Credit counseling services checklist

There are credit counseling agencies that rescue people from the deepest financial holes. There are also credit counseling agencies that just shovel in more dirt. How do you tell them apart? by Joel Walsh Signs of a Reliable Credit Counseling Agency __Better Business Bureau Membership The service's website should have a BBB logo and a link to their record on the Better Business Bureau website. Click through the link to check that there are no unresolved complaints against them. Many people only think about the Better Business Bureau after they've been cheated, but by then there's not much you can do. Working with a credit counseling agency that is a member of the Better Business Bureau means that you can go to them to help mediate any dispute you might have with the service provider. __Accreditation Reputable credit counseling services will be accredited by an independent nonprofit, just as many schools are. One such accreditation body is the National Institute for Financial Counseling Education. __Fees A good credit counseling agency will charge a small, reasonable monthly fee, usually around $30. Some also charge a fee upfront, though this fee should be reasonable (around $50 tops). It may be possible to get a hardship waiver of these fees if you truly do not have the $30-50. __Clear Application The application must clearly say what the fees to be paid are, what the services to be provided are, and in what timeframe all of this will be provided. __Reasonable Promises Run far, far away from any organization that proposes to "wipe out" your debt for you, rather than simply helping you to repay the debt. Short of your creditors just deciding to forget about the debt (unlikely), there is no way to erase debt–even bankruptcy leaves a huge mark on your credit report for ten years. True, your car may not go missing from your driveway if you stop paying unsecured debt (i. e., debt that is not "secured" with collateral, like most credit cards, unlike most auto loans). But you are still legally obligated to pay the debt, and the possibility of being taken to court will loom over you. You will likely be unable to get even "bad credit" financing if you still have debts in collections–good luck buying a car or house. Not Necessarily Signs of a Reliable Agency XX Nonprofit Status Nonprofit status is essentially a tax designation, not a government endorsement of a group's mission. There are plenty of near-fraudulent credit counseling agencies that are registered nonprofits. XX Respectable Name Any group can put words like "National," "Alliance," "Assistance," and other trust-inspiring words in their name. But a name is just a name. Make sure to check any organization against the list above to make sure they're reliable. Also try searching for the group's name on a search engine. Don't just look for a lack of negative reports–that might just mean the group changed names recently. Instead, look for positive reviews from real people, and preferably mention on reputable third-party websites, such as news sites. Ready to find a credit counseling agency? You're in the right place: the web is full of credit counseling agencies. Just use the checklist above, and you'll have no trouble separating the saints from the scams.

Wonderful magickal mustika pearls part 1

Freaks and anomalies are found abound in Nature and her creations--if we would just look for them. "Mustikas" or "Magickal Pearls" having their origin in animals and plants are just some of Nature's curiosities hardly known or mentioned in the literature of the Occident, accept perhaps in faerie tales. It is different in the East, however. Pearls, other than those originating from oysters are mentioned in the Hindu scripture, "Sri Garuda Purana," where it explains the powers of several types of pearls derived from mammals, reptiles and even the natural conditions or specific events of Nature. In Indonesia, legends are found in which brave men died searching for these pearls--and when acquired they are treasured and valued as high as other family heirloom items such as kerises, spear heads, and other sacred objects. Almost all magickal stones mentioned in Arabian, Chinese, and other Eastern tales or legends actually refer to mustikas, or magickal pearls of an organic origin. Dragons, for instance, in Chinese lore, are known to guard pearls--these pearls are actually produced by them rather than acquired from some external source. It would be appropriate here to explain the word "Mustika": it is from the Kawi language, of an old Javanese origin and translates as, "magick jewel," or "precious stone." Some Indonesian occultists use the word to refer to any magickal object or power. That most western occultists and shamans do not mention animal pearls or pearls originating from plants is quite unusual in itself. One would expect this knowledge to be universal, especially among aboriginal shamans in all parts of the world--yet we find that this is not--as far as we can tell (if anyone can offer us some info on this regard we would greatly appreciate it). In contrast, the shamans of India, China, and South-East Asia are always on the look-out for these occult objects as they hold great power and magickal virtues--powers and virtues often employed in magickal work, mystical rites, spiritual development, and occult healings. In the past, kings, ministers, and noblemen sought for them and paid handsome rewards for those able to acquire them--many have died trying. Unfamiliar with pearls of origin other than oysters, westerners approach the subject with a good deal of skeptism--even those involved in the occult are somewhat surprised at the possibility. This shows that a good deal of work and investigation still lies before the seeker and average practitioner of the occult from the Occident in the probings of Eastern Mysteries. We also still have to hear what open-minded zoologists and botanists have to say about these mustika-pearls. In Indonesia, a shamanic specialist on the animal kingdom called a "pawang" is normally the one that goes looking for these objects in the jungles and wilderness. Sometimes magickal pearls are acquired in an occult manner directly from the faerie realms where they are guarded by elemental beings--often with considerable psychological struggle. Pawangs are those who speak the "language" of animals, birds and plants. The pawang would meditate and sleep in the wilds requesting Nature for her gifts in the form of mustikas. In dreams or while in the trance-state he is guided by the spirit-dwellers and guardians of the forests and jungles as to where mustikas may be acquired, and sometimes what he has to do in order to acquire them. He is almost always directed to caves, nearby lakes or streams and shown the cadavers or remains of animals or plants and trees where they are found. Animals are never hunted for their pearls, as shamans and pawangs respect them. Nevertheless, pearls are also sometimes found in animals being hunted for food by native huntsmen. It is said that it is the senior members of any animal species or those displaying exceptional qualities that yields mustikas. Occasionally, ordinary people in a rural environment would have visitations in dreams by the regional spirits. These intelligences would direct someone to accept a special gift from Nature lying at a certain spot. These dreams are often found to be substantially true as the object is located--objects which are normally mustika-pearls. Why are mustikas so highly valued? Magickal pearls are held in great regard not only because of their scarcity, and sometimes beauty, but also because of the power that resides in them. These pearls are formed with the help of elementals spirits--gnomes, elves, and other etheric beings of Nature. That etheric spirits help to form gems is not quite unknown in western occultism. In the fairy tale, "Snow White," for instance, we read of 7 dwarfs working in their "mines." From the esoteric perspective, they were actually not mining at all, but forming gems and crystals. Tales such as hens laying "golden eggs" possesses some truth if considered in the light of magickal pearls. There are many such golden eggs available. Elementals are Nature's handmaidens and are the hidden forces acting behind all phenomena and natural formations or creations. Elementals help "paint" the flowers and nourish them with prana and the necessary gases. Science calls the latter process osmosis, but behind the physical scene, in the etheric world, one may perceive fairies frolicking among plants, flying to and fro, entering and exiting the stem and leaves of plants taking the pranic globules from the air and into the flora. Such similar work as the above are being done by elementals in the formation of mustikas. The difference with ordinary gems and crystals is that these elementals eventually make the pearl their dwelling place until released by the destruction of the pearl or for some other cause--thus sometimes we have genuine pearls without the elemental spirit present. Below we quote a paper, "Conversations on Occultism" by H. P. Blavatsky on elementals to give a greater insight on these beings (italics are ours) : "Student.- If I understand you, an elemental is a centre of force, without intelligence, without moral character or tendencies, but capable of being directed in its movements by human thoughts, which may, consciously or not, give it any form, and to a certain extent intelligence; in its simplest form it is visible as a disturbance in a transparent medium, such as would be produced by 'a glass fish, so transparent as to be invisible, swimming through the air of the room,' and leaving behind him a shimmer, such as hot air makes when rising from a stove. Also, elementals, attracted and vitalized by certain thoughts, may effect a lodgment in the human system (of which they then share the government of the ego), and are very hard to get out. "Sage.- Correct, in general, except as to their 'effecting a lodgment.' Some classes of elementals, however, have an intelligence of their own and a character, but they are far beyond our comprehension and ought perhaps to have some other name. "Student.- Am I to understand that a clairvoyant or clairaudient has to do with or is affected by a certain special class or classes of elementals? "Sage.- Yes. A clairvoyant can only see the sights properly belonging to the planes his development reaches to or has opened. And the elementals in those planes show to the clairvoyant only such pictures as belong to their plane. Other parts of the idea or thing pictured may be retained in planes not yet open to the seer. For this reason few clairvoyants know the whole truth. "As to the moral character of elementals, they have none: they are colourless in themselves - except some classes - and merely assume the tint, so to speak, of the person using them." It is the presence of these elementals in pearls that give them an extra feel of power. Normal gemstones and crystals do not have any elemental spirits dwelling in them unless willed by an occult practitioner; mustikas, however, do have an etheric being living in them as a matter of course. Lacking a spirit dweller, a mustika-pearl is still more powerful than an ordinary gemstone or crystal as it possesses the energies of the Guardian Group-Spirit or Intelligences (Animal Totems/ Plant Devas) of the animal/plant species embedded in it. Some occultist believe that the beings living in mustikas are human spirits, but we feel this to be untrue. Human spirits do not return to dwell in animals or stones but live in the various realms of the astral and higher regions. Elementals dwelling in pearls are not demonic; although some may be amoral. Some may assist the owner to gamble for instance--directed to do something negative by its master. The elemental would not know the difference between good and evil or the natural law of consequence. Elementals love to imitate human beings in clothings, names and titles. Thus, psychics of high-caliber have found that most elementals adopt the titles and names of saints and kings. These names and titles should not be taken too seriously, but when given by the elementals themselves, they do respond psychically to them. Acquiring the names and details of the elemental dweller is not an easy process, although once acquired and contact made with the pearl-intelligence, many things may be known about the origin of the mustika and its virtues. Yet, psychics who manage to contact the elemental spirit are probably 40-70% accurate in this matter. It should be noted that even without such knowledge, the powers and virtues of a magickal pearl may still be readily felt by those possessing it after a short period of time. Undeveloped psychics may have trouble detecting and communicating with elementals. Interacting with human spirits and jinns may not pose a problem but elementals may sometime elude them. This is because elementals will not interact with humans that are spiritually unbalanced and have not harmonized their element psychologically within the psyche. For this reason, genuine mustikas or magickal pearls may be mistaken for fakes by psychics who know no better. Sometimes other factors fool people who think they know something about mustikas; two such factors are the color and form of a pearl. When shown a genuine pearl of a certain color and size, like one having its origin from a bamboo plant, for instance, they would search for further bamboo mustikas having only such characteristics--other genuine bamboo pearls of a different form and color would be labeled as "false." This is unreasonable as there is nothing in Nature that are exactly alike. Oyster pearls, as an example, come in various colors, sizes, and forms. Oyster pearls are not always round, they may come in pear-shape forms, as in tear-drops, and even flat pieces resembling angel-wings. We personally possess bamboo pearls as large as a chicken egg, red in color. We also have blue and green, and black bamboo pearls of diverse shapes and sizes. Not all of our stock are presented on our web-site. The pearls shown are merely representative of what is available. Those ordering mustika-pearls from us are not always given the exact same mustika as seen in the pearl-pictures--mustika-pearls are one-of-a-kind. Descriptions from ancient texts as to the color and shape of a mustika do not tell the whole story as not enough pearls were found at that time to make a proper comparison or a true statement. To put it plainly, mustikas or magickal pearls of the same animal or plant origin do not always have the same color, size or form. They may appear as an unworthy object or as a thing of beauty--their appearance should not be too much of an issue for the magickal practitioner, for their true value lies in their occult nature. In their natural state most mustikas have rough textures. It is only after being tumbled and polished do they give a lustre. It is actually in their natural state that one may see that a mustika is genuine as they are unlike any crystal or gem stone in their uncut, untumbled, and unpolished state. Sometimes natural objects such as a grass or part of an insect may be found embedded within them--these magickal pearls often possesses additional power. Pearls may be tested by the layman whether they are genuine or fake using the finger test; however, this method is not conclusive--it does entail having some psychic sensitivity on the person testing it. The method is to hold a pearl with the right hand between the thumb and forefinger. Inhale and hold your breath, then feel the energy flowing along the arms to the heart. Exhale when you need to. Repeat the breathing cycle--the more you do this, the more definite will the energy be felt. The arm holding the pearl would feel intensely heavy at one point--this effect is generally not felt with ordinary stones and objects. You may test this for yourself should you possess a magickal pearl. Some people make a mistake of stating that testing every object makes their fingers tingle and thus feeling this as a result of holding a magickal pearl is of no import. This is fallacious, and is not the effect sought. This tingling is the result of the blood pulsation as the fingers are pressed against the hard surface of the pearl. What we are actually after in this experiment is to feel the subtle energy flowing into the arms--thus the pearl should not be held between the fingers too tightly. When the energy flows, it accumulates in the arm before reaching the body--this makes the arm intensely heavy. When one's subtle nadis or etheric nerves have been cleansed of psychic toxins and enlargened for a greater capacity of energy-flow, just holding a mustika-pearl for a few seconds is sufficient enough to feel the rush of the force. In the days of yore, most men could only mention animal/plant pearls in their writings. Nowadays, magickal pearls are bountiful and readily available to a wider public--to those that seek them. The reason has partly to do with the Aquarian-Age that we find ourselves living in. It is, however, mainly because Nature wishes to offer humanity something that would help men embrace her and not destroy the platform where the other lower kingdoms have their place of evolution. Mustika-pearls are Nature's gifts to humanity, it connects us directly to the Spirit-Intelligences of the mineral, plant, and animal kingdoms. As alluded to previously, the reality of mustika pearls are to be found in certain literature. Below we quote fully the summary/translation of the Sri Garuda Purana by the gemologist , Robert S. Brown, regarding this matter. The commentary in square brackets are ours: "Besides (natural) oyster pearls there are seven other types [In fact, almost every animal specie and perhaps plant-life may produce pearls--although rare] found in conch shells, wild boar heads, elephant heads, king cobra heads, bamboo stems, clouds, and fish heads. "Pearls from elephant heads, bamboo stems, boar heads, fish mouths, and conch shells are lusterless, even though possessed of other auspicious qualities [Not all crowns of animals are lusterless--some have clear crystalline-structures and do give forth a sheen; some bamboo pearls also have lustre]. Pearls from conch shells are usually the size of a large kona (the large end of a drum stick), and they possess a color similar to their host shell. "Fish pearls are perfectly round and symmetrical. They possess a yellowish hue like the scales of the pathenam fish which often inhabit the mouths of deep sea whales [Again, not totally true, we have seen shark pearls white in color.] "Boar pearls [we have this pearl available in our collection] are colored like a boar's tusks and are found only in remote parts of the world. Such pearls are auspicious symbols of the Varaha boar incarnation of the Supreme Lord, Sri Vishnu. "Pearls derived from bamboo appear like hailstones in color, and they are found only within bamboo that has grown in a region populated by religious people [Lots of bamboo pearls in our collection--they mostly come from Ujung Kulon, Java, which secret sources say is one of the remote places where the Indonesian Spiritual Masters regularly convene]. "Pearls from the cobra's hood are perfectly round, like fish pearls, and they radiate a natural effulgence. By repeated washing, a snake pearl becomes as lustrous as a polished sword blade. Anyone possessing such a naga-mani attains piety, rare good fortune, and eventually becomes illustrious as a leader of men, complete with a great collection of all precious gems [Cobra-pearls are not always round, they may also come in other shapes]. "Upon acquiring such a snake pearl, the owner should have the rite of installation performed by a priest who is learned in religious formalities. After hearing from the owner how the pearl was obtained and conducting the benedictory ritual, the priest should formally install the jewel inside the owner's house. On such an auspicious occasion, the sky becomes filled with dark and heavy rain clouds, thunder, and flashing lightning, such as exhibited at the time of universal dissolution. A man in possession of such a snake pearl will never be troubled by snakes, demonic beings, diseases, or disturbances in any form. "Cloud pearls [this could possibly be a "dew pearl" or a variation], being naturally effulgent like the sun, illuminate the sky in all directions and dispel the darkness of cloudy days. Glowing brighter than the combined light of the moon, the twinkling stars, and fire, a cloud-born pearl dissipates even the darkest night exactly like the sunrise. A cloud pearl is so priceless that the entire earth, with her oceans filled with countless jewels and covered in layers of gold, would not be equal in value. Cloud pearls rarely reach this earthly world, because they are usually taken away by the demigods. "Even a low born man would become supreme ruler of the entire world if, as result of some past pious actions, he were to come into possession of such a pearl. The appearance of such a man on earth who obtained a cloud pearl during his lifetime would bring good fortune not only to himself, but to the entire human race as well. No form of evil could even touch the land within an 8,000 mile radius of his birthplace." THE "OTHER" PEARLS By Richard S. Brown, Gemologist (G. I.A.) How do animal/plant pearls differ from ordinary gem stones and crystals? Mustika-pearls contain energies of the Totem Animal/Plant Spirit-Guardians (Power-Animals/Plant Devas) of the species under its care. During its construction, an elemental spirit appropriates these energies to actually construct every line of force within the pearl and to actually dwell within it after it is fully formed. The energies of the Totem-Animal/Plant Spirit and the presence of the elemental are the two occult factors that differentiates mustikas from ordinary crystals and gems. Extraordinary mustika-pearls are sometimes found. These are the crowns and horns of animals that normally do not possess them. In this category are also the fossilized-eyes and other parts of animals and creatures. Crowns are normally lusterless as described in the Sri Purana Garuda. There are, however, crocodile-crowns that are crystalline in nature. Most crown-pearls come from snakes and centipedes. These crowns normally have a spiral, conic shape. Horns/crowns of animals such as horses (unicorn) and cats do exist, though they are scarce. Copyright © 2006 Luxamore

Details of the discover platinum wildlife card application

The Discover Platinum Wildlife Card will provide for some extra perks that may just appeal to you. To obtain this line of credit, you will need to have very good credit and be looking to obtain benefits in cash back rewards. Although the rewards may seem limited, there is no limit on how much you can earn using this credit line issued by Morgan Stanley. You may find that the cash back is just one of the benefits as this credit card also offers an affordable interest rate. The Discover Platinum Wildlife Card provides for 12 months of benefits with an introductory rate of 0% on all of your purchases and balance transfers during this time. You should check out the details for this offer to determine the exact dates of benefits. But, after this introductory period has expired, you still get some pretty significant benefits. You have a variable APR at just 10.99% on purchase and a very low 20.99 fixed APR on cash advances. This credit card does use the two cycle average daily balance which may offset these benefits just a bit with a higher interest payment if you carry a balance on your credit card. There is no annual fee on this credit card and the minimum credit limit is $5000 up to $50,000. For those benefits also comes a reward. The Discover Platinum Wildlife Card offers a cash back reward of .25% to 5% at participating retailers. You will earn .25% at warehouse clubs as well as discount stores. You get double rewards for Discover Card Partners. You will earn .25% for purchases totaling up to $1500, .5% for purchases up to $3000 and 1% for purchases over $3000. The Discover Platinum Wildlife card offers many benefits to those that deserve it and have excellent credit. These large credit limit accounts offer the benefits of cash back rewards but also feature very low interest rates, something that everyone should take into consideration.

Artists biographies on film top movies about visual artists

Visual artists biographies is a popular theme in the movie world. Moviemakers have always been fascinated by visual artists biographies, especially if it includes struggle with insanity, drug addiction or social conventions. In addition, it gives them an opportunity to depict original or resurrected artworks on the big screen. Here you can read about some of the most interesting movies about visual artists biographies. Lust for Life directed by Vincente Minnelli in 1952 Vincent Van Gogh biography had gained several cinematic adaptations. Lust for Life with Kirk Douglas as the struggling artist is one of the most notable. The movie is based on a best selling book by Irving Stone, who also authored The Agony and the Ecstasy about Michelangelo, which also had appeared on the silver screen. If you are a fan of Van Gogh artwork, you would enjoy watching Last for Life, which features almost 200 of Van Goghs original paintings. However, if you are familiar with Kirk Douglas previous filmographic, seeing him as a tortured Dutch painter might take a little adjustment. Another recommended film about Van Gogh is Robert Altmans Vincent and Theo from 1990. Surviving Picasso directed by James Ivory in 1996 Like Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso image made him an iconic figure outside the artistic circles. While Van Gogh symbolizes the self destructive, manic depressive artist who achieves success only after his death, Picasso represents the misanthropic and womanizer artist. Picasso infamous relationship with women is the focus of this Merchant and Ivory film. The story is told from the eyes of Picasso mistress Francoise Gilot and features only reproductions of Picasso works. With Anthony Hopkins talent and his physical resemblance to Picasso, Surviving Picasso manages to create an unflattering portrait of an artist as a cruel, self centered genius. Girl with Pearl Earring directed by Peter Webber in 2003 Comparing to Van Gogh and Picasso, Vermeers biography is less known and less controversial. Therefore Girl with Pearl Earring is much more restrained and delicate. The movie focuses on a short period in Vermeers life in which he was painting the portrait of his young low class maid. Although Girl with Pearl Earring does not avoid filmic conventions by over dramatizing Vermeers painting process, the movie is worth watching if only for its artistic design, which success in evoking Vermeers perception of light and color. Basquiat directed by Julian Schnabel in 1996 The most common critique against movies that deals with visual arts is the way they depict the creation process. Therefore, there were big expectations from Basquiat, which was directed by the celebrated painter Julian Schnabel. Schnabel did well in depicting Jean Michelle Basquiat rise and fall story in less the predictable manner we have seen millions time before. However, the only reason to watch Basquiat is David Bowie plays the role of Andy Warhol. Frida directed by Julie Taymor in 2002 Like most of the visual artists who had their life story appear on the silver screen, Frida Kahlo carried an unusual biography, which includes bus accident, problematic marriage, and an affair with Leon Trotsky. Like Van Gogh, Picasso and Jackson Pollock, who was the subject of a biopic from 2000, Frida Kahlo was an icon long before Frida was released, but the 123 minutes film did help to strength her position as a feminist idol and probably the most famous woman painter of the 20 century. Frida tries its best to integrate Frida Kahlo life story with her painting and the result is very colorful and pleasant, but still does not stay far enough from the conventions of depicting artists on film.

L carnitine deficiency

L-Carnitine deficiency can cause health problems, such as fatigue and weight problems. Although initially L-Carnitine deficiency causes minor problems, in the long-term L-Carnitine deficiency can contribute to more serious health problems. Heart Disease is among the more serious health problems that L-Carnitine deficiency can cause. With a lack of L-Carnitine, fatty tissue is unable to be processed normally and therefore can often build up to unhealthy levels around the heart. An unhealthy build up of fatty tissue around the heart can lead to heart related diseases. L-Carnitine deficiency can be caused by a genetic default, damage to the kidneys, liver, or brain, or through improper dietary intake. L-Carnitine is naturally produced in the kidneys, liver and brain, yet if there is a genetic default, then the body is inclined to produce less than what is required by the body. If the kidneys, liver, or brain is damaged during birth, or through some kind of medical difficulty, or accident, then they may not be capable of functioning normally and therefore may not be capable of producing adequate amounts of L-Carnitine in order to support the body’s normal functions. When a person damages their kidneys, liver, or brain, L-Carnitine production is interrupted and the result leads to slow production of fatty acid, which in turn leads to a slowing of the energy distribution throughout the body. You will often find people with kidney, liver, or brain damage are slow and put on weight easily. The reason that people with kidney, liver, or brain damage are slow and put on weight easily, is that the fatty acids are not being transformed into energy and therefore build up to unhealthy levels. People with serious kidney, liver, or brain damage are often confined to bed, or a wheelchair. Although L-Carnitine is naturally produced in our kidneys, liver and brain, we still require some extra L-Carnitine to support our growth when we are children, our systems in times of illness and to provide supplementation when there is a L-Carnitine deficiency from genetic, or medical problems. It is for these reasons that L-Carnitine can be found in mother’s milk, which gives the baby more energy and aids a baby’s growth. L-Carnitine can also be found in Red Meat, Poultry, Fish, Avocadoes, Wheat, Fermented Soybeans, Wheat, Asparagus and Peanut Butter and Dairy Products. When a person is suffering from a minor L-Carnitine deficiency they usually benefit from a change in their dietary intake, or from a small amount of L-Carnitine supplement in order to boost their system. Including L-Carnitine rich foods in your dietary intake is also though to be a preventive to developing serious health conditions. A person who is already suffering from a serious health condition may require long-term L-Carnitine supplementation in order to aid them in their recovery, combined with healthy dietary changes. L-Carnitine supplementation is often used for people suffering from Cancer, or other serious illnesses. Although a person who has a genetic L-Carnitine deficiency can benefit from the implementation of a diet full of L-Carnitine rich foods, they may benefit from taking L-Carnitine supplements throughout their life. A genetic L-Carnitine deficiency is unlike a person suffering from serious illness, where they have the possibility of recovery.

Is a blog right for your small business

More and more small businesses are considering using a blog to promote their business. A blog can be used in a variety of ways. Here are just a few • Get the word out to your customers about your services and products • An easy way to keep your employees updated • A way to allow interaction from your customers or employees There are a few advantages and a few pitfalls to be aware of before you start. It is important that you lay out a plan and decide what the purpose of your blog will be. Decide how often it will be updated and keep to it. Blogs that aren’t updated on a regular basis lose their advantage. You may need more than one blog because the tighter the focus your blog has – the more effective it will be. Keep your blog on topic and don’t allow it to range far and wide with your topics just because you can. If you want to stray from your major topic you may want to consider creating another blog on that topic. The big advantage of a blog is the ease of use and the ability to be interactive. At the same time that interactivity needs to be controlled to keep your blog on track. Your blog needs to maintain a consistent purpose. Unfortunately, not all comments will add to the conversation you are creating on your blog so make sure you control the comments. Worry less about the technology and more about the purpose for your business. Now if you are in the music business then adding sound clips and video may serve your purpose. Don’t just add technologies because they are available add them because they improve the conversation. Remember, that blogs are a conversation. Consider that when posting and adding content. In summary – If you take the time to plan out your blog’s purpose, how often it will be updated and schedule the time necessary to achieve this, you will find a blog can be a valuable asset to your overall business plan. If you are not willing or able to do this then you will be disappointed with the results you receive from your blog.

Organizing your kitchens

It is really a pleasure to cook in a kitchen that is well organized and has nice pots and pans in the cabinets. Some people prefer to hang their pots and pans from the ceiling so that they can grab them and go with the flow of their fast paced kitchen environment. There may be tiered racks filled with garlic and produce items that are used on a day-to-day basis. The view of an organized kitchen is refreshing and inspires cooks to go the extra mile in giving their families tasty treats in record time. The timing is possible because the cook can find everything that is needed to prepare many dishes at one time. For the seasoned cook, there may be a stationary food processor that greets them every time they enter the kitchen. Of course, a cook always likes to start the day with a good cup of coffee and will certainly have a coffee grinder in easy reach to grind and brew in minutes. Organized cooks may also have a spot in the kitchen drawers for a large set of serving spoons and mixing spoons that are perfect for certain jobs. Every organized kitchen looks clean and splatter screens may be the reason why. A good cook knows that what stays in the frying pan does not make it onto their floor and walls, and their cleaning time is cut in half by a simple screen. Other cooks prefer to use a pot large enough for the entire gang. A self-serve night is truly a memorable night for a cook who only prepares a soup that the entire family can enjoy. In colder climates, cooks prefer to use stove top grills in place of the backyard variety and get the same results in the comfort of their cozy kitchen. A quick steak and a baked potato and salad would be all that is needed to tide everyone over for the night. Again, clean up would be a breeze and there would still be plenty of time left over for the family to enjoy a good movie together, complete with popcorn from their high fashion popper at the end of the night. Home life can be very entertaining if you know how to use your kitchen as the fun portal throughout the home. A clever cook can surprise their kids with cookies that are uniquely decorated by their own hands, on a crisp Winter morning, that they can present to the teacher before the first bell rings. These decorated masterpieces will certainly add fun to the day and the teacher will be very appreciative of your effort. Keep your kitchen stocked with cutlery, pots, griddles and kitchen tools that can be used in so many ways. When an entertaining project approaches a organized cook will not even blink twice. They know they have what they need to get the job done, and they also know that it will be done right every time. The kitchen collection that you are so fond of would make excellent gifts for other people in your life. With your rave review of any item found in your kitchen, how can they go wrong using it in their kitchen.

Skiing at the big white resort

Skiing at the Big White Resort The world famous Big White resort in Canada is home to some of the nation’s greatest skiing. Renowned for its high quality snow, and simply breathtaking scenery, Big White is an ideal resort for skiers of any age or ability. In the shadow of the Monashee Mountains, the Big White is a world class ski resort, with a reputation to back it up. With over 20 feet of fresh snowfall every year, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Big White was unpleasant climate wise - more often than not, the sun is shining, the ski is fresh, and everyone can have a great time. And what’s more, staying at the Big White resort couldn’t be more comfortable. With so many different types of accommodation, you can find a place that’s ideal, right on the doorstep of the fantastic slopes. British Columbia is recognized as one of the world’s greatest skiing regions, and if Big White is anything to go by, that really isn’t a surprise. With 16 ski lifts, and a total capacity of over 28,000 skiers every single hour, Big White has the feeling of a small resort whilst still catering for a diverse range of visitors. This means you’re sure to meet new friends on your stay, but you can also find some privacy if that’s what you’d prefer. The Big White has it all when it comes to keeping you happy, and that is why its visitors just keep coming back for more, year on year. The Big White resort guarantees quality skiing for all visitors. With its innovative ski lifts, and its simple dedication towards standards, you’ll feel like Royalty on their pristine slopes. The fine, powdery snow is amazing for anyone to try out, and it can be a real novelty for those inexperienced skiers and experts alike. But if there is one thing overall that you’ll take away from your visit, it is the simple attraction of the place. A winter scene that could so easily be the product of fiction, the Big White resort is a stunning location for any vacation, and a resort that consistently earns its place within the top 100 resorts in the world. And if you have a family, relax! Big White is fully equipped to handle the needs of family skiing vacations, and the friendly staff make for a completely relaxed atmosphere. At Big White, you’ll feel right at home in any of their comfortable gourmet restaurants, or indeed any of their high quality family themed diners. Big White also offers expert tuition for those who are just beginning to ski, or indeed for the cubs! Not only is this a great way to get the kids out of your hair for a few hours, but you can also help them maximise their enjoyment of the vacation, by improving their abilities on the slope. Whatever you choose to do at Big White, and wherever you choose to stay, you can rest assured that you will love every single minute, and you’ll surely recommend it to your friends and family. So why not consider the Big White for your next skiing vacation, and visit one of the world’s most acclaimed ski resorts? With such top notch facilities, and a growing reputation, the Big White can only go from strength to strength, and is something definitely not to be missed. Word Count 567

Crossing the bridge loan to help yourself

A short term bridge loan may be just what the doctor ordered if you are having trouble making ends meet. A short term bridge loan helps you to “bridge the gap” between your expenses and income. A bridge loan is not a long term solution, but it is an excellent short term solution to your money problems. If for some reason your income has been eclipsed by your expenses, you may need to borrow money to pay for those additional expenses until you get paid again. It happens. For example, maybe a once-a-year payment has come due that you have simply not had the money to save up for it. House insurance, property taxes, or annual life insurance are all examples of when this can happen. Unfortunately, paying those things is not optional… especially if you want the service! Or maybe it is simply a mistake in your monthly budgeting and you find yourself short of cash one month. This happens to people during the Christmas season. Or maybe there was a once in a lifetime opportunity you couldn’t pass up… but now you’re paying for it! No need to worry about it! There’s a solution. Instead of defaulting on your expenses, you can now pay them with a short term bridge loan, then pay back the short term bridge loan over time. A short term bridge loan allows you to take control of your finances again. But it comes with a warning! Be sure that repaying your short term bridge loan is possible within your current budget! You don’t want to have to take out a bridge loan to pay for your bridge loan! Secondly, if you are taking out bridge loans every month or two (even if you are paying them off regularly) that should be a warning sign that you have a budgeting problem that needs to be addressed. And when you have a budgeting problem, you either need to increase your income or decrease your expenses. No one wants to live their life in poverty. There’s no need to be hit hard by being a week or two short between your budget and your income. If that’s the case, you can simply apply for a UK short term bridge loan as your solution!

Credit card interest rates why it s important to understand how they work

Einstein put it best when he said, "Compounding interest is the greatest mathematical discovery of all time". Now the question you need to ask is, "Do I want this force working for me or against me?" If you own a credit card and you carry-over balances from month to month then you've got that amazing force called compounding interest working against you. In this article, I'll attempt to explain how this "force" works against you month after month after month, in the form of interest upon interest. And perhaps, by helping you to gain a better understanding of how this "force" works and how important even a small change in the interest rate you are being charged effects you and families financial future. And hopefully, it will also inspire and motivate you to do whatever it takes to pay off your credit cards and initiate some type of savings plan so you can put this "force" to work for you. Credit Card Interest Rates are Compounded The interest you pay on your credit card balances are compounded, which means that you pay interest on the interest from the month before. A simple example would be that if you were being charged an interest rate of 2% per month, you would not be paying 24% per year. In reality, you would be paying 26.82%. A neat little trick that credit card companies use to pick up an additional point or two of interest is to calculate interest on a monthly rather than on a yearly basis. You pay more but you don't know you're paying more. A Brain Teaser Here's a little brain teaser based upon what you've already learned. Would you rather have $1 million in cash or $10,000 in some form of savings account earning you a compounded interest rate of 20 percent per year? Hmm, let's see how that $10,000 would grow after 10 years - $61,917 or 20 years - $383,375 or 30 years - $2,373,763 or 50 years - $563,475,143. After fifty years, you would have over $500 million. Of course, you would have to take inflation into account and if we used a figure of 5% per year, then that $500 million would have the buying power that $10,732,859 does today. Not a bad return on your investment of $10,000 but on a side note it also exposes another lesson in how the compounding rate of inflation destroys wealth but that's the subject of another article. Clearly, that question was a bit tricky because there's so many variables to take into account that would influence what decision you would ultimately make - but you get my point, the power of compounding interest and by the way... it's the primary way credit card companies make their money is a powerful "force". It's also the way pensions work and the reason the prices of things seem to rise massively as you get older. Be afraid... or at the least very wary of compounding interest. Compounding Interest Can Really Add Up Now, let's look at a more real world example. Let's say you have an average unpaid balance of $1,000 on a credit card with an APR of 15 percent. First year interest would be $150. However, this amount is then carried-over and added onto the balance and interest is charged on that. As a result, year two interest would be another $172.50 for a total of $1322.50 and it continues to build year after year. Year three, four and five would look like this - $1,520, $1,749 and $2,011. As you can clearly see, after just five years at 15%, you would owe double what you borrowed and after 10 years you would owe four times. I know it's hard to believe but once again this simple "real world" example dramatically demonstrates the power of compounding interest. If you let something like that carry on long enough, you end up paying on that same amount of debt for years and years and end up paying back many times what you originally borrowed and in some instances you still may not have completely satisfied the original debt. Unfortunately, most people simply don't take the time to think through this out and they feel that the high and never ending payments are simply their fault for spending too much money to begin with. The Three Percent Difference You may feel that there's not that much difference between a credit card that charges an APR of 15% versus one that charges an APR of 12% but then again after reading this article I'm sure you've realized that there is and so - that's exactly what I'm going to show you. Remember the previous example that showed you would owe over $2,000 after only five years at 15% after borrowing an initial amount of $1,000. That same example at 12% reveals the following: Year one - $1120, year two - $1254 and years three through five - $1404, $1573 and $1762 respectively. After the same five year period you would have saved nearly $250 or almost 25% in interest from a mere 3% difference in APR. Quite dramatic and hopefully it will help you convince you to make the necessary decisions to pay-off your credit cards and start saving so that you can put, "the greatest mathematical discovery of all time" to work for you... rather than against you. This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.

How to accent your scrapbook with brads

Brads are no longer just for the office. Brads have become a hot trend in scrapbooking embellishments. They now come in many colors, sizes, and shapes. Brads can be as simple as round and silver, or more decorative, like in the shape of a Halloween ghost. Using brads in scrapbooking pages couldn’t be easier. Just press the brad through the paper and flatten the ends open on the other side. You may want to first make a pilot hole if you are working with delicate paper or materials, like tissue paper flowers. Remember to put tape across the back edges of the brad if you plan to use it on interactive elements like envelopes with journaling cards. You don’t want the journaling card to catch on the brad as you slide it into the envelope. It’s easy to find just the right brad for your scrapbooking project. Scrapbooking manufacturers are creating brads in sizes from mini to jumbo, and each season they release new decorative brads for everything from holiday pages to baby pages. Most scrapbooking design lines include coordinated brads, as well. If you can’t find a brad that fits with your page theme, try changing the color of a brad. You can use paint or marker pen to easily customize the color of a brad, or glue a rhinestone to the top of the brad to dress it up. Brads are essentially fasteners. They fall in the same line as eyelets, staples and paper clips. In scrapbooking, brads can be used in place of adhesive. They are excellent for attaching vellum to pages, because they don’t leave the visible residue some glues can cause on transparent paper. Use brads to attach ribbons to your page. Brads can attach each end of a ribbon border, or they can create an additional accent on small ribbon pieces added to a page. You also can add a ribbon piece attached to a brad to the top of a scrapbooking tag. Brads can become a piece of another page element. For example, a brad pressed into the center of a flower becomes part of the flower. Silk flowers can be difficult to glue to a page, but with a brad as its center, it’s easy to attach it to any place on your page. Make brads a part of your lettering. Use brads in the rounded part of your letters or in place of the letter “o” in your titles. Titles aren’t the only page elements that can be accented with brads. Try brads on your borders. Ribbon borders are only one option. Lacing borders are easy with brads. Place your brads in the pattern you want on your page. Then use ribbon, floss, string or twine to lace through the brads. You can create many different kinds of patterns with brads and a lacing technique. Finally, brads can become bullets points on your journaling blocks. Anywhere you can place an accent on your page could be a place to try brads. Visit a few scrapbooking sites with page galleries and watch how others are scrapbooking with brads on their pages. Stock up on brads and try some of these ideas on your next scrapbooking project.

Planning an rv park

RV parks have proven to be good investments over the last few years. That is to say if you have a wise RV park business plan. To be a good RV park manager requires careful study of successful RV parks. As with most businesses it is all about location, location, location. If you were to investigate the ten best RV parks in America you would first find great locations. RV parks near a resort are always going to be in demand. But an RV resort park is going to have stiff competition because there will most likely be other parks nearby. Campground RV parks that are not near resorts should have plenty of shade and a small lake. Being that there are no major attractions nearby, interior entertainment is very important. For example, there are Florida Bluegrass RV Parks that offer Bluegrass Music shows and jam sessions. These are very popular for Bluegrass Musicians. Boating, fishing and bicycling are all good draws. A good RV park design is also very critical. Customers will want to stay somewhere that is comfortable and very user friendly. You should study other RV park plans and take the best ideas from several successful parks. The American RV park review should help you quite a bit. Sewage, water, snack shops or groceries that are not too high priced, and friendly reservationists are all very important factors. Not to mention a clean and well manicured park. Now let us assume that you own an RV yourself and have visited many RV parks across America. If not, then you should. The best way to learn what works and what people want, is to get first hand information. Visit the RV parks in Georgia and Florida. Visit the RV parks near Disneyland, or Maryland, or New York. Visit as many as you can before making any decisions. Make notes on what you find inviting, and ask other campers what they like, without being too obvious. Now that you know what you want to build, you must have a solid financial plan. Find a lending institute that is willing to work with you, and has experienced business loan officers. They can put together a plan for you and work with you as your business grows and your need change. It is best that you know what you are getting into before making the leap.

Take low cholesterol diets to reduce cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty lipid, steroid and an alcohol found in the body tissues and blood plasma of vertebrates. It is the cardinal part of the outer membranes of human body cells and it circulates in the blood of humans. Cholesterol in the human body comes from two major sources – diet, and the liver, where it is produced internally. High cholesterol in the blood is considered to be unhealthy. The cholesterol levels in the bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of certain conditions, such as the development of atherosclerotic plaque and coronary artery disease. It gets collected on the walls of arteries and interferes with the flow of blood. This buildup of cholesterol in the blood vessels may constrict the passages considerably and inhibit the flow of blood to and from the heart. Recent researches have revealed that the abundance of protein complexes, called lipoproteins are responsible for the cholesterol build-up in the blood vessels. Elevated levels of bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotein or LDL), are responsible for heart disease. Cholesterol in your diet: A high cholesterol diet is considered an unwholesome diet. Diets which are rich in animal fats, meat, poultry, fish, oils, egg yolks and dairy products, are a rich source of cholesterol. Organ meats, such as liver, are extremely rich in cholesterol. A diet high in cholesterol is fatal for the heart. Healthy diets are considered effective to lower cholesterol. A low cholesterol diet contains extremely low or no cholesterol at all. Diets of plant origin are the best low cholesterol diets. Fat is the major source of energy for the body, but excessive fat in the diet is dangerous. The excess fat raises blood cholesterol levels. It’s bad for the circulatory system and causes heart attack or stroke. The amount of fat and cholesterol in a diet should just be according to the daily calories required by the body. Thus a perfectly balanced diet is considered a healthy diet. A perfect low cholesterol diet has the following features: • It’s low in fat (especially saturated fat). • It contains low cholesterol. • It contains low sodium contents. • It’s rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates. • It’s usually a low calorie diet. Besides taking low cholesterol diets, sugar and alcohol consumption should also be reduced, as they contribute to high cholesterol levels. Avoid eating at fast food restaurants, because fast foods are usually high in fats and sodium. Regular exercise can also reduce cholesterol levels. Recent studies have revealed that certain deep-sea fish -- mackerel, salmon, herring, albacore tuna, and lake trout -- contain an oil called Omega-3 fatty acid that may help to lower blood cholesterol.

I m a leaf thief and a composting king

Every autumn, home owners rake up their leaves, place them in bags and put them out on the curb. Every autumn I gas up my mini-van, drive around my neighborhood and steal them. I’m a skilled leaf thief and can usually fill the van two or three times in a weekend. Unlike regular thieves, I don’t fence the goods on the black market because the leaves are more valuable to me and to my garden. Leaves are a great ingredient for making compost and gardeners can’t get enough of them. A person becomes a leaf thief because you can only produce so much yard waste on your own. You rake up your leaves, mow your lawn, clean up your flower and vegetable beds and it just isn’t enough yard waste to make compost for a moderate sized garden. Remember that after it’s decomposed it’ll be a lot smaller. So when I see people throwing out this excellent garden resource I have to take the law into my own hands. Not only is compost a nutrient rich soil amendment but it’s also a great soil enhancer. It can loosen up hard clay soil and it’ll allow sandy soil to retain more waterpost can be used as a replacement for fertilizers and will also improve pH balance and soil fertility. And all of this means that you will have healthier plants and a nicer looking garden. To make compost for the garden you’ll need to collect “Browns” (carbon-rich) and “Greens” (nitrogen-rich). Fill your compost bin with 1 part “Green” to about 20 parts “Brown”. With fallen leaves being a great “Brown” a large supply is a necessity for gardeners. Without adding a source of nitrogen to your leaves you will get something called leaf mold when it decomposes. Leaf mold is still very good for your garden and can be used as a mulch. But if you want to make real compost and enjoy the full benefits that come with it then you’re going to have to add some “Greens” to the mix. The grass clipping from your lawn mower are a great source of nitrogen. Empty the lawn mower bag into your compost bin whenever you mow the lawn. Another good source of nitrogen is coffee grinds. Don’t worry if you only have a few cups a day, you can get more grinds from your local coffee shop or coffee chain store. If you keep your compost pile moist and remember to turn it here and there you should have usable compost by the time spring comes. If your neighbors aren’t smart enough to take advantage of their yard waste and make compost with it then it’s up to you to make sure these gifts from the trees don’t get wasted. Give those leaves a home in your compost bin and eventually in your garden. Your plants will thank you.

My daughter my inspiration

My daughter Manteee (Samantha) has shown me a path that I like traveling. She has been and will continue to be an inspiration in my life. Her fearless nature and competitive qualities have swelled my heart. I am so lucky to have her as my daughter. She loves playing softball. Her competitive nature shows up in many facets of the game. As a second baseman she dives for groundballs that have a chance of getting to the outfield. She races for fly balls and pop ups that she must get and usually does get. While batting she will take one for the team. She will allow a hard pitched ball to hit her so she can get on base. She will stand up to any pitcher, no matter how hard they throw, to get her swings in. On the bases is where she is fearless. Diving or sliding into a base with no apparent concern for her body has often scared me. Taking the the extra base when most girls just stand around has earned her a thumbs up from her coaches. She has stepped in and played against players, in some tournaments, that are five to six years older than her. Some of these girls are over six feet tall. My daughter is five feet two inches if we put her on a stretching table. Her lack of height has been made up by her determination.. Starting for her high school team as a Freshman was quite an accomplishment. What was even better was that her coach favors Juniors and Seniors because they have more experience. Baseball and softball have been a large part of my life. Writing this e-zine about my daughter has been a pleasure. She has made her dad proud. I feel like I am glowing inside when I watch her play. I feel like I am the luckiest father on earth. My fantasy baseball story has come to reality through my daughter. I wanted one of my children to excel in baseball. She is the one that has carried the ball and bat. She may or may not want to continue her career after High School. That is up to her. But for now I am able to watch, admire and feel proud. I have admired Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays and Derek Jeter to name a few players that impressed me. My daughter has tied Derek Jeter as one of my all time favorites. They are both on my top ten list. Feel free to pass this on to anyone you think would enjoy reading about baseball or the Hall of Fame.

How to survive the financial strain... it s gonna happen

When you start a home business, it's all too easy to get carried away by all your new obligations: keeping your customers happy, earning enough money to live, and so on. Being in such an uncertain financial situation is stressful, but many home business owners simply ignore this stress, instead of dealing with it. When you're worrying about money, you tend to be worrying about everyone else and what will happen when you let them down. What I'm saying is this: don't forget yourself. The End of Stability... or the Beginning? Many people get very upset a few months after they quit their job and start their own business, feeling like they threw away the financial stability they had in their job, to chase a dream. Think of this way, though: just how stable were you in your job to begin with? Did you constantly have to avoid saying or doing the wrong thing, for fear of getting fired? Did it always feel like you were one bad project away from the end? Well, you are in almost all 'real' jobs, when hiring and firing is at the whim of your manager. At least now you work for yourself you can't lose your whole job -- only individual clients. I know many people, especially medical professionals, who feel far more stable working at home than they ever did in their job. They know that there will always be at least enough people coming to them for them to survive. Living With It. You knew this was going to be hard on you financially when you started -- it's no excuse to give up. Talk to any home business owner and they'll tell you how much stress they're under. It's part of the way of life. Big companies are designed to take financial strain away from individual employees, since everything is decided by committee and it's the investors who are going to be losing out anyway. You don't have this luxury. The only advice to give here is that you shouldn't take any more financial risk than you're comfortable with -- decide in advance just how much you're willing to lose before you throw in the towel. You should agree this point with your family before you start, though, and don't let them pressure you into giving in before you've reached it. Keep Clear Records. The absolute worst and most stressful thing is not to know exactly what your financial situation is from day to day. While you might think you don't want to know, things are never really as bad as they seem when you've got the numbers in front of you. It's when you leave it to your imagination that things really start to seem bad. The simplest way to keep records for yourself is to use a simple accounting program, or even just a spreadsheet. Enter what you started with, and then record everything you spend and everything you earn. Remember: it's never that bad. Don't Start Taking Sick Days. It can be all too easy to take 'sick days' when the only person you answer to is yourself -- when you feel stressed, the natural reaction is to hide away and ignore whatever it is that's making you stressed. You'll only make your financial situation worse if you do this, so it's important that you only stop working when there's something actually wrong with you, not just when you feel low. What's the Worst That Can Happen? Think of it this way: what's the absolute worst case scenario, the thing that you're most afraid of financially? There are very few situations that couldn't be solved by selling a few of the things that have accumulated in your house over the years (you probably don't even use them), or by selling your car and getting a smaller one. Do you really need all those things you subscribe to monthly? Newspapers, cable TV, and the rest could all go in an emergency, right? Basically, when you run a home business, you might have to make a few short-term sacrifices to get yourself out of trouble. I guarantee you, though, that you will find it very difficult indeed to completely crash and burn.

My favorite cheesecakes

: Lemon, vanilla and the more elaborate concoctions such as pumpkin, chocolate chip, cranberry and blueberry are just a few of my favorite cheesecakes. The delight you experience when you take that first bite of your favorite cheesecake can be exhilarating and soothing at the same time. And remembering loved ones at gift-giving time brings to mind even more exciting flavors that are available like raspberry, Neapolitan, bing cherry and key lime, another of my favorite cheesecakes, and one sure to be your favorite as well once you give it a try. There are times when nothing but the best will do, and that's the time to decide to give a freshly baked cheesecake instead of flowers and chocolates. There are many sources from which to buy your favorite cheesecakes. There's the frozen section at your supermarket, specialty retail shops, and now the Internet is a reliable source as well. Ordering online is an experience in itself as you browse through the pages looking at luscious Gourmet Cheesecakes that are sure to please everyone on your gift list. Once you make a selection, the cheesecake is packed in a special container and can be delivered as soon as the next day for your convenience. You are certain to find a cheesecake to please even the most discriminating palate when you view the selections and discover a world of delicacies that can be yours at the click of a button. Cheesecakes are usually available with a crumb crust or a more traditional crust that has been rolled thin. And don't forget the wonderful selections of a unique personalized cheesecake for special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, Secretaries Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day and other occasions to make cheesecake a favorite with everyone. Send a Cheesecake to someone special today.

Debt settlement income taxes what you need to know

Debt settlement has become a popular approach to resolving problem debts without having to file bankruptcy. With this approach, creditors agree to accept a portion of what you owe (usually around 50% or less) to settle the account, and the remaining balance is forgiven. This technique will certainly continue to grow in popularity now that the new bankruptcy law makes it tougher to fully discharge debts in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. As with anything, there is no free lunch, and creditors are required to report canceled debts to the IRS on Form 1099 (when the canceled balance is $600 or greater). Therefore, the possibility exists that you may owe taxes on the forgiven portion of the debt. For this reason, many financial writers and debt counselors are strongly critical of debt settlement, to the point where they actually recommend against it just because you might end up owing taxes. But the tax consequences of settling your debts are greatly over-emphasized, and this is a really just a minor issue at best. First, even if you end up owing taxes on the canceled balances, that's because you saved a bunch of money off your original debts. The total of what you paid the creditor, plus the taxes, will still be much less than what you owed to begin with. There is still a net savings. So it's hard to understand why this is viewed as a problem in the first place! Second, the great majority of people who settle their debts are not required to pay taxes on the forgiven part of the balance. That's because of the "insolvency" rule, described in IRS Publication 908, "Bankruptcy Tax Guide." Don't let the title fool you. You don't need to have filed a formal declaration of bankruptcy to take advantage of the insolvency rule. Basically, "insolvent" means that you have a negative net worth -- that is, you "owe" more than you "own." As a consequence, most debtors do not have a tax liability on the canceled debts, simply because most debtors are insolvent! It usually comes down to home equity. If you have enough equity in a home (or other property) to outweigh the total of your liabilities (debts), then you have a positive net worth, and will likely have to pay taxes on the forgiven debt amounts. However, the majority of people in serious debt trouble have a negative net worth, and are therefore insolvent. The way it works is that you can offset the canceled debt up to the amount by which you were insolvent at the time you did the settlement. Come tax time, be sure to get professional tax advice specific to your situation. Also, be sure to read the section in IRS Publication 908 on "reduction of tax attributes," which requires people using the insolvency rule to reduce their basis in such things as rental property, loss carryovers, etc. Most of that probably won't apply to you, but again, get specific advice before winging it. So, the message is, relax about paying taxes on canceled debt balances. That should be the least of your concerns if you're upside down financially. Don't let the misguided criticisms of financial writers (who haven't done their homework) discourage you from looking into one of the most popular and flexible options for achieving debt-freedom.

Intentional focus your happiness your success and the law of attraction

What have you been focusing on lately? On how well life is going for you? Or on how much business you’ve been doing compared to last year, or how well your superiors have been rating you? Or on how much your partner loves you and how much you revel in the relationship you’re having? On the excellent state of your bank account? On your ever-present good health and slim and trim physique? Or on the joy you experience each time you sit down to dinner with your teenage children? On the wonderful vacation you came back from recently and the even more exciting one you are planning for the near future? Or on the good way you feel about yourself and all the things you are creating and doing with your life? What You Think is What You Are I can just hear you spluttering. “What kind of romantic thinking is this? Where do these ideas come from? I don’t know anybody who thinks like that.” True. Most people don’t think like that. In fact, most people think the exact opposite of that. Most people concentrate on all the things that are going wrong with their lives. Most people spend much of their time thinking about their problems and wondering how they are going to solve them. Most people think about all the things that could go wrong with their lives or about the people or events that stand in the way of their success. Most people think and think and think about whatever it is that worries them, because they believe that that is the way to resolve the problem. The fact is that most people focus so much on what they are afraid of, or what bothers them, or what stresses them, or what they don’t know how to solve, that they are giving all or most of their conscious and subconscious energy to a negative outcome – the problem. What Kind of an Outcome Do You Want? Consider this: the more you give your energy to one thing, the more that thing has a possibility of coming into being. If you concentrate on getting a university degree, you will most likely achieve that goal. If you concentrate on writing a book, you will again probably achieve that goal. But what happens if you continually tell yourself, while you are concentrating on getting the degree, that you are not intelligent enough to pass the exams, or that you simply are incapable of understanding the course material? And what happens, if you continually tell yourself while you are concentrating on writing the book, that you will never be able to write well, or that your story is not good enough? Obviously you are not only undermining yourself and sabotaging your desired outcomes, but you may also be creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Focus and Intention So what can you do? Let’s assume you are convinced that you lack the intelligence to pass the exams. Or that you are convinced that you will never write well. You have a goal, and that goal is to get a degree or to write a book. In order to focus on that goal, your mission is to ensure that your thoughts are aligned with – or intentionally focused on - that goal. Therefore, whenever your thoughts stray from the goal into negative territory, you need to pull them back into the arena of positive results. Goals and Fears But focusing on a desired goal is very hard for a very simple reason: we are far too used to focusing on the fears surrounding the goal (I am so afraid I will never have a great relationship, rather than imagining in your mind’s eye the great relationship in the way you want it to be; or how will I ever get that promotion rather than imagining in your mind’s eye the way you will feel when you do get the hoped-for promotion). How to Focus So how do you focus? When you worry, and your mind goes around and around a problem, or some stress in your life, you are very focused on the problem. It is exactly at that moment that you need to re-focus and see your desired goal or outcome in your mind’s eye, rather than all the problems you associate with it. The more time you spend on whatever it is you want to have in your life – whether this is a material goal, a professional goal, a relational goal, or whatever – makes absolutely no difference, the more you will be in a position to achieve it, to attract it into your life. The more you think – and focus – on that goal in a positive way, the more you allow yourself to "feel" the way you would feel if you already had the results, the more likely it is that you will attain your desired outcome. This is the Law of Attraction. Intentionally Re-focus on the Positive Remember: the time you spend worrying about the desired outcome is time spent focusing on the opposite of what you want, so become very aware of all your thoughts and focus them in the right direction. Do this consistently each time you catch yourself thinking the negative version of your goals until intentionally re-focusing on the positive becomes second nature. This habit is like strengthening a muscle, if you do it every day, it will happen more and more frequently and naturally, and soon you will find that not only do the majority of your thoughts and feelings focus on the positive direction of your goals, but that those positive goals become part of your reality. As A Man Thinketh Make time to read a complimentary copy of the e-book version of James Allen’s classic As A Man Thinketh by signing up for my free monthly e-zine and begin to understand how your thoughts and your feelings contribute in immeasurable ways to the fulfillment of your goals and dreams. How they create the very fabric of your life. And how you – by taking charge of your thoughts and feelings, and by focusing with clear intention can make a very different life than the one you may currently have.

Landau women s scrub pants for the professional woman

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