When what and how do you begin teaching your preschooler

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A while back LeeAnn from Las Vegas asked my opinion on just when is the right time to begin teaching her 2-year-old daughter. She has already begun teaching basic concepts such as alphabet, colors, and numbers, but some members of her family feel that she is pushing her little girl.

In my opinion, the easiest way for LeeAnn to test whether or not she is pushing her daughter can be found in this quote: "Is it too soon, or should I let her keep going as long as she is interested and is having fun?"

If LeeAnn's daughter is interested in the concepts that she is learning and having fun while learning then it is definitely the right time to teach her.

Young children are interested in the world around them and they are interested in what their parents know. Building on that interest to teach basic concepts (just as LeeAnn is doing) is not pushing your child -- it is meeting your child's needs. One of the most important things you can do for your child is to offer an environment rich in learning opportunities. If you give your child the opportunity to learn then he will learn -- it really is as simple as that.

Remember, young children are learning a great deal about themselves, their family and caregivers, and their world ever day. For most of those lessons you are the teacher. By the time your child has reached the age of 2 you have already taught hundreds, even thousands, of important lessons about how to function in the world and society. Indeed, many of the everyday activities you perform with your child also have academic implications. For example, the books that you read to your child and the songs you sing with your child have a lasting impact on literacy. It is no great stretch to add other concepts into your repertoire and this can make a great deal of difference in how prepared your child is for preschool and kindergarten.

There are really only three things you should remember:

~ Keep it fun Making learning into a game and your child will always enjoys what you have to teach her.

~ Keep it light Educational products and activities that are actually games are wonderful but don't force your child into spending time each day with flashcards or the like. They'll most likely learn faster and more meaningfully if you have an alphabet scavenger hunt at the supermarket.

~ Embrace the teachable moment but don't schedule lessons and force educational activities on your child. When the opportunity presents itself (and it will countless times in a day!) take advantage and use it for a lesson. For example, simply putting on socks can be a lesson in right and left, colors, or counting!

HOW TO TEACH

So how do you teach your preschooler without scheduling lessons and forcing them to pay attention? You embrace the teachable moment!

What is the teachable moment? It is simply an opportunity that springs out of normal, everyday life or as children become older and more verbal a timely question or comment.

Time when you and your child are in the car, for example, is a wonderful teaching opportunity that many parents overlook. If you are reunited after a day's separation then you can share stories about your day-and in the process work on vocabulary and literacy skills as well as teach your child about the world around them. You can also use cars and trucks to teach colors, road signs to teach shapes, and so on.

Mealtimes are also wonderful teaching opportunities. Counting is easily worked into almost any meal, such as telling a child they can have two cookies or giving them five tater tots. Shapes and colors can also be brought into mealtimes. For example, my son likes to choose the shape for his sandwiches-triangles or squares? As a child grows older you can also do letter sounds with the various foods, such as milk starts with "mmmmh".

WHAT TO TEACH

Skills you should work on with your child fall into eight basic categories, according to early childhood educators:

~ Social/Emotional Skills, which will be the greatest predictors of success in life.

~ Self esteem, which is crucial for all learning.

~ Physical Skills

~ Communication Skills: listening, speaking, singing, drawing, gesturing

~ Basic Concepts such as colors, letters, numbers, vocabulary

~ Categorizing Skills, what is the same and different

~ Compare and Contrast Skills, which is the higher order level of Categorizing

~ Experiences on which to draw. These are perhaps the most important of all, as they provide a frame of reference for future learning. The more experiences from which a child can draw, the better s/he will understand both learning and the world.

These are all literacy skills and they are all key to your child's future success. If you need still more help identifying concepts that your child should master then study the developmental milestones for your child's age at PreschoolersLearnMore. com.

So rest easy, LeeAnn, you are doing exactly the right thing for your daughter!

How to sell more with video

The Web is no longer just linking information and digital text. Instead Web 2.0 is about linking people… People sharing, trading, and collaborating together, and video has proven time and again to deliver best on this potential whenever you’re selling a product on the net!

More and more people are selling over the Internet. The market is dense, opaque and too broad. Nowadays getting attention from potential prospects has become a Herculean endeavor. The marketing arena in the new wave of web 2.0 is dominated more and more by Video. Video will fully embrace online marketing as never before.

What the majority of Internet Marketers have overlooked over the years, is that people want to be entertained, as opposed to reading long sales pages as they used to, not knowing in advance what was in it for them. This is why people like to scan sales pages from top to bottom without even reading the first line… The consequences ? The Internet Marketers miss lots of opportunities simply because people didn’t read this kind of sales page closely enough.

A good introductional video can highlight the benefits of the sales page and showcasing key feature bullet points and benefit bullet points. It’s a starting point. Getting the prospect hooked and enticed to read more is what a marketer’s good sales page should do. A good headline may certainly make a sale, but its no match for video!

The power of video can be summed up by the motto, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” What this means is that video images can express those concepts and that knowledge that are difficult to explain in words. Videos have a power to speak directly to your subconscious. Also bear in mind that pictures and sound are more vivid and tend to stick a little bit longer in the brain, than written text. So once the reader is already immersed in the subject line, he will dig further in the details to see what’s in for him. This way you’re sure to make a good pitch!

The trick about videos is to add taste with humor, entertainment, controversy, and educational value to capture the imagination and the fantasy of your readers. With video you can sell them the sizzle as well as the steak! We all know the viral potential of videos right?… Add to that these ingredients and you have a sales page on steroids that’s sure to stick for a while in the mind of your readers! Interactivity – the appeal to the sensations and emotions of your prospects – is the buzzword of video marketing!

Your guide to baby shower planning

With baby showers, as with all important events, often the details can get in the way of the hosts enjoyment of the party! Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Take it one step at a time and enjoy yourself. A baby is on the way and the baby shower is your welcome home gift. Answer these questions before you begin and your baby shower is sure to be a success.

Who Does What?

Assign tasks. Delegating duties will let you direct and handle mishaps rather than handle everything as well as mishaps. Of course, enlisting friends and family requires their agreement so ask them well in advance of the baby shower.

How Much Will You Spend?

Set aside a certain amount of money for each part of the baby shower and stick to it. Make sure your list is thorough and that your expected expenditures are realistic. Don’t forget the paper plates and cups and napkins! Assigning others to bring things you need will help you cut down on baby shower expenses.

Who’s Coming?

Ask the new parents who they want at their baby shower and get the addresses at least a month in advance. You will need addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Get the invitations out no less than 3 weeks before the day of the baby shower.

What’s Your Theme?

1930s Flapper baby shower? Maybe a picnic in the park? Whatever you choose, make sure that your guests know what to expect.

What Food Will You Serve?

The food for your baby shower should reflect the theme, but make sure you choose something that the Mom to be likes. Pregnant women have aversions and cravings and catering to these is an essential aspect of the baby shower.

Where Should You Hold the Baby Shower?

Wherever you choose, it should be easy to find, comfortable for the number of guests you’ve invited and inexpensive to you.

When Should You Hold the Baby Shower?

It’s the new mom’s choice! She may want to hold it in the middle of her pregnancy or wait until after the baby is born. When you pick a date and time, stick with it!

What Games Will You Play?

What prizes will you give away? What will you need so that all of your guests can play the games? Make sure you choose plenty of back up baby shower games in case things go a little too slow and need some livening up!

Why have a car sub woofer

Why Have A Car Sub Woofer?

Why should you have a car subwoofer? First you need to learn what one is. Well a subwoofer is a speaker that is powered by an amplifier tuned in to and plays back low-frequency sound or bass. Subwoofers create low-frequency sounds and contain those low notes that are missing from most car stereo systems. They are heavily used in the streetcar-tuning scene; many cars out there have massive I. C.E (In Car Entertainment) installs. There is even a whole range of music designed to push subwoofers to their limits and give them a thorough workout. The genre is known as “the bass track”.

The Many Types Of Car Subwoofer:

Subwoofers are either passive or powered, with the passive systems drawing power off of the car’s head unit, and the powered systems have an independent powerline hooked up to them, usually right off the battery. Car subwoofers are mounted in boxes and placed in the boots or trunk of the car, or in other places such as the cars parcel shelf or the space beneath the car's rear window. Car subwoofers also vary dramatically in size, on average from 6.5 inches all the way up to 60 inches in the crazy monster subwoofer category. There are plenty of relatively inexpensive subwoofers that are available, however the car subwoofer is a bit of a luxury item, so buy the best you can afford.

A Typical Car Subwoofer Setup:

The car subwoofer is mounted in a box made of MDF usually, although some of them come in tubes, known as bass tubes. Typically they are hooked up to a single channel amplifier set with a low crossover to provide the bass tones. Independent amplification is necessary, because the amount of power subwoofers need, can be too much for the car’s standard audio equipment. Since the car subwoofer is usually mounted in a box, they can take up a lot of room. If you want to fit a subwoofer you must be ready to sacrifice a substantial amount of space in order to house this specialty item. However, there are systems these days that place the car subwoofer and unused nooks and crannies of the car, these are specially built pod’s if you like and can be found for most popular makes of car.

Getting A Subwoofer Of Your Own:

A car subwoofer is a must in the overall high-end I. C.E setup. It is wise to choose the best product that you can afford, and not sacrifice price for quality. However that said, because of the big business there is in car audio products and subwoofers in general you can often find a bargain. My advice would be to search on the Internet and the online auction sites and see what you can pick up.

The seaside village of aegiali

Aegiali, in the Greek Cyclades, is a very beautiful seaside village full of outstanding beaches and picturesque landscapes. Besides this, Aegiali offers a wide variety of facilities and therefore tourists could be almost sure of finding practically anything they might need while being in this destination.

Aegiali's cuisine is very appealing too and there are several typical dishes that tourists should not miss, especially those containing Mediterranean fish. Night life at Aegiali is also very nice and those visitors who enjoying going out and partying until late would also be able to have a good time in this city.

It is also often easy to find a hotel or a room in Aegiali since there is several of them spread throughout the city. Despite of this, it is always advisable to ask in advance and count with a reservation whenever it is possible in order to make sure of finding a place where to stay after arriving.

Among the main attractions offered by Aegiali there are its beaches. Aegiali and its surroundings count with many attractive and several outstanding beaches spread throughout the coastline. This way, this destination is also ideal to all those who enjoy the sea, the sand, sunbathing, or practicing beach sports.

One of the most picturesque and peculiar beaches visitors could find in Aegiali and its surrounding area is what is known as Levrossos Beach. Levrossos Beach is a nudist beach which offers great sands and clear waters, although many time tourists who approach to it are driven by curiosity rather than by the natural beauty offered by this area of the coast line.

The seaside village of Aegiali is situated at about 24 kilometers from the main port of Amorgos and the city of Katapola. This spot also offers several amazing beaches and it is highly recommendable that tourists always try to visit it while being in Aegiali, especially those who enjoy being close to the sea. Aegiali can be a great destination to all those who are fond of the sea, the beach, and traditional Greek food, among several other aspects.

How to register a domain name and hosting space

This article will try explain step by step instructions on registering your own domain name, hosting space and how to upload.

Content:

Hosting Space

What is Bandwidth

What is the difference between Windows and Linux host?

Domain Name

So many hosting and domain registration websites, simple please

How to Upload a website

Hosting:

For your website you need somewhere to store all your files. Documents, Images, etc. Pricings for hosting can vary from $3.95 up to $15 or more per month, depending on a few things (Number of Visitors, large files hosted, images)

What is bandwidth?

Each hosting plan you look at has a bandwidth limit, this is normally a per month limit, if you look at bandwidth like a bunch of cars on a highway it tells you how many cars are allow to go on a highway before you need to add another lane, it also means that only a certain amount of cars can go via that highway per month. If you have big video file (a large truck) it takes up more bandwidth. Smaller files/images mean smaller cars, meaning more traffic can go through, so try making files small if possible.

What is the difference between Windows and Linux host?

When you see on a hosting website, “Windows server” or “Linux server” then its giving you the option on what programming language your website is written in. Talk to your webmaster about this. PHP programming language runs on Linux systems and ASP programming language runs on Windows systems.

Domain Name: You buy your hosting or host it on your own machine; You need a simple way to point to your hosting space. For your website to look professional and easy to remember you can register your own domain name. A domain name is looks like: “yourname. com” or “tassiedevil. net” etc. They come in many extensions, the most common being. COM. Domain names are extremely cheap now days and I’d recommend.

So many hosting and domain registration websites, simple please:

I’ve used the internet for a while now and there’s hundreds and hundreds of hosting website and domain name registration places, one that I’d have to recommend would be CheapDomainSeller. com. Cheap Domain Seller sells both Domain Name and hosting, if buying both they give discounts ($1.99 domain names, $3.95/mo hosting), One click install scripts(forum, photo galleries, blogging) and much more. All with CheapDomainSeller. com

Basic plan for a medium size website via the cheapdomainseller. com website:

Economy Plan:

• 5 GB Space • 250 GB Transfer

• 500 Email Accounts • FREE! Software

• 10 MySQL Databases • 50 Email Forwards

• Forums, Blogging, Photo Galleries • No ads

How to upload a website:

If via the above plan, you can use the program “Microsoft frontpage” or FTP to upload your website. There are many free FTP clients such as a program called “smart ftp”. For full details on how to connect to your website hosted on cheapdomainseller. com check out their website.

Breast enhancement true beauty comes on in the bird s eye view

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Beauty is not in the face; beauty lies in good breast. It is true that beauty comes in all size and shapes. At present women all eager to have a good look with astounding figure that comprises of large breast. Women are very happy that present technology has made it possible. That’s the reason breast enhancement surgery and other methods are gaining popularity, assisting you to look gorgeous and giving you total confident.

If you have identified yourself and want to enlarge and have firmer breasts, then nothing to worry about you can try some of the latest breast enhancement techniques. You can try out breast enhancement surgery and some other medium like breast enhancement cream, breast enhancement exercise, medicine pills and some other products. It is a well fact that most breast enhancement products contains female hormone know as estrogen that can increase breasts size but you need to avoid caffeine. Caffeine gives a negative effect and can change the hormonal secretion process.

Some women prefer to use natural breast enhancement products like cream and medicine pills for cheaper and smooth results. Breast massage cream and oils are good as it helps to increase better blood flow to glands giving a slow result and can sustain for a longer period. If you don’t have time for a massage then you can try out breast enhancement pills as prescribed by your physician. Your diet plays a vital role in the success of breast enhancement pills and therefore it is necessary to eat protein foods like meat, nuts and cheese to harmonize the pills effect, giving you enlarged breasts.

Well if you are thinking to have busty breasts then try out now, as this is the right time to have it. Looking good from outside will not work good unless and until you look beautiful from within.

The basics of a retaining wall

Landscaping is a wide spread phrase that may be used for so many different tasks that are performed to make the house beautiful. The phrase may be used for something as simple as mowing the lawn or finishing your shrubs around the house or it may be used for something as complex as developing a design strategy for the design of the backyard. This article will discuss one of the more complex tasks which is the retaining wall.

Landscapers may want to use retaining walls for multiple reasons. Two of the most popular reasons to make a retaining wall are for design reasons and because it is needed.

Retaining walls can give the house a unique look if constructed the proper way. In many regions of the country, it has become common place to have a gated front yard. A great way to break the monotony of the neighborhood and stand out from your neighbors is to construct a retaining wall to enclose the front yard. If installed properly and at just the proper height, any home owner will pull off a sophisticated retaining wall and stand out from the crowd.

Another reason a home owner will need a retaining wall is because they need it. Some homeowners may have land around their house that is a little bit unleveled. Some homeowners have land that is more drastically unleveled. A good way to still be able to utilize this area is to build levels and secure these levels with a retaining wall. Each level may feature flowers or maybe even just grass. Your retaining wall allows the space to be usable and not have unleveled space not being utilized.

Do you need to construct a retaining wall for your house? Well, more and more homeowners are looking into retaining walls as part of their landscaping design. Two of the more popular reasons to construct a retaining wall are for the look and to stand out from your neighbors and out of necessity to level unleveled land. Take a look at your home and the land that it is on. You could possibly benefit from building a retaining wall on the house.

Difference between fresh water and salt water pearls

Pearls are produced in both salt and fresh water, but the difference is astounding. Usually, the salt water variety of pearls are of a better quality and are also more expensive than pearls found in salt water; however, the choice between fresh water and salt water pearls is completely personal.

For starters, pearls are made from shellfish. When an irritant, such as a piece of sand, invades the delicate lining of the creature, it secretes a smooth substance to coat the irritant, thus creating a pearl. Salt water and fresh water pearls are both made in the same fashion. This substance, known as nacre or mother of pearl, slowly builds up the irritant until a pearl is formed.

The main difference between salt water pearls and fresh water pearls is the type of create that produces this natural gemstone. Salt water pearls are produced by oysters that inhabit the seas and oceans. In days past, the only way to harvest salt water pearls was to dive to tremendous depths to recover the oysters. Today, these oysters are grown in farms, but the pearls produced are of supremely high quality.

Fresh water pearls are produced by mussels that burrow in the sandy bottoms of rivers, lakes, and streams. Like salt water pearls, the mussels that produce fresh water pearls are also farmed. In most places, “hunting” mussels to harvest their pearls is illegal due to the havoc it can cause on the ecosystem.

One can immediately tell the difference between a fresh water and salt water pearl by its appearance. Whereas salt water pearls are—or should be—completely round, fresh water pearls have a lumpy, potato-like shape. Usually, fresh water pearls are described as off-round, egg, or Baroque, and come with a more affordable price tag due to this irregular shape.

The colors of fresh water pearls encompass the entire rainbow. While salt water pearls come in a wide array of colors, fresh water pearls usually take on the hue of the mussel’s shell. Fresh water pearls can range from the traditional white, cream, and pink to more unusual shades like lavender, and copper. Although these latter colors tend to raise the price on fresh water pearls, the color of choice is purely at the whim of the buyer.

Many potential pearl buyers have the common misconception that the fresh water pearl is not “real.” This is completely untrue, as both the fresh water and the salt water pearl are equally authentic. The choice between the two depends on the tastes and the budget of the wearer. Some individuals enjoy the irregular Baroque shapes and special colors of the fresh water, where others want the classic white round offerings of the salt water pearl.

Traveling to mexico be sure to understand the new travel requirements

Making plans to travel to Mexico this year? Is a Mexico family vacation in your future, or are you looking to take a little time for rest and relaxation on the sandy white beaches of Cancun or Puerto Vallarta? Well, your timing is right. It promises to be another fantastic year south of the border for all of the major Mexico resort hot spots! In fact, 16 million Americans will probably visit Mexico this year.

Be sure you are prepared before you travel, as there have been some new requirements issued by the U. S. State Department. Although it’s a minor change from prior travel requirements, it affects all U. S. citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. Essentially, all that is required is a passport, which most frequent travelers have anyway. The goal? To make it safer for you and to strengthen United States border security.

Here are some important facts you should know:

• The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States.

• In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines.

• The proposed timeline will be as follows:

o December 31, 2006 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

o December 31, 2007 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

The Easy Way to get a Passport

First, when applying for a passport, make sure you allow enough time! It typically takes 6 weeks to process a passport application. Where can you apply for a passport? The State Department provides a handy search tool to help you find the Passport Acceptance Facility nearest you. What’s the busiest time for passport processing? Usually between January and July. Of course, if you have an emergency and need to travel to Mexico right away, the State Dept does offer some options. Go to their website at travel. state. gov/passport/passport_1738.html, or call the U. S. National Passport Information Center: 1-877-4USA-PPT

Additional Tips for Travel to Mexico

• Be sure to leave your travel itinerary and passport information with a friend or relative in case the originals are lost. It can also be helpful to carry a copy of your travel documents with you in a separate location from the originals.

• Avoid traveling with large amounts of cash. Credit cards are widely accepted and most areas visited by tourist will have an ATM machine. These are great options because they are safe, convenient and you get a favorable exchange rate. Another option is to use traveler’s checks.

• Using a fanny pack or travelers wallet for your cash and passport is a great idea.

• While they are making great strides in improving the water quality throughout Mexico, it is advisable to drink bottled water. In addition, avoid drinking beverages over ice as the ice may have been made from tap water.

• Wash vegetables and fruits in a purifying solution of some type.

• Before leaving, check with your health insurance provider so that you are aware of your coverage.

• If you are planning to drive over the border be sure to obtain a temporary import permit and all the necessary insurance.

So now that you’ve been informed, what are you waiting for? Mexico is a land of incredible beauty and natural wonder! Whether you’re going to sunny Cancun, festive Acapulco, or even Puerto Vallarta, your perfect Mexican vacation getaway is just a flight away!

Mexican living survival tip 11 restaurants

Eating out is a source of pleasure and cheap entertainment in Mexico in general and in Guanajuato in particular. We are always being asked where we recommend visitors eat. The difficulty in answering this question is that for $12.00 USD, you would be able to feed four adults. Americans think that is a cheap to feed one adult. Visiting gringos find it incredible that you can get a good meal in this city for under $4.00.

Most local restaurants in Guanajuato will have something called, El Menu del Dнa, or The Meal of the Day. This will consist, usually, of something from the regular menu that is served for a really cheap price. You get a choice of two soups, vegetable, starch, and meat. Sometimes the drink and dessert is included.

The portions are not anywhere the size of potions in the U. S. but the meal is filling and will satisfy you. One or two restaurants will serve something out-of-the-ordinary for their regular customers. We frequent one place that will give us the “heads up” when they plan to serve liver (yes, we love liver!). It is not on their regular menu.

In some of the upper-range restaurants in the El Jardin area, their Meal of the Day can be very elegant with American-sized portions. These will be more expensive, around $6.50 per person, but is worth it every now and then. Some of these restaurants have bilingual waiters who can speak a bit of English.

We rarely eat out for any meal other than La Cena (the mid-day meal). We usually take advantage of the meal of the day. Sometimes we order from the menu. So, here are our suggestions of where you can eat, whether you are a visitor or expat in Guanajuato:

Truco 7 – When we get a hankering for a good steak, we eat here. We have expat pals who refuse to believe that you can get a good steak anywhere in Mexico. We take exception to that gross misstatement. Truco 7 is a trendily-decorated place that is well worth the time and effort to visit. It is off the beaten path and until you get to know Guanajuato you can ask anyone, “їDуnde estб Truco Siete?” and they will more than likely escort you there personally. We normally choose bistec y papas or steak and fries which is accompanied by a small salad, a little guacamole, and bolillos (a French-bread type roll). It is absolutely delicious.

Tapatio – This is located across the street from the enormous staircase that leads up to the main building of the University of Guanajuato. This is the place of choice to go for The Meal of the Day. The service is decent but not exceptional. However, it is immensely popular with Mexicans because of the food. You might be able to strike up a conversation or two with your fellow diners if you want. They have an excellent dish called Milanesa de pollo o res. This a piece of chicken breast (or beef) that is pounded into oblivion, resulting in an almost wafer-thin piece of meat. It is then lightly breaded and fried. It is usually served with fries, guacamole, and a small collection of freshly cut vegetables. It is the breading and seasoning of Milanesa that makes it very good.

Casa Valadez – This is owned by a very old family here in Guanajuato. My wife used to teach English to one of the members of this family. Casa Valadez is probably the closest thing in this town resembling an international restaurant. It has a bilingual menu and serves some American dishes along with some of the traditional Mexican dishes. If you get it into your head that you want an exceptional hamburger, then you have to eat here. In addition, the service is outstanding! They treat you like they simply adore you and that you made their day for stopping by. They also serve what I think is the best food in town. I have yet to find an exception. The presentation makes you wonder if they have Wolfgang Puck in the back. It is a nice place all around and even has someone who plays the piano during the afternoon meal. Our favorite “off-the-menu” dish is a regional dish called Enchilada Mineras.

No place else serves such an exceptional plate of Enchiladas Mineras. If you are in the mood to be pampered and fussed over, go here—even for a hamburger.

Is it time to refinance your mortgage

Have interest rates dropped since you first bought your house? Are you in a considerably better place financially and credit wise than you were when you first got your mortgage? Are you looking for a way to lower your monthly mortgage or loan payments? If any of the above are true, then it may be time to take a closer look at a refinance mortgage.

A refinance mortgage, or 'refi' as it is popularly referred to, is a loan taken out specifically to pay off an existing loan for the purpose of lowering your current monthly payments - or reducing the total amount of interest that you'll pay. Refi loans become more popular when interest rates drop significantly, though there may be good reasons for you to consider a refinance mortgage loan even if the general interest rates have remained the same or increased. How does refinancing your current mortgage lower monthly payments and when should you consider a refinance mortgage loan?

Suppose that you bought your house with a mortgage loan from a local lender. Because of your lack of credit history and your decision to put down a small down payment, you ended up with an interest rate that was slightly higher than average. Five years later, the standard interest rates have dropped by nearly a full percentage point - which puts them nearly 3 percentage points below the interest rate on your current mortgage. You've been with your current employer for seven years, lived in the same house for five and have built a solid history of on-time payments on your mortgage and credit cards. You're in the ideal situation to seek a refinance mortgage because:

1. Your credit rating nearly guarantees the lowest interest rate available on new loans.

2. A drop of 3 percentage points on your mortgage is significant. Most experts recommend considering refinancing if the new interest rate is at least 1 full percentage point lower than your current interest rate. In fact, drops of as little as half a percentage point in the APR can significantly lower your monthly costs.

3. Your original mortgage carries a higher interest rate than market rate because of financial circumstances that no longer exist.

One other reason you might take out a refinance loan is to shorten the term of your mortgage. If you originally took out a 30 year mortgage at 5.25% APR, refinancing the loan for 20 years, even at the same APR, will lower your overall cost considerably though your monthly payments will be higher. Still, if you're in significantly better financial circumstances than you were when you took out the original mortgage, the overall savings could make it worth your while to refinance.

There are several factors to consider when deciding whether or not to refinance your existing mortgage. Most mortgages carry an early repayment penalty, for instance. There are also fees and closing costs associated with the new loan to add into the mix. You'll need to consider all the costs of taking out a new loan against the possible savings of a lowered interest rate before you decide if it makes sense to refinance your mortgage.

Top 10 safety tips for cape town visitors

Don’t let the bad press about South African crime put you off visiting the beautiful city of Cape Town! Follow these simple safety guidelines and look forward to a fun, incident-free vacation in one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.

1.Don’t walk around late at night unless you keep to well-lit places like the Waterfront and Camps Bay. Rather take a (decent) taxi than risk being mugged in a dark side street after nightfall.

2.Don’t accept help from a stranger at an ATM when drawing cash.

3.Stay in a group when out at night.

4.Don’t ‘wave’ your bag, camera or cell phone around while walking in the city, day or night. This attracts undesirable attention. Avoid keeping anything of value in back pockets or open backpack compartments.

5.Keep the windows up and the car doors locked when driving around the city.

6.When driving, discourage ‘smash & grab’ theft by keeping bags, keys, cell phones or anything ‘tempting’ on the floor and not on the seats.

7.If you wish to visit a township, go with a reputable tour guide, not alone. It’s easy to get lost and some neighborhoods are less safe than others.

8.Fancy a train ride? Go on one with a blue ‘Biggsy’s Restaurant Car’, enjoying a cup of coffee or a yummy breakfast while watching Cape Town’s suburbs pass by the window. Unfortunately, despite the security staff on the trains, muggings and harassment are fairly frequent. Traveling in the restaurant car is a safer, more comfortable experience.

9.Don’t give cash to beggars. Rather make a donation to a registered local charity. Money gained through begging, unfortunately, is inevitably ill-spent. Giving out cash also makes you a candidate for being mugged once you have your wallet out.

10.If you are eating out or watching a movie, do not put your bags on the floor or hang them over the back of your chair. Keep them on your lap, to avoid becoming a victim of opportunistic bag-snatchers. These scoundrels have even been known to operate in churches!

Remember: Pickpockets and muggers are a sad fact of life the world over. Just be careful, and you’ll find Cape Town as friendly, safe and enjoyable as any busy cosmopolitan city in the world.

Social phobia and the office environment

Everyone is afraid of something. This most fundamental, critical rule of human existence may be among the oldest reasons for the human need to socially interact. To a certain extent, it is arguable that all society is based on the foundation that we are playing off each other's fears. However, while it is normal for everyone to have fears, not everyone has a phobia. The phobia, which is essentially an unreasonable fear that is firmly rooted in a person's psychology, can sometimes be difficult to spot. In general, they don't so much affect a person's social and professional standing as other disorders might. Yet, there are some people that must deal with the prospect of having to face a phobia at work on a daily basis.

While the so-called “fear of work” has yet to actually be recognized by any concrete authority in the field of psychology, there are some genuine fears that can be found within the office environment. The most prominent and most crippling of these might be the fear of social interaction. Regardless of how ridiculous it might sound, the fear of interacting with other human beings on any basis – regular or otherwise – is something that is very real, and very damaging. It is people that have this particular phobia that might find in extreme discomfort on a daily basis when going to their workplace.

This problem has only recently been explored as a possibility by various authorities in the psychological field. Forcing someone to confront their fears, provided those fears are the regular sort, can be a positive experience. It allows them to overcome their fears and better adjust to situations where such things cannot be avoided. However, it is known that forcing someone to confront a phobia can result in far more damage than even the phobia itself. It might intensify the problem, resulting in some aspect of the person's professional life breaking down. It might also just drive home the problem, enforcing the perceptions that serve as the root of the problem itself.

One of the core issues of this situation is that a social phobia need not manifest in the ways people expect. A person may not show the overt signs of being uncomfortable around people, but people that are afraid of social interaction tend to act a little strangely, by most people's standards. It might manifest as little more than excessive blushing when the attention is directed towards them, or it might take the form of a general unwillingness to participate in the company's social events, like a Christmas party. People with a social phobia that are trapped in an office environment need not react in the dramatic manner that the general population expects them to. In most cases, aside from being slightly strange or antisocial (a mislabel), most casual observers would probably not suspect at all.

Since the condition can be extremely difficult to spot, it isn't surprising that a vast number of people don't get help or treatment. For some people, leaving a good job and prospective career is the only option they have for dealing with extreme cases of social anxiety. For others, they stay at work but never really develop any real relationships with their co-workers and develop a slight paranoia about being seen as “the weird one.”

Looking for a used ford then go online with a specialist used car website

If you are looking for a used Ford then going online with a specialist used car website can considerably cut down the time you spend on your search for the car. A specialist site will offer all the tools needed for you to find your ideal used car by giving you access to tools which you can tailor to your needs such as the used car search engine to ensure that you are only spending time on the model of Ford you are interested in.

To begin with you can use the extensive search tool which all specialist used car websites will offer, this allows you to search not only for a used Ford but you can also search based on the area in which you wish to travel, the price of the car, model of car and any extras you wish to have and even down to the colour if needed. This is without a doubt the quickest and easiest ways of narrowing down you search so that you only have to look through the exact model you have in mind rather than wade through pages of cars you are not interested in. Some of the bigger used car websites will have thousands of used cars and even a huge range of used Fords so using a search engine to narrow down your choices is essential.

Once you have narrowed down what is on offer using the search engine you could still be left with a huge choice of cars. You can either narrow down your search even more or start to compare the choices of used Ford you have found. To help you there should be good clear photographs of the car from the front, back, sides and if you are lucky the interior of the car and this can give you a good indication of the bodywork of the car. There should also be a detailed listing with all the necessary information regarding the car such as the shape it is in, how many miles it has done, the price and of course if the seller is honest any problems the car has.

You do have to be aware of any used Ford that seems too good to be true. While there are many honest sellers just looking to pass on their car there are also some unscrupulous dealers who will try to make a profit from an old banger, often posing as a private seller. If you don’t know anything about used cars and in particular a used Ford then it is essential that you get advice before going to actually view the car and hand over your money. Again a specialist used car website can come in very handy, they should offer articles, hints, tips and advice on what to look for when it comes to going and viewing the car. Taking their advice can save you a lot of problems in the future and you should follow it if you want to avoid being ripped off by an unscrupulous dealer trading as a private seller.

Chester city guide including hotels

Visit Chester and discover a delightful cultural mix that evolves when a 21st century city has been shaped by 2,000 years of history. Within the city walls Chester combines five star luxuries, exclusive stores, excellent dining and a vibrant nightlife with attractions such as a Roman Amphitheatre and Gothic Cathedral.

Places of interest:

Chester boasts a complete circuit of historic walls, sections of which date back to Roman times, Chester’s most unique feature is the 13th century ‘Rows’ – two tiers of enticing shops, running through the main streets. Other attractions include the beautiful River Dee, the recently restored Grosvenor and Cheshire Military Museums, a Roman Amphitheatre, the Grosvenor Park and the city’s famous Roodee Racecourse.

The Roman Amphitheatre, the largest arena ever uncovered in Britain.

The famous Chester Rows are unique, being two-tiered galleries built in the traditional black and white ‘magpie’ style. They offer a wide range of shops selling goods from antiques to high fashion.

Grosvenor Museum offers visitors the chance to explore 2000 years of Chester history. This includes Roman life, Chester wildlife - past and present, art galleries, and a unique Chester timeline. Entrance is free. You can take a light hearted journey through the Roman heritage of Chester. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours and can be provided, on request, at any time of the year.

Chester Zoo is one of Europe's leading conservation zoos, with over 7,000 animals living in spacious and natural enclosures. The zoofari overhead railway and waterbus cater for your transportation needs. There is also a Children's Farm complete with Marmot Mania, brass rubbings and face-painting.

Chester Market, having been established in Chester since Roman times, is one of the oldest functions of the council.

Things to do:

There are many ways of seeing the attractions and surrounding areas of Chester. Tours by Foot, Bus, Rail and Waterway are all available. If you enjoy the festival atmosphere you can relax at the Chester races, the annual international film festival or food and drinks festival. All tastes are catered to in historic Chester.

Chester Racecourse holds meetings throughout the summer months including the May Festival, a Family fun day and a Roman day. There has been racing on the Roodee at Chester for over 450 years and the thrill of watching a race at Chester unfolding before you from the sophisticated surroundings of the course’s enclosures or the vantage point of the City walls is an unforgettable experience.

Bus tours operate from the Chester Visitor Centre that allows you to discover Chester from the comfort of a coach. Commentary is provided along the way by a knowledgeable and experienced guide. The tours take in such sites as the Amphitheatre, the River Dee and its bridges, the Old Port, and the Racecourse.

The Annual Food and Drink Festival celebrate the success of local producers where they exhibit their fayre to over 6,000 food and drink lovers.

The International Film Festival is run by the Chester Film Society. This popular annual event showcases fringe cinema from all over the world. The festival runs for a week, generally during early spring.

A Cruise along the Waterways of Cheshire is not only relaxing but offers a chance to enjoy the attractive sites of historic interest, heritage and culture of the area. There are more miles of canals here than in any other English county.

A Town Crier is a regular feature in the summer months You can enjoy this midday flamboyant spectacle at the Cross in the heart of the City, from Tuesday to Saturday from May to September.

Food & Drink:

There is plenty of opportunity to pause and take refreshment during your strolls around Chester in one of the many cafes, restaurants and wine bars. Contained within this vibrant city is an eating scene of diverse proportions. The styles of foods available include Italian, Chinese, Thai, Indian and some of the best bars, night clubs and coffee houses you can imagine.

Samsi Japanese Yakitori Bar. Instead of the menu being divided the traditional manner of starters and main course you will find that most dishes are available in appetiser and main course portions. For people unaccustomed to Japanese food assistance is available.

Vito's Trattoria Pizzeria. This is a traditional pizzeria where the waiters pace about with enormous pepper mills and straw-wrapped Chianti bottles hold candles over gingham tablecloths. All the old favourite dishes appear on the long menu.

Chez Jules Restaurant. Located in a former fire station this is a bistro style restaurant where the reasonably priced menu is changed daily. There are usually about six starters and the same number of mains on offer. It is a firm favourite with the locals.

Mongolian Barbeque. An award-winning restaurant that offers customers the chance to choose their own combination of meat, fish and vegetables and then watch as they are stir fried on a huge Mongolian style griddle.

The Boot Inn, Chester’s oldest public house dates back to 1643, its faзade was rebuilt and restored in the late 19th century and again in 1988. This very attractive 17th Century inn is accessible from the street level by narrow stony staircase. This leads into a large hall, which is divided into two main sections. Features include a fireplace, a large bar counter, low ceilings and exposed beams.

Hotels & Accommodation:

The city of Chester has a wide range of hotels and quality assured guest houses suitable for the business traveller and tourist alike. Elsewhere in Cheshire your options include luxurious country house hotels, excellent farmhouse B&B’s and self catering.

Macdonald Blossoms Hotel

Higher Huxley Hall Non-Smoking

Alton Lodge

Best Western Queen Hotel

Quality Hotel Chester

Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel

Eaton Hotel Non Smoking

Dene Hotel Chester

The Chester Grosvenor and Spa

Comfort Inn Chester

Ramada Chester

Brookside Hotel

Llyndir Hall Hotel

Chester Moat House

De Vere Carden Park Hotel Golf Resort Spa

Broxton Hall Country House Hotel

St. David's Park Hotel

Mollington Banastre Hotel

Best Western Westminster Hotel

Thornton Hall Classic Hotel

Hoole Hall Hotel

Express by Holiday Inn Chester Racecourse

Crabwall Manor

Gateway To Wales Hotel

Entertainment

Telford’s Warehouse is an independent family run bar/restaurant and an internationally renowned music and arts venue. Upstairs is a popular restaurant and contemporary art gallery. The lower area and bar are reserved for the many popular live music nights which having played host too many famous names that have helped to establish ‘Telford’s’ as one of the most important venues in the country.

The Miniature Theatre of Chester is based at the Chester Town Hall, performing works that include both world premieres and plays by local talent.

Chester Theatre Club, based at the little theatre, was founded in 1944 and stages 6 plays per year. The auditorium seats 126 and there is a licensed bar

Alexander's Jazz Theatre is the leading North West venue for jazz, blues and rock artists. It hosts Chester Jazz and Blues Festival. Alexander's is also a famous for the alternative comedy nights every Saturday.

Chester is an excellent destination for that short break. It is a city where you can immerse yourself in history, shopping or elegance. This Roman city and its 21st century delights will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.

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Kitchen table and chairs every kitchen needs one

In today’s hectic world, it can be hard to find the time to spend with the people we love. Like, you have to take your son to baseball practice, your daughter to dance, and then grab your husband’s dry cleaning. Since your family’s life is so crazy, it is important to designate a chunk of time each day to be together and that is usually at the dinner table. So, you want that dinner time to be relaxing and to do that, it is essential to have a comfortable kitchen table and chairs set in place.

There are many kitchen table and chairs sets to choose from so you can find the perfect one for your space and your family’s needs. For example, maybe you have a larger family, a lot of young kids, and a big dining room. A great choice for you then would be a table that is larger in size, probably a long, rectangle table that has an extension feature to make it even longer and bigger if some unexpected guests should happen to stop by for dinner. Or, you might not have any kids at all in your family and have a fairly decent sized dining room. Sometime you like to entertain in it, but for the most part it is just you and your husband sitting down every night to a good meal. Then, a nice choice for you would one that has a round design that seats between four and six people or another nice option would be a smaller, square one too. With both table options, you can get comfy chairs to match. Like ones with plush, padded seats, and even armrests. Basically, there are many sizes and shapes available with the tables and other options include ones that have drop down leafs, some that are oval shaped, and many, many more.

Along with the different styles and designs of kitchen tables and chairs that you can get, they can also be crafted from a wide variety of materials. You can get ones made out of wood, like oak or pine, which would be a nice choice for if you have small children around. It is a surface that is easy to clean and maintain while being safe for kids to be around. Another material option is metal and glass. Like, you will see one that has a metal leg and base that supports a glass table top. This is a nice choice for people without kids, again, it is easy to clean and maintain, but sometimes glass breaks and that is not a good choice for small children. All of these materials are also available in a number of lovely finishes, which would really enhance the appearance of your dining space. If you want to check out all the different options that you could get, just hop on the internet for some online shopping.

So, in today’s hectic world, it is important for to set aside some family time each and every day. This usually happens during dinner, which is why you need a comfortable kitchen table and chairs set in your home. It creates a relaxing atmosphere that will have everyone excited about eating those family dinners.

Renters insurance 101 explained

If you rent a home or apartment instead of owning a house outright you may not think you have a need for insurance or believe that it is even available to you for that matter. The truth of the matter is that regardless of whether you own or rent it is a good idea to have insurance and even if you rent instead of buy you can qualify for insurance; it is known as renters insurance and it can be a safety net you can’t afford to miss.

At a minimum renters insurance will cover your personal property such as furniture, clothing and electronics in the event of theft, fire or natural disaster. Renters insurance may also provide protection for you in the event that someone is injured while at your residence.

There are several options available with renters insurance which can give you a lot of flexibility depending on your needs and how much you want to spend on it.

Personal property coverage will cover just your personal property in the event there is damage related to fire, hail, smoke, vandalism, lightening, plumbing, etc. This type of policy will also cover your personal belongings in the event you are the victim of theft. In order to take out this type of policy you will fix a value on your property and the policy will be written for that amount. Make sure you determine an accurate value for your personal property or you may find yourself undercovered in the event of the unexpected.

You can also take out personal liability protection which will protect you in the event that you are sued due to an injury incurred by someone while visiting your residence. This type of policy will cover related damage as well as relevant legal costs. The minimum for such a policy is usually $100,000 and will cover injuries or damage that is occurs while at your residence or that is caused by you, your children or pets.

Another type of policy you may wish to consider is known as additional living expenses. In the event that you can no longer live in your rented residence because of a hazard that is covered under the policy, this type of coverage will pay up to 20% of the contents coverage amount in order for you to pay additional living expenses. This would include hotel costs as well as meals, laundry, etc. until your residence is ready to be re-inhabited.

An improvements coverage allows you to apply up to 10% of your contents coverage in order to either replace or repair items that you redecorated or altered before a covered hazard occurred.

In the event that you’re held legally responsible for fire damage to your place of residence, a fire legal liability policy will protect you.

It is important to be aware that you are usually liable for deductibles with renters insurance just as you would be with any other type of insurance coverage. You can adjust the deductibles in order to lower the cost of your premium, which may make the policy more affordable.

Bad credit may not stall your home improvement project

Renovation and home repair can be very costly when you add up all the various aspects such as hiring professional builders, plumbers or electricians and purchasing tools, fixtures, fittings and decorations. People are often obliged to dig into their savings to finance home repairs, particularly when these are urgent and unavoidable. To avoid the damage this can do to your liquidity, a home equity loan or refinancing deal might be worth considering.

Being approved for a loan for your home improvement project can be problematic if you have a bad credit history. Banks will take into account your financial history and credit status when determining whether they can offer you a refinancing deal or loan, and how much they can reasonably let you borrow.

There are, however, still options for those with a less than perfect credit history, so there is no need for despair. As long as a homeowner has adequate equity in their home, there are lenders who will be prepared to offer them a loan. Of course, because of the increased risk taken by the lender, the interest rates on these loans will be particularly high, which can present further problems for the homeowner. If they are able to maintain payments though, and their credit status improves, they can take a further refinance mortgage to decrease their interest rate.

The following tips should assist those with a poor credit rating, looking to take out a home improvement loan with a reasonable interest rate.

1. Thorough research is essential when looking for loans with favorable terms, try a variety of providers and do not be put off by lenders that only offer extortionate interest rates.

2. Ask friends and family who may have been in the same position and received this type of loan despite bad credit. You will able to get much more information on a personal level from someone who has been through this process than you can get from the lending companies themselves.

3. Compare a variety of quotations and do not concentrate solely on one lender even if you have been told they specialize in these types of loans. You need a minimum of three quotations to really assess what your options are.

4. Contact your prospective lender and try to establish a good relationship with them. If an open and trusting relationship can be built up they may be open to giving more favorable terms or reducing the interest rate.

Do you know where to look for cheap mortgage protection

Cheap mortgage protection is possible to find but you do have to know where to look for it. Taking out mortgage protection alongside your borrowing can add hundreds more onto the cost of the cover than it needs to. A far better way to buy your protection is to go with a standalone specialist provider. You can get quality cheap mortgage protection if you choose to buy the cover independently.

Another reason why you should take the cover with a specialist is the information regarding the exclusions that almost all specialists should make available. You have to read the key facts of mortgage protection before buying as this is where you will find the exclusions and terms and conditions which could mean a policy would not be suitable for your circumstances. It is also where you can find out how much the cover will cost in total.

The exclusions can vary from provider to provider but there are some that are common to all policies. If you work part time, are self-employed, suffer a pre-existing medical condition or you are of retirement age then you probably would not be eligible to claim. However do check the small print for additional exclusions relating to the provider.

If the mortgage payment protection insurance policy is suitable then it can give you the money needed each month to continue repaying your mortgage if you were to be off work due to suffering an accident, sickness or through unemployment. Cover would start to pay out anywhere between the 31st and 90th day and would then continue with a tax free income for between 12 and 24 months. You have to read the key facts to determine the terms and conditions of the policy you are considering taking out along with the exclusions as these vary depending on providers.

Cover has been mis-sold in the past and faith in payment protection products has waivered as a result. However, changes for the better which will be seen in March 2008 with the introduction of comparison tables and it is hoped these will begin to restore confidence in the product. The tables will be based on a series of questions, when answered correctly the consumer will know which cover is most suitable for their circumstances. The tables will also point out the exclusions in a policy and make sure the consumer understands how much the cover will cost in total. It is worth checking for eligibility of the cover as the State cannot be relied upon to provide you with the money needed to pay your mortgage. Even if you are eligible to receive help the financial assistance you are given might not be enough to save the roof over your head.

When taken out correctly cheap mortgage protection can give you a safety net and provide you with an income but you have to choose a policy very carefully. Choosing to take your cover with a specialist provider is the only way to get cheap mortgage protection and also be assured of having a quality product. As a specialist is more ethical and does not put profits ahead of the consumer you can buy with peace of mind that the policy is backed up by experience in selling payment protection products.

Does your house pass the smell test

When potential buyers come to look at your house, they’re not only LOOKING, but they’re also SNIFFING, either consciously or unconsciously. When we live in a house, we tend to get used to the way it smells and don’t always notice when something is a little…stinky. But any obnoxious odors will be immediately apparent to a first-time visitor. So before you show your house, take a sniff or two, and then take these steps to de-odorize.

1. Pets. Dirty litter boxes and old “accident” stains are the obvious culprits here. Keep Kitty’s litter box scrupulously clean at all times, and consider having your carpet professionally cleaned by someone who is experienced with pet stains. Don’t forget that many people are allergic to cats, so make sure your furniture and carpet are vacuumed frequently. If possible, think about keeping your cat or other pets confined to a certain area of the house while your house is listed. If you’re thinking of getting a cat or other pet, wait until AFTER you’ve moved.

2. Cooking. We’ve all been told that we should eat more fish, but until your house sells, eat that fish at a restaurant. Strong odors from cooking fish hang around and permeate the house. Cabbage, onions and garlic are notorious offenders, too. Throwing a few lemon slices in some boiling water or running lemon peel through the garbage disposal can help clear the air. And remember to take out your kitchen garbage as often as possible.

3. Cigarettes. Smoking easily drops the value of a house by 30% or more. Smoke gets into the drywall, carpets, furniture, and drapes, and it is very difficult to remove. If you or a family member smokes, stop smoking inside the house as soon as you decide to sell. Paint the interior, and either shampoo the rugs or replace them. If weather permits, keep the windows open to help air out the house.

Follow the above steps, and your home will not only LOOK good, it will SMELL good. A fresh-smelling, odor-free house is much more appealing than a stinky one, and much more likely to sell at the price you want.

English tudor gardens

The Tudor garden was a homely enclosure, like the living room in a simple house containing few, but good-sized, apartments. Sometimes one large enclosure answered many purposes. First of all, it contained the medicinal herbs. Then it answered the purpose of the pleasure garden, providing alleys and arbors for people to walk on and sit under, besides ground for games. Finally, it supplied a mixture of vegetables and flowers for use and ornament. The orchard, if not actually a part of the garden, was placed near it and similarly ornamented.

A number of sun-dials were also scattered about, both for use and ornament. Henry VIII apparently ordered them by the dozen. Sun-dials had existed in England before the Roman invasion, but interest in them seems to have been especially keen during the sixteenth century. The first book in English devoted to dialing was published in 1533, and was largely a translation from Witkendus. At this period the actual dial was more fanciful than at a later date and often formed an armillary sphere.

A water supply was considered a very important adjunct to the garden. A central feature was often a well or fountain fed by a spring, or a cistern. Cisterns were made of lead and decorated in such a way as to make them very ornamental.

Various games were played in the garden or its vicinity. Bowling-alleys and greens for archery were common. All that was required was a stretch of good, firm turf or gravel. Tennis was another favorite game. Henry VIII was passionately fond of tennis. Sometimes he used to play in the walled court for "close tennis play " at Hampton Court, which is the oldest one in England, and has since served as a model for many others.

Avoiding repossession of your home

One of the most difficult situations for anyone to face is that of potentially losing theirhome. This is especially difficult if you have lived in your home for several years and have children who have never lived any place else. The stress is often more difficult for the children who must leave their friends, and it can be traumatic if there are household pets who will not be able to come along with you are forced to leave.

Is there a way to avoid home repossession, or foreclosure as it is commonly called? The best way to avoid it is to contact the lender as soon as you find out that you are unable to make the payments. If it's a matter of reduced income, the lender may be willing to reduce your payments and accept only the interest portion until you can work something out with your income issues. The key is to keep the lender informed – don't just skip the payments or short pay without contacting the lender. Avoiding speaking with your lender makes it appear as though you are trying to avoid your obligation or are irresponsible enough to think it will go away on its own. Your lender cannot help you work out a solution unless you contact him to let him know that you have a problem.

What happens if you have a lender who just refuses to work with you? Unless you have had a history of late payments, you will not usually find that happening, but that doesn't mean that there are no lenders out there who don't care about anything but getting their money. When you do run across those who are not willing to work with you, you have to know other ways to work through the problem of being unable to make payments on your home. Although you don't want to make threats that you are unable to keep, if you have a lender who is truly unsympathetic to your needs, he will change his mind if he feels that you are a candidate for bankruptcy. After all, even a Chapter 13 will give you up to five years to bring your payments current, and the lender cannot override the decision of the court as long as you make your payments every month.

Debt management is another way to avoid losing your home when you have an uncooperative lender. Unlike filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the lender is not obligated to accept the terms that a debt management counselor offers. In most cases, they are more than willing to help you work through a program that will allow you to keep your home, but you do sometimes find lenders who are unwilling to bend at all to help you. If you are unwilling or unable to file bankruptcy, and your lender is unwilling to work with you or a debt management counselor, you may have no alternative but to locate a lender who is willing to pay off your current mortgage and allow you to start fresh.

Assumable loans and resale value

The value of an assumable loan comes from two sources. It is often easier for the buyer to qualify when assuming a loan and the payments may be lower than for new financing. However, its value may be limited by two important factors. If the balance of the loan is much below the asking price, the loan may not be worth much. For the buyer to assume, either a large cash down payment is requited or additional financing will be needed. This extra financing may be a loan provided by the seller. Second, if the rate on the existing loan is close to or above the going rate, there is little advantage to assuming it.

How do you know if your loan is assumable? An FHA or VA loan is likely to be assumable. A conventional loan is not likely to be assumable. Look in your loan contract for a “due on sale” clause. If it is there, the lender has the right to call in the loan when you sell the home. There are assumable conventional loans that require a slightly higher interest rate.

If you have an assumable loan at an interest rate below the market, you should get a higher price at the sale. Remember that when you repurchase, you will have to pay more for financing. A higher resale price compensates you for giving up favorable financing.

How much is the loan worth? Consider that, since the loan payments are lower, the buyer could pay a higher price and still make the same payments. Say you have a home that is worth $100,000. You have an assumable loan for $70,000 at 8% interest. There are 25 years left in the teim. A new loan for $70,000 at the prevailing rate of 10% and 30 years requires a monthly payment of $614.30. Your loan’s payments are $540.27. The monthly savings of $74.03 would service a loan at the market rate over 25 years for $8147. Therefore, a buyer who assumes the loan could borrow an additional $8000 and still enjoy lower payments than by using totally new financing. Whether you could extract this amount in the sales price depends on market conditions. However, the assumable loan provides an important sales tool in any market.

If you think you may sell your home in the near future, you may want to refinance with a new assumable loan at a relatively high loan-to-value ratio. This will provide a form of insurance in case interest rates rise or mortgages become hard to get when you do sell.

This article may be published freely as long as you keep the below credits:

Article by (Tommy Lee). For more info on Finance and Refinancing Mortgage loans, visit smartrefinance. net

Dog training - discover what training is the best way and foundation to accomplish many types of dog trainings

There are many different styles of dog training, and finding the one that works best for you is important for creating a dog that is a talented, loyal and faithful member of the family. All successful methods of dog training work to reinforce the relationship between dog and handler, and the foundation of any successful training program is getting the respect of the dog. Fortunately, dogs are wired by nature to seek out leaders, and to follow the direction of those leaders.

Both leash/collar training and reward training have been around for a very long time, and they have proven their effectiveness over time. The type of training that works best will vary from dog to dog, and from breed to breed. It is important to remember that each breed of dog has its own unique qualities, reinforced by hundreds of years of selective breeding.

The leash and training collar is the most basic piece of equipment used in training a dog. Using the lead and training collar properly is vital to successful dog training. The training collar is designed to apply a specific amount of pressure each time the leash is tightened. The amount of pressure put on the leash controls the amount of pressure placed on the training collar, and the pressure can be adjusted according to how the dog responds.

Of course personalities of individual dogs vary quite a bit, even within established breeds. You, as the owner of the dog, know better than anyone which style of dog training will work best, so it is important to work with the trainer you choose to achieve your goal of a willing, obedient and friendly dog.

Leash and collar training is the best way to accomplish many types of dog training, particularly in situations where the dog must have a high level of reliability. For instance, dogs that have an important job to do, such as rescue dogs, police dogs and guard dogs, generally benefit from leash and collar training.

The first part of training with collar and leash, of course, is to purchase a quality, well made training collar that will fit your dog properly. There are many types of training collars and leashes on the market. The most important thing is to choose one that is sturdy and well made. The last thing you want to do is chase your dog down after he has broken his collar.

The length of the collar should be approximately two inches longer than the circumference of the dog’s neck. It is important to accurately measure the dog’s neck using a measuring tape. In order to get an accurate measurement, you must make sure that the tape is not tight around the dog’s neck.

In a collar and leash based dog training program, first the dog is taught a particular behavior, generally with the leash. After the dog has demonstrated that it understands the command, the leash is then used to correct the dog if it disobeys, or when it makes a mistake. The leash is the main form of controlling and communicating with the dog in leash and collar training.

When using leash and collar training, the dog must be trained to trust the handler and accept his or her directions without question. In order for the dog to be fully trained, the handler must demonstrate the ability to place the dog into a posture or position he or she does not want to take. This does not mean using force, but it does generally require some level of physical manipulation. This manipulation is most easily and safely done using the main tool of leash and collar training – the leash.

The well trained dog is one who will walk at his owner’s side on a loose lead, neither dropping behind nor charging ahead.

The well trained dog will also vary his pace to meet that of his handler. Under no circumstances should the handler be forced to change his or her pace to match that of the dog.

If the dog does begin to charge ahead, it is important to correct the dog promptly by giving a quick tug on the leash. This will give the dog a good reminder that he needs to change his pace. It is important to quickly relieve the pressure as soon as the dog responds. The training collar is designed to relieve pressure as soon as the leash is loosened.

Most dogs will immediately respond to corrections by a good, properly used training collar. If the dog does not respond as directed, it may be necessary to apply greater pressure. This can be especially true of large dogs or those who have preexisting behavior or control problems. If you are still unable to get a response from your dog, it is possible that you are using a training collar that is not large enough for your dog. If you think this may be the case, be sure to ask for expert advice before proceeding.

Reduce pimples by treating your skin

A SCENE FROM "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," where Professor Sprout, the herbology professor, asks the students to collect "bubutober pus" during a lesson to give to Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse:

"This'll keep Madam Pomfrey happy," said Professor Sprout, stoppering the last bottle with a cork. "An excellent remedy for the more stubborn forms of acne, bubutober pus. Should stop students resorting to desperate measures to rid themselves of pimples."

"Like poor Eloise Midgen," said Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff, in a hushed voice. "She tried to curse hers off."

"Silly girl," said Professor Sprout, shaking her head. "But Madam Pomfrey fixed her nose back in the end."

Admit it—haven't we all tried to pull off an Eloise Midgen and resorted to drastic measures to drive acne away? While we may not have the capabilities to curse pimples off our faces, there's certainly a long list of worse ways to remove acne.

What exactly causes acne? While it is true that stress, cosmetics and detergents (such as harsh shampoos and toothpaste) aggravate acne, they are not the direct sources of your pimples. They will only make worse an already existing condition. And do not blame your diet—chocolate and French fries will not cause acne—or your crush for the huge blemish on your nose. They have nothing to do with it at all.

Hormonal imbalance

The usual culprit behind acne is an imbalance of hormones, which causes the production of extra sebum and therefore, pimples. This could be because of your genes (if your parents were pimply in their childhood, you know who to blame) or other circumstances that could lead to this imbalance—puberty, menopause, pregnancy and monthly periods among them. So if you have a friend who has effortlessly clear skin, curse the genetic lottery and take better care of your skin instead of trying to imitate his/her (lack of) routine.

While others go directly to the source and have hormone treatments in order to lessen their acne, this can be costly and impractical in minor acne cases—sort of like swatting a fly with a nuclear bomb. Some treatments, like birthcontrol pills, have undesirable side effects such as weight gain and headaches. The more dangerous side effects include clots in blood vessels and an increased risk of breast cancer. Males who take birth-control pills suddenly find themselves saddled with a pair of breasts (while some do this intentionally, that's an entirely different story.)

A good skincare regimen will not only prevent more pimples from popping up, but will delay the onset of wrinkles and freckles. Simply washing your face just doesn't do anymore. In our more polluted environment, you will have to learn how to cleanse, tone and moisturize your skin at least once a day. Applying sunscreen even when you're not going out in the sun is also important because indoor lights also contain skin-harming rays. So if you're planning to spend extended hours in front of the computer for a term paper, make sure you've slathered on some SPF.

Old staple

If you're really going for a direct treatment of the pimple, you might want to check out an old staple: Benzoyl Peroxide.

However, Benzoyl Peroxide apparently isn't just a spot treatment. According to Dr. Bernadette Arcilla of the Philippine Dermatological Society, when faced with acne, you should treat the entire affected area with Benzoyl Peroxide, but don't overdo it! Too much of it (say, a huge dollop on top of the blemish) will dry out not just the pimple, but the surrounding skin as well, causing more damage. "The best way to apply it is to spread it evenly over the affected area, so that not only will the pimple dry out, but future breakouts will be prevented as well," Dr. Arcilla said.

Before buying a tube of treatment, said Dr. Arcilla, take note of the concentration of Benzoyl Peroxide before applying it—PanOxyl, for example, has three variants: 2.5 percent for mild acne, 5 percent for moderate acne and 10 percent for severe cases. The latter is best left for body acne, such as pimples on your back and chest, while facial acne is adequately treated by the less concentrated variants. Again, overdoing anything will cause more harm than good so always start with a smaller concentration.

Dr. Arcilla also advised patients to use medication daily—not just on a pimple, but on the entire affected area. "You should treat the skin, not the pimples. Pimples are just a symptom of something bigger," Dr. Arcilla said. "And if you treat it early, you can prevent scarring due to more blemishes."

Instead of treating just the surface, go for an acne management program. In the long-term process (which combines a good skincare regimen and acne treatment), pimples won't be gone in a week, but there is a significant 30- to 40-percent reduction of acne in one to two months. The process can be expedited with the help of your dermatologist, who can help you create an acne management program for yourself. This does take a lot more time than quick fix-acne treatments, but the results are permanent, at least.

Now, isn't that better than cursing pimples off your face?

Casino games online poker. part two

Choice of the poker room for the poker game is very significant. It is prudent to pay attention to the following factors: convenience of depositing and withdrawal options, availability of the required games and consequently - total amount of players, level of opponents, software, support, bonuses, etc...

If you intend to use only credit for depositing and withdrawal funds and bank transfer, then it will immediately limit the list of the available poker rooms. If you can use several methods of depositing and withdrawal funds, for example, you have an account with e-wallets such as moneybookers or neteller then this issue will not restrict your choice.

The next question is: what poker game and at what limits are going to play? Texas hold'em limit and no limit, also single and multi-table hold'em tournaments are popular at any online room, but those who prefer Omaha poker, and stud poker have to choose the most attended rooms (Party, Stars, Full Tilt) to find the opponents. The same refers to those who love high stakes, not all online poker rooms even in holdem have players who stake $50/$100 or higher.

Most poker players want to win money, so they look for weaker poker opponents. Lately the trend of leveling the poker opponents in different poker rooms is becoming more and more obvious, nonetheless Party and casino poker rooms are considered to have less professional poker players (Prima networks, Boss Media, Playtech, Pacific Poker).

Poker player may have specific requirements to the poker room software, for example, non-downloaded software is offered by poker rooms of Ongame, В2В, Prima and Party Poker. Many poker rooms allow to reduce the size of tables, and the computer screen without overlay holds four table with the resolution 1024х768. For somebody the facility of Poker Tracker can be a criteria. One can buy Tracker and use it, other poker players prefer poker rooms that are not allowed the Poker Tracker.

In general, it is not about WHERE you play but HOW you play. So, choose the poker room with sufficient number of opponents at your selected limit, convenient depositing and withdrawal funds options, maybe good bonus and go ahead!

The game.

After registration, log-in and enter the lobby of the online poker room. Here, as a rule, a poker player will find out the number of players, latest news, choose options, enter the cash desk to make deposit. But the main thing is the choice of the poker games. A poker player may choose the necessary game (holdem, Omaha, stud, etc.), its type (limit, unlimited, pot-limit), cash or tournaments (sit&go or multi table), limits. The number of poker players and anticipants is shown for each poker table and also average jackpot, number of poker players at the flop and number of hands per hour. The poker player can view information about all the players of the selected poker table in anew window. The player may join the vacant table, or wait list (the player can wait for the first vacated table at the particular limit or particular table).

To make the first deposit, enter the cash desk and deposit the required sum, choosing the payment method.

When the table opens, the poker player may take any vacant seat. Appearance of the players and the table differ from one poker room to another, but the principle is the same everywhere - oval table with seats around it. Chat option is usually at the bottom of the poker room site, as well as options and buttons for decision-making. While it is no your turn to lead, you may use the buttons of preliminary choice of action. Tick one of the proposed flags and when it is your turn, it will be done automatically. If you have not performed preliminary choice, then you have to select one of three buttons: Fold, Call, Raise. You can use mouse to operate, but some poker rooms allow to play with keyboard using "hot buttons". You pocket cards are displayed next to your name, general cards are put in the centre of the table. The poker player usually can view the statistics of his game, communicate with other players in the chat, make notes about other poker players which will be available at every poker game with this opponent.

Enjoy experience with online poker.

Can you really be a super affiliate

Let me just start by saying I have tried many different affiliate programs with not much sucess. That was until I came across Ulitmate Affiliate Marketing by Ewen Chia. I was very happy when I started to read through all of the information provided to me. Its a step-by-step guide to becoming an Ultimate Affiliate. I have never been much of a reader but this really kept my interest. Along with the basic guide you also get some great additional Training Reports to get you started. There is a lot of information but its not confusing and is straight to the point. Even if you have no previous Marketing Experience you can dive right in and start making some extra income. I did!

I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to get started as an Affiliate Marketer. Good luck!

Seo - using blog directories to increase your web presence

With the popularity of blogs increasing every day, it’s nearly impossible for a reader to know what blogs exist and where to find them all. This is where the encyclopedic power of the blog directory: it organizes and categorizes the thousands of blogs listed its database so readers can find your blog more easily. There are usually headings and all the person has to do to find your blog is point and click on a heading to find you. These blog directories also often have search engine boxes as well which is handy as many of the blog hosts don’t. Many of them also allow visitors different ways of viewing the contents of the site – alphabetically, by date and so on.

Blog directories are generally free to the blogger, though they will often require you to feature a small, approved banner or a link is also placed on your site. Often your listing is not approved until the placement or link is in place. Depending on the directory this can take a few hours or a few weeks for them to approve.

To get listed in a blog catalog, visit them and submit your site, accurately describing your blog (an inaccurate description will result in less targeted traffic). Check their requirements for banners and be sure to use the link they generate for you – this will ensure you get credit if another blogger joins from your page. Most blog directories will require you to host their images on your own server space, so be sure to follow their directions. Stealing their bandwidth is a sure way to get de-listed in a hurry.

Some popular blog directories that you might want to check out are Blogadvance, Blogarama, Blogcrowd, Blogexchange, Blog Catalog, Get Blogs, Globe of Blogs, LS Blogs and Traffic Swarm.

A new way to lose weight from the orient

To try to lessen the bad feelings of being called fat or overweight, we tend to use lesser dreaded and offensive words such as "larger size" and "big" instead of plain "overweight" and "fat". But it took just one comment from a buddy friend, a nurse in the local hospital, to bring home a deep truth. She said, " In my entire life working in this hospital, I have yet to see a fat oriental chinese lady", referring to the patients she has seen seeking treatment in the government hospital.

Of course, it is not true that there are no fat oriental chinese ladies in the world, because fat and overweight are universal issues affecting all races and cultures, irrespective of skin and color. But is there a health secret coming from the Orient that makes the chinese lady generally slimer and slender?

Indeed, recent discoveries in Japan showed that a type of chinese tea called the Okuma's Wu Long tea together with a healthy diet and exercise revealed that people who regularly consumed this tea experienced over TWICE the calorie-burning results of those who drank the same amount of authentic Japanese green tea. Drinking this Wu Long tea 15 minutes before eating carbohydrates also helped blunt the rise in insulin that normally comes after eating food that contained a lot of carbohydrates. As carbohydrates causes weight gain by increasing insulin levels, drinking this tea helps to control weight gain.

Like other teas as well, Japan's Shiga University of Medical Science found that drinking Wu-Long tea also daily dramatically clears up skin eczema within just one month, and helps in reducing free radicals, and lower the risk of infections such as the common cold.

Indeed, in the ancient chinese pharmaceutical book "Bencao Shiyi "(The Compendium of Materia Medica), it is said that tea "will make one live long and stay in good shape." Tea, particularly the oriental Wu-Long tea that comes from China's Fujian Province has been used by countless generations of ladies to help melt away body fat, boost energy and even clarify the skin, and these newer scientific discoveries in Japan seem to indicate that it is possible to drink away pounds of unwanted body fat and loose inches from the waistline.

Teas are just a form of natural supplements to help in weight management and fat loss. Taking a supplement to assist in weight loss is just one prong in battling weight and fat, but it is necessary to have a healthy diet and to maintain a program of exercise at the same time if we are to continue to keep the extra weight and fat off our bodies. Therefore, selection of a good supplement, having a balanced diet and having a fitness program will go a long way to get your weight down.

Choosing an airline card

You may be wondering which airline card you should choose and how you should go about making this decision. The decision is quite simple and can be chosen by answering three simple questions. Which airline do you use the most? How often do you fly? Are the benefits worth the fees they charge?

If you mainly use one airline when you travel, you should first check with them and see if they have their own airline card. Some airlines do not offer their own card; however, they have joined with other lending companies to offer their own special card. Therefore, more than likely your favorite airline will have an airline card available.

Maybe you do not pay much attention to the airline that takes you where you wish to go. You look more at the cost of the flights, the schedule and any deals you can find. If this is you, then you may be searching for an airline card with more lenience. You should be able to find an Airlines Credit Card that is offered with several airlines instead of just one.

Why are you wishing to check into airline cards? If you fly quite often then you will be glad to know you can find some great offers and benefits, however, if you only travel once a year or once every couple of years, an airline card is probably not your best bet.

Just about every airline card works on the point system. After you fly a certain amount of miles, you can receive a free or reduced flight. Remember, most of the time the points that you accumulate on your airline card expire. Therefore, if you do not fly very often you will be losing your points instead of benefiting from the rewards.

If you do fly often, an airline card can give you plenty of benefits especially if you have an Airlines credit card that does not put a cap on the points that you can earn every year. Also, be sure to see if the airline card has what they call “black out dates”. If so, you will not be able to use your free or reduced flight points during these dates.

All airline cards have fees, just like any other credit card. You must now compare the benefits to the fees and see if the airline card is really worth the costs of the fees. Most airline cards have higher interest rates. You should see just how much you are going to receive in free travel, how much your will be paying in interest fees, to decide if you are really benefiting with the airline card.

Paying off your balance in a timely manner is another thing you should look at with every airline card. If you do not pay off your balance at the end of each billing cycle, you will find yourself paying quite a bit in finance charges. If you know you will be able to pay off your balance then an airline card could be a great idea for you to save money and possibly receive some free travel time in the process.

Pro and cons of home schooling

Home schooling is a popular way to educate children all around the globe for a variety of reasons. Main home schooling pros and cons follow.

Cons

Level of Learning - Too many people think that those children who are home schooled will not receive appropriate levels of education compared to students learning in public and private schools. On the contrary, parents of home scholars work with their local boards of education, principals and / or other educational consultants to ensure they are meeting the requirements set forth.

Socialization - Another negative viewpoint is that those students who are studying at home do not get to mingle enough with their peer groups and other instructors, administration and school personnel and teachers. And that's just hogwash. Students at home meet with others in home school groups to tour all types of local and far away places that coordinate with their study plans. And equally if not more important, home school students are introduced to real life people throughout their days: bankers, grocers, and other professionals introduced through their program studies and real life as they go around on errands with parents.

Lack of Routine / Regimented Days - Some view a lack of disciplined hours Monday through Friday with home schooled students as negative. However, many home school parents establish routines at home, too. Children are not left haphazardly running around the streets unattended.

Lack of Real World Environment & Prep - And still others believe that home schooled children will lack environmental and other preparation for real life that public and private school supposedly teach their students. Again, more hogwash. Home schooled children learn science, technology, music, gym, any and all subjects - only more thoroughly, because they are focusing on what they are learning, not being bored with subjects taught over and over to help slower paced learners so that everyone is up to speed.

Pros

Private for Less Money - A home school education is like enjoying private education without the cost. Students get more one-on-one help, targeted lessons and advanced learning opportunities as their teachers do not have to teach to all levels, often covering lower-learning levels that bore more average and advanced learners.

Improved Targeted Subjects - lessons in the home school environment are also to be customized much more easily than those in public and private school. Results include much higher levels of education with targeted useful knowledge to help students after graduation.

Higher Grades - Home schooled students are known to average much higher grades than their peers in public and private schools. Many get accepted to top colleges and universities on scholarships.

Boredom Busters - Home schooling allows students to move ahead to better topics.