Logbook loans-instant approval of cash

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Introduction:
Many a times in our life we go for loans. Some urgent expenses mat lead to you to loans. You know various types of loans. But, do you know you can borrow a loan by using a logbook. Yes, it is true, n¬ow you can take log book loans. Logbook in simple terms means a vehicle registration certificate issued by Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in the UK. A logbook is valid up to 5 years and contains entries regarding owner of the vehicle, registered keeper of logbook, chassis number, current registration mark, engine number, model and color of the car. logbook loans come to your help when you need urgent cash and when you are ready to keep your car log book as collateral.
Main features:
Logbook loans are essentially secured loans and are approved against logbook of the borrower’s car. Logbook is a crucial and basic document of car. For a bad credit holder, logbook loans are best suited. This is because log book loans are approved without any credit check on the borrower and bad credit people too are approved log book loans in a smooth manner. However before applying to a lender, every log book loan owner should make sure he meets some requirements.
In detail:
There are some basic requirements to be met for applying logbook loans. They may be like vehicle must not be more than 8 years old, the vehicle must be clear of any finance that is remaining unpaid, or where the vehicle ownership has already been kept for other loans, taxes and insurance due on the vehicle must be paid in full before the vehicle logbook is pledged for logbook loan, The vehicle must have passed the MOT test for being eligible for the logbook loan and the logbook loan borrower must have a regular income. The money availed varies from Ј500 and Ј50,000.

In the footsteps of d company 2nd oxfordshire and buckinghamshire light infantry d-day 6 june 1944

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On the 6 June 1944 the greatest seaborne invasion the world has ever known took place on the Calvados Coast of Normandy, France. This invasion was the beginning of the end of the Second World War and the 6 June 1944 will be forever known as D-Day. This article is an account of the first action that took place on D-Day at the Caen Canal and River Orne Bridges near Bйnouville, France. It tells the true story of the coup-de-main assault by British Gliderborne soldiers to capture these two vital bridges.

Preceding the seaborne landings three Allied Airborne Divisions were dropped to secure the flanks of the five-invasion beaches where the Allied 21st Army Group was to come ashore. In the west two US Airborne Divisions dropped onto the Cotentin peninsula behind UTAH beach and in the east the British 6th Airborne Division (Br 6 AB Div) dropped into the area between the River Orne and River Dives to the east of SWORD beach.

One of the primary tasks of the Br 6 AB Div was to seize intact the two bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne near Bйnouville and hold them until relieved against any German counterattacks. This mission was considered to be vital to the success of the invasion, as it would allow the seaborne forces to reinforce the Br 6 AB Div’s area and subsequently break out to the east. D Company the 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (D Coy 2 OBLI) commanded by Major John Howard was selected to carryout this mission and this is their story.

On the morning of 5 June 1944 the men of D Coy 2 OBLI started their final preparations and at noon Maj Howard learned that the invasion was on. He ordered the men to rest and when the evening meal was over they boarded the trucks to go to their gliders. As they climbed into their gliders he shook hands with the officers and called out words of encouragement to the men. Finally he moved to his own glider, upon the nose of which Pte Wally Parr had chalked ‘Lady Irene’ to name it after his wife. When Maj Howard got in the glider, the door was closed and on schedule they started to move down the runway. At 22.56 hrs ‘Lady Irene’ was airborne and D Coy 2 OBLI was on their way into history.

The six Halifax bombers from 298 Squadron RAF took-off with the accompanying Horsa gliders in tow and crossed the English Channel flying at an altitude of 7,000 ft. All around them were Heavy Bombers going to drop bombs on German positions in the invasion area, Caen or other selected targets. With all of this air activity the German anti-aircraft and searchlight crews failed to notice the gliders.

At the appointed time the Halifax bomber released the first glider to begin its run into the target. In the glider S/Sgt Wallwork checked their altitude and the compass, whilst S/Sgt John Ainsworth checked his stopwatch. At the appointed mark they turned to starboard and halfway down the crosswind leg of their approach S/Sgt Wallwork saw it, he could make out the river, the canal and both bridges. With visibility good and the target in sight he dropped the glider’s nose and made for the LZ. With the ground rushing up at around 95mph he held the glider on course; they hit the ground and caught the first of the wire defences. Jim Wallwork shouted, “Stream” and John Ainsworth released the arrester parachute; it lifted the tail, forced the nose into the ground, tore off the wheels and bounced the glider back into the air. The arrester parachute did its job and they hit the ground again; this time on the skids. Jim Wallwork shouted, “Jettison” and John Ainsworth pressed the button to release the parachute; now travelling at about 60mph the glider threw up hundreds of friction sparks from the skids as they passed over rocks. Seeing these sparks through the open door Maj Howard thought that they had been spotted and were being fired upon. All of a sudden there was an almighty crash and the glider came to a jarring halt; Jim Wallwork and John Ainsworth were hurled out through the cockpit still strapped in their seats. It was 00.16 hrs early in the morning of D-Day 6 June 1944 and the first Allied soldiers had arrived on French soil.

The glider’s passengers were momentarily knocked unconscious, but Maj Howard’s fanaticism for physical fitness paid off; they quickly recovered and in a matter of seconds their training kicked in. Automatically removing their harnesses, they exited the glider through any hole they could make or find. On reaching the outside Maj Howard realised that there was no shooting and they had landed without being spotted. Looking around he thanked god for Jim Wallwork and John Ainsworth; they had put the glider right into the corner of the field where he wanted it.

Lt Herbert Denham ‘Den’ Brotheridge and the men of 25 Platoon swiftly exited the glider and quietly shook out into their assault formation. Lt Brotheridge whispered into Cpl Jack Bailey’s ear and off he went with his two men to deal with the pillbox where the firing mechanism to blow the bridges was located. Gathering the remainder of his platoon he gave a whispered, “Come on lads” and they made a dash for the bridge.

One minute had passed since the first glider had landed and S/Sgt Oliver Bowland at the controls of glider 92 came down within 25 yards of glider 91. Lt David Wood was thrown clear still clutching on to his sten and canvas bucket of extra grenades; relieved to find himself in one piece he pulled himself together, gathered his platoon and set off for the wire perimeter where Maj Howard would be waiting.

Lt Brotheridge and 25 Platoon were moving on to the bridge at a steady trot as two German sentries passed each other in the middle. The sentry walking towards the eastern end of the bridge was suddenly confronted by a pack of British airborne soldiers coming out of the night; confronted by this hellish sight he turned tail and ran shouting “paratroopers” as he went. The second sentry, a German NCO, turned to see what was happening and on seeing the British paratroopers running towards him pulled out the Verey pistol that he was carrying. Pte Billy Gray sent a burst from his Bren towards him and Lt Den Brotheridge fired off a full magazine from his sten. The German NCO was hit by a storm of bullets, but as he fell dead to the ground the Verey pistol went off and a flare shot up into the night.

As the flare went off Cpl Bailey and his two men arrived at the pillbox and tossed their grenades in through the weapon slits; the grenades were followed up with a burst of fire and they looked inside when the dust settled to find no one left alive.

Pte Wally Parr was just running on to the bridge when the flare shot skywards; he saw the door of a nearby dugout half open and abruptly shut again. Pulling out a grenade he ran across the road and by the time he got to the dugout the pin was out. Opening the door just enough to throw it in, he tossed the grenade through the opening and quickly shut the door. As the grenade exploded Pte Charlie Gardiner jumped into the dugout, Wally Parr opened the door again, and Gardiner finished off the Germans inside with a burst from his sten.

The shouts of “paratroopers” from the running sentry, the sound of Lt Brotheridge’s sten, Pte Gray’s burst from his Bren, the crump of Cpl Bailey’s grenades going off and the flare from the German NCOs Verey pistol brought the other German defenders to life. Many of the private soldiers were foreign conscripts and these quickly faded into the night, but the NCOs all of whom were German sprang to their positions.

Back on LZ ‘X’ glider 93 came to a halt with a shuddering crash on the edge of the pond between the two gliders already on the ground, as it did so it swung ninety degrees breaking in half. Capt John Vaughan RAMC was thrown clear and knocked completely unconscious. Lt Richard ‘Sandy’ Smith was also thrown clear to land face down in the mud; he had lost his sten and momentarily did not know where he was or what he was doing. Picking up the nearest sten Lt Smith gathered his platoon together and made for Maj Howard’s position. One of the other members of 14 Platoon however, was not so lucky; L/Cpl Fred Greenhalgh was knocked unconscious on impact and thrown clear to land face down in the pond where he drowned.

By now the sappers from glider 91 were under the bridge cutting wires and looking for explosives as they went. Lt David Wood’s 24 Platoon were just arriving at Maj Howard’s position and barely two minutes had passed since the first glider had touched down.

The German sentry reached the far end of the bridge without being hit and threw himself into a trench. The Germans in their trenches turned their weapons to point at the running airborne soldiers. Lt Brotheridge was almost across the bridge when he saw the first of the enemy beginning to react and pulled a grenade from his pouch as he ran. Pte Billy Gray fired his Bren from the hip towards the enemy, as did many of the other charging men of 25 Platoon. Getting the pin out of his grenade Lt Brotheridge threw it at one of the enemy occupied trenches. As he did so a machine-gunner in another enemy trench off to his right sent a burst in his direction. As his grenade exploded in the enemy trench wiping out its occupants Lt Den Brotheridge was thrown back by the force of the machine-gun’s bullets to land on his back in the middle of the road. Other members of 25 Platoon began firing at the Germans in their trenches; the combination of this fire and a burst from Pte Gray’s Bren knocked out the machine-gun that had brought Lt Brotheridge down.

Wally Parr was trying to shout “Able, Able, Able” as he ran on to the bridge, but the words would just not come out. Freeing his tongue from the roof of his dried out mouth he finally let out a yell of “Come out and fight you square-headed bastards” in his broad Cockney accent. Lt David Wood’s men were now starting to get to grips with the Germans on the home bank.

Running straight past Maj Howard, 14 Platoon raced on to the bridge; Lt Sandy Smith had wrenched his knee and more hobbled than ran. As he crossed the bridge he saw Lt Brotheridge’s Platoon firing their weapons and throwing grenades at the German defenders. As he reached the far end he saw a German soldier near the low wall in front of the Cafй Gondrйe about to throw a stick grenade; with a burst from his sten he sent the German sprawling across the wall dead, but the grenade landed close to Lt Smith and went off. He did not feel a thing and it was only when one of his corporals who was nearby asked if he was all right that Lt Sandy Smith noticed the holes in his Denison smock and trousers; he had been hit by the grenade’s fragments and the wrist of his trigger hand had lost all of its flesh, but he could still use his trigger finger.

Inside the Cafй Gondrйe the owner, Georges Gondrйe, had been awakened by all the noise. Crawling to one of the upper floor windows he peeped over the sill to see what was going on; as he did so Lt Smith saw the movement and thinking that it was a German soldier let off a burst from his sten in the direction of the Cafй. Fortunately for Georges Gondrйe the burst went high shattering the window and hitting the wooden beams. He beat a hasty retreat, gathered his family together, and then took them downstairs to the comparative safety of the cellar. Lt Smith continued with the task in hand and led his platoon in the clearing of the remaining trenches on the western bank of the Canal.

At 00.21 hrs, the fighting at the Caen Canal Bridge started to die down and Pte Parr made his way to the Cafй that was the rallying point for 25 Platoon. As he ran past the end of the bridge he saw one of his comrades lying on the ground in the middle of the road. Knowing that he had to report to Lt Brotheridge he continued on for a few more paces before he pulled up short. Turning around he realised that the soldier on the ground was Lt Brotheridge. He went back and knelt down beside his Platoon Commander; Lt Brotheridge had been shot in the neck, his eyes were open and his lips were moving, but not a sound came out; as Wally Parr put his hand under Lt Brotheridge’s head to lift it up his eyes just rolled back.

24 Platoon had finished clearing the trenches on the home bank of the canal and Lt Wood decided to report to Maj Howard that his task was complete. With Sgt Leather and a runner he was moving back towards Maj Howard’s position when a burst from a German schmeisser rang out. Three bullets caught Lt David Wood in the leg and he fell to the ground. Bleeding profusely, frightened and shaken up he tried to stand but found he was unable to so. Both Sgt Leather and the runner had also been hit and lay on the ground nearby. Cpl Godbold one of his section commanders took over command of the platoon.

It was about this time that a shaken, but none too seriously injured S/Sgt Jim Wallwork started to regain consciousness; he was lying on his stomach with his seat on top of him. He could hear John Ainsworth calling out his name and asking if he was all right. Looking around he saw S/Sgt Ainsworth pinned under the wreckage of the glider’s nose and when he asked him if he could crawl out he replied, “No.” He asked if he lifted the nose of the glider could he crawl out, to which he received the reply, “I’ll try” and as he lifted the wreckage John Ainsworth crawled out. After getting a medic to see to John Ainsworth’s injuries, Jim Wallwork began his secondary task of unloading ammunition and carrying it forward to the men on the bridge.

It was now 00.22 hrs, six minutes after the first glider had landed, and reports of what was happening started to reach Maj Howard. The first information to come in was about Den Brotheridge; this was devastating news, as they were the best of friends. The next piece of news he received was that Lt David Wood and his Platoon Sergeant had also been hit; two of his three platoons at the bridge were now without their Platoon Commander. This was followed up with a report from 14 Platoon that informed him of Lt Smith’s injuries. Whilst Sandy Smith was still on his feet Maj Howard could not help thinking that he had effectively lost all three of his Platoon Commanders at the canal bridge; added to this he did not know what was happening at the Orne River Bridge.

At the Orne River Bridge the action was nowhere near as dramatic, glider 94 had missed the target area altogether landing some eight miles away near one of the bridges over the River Dives by Varaville; the Halifax crew had released the glider in the wrong place due to a navigational error.

Glider 96, piloted by S/Sgt Roy Howard and S/Sgt Fred Baacke, was the only one of the three gliders to come to rest on LZ ‘Y’. At 00.20 hrs they made an easy landing coming to a halt some three hundred yards from the bridge; in this glider were Lt Dennis Fox and 17 Platoon. On landing Sgt Thornton reminded Lt Fox that he had forgotten to open the door, but when Dennis Fox tried to open it the door would not budge so Sgt Thornton had to show him how it was done.

A minute later glider 95, piloted by S/Sgt Stan Pearson and S/Sgt Len Guthrie, touched down and came to a halt short of LZ ‘Y’, some 700 yards away from the bridge. This glider carried Lt H J ‘Todd’ Sweeney and 23 Platoon.

Dismounting from their glider 17 Platoon shook out into their approach formation; one section to the front followed by Lt Dennis Fox, the remaining two sections and Sgt Thornton with the remainder of platoon headquarters at the rear. When the lead section did not move off, Dennis Fox went forward to find out why. The section commander pointed out a German manning a machine-gun at the bridge. Lt Fox told him to get moving, but he still hesitated; so taking the bull by the horns Lt Dennis Fox led 17 Platoon off to start their approach. They had just got moving when the German at the bridge saw them and opened up with his MG 34; the men of 17 Platoon dived for cover. Sgt Thornton at the back grabbed hold of the platoon’s 2-inch mortar and immediately returned fire, putting a mortar round right on top of the machine-gunner. Seeing this land, Lt Fox and his platoon got up and charged to the bridge shouting “Fox, Fox, Fox” as they went. Reaching the bridge they were just in time to see the last of the Germans running away. One of the NCOs from the 17 Platoon’s lead section jumped into the empty machine-gun pit, grabbed hold of their discarded MG 34 and sent a long burst of fire after them. These were the only shots fired in the capture of the bridge over the River Orne.

Lt Todd Sweeney and 23 Platoon dismounted from glider 95 to hear the machine-gun open up at the bridge. They quickly shook out and headed off for the bridge at the double with Lt Sweeney leading the way. The only casualties they suffered were those that failed to see the drainage ditches that crossed their approach. Soaked to the skin and covered in mud, Lt Sweeney led his men up to the bridge. Unnerved by the seemingly calm situation and the lack of any opposition on the bridge, he made the final approach with caution. Leaving one section to secure the home bank, Lt Sweeney led the remainder across at the run. As they reached the far end Lt Todd Sweeney saw Lt Dennis Fox. Lt Sweeney raced up to him, “Dennis, how are you, is everything all right?” to which he received the reply, “Yes I think so, but I can’t find the bloody umpires!”

Leaving Lt Fox to organise the immediate defence of the River Bridge Lt Sweeney made his way to the Canal Bridge to report to Maj Howard. At 00.26 hrs, ten minutes after glider 91 had landed, John Howard had the news he had been waiting for; D Coy 2 OBLI had seized both bridges intact. Exuberant Maj Howard turned to his radio operator Cpl Tappenden and told him to send the message that the bridges had been captured. “HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM” out over the radio the codewords went; “HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM” Cpl Tappenden continued to send. What Maj Howard and Cpl Tappenden did not know was that Brig Poett was unable to receive the message.

The Caen Canal Bridge was named “Pegasus Bridge” after the Pegasus emblem worn by the British 6th Airborne Division in memory of this action. The River Orne Bridge was renamed “Horsa Bridge” after the gliders that carried the men who landed here.

How to manifest reality

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So you want to know how to manifest reality, right? Actually you're already doing it. You're creating reality every second of every minute of every hour of every day. But I suspect you don't like what you are creating.

And you know why? Its because you're creating by default. What do I mean by that. What I mean is this. You're manifesting reality but are unaware of what, or how you're creating, so you think you don't know how to manifest reality.

However the thruth is you're already manifesting reality.

You are manifesting what is already in your subconscious. Most of what is stored there is junk, that's why the reality you experience everyday is junk.

It's a question of what you put in, you put out. So where does all the junk come from? Well it comes from your past.

Since the time you were young you have been collecting all kinds of stuff, some good others not so good. Again not consciously but unconsciously, because you were not aware of it. However the fact of the matter is that your subconscious is like a tape recorder.

It records all your experiences irrespective of whether they are good or bad, and here comes the part that this article is about. It plays out those experiences in our lives and we call that manifesting reality.

In other words, the question "how to manifest reality" is answered right there. The subconscious doesn't discriminate in any way or use any kind of filter.

It records whatever it hears, translate YOU HEAR, it sees translate YOU SEE, it experiences, translate YOU EXPERIENCE.

So this also explains why you get what you get.

Here's another twist to how to manifest reality. You see, something happens whenever you experience events attracted to you by your subconscious.

What happens is this. The experience bothers you. It bothers you so much that you find yourself unable to keep your mind of it. And what happens next is this: that experience or something similar to it is repeated in your life.

Let me give you an example. Lets say you had a bad childhood and experienced things like rejection. Now what happens is that the episode of rejection is recorded in your subconscious, meaning that you experience more rejection which is attracted by your subconscious.

So, everytime you're rejected you feel real bad. You wonder why.

You dwell on it. You become angry and bitter. You blame those who rejected you. Sometimes you hate them and vow to pay them back.

And you know what? That experience happens again.

Now, I have explained to you how to manifest reality, actually how you manifest reality. But that was more reality by default.

Creating your ideal reality, in other words, the things you want, is a more conscious effort.

It requires that you first gain the awareness that you're ultimately a powerful being and the creator of your reality, whether good or bad.

You need to realize that whatever you see on the outside is an accurate reflection of what is on the inside. Stop blaming other people, they are just instruments who fulfill the wishes of your subconscious.

If you want to change your outer reality, you need to change what is on the inside.

To create your ideal reality, focus on the things you want, not on the things you don't want, even if that's what is happening right now. Because if you don't your currently reality will persist.

Tomorrow is created today. So focus on what you want today and tomorrow you'll have what you want.

That in a nutshell, is how to manifest reality.

Kitchen improvements - enjoy now and when you sell

Who would've ever though the kitchen could be the key to building wealth in your home? Well, it is. If you are going to increase the value of your home through improvements, the kitchen is a very good place to start.

Improvements

Obviously, making improvements to a kitchen is entirely dependent upon the current state of the kitchen. Still, there are particular areas you should focus on.

Colors

The colors in a kitchen can enhance the overall feel and worth. Neutral colors are used frequently in up-to-date kitchens. Soft shades of gray, cream, gold and earth tones turn up often. Wood in cabinets and floors tends to be in medium to light colored finishes. Sometimes it's painted and then the paint is wiped off to show the wood grain. Brushed steel hoods over ranges or cooking units are popular and practical. "Islands" are also still popular. Sometimes the material for the island and it's counter top is different from the rest of the kitchen. This can look very handsome when the materials are carefully chosen.

Two On The Ark

When it comes to kitchen improvements, Noah had it right. Having two of everything will certainly add value to your home. Two ranges and two dishwashers appear in kitchens for those who entertain frequently or have large families. Built-in chopping block areas and cool marble for pastry making are often seen. Under cabinet lighting makes for shadow free work areas. Most modern kitchens have built-in microwaves, and many have warming drawers. Many have drinks making areas with a small sink, refrigerator, and cabinets housing a variety of glassware.

Practical Matters

"Pot filler" spigots can be a nice upgrade. A pot filler spigot goes straight up a good distance above the floor of the sink before curving over. This makes it possible to position a large stockpot under it without tilting the pot. When the pot is filled to the desired height, the spigot swings out of the way and the pot is lifted out. Some ranges even have them positioned above the cook top burners so that the pot doesn't have to be carried from the sink to the range once it's full.

Appliances

Upscale appliance makers such as Sub-Zero, Viking, Wolf, and Thermador have come out with many innovations in recent years. Manufacturers of less expensive appliances are following suit. It's possible to buy a stove with two ovens and six burners instead of the more usual four. Wolf has come out with a gas stove that has the ultimate amount of heat control. The surface-top burners have two tiered gas rings. The upper ring is used for really hot cooking, the lower ring can keep food just barely warm, and of course there's an enormous range between the two. Since it's gas, control is instant.

Cabinets

New cabinets can be expensive, but they are definitely a crowd pleaser when it comes time to sell a home. Custom cabinets are definitely the way to go. If you can't afford a custom job, Home Depot and Lowe's have nice pieces at fairly reasonable prices.

Improvements to a kitchen are a great way to increase the value of your home. You might even be inspired to sign up for cooking classes.

Ins and outs of credit card pre-approval

If you have a credit card, or even if you don't, you have probably received a stack of credit card letters in the post, telling you that you are ‘pre-approved' for a great credit card deal. Although some of these credit card deals are genuine, many are not what they seem or are even complete scams. If you know want to make sure that you don't fall victim to these poor deals, then here is some advice on the ins and outs of credit card pre-approval.

What does pre-approval mean?

Although in other areas pre-approval might mean that you have secured a definite amount and definite terms with a lender, depending on final credit checks, with credit card pre-approval mail it does not mean this. It simply means that you have a credit score that matches the criteria to let you apply for one of these cards. You are not guaranteed specific terms, nor are you even guaranteed to be accepted.

Why do I get sent these letters?

Often, credit companies send you these letters because your credit score matches their criteria for card applications. Card companies are always looking for new customers, but if they simply sent out letters to everyone it would cost them a lot of money for little return. Instead, they search consumer credit ratings to look for people who match specific criteria. Whether this is a good credit rating for high limit cards or a bad credit rating for the sub-prime market, you are targeted because they think you are more likely to respond to their offer.

Are these offers real?

Although many of these offers are not what they first appear to be, they are not technically illegal. They are offering you the opportunity of ‘up to' a certain credit limit, and they are not saying you are approved, only ‘pre-approved' or ‘pre-selected. This means that they can change all of the conditions of the card you are sent and they are still not technically lying to you. Although this does seem morally wrong, it is your responsibility to check the information before applying.

Common techniques used

These offers are often misleading, and there are certain tricks that the card issuers use in order to make more money out of you. Usually these terms are listed in the small print, but because most people don't look at this they know they can get away with it. One common trick used is to charge you a very high interest rate, but put a clause in the contract saying you must transfer your entire current balance from another card onto the new card. This means that they are putting a balance on the card straight away at a higher interest rate than you might currently pay. Another common trick is to offer you ‘up to' a massive credit limit, but then give you something much lower. For example, they might offer you ‘up to' Ј10,000, but only give you Ј1,000.

Read the terms

The only way to really stop yourself being caught out by these offers is to read the small print carefully if you are thinking of applying. However, the best way to not get caught is to simply shred the offers and put them in the bin. You are much more likely to get a better deal, even with the same card issuer, if you make inquiries yourself and shop around for the best deal.

R4 ds nintendo ds slot 1 solution - a review and m3 ds simply comparison

There are so many Slot 1 homebrew devices for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS lite that it's hard to know exactly which one you should buy. The current favorite, and I say this only based on the OUT OF STOCK notices on online stores pages, is the M3 DS. The M3 DS was not the first slot 1 solution, but it's sure become the favorite of the pack. More than likely because of the huge popularity of the original M3 Adapter / movie player for the Gameboy Advance console.

In my research however, I found the R4 DS. While this in and of itself is not very interesting, what IS interesting is that both the M3 DS and the R4 DS Slot 1 solution are manufactured by the same people - or at the very least - the same factory. What this means for gamers and homebrew enthusiasts is that they can get their hands on the R4 DS and know that they're getting the exact same product they'd be getting if they bought the M3 DS Simply at another shop.

You see, the R4 DS and M3 DS Simply are EXACTLY the same. The only difference between the two units is the packaging and the logo that is displayed on the main screen when you boot up your Nintendo DS or DS Lite. Functionality, features, even firmware upgrades and updates are released at the same time, and it seems all of the features and functions in each update are identical to the other. Whether you get the M3 DS Simply, or the R4 DS Slot 1 Solution, you're going to essentially get exactly the same things - everything you need to load games, homebrew and applications is included in the box.

The R4 DS Slot 1 Solution Package

It's almost a dead giveaway here, except for the fact that the R4 DS comes in it's own R4 DS Box. But you'll notice that once you open the box, the contents of the box are identical to the M3 DS Simply, you even get the same light blue colored keychain / carry case that comes with the M3 DS simply. You get everything you need, right out of the box. This includes the R4 DS slot 1 cartridge, a USB microSD Reader / writer (and this actually allows you to use your microSD as a USB Drive) as well as the keychain carrying case and the software CD.

Setting up the R4 DS is easy

Setup is as simple as can be. The included instruction manual (which is located on the CD itself) details exactly what you need to do in order to get your R4 DS working. The first thing you'll have to do, is insert the microSD Card (not included - but you can buy this anywhere) into the micrSD reader / writer and plug it into any free USB port on your computer. It will instantly come up as a portable drive / flash drive. Here, you can do one of two things. You can either copy the software from the CD, as stated in the manual to the microSD card to put all of the system files on it. I would recommend though that you go to the R4 DS firmware page, and download the latest drivers, as they are often updated there.

Once you've copied your system files to the micro SD Card, it's time to load the games and homebrew applications you'd like to play. Again, this works the exact same way with the M3 DS simply, no difference between the two units at all. Simply copy and paste the files from your PC that you want on the microSD card. A simply drag and drop is all that is needed. The games and homebrew applications work without any patching or fixing or compression. They work as they are, right out of the box so to speak.

Now that you've copied your system files, and the files you'd like to use and play, it's time to put your microSD card into the slot on the top of the R4 DS cartridge. The R4 DS Cartidge is the same size as any standard Nintendo DS or DS Lite game cartirge, so there's no bulging or sticking out once it's inserted into the cartridge slot on your NDS. The micro SD slot is located on the top of the R4 DS and it is actually spring loaded. The microSD card inserts into the slot with the SD label on the opposite side of the actual R4 DS Cartidge label. You'll hear a CLICK sound once you've inserted the microSD Card into the slot, this is to let you know that it is in place, and you're set to turn on your Nintendo DS console. The microSD card fits perfectly flush against the R4 casing.

Once you've turned on your Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS lite, the system files will load from the R4 DS cartridge, exactly the same way they do when using the M3 DS Simply. It takes about 2 seconds for the main menu to appear, with the R4 DS logo on the top screen, and the menu on the bottom. On the bottom screen you can select one of 3 options.

1. GAME MENU - When you select this menu, you'll be instantly taken to a list of all of the game files, homebrew applications, etc.. that you've stored on your microSD card. You can use the controller pad on the NDS to select the file you want to load. If you're loading a game for the first time, you'll be prompted, after selecting the game, to confirm that you want to create a save file for the game. This is needed if you want to save you game. Your game saves are stored on the same microSD card as the game files themselves - this is fantastic if you want to delete those games later, to replace with other files, as you can copy your save game files back to your PC, for future use when you're ready to continue playing that game again.

2. MULTIMEDIA MENU - When you select this second option, you'll launch the multi media player / moonshell. Within this menu, you're able to look at digital photos stored on the microSD Card, listen to your favorite MP3 Songs, watch movies that you've converted from DVD with the included software, as well as read ebooks in TXT format. This essentially turns your Nintendo DS or DS Lite into a full blown multi media entertainment unit.

3. BOOT SLOT 2 - This menu option allows the R4 DS, just like the M3 DS, to boot the GBA Slot, or Slot 2, in your Nintendo DS / DS Lite console. This is for those of us that also want to get our hands on a GBA Flash card, and want to run GBA Homebrew games and applications as well as Nintendo DS. It also adds extra storage for NDS Homebrew, because you can actually use a GBA Flash card to boot NDS files, as long as you use the R4 DS as a PASSME / PASSCARD solution.

All in all, no matter which one you get, both the R4 DS Slot 1 Solution as well as the M3 DS Simply are excellent accessories for the Nintendo DS / DS Lite. Which one you get should only depend on which model is in stock. As stated earlier in this article, the two units are identical in every way. The only difference being the box packaging and the logo that appears when you first boot up your Nintendo DS console.

How to collect hockey cards

As with other professional sports, trading cards or collector cards (whichever term you prefer) are available for hockey. Collecting hockey cards is a fun and exciting hobby for hockey fans. Whether you choose to collect hockey cards in general, or cards for a particular team or league, card collecting can be a very interesting and educational experience as well as being loads of fun. The cards that you collect over the years may also be valuable at some point in time.

To ensure that your collection of hockey cards does increase in value, especially if you intend to sell them sometime down the road, it is imperative that you keep the cards in tip-top shape, so you will want to protect them in some way. Of course, you can store your cards in boxes, but using binders with card protector sheets is a much better way to store the cards where they are protected and easily accessible for viewing. If you choose to box your cards rather than using a binder, be sure to use individual card protectors for each card. There are also boxes that are specially designed for card collecting in which your cards will fit perfectly decreasing the chance that they will get damaged.

Card collecting has always been pretty popular, but with the introduction of new trading card collectibles, in addition to the traditional sports cards, the hobby of collecting trading cards seems to have become more widespread. Now, you can get card collecting supplies, like binders, card collecting boxes and card protectors, at just about any variety store, discount store, office supply store, or sports shop. Most music or video game stores have card collecting supplies as well. Investing in the supplies to properly store and protect your hockey card collection is well worth the cost and will preserve your cards keeping them in good shape so you will have better results when you decide to trade or to sell your hockey cards.

Always store your hockey cards in a location that isn’t subject to extreme heat or direct sunlight. Heat may damage the cards, especially if they are in plastic card protectors, and sunlight will definitely fade the cards. Moisture is another enemy of card collectors. Be sure to keep your cards where they won’t get wet and avoid exposing them to excessive humidity.

One last tip about collecting hockey cards – a collection of hockey cards are usually worth more if you have complete sets to sell. However, selling individual cards, especially if they are rare, can also prove to be profitable.

Using your home equity to secure a fast loan

If you own a home with equity, then you are a prime candidate for a fast loan. Those with equity can easily secure loans for large amounts of money, because lenders are assured that borrowers have the means to pay the loan back.

Not only does a home equity almost always guarantee the approval of a loan, but also it expedites the process. But aside from these things, there are other advantages to applying for a loan with home equity. Firstly, you may be able to deduct any interest accrued from it from your final tax returns. And secondly, any interest rates will likely be more modest than the rates of other borrowers without equity.

Many fast loan providers will accept your application online. They are dedicated to providing quick, simple and hassle-free service. And because applicants with home equity are such reliable borrowers, funds can be released the very day the loan is requested! Just be careful when exploring the web, as you want your sensitive information to be secure.

These lenders will not check for your credit history, so even if you’ve made some financial mistakes in the past, your home equity will be valuable enough to these lending institutions.

Moreover, those who apply for a loan with home equity will benefit from flexible interest rates and payment dates – and as mentioned before, interest rates can be tax deductible. Most people don’t know about this latter perk, so make sure to investigate the details so you can find out if you can benefit.

Conclusion

While a person with home equity can find easy success applying for a fast and convenient loan, there are still interest rates. Sure, they aren’t as cumbersome as they might be for people in other situations, but anyone borrowing money is at risk of entering into an ugly cycle of debt. And if you fail to pay off the loan, your entire home may be taken from you as payment.

How to prepare for your california home inspection

Some people think California home inspections are a pretty cut and dry process compared to home inspections in other parts of the country where weather causes more home damage. Actually, California home inspections take just as long as any other home inspection, and can even take longer based on the size and condition of the home and if areas in need of inspection are locked, blocked, or not easily visible. If you want your California home inspection to run as smoothly as possible, be sure to do the following before your home inspector arrives:

-Make sure access to the house is provided, either by means of a lock box, your realtor, the buyer's realtor, or you being there.

-Make sure that all areas of the house are accessible and visible.

-Make sure that all utilities are on (including electricity, gas, and water) , the pilot lights are lit, etc. This is required to test appliances and the systems (i. e. plumbing & electrical) in the home.

-Keep all pets out of the way during the inspection.

-Inform the inspector of any specific conditions, flaws, or defects of the home. This will save time and help create a more honest inspection report.

-Make yourself available to the inspector during the time of inspection. It is not required that you walk with the inspector during the inspection, but being available for questions or to help the inspector gain access to certain areas is important.

California home inspections are no different than any other inspection. Inspecting a home takes time. In some cases, a home with little to no defects takes longer to inspect than one with multiple problems, based on whether or not the home owner prepared for the home inspection. If you want your California home inspection to run as smoothly and quickly as possible, properly prepare your home for inspection.

Is buying term life insurance online the same as buying it from an agent

When you purchase term life insurance online, it is exactly the same as if you went into an office and sat down with an agent. In fact many of the online life insurance companies will give you a free quote online, but you have to speak to an agent to make the purchase. This way you are getting the benefit of shopping for term life insurance online, but still get to discuss the policy in person with an agent.

By searching online for the lowest life insurance rates, you can choose the company from whom you want to buy the policy. There are so many companies online that you do have to be careful of which one you choose. When you find low term life insurance online, you should check the life insurance ratings for the company before you commit to anything.

Just shopping for term life insurance online lets you request as many free quotes as you wish. You are not under any obligation to buy the life insurance online, but if you don’t want an agent calling you about the policy, you should indicate this on the application form. This lets you shop in the comfort of your home and search for the lowest life insurance rates that fit your needs and your budget.

It may take you some time to get the term life insurance online that you need. Since there are so many life insurance companies with an online presence, you can visit all of the websites and compare the rates. You will also find several sites that do the comparison for you taking all the guesswork out of finding the lowest life insurance rates. With this type of service, you only have to enter your information once to get several responses on low rates for your term life insurance.

It doesn’t matter what the weather is outside or if you don’t feel like getting dressed. Searching online in the comfort of your own home takes all the stress out of getting term life insurance. Online life insurance companies are open 24 hours a day, so you don’t have to make plans to look for the lowest life insurance rates during business hours.

What do you get with term life insurance online?

Hay fever not actually a fever

Hay fever has been given many different names such as allergic rhinitis, pollinosis or nasal allergies. You can contract hay fever due to certain air borne dust particles exposed in the environment. These dust particles can be pollen, dander which can cause allergic reaction. Hay fever problem mainly begins from surroundings by which anyone can be affected. Staying away, from any of the allergy triggering factors is the best solution. Even though in this condition you do not have any fever it is still called hay fever.

The common stimulants which cause this problem are from outdoors as well as indoors. Being surrounded by pollen or animal dander can cause these allergies. It can also be due to the substances found in your home like dust mites, cockroaches, fleas, presence of a pet and many more. Without proper care or treatment it can hinder your day to day life.

The symptoms for hay fever rank from mild to severe. If you are suffering from a mild condition you will face problems like runny and itchy nose, watery eyes, itching, and sneezing. Severe symptoms can last for more than a week. A sense of taste and smell is changed, congestion - causing pain, swelling of eyes which may turn blue due to allergic reaction. This kind of a condition usually develops in an early age and with the passage of time it may worsen.

This condition causes sleeplessness and fatigue which can badly affect you. The chronic condition can cause severe problems like asthma and sinusitis. You may start developing other problems like breathlessness, wheezing and coughing. It may also lead to ear infection due to the fever and pain.

Precautions:

There are no specific remedies which would help. You can follow some precautionary measures to remove the possibility of hay fever.

- Clean your surroundings

- Do not allow pets inside your bedroom

- Be away from dust

- Clean the AC

- Have a ventilated room

- Do not be in a humid environment

Remedy

Essentials oils are great source to get rid of Hay fever. Oils like basil, eucalyptus blue gum, lavender or peppermint can be used. Two or three drops from any one of these oils on a handkerchief can get you relief.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

The wonders of content management systems

As you get serious about your web site, your time will become invaluable. A content management system is the best way to maximize your efforts.

What A Content Management System Does for You

A good CMS system will allow you to update can entire site by making a change one time in the admin that can carry over to all pages of your site. This means you can change the menu, side bar, page bottom, site design, or other sections of your site all at one time. So while some webmasters are changing every page, others can have the task completed in minutes.

Includes, Style Sheets and Content Management Systems

For the do it yourself webmaster, or a professional web designer looking to easily improve update efficiency, there is a middle ground between plain HTML pages and full-blown CMS.

Includes

By simply using an include on your sites, you can allow your entire site to be updated with one change. Includes are files that are included in a web page with one line of code. This allows all pages with that file included to be updated by changing the include file one time.

Style Sheets

Style sheets operate in much the same way as includes. One line of code calls a file capable of determining the look of text and graphics on the site. Entire site designs can be created with style sheets. An example of the power of style sheets can be seen at csszengarden. com/. Using style sheets can allow webmasters to change the entire look and layout of the site by changing one file.

In Closing

Manually changing a web site is for the birds. Use a content management system and you’ll actually have time to have a life beyond your site.

How to have a successful internet marketing business

There are numerous goods and services for sale all over the internet. Yet the only way anyone finds out about them is due to effective marketing strategies being in place. This has opened up plenty of opportunities for those who know the ropes as they can operate a successful internet marketing business from their home. In most instances all you need to do is place a couple of advertisements about what you have to offer and you will get plenty of responses coming in.

It is important to have a web page set up that tells them all about what you have to offer. You want to provide as much information as you can in order to get their questions answered and to motivate them to hire you. Once you have completed a couple of jobs in the area of online advertising, add testimonials to your web page so they can hear the good things other consumers have to say about your work.

While you will find there is plenty of competition out there in the are of online marketing, you will also find there are thousands of businesses out there struggling to get the right types of advertising for their business in place. If you offer quality services at a reasonable price you should have no trouble getting your foot in the door. After that you will quickly discover work of mouth travels fast in the work of the internet and you may have to turn work away in order to keep up with the demands of what you have already committed yourself to.

The great thing about being an online marketing provider is you can decide how much you want to work. Some people are just looking for something to do a couple of hours per day, and making a few bucks in the process is nice. Others are hoping to be able to quit their day job and work from home online offering online marketing services. It is great to have a flexible work schedule and to make a good living in the process.

There are plenty of benefits to having any type of home based internet business. You will have the freedom to work when it fits into your schedule. This is great if you have other commitments, children, or you enjoy traveling. You will also be able to take pride in the work you do benefiting your own pocket book instead of another business that you work for.

Having your own home based internet business comes with plenty of responsibility, but it is also very rewarding to be your own boss. There will always be challenges to face and new opportunities to take advantage of. This keeps your role in the business important and interesting.

The less money you have to initially invest to get your home based internet business off the ground the better off you will be. This way most of your profits can go to paying bills, expanding your business, or placed in savings instead of to repay debts incurred to start your internet business. If you take your role in the business seriously and work smart you will be able to expand your sales and earn a nice profit regardless of what goods or services you have to offer.

If you don’t have your own products or services to offer, consider the various affiliate programs available. This is a concept that covers selling goods or services for someone else. You do all the marketing and advertising for it and then earn a good commission on the sales. You can also offer valuable skills that online businesses need such as assistance with their marketing and advertising campaigns.

Most people who engage in online work find it gives them a sense of freedom that they have never experienced before. As long as you are motivated and willing to try new approaches you will enjoy working online. Make sure you establish goals for your online business and celebrate your successes along the way.

Where to find baby discount furniture

Baby discount furniture is generally not hard to find, if you know where to look. Whether you are having a boy or a girl, you will need baby furniture to create that special room for your new arrival. Creating that special room on a tight budget can sometimes be tricky. While looking for baby furniture at a discount, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind.

You can often find baby discount furniture at many fine department stores. That is if you catch them putting their baby furniture on sale. If you are lucky, you will find many pieces of baby furniture throughout the year, with just the right markdown. End of the year and clearance sales are great to look for when sturdy baby furniture is something you need. Baby furniture is so versatile, you might find some pieces at a discount price that will go from newborn to grade school, without breaking the bank, or having to switch out furniture in a few years.

Garage sales are an excellent place to look for baby discount furniture. Many people use their baby furniture to the turn around and resell it in a garage sale, for only a fraction of the price. Some baby furniture items you might find at a garage sale include, name brand cribs; nice sturdy dressers; an all needed changing table; and high chairs that are in great condition, only to name a few. The best time of year to look for garage sales in your neighborhood would be in the spring and summer time. These are the times of the year that many people are cleaning unwanted items out of their homes, to make a few bucks in return.

Thrift shops can be a good resource for finding baby discount furniture also. Sometimes people will donate their unwanted items to a thrift store so that they can be resold, and the money will go to charity. By being creative, you can even make your own baby furniture out of an old piece of furniture you might spot. Antique desks can easily be spiffed up with new paint and hardware to create a changing table for your baby. Keep in mind the height you would need with drawers easily accessible to hold all of the items a newborn might need.

Tips for a successful directory submission campaign

The buzzword of the hour is ‘SEO’. It has transformed the architecture of sites, brought about many new jobs, and is now considered vitally important for those that want to take their online operations to the next level. In its simplest form, search engine optimization (or “SEO”) is about doing everything you can to boost your natural ranking in the major search engines. The algorithm that ranks your site (despite variations across engines) is a compilation of many different variables. There is no one magic secret or special key you can turn. The goal is really to check off as many variables as possible from that algorithm. The kicker is that, for the most part, we don’t actually know what is contained in these algorithms that are so important to us. We can, however, make educated guesses. And there are several aspects of SEO that most, if not all, industry professionals agree on. One of those factors is the importance of link-building.

The Internet was built upon links. Sites link to one another to guide users through relevant information. Since these links basically mean, “there’s relevant information on this site,” each link pointing towards your site counts as a “vote” towards it. These votes help improve your natural ranking, especially when coupled with a well-built SEO friendly site. The big question is, of course, how do I go about getting other sites to link mine? Fortunately, the answer is an easy one, because there are many well run search engine friendly directories that would be more than happy to link to your site as part of their directory.

But the most popular directories receive thousands of applications to review. As such, they develop rules and guidelines for your submission. These rules are put in place to ensure that the submission and approval process can flow as smoothly as possible, as well as to help the directory select only the sites that are, in fact, relevant. And so the question returns: how do I ensure that my site gets accepted into the high-quality, top web directories?

It is very easy to adhere to the rules of a web directory with very little effort. In addition, because the editors of any directory are really looking for the same things, the rules from web directory to web directory tend to be very similar.

Count Those Characters:

One of the big rules imposed by directories has to do with the length of your title, description and keywords. If there were no limit, some people would write an essay for descriptions and cram in every possible keyword. Let me assure you that no directory editor wants to review a site application that could be broken up into chapters! Directories impose restrictions that essentially force you to be straight to the point. You might not be able to say everything about your site, so pick the most important points and go with that. Before you start submitting anywhere, sit back and write a few well-formulated descriptions that span 100, 150, 200, and 250 characters. One of those four levels will generally work in any web directory you come across. Once that’s done, most of the hard work is out of the way. Now all you have to do is look for the character requirements, copy and paste your blurb of that length, and you’re all set. The same thing holds true for keywords, so prepare a few different options so that, come submission time, it’s just a matter of picking the right one.

Would You Approve A Spam Filled Site Application?

Do not spam your directory listings. That can’t be more clearly stated, yet for some reason, people still do it. You are never going to get listed in any human reviewed directory when you try this tactic. An example of this would be that if you sell widgets, when you submit your information you repeat the word ‘widgets’ in your title, description, and keywords as many times as possible. Typically comprehension takes a back seat as the focus becomes cramming the word in as many times as possible. Directory editors hate this and it’s a very easy rejection. If you think that even attempting to spam like this is helpful, you might want to think again. If you spend time submitting to web directories with poorly articulated, spam-filled information, you are going to get rejected. You’ve then wasted a lot of your time and gotten absolutely nothing in return.

Choose The Right Category:

Web directories are sorted by topic and editors typically take great pride in ensuring that everything stays well organized. A tiny little bit of effort on your part to choose the right category can vastly improve your chances of being listed without any delay. The reason is simply that if you are an editor and you want to approve a site, you probably only have to click one button. But, if that site chose the wrong category, then you need to edit the application to modify the category (and now the editor has to find the correct category in the hierarchy!), which takes more time. If you are the editor sitting there with thousands of applications to process, it’s much easier to click the ‘reject’ button than it is to start fumbling through categories. So, put yourself in their shoes and do them a favor, because ultimately it’s you and your site that stand to benefit when you are approved.

A successful web directory submission campaign is when you maximize your time so that you get listed in the most directories possible. By following the above tips, you can help ensure you get approved, which goes a long way towards achieving your goal. With everything pre-written and good intentions to play by the rules, you’ll be flying through your submission campaign in no time.

How to work less and make a lot more money

Do you notice that as your internet business has grown, and you've made more money…that life has actually gotten LESS enjoyable?

Admit it…

Do you have a so-called "successful" internet business - yet you find yourself wondering…"What's so good about this? Do you get a sinking feeling when you ask yourself, "Is this really what I signed up for?"

Have you noticed how you now feel chained to your computer… and that it's not uncommon for you to spend all day and all night at your desk? Do you find yourself working harder and harder, checking emails, doing PPC, handling customer support - giving you the overwhelming feeling that you're a slave to your business?

"Work 3 Hours a Day From the Beach" - Yeah, Right…WHATEVER"

Did you buy into the "internet fantasy" that said you would be making TONS of easy money running your business from the beach working a few hours a day - only to find out the ugly truth that - although you CAN make good money - the "on the beach a few hours a day" part is a CROCK of CRAP?

Listen up:

If you want to be able to really live the "Internet Lifestyle" - where money floods into your bank account regardless if you work or not; where you have the freedom to enjoy quality time with family & friends because your business runs on its own; then the good news is this:

You can easily achieve all these things you want with the real-life, first-hand experience that I'm going to share with you in this article.

Whether you're an internet newbie who's just learning the ropes and starting to wonder if you've got what it takes to pull this off; an internet veteran who's making money but you're tired of pulling your hair out because you're doing everything on your own; or you're an overwhelmed "boss" who feels you can't trust your employees to do anything right - this article will literally revolutionize your career, your internet business and your lifestyle.

Discover how to delegate the time-sucking, energy-draining tasks of your internet business to an enthusiastic, hard-working team of people who will free you up to build the business of your dreams - releasing you to enjoy the exciting life you've always dreamt about (and yes, even freeing you to manage from the beach)!

Although you would like to make more money and see your business grow steadily - the thought of spending even more time in front of your computer makes your skin crawl.

And therein lies the problem…with the way you've set up your business to this point (with you doing everything) - to grow or even maintain the level of success you've had so far - it's required for you to spend more time doing the work, right?

But as I'm sure you're growing more aware of all the time… there are only 24 hours in a day! Where the hell are you going to get the "extra time" to always be "doing" and "creating" and "marketing"?

Isn't that what you spending all your time doing now?

The deadly thing about this dangerous cycle is that it actually starts to backfire after a while, and as you get burned out, sick, and tired - you not only lose the enthusiasm for growing your business… but, heck, you don't even feel like dealing with the business that you DO have…

What happens as a result?

You guessed it…your customer service starts slipping, JV opportunities pass you by - not to mention the danger being posed to your personal relationships, your health and your sanity!

The solution?

You need good people. This is the key that's been holding you back. You need to free up your time so you can focus on growing your business!

You need to find someone else to perform these tactics FOR YOU so you can free up your time to focus on the long-term success of your business… and even take some time off for yourself and HAVE A LIFE.

Great entrepreneurs know that they will reach their goals FASTER by finding as many great people to do the work as they can.

Once I realized that it was "OK" to let others do the work I really didn't want to do anyway, that's when my business took a quantum leap.

Want to remodel your kitchen plus save time and money

Are you a homeowner? If so, there is a good chance that you may be a little tight on cash. As nice as it is to own a home, it is expensive to. Despite being low on financial resources, you may still want to remodel your home, particularly your kitchen.

Although you might not think that it is possible, there are a number of different ways that you can go about changing your kitchen around without having to spend more money than you need to.

Perhaps, the most obvious way to save money, when it comes to remodeling your kitchen, is deciding whether or not your kitchen really needs to be remodeled. As a homeowner, you have every right to remodel your kitchen, if you wish to do so; however, if money is tight it may be a good idea to rethink your decision, at least until your financial outlook improves. Although it may be a good idea to hold off on the kitchen remodeling, you may not necessarily want to. As previously mentioned, there a number of relatively low-cost ways that you could go about remodeling your kitchen.

One of the best ways to go about remodeling your kitchen without going broke is by taking it one step at a time. Although your goal may be to remodel your whole kitchen, inside and out, it can be costly do it all at the same time. By doing your remodeling in steps, it may make it easier for you to afford the overall cost of a kitchen remodeling project.

For instance, if you would like to replace your kitchen cabinets, it may be a good idea to start there first. After your kitchen cabinets have been replaced and you have additional money for remodeling, you may want to move onto the next remodeling project, say changing the light fixtures in your kitchen. Taking one step at a time may not only make it easier for you to afford the cost of remodeling, but it may also help to make sure that you are choosing the right materials, supplies, and designs.

Where you buy your supplies and materials from may also have an impact on how much a kitchen remodeling project costs. Whether you decide to do all of your remodeling at once or do it a little bit at a time, you will want to keep an eye on where you are buying your materials from.

If you are looking to save the most money, you may want to think about shopping at one of your local home improvement stores. Most home improvement stores, especially those that operate on a national level, carry everything that you need to undergo a kitchen remodeling project. In addition to the tools needed, you may also be able to find the supplies or materials that you need, such as kitchen sinks, kitchen sink pipes, kitchen floor tiles, as well as kitchen light fixtures.

You can also save money, when remodeling your kitchen, by doing all of the work yourself. It may be easier to use a professional contactor, but it is also more expensive. Even if you are unfamiliar with the ins and outs of kitchen remodeling, you may be able to learn. There are a number of resources guides that can be found online, in your local book stores, or in your local library.

Depending on where you live, you may also be able to attend a kitchen remodeling class, course, or seminar. These resources, not matter what they are, may make it easier for you to remodel your kitchen yourself. In fact, most of the time, all you need is a plan and a set of directions to follow and you should be good to go.

Despite all of the above mentioned tips, you may still find it difficult to remodel your kitchen, money wise. If this is the case, you may want to place more of a focus on redecorating. Simply by changing your kitchen curtains, replacing some of your kitchen appliances, or even by changing your kitchen towel theme, you could get the new kitchen feel that you were looking for. While it might not be exactly what you had hoped for, it is an alterative that may just give you what you need.

What should you know about food guide pyramid

You’ve heard about it when you were in school, but you really didn’t pay too much attention to it. There’s been some talk about it recently but again you just didn’t have the time to give your full attention to it. Now however, you have enough time on your hands, and besides your kids need help with their schoolwork so you’ll need to learn all about it. What am I talking about? The Food Guide Pyramid of course.

Sometime late in the early mists of science some genius or early nutritionist stumbled across the magical fact that humans needed food to live. This same person also deduced quite rightly that some foods were more important than others. And taking things one step further, this genius saw that even from amongst these categories the foods would again be divided into sections where some of these foods should only be taken in smaller quantities.

At a guess this person probably came up with a complex table or matrix from which to describe the proper daily intake of food for a person in the course of one day. But as will happen, through some method we have instead ended up not with a table or matrix but with the Food Guide Pyramid that graces all doctors’ offices these days.

Well, now you know what the food guide pyramid is, but do you know exactly what it does, and how it works? In the earlier days as little back as five years ago, the food guide pyramid was set in an orderly manner, with the foods that should be consumed most placed on the bottom, and the foods that should be eaten the least placed on the tip of the food guide pyramid.

As of 2005 however, the food guide pyramid as we know it was changed forever, and a new one was built to take its place. Essentially this new food guide pyramid tells you the same story, but it now has added components to be able to help you better understand diet and your health.

This new food guide pyramid actually has a person climbing stairs up the side of the pyramid to show that regular exercise also needs to be included in your overall healthy eating habits. And instead of the horizontal lines that we are so used to seeing, the divisions now radiate down from the tip of the food guide pyramid. What this tells us is that although some food groups are better for us than others, some foods even within a group should only be taken in moderation.

You’ll also notice that this new food guide pyramid sports a dazzling array of rainbow colors as its divisional stripes, and that’s just to make the sections easier to differentiate. With six colored divisions you’ll go through Orange (Grains), Green (Vegetables), Red (Fruits), Yellow (Fats), Blue (Dairy), and Purple (Meats, Beans, Fish). Take a walk through this new food guide pyramid – you might be pleasantly surprised what you find inside.

Photoshop plug-ins making photoshop even more powerful

Adobe’s Photoshop software is a very powerful image editing program that is by far the market leader for editing image files. I use Photoshop extensively when creating, and editing images for the web sites that I design. Almost all professional photographers and printers also use Photoshop to create all of the wonderful images that appear in magazines, billboards, and even on television. I am not the best artist in the world, but with Photoshop I have enough power to create brilliant images with tools that are built-in to the software.

The coolest thing about Photoshop is that even as powerful as it is out of the box, there are many different plug-ins to make Photoshop even more powerful. The Photoshop plug-ins can be grouped into a few major categories which include 3D, color management, digital asset management, photographic, retouching, and special effects.

The Photoshop plug-ins which are available can help perform tasks much faster and more efficiently than performing these tasks by hand. The 3D plug-ins are used to create 3D images and type very quickly and elegantly. The color management Photoshop plug-ins can create new colors to correspond to the printer that you are using, or the monitor that you are using to create your graphics. The digital asset management plug-ins are used to organize all of the digital images that you have created so that finding the correct image is much easier than without it. The photographic ones give many different professional lens techniques that you can apply to any picture to create amazing effects.

The retouching plug-ins can intelligently change the contrast, color, sharpness, and many other common filters to make a picture look as crisp as possible. The special effects plug-ins are my favorite, because they can make a rather plain image into something fantastic. If you use Photoshop on a regular basis, then you need to look at some of the plug-ins that are available, because they can make your life much easier, and your graphics look much better.

Design cheap debt consolidation loans on your own

Why will a person look out for debt consolidation loans in the first place? Definitely to escape the high rates of interest that he might be paying on debts. So, it is implied that the debt consolidation loans will be inexpensive or cheap. However, the assumption does not hold good in all cases. At times, debt consolidation loans are priced at a very high rate of interest. This particularly happens when the debt consolidation loan has no backing from any collateral. Bad credit history may also result in lowering the quality of deals offered to borrowers.

Does that guarantee that a secured debt consolidation loan offered to people with a good credit rating is cheap and the best deal. Most people are not sure of that. There have been numerous cases where borrowers satisfied both conditions, but the debt consolidation loan offered to them wasn’t cheap. Not only was the collateral lost to the loan provider, borrower also had their credit history tainted because of irregular payments on the so-called cheap debt consolidation loan.

Consequently, if it is a formula that you are looking for to get cheap debt consolidation loans without having to move your body a bit, then we are sorry. This is because no such formula exists. Though one does not have to struggle now for getting good deal loans as in the yesteryears, at least borrowers will have to take time off to plan and search cheap debt consolidation loan properly.

Debt consolidation loans have a greater responsibility to meet. They have to take the borrower out of debts. Failure to clear the debts of the borrowers will imply a double burden. While debts continue to pressurise borrower, the debt consolidation loan has added up to the burden. Thus, cheap debt consolidation loans are more of a necessity rather than a desire.

The present age belongs to the smarter lot of people. People can plan and search loans properly without having to toil hard. The task of searching cheap debt consolidation loans has been made easier through the use of Internet. A large number of loan providers all over the UK are made available on a single platform through the Internet.

Borrowers just have to come online and search for specific loan providers or just submit the exact loan type that they require on certain search engines. For instance, if the chosen search engine is Google, borrowers will just have to type cheap debt consolidation loans there and hundreds and thousands of search results appear. Combine this with the search results you derived from Yahoo and MSN and you have a cache of loan providers to be proud of.

Not all the search results that appear in the search process are relevant. Some time needs to be spent on checking the credentials of the loan providers. Certain techniques like loan calculator gives an impartial view of the loan provider and the debt consolidation loans they are offering. By comparing APRs of several banks and financial institutions for the same category of loans, one can easily locate the cheap debt consolidation loans.

Cheap rates must not be given prime importance during the search for debt consolidation loans. There are many other criteria that must be given weightage during the search process. These are quality of deals offered, reputation that the lender enjoys, speed of approval, varieties, etc. The debt consolidation loan found after incorporating all these criteria is sure to be the best deal, though not the cheapest.

How rewarding are reward credit cards

Who dislikes bonuses? People are often enticed by attractive bonus offers and credit card offers are no different. Shrewd credit card companies are using lucrative credit card rewards to lure new customers in and sustain existing customers. Reward credit cards offer several key features that attract more customers into the fold. As a potential customer your duty is to distinguish between those genuinely beneficial reward credit card offers and those less promising reward credit cards. Many credit card issuers do offer a variety of rewards programs, however, they also find an innumerable number of ways to make up for those reward payouts with fees and charges that unsuspecting customers sometimes overlook.

Reward Credit Cards

If you are in the habit of paying off your balance each month, a reward credit card is ideal for you. Reward credit cards offer myriad rewards for using their respective cards. You can very easily earn reward points for merely making purchases with your card as well as a host of incentives that are offered in the form of additional redeemable reward points.

As you might suspect, card issuers and banks offer starkly contrasting reward redemption options. Credit card issuers give you the option to redeem your points in a variety of ways. Some cards give you an option to use your reward points on other purchased items. Some reward cards offer redemption toward free travel on specific airlines, discounts on merchandise, gas rebates, free entertainment discounts, movie tickets, or even straight cash back rebates. You can even earn a substantial discount on your next automobile purchase from some reward credit cards.

Difference between Reward and Cash Back Credit Cards

Reward credit cards and cash back credit cards are very similar. However, they have several distinct features that differentiate one from the other. Quite simply, a cash back card earns you a cash back rebate that is issued in rebate check increments of $50 to $100 or as credits back to your unpaid card balances. A reward card earns you reward points that can be redeemed on a variety of products and services, however, most reward credit cards will limit the range of merchandise and services to a few select companies.

Increasing Your Reward Points

If you are married, you may request an additional reward card for your spouse this enables you to increase the amount of purchases from both you and your spouse. More than likely, you have monthly bills to cover such as gas, water, electricity, trash, phone internet and cable service. And do not forget about the mortgage or rent payment. There are several reward credit cards available currently that allow cardholders to pay these monthly bills and earn reward points in doing so, a very enticing reward program. Be sure to first with your utility service providers, landlord or mortgage lender about making your monthly payments by credit card. But you should make sure that there are no added transaction fees for paying the bills in this manner. You can also use your reward credit cards to pay for your groceries instead of paying by cash, debit card, or check. This way you can dramatically increase your reward points much faster than just using the card for large purchases.

With all of that said, keep in mind that you must be absolutely sure that you pay off your card balance each and every month and painstakingly avoid carrying any sort of card balance on reward credit cards. Carrying a balance, in many cases, will completely negate the benefit of the reward points that you earn with finance charges.

To summarize how to properly use a reward credit card, you should only use a reward credit card if you expect to pay off the balance each month. Second, be sure to select a card with a variety of reward options so you can enjoy more flexibility when you redeem your points. And lastly, always be sure to redeem your reward points before they expire, which happens to be another common pitfall of reward credit cards.

The personal life coach as modern-day ally

A personal life coach is part of a profession whose name is new but whose role is as old as recorded history. Throughout history, successful people have had the self-awareness and emotional intelligence to ally themselves with friends and confidants, advisors and partners, mentors and guides, peers and supporters of their enterprises, consultants, and, in athletic endeavors, even coaches. The synonyms for those who care for us and are committed to our growth and success are as plentiful as mythology’s hero of a thousand faces.

A COACH IS THE MODERN-DAY ALLY

Since we began to call it "coaching" in the mid-1980s, we now have "coaches," who differ from the previous archetypal helpers in various ways. Yet those differences are precisely the source of the power and effectiveness that is causing more and more people to hire their own chief of staff.

Clients hire coaches for support and comradeship in reaching goals in areas as diverse as business, executive, leadership, career, financial, health and relationships. Many coaches offer specialties such as spiritual coaching, parenting coaching, and individual speech coaching. The coached client sets better goals, takes more action, makes better decisions, and more fully uses his or her natural strengths.

Coaches enhance the traditional functions of friends, mentors, or advisors by adding several effective features:

- A structured relationship with clear goals

- Advanced techniques and procedures designed to effect change

- Motivated clients who know they want something, even if they're not yet sure what it is

- A coach skilled in ferreting out a client's true goals and identifying how the client can most effectively use his or her natural talents to reach them

Sometimes coaches will just help you over that cliff. But only after you've told them you're ready, looked back, and given them the thumbs-up sign.

A COACH IS NOT AN EXPERT IN ALL AREAS

Coaches presume you are the expert on you. Unlike other practices (consulting, some fields of therapy), a coach does not need to be an expert in the field of your goals in order to coach you on the process of achieving those goals – in fact, a generalist can sometimes help you more than any specialist. That’s because coaches are experts in process -- in the methodology of asking powerful questions that help you to clarify your values, goals, and what blocks you. And coaches are experts in defining, leading you to, and declaring the attainment (or lack thereof) of outcomes. They don't need to be experts in subjects like your psychology or even human psychology, though many are. If expertise matters at all in a given situation, the expertise is yours, the client’s.

COACHES TEND TO BE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT AND GOOD WITH PEOPLE

Beyond commitment, coaches bring critical attitudes and traits: emotional intelligence, ferocious listening skills, proven psychological techniques, people smarts, and, if you hire right, a sense of humor. Coaches perform assessments of skills and aptitudes, of course, but they also draw out what would give you fulfillment. Most importantly for life and career coaching clients, coaches dig into what clients have always (often since childhood) enjoyed, but too often overlooked. This is just one of the ways we whittle away at who you might reflexively think you are in order to expose the real you.

We know how to help you model the attributes of people you consider successful until that modeling manifest as your new reality. We can show you techniques of mental imagery and construction of effective, positive affirmations. We’re alert to linguistic patterns indicating commitment – or the lack of it. We can spot speech patterns that signal avoidance, resignation, defeatism, and unexamined assumptions and obstructions that impede success.

We also work at converting clients’ unconscious negativity and subtle patterns of defeatist thinking into conscious empowerment. We do this using various methods, including some drawn from consulting and psychology. One is Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP), a series of techniques and procedures for coding human behavior in order to assist clients in understanding what they do and how they do it when they do it excellently. Another is cognitive-behavioral therapy. We use framing and metaphors to set up worldviews in speaking to you, and we employ reframing when we see that a worldview (or set of assumptions) expressed by you is restrictive and self-limiting.

We try to apply the best of science and people skills to real caring about how you fare.

• Social Contract. Coaching relies on one of the most powerful forces in the world: the power of the social contract and commitment. For the same reason that public marriage vows tend to keep people together longer than they would in its absence, for the same reason we try harder to keep New Year’s resolutions we have shared with others, coaching is effective because you have made a promise to someone other than yourself – a public or social contract.

• A coach has you as his full-time job. Unlike even a friend, a coach is wholly and formally committed and dedicated to your success, uses rigorous and proven training and techniques to assist you in getting there, and will always (not just most of the time) speak the truth to and challenge you when you could most benefit from it.

• Sometimes we want help but don’t need a therapist: a coach drives a future of high functioning. Unlike a therapist in a strictly counseling format, a coach focuses not on the past but on the future, and supports you not in analyzing dysfunction but in functioning at an even higher level than you already are. For more on this important topic, see our article on "The Difference Coaching and Counseling" at ferocecoaching. com/coaching-and-counseling. html.

• A coach leads you to answers that are often inside you. Unlike a consultant, who purports to be a subject-matter expert and creates most of any plan of action, a coach is an expert on, if anything, process and motivation, and simply guides you in the creation of most of your own plan of action. We believe and have seen that people are fundamentally creative and resourceful; our job is to show you how to tap into that creativity and those resources.

We bring to the task the following guiding principles:

• A posture of non-judgmental awareness, or unconditional positive regard, or, more simply, acceptance of you

• Authenticity, and honesty coupled with sensitivity

• Compassion-in-action, and empathy

A look at drug abuse treatment centers

As a long term or short term care program for drug abuse, treatments centers are used to encourage the stoppage of drug abuse through their various programs. Drug abuse treatment centers offer a wide variety of ways to help attain a clean life style for many addicts that are struggling with their addictions. Many drug abuse treatment centers are staffed by recovered addicts or alcoholics. Since drug abuse is common, treatment centers use rules and stipulations to keep things alive and well in their institutions.

Drug abuse treatment centers are fully able to try to help but not cure addicts from their drug abuse. Treatment centers are able to run groups focused on self preservation and the use also of other programs such as Narcotics Anonymous. Drug abuse treatment centers also have transportation at most times to get the addict to and from local meetings and also to in-house events such as bowling, softball or things of leisure such as the movies.

Drug abuse treatment centers may also introduce medications as a way to help people detoxify off of most drugs. This includes alcohol and heroin abuse. These medications are taken to help deal with things such as tremors and also many other side effects of the addict’s drug abuse. Treatment centers also monitor things such as the medical needs sometimes and also mental health needs. This is due to the fact that, in some cases of drug abuse, treatment centers need to cope and help with other issues involved in the addicts recovery process which also may include HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.

Addicts use drug abuse treatment centers at the usual time when people cannot tolerate their usage anymore and is sometimes a healthy alternative to being an out-patient and going to NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings. Drug abuse centers also provide liasons between parents and their children and also for teenagers with their parents. More than half of drug abuse treatment centers are for adults where the others are designed for the addicted teen.

Teenagers that have been put into drug abuse treatment centers must at times provide parental permission to do so. Teens involved in drug abuse treatment centers usually wind up with a case manager or a therapist to help them cope with their troubles or their thoughts that it it is cool to continue the drug abuse. Treatment centers know this and will do all that is needed to keep the teen from exterminating themselves with the lives filled with drug abuse.

Drug abuse treatment centers may have an age limit as to who and how young the teen must be to be able to enroll in it. This is because they don't want the usual adult stuck with a teenager with a giant age gap between themselves and their recovery. Recovery at a drug abuse treatment center to staff and to most people who enter them can be a satisfactory experience because of the level of experience and the quality of care that most entail.

Only seconds

You've spent money and time creating a logo, letterhead, and brochures for your business. You care about your company message, and you want customers to know you care about quality. You've hired professional graphic artists, designers, and printers to do the job.

But what have you done about your small business Web site design? Does it match the quality and look of your other marketing materials? Since the Web has more reach than the rest of your marketing materials, it should demonstrate the highest quality. And yet so many business owners have hired amateurs, relatives, teenagers, or created McWeb (fast setup, cookie-cutter) sites themselves.

An important distinction about the Web is the amount of time you have to create interest for your visitor. You have only seconds to make a great impression. How are you using yours? Now is the perfect time to see if your small business Web site design needs some tweaking to make that great impression. Visit your own Web site and check out our three-step approach below to see if it's time for you to consider a change.

1. Before you click to review your Web site home page, ask yourself what your current business goals are. Do you want to sell product? Do you want to sell services? Do you want to provide information for prospective buyers? What do you want to accomplish? Your goals and your business may have changed since you first put up your small business Web site. Deciding on your current business goals will help you to decide on the main focus for your small business Web site.

2. Discover what your firm's largest strengths are. This can be done through customer focus groups, surveys, interviews, or informal processes. The result should be something similar to your unique selling proposition or how customers benefit from doing business with you.

3. Now, visit the home page of your Web site. What is the first item that you see? Put one and two together, and shouldn't your small business Web site home page immediately feature your biggest strengths or a means to your goal (or preferably both?)

The Web is filled with what not to do. Yesterday, I saw a consulting Web site that I couldn't tell was an accounting site until I clicked through three pages. A speaker's Web site had a huge picture of the speaker that took forever to download and was not by any means Mr. America. And a photographer's site had a long, irrelevant Flash movie about the creator's dog. I don't know of any customer who is going to sit there and try to guess what business you're in. They'll just go to other sites and do business with the small business Web site that has a clear message for them.

If you want to make money on the Web, use your seconds wisely.

The perfect chocolate gift basket

Searching a present can be easy for one person, while for another the task of shopping for presents can be very hard, you have to think on so many factors when you buy a present and sometimes you don't know were to start. Don't panic, there is a gift that can make it very simple. It is not important how you buy it, or what is the circumstances, it is a present that saves time and lets you avoid the unnecessary stress of buying a gift, I am talking about the Gift Basket.

You can buy a gift basket from the local store or you can make one yourself, in this case you can extend or reduce the size of the basket. There are some who buy or do fruit gift baskets. Others prefer creating a basket with all the stuff that a person likes, for example, a casino enthusiast gift basket. But if you want something really yummy to give, try buying or coming up with a chocolate gift basket. This kind of gift basket is grate, you don't have any limited for the chocolate kind that you can use, and the basket can be from any material, Country basket, fancy box, bowl of glass, or anything that you can put something inside and wrap it nicely.

Why should i choose chocolate? - Here are some facts about chocolate that may help you consider chocolate gift basket later on:

Chocolate is considered as a power booster or a wonderful source of energy. In fact, the big general Napoleon was known to carry it in his military conquests around the world.

Chocolates may be high in fat, but will not raise blood cholesterol.

Contrary to popular belief, chocolates do not cause acne, neither migraine.

Allergies to chocolates are so uncommon so don't have to worry about it.

Chocolate consumption boosts the economy. Actually, consumers all over the world spend an average of $20 billion annually on it.

See, what I mean? Now, after you read all this amazing fact about chocolates, would not you consider chocolates for your gift basket?

You may include the regular chocolate favorite in your gift basket or better yet, try the gourmet ones that are really sweet, creamy, and delicious, though more expensive, but the upgrade that you can made by yourself for the gift is unbelievable. The person that will receive the gift, can use the fancy basket for decoration, and enjoy the wonderful chocolate that he received.