The Rare Gang

Sometimes when we feel the pinch, we look for an answer anywhere and with credit cards, credit card debt consolidation looks like a promising prospect. The one thing you must remember though is that the whole point of credit card consolidation is to get your higher interest credit card debt to a lower interest rate. If the majority of your credit card debt does not drop to a lower interest rate, you have nothing to gain from credit card debt consolidation. Two cards at 18% will accumulate the same amount of interest as one consolidated payment at 18%. See what I’m talking about?

Another pinch factor reason for credit card debt consolidation is if you’re really need to free up some money in the monthly budget. It works this way. Lets say you have the same above mentioned high percentage interest rated credits cards as above. One has a minimum monthly payment that is less than the other. Seeing this you go through the process to consolidate credit card debt to free up some money. YOU JUST SHOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT.

The sooner you pay off your credit card debt, the sooner you stop getting hooked with accumulated interest! Why would you opt for a lower monthly payment and let that consolidated credit card debt sit there for longer?

Now if your debt is making you money somewhere else at a higher rate of return than your credit card consolidation is growing, then by all means keep rocking.

The Pro Reasons Behind Credit Card Consolidation:

Interest Rates Are High - Getting a high interest rate credit card melted into a lower interest rate consolidation.

Annual Credit Card Fees - If you have several credit cards and the annual fees are adding up and you don’t end up paying more interest by consolidation your credit cards, it might be an option.

Cant Pay Minimum Monthly Balances - If everything is getting away from you and you are risking ruining your credit because you cannot make your minimum monthly payments on your credit cards then it may be time to consolidate credit card debt. What happens is since everything is in one payment, you don not have several angry people to deal with, they have all been paid off. Now you just make the one payment to pay down all your credit card debt and everyone is happy.

A word of warning. Sometimes credit card companies will hook you by saying that they will actually pay off some of your debt if you switch over to them. Chances are there will be a pretty hefty interest rate waiting for you if you do not meet some unmanageable criteria in the next couple of months. Read the agreement carefully.

If you are in a good financial situation and just want to be smarter then go to the bank. Ask your banker if they will extend your line of credit. Chances are the interest rate on your line of credit will be less than anything you can find for credit card debt consolidation. From then on, use your line of credit to make emergency purchases.

Ray Burton loves money, but in order to get money, you have to know how to manage what you have. Visit his money management website and build your financial future.

Puppies are eager and willing to do the right thing. They love your happy face and the squealy noises you make when they have done something great. They will do ANYthing to please you because of the loving rewards they get from being a Good Dog. They just cannot get enough of your praises and cuddles.

Moving towards “What a good dog!” from “Bad Puppy!” is based on one thing. Your puppy does not know the English language, and the faster he learns it, the better for all, because the minute he knows what you want he will DO it. Make it faster and easier for him to learn by keeping these tips in mind:

1. Be consistent in the words you choose to teach him commands. If you say, “Wanna go potty?” in the morning, and “Have to go out?” two hours later, and “Wanna go pee?” two hours later, etc., then that is THREE phrases you have asked him to learn in one day instead of only one. Decide which words to use, and make sure everyone in your family uses the same ones.

2. Use his name in the command if you want action, do NOT use it if you want him restricted from action. This is very important. Hearing his own name makes a puppy leap into action by his very nature. When you want your puppy to come, say, “Puppy, Come!” [insert his name instead of the word Puppy, of course] When you want him to lie down, simply say, “Down”.

3. Do not confuse your puppy with the same words for different commands. If you are teaching him basic obedience, the word “Down” means LIE down, usually followed by “Stay.” If you don’t want him on the couch, do not say “Down”, say, “Off.” This word can be used to keep him from jumping up into your lap, onto the couch, chair or bed because it is the ACTION of jumping up you are trying to restrict. Saying “Down” when he jumps onto the couch will just make him lie down on the couch! See the difference?

3. Do not ever hit your puppy, you dont need to. The worst punishment he ever needs to learn a lesson is your sad frown and walking away from him. One or two minutes is the limit though, do not overdo this. After a minute of ignoring him, give a command he knows well and praise praise praise, with a big smile.

These three tips, used with gentleness and consistency, will teach your puppy all the words he needs to know to be a happy and obedient companion in a matter of days.

To read her free articles and samples from her new dog training ebook on her training techniques using loving praise and consistent commands, view her web site: http://www.DogTraining15MinsADay.com

Do you remember the feeling of seeing someone you were attracted? It makes the heart bump, doesn’t it?

Have you ever stood on stage in front of a sea of faces that you know well and pulled out your notes to make a speech? Boy does the vibration of shaking liven you up!

Have you ever felt the breeze on your face, either during a hot-air balloon ride or by sticking your head through the car sunroof? It wakes your senses up, doesn’t it?

And on a scale of 1-10 how much does your heart bump, body shake and senses wake when you do your day job? I bet you can practically do the tasks with your eyes shut. In fact I bet there are days when you feel like you did have your eyes shut?

Most people don’t feel awakened by their day jobs. Their role lacks excitement and the chores get done with a distinct lack of passion. In many places of work you often hear people making a, “If I have to work for a living I’d sooner do something I enjoy,” kind of statement.

However finding or creating work that engages you to the extent that you lose track of time isn’t easy, is it?

Many people find themselves in the place of having money and all the trappings, yet still feel unhappy and not knowing why.

Part of the issue here is that they/you probably don’t attach any other meaning to work except the money taken home at the end of the month. And if you won the lottery this weekend, would we see you at work on Monday?

Probably not.

But I want to give you an example of a guy I know living his life purposefully and totally engaged in his work. He used to be obese. He used to pack in a minimum nine hours sleep each night, he often got ill and he was forever counting the clock down at work.

Now he has lost 84 pounds, works in timeless awareness - where time slips by unnoticed - sleeps on average 5-6 hrs per night and wakes up raring to go in the morning. In fact on a summer morning he’s worked for an hour, jogged six miles, done an hours yoga and is sitting at the breakfast table by 8am. Also he’s not seen a doctor in three years and had only one cold or virus!

The weight loss will give him years extra to live and the lack of pharmaceutical drugs in his body means his major organs are no longer breaking down and continuing the illness cycle. And the extra hours he now has because he is not sleeping… well these give him just over two moths extra living each year!

And the good news is he began as an ‘ordinary’ person and learned to make extra-ordinary changes when he discovered and began to understand his Life Purpose.

If you don’t feel engaged in your work it is probably because you are not working close to your life purpose or because your natural talent and ability is being choked.

If you feel apathy in your work, lethargic or are suffer from weight issues it is well worth taking a look at your life purpose.

Best Wishes

Jo

Take a look at your life purpose. Join Jo Ball (LCA, Dip, NLP) at http://www.unstoppablelife.com and start to rediscover and understand the real you. It’s simple to do. Her newsletter is full of tips, stories and tricks on living Life Purpose. It’s FR>EE to sign-up and she’ll send you an e-book, Simple Steps to Greater Happiness as a thank you for joining and give a FREE Life Purpose Report.

Ecobika is red hot with NBA picks. Ecobika just done the NBA
homework for Friday, all NBA games covered! But not enough
statistical evidences yet, this method is really in test phase.
Where ecobika sees value from NBA handicapping and over/under on
Friday? I found value: CHA@IND CHA +14; NYK@DEN NYK +8.5;
UTA@PHX UTA +11; MIL@SAC MIL +5; CHI@SEA CHI +3; these free NBA
picks where I see chance to win. Now, let’s see where are the
big risks on early calls: interestingly enough, the unders/overs
more or less hard to bet. But again, this is only the third test
of my statistical method in this season, no any guarantee that I
am right. Good luck with your picks.

free NBA
handicapping picks

In the season finale of the apprentice Donald Trump Hired Sean instead of Lee to be his apprentice and oversee a big time real estate project. That project will pay him a quarter of a million dollars per year. Sean beat out several candidates for the job during a 15 week job interview. He succeeded at several tasks and did pretty good on the final task as well. For the final task Sean had to set up a benefit concert for a band called the Bare Naked Ladies. His benefit seemed to go pretty smoothly although he made a few mistakes. One was the lack of Pontiac signage at his event and another was his obsession with Tammy and other contestant that was fired a weeks earlier.

Lee on the other hand had to do an event for a celebrity hockey game which did not go to great. The director of the event shot down a lot of his idea which limited what he could do. Their also seemed to be poor communication with the celebrities when they arrived. From watching the show Lee actually lost the final task when he picked such a poor team. He picked his team based on what his buddy Lenny suggested rather than going with his gut which was very poor. Overall the best man got the job hopefully he will be a success as the apprentice.

Basic Troubleshooting

I. Fan is not working

Check to make sure that all controls on the fan are functional and set properly. Does the fan have a light? Does the light work? If both the fan and the light are not working, it is likely a connection issue and/or the fan is not getting power. If the light is working and the fan is not, the first thing to check is if the black wire has come disconnected inside the canopy. Next, check to be sure that the blades turn freely. If they do not, the problem may involve stuck bearings , a broken flywheel, or simply something stuck in the path of the motor or blades that does not belong there.

II. Fan light is not working

If the fan is working but the light is not, the problem is usually a loose connection between the power source and the light kit.

III. Fan runs, but wobbles or shakes

See section on balancing.

IV. Fan runs, but slowly.

First, check to see that the fan blades turn freely by hand and coast after being spun. If rotation is in any way stiff, this is a sign of dirty, dry, or gummed bearings, which can slow the motor. The fan should be oiled. Second, does the fan wobble at all? If for any reason the blade pitch is steeper on one or more blades than the motor is designed for, this will slow the motor. See the section on balancing. If the blades turn freely and are balanced, the cause of a fan running slowly is almost always a bad capacitor. It should be replaced with a capacitor of equal value.

V. Fan makes mechanical noise while running i.e. clicking, knocking, grinding.

If it’s a mechanical sound, chances are it is a mechanical problem. It could be something as simple as a wire that has slipped into the path of some moving parts. If the fan wobbles, balancing the fan may silence the noise. If the fan is balanced, the next thing to check is if anything is coming into the path of the blades or any other noticable moving part. If the noise appears to be internal to the motor, it is most likely a bearing issue, or something (such as a wire or connector) coming in contact with moving parts inside the housing. Dry bearings can also make a grinding, squeeling, or rattling noise. Lastly, sometimes mechanical noises are the result of loose parts on the fan. Check the blades, blade brackets, light kit glass, etc, to be sure all the screws are tight.

VI. Fan makes a humming noise while running

The key to a quiet fan is to isolate the motor vibration from all other parts. This occurs, in the majority of fans, in three places: between the motor and the blade brackets, between the blade brackets and the blades, and between the downrod/motor flange and the mounting bracket. Some fans also have vibration-isolating material between the mounting bracket and the ceiling. If your fan makes a noticable humming noise, inspect it for the above mentioned types of vibration-isolating material. With the exception of the rubber flywheel, if your fan is lacking any of the above, they are easy to add and should solve the majority of humming problems. You can always add additional material as rubber washers and spacers are readily available.

VII. Fan makes an electrical buzzing noise while running.

By far the most common cause of an electrical noise from a fan is the use of an improper speed control. Most fans made today are not designed to be used with Solid State speed controls. Use a speed control, such as a capacitor type, that is recommended for your fan. Do NOT use a dimmer switch EVER on a fan motor.

VIII. Fan moves very little air.

First, check and see if any of the other problems listed above apply. Running too slow? Off balance? Check and make sure the fan isn’t operating in reverse (for most fans, clockwise, see ‘reversing section’). Another, less likely, option is that the blades became bent or warped without actually putting the fan out of balance. Observe the fan from the side to see if the blades are still pitched noticably. If not, reference the balancing section for bending them back into place.

Lastly, you might just have a cheap fan that doesnt move a lot of air. Peruse our site, and buy a new one!

Copyright © 2005 Dan Neuman

Lately I have begun writing articles on PC hardware and repair at http://www.markspcforum.com . I own and operate a number of websites, so if you want to contact me for a business proposition of any sort, let me know as I can accomodate just about any inquiry. I also post articles related to ceiling fans either I or my editor have wrote. If you are into ceiling fans, have a ceiling fan related issue, are looking for replacement parts or would like to buy a fan, please come check us out at http://www.ceiling-fans-n-more.com . We also have a forum for ceiling fan related issues.

The business of Handmade Beauty has grown exponentially in the past
ten years. I have personally observed and been an integral part of
enormous growth and innovation as the industry has become more well-
known, and even mainstream.

As an instructor in the arts of cold-process soap-making and toiletry-
making, it is amazing to talk with student after student about their
newfound knowledge of creating handmade beauty products and their
desire to start a business. The range runs the gamut from selling a few
weeks annually during the pre-holiday craft fair season to starting a full-
time business with a very sophisticated long-term business plan. I am
always amazed at the passion this craft elicits and the endless
possibilities, variations, and directions in which such a business could
go!

I know. From personal experience, I know it very well.

What I like to share in my consultations is that anything is possible. With
enough commitment, endurance, a well-thought plan, and enough cash
to carry you through until you are generating the income sufficient to get
by and thrive, it can be done.

That said, in my experience, from the moment you decide you are
serious about being in business, it is imperative to adopt a mindset of
maximizing your time and energy. One way of doing that is to hire a
professional Virtual Assistant, also known as a “VA.”

Depending on the experience and expertise of your VA, s/he caters to
your administrative, technical, creative, and financial needs. Delegating
these time-consuming tasks to the capable hands of your VA frees you
to focus on what’s most important: growing your business and
generating revenue!

A virtual assistant is your partner in business. Aside from you, they care
as much about the success of your business as anyone! They are
equipped with the most updated equipment and systems. They are
savvy and industrious when it comes to finding innovative ways to
implement new programs or introduce new products. As you mature in
business, it is not uncommon to depend heavily on the services of a VA
for the superior behind-the-scenes contribution they make to your
success.

Partnering with a professional Virtual Assistant can:

1. Increase your revenue.
2. Increase your productivity.
3. Save you money.
4. Save you time.
5. Save you frustration.

How does that sound? The handmade beauty business of your dreams
awaits!

by Charlon Bobo, Muse works © 2005

All rights reserved. Charlon Bobo is the Founder and Creative Director
of Muse works, a dynamic trend-setting Virtual Assistant enterprise in
Southern California that caters to the niche needs of entrepreneurs in
the handmade beauty industry. To learn more about Muse works,
please visit Muse works and
Muse works Blog.

You may contact Charlon at 805.405.4944 and via e-mail at
info@museworks.org.

You have permission to freely distribute this article provided all the text
contained herein remains intact.

A credit score is a score based on the credit report of an individual. It reflects the person’s credit worthiness depending on his/her credit history. In the US, the credit score is based on the FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) score that is calculated by using mathematical and statistical techniques. There are also other versions of calculating credit scores such as Beacon and Empirica. A FICO score is based on various factors including: punctuality of payment in the past, capacity used (ratio of current revolving debt to total available revolving credit), length of credit history, types of credits used and recent credits obtained. FICO scores range from 300-850 wherein a score below 600 is considered “bad” while a score above 720 is considered “good”.

An individual can obtain his/her credit score, free of cost, from all the three credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion once a year. All three reports can be ordered at the same time. It can also be obtained more than once under certain circumstances. All these three bureaus also offer other services apart from maintaining and furnishing credits reports. These include the PLUS score, provided by Experian, which represents the exact credit risk an individual presents. This is generally used by credit agencies and lenders while considering loan applications. Employers and landlords also use this score. A higher PLUS score indicates better credit history and hence easier loan processing as well as lower interest rates. However, these may not always be free.

Other credit score related services include certain tied benefits such as free credit score with an order of three credit reports or free credit score for a limited period. Some companies offer services such as free alerts about changes in the credit report and advice about loan lenders and credit card companies that would provide credit suitable to the client’s credit score. However, the free offers are generally used to just attract people towards their other services. The free services are only for limited periods and usually require registration to their other paid services for accessing free credit scores.

Free Credit Score provides detailed information on Free Credit Score, Free Online Credit Scores, Free Credit Report And Score, Free Credit Score Services and more. Free Credit Score is affiliated with Free Government Credit Checks.

Historically it is reported that magnets have been around for an extremely long time. Magnets were first documented around 2500-3000 years BC. Their origins are first noted in Asia Minor in a vast land called Magnesia. The earth there was enriched with iron oxide which attracted metals to it. The locals named it Magnetite.

Another story is told of a young boy, who lived 2500 years BC, called Magnes a shepherd on Mount Ida. One day he was tending his sheep whilst wearing sandals which contained iron in the sole. He found it hard to walk up the mountain as his feet felt heavy and stuck to the rock face. Mount Ida was found to contain a rock called Lodestone, which is the first known magnetic mineral. It is reported that Lodestone was named Magnes after the boy who discovered it, and it later came to be known as magnet.

Cleopatra was probably the first celebrity to use magnets. It is documented that she slept on a Lodestone to keep her skin youthful. The therapeutic knowledge was passed to the Greeks who have been using magnets for healing since 2500 BC Aristotle and Plato talked of the benefits of Lodestones in their work.

Magnets have been used in Chinese medicine from around 2000 BC in-conjunction with reflexology and acupuncture. It is still used today as a first line treatment for many common complaints.

3,500 years after they were first discovered, magnets have gained popularity in Europe and the USA. In the 15th century a Swiss physician Paracelsus recognised the therapeutic powers of magnets. He wrote medical papers on the influence of magnets on the inflammatory processes within the body.

In the 16th century an English doctor Dr William Gilbert made a scientific study of electricity and magnetism. He published one of the first books about magnetic therapy called “De Magnet”. Dr Gilbert was also Queens Elizabeth I personal physician and it is said that she used magnets under his direction.

Michael Faraday, also known as the founder of Biomagnetics made extensive discoveries in magnetic healing during the 18th century. His work is still used as a framework for modern day magnetic treatments. Dr Mesmer (the father of hypnotism) and Dr Samuel Hahnemann (the father of homoeopathy) also contributed to his remarkable work.

20th century pioneers include Dr Kreft a German doctor who in 1905 studied the healing effects of magnets on rheumatic disease, sciatica and neuralgia. 1926 revealed Dr Criles work on the impact of magnets on cancer cells and this was followed 10 years later in 1936 with Albert Davis carrying out tests on the effects of the north and south poles of a magnet.

However the last 15 years has shown a prolific increase in medical research into magnetic therapy. There have been over 57 studies in the USA into incurable diseases and magnetics. Some of the most recent are:

1990 - University if Hawaii tested magnetic fields on patients with osteoarthritis.

1992- Stiller et al a randomised double blind trial of wound healing in venous leg wounds.

1999- New York Medical College tested magnetic insoles on diabetic patients.

2001- University of Virginia tested magnetic mattress covers on patients with Fibromyalgia.

2004- University of Exeter and Plymouth tested magnetic bracelets on patients with osteoarthritis

Magnetic therapy is gaining in popularity worldwide with many celebrity devotees including: Cherie Blair, Bill Clinton, Anthony Hopkins, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II, Shirley MaClaine, Venus Williams, Michael Jordan, Andre Agassi, Jack Niklaus and many more.

Magnetic devices are now registered as prescribable medical devices in 54 countries worldwide With new research being completed each year and doctors at last acknowledging that it is not “witch doctory” we shall hopefully see, with in the next few years, magnetic devices being prescribed on the NHS in-conjunction with conventional pain killing drugs.

Debbie Shimadry is qualified magnetic therapist and pain nurse specialist. She appears on several BBC radio stations as an expert guest on magnetic therapy and is also the managing director of World of Magnets ltd. http://www.worldofmagnets.co.uk.
For more information visit http://www.magnetictherapyfacts.org/

Traditional marketing strategies encourage business owners to continually grow their businesses by adding new customers. In today’s competitive world of business, it is more important than ever to aim for more transactions with existing customers by using the power of customer follow-up and attention to good service.

These second ten tips will help you in turning your existing customers into walking billboards for your business and loyal customers for a lifetime. While we aren’t advocating that you do all ten, choosing your favorite five and making sure they become a part of your marketing efforts will pay off handsomely.

11. Conduct surveys one time per month in order to find out what your clients want and need. Your ability to deliver solutions to current problems will position you as a coach who is solution oriented and who is willing to be flexible to deliver what it is that the client most wants and needs. An online survey tool such as www.zoomerang.com is a fantastic tool for providing online surveys to your current customers and clients.

12. Support your clients by attending their events and by sending them referrals. Are your clients leading a workshop or a teleclass? Are they holding a special “grand opening” or announcing a new product or service? Will your client be playing the piano for a special event or helping with a charity auction? Find out what special events are in the future for your client and attend those events with enthusiasm. This one perk will let your clients know that you are committed to them through and through. In addition, become a walking billboard for your clients, telling others about their products or services, and send them referrals on a regular basis. The building of a strong relationship and strategic alliance begins with you, so let your support be known by “showing up” and “talking your client up to others.” If you cannot attend the event, contact the client on the day of their big event, wishing them well and letting them know how much you wish you could attend.

13. Set aside a 3 hour block of time each week strictly for the purpose of being “on call” for your clients. During this 3-hour block of time, you will be providing “spot coaching” for clients who want to call in for questions, a quick dose of motivation, or to get support in the area of problem solving. Limit each call to 15 minutes so that everyone who wants to talk with you will have a chance to do so.

14. Host a “Client Only” Call one time per month. As you begin to coach more and more of your ideal clients, you will begin to notice “common problems” shared by your clients. Watch closely for these common problems, and use your knowledge to build a “Client Only” call one time per month. The Client Only call will provide your clients with information and value around a particular topic which is on their minds such as how to increase profits, how to get more customers, or how to deal with negative thought patterns which block success. The Client Only Call will also support your clients in extending his or her network, which is a wonderful value add.

15. Answer each and every question asked by your clients with a positive and helpful attitude. Quite often as a coach, you will find that your clients want one thing…your help! Each time a client sends you a question by e-mail or calls you by phone to ask a question, respond with compassion and with the A to Z details which will provide the support they are seeking. Studies show that approximately 68% of all people will choose to continue doing business with you based on your attitude, so treat your clients as if you are honored to answer their questions, and as always, answer their questions as quickly as possible (within 24 hours is recommended.)

16. Update your website every day, adding new content, a new quote of the day, a new article, or a cutting edge resource. Your customers will want to know that you are savvy enough to stay ahead, updating your website frequently and that you are alive and well and devoted to details. If you have a website which is outdated and “stale,” your clients will move on to a coach who is both present and future focused. On the same note, if your website will be down for repair or down for a facelift, notify your clients in advance that your website will be down and keep them updated on the status of your site.

17. Develop a collaborative partnership with your clients, and team with them one time each year on a joint venture. Clients of today want a partnership that is collaborative in nature, and they want to feel that you are a part of their “team.” Invite your clients to join you in hosting a fundraising event, to co-lead a workshop or teleclass, or to co-author an article or an e-course. The relationship with your client will shift during this process, and you will develop a bond that is strong and long lasting.

18. Add new products, services, and features to your coaching business every month. In order to keep clients coming back again and again, it will be important for you to continue adding interesting features to your business. Write a new e-course, offer a new assessment, post a new audio, list a new teleclass series, add a 1-800 number to your business, or do something fun like adding a kids page to your website. Each time you add a new feature, your clients’ interest will be sparked, and they will feel a surge of enthusiasm around their decision to continue working with you as their coach.

19. Provide Instant Message Coaching two nights per week. By using AOL or MSN Instant Messaging services, you can provide an amazing amount of value for folks who work during the day. Set aside two hours two nights per week to provide IM coaching for individuals or for a group. This can be a great time to communicate with your clients through the power of the written word.

20. At the end of each month, send a card to each client thanking him or her for being your client. Make this note special to each person, and let them know how much you value the relationship and how much you enjoy working with them. Remember…your clients make your coaching business possible, so thank them graciously and often!

© Copyright 2004 by Alicia Smith and Bea Fields

Alicia Smith is a Coach and Trainer whose specialty is helping coaches to Make Money Now. This article is derived from just one of the 90 lessons contained in her e-course, 90-Day Marketing Marathon. To learn more about that course and her other products and services, please visit the following sites. (You also can email her at alicia@aliciasmith.com.)
http://www.90DayMarketingMarathon.com
http://www.discninja.com
http://www.InternetAssessments.com