering purchasing your home. On the other hand, an odor like that of bread baking can conjure up all sorts of homey feelings and cause the same potential buyer to linger.

Do You Have “Deal Killer” Odors?

The two most common offenders are cigarettes and pet odors. Sadly, most people who smoke or have pets don’t realize this. Often, they don’t notice the smells themselves, so they think this isn’t a problem. Well, it is. A surprising number of people will have a swift, strong, negative reaction. Would you like to smack every second or third prospective buyer in the face when they come through your door?

Anything cloyingly sweet like “room deodorizers” which really just cover up other scents by overwhelming them is likely to be an offender. The same thing is true of other strong, funky smells. Unwashed gym clothes and shoes, cooking smells from foods such as cabbage, fish or more than a little garlic or curry will probably be offensive to many people.

So is it really necessary to stop smoking (or only smoke outdoors), ban the dog to the garden and basement, wash the laundry, and stop cooking strong smelling foods until your home is sold?

Yes.

Beyond that, it’s necessary to “clean up your act” if you’re really desirous of selling your home. You’ve probably cleaned it up visually already, but what to do about lingering odors? Anything made of cloth holds odors for a long time. Carpets, upholstery, curtains and draperies, table skirts and the like will smell for months or forever. What on earth do you do about them?

If it’s bad enough, carpets need to be replaced and upholstered furniture put into storage. However, it’s often adequate to shampoo carpets and the upholstery in the most intense areas (your favorite smoking chair and the pieces nearby) and launder the curtains. Keep fans going while things are drying; you don’t want to end up with mold and mildew smells. Your goal is to clean up the cause of the smell, not to cover it up.

Attractive Odors Attract

Odors people find attractive are very personal, but there are general smells that are pleasant and cause good emotional responses in most people. We’ve already mentioned baking bread. Almost anything that smells sweet when tends to be in this category – cookies, apple pie, cinnamon buns, etc. Of course, it’s not practical to bake the whole time your house is on the market, but one thing each week-end might be possible.

In cool weather, apple cider simmering with a cinnamon stick or two and a few cloves has much the same effect and is definitely easier to do. A vase or two of flowers with mildly scented flowers is another possibility.

Of the two, cleaning out offending scents is much more important than adding pleasant ones. If you can successfully do both, you’re way ahead of much of your competition and it will help your home sell faster.

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Airline Approved Pet Carriers Make Traveling a Breeze

Traveling is rarely a fun endeavor. There are so many small details to tend to and if you’re taking the family pet along, it can become even more stressful. Many airlines have strict regulations in place when it comes to bringing a dog or cat on board and you want to be certain you are completely clear on those before you get to the airport. Nothing is quite as frustrating as being told the furry member of your family can’t fly. To avoid this type of situation always ensure you are traveling with airline approved pet carriers.

There are two different ways to transport your animal on an airplane and it really is dependent on how big they are. For all large dogs you’ll have to check the animal and they will be stored in the airplane. You’ll need one of the oversized airline approved pet carriers for this. Before the animal will be accepted at check-in you’ll be required to supply your name and address and final destination. This information will be attached to the container holding your pet in case something goes amiss and the animal is separated from your flights.

Many people choose to bring their pets on board as a piece of carry-on luggage. This is really only acceptable if you are using a small dog carrier or a small cat carrier. These must match the dimensions specified by the airline as being appropriate for a carry-on. You’ll want to be able to store it under the seat in front of you as opposed to the overhead storage bins. This helps your four-legged friend feel more relaxed because they know you are close by.

A good rule of thumb to remember when you are looking for one of these handy pet must-haves is that your animal must fit comfortably in it. You can’t try and fit a large dog into a small carrier. The animal has to be able to lie down and it must have enough room for your dog or cat to turn around. All airline approved pet carriers have to accommodate your pet in these ways. If they don’t, you likely won’t be able to bring the pet with you, which will mean a delay in your trip.

We all know how much more convenient it is to travel with luggage that allows for ease of movement. This means you’ll really want to consider airline approved pet carriers that have wheels. This is true regardless if you are buying one for a small, lightweight animal or a very large dog. Your pet will be much more comfortable being pulled in a carrier that has wheels than they would be if you were carrying them. Just imagine how much smoother it will be for them.

If you consider your pet to be part of your family you’ll want to make certain that they are as safe as possible when traveling by air. Buy a carrier that meets airline regulations and allows your pet room to move and rest. This way you’ll know that they’ll always be snug and secure.

What should i look for in a metal detector

If you are planning to buy a metal detector, you should check out the features of each before buying one. Metal detecting is a fun hobby but having the wrong equipment can cost you time and money.

When buying a metal detector consider the price. If the metal detector offers the best features of a then expect it to be expensive. If having fewer features is all right with you, go for a less expensive one. Metal detectors can run from as low as $50 to higher than $400.

Some metal detectors use BFO (Beat Frequent Oscillation). This technology contains two coils of wire. The two coils are represented by two wires which is the large and the small. The large coil can be found in the search coil of the detector while the small coil is found on the System Control Pack. The coils are connected to an oscillator which produces pulses of current. The pulse passes through the coils in order to generate radio waves.

A receiver within the System Control Pack receives the radio waves causing it to make a series of tones which is based upon the frequencies coming from the radio waves. Once the detector search coil encounters a coin or any metal item, it is surrounded by a magnetic field which causes interference with the frequency. The tone produced by the receiver is then changed. In choosing the best detectors, you should pick the ones with BFO. This technology is the easiest to use and the cheapest to own.

Metal detectors using PI (Pulse Induction) technology often makes use of a single coil or even a series of coils that works as a receiver and the transmitter. The short bursts of electricity are allowed to pass through a coil or wire which causes magnetism. The magnetic field will reverse its polarity if the bursts of electrical current are stopped.

More pulses are created when sharp electrical spike is created. Then the whole process will repeat and works like a series of echoes, giving it a different report which depends on the metal it has encountered. Therefore, this type of detector is not that ideal for discrimination between the various types of metals or coins. This is appropriate to use in areas where salt-water and metals can be detected.

VLF (Very Low Frequency) is a metal detector having two search coils. The two coils are the “transmitter coil” which rapidly transmits electricity and the other coil known as the “receiver coil”. The activity of this coil is implied in its name already. It is responsible for receiving frequencies that bounce back from the object that the coil detects. This type of detector is best for identifying different types of metals.

Now that you have learned the three different types of metal detector, it’s up to you to make your choice as to what type of detector you wish to use for your searches.

Using long lenses

Using a telephoto lens to get in close to the action or sneak up on a subject from a discreet distance is terrifically exciting, and can yield great pictures. But the high magnification of long tele and zoom lenses accentuates the effects of camera shake caused by your inability to hold the camera and lens absolutely still. The effects of wind, moving or shaking floors, residual vibration from camera mirrors flipping up just prior to exposure, atmospheric haze, and heat waves can also add problems.

Cold, tired, been drinking stimulants (coffee, tea, or cola)? They add to your problems. Avoid them all if you can and don't despair.

When handholding your camera and lens, start with a fast film, ISO 400 or higher. This will allow you to use higher shutter speeds (1/1000 sec and above) and minimize the effects of shake in a variety of lighting conditions. Use the proper stance: arms closely tucked into the body, elbows partially supported by the chest or abdomen, lens and camera balanced by the left hand and arm.

Practice supporting and focusing the camera with your left hand, aim the camera slightly above the subject, take a deep breath, let the view drop to the proper composition while exhaling, and gently press the shutter.

For support, find a fence post, parked car, or folded jacket. Lean on it or rest your camera on top of it while shooting. If you have such a support, a 1/30 second exposure isn't an impossibility, even with a 500mm lens. You'll be using slower shutter speeds more often than you'd like. The minimum shutter speed rule of thumb for hand-holding a long tele or zoom lens is this: Slowest safe shutter speed = 1 over the lens focal length.

For example, if you're shooting with a 500mm f/4 lens, the limiting shutter speed for a handheld shot would be 1 /500 second at the correct aperture for a good exposure. This rule applies to a properly-braced photographer standing on solid ground.

Chest braces, rifle stocks, and similar devices aren't as practical as a lightweight monopod or tripod. A monopod is easy to carry, and you can set it up just about anywhere.

It won't allow you to set shutter speeds as slow as you can get away with using a tripod. But it will let you shoot safely—that is, without a serous risk of image-softening shake—at speeds two or three steps slower than you'd have to use if you were shooting handheld. That may make it possible to shoot in lower light, and/or to use a slower, finer-grained film.

Get a monopod that can be raised to your eye level, is quick and easy to set up. If you shoot a lot of verticals, you may want to add a good swivel ball head for maneuverability.

A tripod is the best device for insuring minimal effects from vibration with a long tele or zoom lens. With a sturdy one, you can use slower shutter speeds and lower ISO-higher resolution films. If you own a shaky tripod, tie a three to five pound weight to the center column for added stability.

Physically long teles should have tripod-mounting collars to attach the lens at the proper fulcrum to the tripod rather than the camera. You can also use a secondary support for the camera like Bogen's Long Lens Support. This telescoping brace attaches to most tripod legs via a universal clamp at one end and a swivel ball head for the camera at the other. The brace makes it more difficult to change camera position, but it considerably lessens the effects of vibration.

If you're on shaky ground, tripods won't help. They'll actually transmit the motion right to the lens and camera. It's better to handhold the camera if you can set a reasonable shutter speed, and let your body damp the vibration.

Atmospheric haze and heat waves can't always be eliminated, but using a haze or polarizing filter can help cut through the haze and increase color saturation and contrast. Also, use your lens hood, or shade the lens, to minimize the possibility of flare.

Few techniques in photography require more expertise and skill than the successful use of a long tele or zoom lens. If you want to become more proficient, practice, practice, practice!

Watercolor

Watercolor

Watercolor is a type of painting that has been known to result in some very lovely works of art. Some people engage in watercolor painting as a hobby while others are professionals and this is their choice to work with. The process of painting with watercolors may be done with a brush or with the hands. It can be done on paper or a canvas.

It is believed watercolor is one of the oldest forms of painting that has been identified. It is one of the methods used to paint various pictures in caves. Those paintings were very well preserved and they have given us a very personal look at the lives of people from back then. To make the watercolors they likely mixed water with various types of dyes and extracts from plants.

Today the various types of supplies used to make watercolor paintings have changed quite a bit. There are four main types of supplies that you will need in order to complete such projects. The pigment is what gives each of the individual colors their ability to stand out or to blend in with the others. A binder is needed in order for the various pigments to bond together for the painting.

There are only a few primary colors out there yet there are many shades of it used for watercolor paintings. This is achieved by placing various types of additives to the pigment. Generally this is done to just a small amount of it so that enough is available for the project to be completed.

The last of the supplies is the solvent. This is used to make the watercolor as thick or thin as necessary. It depends on what the artist wants to make from it. It will also depend on the size and shape of the brush that the artist is using to paint with. For finger painting, they are very thick. As the solvent dries though so will the watercolor. In fact, most of the solvent will end up evaporating by the time the watercolor is completely dry.

Some individuals have taught themselves how to use watercolors. You should take some lessons though if you want to learn all of the right techniques. They can be offered at a local college or even online. You can also watch shows on TV or buy videos that will show you all the basic steps. It can be great fun to learn all about watercolor and to create unique paintings.

4 things you should know before starting an e-biz

Advice from a Genius

Renowned E-Biz author Sydney Johnston created the now-famous Auction Genius courses (http://Auction-Genius-Course. com) to aid people wanting to create their own e-businesses. She shares some important tips for anyone looking to learn the online retail industry:

Tip 1 — Start Small.

Many of Johnston’s students are eager to dive in head first, ready to invest all their savings into overseas imports or shopping network returns. But Johnston discourages such risky moves for two reasons.

• They haven’t considered all the costs — the enormous minimum quantities that may be required, or the price of having their goods shipped from overseas, not to mention the incidental charges they may incur in the process.

• They have little experience and, therefore, no way of knowing all that these transactions entail. Says Johnston, “You’re going to make mistakes in the beginning. The way to minimize any kind of horrible error is to learn with inexpensive items, and scale up.” Start with a minimum investment; and as you begin to make a profit, put that money back into your business rather than buying new toys for yourself.

Tip 2 — Research the Market and Test Your Results.

As you go, you’ll learn which products sell well and where you’re actually making a profit. Johnston has a “funnel theory” on finding your product niche: “You start really broad, with huge categories. Then you do your market research and you funnel down. You get smaller and smaller, until out the other end of the funnel comes a handful of products that you can really do well with.”

Tip 3 — Start on EBay.

EBay is a great tool for beginners just learning about online retail. There are several reasons why it’s a smart place to start:

• It’s quick, easy, and inexpensive.

• The traffic is built in, and the people that are seeing your listings are seeing them because they’re specifically searching for your type of product.

• It’s a good way to get exposed to the ins and outs of the business.

Tip 4 — There’s No Such Thing as “Get Rich Quick!”

Starting an e-business is just like starting any other business — it takes patience and persistence. Don’t expect to be magically rolling in money overnight. And don’t just jump at every “opportunity” that comes along, for fear of missing out. Research it first; if it sounds too good to be true — well, you know... If you take the time to understand what you’re doing, there’s plenty of room in the e-commerce industry for you to make money.

How to print colored images

Color printers bring life to your dull images by giving them vivacious, bright and crisp colors that make us take a second look or perhaps hypnotize us by their awesome magnetism.

Printing colored images happens by dividing a page into a great number of tiny dots. The printer responds to the computer’s work by moving crossways and downwards to print each dot of color on the page. Sometimes, two or three colors are put on top of each other to create a new color. There are also times when it just has to leave a blank white spot.

Computer monitors display three base colors - red, green and blue (RGB), to create colors on screen. Adding these three colors will result to white. This is the reason why the process is called additive color.

Color printers, on the other hand, use four base colors – cyan, magenta, yellow and black (popularly known as CMYK). When two of the subtractive primaries (cyan, magenta and yellow) are mixed, they can create red, green and blue. When all are mixed, black is created. To provide a richer black, commercial printers use a separate black color.

In order to get the right color of the image, the printer has to generate tiny dots that blend with the target color. This is called dithering or half-toning. Smooth gradation is one signal of half-toning. To do this, colored dots are aligned in a grid called cells. After that, these cells are printed with the primary colors in different quantities to form other colors.

Aside from dithering or half-toning, another consideration is the color gamut. The latter refers to the range of colors that can be created through devices. The photographer’s color gamut is far different from that of the printer. Thus, in order to create a closer semblance, colors must be close enough to the original colors.

As regards to the two most popular color models (CMYK and RGB), both of them must be taken into consideration before printing. RGB gamut is different from CMYK gamut. Moreover, some colors belonging to one model to another may not display accurately. These colors are called out-of-gamut colors.

In printing the right colors, be sure to convert RGB to CMYK colors. That way you can have the exact counterpart.

Charcoal-water-filters-19

Taking better care of our health has been a leading theme over the past decade. People want to be healthier in the longer lives that we are living. Better health care includes regular medical check ups, eating healthier foods and getting exercise and rest. Drinking plenty of water is also important to maintaining good health. The bottled water industry is making millions of dollars off of people wanting good quality water.

My husband and I live in a rural area in the lakes area of our state. We have our own well because the city water does not extend out to our area. The water from our well has a great deal of iron in it so we need to have a water softener to keep our pipes from corroding and to keep our sinks, tubs, toilets and laundry from turning rusty colored. We did not like drinking the water out of the tap because of the salt content from the softener. Our neighbor told us that they use charcoal water filters for their drinking water. They feel that the charcoal water filters greatly improve the taste of the water and the company that produces the filters claim that they reduce the sodium level from softened water.

We bought the charcoal water filters and the pitcher that goes with it. We decided to have the pitcher variety so we would always have cold water in the refrigerator. The charcoal water filters are also available as an attachment to your faucet, but we did not think we needed to filter all of the water that came through the faucet. If we did that we would have to replace the filters too often and we would be spending more money than buying bottled drinking water. We do still buy bottled drinking water to take along with us in the boat or on outings, but we use the cold water out of the pitcher to drink with meals or to have a glass of water when we are in the house. We also use the water out of the pitcher to make our coffee. The coffee that is made from the filtered water tastes so much better. Also we used to notice an oily residue on the coffee if it sat in the pot for any length of time. Now that we use filtered water the residue is not longer there. Getting plenty of water is important for better health and it is also important to consider the source of that water. Having some type of filtering system to trap the unwanted chemicals is important.

7 steps to effective goal setting

You don't have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things - to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.

- Sir Edmund Hillary, first climber to successfully summit Mt. Everest

Setting goals is one of the most commonly used training tools. Goals can organize the competitors’ focus and endeavors towards achieving a specific task. They also increase persistence and motivation for long term training. Having a goal can help a performer find new learning strategies. Unfortunately, people’s goals are all too often made incorrectly. If you are interested in setting some goals, or even reevaluating your current goals, follow these seven steps for proper goal setting.

Step 1) Define your goal

Ask yourself these questions:

- What exactly do you want to accomplish?

- What achievement would be worth your very best effort?

- What would you attempt if you knew it was impossible to fail?

- What would you go for if you knew this was your very last chance?

Make sure your vision is clear and powerful, one that you would follow despite whatever setbacks and failures that might arise along the way. The goal has to be very specific (i. e. “My goal is to place in the top 32 of the Division I NAC,”), rather than vague or general (i. e. “I want to fence well.”) so you can tell whether or not you have actually reached it.

Step 2) Where are you right now?

Carefully examine where you are right now in terms of your goal. Have you been just “getting by” or do you train to reach the next level? Are you willing to do things you may not want to do in order to reach your goal? Identify when you fence your best and what creates that kind of situation.

Step 3) Be honest about what you need to do

In order to get where you want to go, you have to know how to get there. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What sort of situations do you thrive or deteriorate? Identify at least one aspect in each of the following skill type categories that needs improvement: physical (i. e. gains in speed), tactical (i. e. develop a bout winning move), technical (i. e. more accurate point control) and mental (i. e. higher confidence).

Step 4) Formulate a daily improvement plan

This is the most important step of the goal setting process. Ask yourself, “What can I do on a daily basis to work towards reaching my goal?” For each area that you identified in step 3, write out at least three or four specific actions that you can take. Write them as “I” statements and in the present tense. For example, if you need to improve your speed, you can list, “I do my plyometric exercises for fifteen minutes, three times a week.” You are more likely to follow that than, “I will get faster legs.”

Step 5) Make and work on short-term goals

The goal that you set in step 1 may take a long time to reach, perhaps months or even years. Set short-term goals to keep you motivated throughout this time. Achieving these goals will give you feedback on your progress towards your ultimate goal. They should be process orientated, and reflect that achieving your goal is an ongoing process.

Step 6) You must commit!

It is easy to say you’re going to do something - actually doing it is another story. This is analogous to people who make a New Year’s resolutions to lose weight; seldom people actually go through with it. Second guessing yourself, missing opportunities and being hesitant will only delay your eventual success. Keep reminding yourself to enjoy the journey along the way!

Step 7) Continually monitor your progress

Every day ask yourself, "Am I getting closer to my goal?" Is your goal plan actually working or does it need adjustment? If your answer is "I'm not sure", then you are not really making progress. Write down what your small success and lessons learned along the way, or make a checklist that charts your progress. In times when it seems like your goal is too far out of reach, you can look at your progress list and visually see how far you have come, and how much closer you are to your goal.

References

Hillary, E. P. (n. d.). In Goal-Setting-Guide. com. Retrieved on July 26,

2007 from www. goal-setting-guide. com/quote-goal. html

Lou Holtz. (n. d.). In Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. Retrieved July

26, 2007 from en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Lou_Holtz

Sir Edmund Hilary. (n. d.). In Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia.

Retrieved July 26, 2007 from en. wikipedia. org/wiki/ Edmund_Hillary

USMA Center for Enhanced Performance. (2006). Goal setting: The

pathway to success. Retrieved July 25, 2007 dean. usma. edu/cep/default. htm