The problems and advantages of a lifetime loan

If you think that a mortgage is beyond you because even with a term of 25 years the payments are too high, then maybe you should consider getting a lifetime loan. These loans are literally for life, unless you pay them off before your death. They allow you to get property that you might otherwise struggle to finance, whilst keeping your monthly payments low. Although they have some benefits, there are risks involved too. If you are unfamiliar with lifetime loans, then here are some facts about their problems and advantages.

What is a lifetime loan?

A lifetime loan is just like it sounds; a mortgage loan that you can use indefinitely without paying back regular payments. You take out the mortgage and then pay back a minimal amount each month. If the mortgage is not fully paid by the time you are dead, then the remaining money is taken from the house’s value.

Flexibility with money

One of the primary advantages of a lifetime loan is that it allows you flexibility to pay back your mortgage. If you can afford to pay back large amounts at some point, then you can do so. However, if you do not wish to pay back more than the minimum amount you do not have to. This allows you to be flexible with your spending, and can help you to maintain a good level of cash flow throughout your life. This is especially useful when you are older and do not have a large regular income.

Costs of a lifetime loan

In general, lifetime loans have similar rates to other mortgages, with rates between 6 and 8%. Although you can probably find a cheaper rate with a traditional repayment mortgage, the rates for lifetime loans are very good considering the flexibility they offer you.

Drawdown facilities

Another advantage of lifetime loans is the ability to borrow more money at a later stage of the loan. Once you have paid back some of the equity into your home, or your house price increases, you can withdraw more money. This allows you to get a cheaper loan than you would normally, and can save you payments on credit cards and other loans. Some lifetime loans only allow you to borrow more money in the first ten years, although more and more are allowing people to withdraw more funds at any time, as long as they have the equity in their home to do it.

Paying after death

The biggest problem with lifetime loans is that you end up leaving your debt to someone else. In the worst-case scenario, your house price reduces, meaning your relatives are left with debt even after the house is sold to pay off the mortgage. Although it leaves you flexibility, unless you pay off your mortgage your relatives will be left with little in the way of inheritance, and may even inherit your debt. Lifetime loans can be a great in terms of flexibility, but if you want to leave something for your relatives you either have to pay off the mortgage when you can or you need to find a different type of mortgage loan.

How to care for your animation art - 5 common questions

Can we handle Animation Cels? Unframed Animation Cels should be handled as little as possible, preferably not at all. When handling your cel, it would be best to use clean cloth gloves. With or without gloves, cels are best handled by the edges.

Where can I store an unframed Animation Cel? Store it upright, in a cool room, away from sources of direct heat or sunlight. Cels seem to store better in moderate humidity: not too dry and not too moist. Do NOT store in a Kitchen, bathroom, loft or cellar, unless properly insulated.

Where should I not hang a framed piece of Art? Do not hang any art where direct sunlight can cross it and neither hand it above a radiator. Watch for hot-spots reflected from glass tables; it can be just as damaging as direct sunlight. If there is a high amount of reflected sunlight, you will want to make sure your cel is framed with a UV-reflective material.

Can I clean an Animation Art Cel myself? No, under any circumstances, do not attempt to clean a cel yourself. Leave this to the professionals such as your framer, who can remove minor smudges and other imperfections, and they should do so with extreme care.

How should I frame my artwork? Always frame your art with the highest quality materials. Use acid-free mats and backing, especially for framing drawings or other, paper based artwork.

If you are choosing a piece of Art it is easy and safe to purchase over the internet, but choosing a frame is very personal and is more advisable to be done in person at a local framing gallery, as you can choose the exact size and colour to compliment your cel and the room it is to be displayed in.

Artwork that is shipped framed can become warped, especially if it is a large piece, or if it is stretched on canvas. Additionally glass or perspex can crack or smash and damage your artwork.

© Premier Animation 2005

Addictive foods and their harmful consequences

Most of us are fond of at least one product that has the effect of a stimulant and that eventually becomes an addiction. These products include exercise stimulant drinks (they come in cans and look like cola), fizzy aerated drinks, tobacco, betel nut, betel leaf, strong coffee, strong tea, mahuang (an ephedrine-like compound consumed in china), and alcohol.

Before I tell you why we shouldn’t consume these products, I’d like to deal with the question of why we do consume them in the first place.

There’s no one who doesn’t know that products like these, consumed in excess, can severely harm our bodies. Yet, we still find them hard to resist. The need to eat stimulant food is a simple human weakness that has existed for ages: humans (and many animals) have always indulged in foods that give a sort of emotional high. In clinical terms, this means rapid heart beat, a little sweating, dilation or constriction of the pupils of the eye, a warm flush on the face, and a sense of greater sensitivity, concentration and perception.

These sensations of ‘high’ die down within a few hours, and we are left feeling listless and low. This leads to a craving for that food again, to experience the high one more time. And there we are going round and round in a vicious circle.

The physiology of addictions is as follows:

When you eat an addictive food, it stimulates the hormone like substances found at the end of your nerves, which triggers an avalanche of similar stimulatory substances and you experiences a high. As the substances near the nerves are depleted, you get into the low phase, which leads you to crave that food again. This yo-yo phase of nerve stimulation and depletion leads to a pattern of addiction.

Consuming addictive foods is one of the oldest unhealthy food practices and, despite a revolution in health consciousness; it shows no signs of dying out.

Below are some side effects of certain addictive foods.

Alcohol Addiction: Erosion of stomach and intestinal lining, liver damage, nutritional deficiency.

Tobacco: Erosion of gum and tongue can lead to cancer of the buccal mucosa.

Betel nut: Leads to the discoloration of teeth, erosion of the lining of the mouth, and cancer of the mouth and upper tract. It also leads to heart problems among people who already have a weak heart.

Ma huang: It contains ephedrine and leads to heart problems.

Aerated drinks: High doses of caffeine.

Caffeine and xanthine: Found in tea, coffee. These become harmful only in very high doses; don’t consume more than five cups a day.

Mixed drug reactions: People who consume medications for the heart, hypertension and asthma have to be very careful about the interactions of the drugs with stimulant foods, as mixing the two can be fatal. After years of experience, all doctors know how difficult it is to break the food addictions of their patients. So like them, I can only advise a good compromise. If you can’t break the addiction, then at least you should practice moderation.

Let the logo do the talking for your business

Among all the significant areas in graphic design, logo design is considered to be the most crucial, thus making it one of the most challenging jobs to attain perfection. A good logo is unique, functional, follows basic design principles and represents the brand or company. One should always endeavor to get a good logo design that is simple, effective and unlittered. After all a logo is designed with some goal and targeting specific section of the audience. An effective logo should always create an impact on its targeted audience and be able to deliver the intended message instantaneously. A logo that usually does all the talking for a business is considered as an identity representing a company or its products.

An abbreviation of the word logogram, a logo generally is a phrase, word, or an idea. In today’s fast-paced world, the logo serves as a symbol; a representation for your business and it helps you get noticed. It is considered as the visual presentation of words, symbols, colors, and shapes. It is very much essential for a logo to have a meaning so that it remains in the subconscious mind of the people and gives a message about the company and creates its brand identity.

Whether it’s a text based logo design or a brand mark based symbol, every strong graphical illustration accord the facet of a business or a company. A logo with a slogan can also be created to substantiate a brand equity, which ultimately becomes a trademark of a company or an organization. A particular logotype is chosen depending on the approach that best fits your company.

A logo is a reflection of brand identity, used to create an unforgettable impression. It becomes ineffective if the targeted audience and the focus of the business are not defined clearly in it. In today’s Internet space, logo branding is very potent and weighs a lot because a logo can both lift and drown a business. Choosing the right logo is, therefore, important. If you start thinking about a logo right now, you can very easily recall some of the reputed logos like Nike, Microsoft, Adidas or Sony – this is because these logos have a deep impact and have successfully established brand recognition for the respective companies.

A logo represents the type of business and the product it offers. A logo can effectively communicate what a company does as well as reflect the company personality. A superior logo design gives a business the prestige and fame it deserves. If your business deals with construction, then it’s always better to have a construction-oriented logo, which will reflect your company’s identity in the market.

Although the whole logo creation process is incomparable, the right logo takes care of everything. An unparalleled logo is always defined or explained as that which people easily recognize and identifies with the company name on seeing it. Color combination used in logo creation should have some feelings or emotion that give some idea about the company and which in return create an emotional bondage.

Cost and figures for a logo design always vary dramatically from designer to designer and from one Logo-design Company to another. It’s always advisable to get your logo created by the company having loads of fine experience to their credit. There are numerous logo design firms or organizations in the web world that can create an identity for your company with a professional logo design. A distinctive corporate logo design creates and captures business values in a competitive business environment.

Dead-to-the-world man walking

One morning this week, I woke up with a black eye. How I got it still baffles me. I have my suspicions, of course, but some things are better left to themselves no matter how lonely they may get.

In getting older, I have realized certain things are changing in my body. For example, I now find myself walking in my sleep. This is a new experience for me and I'm not sure what it means or what I should do about it.

On the positive side, walking in my sleep is about the only exercise I really get these days, so I should not complain too much. It is nice to know at my age some things are still working even if it is when I am unconscious. My problem has escalated to the point where I have begun wearing sneakers to bed. Of course, I don’t wear anything else and when I find myself three blocks down the street, my sneakers had better be PDF (pretty dashing fast).

Walking in my sleep is not that bad, except for my mysterious black eye.

Not only am I walking in my sleep, but also my wife has accused me of talking in my sleep. Actually, in my own defense, talking in my sleep is the only time I get a word in edgewise. I guess in the middle of the night I'm trying to make up for this lack during the day.

Lately, I have talked so much in my sleep I wake up a little horse, which just may explain why I have been eating like one lately.

Unfortunately, my talking during the night has kept my wife awake so much; she recently requested I start preaching in my sleep so she can get to sleep.

I used to have trouble falling asleep at night. I tried counting sheep but their bleating kept me awake. When I lay there wide-awake, I began worrying about those sheep. Did someone feed them? And, am I going to have to shear all those sheep myself?

Each night I try to get in 40 winks but by the time I reach number 33 I lose count and have to start all over again. The older I get the more my sleep resembles a salad – well tossed.

Actually, noises in the night upset me the most. Sleep has a way of bringing out the noise in our house, from a dripping faucet down the hall to a creaking window shutter in the living room. It's amazing how intelligent these noises in the night can be. They are quiet until I'm just about ready to drift off into la-la-land.

For example, as far as we know we have no mice in our house. We have never seen any evidence of such critters in our blessed domicile. Yet, in the middle of the night I hear these little critters gnawing the wall right by my head. How they know where I sleep and when I go to sleep is one of the mysteries of these diminutive night stalkers.

Through the years, I have tried many things to help me get to sleep at night. For some reason I have no trouble going to sleep during the daytime particularly in the afternoon. I call these “power naps,” the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has another name for them, which I cannot repeat here for obvious reasons, my health being the primary one.

I’ve tried everything to help me fall asleep at night. Once I placed my shoes and socks right next to my bed before I go to sleep. Although it had its intended effect upon me, it also had an adverse effect upon the other occupant of my bed.

No matter when I go to bed nor how long I have slept, I always need just one minute more of sleep. Why is it I can hear the drip of a faucet down the hall but I can't hear the clanging alarm clock at my head? Eventually, when I do full asleep the crack of dawn awakens me.

My wife, trying to assist me in my nocturnal dilemma, suggested I try some hot cocoa right before going to sleep. For the most part, it does work. My only difficulty with hot cocoa is if I don't drink it quickly enough I begin nodding halfway through and spill it on my chest. I can assure you it's a real eye opener.

I am reminded of a verse of scripture that addresses this subject. David, the Psalmist observes, "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep" (Psalms 127:2 KJV).

And then, who could overlook Psalms 121:3-4 (KJV), "He [God] will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."

Now, back to my black eye. I really have no recollection of how this happened. My wife has tried explaining it to me by pointing out, most correctly, that lately I have been walking in my sleep. No argument from me. Then she explained while I was walking in my sleep the other night I walked into the bathroom door causing the black eye.

I'm not in any position to question her, but I noticed she was rubbing her right fist most tenderly.

Honoring america s top dog

Anyone who loves dogs knows how much they enrich our lives. Some exceptional dogs not only touch our lives, but also help protect us by selflessly performing acts of heroism as service dogs.

For instance, Quanto is a hard-working search and rescue dog. He specializes in two distinct areas: detecting explosives and assisting in human search and rescue missions. His finely tuned skills have helped him clear buildings after explosives were detected-but his loving nature has helped him comfort those he's rescued.

Quanto and four of his four-legged contemporaries are being honored through the PEDIGREE Paws to Recognize program. Because of their love of dogs, PEDIGREE created this national initiative that acknowledges the exceptional contributions professionally trained service dogs make in their communities. The Delta Society, Guide Dogs for the Blind, National Association for Search and Rescue, U. S. Customs and Border Protection and the U. S. War Dogs Association worked with PEDIGREE Food for Dogs and Wal-Mart to identify and nominate five astonishing canines for this year's top honor.

People can log on to www. pedi gree. com/vote to view photos and biographies of each of the dogs and then vote on which one they think is most deserving of the top dog honor. The winner will be celebrated at a special ceremony in September. If 100,000 votes are cast by July 14, 2006, $25,000 will be donated to the American Humane Association. Here's a look at the other four nominees:

• Hero-This Labrador Retriever makes regular visits to patients at hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and other health facilities. He's the inspiration for "Project Hero," a program that provides young people living in a youth detention center with canine companions.

• Rocky-This chocolate Lab serves as an explosive detector dog at the Port of Los Angeles, where he's an "employee" of U. S. Customs and Border Protection. On an average day, Rocky screens between 5,000 and 7,000 international passengers, 15,000 pieces of luggage and thousands of pieces of cargo.

• Xena-This former shelter dog completed a rigorous training program and now serves as a guide dog. She provides her human partner with safe mobility, companionship and improved quality of life.

• Polo-This German Shepherd recently returned from a tour of duty in Kuwait, where he served as an Explosive Detection/Patrol Dog, searching vehicles, buildings, aircraft, barracks and open areas for dangerous and harmful explosive materials.

Top secrets of common sense part 1

If you believe you can, you will. If you believe you can’t, you won’t.

No matter what your musical skill level is right now, there are going to be many significant challenges ahead of you. Your attitudes, and the ways you deal with musical challenges, will be single greatest factor in determining how much you will achieve as a musician. If you believe that you can, and will, overcome your greatest challenges, you will find a way, or you will seek help from a teacher, trainer, coach or mentor that will help you through it. If you don’t believe you can achieve, your done, it’s over, because you won’t.

A true story of self-fulfilling prophecy

OK, a short history lesson here might go a long way, so here it is. In early 16th century Mexico, existed a great empire called the “Aztecs”. In fact, it was the most powerful civilization in North America up to the year 1519. It was in that year when the Spanish conquest began. Cortez brought with him about 400 men, and with these soldiers, they defeated virtually the entire Aztec empire. How did Cortez’s men defeat this great empire with only 400 men? Was it with superior weapons or superior military tactics? No! The Aztec emperor (and many of his people) believed in a myth that some day in the future a “god” would return to Mexico to destroy them. When the Spaniards arrived with their strange skin color, beards, clothes and weapons, the Aztecs “knew” they couldn’t win. They believed they could not overcome the power of Cortez’s tiny army because they thought Cortez was the “god” who was returning to destroy them. The Aztec empire was destroyed forever by a false belief (that Cortez was their “god” and that it was impossible and useless to try to defeat him)! There are many other military defeats throughout world history caused by other types of false beliefs. Had the defeated armies and/pr rulers had different beliefs, the history of the world could have turned out to be quite different.

As you see above, the negative results of false beliefs, and not believing in oneself, can be devastating for entire civilizations, so imagine how badly your negative beliefs can hurt your ability to effectively learn your instrument!

Lets find out where your attitude is likely to be

1. Play something on your instrument that you cannot play perfectly yet.

2. Listen critically to your playing.

3. Identify problems and try to define for yourself what they are.

4. What are your mental thought patterns? What is the voice inside your mind telling you?

Lets say what you played above was a scale at high speed. You noticed that not all the notes were played cleanly. Now lets look at two types of thought patterns and attitudes you might have about that:

1. You say to yourself, “These notes are not even, clean and clear….I can’t get it!… This sounds terrible!….I guess I have to try harder….it still doesn’t sound good…I just CAN”T do it!….Maybe I just don’t have what it takes……?”

2. Or you say to yourself, “These notes are not even, clean and clear….I’m going to record myself playing these scales, so I can listen while I am focused only on “listening” and not on “playing”….Where do the worst spots seem to be happening?…..Where are the better notes located?……Hmmm, I notice the problem seems to be occurring when I change from string to string or every time I use my ring finger…..Perhaps, the string changing problem is caused from inefficient right hand motion and maybe the ring finger is causing problems because it’s not working independently from the other fingers…..I’ll ask my teacher about this and he will probably offer specific exercises I can do to strengthen these weak areas. Then I’ll be able to play these scales correctly!….”

The results

Obviously the differences between these two opposite attitudes are huge. More importantly is the difference in “results” one will get from choosing to approach the same problem with opposite thought patterns and attitudes. The first attitude offers only self-doubt, pessimism, a negative self-image and hopelessness. The second offers confidence, self-reliance, hope, optimism, security and the desire to get through the difficulty of mastering this technique. Even though working with a great teacher is the very best way to improve your skills, only your thought patterns, positive attitude, and the way you deal with challenges, will make significant improvement actually happen. It’s that simple!

Why most people fail to ever become musicians.

More than half of people in the United States who begin to play an instrument will quit in less than one year from the time they begin to play. Another significant percentage of people will play occasionally, but will not make much forward progress on their instrument. Why? Well there are many possible factors, but the biggest two reasons are:

1. They took the first attitude mentioned above.

2. They didn’t learn from a great teacher on a long-term basis.

Inaction: The worst possible thing

Inaction (taking “no” action), when action is necessary, is the worst possible thing, I can think of, for all areas in life. For most people, inaction comes easily and naturally. It’s so easy to do “nothing”. It’s so easy to “not” take guitar lessons. It’s so easy to “not” find a better teacher, coach and mentor. Hey, I’m not perfect either, there were plenty of times in my past when I too took the path of least resistance and did nothing when I really needed to. Those decisions to do nothing (or to do little) led me to…..

Regrets

A few years ago, I got tired of living with regrets and made some interesting observations about them. Regret is a poison, a toxic waste that marinates in your soul. What drives our regrets? Most of our regrets in life occurred, not from what we have done (or said or thought), but from we didn’t do. Our failures are not the main cause of regret and unhappiness, it is passing up our opportunities to grow, improve and make things better that hurts us most. Think about it.

What will you do?

I teach a private and correspondence music careers class where I teach, train and coach my students to become professional musicians, music teachers, etc. The very first (and probably most valuable) thing I do as my student’s mentor is ask them this question: “What are you committed to do, RIGHT NOW TODAY, to reach your goals? Even if you are only able to make a small baby step forward, tell me WHAT WILL YOU DO RIGHT NOW?!?! This very moment is the first moment of your future. You create your future by what you do in the present!

So, what will YOU do right now? What thoughts will you allow to fill your mind? Who will you call or email? How will you spend the rest of your day? What action will take right now? What will you do in this “present” moment, which will contribute to your future?

I invite you to sign up for my free newsletter which is filled with valuable guitar instructional resources!

More articles by Tom Hess are available for free here: http://tomhess. net

My email: hess@mc. net

Copyright 2005 by Tom Hess. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

See Tom Hess on the HolyHell world tour in 2006. Tour dates posted here: http://tomhess. net/news. php? rubric=1

Great reasons for setting up a home business

Many people dream of setting up a home-based business, but it takes hard work, persistence and a willingness to wait for results. If you are thinking about starting up on your own, make sure you write a list of your reasons for doing so. When the going gets tough you can go back to your list to remind yourself of why you’re doing it and to reactivate your motivation. Here are some valid reasons for going it alone. Add your own to the list.

You want to make a lot more money than you earn in your present job

With so little job security around these days, more of us are finding we have to work long hours to keep the boss happy. And if we don’t toe the line, we know there are plenty of people who will be only to happy to step into our shoes. But is it worth all the hard grind, just to put extra money in someone else’s pocket? Achieving financial freedom is high on most people’s list.

You want to get a life beyond the office

Money isn’t the only important thing in life and what’s the point of earning it if you don’t have the chance to enjoy it? Work may play a significant role in our definition of who we are, but it certainly shouldn’t be all that we are. Whilst starting up a business is very time-consuming, the ultimate goal is to create enough recurring income to give ourselves more free time. This is not possible in a job, except for a very fortunate few.

You want to stop commuting for hours every week

Many people spend several hours a day getting to and from work. This is stressful at the best of times, but add traffic jams, overcrowded trains and bad weather and this is enough to exhaust anyone before they have even started work. Facing the same journey on the way home can lead to the inability to relax and enjoy what’s left of the day.

You want a more flexible lifestyle

Deciding your own working hours will enable you to fit in many other activities which you would otherwise miss – watching the kids perform in the school play or concert, taking part in a sport or other hobby, spending time with friends and relatives who are in town on holiday.

You want to cut down on childcare costs

In many families with young children, both parents are obliged to work in order to make ends meet, but often find that one of their salaries is almost completely swallowed up by childcare costs. If one partner is working online, hours can be fitted around those of the partner working outside the home, eliminating or at least reducing the need for paid childcare.

You want to something you really enjoy

How many of us really enjoy working for an employer? The job may be exciting at first, but it’s all too easy to get bogged down in paperwork, boring routine tasks and office politics. You might have to do all the menial jobs when you start your own business, but the day will come when you can hire someone else to do them!

The final reason is really an combination of the first six:

You want to take control of your life

As your business grows, you’ll find you have the power to make more decisions about how you live your life – where you live, when you take holidays, when you retire, how you spend your free time.

If you are thinking of setting up a business online, decide which reasons are most important to you, then write them in large letters on a piece of paper and stick it where you’ll see it every day. That way you won’t lose sight of why you want to change your life.

© Waller Jamison 2006

We all need these vitamins - vitamin b12 and folacin

During the last years the vital importance of vitamin B12 and folacin for our health has become more obvious. Perhaps you have heard that folacin is important during pregnancy. Deficiency can cause severe damages to the fetus. In the USA and other countries one has added synthetic folacin to prevent damages to the fetus.

Also B12 is of importance as both vitamins are interacting to have an effect. Both vitamins have great importance even in other cases. The risk of developing dementia are for example bigger if you suffer from a deficiency of one of these vitamins.

Vitamin B12 and folacin are important for every cell of the body. B12 and folacin interact in vital functions of all cells. For example they are necessary for the cells to divide and grow in a normal way. That is why they are of great importance for the growing foetus.

The first symptoms of deficiency can also come from the cells that divide too fast, for example blood cells and the cells of mucous membrane. The symptoms will result in a type of anemia often combined with a read tongue and shear mucous membranes in the mouth.

Both vitamins are also necessary for the nerve system to function well, for the nerve cells and for the signal substances that transmit the nerve impulses. If not treated this kind of deficiency can cause permanent damages of the nerves.

A deficiency may occur as a result of an inability to absorb B12 from food and in strict vegetarians who do not consume any animal foods. As a general rule, most individuals who develop a vitamin B12 deficiency have an underlying stomach or intestinal disorder that limits the absorption of vitamin B12. Sometimes the only symptom of these intestinal disorder is subtly reduced cognitive function resulting from early B12 deficiency. Anemia and dementia follow later.

Characteristic signs, symptoms and health problems associated with B12 deficiency include anemia, fatigue, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Deficiency can also lead to neurological changes such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. Additional symptoms of B12 deficiency are difficulty in maintaining balance, depression, confusion, dementia, poor memory and soreness of the mouth or tongue.

Many of these symptoms are very general and can result from a variety of medical conditions other than vitamin B12 deficiency. It is important to have a physician evaluate these symptoms so that appropriate medical care can be given.

Brand your exhibition stand for maximum impact

Rita Davenport had been given a free hand to design and manage an exhibition stand for her company. The Marketing Director had briefed her extensively on the overall idea and left her with an open brief to produce something that would attract customers, dealers and the trade press. Rita walked out of the meeting feeling inspired but not quite sure what to do next.

Once you understand clearly what the sponsor needs the stand to achieve, you can go about the business of designing and branding your presence. If your budget will stretch to the cost of a professional exhibition designer, you should commission a good one. Not only does it remove some of the more stressful elements of exhibition organization; gaining agreement to the design, arranging manufacture, checking quality, organizing transportation, assembly and disassembly; it allows you to be objective about making changes. In addition, exhibition designers will provide advice about the best position for your stand in the exhibition hall, traffic flow through the stand, lighting and audio-visual presentations.

If you don't have an extensive enough budget to engage an exhibition designer, get together with a good graphic designer who can produce well designed exhibition panels that will impress and attract attention. You may need to provide a stand system (normally a metal framework that is assembled to hold the exhibition boards) but these are fairly lightweight, easy to assemble and come ready-fitted with a lighting system.

Other considerations for your stand should include furniture to rest your foot-sore customers, pamphlet racks for your product information and storage for the paraphernalia that you don't want to clutter the stand.

Before you finalize the design of the stand, run it by all of the important decision-makers and influencers in the organization to make sure it has their blessing before you commit to expensive printing and photographic work.

Selecting and training your exhibition staff

When potential customers home in on your stand, they don't really want to deal with people who only have a vague understanding of your products and services. They generally want very specific answers to very specific questions and it is in your interests to people the stand with carefully selected competent individuals who can work effectively as a team.

If you choose to use technical staff who have limited sales experience or sales staff with limited technical knowledge, it is vitally important to provide them with an opportunity to pick up new skills and information prior to the exhibition. Allow your own staff to train each other and to share tips and techniques in sales as well as improving technical knowledge on the products or services being exhibited.

Rita was fortunate, her exhibition budget allowed her to commission a talented exhibition designer who project managed the installation for her. The exhibition team was selected from sales, marketing, engineering and administration co-workers. They all benefited from a fun workshop where they compiled a stand data book to educate each other about the company, product and sales information.

Reap rewards for using your credit cards

‘Earn while you spend’ – how does this sound? Exciting? That is precisely what rewards credit cards promise for you. The days of using your credit cards to just spend now and pay later are gone. Now, your credit card can fetch you rewards every time you use it to spend.

Credit card companies are competing with each other to give the best possible and of course the most useful rewards to their customers. You, as a customer of a rewards credit card, are completely spoiled for choice! There are rewards ranging from cash incentives and discounts on purchases to travel rewards like airline points or hotel stays or movie tickets, dinner coupons and many more creative rewards. By carefully planning your spending, you can reap rich rewards and actually feel happy about your expenses!

There are other very tempting benefits that come attached with these cards like waiving of the annual credit card fee, 0% APR and low interest balance transfers etc. Long term customers are preferred for these rewards, though in the highly competitive credit card market of today, new customers are also being welcomed with these options. Airlines, hotels, malls and brand shops selling attire, watches, jewelry etc. have tie-ups with the credit card companies to make the offers more friendly and attractive and at the same time see it as a means to increase their sales.

As there are a number of options for you to choose from, you should carefully consider them to make a choice that will most satisfy your wants and desires. The nature of the rewards that will be given to you should be born in mind. For example, if you do not like movies, then a card that gives movie tickets as rewards may not be meaningful for you. The extra benefits also need to be taken into account – a card that has no annual fee is better than a card that waives annual fee for the first year alone. You could categorize the benefits as short term and long term. Points that can be redeemed at gas stations and dining freebies are short term that can be used on a day to day basis. Where as travel points are long term rewards that can be used during your vacations or in case you are a business traveler, during one of your business trips. You should ideally decide to go for long term or short term rewards based on your life style.

You need to collect points on your card before redeeming them for a bonus or a gift; and every time you spend, you will be awarded points. So, the ratio of the rewards amount to the spent amount should be a factor to look into. For instance, if a $25 spending could earn you rewards worth $2, it is better than the spent amount fetching you rewards worth $1. Next, you should spend some time in carefully reading the terms and conditions associated with the offers and make sure that there are no catches that you may regret later on.

You should remember that once you have got your rewards credit card and used it to make all your purchases, you will be required to make your payments on time. The rewards are tied to prompt repayment. So, if you do not pay up on time or do not pay up required amount, there is a likelihood of losing all the reward points you have so painfully accumulated! As in case of any credit card, late payment also could lead to bad credit and a sagging credit score. Hence, after getting your rewards credit card, you should adopt a spending style that is carefully planned and wise.

A mental guide for home business success

The accomplishments of our work from home ventures are not based on products or marketing plans. The opportunities for creating our home business achievements are completely dependent upon us. The “mental fortitude” applied to the development of our online company will determine success or failure. During the journey, the challenges that cross our path will be confidence, persistence, endurance, setbacks and change. They will come and we must be ready.

Where is our confidence level?

The best way to measure confidence is through our attitude toward challenges. Do we say “I think I can do it” or “I know I can do it”? Before developing a home based business, we must convince ourselves that success will happen. Self-talk will give a good indication of our readiness. Analyze our thought processes on a daily basis. We must build the foundation for success from the beginning of our internet venture. Don’t say “I think!” say “I will!” And believe it!

How is our persistence?

When developing the opportunity to make money online, we will meet a variety of obstacles. These barriers are similar to the challenges in our personal lives. Do we look at these obstacles as learning experiences or do we wish they would go away? Do we have the stubbornness to go eyeball to eyeball with the situation or do we want to quit? This saying is old but true: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. The success of our home business relies on the ability to face difficulty and stand firm. Bend but don’t break!

Do we have endurance?

The opportunity for home business success rises in direct proportion to our endurance. What happens when we do not get results? What occurs when our efforts go unrewarded? What develops when everything appears hopeless? How long do we hang in there? Consider this saying: “You are not finished when you lose! You are finished when you quit!” The road to internet business success relies on our ability to keep going when all of the signals say stop. Don’t quit! Tomorrow may be the day that our home business success arrives!

Are setbacks good?

Setbacks are opportunities to try again. When we face the uncertainties, disappointments and frustrations of creating a work from home business, what happens? Should we quit the journey or look for another road towards internet success? Developing mental toughness is like developing physical endurance. We must work through the pain and suffering to achieve the goal. The way that we respond to these barriers determines mental strength. Setbacks are learning opportunities for creating our online venture. We have gained information and experience to arrive at this point. These obstacles create the circumstances for adjusting our approach and trying again.

Are we willing to change?

Creating a home business is like developing personal success. It requires a commitment to change. How difficult is it to invest our money, time and effort and the result is nothing? When online accomplishments do not materialize, what should we do? Are we ready to revisit square one and restructure the game plan? Our willingness to face adversity and make adjustments is essential. If we want to create an internet business, change must be part of the design. Setbacks can bring us closer to making money online through these opportunities to adapt.

Before beginning the journey toward home business success we must be mentally ready for the adventure. We will face every one of these challenges while developing a work from home enterprise. Our ability to overcome these obstacles will provide a better opportunity for making money on the internet.

“Men do not fail, they stop trying.”

Leg-exercise-03

As studies have shown us, it is imperative to keep your body tuned and in shape. Now when I say studies, I am talking about endless studies regarding the human body and fitness. There's no doubt that a good exercise regime will aid in keeping your body healthy and your physique looking good. This is why so many of us exercise regularly. We want to live long and healthy lives. We want to look nice when we're in our 50s. This stuff goes without saying. Now, the question is; what are you wanting to spend the most time on? One thing I've come to learn is that individuals all tend to have a focus. There is some aspect of their body that requires the most attention for them to feel satisfaction. Whether this concerns a bicep curl, a bench press, or a simple leg exercise is totally up to you.

The other day I was speaking with my wife about fitness. She is very adamant about getting back her old physique. You know how this goes. You approach 40, and you want the body you had at age 20 back. So many people go through this spiel. Not to sound annoying, but why don't folks just exercise through all those younger years and keep the body the entire time? This does make sense. Then there would be no struggle to get the old figure back. You would already have the darn thing. Nevertheless, the majority of Americans fail to take this route. There is always some excuse or another. Anyway, while I was discussing fitness with my wife, in walked our teenage daughter. She was in search of the ideal leg exercise. This is such a big deal to her right now. She is always trying some new leg exercise routine. Basically she craves the tightest, hottest legs a girl can possibly have. She wants them to look like some model she admires. Now I know many girls can relate to this routine. We all tend to see someone and get in the exercise mood. Spotting an ideal physique makes us want one as well. I do this every time I watch the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A big part of your progress with exercise regards how much devotion you put in. Are you tackling that leg exercise once a week or three times a week? It's prudent to acquire a personal trainer at first; even if it's only for one session. He/she can get you on the right track to a healthier and hotter looking you.

Take cheaper finance through bad debt personal loan

Falling into a bad debt trap is no longer seen as a sin in the modern world of easy availability of money through credit cards etc. To such borrowers, lenders provide bad debt personal loan without hassle if certain conditions are met. Borrowers avail bad debt personal loan for different purposes including home improvement works, meeting expenses on education and wedding, going for a holiday trip, buying a vehicle.

Bad debt borrowers who have a property under their name are eligible for secured form of bad debt personal loan. They provide any property like their home, valuable papers, vehicle as collateral to the lender.

Lenders offer bad debt personal loan in the range of Ј5,000 to Ј75,000 to the borrowers. For availing greater loan, borrowers should offer collateral that has higher equity in it. The loan can be repaid in 5 to 25 years. Secured bad debt personal loan is given at lower interest rate which is a big attraction of the loan.

Tenants and non-homeowners, who generally do not have property to take loan against, can also avail bad debt personal loan. Lenders rely on financial standing and steady income source of these borrowers to offer them loan. Because of the absence of the collateral, lenders give a limited loan in the range of Ј500-Ј25,000 to such borrowers. The repayment term also remains shorter in the range of 6 to 10 years. The interest rate also is higher for these borrowers due the risk involved in the loan.

Before deciding over the loan, certain precautions should be considered. Borrow only up to your repayment capacity which will enable you to pay the loan easily and you avoid falling into debt again. Remember that a shorter duration loan comes with higher monthly installments amount while under longer repayment term you give smaller amount. You should choose your repayment term keeping in mind your financial capacity.

You should check your credit score also as it goes a long way in availing the loan beneficially. FICO credit score ranges from 300 to 850. Lenders consider a credit score of 720 and above as good while 580 and below are labeled as bad debt.

Apply for bad debt personal loan online. This way you can compare different loan packages offered by numerous loan providers and can choose the one that has comparatively lower interest rate.

Bad debt personal loan can go a long way in improving financial health of the borrowers. Take the loan after going through every aspect of it. Do not forget to pay the monthly installments in time.

The key to success in your home-based business

When you start your own home-based business, the most important key to success depend on your self-motivation to push yourself ahead against any obstacles you encounter.

Success really depend on the amount of time and effort you put into to build your home-based business.

Do accept the fact that it take time for any kind of business to succeed and it may take a couple of months or years to see the fruits of your labour. Have you ever asked yourself how many years of studies you need to put in before you can get a Degree or Master?

You must approach home business ownership with a positive mind and take into account the sacrifices that must be made to make your dream come truth.

Always remember this:

Get-rich-quick schemes doesn't work. If they did, then everyone on the face of the UNIVERSE would become millionaire.

As a Boss of a new home-based business, you have to learn about business organization, planning, marketing, time management wearing many hats all at the same. You learn to be independent as you invest an increasing number of hours to nurture it, watch it grow and bloom into a successful enterprise.

In return, you gain a WEALTH of BUSINESS EXPERIENCE along the quest of your business journey before you finally make a commitment to quit your employee status and do it full-time.

When working for your home-based business, you are empower to achieve many things you can never do and learn. You are no more the employee stuck to the same old ROUTINE kind of work from 9 to 5. Your 10 years of job experience doesn't have any INCREASING VALUE as it is just like a year of work experience repeated 10 times. You are no more at the command of your tyrant boss who wouldn't let you take time off when your little children falls sick and the same tyrant boss who called you during your off-duty hour to rush back for work for the sake of the company. You are so busy and often work late that you forgot the beauty of the rising sun.

Just think, owning your home business means you can make money and take good care of your family simultaneously. Of course, the best part is that you don't have to worry about being out of job.

Ever wonder why many businessmen like Donald Trump can went bust and then back to become a MILLIONAIRE again within a short-period of time?

It is The WEALTH OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE they have accumulated as an entrepreneur which will always remain inside them for the rest of their life.

Where to find best arcade games

Arcade games, historically, emerged as early as the late 1920's where you could find theme parks which combined mechanical form of gaming machines and a great fun atmosphere. This was the beginning of modern gaming. The first pinball machines appeared in the and were mainly coin-operated. To play the game, you sloted in your coin or token and when that run out the game ended. You then had to purchase further tokens if so desired. Now, most pinball machines use solid state electronics to operate. Scores and bonuses are all electronically controlled.

In the seventies, one of the major arcade games manufacturers Atari, which was started by Ted Dabney and Nolan Busnell dominated the arcade games industry. With viral marketing and the sheer addictive nature of these games, - including The Pacman series, Donkey Kong, Pong and Space Invaders - many video arcade game machines sprouted up all over cities especially popular social hangouts such as bars, college campuses, supermarkets, movie theaters and gambling houses. In fact, te presence of these machines in seedier places rather led to a dip in its popularity as increasing people perception of it changed. The advanced gaming console technology also contributed to the decline in the popularity of these slot machines.

With this decline in fortunes, dedicated arcade games businesses started to suffer and many had to close down or diversify. Diversification involved offering other attractions such as rides with arcade games being only a small part of the business and at least offering arcade lovers to still indulge in their passion. Most of these centers are so different, they are no longer what they used to be.

These days, playing arcade games has moved on even further and they are readily available on many internet platforms. If you get fed up sitting at home with your xbox360 as your only comfort, you can decide to surf the net not only for free arcade games but also for the fantastic social interaction that a good gaming platform offers. With these free internet games, there is no need to slot coins, neither do you need to physically get to the appropriate venue. All you need is an web connection - preferably a broadband connection - and a penchant for arcade games. You will discover that you are spoilt for choice, with so many new games beckoning.

The progress of the genre and quality of arcade games has been fantastic. However, the basic theme which makes an arcade game what it is, is still present in even modern games. The gamer is generally offerd different levels with each next level progressively more difficult than the previous one. There is also more interaction with the user these days and newer games such as Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter I and II offer two player fighting themes. Other type of arcade games include dance games - such as Dance Dance Revolution and DrumMania - and rail shooting games such as Time Crisis and House Of The Dead.

Arcade games have changed through the years to be widely available on good gaming platforms. If you love immersing yourself in arcade games, there are many choices available today.

Being informed about debt consolidation

They say that knowledge is power and so far, I have yet to see it proven false. Of course, there’s another old adage that says what you don’t know won’t hurt you, but hello? That’s like prolonging the inevitable and since we’re talking about clichйs, I’ll use another one: the truth would always come out, secrets don’t last forever and no stones are left unturned.

But enough about clichйs or we’ll never end. So with the point of knowledge being power now established, we jump to what we should know more about and that’s debt consolidation. It’s the Age of Information today, so information of just about anything and everything under the sun, debt consolidation included, abounds. It wouldn’t hurt to know more about debt consolidation before figuratively jumping to the boat.

Where to find the information?

That’s easy. First you hit the Internet. I say, there is nothing about anything that can’t be found in the Internet. It’s only a matter of typing the right keyword and looking at the right places. With debt consolidation, it’s better to choose information that does not come from debt consolidation companies themselves. Over the internet, you can find various kinds of information available, ranging from the pros and cons to the list of debt consolidation companies you should avoid. Second place to look for more information would be magazines. Business magazines, in particular. Learn from the experts and see what they have to say about debt consolidation. Check the dailies, too, for information regarding debt consolidation. Third is to ask around. Go to government facilities that entertain inquiries regarding financial help. Ask your bank for information about the debt consolidation programs they have. You can even ask your friends or people whom you know have tried debt consolidation. Firsthand information is always better than secondhand. And lastly, go avail yourself of those free consultations being offered.

What information should you look for?

Definitely, you should search for information that’s relevant, like the pros and cons and tips on choosing the right debt consolidation firm. If you know of a debt consolidation company but are not sure of its reputation, then by all means, look for information about the said company. Ask information about debt consolidation rates so you can compare them and see what works best for you. Get more information about the different debt consolidation programs available.

If you decided to take one of the free consultations being offered, this is a good opportunity to use the information or data you have gathered regarding debt consolidation. Ask everything that comes to your mind because it’s better to know more than the other way around. And since we’re talking about money here, you really have to gather as much information about debt consolidation as possible. Statistics would probably tell you that one of the major reasons of businesses falling apart is the fact that they’ve either made hasty decisions or they didn’t think things through clearly enough. You wouldn’t want that to happen to yourself, would you?

So it’s better to take your time reviewing the information you have, studying the alternatives and options at hand and then make a decision based on logic and not entirely on gut instincts alone.

For more information on debt, visit http://www. debt-guides. info

Learn how to take great food photographs

Taking great pictures of different food dishes isn't as easy as it appears to be in cook books and food advertisements. Great care should be exercised when taking these shots. Things that need to be considered include the dish's angle, composition, lighting, as well as problems that may arise. Here are some guides to help you improve the quality of your pictures.

Lighting:

Consider the lighting in the kitchen or venue where you will shooting the dishes. It is a good idea to know this in advance so that you no longer have to make adjustments right there in the venue.

Dark venues may be corrected by using a row of flourescent lighting which possesses diffusers. The drawback of this method is that the image will have a subdued shade of green. Depending on the camera that you have, it may have a setting that neutralizes the effects of flourescent lighting or a magenta filter may be used to compensate.

Stability of tripods:

Since you are taking pictures of food, every shot is done at close range. Unlike shots taken at a distance, shots done in close up are sensitive to movement.

Any sudden moves and the picture will be ruined. Focusing on the subject also becomes easier when using a tripod or even just a stack of magazines.

Food presentation:

To get that professional look, cut the dish in geometric shapes. Proper arrangement of the food is also important so that you will be able to showcase the dish's ingredients as well as its strengths.

Garnishing the food that you will shoot will enhance its natural colors, making it more appealing to the eyes.

Focusing on the subject:

A rather dull photo will become vibrant and dynamic if care is taken when focusing and adjusting the field depth of the camera.

If your camera doesn't have manual focus, depressing the camera's shutter button halfway to lock the focus at that specific depth. Recomposing the focus can be done by changing the position of the camera while the shutter button is still depressed halfway.

Automatic cameras usually lack aperture or depth of field. Some purposely adjust the aperture such that the background becomes a blur to heighten the subject's features while others prefer that a wider depth of field is used to capture the whole scene.

These are some of the things that you should know regarding food photography. Constant practice will help you produce better shots. Follow your instincts. Sometimes this allows you to take better shots.

Wine-country-gift-baskets-why-they-make-great-gifts

Wine Country Gift Baskets: Why They Make Great Gifts

Are you in need of a gift? Whether that gift is for a close friend or family member and for their birthday, Christmas, or another special occasion, you may be looking for the perfect gift. If your gift recipient is twenty-one years of age or older, you may want to give the gift of a wine country gift basket. After a close examination, you will find that there are a number of reasons why wine country gift baskets make great gifts.

One of the many reasons why wine country gift baskets make great gifts is because they are perfect for a wide range of occasions. As previously stated, wine themed gift baskets make great gifts for birthday, Christmas, and other special occasions. They also make great “just because,” gifts for close friends and family members. One occasion in particular that wine country gift baskets are perfect for is that of weddings. Wine country gift baskets are also the perfect gift for wine drinkers or at least those who are known to consume alcohol.

Your buying options are another one of the many reasons why you should consider giving the gift of a wine country gift basket. In terms of the gift basket itself, you will find that you have so many options to choose from. For starters, there are many wine country gift baskets available for sale with themes. These themes may be congratulations, get well, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or just a simple miss you theme. It is also important to remember that many wine gift baskets have much more than just wine in them. Often times, the wine is paired with other great items, such as California cheese or even wine jelly.

In keeping with buying options, there are a number of ways that you can go about buying wine country gift baskets. One of the easiest ways is to place an order online. With a standard internet search, with a phrase like “wine country gift baskets,” you are sure to find many sellers. Many of these individuals are actually winery owners themselves! When shopping online, be on the lookout for deals and discounts, including free shipping. This is ideal as it can sometimes get expensive to ship full gift baskets, especially those that are large in size.

In addition to ordering wine country gift baskets online, you can also do so in person. If you have the opportunity to visit a wine country, whether you do so in California, New York, or Washington, you will want to. For many wine enthusiasts it is worth the travel time. When there, be sure to examine wine country baskets. In fact, wine country gift baskets not only make great gifts for close friends and family, but for yourself as well. If you ever choose to visit wine country, a wine basket can be a nice souvenir of your trip.

As you can see, from being highlighted above, there are a number of reasons why wine country gift baskets make for great gifts. No matter who the gift is for, as long as your intended recipient is twenty-one years or older, and no matter what the occasion, a wine basket may be the perfect choice. If you need your gift soon, be sure to place your order online as soon as possible or use the internet to plan a trip to wine country.

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9 essentials of credit card rewards

A credit card that offers a reward point scheme means that as you use the card you accumulate a certain number of points which can then be converted into a reward of your choice. It can be air miles, gift vouchers, or a purchase of some kind. But to get the most benefit out of a reward card you need to ensure that it offers good value for your money. Did you know it could take over five years and an expenditure of over US$ 5000 to get a free ticket within the US.

Credit rewards are carrots dangled by credit card companies. Before you are caught by the enticement evaluate your monthly earnings, expenditure, as well as loans. Do not invite a financial hurricane if you are not in a position to pay all your bills every month. Interest rates on reward cards can be at least 2-3% higher than other cards.

1. If you love travel then choose to treat reward points as frequent flier miles. Check out the options your credit card offers.

2. Many cards offer a cash rebate. The enticement carries hidden a higher interest rate and if you are not in a position to settle your bill immediately you will spend much more than you earn on the rebate.

3. Use a card that offers a large number of options. Then you have the luxury of selecting from a huge variety of merchandise.

4. Be clever use the reward points quickly before the card company downgrades the points gathered by you.

5. Check whether your reward points can be set off against the annual fees payable by you. If you have a no fee card then choose rewards that are of use to you like gasoline, travel assistance, retirement incentives, flier miles, or cash back. Do considerable research and choose a scheme that works for you.

6. Use the card that offers you a reward steadily but be sure you can settle the bills every month otherwise, the interest you pay will negate the rewards earned.

7. Use the rewards card to pay for groceries and utilities every month. It is a necessary expenditure which can earn valuable reward points.

8. If you have a mortgage payment to make and the bank accepts credit cards then pay with you credit card and earn the reward points. However the outstanding must be settled immediately.

9. Always be well informed check consumer reviews and with www. cardratings. com about the cards you hold.

To reap good value out of a rewards program you will need to use your credit card often. By using the card to pay for utilities, groceries, prescriptions, mortgages, and more you can earn many points perhaps even a 1000 dollars in a year. Handle your finances wisely, never spend more than you can afford.

Ten cool las vegas wedding options

If you are planning a wedding in Las Vegas, you may not be aware of all the opportunities that you have available to you. Here are ten interesting Las Vegas wedding options. Although they may not be as famous as the many wedding chapels Las Vegas has, they will certainly leave the same lasting impression.

1. Helicopter Weddings - Many Las Vegas wedding chapels, as well as Papillon Helicopter Tours, offer helicopter weddings. The ceremony can take place as you fly above the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip or you have the option of flying to the Grand Canyon and saying your nuptials there.

2. Red Rock Canyon - Many wedding locations offer wedding packages at this canyon location. Red Rock Canyon is located just west of Las Vegas and offers stunning scenery making it an ideal site for wedding ceremonies.

3. Yacht Weddings - You can have your wedding on a 60 foot private yacht as it floats around on beautiful Lake Las Vegas.

4. Gondola Weddings - Weddings can also take place on a gondola at Lake Las Vegas. The Venetian offers gondola weddings as well. They take place on a canal at the Venice themed hotel.

5. Mount Charleston - Mount Charleston is located less than an hour from the Las Vegas Strip. It is a popular Las Vegas getaway, especially in the summer months when temperatures are usually thirty degrees cooler than in the Valley. The hotel and lodge up on the mountain both offer wedding packages.

6. Lake Mead Weddings - You can get married on a two level Mississippi style paddlewheel boat while it floats around on this famous man made lake.

7. Stratosphere Roller Coaster - If you are really adventurous, say I do on this roller coaster which is located near the top of an 1100 foot tower.

8. Bonnie Springs Old Nevada - This replica of an 1880’s Old West mining town is located just west of Las Vegas, in the Red Rock Canyon area. The town includes a western style chapel where ceremonies can be performed. BBQ dinners are available for wedding receptions.

9. The famous Las Vegas sign - A few Las Vegas chapels can arrange a wedding ceremony at this famous Las Vegas landmark.

10. Hot Air Balloon Weddings - What could be more cool than becoming husband and wife as you soar above the earth in a hot air balloon?

So if you want to get married in Las Vegas, know that you are not limited to having a ceremony in a wedding chapel. Las Vegas wedding locations provide plenty of opportunities to let your imagination run wild when planning your big day.

Fasting enemas for a clean body detox

A hundred years ago, life was very different here on earth. The air was cleaner and the earth was rich in nutrients. Then, in our need to feed our ever-increasing population, we gradually changed the quality of the air we breathe and our once nutrient rich soil is now sorely lacking. We now live in world of chemicals and pollutants in our air, water and food.

Our bodies, amazing as they are, were not designed to handle this kind of constant onslaught. Is there anything we can do about it? You Bet! You may feel that you can’t change the world, but you can minimize the effects all this has on your body.

Fasting is one of the quickest ways to detox your body and it can be done safely. A three-day fast can do wonders for your body. If you are pregnant or have some chronic health problems then fast only under the supervision of a health care professional.

Our bodies store toxins but wants to rid it self of them. When you do a fast it releases toxins from the tissues and they go into the blood stream. We then can experience things like headaches, fatigue and body aches, smelly stool, etc. Although this may seem unpleasant to experience, the results you get from doing the fast has its reward of a cleaner more alert you.

Have you noticed that when you are ill you don’t feel like eating anything? That’s the body’s way of handling whatever is going on. It naturally fasts. Why? Because when you give the digestive system a break, the body can get rid of the toxins and concentrate on immune function, cell growth and cleaning out your colon.

There is a right and a wrong way to fast. Don’t do just a water fast. There seems to be a misconception that you only drink water to fast. Not so. As well as 8 to 10 glasses of water you should drink diluted pure juices except for orange or tomato juice. Fresh lemon squeezed into water is great for helping detox the liver. Herbal teas a couple of times a day can be very soothing and satisfying.

As well as doing a fast, it would be very helpful in speeding up the healing and cleansing process by doing enemas. Getting rid of old or impacted feces will greatly aid in your health and well being. A coffee enema works great. Before you put the coffee grounds in the pot, open up a capsule of slippery elm bark and aloe vera and add it to the grounds. Make sure you use purified water, not tap water. Then follow with a lemon cleanse.

Between fasting and colon cleansing, you can detox and cleanse your body and feel great.

I hope this helps.

(This is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. If you need medical attention please see your doctor.)

Skin problem- spider veins and how to get rid of them

What Are Spider Veins?

Spider veins are a very small thread like veins. They are generally blue or red in color. These veins are found more on legs and face. These veins are a big cosmetic problem as they disfigure the look of the skin. Let us find out how they form and how to get rid of them.

Spider Veins - How Do They Form?

Spider veins are thought to form due to genetic reasons. Women get them more than men and they develop after an age. Young people don't suffer from this problem much. They form a web like bundle that spreads from a center and that is why it is called spider veins. Spider Veins are different than varicose veins. In varicose veins, the veins get pressurized by blood and protrude from the skin surface. Ulceration of varicose veins causes a medical problem.

Spider Veins - How They Are treated?

The only method of treatment of spider veins is destruction. They can be destroyed in many ways. Your doctor may use a fine needle and cut through the veins with electricity. The veins get destroyed as they are burnt. Lasers are now frequently used to remove spider veins. Your doctor will tell about the method that is suitable for you.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

Change workouts reap benefits

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Through routine exercise, your body gradually builds strength and endurance. However, if you keep your workouts TOO routine, those benefits begin to stagnate. Therefore, it is essential to periodically change your workouts so that your body will continue to reap the most benefits from your efforts.

Why is change crucial?

If you follow the same exact exercise routine day in and day out, your body becomes accustomed to this routine. As the body adjusts to the same workout everyday, it is normal for the body to adapt on a cardiovascular, respiratory, and cellular level. Over a period of time, following this same old routine causes the rest of the body to adapt, as well. As a result, any further physical improvements become limited, and your training becomes boring.

But, wait! There's still hope! By incorporating even slight changes into your exercise regimen, you are able to kick-start the body once again to move towards those gains you've been striving for!

What kind of changes should you make?

Even the smallest change in your routine can make a difference. Below are a few suggestions:

Change the time of day at which you exercise.

If you prefer one type of exercise, such as running, change the exercise, itself, in some way. For instance, increase the intensity level or the length of the workout.

Try a new type of exercise. Introducing a new exercise into your training will ultimately work the body in a new way. Different muscle groups may be called upon to perform, thus, challenging your body to some degree.

Alternate among a variety of exercise routines. You may mix up your routine each day, or you may alternate between one routine one day and another routine the next day. This keeps your body on its toes, so to speak...and, it helps prevent exercise boredom.

Periodically change the location of your workouts. Even a simple change of scenery can keep exercise more exciting. Such a change also has the potential to boost your energy level and improve your training.

Life can be tedious. We often find ourselves in a rut, doing the same things day after day after day. For a more exciting life and better fitness, change your workout routines from time-to-time. Your body and mind will thank you!

The well-rounded breakfast

Breakfast, the most important meal of the day, exists all around the world and across several different cultures. Nowhere does the concept of breakfast go unheeded; in fact, every major culture in the world maintains its own traditions. Based on the similarities, all meals begin well before noon after a good night of sleep; and typically, the meal itself may be no larger than an appetizer, to as big as a t-bone steak. Varieties of all sorts exist.

The many different varieties come to serve a multitude of purposes. Good food and good company may be one; the other purpose being a hearty meal to satisfy the stomach before work or school, and to last until lunch. But the importance of a good breakfast, as researchers have guessed, stems from its nutritional value. Critics argue that the energy burned throughout the better part of the day comes largely from the food eaten at breakfast. This may be because of the time it takes for the body to digest and process the food we eat; it may also be because of how our bodies behave immediately after waking. Breakfast derives from the phrase "to break the fast," that is, to break the fast after a long night of sleep. When we sleep, our bodies go through a rigorous and important detoxification and healing process that burns energy and nutrients. It makes sense that, upon waking, our bodies will be hungrier than usual.

This hunger, or lack thereof, constitutes what many believe to be the importance of breakfast. The unfounded belief that breakfast will stave off excess hunger and calories can be attributed more to common sense than to any valid research. Observation suggests that a balanced breakfast can keep a body satisfied until the next meal time; and in having eaten breakfast, our bodies will less likely be susceptible to hunger pangs. Most important, our bodies require a refuel of energy upon waking, and breakfast helps to meet those demands. The delay of nutrients until, say, lunchtime, can strain the body and mind.

Culturally, breakfast has, in one way or another, turned out to be a meal rich in energy and needed calories. For example, the typical breakfast in Asia contains the following similarities: rice, egg, and noodles---foods loaded with ready-to-burn carbohydrates. Farther west in the regions of India and the Middle East are fattier but less portioned items, such as fried breads served with a condiment of pastes. Quick and easily prepared, but also high in instant energy, these breads comprise yet another similarity of breakfast that all cultures share: its small portion and its ease of preparation. Although not all cultures share this similarity, their deviations can be explained. Usually this has to do with social, economic, or even timely constraints. For example, big breakfasts may be prepared on weekends, with work out of the schedule; or practicality may be substituted for luxury, as indicated by the popularity of breakfasts offered by fast food chains.

The benefits of breakfast, nay, the importance of breakfast, can easily be traced around the globe. While the other meals in the day only serve to sate our hunger, or to aide our bodies in the long run, breakfast, or the lack thereof, has immediate effects.

Your own travel business with coastal vacations

The travel industry is big business. In fact, research shows it’s a $5 trillion industry. And if you’d like to get in to grab your fair share of the profits – plus enjoy some travel – there’s never been a better time to get started in your own business, especially with all the latest technology and Internet advances offering a verity of affordable marketing, sales networking and other opportunities.

And one company in particular with a top-notch travel product package is Coastal Vacations. For more than 10 years, they have been supplying lifetime discount vacation memberships and helping travelers save up to 75% off of their airfares, hotels, car rentals, cruises, condos and more. That’s one super value package costing pennies on the dollar – and FOR LIFE.

Not only is the travel package awesome, the Coastal Vacations business enterprise offers a variety of tools and services for helping even the novice of entrepreneurs get started, including:

• A service center to answer phone calls from your prospects…so you can focus your time elsewhere.

• Presentations to your prospects for you …so you can focus your energy elsewhere.

• Marketing collateral so that your leads are transformed into customers …so you can use your budget on other things.

• Prompt payment from sales..so you don’t have to worry about income.

Studies shows that roughly 95% of all home based business entrepreneurs are not earning income…at least not enough. But not Coastal Vacations.

About Coastal Vacations

At Coastal Vacations, in business for more than11 years, Coastal Vacations Directors watch their earnings increase multi-fold because the Coastal Vacations’ tools actually do more than 95% of the work for them. And the results are that the Coastal Vacations system brings you no less than $1000 per sale.

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So if you are truly looking for your own home-based business – complete with a great, proven product plus plenty of marketing, sales and other business tools to make it work – then Coastal Vacations is the business for you.

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Using RSS fields in communication

RSS is fast replacing email marketing and newsletters. You would not want to be left behind would you? Your competitor will surely overtake you and speed right up. RSS is mostly called Really Simple Syndication, although some give other meaning to the acronym. It is a process by which you could place a feed on websites that can read RSS from your directory.

Information distribution has been made simply by RSS. Simply put, with RSS, you can place your headline to other website for more people to see it. In marketing, it is a known concept that the more people you reaches to, the more likely that your product will sell.

RSS is an XML-based application. XML is similar in a way to HTML, which we all know is the most common website creator application. From a directory, it would feed the headlines into website that has an RSS reader. Creating an RSS feed would definitely boost up your sales. How can you make an RSS feed? Just follow these simple steps:

Create a file for your feed.

Using a certain format, you’d have to create the XML version of your feed. It should include the title or the headline, the body’s short description, and the link where it can be read. There are a lot of different RSS web channel editor you can use for this. Some programs just require you to write news and articles down on a notepad and when placed on the editor, it will show up with the necessary formatting ready for upload. It would be advisable to make at least ten articles for your feed.

Save and Upload the file.

After creating your file, save your work as an XML, RSS, or an RDF file. Then you are now ready to upload it. Upload the file using your FTP program and place it on your web server. This process now makes the file readable by RSS news aggregators.

Validate the file.

Make your RSS program error-free. RSS is programming, so errors could lie unseen. Again, there are different programs that can assist you for this process. You would just need to place the saved and uploaded RSS file for the program to test it against wrong and missed code and tags. It is essential for you to check your work of course. This way, you’re sure that what you have is readable and usable.

Create a directory.

Now that you have created the file, saved it, and made sure it works, you are ready to let other see it. The main purpose of an RSS feed is to broadcast it to all RSS enabled sites. So go ahead and look for a directory where you can place your feed. Some may require fees for uploading a directory. Some offer it for free. Scout around and round up all the free sites you can have and place it there. If you have some marketing budget, you might want to subscribe to sites that charge a minimal amount. Don’t forget to place an icon of your RSS feed on your website, too for those people who visits you directly.

Update regularly.

With RSS, you know that the feed changes automatically every time you change the main file. Don’t let your RSS feed sit there for a month without modifying it. Maintain it. Add new articles. The more exciting your topic is, the more people will check your feeds and visit your website.

Creating an RSS feed for Internet marketing is made very simple now a days. Even people who are not computer savvy can create RSS feeds, based on the steps provided above. The applications that were created for RSS creation are the ones that make it easy for everyday computer users to make an RSS feed. All you need is familiarization with the process.

Start now creating RSS feeds. Give your competitor something fierce to duel with. Needless to say, RSS feeds give your website more traffic than usual web hosting. And web traffic means more people seeing your products that could be interested in buying them. Add strength to your marketing strategy. Make RSS feeds and be ready to sell.

How to exercise to lose 10 pounds

You decide to lose 10 pounds. Before you do anything else, think about your preferences. Do you jog at 6 a. m. every morning, even when the 30 degree weather turns your nose into frost? Or, do you shudder at the thought of getting up early and prefer to wrap yourself in a down comforter?

Your preferences towards exercise determine what you should do to lose weight. Let’s say you spend most of your leisure time sitting on the couch, reading a murder mystery. While you may not call yourself a “coach potato,” you do classify as an inactive person. Simply realizing this fact puts you one step forward to losing 10 pounds.

The next step involves deciding how to exercise, which is part of any good weight loss plan. Sure, going to the gym may be the first option that comes to your mind, but you have more choices. You may breathe a sigh of relief after reading the last line, since the gym may not be comfortable or convenient for you.

Other options to get more exercise can require more creativity, but the process is worth the extra effort. For instance, do you drive to the farmer’s market every weekend? Assuming it's not too far, you might consider getting a cart and walking the distance — a few blocks of walking makes a difference.

Other alternatives have to do with work. Maybe you park close to the building. As a substitute, you can park further away to give yourself a mini-workout before you reach the office. Then, at lunchtime, go for a sight-seeing walk around the neighborhood, perhaps taking a colleague along.

At home, you can continue finding convenient ways to exercise. Do you zap a frozen dinner in the microwave and then sit down to do nothing? As a replacement you can cook a wholesome, delicious meal and get some exercise in the process running around preparing it.

And don’t forget about involving your family in exercise as well. Find an indoor playing center, with a playground and various activities. Or, shoot hoops in the backyard with your kids or by yourself. If you don’t want to miss a football game on television, tape the game or listen in on the radio.

Since television can be a huge obstacle to exercise, here’s another way to work around this problem. The next time you decide to watch a video or a television program, don’t sit down. Instead, get up and do aerobics while you watch.

Depending on your preferences, you may want to get a home gym, with an exercise bicycle, treadmill, boxing gear, or an abdominal exerciser. These options give you the ability to workout in the privacy of your home. But, choose equipment that you will actually use.

It comes down to making changes in your lifestyle that you can handle and sticking with this routine. Soon, the “exercise” will become second nature for you, making you 10 pounds lighter and happier.

You might even have enough extra energy for that morning jog.

Making your item get the best bid on e-bay

Having a worthy item does not immediately guarantee that you would receive the highest bid. Sometimes, it takes more than a great product to get the top bids in E-Bay.

One of the things that you should consider is the presentation of the product. The product should be presented carefully and gracefully because buyers are often attracted to products that have presentable packages because it promises that it is also a quality product. Research is always a good thing therefore a little research regarding your product is important because it would help you determine many things in E-Bay like the demand of the product, the price range for the product as well as the quality of your competitors. As they say, keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer and this saying is really appropriate for E-Bay.

Okay now, first things first, make sure that the product is on the right category. This is because most customers browse products online through categories and once you put your product in a different category, chances are customers would only bypass the ad and you would lose your chance of selling or even advertising the product. The right category is important because it makes your product known in this department and if it is really good then the quality of your product could be known. The second thing that you have to consider in order to have a high bid in E-Bay is to take quality photographs of the items. A quality picture means that the item should be presentable enough for sale. Though quality pictures suggest a presentable outlook, it does not mean that you should lie regarding the quality of the product. Honesty is the best policy here and for example your items have minor defects like a glitch on the backside. Be honest enough to admit it and also take a picture if necessary. This would ensure the customers that the damage in the item is only minor and could not affect the purpose and reason of the item. Another thing that you could do is to advertise. Advertising is really not a bad thing because you give exposure to the items and the longer you expose it, the more potential customers you could have thus giving you the chance to have a best bid of the product.

Getting the highest bid only needs a combination of strategic planning as well as execution. This is needed so that one could maximize the benefits of E-Bay.

Cruise holidays to remember

Taking a cruise can be a “once in a lifetime” experience and capturing your memories will ensure enjoyment for years to come. Don’t think that mental pictures will last forever; reminiscing over a dream cruise vacation is so much more meaningful when you have something tangible.

Bringing a camera with you is a given but don’t rely on your old 35mm or disposable cameras. These have unpredictable results. Invest in a nice digital camera that is lightweight and “point and shoot”. These not only take excellent pictures but you can view your photos right away and won’t have to wait to develop the film. You can also easily send your photos to your friends and relatives via the internet right when you return from your cruise. More expensive cameras also have a video option that can capture the action of your holiday. Bring at least one extra memory card since your sure to be taking many pictures.

You can get the entire family involved in taking photos. If you’re kids are old enough, let them have the camera to take pictures. If they’re young, buy a few disposable cameras so they can enjoy in the fun of creating memories of their holiday. If you’ll be doing some snorkeling or fishing, consider buying a waterproof disposable camera that won’t get ruined if it gets wet.

Many feel awkward about taking pictures since they feel like a silly tourist but if you’re on a cruise then everyone is a tourist. Feel free to ask others to take pictures of you and your family. Take pictures with the crew; they won’t mind since they’re used to it. Take candid pictures of your family enjoying themselves and enjoying the cruise. While pictures of landscapes and ocean views are beautiful, pictures with the family capture the best memories.

A cruise is a perfect place to write in a journal. You can document your adventures and while it takes some effort, it will definitely be enjoyable reading for years to come. You can take excerpts from your cruise and blog at ports of call or when you return.

Collect odds and ends from your cruise such as ticket stubs, matchbooks and menus. Though they may not be appreciated right away, they will provide for lasting memories.

Making a scrapbook is very popular for keeping memories alive. You can print photos, add ticket stubs and include quotes from your journal entries. The scrapbook can be used for years to come to reflect on your exciting cruise.

A cruise is sure to be an enjoyable and exciting vacation. Though it may not seem necessary while you’re on holiday, taking photos, keeping a journal, and keeping souvenirs will help preserve your wonderful memories for years to come.

How to choose a golf bag

Whether you are a beginner or a pro when it comes to playing golf, every golf enthusiast knows that next to the clubs the kind of golf bag you will be using is also important. You might be asking how a golf bag could affect your game directly. It doesn’t. But it has some indirect impact with regards to the overall game the player will be playing. Factors like fatigue and comfort are also important.

There are four types of golf bags. We have the carry bags which are appropriate if you plan to do a lot of walking for the entire game. These are usually made of plastic, nylon or other light materials.

Then there are the stand golf bags that are equipped with retractable legs which enables the bag to stand at a certain angle. The great thing with these stand golf bags is that you don’t have to be leaning down to get your clubs. Take note that with the carry bags you have to drop it to the ground when you need to make your swing. Then you have to fumble for the club you will be using. With the stand golf bag, your can have easy access to your clubs and they are kept clean and dry especially in muddy areas.

You also have cart golf bags which are designed to be used on the golf cart so wouldn’t need to carry them. These are large and bulky and can carry a full set of 14 clubs. They are designed with individual compartments so as to avoid the clubs from moving against each other which can cause damage.

The last kind is the golf travel bag which is used when golf clubs are brought while traveling especially by plane. They offer the needed protection for your clubs.

When you choose a golf club, you need to consider your needs. With cart golf bags you can conserve most of your energy for the game since you won’t need to be carrying it. But despite this you still need to check if you could at least carry the cart bag when loaded for you will be carrying it from your car to the golf cart and vice versa. If you have caddie when you play you can opt for either the carry bag or stand bag. If you will be carrying it yourself check if it is comfortable to carry. But nowadays there are a lot of very light weight carry golf bags.

The golf bag has truly evolved through the years with you being able to customize it to suit your style. They even come with accessories like umbrella, rainwear and golf gloves. For women, you can even have matching handbags with it. Whatever be the golf bag that you will be selecting, just make sure that it meets your needs and budget.

Programs to help you fund your american dream

The American Dream of home ownership is on the rise across the United States. According to the latest figures available, the US homeownership rate reached a record 69.2 percent in the second quarter of 2004, up from 68.3 percent in 2003. And for the first time, the majority of minority Americans own their own homes.

Owning a home provides tremendous benefits for families and for the communities in which they reside. Homeownership provides a sense of security and allows families to build wealth. A home is the largest financial investment most American families will ever make. Homeownership translates into a greater concern for neighborhoods and their communities as owners work to maintain the value of their greatest investment.

However, the most significant stumbling block for many low - to moderate-income families is being able to afford the down payment and closing costs. Fortunately, there is help - through down payment assistance programs or DAP’s.

DAP’s have been around for years yet many people, the people who could use them most, don’t even know they exist. With home prices and interest rates on the rise, there’s no time like the present to explore these programs and their benefits.

The Nehemiah Corporation of America has helped over 170,000 families and provided more than $659 million in gift funds since 1997. They offer gift funds up to 6% of the final contract sales towards your down payment and/or closing costs. These grants are available to both first time and repeat homebuyers. There are no income or asset limits, no geographical restrictions and the gift funds do not have to be repaid. For more information about this program, visit www. getdownpayment. com or call 1-877-634-3642.

Another national provider of a DAP is Ameridream. To participate in AmeriDream's Downpayment Gift Program, a homebuyer must contact a lender and qualify for a loan that allows gift funds, and the homebuyer must purchase a home from a builder or seller who has enrolled his or her home in the program. Visit www. ameridream. org for more information.

Partners In Charity, www. partnersincharity. org, is another national organization assisting families in achieving the American dream. PIC gives a down payment to those who demonstrate their ability to responsibly pay their rent and bills each month, turning renters into buyers.

They refer applicants to a licensed mortgage lender and licensed realtor who assists in finding the right home and the right financing package. Or, the buyer can chose to work with someone they already know. The mortgage lender then requests the gift of a down payment from Partners In Charity in the amount of 3%, 4% or 5% for the buyer. And, the gift never needs to be repaid, ever. PIC takes the gift giving one step further by also giving a gift to a community charity selected by the real estate team.

In addition to these national resources, there are also many state, city, and faith-based sponsored programs available to assist families, especially first-time homebuyers. Different agencies have various programs, requirements, and limits. If you don’t qualify for one program, keep checking around. The important thing to remember is that help is out there. And with a little help, you can achieve the American dream!