Students Of Success

We’ve all heard the horror stories of car shopping. Someone paid
too much for a new car because the dealer refused to negotiate.
Another person walked away with monthly payments higher than
they could really afford. Yet another person settling for a car
that had way more features than they wanted or needed because it
was the only car on the lot.

While it’s true that finding and then negotiating for a new car
can be challenging, chances are that if you’re prepared before
walking into a car dealership, you’ll walk out with a better
deal. Here are three things that you can do to prepare yourself
to get the absolute best deal.

Research

You should know what type of car you’re interested in, and how
much it should cost before you ever walk into a dealership. The
salespeople are paid on a commission, and their objective is to
get you to pay as much as they can for your car. Your objective,
of course, is just the opposite! Begin by doing some online
research to find out the going rate of the car, and then check
around in various dealerships. You should know that the
“sticker” price that is on the windshield of the car isn’t the
cost at all–but instead it is the starting price. You will be
able to negotiate between 10-20 percent off of that
price.

Trade-In

If you have a car that you plan to trade in, don’t present it to
the dealer until after you’ve negotiated your best price. In
addition, you should be aware–after conducting a lot of
research–how much your old car is worth. Many times, dealers
will try and pay a fraction of what a trade-in is worth in order
to increase the price of the new car. Once you have done your
research on the wholesale value of your car, stand firm and
don’t allow the salesperson to take advantage of you. If you
find that you can’t get as much trade-in value as you think you
should, be prepared to walk away from the deal, sell the car on
your own, and then return with the money to use as a down
payment. This will take some time, but you will come out
financially better for it.

Financing

Be aware that the dealer offered financing isn’t always the
best. It’s important for you to compare the interest rates and
terms with those of a private lender, and then select whichever
one will offer you the best deal. In addition, look closely at
how your down payment will affect your loan balance and monthly
payments. Remember, a 1 percent change in your interest rate
will not only affect your monthly payments, but your overall
loan balance as well! Finally, be sure that the dealer hasn’t
included any life insurance or warranties in your loan balance
that you didn’t authorize, otherwise you could find yourself
paying thousands of dollars that you hadn’t intended to. Ask to
see a complete listing of all charges before you sign on the
dotted line.

Having trouble paying your bills? Getting calls from creditors? Are your accounts being turned over to debt collectors? Are you worried about losing your home or car?

You are not alone. Many people face a financial crisis some time in their lives. But often, it can be overcome. Your financial situation doesn’t have to go from bad to worse. An option is to consolidate or refinance the debt into a mortgage.

Debt consolidation entails taking out one loan to pay off many others. This is often done to secure a lower interest rate, secure a fixed interest rate or for the convenience of paying only one loan.

There are several reasons why you should consider refinancing your existing debt:

· Reduce the interest rate and/or convert from a floating rate to a fixed rate loan
· Reduce the monthly payment by extending the loan maturity

· Convert short term debt to long term debt
· Use the equity you built up in your fixed assets to provide cash
· Consolidate debt
· Get out of debt sooner

You may be able to lower your payments and reduce your cost of credit by consolidating your debt through a second mortgage or a home equity line of credit.

To explain how you can use a second mortgage or home equity line of credit to diminish and control debt, we need to explain the two types of mortgage rates and how they can affect your ability to take out an additional loan or refinance.

There are many types of mortgage loans. The two basic types of loans are the fixed rate mortgage (FRM) and adjustable rate mortgage (ARM).

In a fixed rate mortgage, the interest rate, and hence the monthly payment, remains fixed for the life (or term) of the loan. This term is usually for 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. The only increase you might see in the monthly payments would result from an increase in property taxes or insurance rates (paid using an escrow account, if you’ve opted to use an escrow). But payments for principal and interest will be consistent throughout the life of the loan using an FRM.

In an adjustable rate mortgage, the interest rate is fixed for a period of time, after which it will periodically (annually or monthly) adjust up or down to some market index.

Adjustable rates transfer part of the interest rate risk from the lender to the borrower, and thus are widely used where unpredictable interest rates make fixed rate loans difficult to obtain. Since the risk is transferred, lenders will usually make the initial interest rate of the ARM’s note anywhere from 0.5% to 2% lower than the average 30-year fixed rate. Because these types of loans can have very low interest rates, they have been a popular option for people throughout the past few years when the interest rates have been at such low levels. In most scenarios, the savings from an ARM outweigh its risks, making them an attractive option for people who are planning to keep a mortgage for ten years or less.

Now that we have an understanding of the types of mortgage loans, we can discuss how to refinance your original mortgage to consolidate debt.

The amount one can borrow in refinancing from a second mortgage is determined by how much equity is in your home. Equity can be defined as the difference between how much the home is worth and how much you owe on the mortgage. Therefore, a home equity line of credit (known as a HELOC) is a loan that is taken against the equity in your home. The collateral on the loan is your house and, depending upon where you live, local lending laws will regulate how much you can borrow. One of the most popular uses of a home equity credit line is to consolidate high-interest credit card balances, and pay them off before the penalties, interest payments, and annual fees become an unmanageable burden. By using a home equity line of credit, it’s possible to pay off all credit cards, and replace them with a single, easy to manage loan. Another benefit of the home equity line of credit is that it can be paid off gradually, over a long period of time. A home equity line of credit can free you from debt, and help you improve your credit rating at the same time.

According to a recent study by the Consumer Bankers Association, about 36% of the home equity loans and home equity lines of credit taken out are used to refinance debt, making it easily the number one reason for taking out these types of loans.

So far we’ve mentioned two types of home-equity options: home-equity lines of credit and home-equity loans. There’s also a third option, known as cash-out refinancing. Each of these can be used for debt consolidation, and each has its pros and cons. Here’s a quick review.

These days, the hot loan is the home-equity line of credit, which works pretty much like a credit card. You’re given a maximum loan amount of, say, $20,000, which you can then run up or pay off as you choose. Lines of credit are directly tied to the prime rate. Typically you’ll pay the prime rate plus a small markup. (Introductory rates may be lower than that.) Usually there are minimal or no up-front costs to take out a HELOC, and the flexibility of these loans makes them desirable. It also makes them potentially risky for those who can’t have a line of credit open without maxing it.

A home-equity loan (known as an HEL), by contrast, works a lot like a mini fixed-rate mortgage. You get a lump sum, which you are then expected to pay back via regular monthly payments over a set amount of time. Rather than moving with the prime rate, these loans tend to track short- and midterm deposit costs. The current average home-equity-loan rate is 7.91% on a $30,000 loan, according to Bankrate.com.

A HEL can be handy for debt consolidation, since you know exactly how much you owe on your credit cards, and if you take out exactly that amount, you don’t run the risk of piling on more debt. Clearly, though, you’re not going to be doing yourself any favors if you spread out your debt over the next decade.

Finally, there’s the cash-out mortgage refinance. As the name implies, with this type of loan you refinance your mortgage, taking out an extra bit for yourself. (Right now the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 5.8%, according to Bankrate.com.) This can be a great move, but since refinancing comes with its own costs, it’s worth considering only if you were already planning on refinancing anyway. Also, if you do decide to go this route, make sure you can pay ahead of schedule without getting hit with a penalty.

So how do you find the best rates? Thorough research, of course. Be sure to check both the big lenders and the little ones. You’ll often find that the best rates are offered by local banks, savings and loans and credit unions. Of course, as with any type of loan, the best rates are going to be doled out to the best customers with the highest credit score.

Many Americans have seen their houses skyrocket in value over the past few years, while their credit card debts mounted. New laws and policy changes have made equity lines of credit and second mortgages more appealing to the homeowner and have made it easier to consolidate the debt and live a financially more secure life. Why fall further into debt when a debt consolidation mortgage loan can provide much needed relief.

Laura is an experienced free-lance writer who focuses on home equity and debt consolidation loans. You can read more mortgage refinance articles at http://www.nationwidemortgages.net/ and get more information about home equity loans and mortgage refinancing.

© 2006 Copyright Nationwide Mortgages

Dear Bush,

I must first of all apologize for not including my address on this letter. In this age of terrorism, one should be wary of disclosing private addresses in public places. So I decided to send you this mail from “an undisclosed secret location.”

The purpose of my writing you, however, is to congratulate you for your “decisive” victory in the November election. You must see what I am doing this moment—playing my ukulele in my garden and singing “God Bless America.” Do you know how to play musical instruments?

But I do not even think that that is necessary. For did Bob Kerry not gad about town twanging his guitar with his right fingers and wiping big drops of sweat with the left? Didn’t know that gals don’t like sweaters. And lost badly. I heard he wept profusely too. Was that true? He thought that the ability to play musical instruments win elections, just because Bill Clinton “saxophoned” your dad out of office. But Kerry wasn’t Bill.

You have shown that you have guts, and that only gung-ho men rule America. For did you not bungee jump from the top floor of Empire State Building the other day while singing the Star-Spangled Banner–landing unscathed at ground zero and blowing hot kisses to cheering spectators. You might protest enacting such “kamikaze” acts, but that was exactly what you did when you single handedly “vanished” ALL those BEASTS who brought down the World Trade Center and flew them blindfolded with their arms chained to their seats for RE-EDUCATION at Guantanamo. And endeared yourself to the hearts of Americans ever after.

So, why did the Democrats suddenly dream up the word “electability” and thought that Kerry was the “best thing” to happen to America just because he saved ONE fellow soldier from drowning in a river in far away Vietnam. And they even downplayed your role in the war. Or did you not fight?

But all that is history, now. You are electable, Kerry is not. Period. And many of your detractors, not just the Democrats, will be put to shame.

Let’s consider the friends of the earth. Just before the election, they prayed to see your back, saying that you had better the earth perished than honor the Kyoto Agreement. But now you won! Do not take them serious.

The earth is gong to die, anyway. TIME magazine gives it about 4 billion years to go. If it doesn’t stop turning, a stray asteroid from outer space might just as well kiss it a hasty goodbye.

What do they even do in those earth summits than watch half-naked dancing virgins, gulp down multi-colored wines, swallow exotic meals and leave the earth to groan in pains. And yet they say you are the earth’s mortal enemy.

Even some world leaders (particularly those in the EU), and big time politicians are disappointed that you are still around. Not a few of them regard you as a self-willed and strong-headed man. Nelson Mandela who used a word that sounded like “psychopath” and the former German official, who called you a “nazi,” will be most disappointed. Chirac and Schroder–old Europeans–would weep like babies.

Your list of enemies is a fairly long one (I hope you are keeping a black book). Because Nobel laureates—even these ones—have joined the infamous register. Just before the election a group of them signed a statement calling on all Americans to remove you. Because you are world enemy number one. Imagine such a statement coming from the most distinguished persons on earth. Now, they are walking with their tails between their legs.

Come to think of it, Bush, Did some of them merit the award? I know that they would equally ask if you deserved the victory. But seriously speaking, was it not Alfred Nobel who invented the explosives, which they now say that you are using to “dynamite” people at random? Don’t mind their hypocrisy. Not that you are even itching to be awarded the prestigious prize. Damn them!

Even then, writers are the most disgraced people for writing you out of the White House before your time. Let them dare write again. Never mind, I will send them a riposte in your behalf. Even the movie stars are up in arms against you,. Now, I will advise you to turn up the thermostat of the Fahrenheit and burn them till they expire.

And cynics who are coming to terms with your victory are saying that you only won by a “slight” margin. Some are also wondering if your brother in the “F” state didn’t do one or two things behind a magic curtain to influence the poll’s result. So they are still using words like “rigging” and the “F factor.” But don’t mind them, even if they call it the “hand of God.”

Those that I pity the most are terrorists, leaders of rogue states, and those producing weapons of mass destruction with evil intentions.
I did not mention North Korea or Iran. To be honest with a capital “H,” I do not want Hong Song-nam and Mohammad Khatami to be “Saddamized.” Or will they be the next to go? You know what I’m talking about–”regime change” and the hooded man in red, the hangman. I’m told that the job is in high demand in these seasons of anomy.

I didn’t realize how easy it is to create jobs till now. What if the U.N. sponsors an international conference titled HOW TO CREATE A MILLION JOBS IN A YEAR, with a little explanation on how to do mass rape and operate torture chambers, for the FULL benefit of genocidal heads of state. For spcial guest of honor, I nominate Omar al-Bashir of Sudan. And for observers, I recommend the “janjaweed,” and delegates from Bosnia and Rwanda.

I feel very sorry for them because as you said in your 2004 State of the Union Address, the work would not be left “unfinished”; “this danger must be defeated”; “we refuse to live in the shadows of this ultimate danger.”

Good talk. For according to you again “the world without Saddam Hussein is [really] a safer and better world.” See how peaceful the earth is now. Actually, “the world is changing for the better,” as you said and before you leave the White House, the world would have been transformed into a paradise without wars and terrorism.

But make no mistake about it, the world will return to the status quo if you hand over power to the Democrats. I think that the only electable person who can consolidate your enviable legacy is Dick Cheney. I do not mean that his unsmiling visage will frighten away terrorists and bad people. Rather, I know that he is the most suitable man for the job judging from what he said on July 24, 2003: “One by one, in every corner of the world, we will hunt the terrorists down and destroy them.” He sounds even a bit more upbeat than you.

Which means that after you have left the paradise earth to him, he will upgrade it to heavenly status. Then we will have heaven on earth and live in ETERNAL BLISS ever after. I am eagerly looking forward to that GREAT day.

Once again, congratulations! And three cheers!

Yours sincerely,
Arthur Zulu.

Arthur Zulu is the author of HOW TO WRITE A BEST-SELLER, CHASING SHADOWS! and A LETTER TO NOAH to be published soon.
Goto:
http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/21013
Maito: mostcontroversialwriter@yahoo.com
For his works and FREE articles,use the search engines and search “ARTHUR ZULU.”

About the Author

Arthur Zulu is an author, book reviewer and editor.

Recipient of ten Academy Award nominations and winner of seven, including Best Picture, The Sting is widely lauded as one of the best films ever produced. Written by David S. Ward, whose unorthodox genius has produced such Hollywood hits as Major League (1989), King Ralph (1991), and Sleepless In Seattle (1993), The Sting boasts a superbly well-written screenplay, ripe with perfectly constructed dialogue and a plotline riddled with suspense. Directed by George Roy Hill, who previously teamed with Paul Newman and Robert Redford to produce Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969), it paints a colorful picture of 1930s Chicago. Complete with gangsters, card games, illegal gambling, sex, and murder, what else could a movie lover wish for?

The Sting follows the life of a two-bit grifter named Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford). Hooker runs small-time jobs with Luther Coleman (Robert Earl Jones) and Joe Erie (Jack Kehoe). Business is decent until they pull the con of a lifetime on a greedy numbers runner. Hoping for a few dollars, they end making off with several thousand. But Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw), the organized crime boss whose money they stole, places a hit on all three men that results in Luther’s death. Caught in the crosshairs of dirty cop Lt. William Snyder (Charles Durning) and a mysterious hit man (Dimitra Arliss), Johnny follows the advice of his dead mentor and contacts the best conman in the world, Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman), in hopes of becoming his understudy.

Gondorff promises to pull “the big con” (the ultimate score for con artists), and to sweeten the pot, he promises to make the mark Doyle Lonnegan himself. Gathering a star-studded team of con artists, pick-pockets, and grifters, Gondorff and Hooker set out to take Lonnegan for millions. Together, they set up a rival gambling operation in Chicago under the names of Shaw and Kelley. Hooker (a.k.a. Kelley) endears himself to Lonnegan so as to win over the gangster’s trust. Convincing Lonnegan he has friend at the Western Union who can telegraph winning horses moments before a race is reported, Hooker gets Lonnegan to place a series of winning bets at Gondorff’s gambling parlor. Under the impression Kelley’s goal is to break Shaw (a.k.a. Gondorff) and take over his establishment, the two agree to one last bet, with Lonnegan set to place a million dollars of his own money on the line. It’s a bet Gondorff and Hooker intend for Lonnegan to lose… But one problem remains. The FBI is hot on the trail of Gondorff, and they’re determined to break his operation at any cost…

Far ahead of its time, The Sting redefined the Hollywood plot twist with its ingenious organization of multiple subplots. Newman is masterful as the veteran cheat Henry Gondorff, and it’s well worth watching the entire film just to see the scene where he out-cheats the ultimate cheat at cards. With a parade of eccentric characters, well-developed sinister figures, and clever exchanges of dialogue, The Sting isn’t your typical sensationalistic Hollywood potboiler. Like a great novel, the film takes some time to establish its characters and develop its plotline. Patient viewers will be well-rewarded…

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of The Sting (DVD).

You’ve seen the pop-up ads, junk emails and flashy banners all
advertising the free Ipod, free digital camera, or free laptop,
right!?! That’s when you probably think “not another scam -
nothing is free!”   Well today I’ll show you different and tell
you how it is possible too!   You see, many free incentive
programs do actually work. The terms and conditions are the key
factors - but who really wants to read all of that legal
jargon!?!

Well now you don’t have to!   I have studied and worked with the
fine print for loads of these free gift incentive programs, and
have even managed to earn a good living doing so! That’s right.
I regularly receive free gifts from these programs, including a
Sony Vaio Laptop, portable phones, an Apple iPod, and many
others. You can view pictures of these items at
http://www.smart-earnings.com.   Since I have already obtained
knowledge of these free gift incentive programs, I know what to
expect, and how to avoid any hassles. I’ve written this article
to show YOU how it works.   So are these programs legit?  
Surprisingly - YES! Most of them are anyway. If you’re sure to
complete the requirements for the free gift incentive program
(and within the time period allowed) then you will receive a
free gift!   How can these companies afford to just give items
away?   Well, one of the main free gift methods work by driving
prospective customers to “sponsor companies”. They then pay the
incentive program for each lead sent. This money is then used to
buy and ship your free gift, as well as making a profit for the
incentive program. That’s right, every time a free gift is sent
out to you, they are actually making money!

This is only one of the many methods of how this works!  
Example:

Imagine a free gift incentive program offering a $200 digital
camera. In order to receive this gift, you are required to
complete 5 sponsor offers. If the guys running the incentive
program receive $50 for each lead, then they have 5 * $50 = $250
for your gift, and also make $50 in profit!   So how can you do
this?   The good news is that receiving your free gift should
only take a few hours of your time per month, depending on the
program and method you choose to receive your free gift. It’s
also best to complete all of the requirements for the free gift
at once. Don’t start one of these programs if you will not have
time to spend on it - you only have one shot at each incentive
program!   PLEASE NOTE

Complete all offers as quickly as possible in case there is a
time limit. Some companies will give you up to 90 days from the
time you complete the offers to claim your free gift. Others may
only give you 90 days from the time you register. Quick scan the
Terms to know for definite.   It is important to keep some
simple documentation of what you are doing. Write down pieces of
information that you send or receive along with the dates,
including the date that you registered, as well as the websites
and cancellation information for each of the offers you
complete.   Most offers will probably involve some sort of
subscription with a free trial period, after which you will be
billed automatically. You can cancel these before the trial
period ends. Set schedule alarms, place reminder sticky notes
around your house, whatever it takes, but remember that you can
cancel at any time.   You will definitely have to spend some
time filling out forms and making phone calls, but the free
gifts will always outweigh the cost to you! For more information
you can visit http://www.smart-earnings.com.   The main thing is
that these incentive programs DO work if you know how to
complete them correctly. Hopefully these tips will be helpful
for you in your next free gift incentive program.

Thank for reading - now go get your free items!

Mesothelioma - Symptoms and Solutions

Symptoms of Mesothelioma can be latent in the body for years. And even
when the symptoms do become evident, the symptoms are so general that they can
easily be misdiagnosed. The symptoms of this disease can even be confused with
pneumonia during its early stages, making it difficult to diagnose. It is therefore
important for patients to inform their doctor if they have been exposed to asbestos
at any point

Types of Mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma are common forms of
Mesothelioma. The rarest form of this disease is pericardial mesothelioma

What are some of the symptoms?

Shortness of breath and chest pains are common. This may be accompanied by a
persistent cough. Those with Pleural Mesothelioma may also experience severe
breathing difficulty, weight loss and fever as well as trouble swallowing and even
swelling of the face and neck. Some patients may also develop a rasping voice and
start coughing up blood. However, there are other patients that may not show any
significant symptoms at all.

Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma can display abdominal pain and swelling,
nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting. They can also suffer breathing problems, and
chest pain.

Pericardial mesothelioma sufferers may experience chest pain, shortness of breath,
persistent coughing and palpitations.

What causes this?

With Pleural Mesothelioma the build up of fluid between the lining of the lung and
the chest cavity. This is known as pleural effusion. This type of the disease starts in
the chest cavity and can then spread to other parts of the body.

In patients with peritoneal mesothelioma the disease starts in the abdomen and can
spread from there. These symptoms result from tumours that lean against the
abdominal wall. Bowel obstruction, anaemia, fever and problems with blood clotting
may also affect peritoneal mesothelioma patients.

Pericardial Mesothelioma, starts in the cavity surrounding the heart. With pericardial
mesothelioma, the tumours grow in the tissues that surround the heart and can
spread from there.

For information on ways to treat Mesothelioma go to:
http://www.topmesotheliomalawyer.com/Mesothelioma_Information.php

Caterina Christakos is a published author and internet publisher. Her background is in marriage and family counseling and law.

In order to help you develop an image, or to enhance your “added value” in a product or service, look for a unique attribute on which to capitalize. The theory says, “You can’t get this special from anyone but me, and not having it will cost you!” Obviously you don’t want to use those exact words, they convey the concept.

There was a survey done by a Spanish newspaper for restaurants. They wanted to determine what was the major factor that caused patrons to frequent any particular restaurant. Two thirds of the respondees said that “they liked to eat where they could find something, a dish or sauce, that they could not create at home.” Unique sells!

Examples:

Be the only hamburger stand in town that has discount coupons for desserts at the grocery store - the grocer will pay for them; it’s “free” advertising.

Be the only sporting goods store that gives away “free” sunglasses with a $20 purchase.

Be the only contractor in town that does triple-pane windows.

Be the only restaurant in town that feeds the high-school football team.

Be the only grocery store in town that sells buffalo steaks (or some other exotic meat).

Be the only bookstore in town with a great selection of books-on-tape.

Be the only realtor in town that knows how to decorate, plant, wallpaper, or do something else in a house.

Be the only car lot in town that gives away defensive driving training with a purchase.

Be the only carpet cleaner that knows all about air filters.

Be the only store that keeps the Dow-Jones index and latest sports scores running on a marquee.

Be the only plumber in town that installs toilet bowl fresheners with every service call. Be the only _____in town that is “authorized” to service a ___________.

“Me too” isn’t enough. Grab a unique product, habit or added value. Get identified with it, and people who do business with you will be more likely to recommend you (by bragging about how smart they are) to others.

Daniel Wadleigh is a nationally published marketing consultant and has programs for start-up and existing businesses including effective web sites, e-mail/database, other non-internet ways to drive them to your website, and low cost ways to get more new customers.

Go to: http://www.more-new-customers.com to get free copy of “Marketing to Men vs. Women- the 8 different responses” and a Free copy of “Market Research- 7 Questions to Ask to Start-up and 7 to Ask to Improve Any Business.”

With all the diseases in the world today, food safety should be
utmost in everyone’s mind when handling or cooking food. The way
food is handled before it is cooked is just as important as the
cooking itself and how it is handled afterwards. There are many
things that one has to be mindful of, such as making sure the
food is thoroughly washed. This applies to home use as well as
restaurants and fast food outlets. Some foods, such as eggs,
dairy products and meat spoil quickly and must be kept
refrigerated. There are bacteria in these foods that can cause
food poisoning. You can become very ill and deaths have been
reported from Salmonella food poisoning if proper food safety
measures are not followed.

Before you begin any food preparation, food safety involves
washing your hands with soap and water. All surfaces that you
will be laying the food on should also be washed as bacteria can
live on any surface, even the kitchen countertop. Sponges should
never be used for cleaning as they attract and keep small pieces
of dirt in the pores. When you are cleaning the surfaces you
should use a mild bleach to make sure you kill all the germs.
You should clean out your refrigerator on a regular basis and
throw out food that has been there for some time. The proper
temperature of a refrigerator is 41 degrees to ensure the safety
of the food inside.

When cooking meat you should thaw the meat in the refrigerator.
This helps with food safety because the meat is not being thawed
at a fast pace. Thaw the meat on the lowest rack to make sure
that none of the juices leak on to other foods and spoil them.
If you need the food in a hurry, use the defrost feature of the
microwave. When you are buying groceries, always check the best
before date on the packaging. Many stores put foods, such as
meats on sale just prior to this date. If you will not be using
the food before the date, then you shouldn’t buy it. Foods in
the freezer that have been there for a long time or have a hole
in the packaging will most likely have freezer burn. These
should be thrown out as they are not safe to eat.

When cooking food, one food safety rule is to cook all seafood
to 145 degrees. Raw seafood should never be eaten. Eggs should
be cooked until the whites are firm and the yolks begin to get
hard. When serving cold food refrigerate it until you are ready
to serve it. Likewise, hot food should be kept hot until you are
ready to serve it.

Many people complain that organic foods are more costly than conventional. In many cases, organic foods are priced higher. However, people aren’t weighing the costs of eating healthy against the costs of eating poorly. Americans spend millions of dollars each week on “coffee house foods”—fatty lattés and sugary frappucinos, not to mention the white-floured, trans fatty pastries that go along with them. If you were to keep a strict accounting of all the money you spent on soda, pizza, potato chips, pastries, etc., then the question is not so much how much things cost, but where the money is being spent.

And the costs don’t just stop there. The health hazards of the fungicide, pesticide,
herbicide and chemical residuals found on conventional foods have been well
documented. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 60% of
herbicides, 90% of fungicides and 30% of insecticides to be carcinogenic. Such
substances also compromise our immunologic defenses and are disruptive to our
endocrine systems.

But not only are conventional foods more harmful because of chemical
contaminants, they are also less nutritious. Organic produce has consistently shown
significantly higher levels of nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, magnesium and
phosphorus. Can you really put a price on the safety of the foods you and your
family eats?

There are ways to eat well, without taking a huge bite out of your wallet:

1.) Join an organic co-op;

2.) Go to local farms to pick and purchase fresh, regionally-grown produce;

3.) Check out stores like Trader Joes, discount grocery stores that have begun to
offer a greater selection of organic products;

4.) Scan the coupon sections in the paper . . . more and more grocery coupons are
applying to organic products now;

5.) Make two lists—one list of “non-negotiables”—products you won’t compromise
on, and a second list of items that are of lesser priority. For example: organic
bananas aren’t as critical as organic strawberries, as berries are heavily sprayed and
not protected by a thick skin.

6.) Processed foods often come in a box or can, are intended for single meals, and
do not preserve well as leftovers. Organic, whole foods on the other hand lend
themselves more readily to stews, soups, and casseroles, which means more
leftovers. The investment of time in preparing these meals is more than made up for
in their multiple uses throughout the week. Incredible savings can be found in
cooking this way.

7.) And finally, the more people demand and purchase organic foods, the more the
prices will drop!

Super Health Nutrition Tip: Put these low-calorie, nutrient-dense Superfoods at the
top of your grocery list:

• Grain grasses (like wheat grass)
• Sea vegetables (like kelp)
• Dark green vegetables (like spinach and broccoli)
• Bright-colored vegetables (like bell peppers)
• Berries (blueberries)
• Eggs from free-range hens
• Grass-fed/grain-free/organic beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, venison, bison, etc.
• Rice and yellow pea protein
• Goat milk protein
• Non-denatured why protein
• Stabilized brown rice bran
• Sprouted legumes and grains such as kasha (buckwheat)
• Fresh-squeezed combinations of vegetable juice
• Sprouts (alfalfa or mung bean, for example)

For more Information, go to http://www.superhealth7.com

K.C. Craichy is Founder and President of Living Fuel http://www.livingfuel.com. He
is a health consultant and sought-after speaker on the topic of Optimal Health. Since 1981 he has owned and operated multiple companies in a variety of
industries. After his first venture into the health club industry in the mid 1980s,
Craichy went on to become a Founder, CEO, Investor, and Consultant for
conventional and alternative healthcare companies. Through his healthcare
endeavors, Craichy has worked with many of the top medical and nutritional
practitioners and researchers in the United States.

Although blogging has been around for some time now the use of
marketing and advertising in blogs is really catching on
throughout the world wide web.

There are an estimated 70 million blogs worldwide and while
these are blogs about any subject you could possibly imagine
wouldn’t it be great if you could capture 1% of those readers
attention and get them to visit your blog?

Technorati.com estimates that there are about 900,000 blog posts
every day which equates to 10.4 posts per second and that number
is growing as you read this article.

With what I just mentioned in the last two paragraphs is it any
wonder why marketers and webmasters are flocking in droves to
establish marketing blogs to attract new customers to their
websites in the hopes of converting them into customers for
their products or services.

Big Corporations such as General Motors, Boeing, and Google on
the blogging scene this really does appear to be a no brainer.
How do you make your blog stand out as an original worth reading
amongst all the others? Here are a few tips to get you started:

1) Make your blog an original by posting content that is written
or edited by you. Real people crave original content not
rehashed news that they heard on the radio or saw in the paper
yesterday.

2) Use a blog exchange service as a way of driving traffic to
your blog. There are free services as well as paid services. One
of my favorite low-cost blog/website traffic services is
www.ProClickEstate.com

3) Exchange blog or website links with other blog owners whose
blog content compliments your own.

4) Drive offline traffic online by using word of mouth as well
as business cards.

5) Make your blog stand out by using audio and/or video on your
blog and in your blog posts. Multi- media applications will keep
your readers coming back and prove that you take your blog
seriously.

These 5 strategies should get you started if you have not
already began blogging. Keep your blog strategy simple and your
content real & valuable. You will be growing your brand
recognition as well as a contact list of loyal and valuable
readers at the same time which is the bottom line to any
successful marketer.

Always market like a professional!

Copywrite 2006 Mark Brown