A Beginner's Guide to Bad Credit Secured Loans

John Mussi

Here is a useful beginner's guide to bad credit secured loans. If your credit is less than perfect but you find yourself needing money now, you might want to look into bad credit secured loans. If you're not sure what these are, bad credit secured loans are loans designed for people who are considered credit risks by many institutions. They're called "secured" loans because they require some sort of security deposit (also known as "collateral"), which helps to protect the lender against some of the risk of lending. These loans allow you to get the money that you need without having to pay outrageous fees, and as long as you pay the bad credit secured loan back on time then there's no real risk to your collateral.

Common types of collateral
While collateral can be pretty much anything with a value equal to or greater than the amount of the bad credit loan, the most common types of collateral are automobiles and real estate. With most bad credit secured loans, you don't even have to give up your collateral- you get to keep driving your car and can still live in your house, but the bank or other lender gains a legal claim to the title or the deed so that if you don't repay the bad credit loan (also known as "defaulting") then they can repossess the collateral and sell it to get their money back. Of course, with some types of collateral the lender might prefer to hold onto it until the loan is repaid; common collateral of this type is jewelry, rare coins, or other small-but-valuable items. This practice helps to insure that the property you're using as collateral isn't lost or stolen before the time they would have to repossess.

Getting bad credit secured loans
Some lenders don't offer bad credit secured loans- even with the collateral, they consider them to be too much risk. Other lenders deal almost exclusively in bad credit secured loans, using the mindset that people with bad credit have to go somewhere and that their establishment might as well be that place. Shop around before deciding on a single place, seeing what interest rates and repayment terms various lenders offer. You might even check out some of the many lenders online.

Once you've decided on a lender, go and apply for your loan. The maximum amount that you'll likely get will still be a lot less than the value of your collateral- after all, the lenders who deal in bad credit secured loans want to make sure that they'll recover their money even if your collateral doesn't sell for much. Once you've obtained your loan, work to pay it back as quickly as possible; not only will this remove any danger of you losing your collateral, but it will also create a good impression with this lender should you need to borrow money from them again someday.

You may freely reprint this article provided the following author's biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:



John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.


Wedding Planning I - Scheduling
Nily Glaser

Article: "Wedding Planning I - Scheduling"
Nily Glaser
Copyright: © Nily Glaser 2004

"A-wedding Day" had many requests for information about the
chronology of steps for both the wedding ceremony
and reception. I hope that the following steps will help you
schedule the details involved with your wedding ceremony
and reception. It is important that you note that these are
general and the actual procedure for your personal
wedding may vary according to your preference and these
of your officiant as you incorporate your religion, heritage
and customs.
I have included steps for incorporating kids in re-marriages
and blending families.
Ceremony Steps:
The ushers seat guests as they arrive for the ceremony.
The mother of the bride is seated last, unless she accompanies
her daughter to the altar.
The musicians play background music.
At the scheduled start time, unless the officiant, the groom,
and the best man are in the processional, they take their
places at the altar (or ceremony place).
The musicians start to play the processional music.
Mothers light the tapers for the Unity candle ceremony that
will follow the bride and groom's kiss.

Procession - The most traditional order of the processional
is ushers and bridesmaids in pairs, followed by the maid of
honor, ring bearer, and flower girl. The bride enters last,
escorted by her father or by both parents.
The officiant greets the guests.
In a religious wedding, the officiant leads a brief opening
prayer.
Special readings, songs and or music follow.
The officiant's message.
The vows - Bride and groom.
In re-mariage the vows - blending family -vows from parents to
children.
The exchange of rings and the pronouncement "pronouncing you
husband and wife".
Bride and groom kiss.

In re-mariage giving each child a piece of jewelry and the
pronouncement " pronouncing you a new family".
Bride, groom and kids hug and kiss.
Unity candle ceremony (In remarriage, include the kids).
The officiant then introduces the bride and groom as
husband and wife.
In remarriage, the officiant then introduces the bride and groom
and their kids, preferably by names, as a new
family.
Exit procession: bride and groom, followed by the adult
attendants in pairs, followed by the ring bearer and flower
girl.
Take photos while the guests go to the reception.

Reception Steps

The reception starts with a receiving line that includes the
bride and groom, parents and attendants.
At the same time it is appropriate for waiters to circulate
with drinks and hors d'oeuvres while the receiving line is in
progress.
Background music played.
The bride and groom can open the dancing either before or
after food is served.
If you are planning a dinner and dancing reception, the
"bride and groom's first dance" occurs after dinner
followed by the bride dancing with her father
and the groom with his mother after which other guests are
allowed out on the floor.
Toasts should begin at the end of the meal.
The first toast is the best man's toast to the bride.
In re-marriage, the bride and groom introduce their children
before the first toast.
Other toasts.
Cake cutting ceremony.
The garter and bouquet tosses occur just before the couple
is ready to leave for the honeymoon.
The guests send the couple off for their honeymoon with a
shower of rice, rose petals, or bubbles, balloons, butterfly
release or doves release.

After the honeymoon, do not forget to write the thank-you notes.

This article is also available online in HTML format at:
http://www.2.a-weddingday.com/weddingplanning1.html
Find other articles to publish on your site at:
http://www.a-weddingday.com/archives/articles.html

Publishing Guidelines: Please feel free to post this Article as
is with no additions or deletions in your newsletter, on your
website, and forward it to your clients, customers, friends
and / or business associates. If you post or otherwise publish
this article, please ensure that the copyrights as well
as the author's entire bylines box remain intact.
We would highly appreciate a courtesy copy of your
publication and / or a website link. Please E-mail to:
http://www.a-weddingday.com/contacts.html

Thank you!
Nily



Nily Glaser is the CEO of A-wedding Day,
http://www.a-weddingday.com
a very popular Wedding Resource and Information Center,
and a discount shopping mall for wedding gifts, supplies
and bridal accessories. She is the publisher of the A-wedding Day
newsletter and creates personalized unity candles under Candles By Nily
http://www.candlesbynily.

Straddling the Science/Magic Line: A Look At Magnetic Therapy

Maya Talisman Frost

What's the difference between science and magic? It's our understanding of what makes something happen.

If magic is hocus-pocus, science is simply well understood hocus-pocus. Fire? Solar eclipse? Volcanic eruption? Earthquake? Once we can explain it, it becomes science. But sometimes we're stuck straddling that science/magic line.

Consider magnets.

Remember when you were a kid back in elementary school and you first discovered the wonder of
magnets? What a thrill it was to explore the possibilities! There's nothing like messing with natural
forces to spark a child's imagination.

Thirty five years later, I'm still fascinated by magnets. Magnetic therapy has been used for thousands of years
in Asia and Europe. Some believe that magnets help restore the flow of blood through the capillaries, therefore assisting in the flushing of toxins that may accumulate due to injury or illness. Magnets have been
used to relieve the pain of arthritis, carpal tunnel, migraines, joint injuries, menstrual cramps, and much
more. There has been some research in the last couple of years indicating that magnetic therapy may offer
relief to those suffering from depression and attention deficit disorder.

Yet we're not sure how--or if--this really happens. It's got to be some kind of placebo effect, right? We're all looking for simple solutions to help us feel better. Sometimes we want things to work so much that they
actually DO. Does that mean it's all a bunch of hooey?

I've learned a lot about magnets since my husband started developing and distributing Bodylinx, a line of inexpensive magnetic bracelets. Tom stated right from the beginning that he wanted to downplay the jewelry's
possible health benefits. He likes the bracelets because they're fun-you can play around with the magnetic links and rearrange them. Though he remains reluctant to promote a healing property he doesn't really understand, some of his customers are strong advocates magnetic therapy.

We believe whatever we tell ourselves. If we want to think that a bracelet helps our arthritis, we are free to
believe that. And if it turns out to be true, did it work because we believed it or because there is some kind of science/magic at work?

As important as it is to question our beliefs regularly, it's also crucial that we become willing to suspend
disbelief. Fifty years ago, nobody would have believed that we'd have spacecraft landing on Mars and sending
us digital images of the craters there. As a species, we have broken barrier after barrier by daring to believe the impossible one small idea at a time.

We need to accept that there may be therapies that work even if we can't prove they do or understand how
it happens. This doesn't mean we have to be gullible or stop questioning. We simply need to entertain the
possibility.

Whenever possible, I like a hefty dose of science to back up my beliefs. There is a magnetic field present
on our planet. Fortunately, we don't often shoot out into space and have to deal with the physical effects
of that. What about those who do?

Remember the early days of space exploration? We had to wait several hours after splashdown before the
astronauts appeared at any press conferences.

It turns out that human bodies must be properly reintroduced to the earth's magnetic field. In recent
years, the scientists at NASA have learned how to facilitate this physical readjustment. They now have the astronauts change into special suits embedded with magnets as soon as they land. They slip into their orange suits and voila--they're ready for the cameras!

There is a great deal we are learning about magnets, and it's not just to help those who've blasted off into
space for a while. Magnetic wraps have been used for decades to help racehorses heal after injuries. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence from trainers to support the continued use of magnetic therapy for horses.
Horses don't tend to say much about their beliefs, so it's hard to point to the placebo effect as a possible
explanation.

The most compelling idea about magnetic therapy is that we may need it now more than ever. We used to walk barefoot in the forests and plains. We had direct
contact with the earth as we slept, hunted, and harvested. We were surrounded by vegetation and natural rock formations.

Not anymore. We've built concrete sidewalks, roadways, foundations, and buildings. We travel in cars
and trains, essentially encapsulating ourselves. We've created a world of barriers between the earth's natural
forces and our bodies. It's reasonable to consider that this may be affecting us physically in ways that are
difficult to diagnose.

The earth has so much to teach us. Sometimes we know what works long before we understand why it
does so.

We've never questioned the fact that being surrounded by nature helps us feel soothed, refreshed, and
invigorated. Scientific research now shows us more specifically how the earth helps us feel better. We
benefit from the negative ions near the ocean, our brains respond to the binaural beats present near
waterfalls or during rainstorms, and our bodies react positively to a restored connection to magnetic
forces.

I'm not likely to latch onto the latest pharmaceuticals or tout the benefits of new-fangled remedies. But the old ones? There's no big company poised to reap huge rewards by promoting them, and consequently, we're not likely to hear about them on the evening news or
be bombarded with television commercials praising their
potent power. I always like supporting the underdog, and in this case, that underdog is backed up by plenty
of science of the unprofitable kind.

We would do well to restore our connection to the earth and the powerful forces that help us maintain our health naturally. How wonderful that we can benefit from negative ions, binaural beats and magnetism
without dealing with health insurance or spending a lot of money at the drugstore.

The next time you take a walk in the woods, stroll along the beach, or stretch out in a meadow, remember
the magic of magnetism. Recapture the wonder you had as a child, and celebrate the fact that sometimes
the simplest solutions are still the ones that fill us with awe.


Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 80 countries. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, visit http://www.massageyourmind.com. To learn more about Bodylinx magnetic bracelets, visit http://www.bodylinx.com.

Make Your Fashion Statement With Your Earrings
Sher Matsen

Earrings are an important part of every woman's wardrobe, whether we are headed for a day at the beach, to the office, or to a wedding. Your earrings give a subtle hint about your personality.
You can change the entire look and feel of your wardrobe by adding the right earrings. You can bring out your softer feminine side, the sexy goddess, or present simple charm, sophistication, or elegance. For both men and women, today earrings are a definite fashion statement.

Earrings have been a part of human culture since 3000 BC. In past times, earrings actually established your position in society, because only royalty and very wealthy were able to afford expensive jewelry. Fine jewelry was worn by only the wealthy. The rest of the population also wore earrings to decorate their body, but they were replicas of high society jewelry.

There are many styles of earrings. There are quite literally thousands of choices. There is an earring style for every personality. Fine jewelry remains popular with precious stones such as sapphire and emeralds. Semi precious stones are also very popular. But even more popular are the costume jewelry earrings. These are affordable, look great, and are great for staying trendy and in style.

From dangles, to chandeliers, to droplets, to hoops, to studs. The choices and styles are never ending. If you don't have pierced ears, no worries! These days there is a terrific selection or clip on earrings available. You can be dazzling, subtle, glamorous, sexy. You can be highly refined, professional, high classed, or fun and funky, and trendy!

You can never have enough earrings. Your earrings can add the finishing touches your outfit. Change your earrings and you can change the entire appearance of your look. Think about that little black dress you own. Add a pair of sapphire studs and you'll be highly refined. Add a pair of large chandelier rhinestones and you'll be Hollywood glamour. Add a pair of wood dangles, and a pair of flip flops and you'll look fun and funky. Add a pair of red button earrings with a red bead necklace and you'll be "so sexy."

It's amazing what a pair of earrings can do to your look! So keep a good selection of earrings on hand to meet all your fashion needs. Earrings are the most important wardrobe accessory you can own. You'll get great value from your earrings. Choose earrings that meet your life style, your personality, and your tastes. There is no point in buying a pair of trendy earrings that you'll never wear because they don't feel like "you."

Earrings also make a great gift as they can be very personalized. Choose a style to meet their personality. From gemstones to beads, you can spend a little or you can spend a lot. The gift recipient will be thrilled that you were so thoughtful as to buy such a personal gift.

Use your earrings to make a lasting impression, from the board room to the beach. Be sure people remember who you are. It's important to always Make Your Fashion Statement!

© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.



© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.

About the author:
Sher has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at Estate Jewelry International.

SWAP MEETS - A FUN WAY TO MAKE MONEY ON THE WEEKENDS

Darren Hendricks

SWAP MEETS - A FUN WAY TO MAKE MONEY ON THE WEEKENDS
By Darren Hendricks

Looking for a way to make extra money, meet lots of interesting people, spend quality time with your family, enjoy the great outdoors ... and do it all without missing a day of work? Or maybe your goal is to make two or three-day weekends the only working days of the week. You may be able to do all of that and more as a Swap Meet/Flea Market marketer!
You can find regularly scheduled Swap Meets and Flea Markets in cities and towns of all sizes across the nation, each attracting many hundreds, even thousands of bargain hunters. They may be held at the local drive-in theatre, in large parking lots, warehouses, parks, and community centers - just about anywhere there's enough room to put up some booths and bring in a crowd. The majority of the time these meets are held on weekends, although in some locations you can find them starting on Thursdays and running four consecutive days. Swap meets and flea markets are fun, profitable, and can be a great launching pad for your business. Many people who began with Swap Meet sales have gone on to open Gift Shops, or run sizeable Mail Order businesses.
A SWAP MEET BY ANY OTHER NAME-

According to our FAR HORIZONS Business Coaching staff, there are actually three distinct types of Swap Meets.

Note: (In the interest of simplicity, from here on in when we say "Swap Meets," we're also referring to flea markets, craft fairs, and similar events as noted below).

1.Outdoor Swap Meets

These usually run the gamut in terms of merchandise. Here, you can find anything from high end stereo systems to fashion jewelry to families clearing out Auntie Emma's garage of old tools, toys, and various parts and pieces from who-knows-what. Ordinarily these events attract folks looking for some bigtime discounts and bargains.

2.Indoor "Malls"

These usually attract a more professional class of marketer. The displays tend to be more organized in appearance, and the merchandise is generally of a consistently higher quality throughout the meet. Rather than tables there may be booths, and each marketer tends to specialize in specific product categories.

3.Craft Fairs

These may be held indoors or outside; you'll find them in parks, or as part of a local carnival, fund-raiser, county fair, or other similar event. Usually the marketers show their wares from booths, and the offerings can vary from homemade to high-ticket, (or homemade and high-ticket) depending on the location.

WHEN YOU PACK FOR THE SWAP MEET, DON'T FORGET THIS


We've heard from scores of successful Swap Meet sellers over the years, and they tell us that the two most important things you can bring with you are:

1. A friendly, upbeat attitude.

2. Willingness to barter and "play the game."


As one member puts it, "People come to shop at Swap Meets looking for a bargain, and they come because it's fun. So I keep a smile on my face and I'm always ready to enter into the bargaining game. I have my 'bottom line' price in mind, and I don't go below it - but I'm always willing to give a little on the original asking price. That way my customer feels good about the purchase, and I still make a nice profit. We both come out winners."

Whatever type of Swap Meet you choose to begin with, there are some simple, basic steps you'll need to take before the event, during the event, and after the event.

Let's start with ... well, the beginning!


A FEW THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU CAN START

1. First, find out where the local Swap Meets are, if you don't already know. This shouldn't be too hard; they normally advertise in local newspapers, and in giveaway magazines you can find in convenience store racks. Smaller meets may not advertise, but if you check with the local drive-ins, or let your fingers do some walking through the phone directory, you should find some.

2. Next, scout the meet yourself. Take a look around, observing the tables and booths with a marketer's eye. What are the vendors carrying? More importantly, what aren't they carrying? What are they charging?

3. Reserve a table (or booth, as the case may be). Do this by contacting the meet manager, who will provide you with pricing, along with a list of rules and regulations you must follow when marketing at the meet. The cost for renting space at a Swap Meet varies widely, from a few dollars a day to much more, depending on the meet. Try to begin at an inexpensive yet well-attended meet, so you can keep your initial cash outlay as low as possible.

4. Select your merchandise. FAR HORIZONS' Business Coaching staff generally recommends you begin with $450-$750 worth of merchandise (meaning your actual cost).

5. Get your other supplies ready.



Depending on the meet, you may need to bring all or some of the following:

1. At least one folding table.

2. A cash box, with some small bills and change.

3. Folding chairs.

4. A clean tablecloth.

5. A large umbrella, tarp, or other type of canopy to protect your customers (and you) from the sun.

6. Some clear plastic to protect your merchandise if it rains (obviously, this applies to outdoor meets).

7. Plenty of business cards.

8. Some catalogs, brochures, New Arrivals fliers, or other giveaways to help promote further sales.

9. Your Yellow Price List, so you know your bottom line when it's time to haggle.

10. An order book, so you can write receipts and capture names, addresses, and phone numbers of all your customers.

11. A calculator.

12. A rubber stamp for endorsing checks.


! IMPORTANT

Do everything you can to capture as much information about each customer as possible. Along with the name, address and phone, try to get an email address, (if you have email capability), a fax number, or even (especially) a credit card number, assuming you have a merchant account

THE BIG DAY ARRIVES ...

If you're well prepared, the day of the meet should go pretty smoothly. Sure, you'll have some work to do, but it'll be a lot of fun, too - especially when you start making some sales and putting some cash in your pocket!
Here's what you have to do on your first swap meet day:

1. Turn off the alarm, get up, shower and get going (well, we told you this was a step-by-step guide, right?)

2. When you arrive at the meet, find your space and set up. Rehearse your set-up at home, so you can plan the most attractive display before you're actually at the meet. Your program video offers some examples of display do's and don'ts

3. Decide on your "bottom line;" that is, the lowest price you'll accept for each item. Our Business Coaching staff recommends one & a half times your cost as a good guideline.

4. Be prepared to take checks. Many of your customers will prefer to pay this way, and sellers report only a very small incidence of "bad" checks. Verify that the address and phone number is current, and it helps to write a driver's license or ID number on the check.

5. Remember to record the name, address, phone number, fax number, and email (as many of these as possible) of every customer.

6. You might want a partner along to help manage the cashbox while you handle the sales.


HAVE FUN!


WHILE YOU'RE COUNTING YOUR MONEY ...

There are a couple of important things to do after one Swap Meet ends, and before another begins.


1. Build your mailing list - Add all the customer names you collected to your customer mailing list. Over time, these will be an important part of your follow-up marketing efforts.

2. Plan/Implement mailings - Depending on the size of your list, you'll want to start sending your customers some follow-up mailings.


That pretty much covers the basics of Swap Meet Marketing. But the main thing is, have a good time. Many sellers like to involve the family, (including the kids!) and turn weekends into quality time, with everyone working together toward a common cause. Swap Meet marketing is enjoyable, highly profitable, and can be done successfully by devoting just a few hours a week. A number of sellers combine business with pleasure, and travel the country from Swap Meet to Swap Meet. They use the revenues from each weekend to pay for their trip, and for more merchandise to sell at the next meet!


Darren Hendricks has been involved in marketing in one form or another since 1979. He has owned or co-owned 3 successful companies. He is currently owner of Far Horizons Home Based Business Program

Trinkets, Lockets And Empty Pockets
Dean Phillips

It never ceases to amaze me how many people set-up a
website, without any type of plan or clue about how to
promote it, how to write a sales letter, how to write an ad--
nothing!

Even more amazing is how many people try to conduct business
online without any money.

The other day, I received an e-mail from a woman named Nadia
inquiring about my E-mail Consultation Service.

In her e-mail, she explained she had "empty pockets" and
couldn't afford my subscription fee. However, since her
ancestors were gypsies, she had plenty of jewelry and she'd
be willing to pay me with a few "trinkets and lockets," in
exchange for my help. I politely declined her offer.

I get my share of crazy e-mails, so I have no idea if that
one was a hoax or not. I'm assuming it was, since I never
heard back from Nadia. Besides, I get so many e-mails every
day from people asking me for free help and advice, I
generally skim over them quickly and delete them.

People, listen to me, please! You can't conduct business
online or offline without any money. You just can't do it!
Now I'm not saying you need thousands of dollars--although
that wouldn't hurt.

However, you need to at least have two or three hundred
dollars in the bank to work with.

It's a myth that you can make money without having any money-
-just a myth!

The number one reason why most businesses fail is because
they're undercapitalized. They come online with just enough
money to buy one ad--hoping to make a killing!

If that ad happens to be a success--bingo, instant cash
flow! But if that one ad fails, just like that, they're out
of business.

I know you're excited about your new business, and you can't
wait to get started. However, instead of rushing into
things, take a few more weeks or months to save up a little
more money, and then get started.

Doing it that way does require a little more patience. But
by having a little money to fall back on, you give yourself
a greater chance to succeed, and in the long run, you'll be
a lot better off!



Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer,
publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be
reached at mailto: dean@lets-make-money.net

Visit his website at: http://www.lets-make-money.net

Tuhotmosis Pharaohs

Dr. Sherin Elkhawaga

The Tuthmosis Pharoahs

The ancient Egyptians had a tradition of repeating the same name of their Pharoahs in different dynasties. Thus a father,son and grandson would have the same name but with first , second or third after it.

The name TUTHMOSIS was given to four pharaohs in the 18th dynasty. This dynasty was a strong one, a dynasty which also included Queeen Hatshipsut, one of the most powerful queens on Egypt.

For reading more articles about ancient Egypt click on: www.kingtutshop.com
Tuthmosis I was the third king in the 18th Dynasty.His mother was Semisene. His birth name we are told was Tuthmosis, meaning "Born of the god Thoth", though this is a Greek version. His actual Egyptian name was Djehutymes I, but he is also sometimes referred to as Thutmose I, or Thutmosis I. His thrown name was A-Kheper-ka-re (Aakheperkara). He gained the thrown at a fairly late age, and may have ruled from 1503-1491BC.
Nevertheless, he staged a series of brilliant military campaigns that were to establish Egypt's 18th Dynasty. So effective were these efforts that we believe he must have started preparations of the military operations during the last years of Amenhotep I's rule. Ahmose son of Ebana, an admiral during Tuthmosis I's reign, tells us that a campaign into Nubia where he penetrated beyond the Third Cataract was highly successful. Tuthmosis may have defeated the Nubian chief in hand to hand combat and returned to Thebes with the body of the fallen chief hanging on the prow of his ship.
His greatest campaigns were in the Delta and his battles against the Syrians as he finally reached the Euphrates River. This expedition opened new horizons that led later to Egypt's important role in he trade and diplomacy of the Late Bronze Age Near East. Tuthmosis I brought Egypt a sense of stability and his military campaigns healed the wounds of Thebians.
It was by Mutnofret (Mutnefert), a minor queen who was the sister of his principle wife, Ahmose, that his heir, Tuthmosis II was born. Before he had two sons that had died before him.However, his more famous offspring was Queen Hatshepsut, a daughter by Ahmose who would rule after her husband and brother's death. After the death of Ahmose, he probably even took Hatshepsut as his own wife until his death. Ahmose may have also provided him with another daughter by the name of Nefrubity who is depicted with Tuthmosis I and Ahmose in the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri.
Tuthomosis II

He was the fourth king in the 18th dynasty, the son of Tuthomosis I. In order to strengthen his position and legitimize his rule, he was married to Hatshepsut, the oldest daughter of Tuthmosis I and Queen Ahmose. She was very possibly older then Tuthmosis II. During this period, Hatshepsut also carried the title, "God's Wife of Amun", a position she may have had even before the death of Tuthmosis I.
Hatshepsut would have been both Tuthmosis II's half sister and cousin. In the light of history she became a much better known pharaoh then her husband. Tuthmosis II had only one son. Tuthmosis II must have realized the ambitions of his wife, because he attempted to foster the ascent of his son to the throne by naming his son as his successor before he died. But upon Tuthmosis II's death, his son was still very young, so Hatshepsut took advantage of the situation by at first naming herself as regent, and then taking on the full role of the pharaoh. He may have also had as many as two daughters by Hatshepsut. We are fairly sure one of them was named Neferure and another possible daughter named Neferubity.
Tuthmosis II did not rule much as he was weak and he only ruled for thirteen years after which Queen Hatshipsut made a lot of changes.
Tuthmosis III
It took a while for Tuthmosis III to gain power as his stepmother and aunt was very powerful at that time.However when he did take the reigns he was a very good ruler.

Tuthmosis III became a great pharaoh in his own right, and has been referred to as the Napoleon of ancient Egypt.But perhaps is reputation is due to the fact that his battles were recorded in great detail by the archivist, royal scribe and army commander, Thanuny. The battles were recorded on the inside walls surrounding the granite sanctuary at Karnak. These events were recorded at Karnak because Tuthmosis's army marched under the banner of the god, Amun, and Amun's temples and estates would largely be the beneficiary of the spoils of Tuthmosis' wars.
From inscriptions left on walls of the temples we find that Tuthmosis started to have troubles from Prince Kadesh of Palestine and Syria. He of course due to his vast military training had to deal with all those things.
Thutmose immediately set out with his army and crossing the Sinai desert he marched to the city of Gaza, which had remained loyal to Egypt. The events of the campaign are well documented because they are engraved onto the walls of the temple of Karnak
Tuthmosis III fought with considerable nerve and cunning.He marched to Gaza in ten days and planned the battle to take Megiddo which was held by a rebellious prince named Kadesh. There were three possible approaches to Megiddo, two of which were fairly open, straightforward routes while the third was through a narrow pass that soldiers would only be able to march through in single file.
Though he was advised against this dangerous pass by his commanders, Tuthmosis not only took this dangerous route, but actually led the troops through. Whether by luck, or gifted intuition this gamble paid off, for when he emerged from the tight canyon, he saw that his enemies had arranged their armies to defend the easier routes. In fact, he emerged between the north and south wings of the enemy's armies, and the next day decisively beat them in battle. It apparently took a long siege (seven months) to take the city of Megiddo, but the rewards were great. The sudden and unexpected appearance of Egyptians in their rear forced the allies to make a hasty re-deployment of their troops. There are said to have been over 300 allied kings, each with his own army, an immense force. However, Thutmose was determined and when the allies saw him at the head of his men leading them forward, they lost heart for the fight and fled for the city of Megiddo
The spoils were considerable, and included 894 chariots, including two covered with gold, 200 suites of armor including two of bronze, as well as over 2,000 horses and 25,000 other animals.
Tuthmosis III had marched from Thebes up the Syrian coast fighting decisive battles, capturing three cities, and then returned back to Thebes. Over the next 18 years, his armies would march against Syria every summer and by the end of that period, he established Egyptian dominance over Palestine. At Karnak he records the capture of 350 cities, and in the 42nd year of his rule, Kadesh itself was finally taken.
Thutmose III is compared with Napoleon but unlike Napoleon he never lost a battle. He conducted sixteen campaigns in Palestine, Syria and Nubia and his treatment of the conquered was always humane. Syria and Palestine were obliged to keep the peace and the region as a whole experience an unprecedented degree of prosperity.

He also made campaigns into Nubia where he built temples at Amada and Semna and restored Senusret III's old canal in his 50th year of rule so that his armies could easily pass on their return to Egypt.
Tuthmosis III built his own temple near Hatshepsut's on a ledge between her temple and that of Mentuhotep. Close by, Tuthmosis built a rock cut sanctuary to the goddess Hathor. This monument was accidentally discovered by a Swiss team when a rock fall exposed its opening. Apparently, the shrine was in use up to the Ramesside period, when it was destroyed by an earthquake.
But of the many monuments associated with Tuthmosis III, none faired better then the temple of Karnak. Wall reliefs near the sanctuary record the many gifts of gold jewelry, furniture, rich oils and other gifts offered to the temple,. mostly from the spoils of war, by Tuthmosis III. He was responsible for the Sixth and Seventh Pylons at Karnak, as well as considerable reconstruction within the central areas of the temple. He erected two obelisks at the temple, one of which survives at the Hippodrom at Istanbul. There is also a great, black granite Victory Stele embellishing his military victories.
He also built a new and very unique temple at Karnak that is today referred to as his Festival Hall. The columns are believed to represent the poles of the king's campaign tent. In the rear is a small room with representations of animals and plants bought back from Syria during the 25th year of his reign. For obvious reasons, this room is referred to as the Botanical Garden.
Tuthmosis III, we believe ruled Egypt from 1504 BC until his death in 1450 BC. He was buried in the Valley of the kings. The tomb was halfway up a cliff face, and after his burial, masons destroyed the stone stairway leading up to it and concealed the tomb's entrance. However, it would seem that no matter what initiatives pharaohs took to protect their tombs, robbers were sure to find them. Indeed, in 1898 when his tomb was discovered by Victor Loret, all he found was the carved sarcophagus and some remains of smashed furniture and wooden statues. Tuthmosis III, mummy likewise was not in the tomb, for it had been found in 1881 in the great royal cache at Deir el-Bahari. However, the tomb is covered with black and red painted hieratic renditions of the netherworld texts.
The Pharaoh Tuthmosis IV, who ruled during Egypt famous 18th Dynasty, is probably most famous for his "Dream Stele, that can still today be found between the paws of the great Sphinx at Giza. Dreams were important in ancient Egypt and were considered to be divine predictions of the future. In Tuthmosis IV's "Dream Stele", he tells us that, while out on a hunting trip, he fell asleep in the shadow of the Sphinx (or apparently, the shadow of the Sphinx's head, for the monument was apparently buried in sand at the time). In the young prince's sleep, Re-Harakhte, the sun god embodied in the Sphinx, came to him in a dream and promised that if he would clear away the sand that engulfed the monument, Tuthmosis would become king of Egypt.



Egyptian medical doctor, speciality in radiology,much interested in egyptology.

Breeze Through Airport Security
Jed Clark

During the shake up a few years ago of the airport security system, things got a little crazy and airport security went a little overboard confiscating toenail clippers and hair mousse. Thankfully those days of an overzealous security system are behind us and a cautious, careful and reasonable security system has take its place. With a little commonsense and preparation, you can reduce the hassle and the time it takes you to get through airport security and get your flight off to a great start.

Like most things in life, a little preparation goes a long way. Preparation is especially helpful for a smooth move through airport security. Before you even pack your swim suit, do a little planning to make sure that items are packed appropriately for that little visit with security. A little commonsense applies. If you are traveling with anything that is a weapon or could be used as a weapon, pack it in your checked luggage.

Sharp-pointed metal scissors, pack 'em in a checked bag. Curved-tipped scissors are okay for carry-on. Despite some stories you may have heard from friends, the following items are allowed in your carry-on luggage: knitting needles, toenail clippers, corkscrews, nail files, blunt-tipped scissors and safety razors. The most common personal item that is not allowed in checked or carry-on bags is a lighter. If you are a smoker, pack a few books of safety matches in your carry-on bag instead.

If you are traveling with a laptop, it must be inspected outside of your carry-on bag. So, you may want to label your laptop separately by taping a business card or other identifier to the bottom.

Pack all of your valuables, laptop, camera and camcorder equipment in your carry-on bags. Camera film and equipment may be damaged by the checked-luggage screening and you want to keep your valuables in your personal care at all times.

Remember that checked luggage must be unlocked or locked with a TSA-recognized lock (a lock designed with a special code that security may use to inspect the contents of your bags). If you are packing gifts, don't wrap them until you get to your destination as security may have to inspect them.

Now that you're packed, it's time to dress for the airport. Avoid wearing a lot of jewelry or metal items. Try to wear a pair of tennis shoes or other comfortable shoes that doesn't have a metal support in the sole construction (many thick-soled dress shoes and high-heeled women's shoes use these). If you pack your keys, cell phone or PDA in your pocket, prepare an empty pocket in your carry-on where you can easily place these items before you get to the security checkpoint.

When you're at the airport and about to go through security, the most important thing you can do is to be prepared for the next step in the process. Before you enter the security line, verify that there is not a shorter line at another gateway that you can use. As you enter the line, have your boarding pass and driver's license or passport ready for inspection. Keep these items easily accessible as many airports require you to show them more than once.

As you approach the security checkpoint, remove all metal items, keys, PDAs and cell phones from your person and place them in your specially prepared carry-on pocket. You may also want to remove your jacket and carry it over your arm until you get to the check point.

At the security checkpoint, take your laptop out of your carry-on. Place your laptop and jacket in the provided containers. Place your carry-on bag on the conveyor. As your items enter the scanner, it's time for you to breeze on through the checkpoint.

Be sure to follow the instructions of the security screeners. Remember they are there to ensure your security. If you are pulled aside for a random screening, be courteous to the security personnel. They are there to do a job and being pleasant makes things a little nicer for both them and you.

A little commonsense and preparation can ease your way through airport security and get your flight off to a great start.

Jed Clark is a travel writer, photographer and long-time San Francisco resident. For more travel tips and information about San Francisco destinations, attractions and neighborhoods, visit http://www.zurdogo.com/ - a destination guide to San Francisco.

"Generating Leads..And Multiple Streams of Income"

Christopher Wright

"Finding Leads...Before and After You"

By Christopher Wright, Guerrilla Marketer
www.GuerrillaPromotions.com

Once again...everyone's looking for leads. One can't really blame them...they are the 'life blood' of business. Lets take a look at a simple strategy for locating leads, not just a look but a vertical look.

"Are You In...The Cycle?"

Sometimes the best way to find leads is to work your cycle (sales cycle). Before you can 'work' this cycle, you first must find where you fit in this cycle. Once this is done, then its just a matter of contacting those before and after you to inquire as to the possibility of a promotion.

Now, you may be wondering what I mean by 'before and after' you. This means who will your customers need before they see you and who will they need after they've done business with you. This applies whether you're focusing online or off-line.

"Form Your Crosses...Join Your Joints"

Ok, you've found your place in the sales cycle, now it's time to contact other businesses. The hot term now on the net is 'joint venture', but its been called 'cross promotions' for ages off-line. Let's say you're wedding planner and you're looking to increase your business. Let's see what we can do. Who would your potential clients need before they seek out your services? Surely they'll need wedding rings. So, let's contact some jewelers. Don't expect many jewelers to jump for joy over your prospective 'joint venture'...at least without some incentive.

The best incentive (but not always) is cash. How much should you offer? Should it be a flat fee per referral or a percentage of what they spend? This is something only you can answer. Your decision will be based on your expenses and profit margins.

Why pay a referral fee you ask? Simple. What you give up on the front end, you'll more than recoup later on the back end. How? Well, lets look at who they'll need after they've done business with you? Maybe they'll want to go on a honeymoon...which means they will probably want a good travel agent. Now, you contact (ahead of time, of course) travel agents and propose a similar joint venture to the one you used with the jeweler. Only this time, you'll be receiving the referral fee.

We're not finished yet! Keep these names on file in your database, we'll be using them to generate other streams of revenue for our (um..I mean your :) business. You have their anniversary date...it was the date you helped plan remember? Well send a postcard to the husband about a week or so before asking if he would like some flowers sent to his wife's job (women love that). What about sending a postcard about a month before the date offering a special discount on jewelry? Or maybe its their fifth or tenth anniversary and they've been talking about another vacation. Send a postcard a month or two offering a discount on a vacation package.

How will you be offering all these discounts on these services...through your 'joint ventures' you'll set up ahead of time! You're only limited by the time and effort you put into this strategy. Next time, we'll discuss how this technique can be implemented on the Internet.

Best of Luck,

C. Wright, Guerrilla Marketer
"Free 100+ Ezine Article Database"
www.GuerrillaPromotions.com/TrafficMagic.html


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WWJV" - whom would Jesus vote for?
Rev. James L. Snyder

My favorite novel, as a young person, was In His Steps, written by Charles Sheldon. The premise of this novel is simple. A group of people in the church made a spiritual pact that before doing or saying anything they would preface it by asking the probing question, "What would Jesus do?" (WWJD).

If you have read that novel, you know this simple query put everyone's life in jeopardy. Everyone, that is, who was serious about it.

Some want enough religion to keep from getting the real thing but not enough to change or inconvenience their lifestyle. Not everyone is serious about his or her religious life.

Many people want to go to heaven but they want to do it their way and in their own good time. If these people treated their job the same way they treat God, they would not have a job for long.

It's a good question: What would Jesus do? I have thought a lot about it myself and must confess it has done some good in my direction. Now, whenever I see those initials WWJD it gives me some pause to think about what I am doing. And, if you have to know, I've had to not do some things I had projected.

Recently, in light of the WWJD resurgence, I have seen bracelets, and jewelry and other paraphernalia with these initials, reminding people of the message. I'm all for anything that will encourage people to do the right thing, regardless of any inconvenience.

I think, however, that some people have taken a left when the road map indicated a right.

For example: Someone wrote a book on What Would Jesus Eat? I did not read the book but I'm guessing he ate a lot of fish but absolutely no pizza, let alone a nice slice of New York-style cheesecake.

Often I have wondered how our Lord survived without cheesecake. Don't tell anyone, but I have a sneaking suspicion he would have enjoyed a slice, as well as me.

Some advertising genius got on the wagon and struck up the band with "What would Jesus drive?" I could be way out of line here but I'm thinking Jesus drove a donkey, if you can drive a donkey.

One of the last things he did was to ride a donkey into the city of Jerusalem. Apart from the lowly donkey, Jesus wore out a lot of sandal leather.

If I'm going to "drive what Jesus drove," I will have to turn my car in for a low mileage donkey. Donkeys are great on gas but it is the post-donkey problem that keeps piling up.

I know what the Mistress of the Parsonage would say (and do) if I brought a donkey home some evening. Mr. Donkey and Yours Truly would be traveling companions, to be sure.

The question burning in my mind during these pre-election days is simply; "Whom would Jesus vote for" (WWJV) in the upcoming elections?

Forgotten are all those hanging chads and such, associated with the election of 2000. My mind is in a new direction; whom would Jesus vote for in November?

Religion has played an important role in the politicking of late. Every politician, these days, speaks of the importance of personal faith in an appeal to religious groups. If you ask me, I've never seen a politician who could not do with a good dose of religion.

Even in Pennsylvania, politicians are chasing the Amish vote. Now, I ask you, what in the world does a politician of the 21st century have to offer the Amish living in the 18th century?

The Amish have their own schools. They take care of each other and do not need a government health plan. And there is no unemployment among these sturdy people of the earth. They go out of their way to keep the government out of their lives.

Therefore, what does a politician have to offer these quaint people - free axle grease for their buggy wheels?

Probably, the most important point in this discussion is what political candidate has anything they can offer Jesus? What promise could they ever make that would in any way entice Him to cast a glance their way, let alone a vote.

A problem the politician faces is simply: Jesus demands complete and absolute honesty in every person - all the time. For a candidate to make some promise merely to entice a voter would be repulsive to Jesus.

Jesus can see through every promise and every person.

Every candidate for public office knows in his or her heart they cannot deliver on most of their promises. This inability to deliver does not in any regard stop the flow of smooth-as-butter promises.

From the New Testament, Jesus established some priorities:

* Honesty to the point of personal harm.

* Preferring the other to himself.

* Helping the poor and unfortunate.

Fortunately, Jesus does not vote. Rather, he invites people to come to Him for rest.

An Old Testament scripture illustrates this truth. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18 KJV.)

What politician offers forgiveness of sins? Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 KJV.)

St. Augustine hit it right when he said, "Thou, O Lord, has created us for Thyself and we are restless until we rest fully in Thee."



Rev. James L. Snyder is an award winning author and popular columnist living with his wife in Ocala, FL.

Jewelry Cleaning - The Cheap and Easy Way

Ricky Alberta

There is no need to waste money on fancy jewelry cleaning solutions. You can save money by cleaning your jewelry at home using things you'll find in any kitchen or bathroom.

Cleaning Your Silver Jewelry

Use a soft bristle toothbrush with mild soap and warm water to restore the shine and brilliance of silver jewelry. Avoid immersing your sterling silver jewelry into jewelry cleaning dips, they should be cleaned by hand. Use a soft cloth to buff your silver jewelry for a nice, clean shine.

Cleaning Your Diamond Rings & Jewelry

Use a solution of six parts water and one part ammonia. Use a soft bristle toothbrush or toothpick to remove any dirt or particles from any crevices. Rinse well in water and buff dry with a soft cloth.

Cleaning Gold, Platinum and other Gemstone Jewelry

Use a solution of mild dishwashing liquid, like Ivory. Soak jewelry in this solution for a few minutes, then lightly brush away any dirt with a soft brush. Rinse with lukewarm water and air dry or buff with a soft cloth. Be sure not to soak any soft stones like turquoise, amber or lapis, as soaking can damage their polish. For particularly dirty gold jewelry, soak in alcohol or ammonia before cleaning.

Cleaning Pearls

A mild soap and water solution works well for cleaning pearls. Then wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Cleaning Costume Jewelry & Rhinestones

Use a soft brush to sweep away any dirt and dust. Use window cleaner, like Windex, sprayed on a soft, lint free cloth to clean the stones surface. Also try alcohol on a q-tip to get in between small spaces.

With just a few minutes of care, your jewelry will be sparkling like new!

Always Treasured Vintage Costume Jewelry
Offering vintage costume jewelry, porcelain and pottery, men's vintage jewelry, vintage glass and glassware, fine vintage jewelry and vintage jewelry boxes.

Link Myths
Scott J. Patterson

As competition among websites increase, close attention is being paid to rankings in major search engines. Since a high ranking in a keyword can "make or break" a business, webmasters are looking to find any method to increase their ranking. By examining the algorithms of Google and other search engines, it is easy to see that a high value is being placed on the number of links (and quality) pointing to a website. As a result, most webmasters have realized the importance of finding partners to link to their Internet business.

Although link exchanges are vital to any marketing plan, there are some myths that are perpetuated by many so-called "experts". To run a smart link exchange campaign, it is important to understand these myths and make sure that you do not fall for them.

Myth 1 - Link to every site

When I first started my link exchange campaign, I would link to every site possible. As a result, my rankings suffered. As I learned more, I discovered that I could improve my listings by linking to sites that complemented my own. In order run a smart link exchange program, it is important to focus on linking to sites that are closely related to your product or service without being a direct competitor.

For instance, my original site sells Ethnic Jewelry. So, I look for link partners among other jewelry stores that do not sell the same type of jewelry that is listed in my store.

Myth 2 - All people will add my site if I add theirs first

To receive a link from an Internet business, most people will usually add the site's link first. Unfortunately, not every potential partner will add your link even if you have already added theirs. Sometimes a website is just not interested in linking with your site. The problem is many webmasters will not let you know that they are not going to link to your site. So, you might be linking to a website that is not returning the favor.

A great way to ensure that you are only linking to reciprocal sites is to put each link into a "temporary position" until you receive validation that the site is listing your business.

Myth 3 - The name of my website should be in the title of the link

Another mistake I made when I first started out, was to have the name of my website in the links that were pointing to my business. Eventually I learned that many search engines, especially Google, pay attention to the title of the link pointing towards your site. So, if you are looking for top placement for specific keywords, then they should be used in the title of the link instead of your website name.

Taking the Ethnic Jewelry example from above, your link title would look like this:

Ethnic Jewelry Store: Here we sell evil eye jewelry and Turkish jewelry.

Myth 4 - Only link to sites with a high Google Page Rank

In my opinion, the biggest "Catch-22" for webmasters is that many sites will not link to an Internet business unless it has a certain "Google Page Rank". But at some point, every site has started out with a low page ranking. So how did they get a high ranking if no one would link to them in the first place?

Instead of focusing on a page rank, many successful websites look instead at the quality of the Internet business. If it is evident that the webmaster has taken the time to create a quality site, then you can assured that a high ranking will eventually happen! By linking to a well designed website, you can be ensured that the value of your link will increase as the website gains a high ranking.

Myth 5: Put all the links on one page in no particular order

When the Internet first gained popularity, webmasters used links as a way to help their visitors. Initially, they placed links as way to complement the content of the website. As the important of links increased, the focus shifted from helping the visitor to helping the webmaster.

Instead of dumping your links onto a single page, you can help both your partners and visitors by creating a directory. Here, you place each link partner into a specific category. This will help visitors (and search engines) navigate your site with ease.

Myth 6: I should avoid all types of "automatic" link programs

Many Internet marketers recommend avoiding automatic link exchange software. They feel that using these programs will actually hurt your rankings rather then help. But, there are a lot of great link exchange websites that automate the process of finding links hurting your search engine rankings.

For instance, http://www.linkmarket.net and http://www.gotop.com are two excellent sites that allow you to shop for link partners. When you find sites that are complementary, you add them to your "basket" and the link exchange websites sends out an automatic email requesting the link. These two sites allow you to save time, while avoiding the "black hat" techniques that are prevalent among many automatic-linking services.

While exchanging links can be a time-consuming process, it is well worth the effort. By taking time to properly link to complementary websites, you will find that your rankings in important keywords will improve.


Scott Patterson brought his online store: http://www.mizambar.com to the top of the Google search engine by exchanging links. To find out how he did this and other techniques with NO computer experience, check out his site: http://www.buildingastore.com

Glow In the Dark Jewelry Trends

Jill Nelson

Glow in the dark pieces of jewelry have become increasingly popular accessories for individuals of all ages. There are so many forms of glow in the dark jewelry that you could virtually light yourself up using only these accessories. This form of jewelry is fairly inexpensive (especially compared to most types of jewelry) and is meant to be used as fun and creative accessories that let your personality shine through. Some of the most popular glow in the dark items include glow bracelets, glow necklaces, glow pins and glow rings and each form of jewelry has its own unique characteristics.

Glow Bracelets

Glow bracelets are a fun and creative way to sport the latest form of glow in the dark jewelry and are great for parties that take place at night or in a bar. They come in a variety of colors including purple, pink and yellow and one glow bracelet can have up to 3 colors in one. Glow bracelets are fairly cheap and can be purchased for as little as 25 cents a bracelet when purchased in bulk or wholesale forms These bracelets usually only come in one size which fits almost any size of wrist.

Glow Necklaces

Glow necklaces are an extended form of glow bracelets. They are made with the exact same materials and come in the same colors; they are just bigger so they fit around your neck instead of your wrist. That said, they also cost more because they use more materials. A glow necklace may cost about 50 cents when purchased in bulk or wholesale form.

Glow Pins

Glow pins are the newest form of glow in the dark jewelry on the market and offer a wide selection of designs and styles to choose from. Glow pins are available in the form of pins, smiley faces, sports teams and even flags. These pins are not made from the same material as glow bracelets and necklaces, they light up using battery-powered LED lights. These are also considerably more expensive than glow necklaces and glow bracelets, however they last way longer and are less likely to get broken or damaged.

Glow Rings

Glow rings are not quite as popular as the other forms of jewelry listed above, perhaps because not as many people are aware that they exist. Glow rings come in many sizes and are great for parties and other fun events. Not only are there glow rings, but there are also glow earrings which can be purchased in many different shapes and designs. Glow rings can cost as little as $5 and glow earrings as little as $7, but they also have the potential to be quite expensive as well.

Glow jewelry is only expected to become more popular in the years to come and there are sure to be many new styles and innovations in this form of jewelry.

Jill Nelson is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her children when she isn't working as a contributing editor for sites writing articles on topics such as Glow Sticks for sites like http://www.glowsticksdirect.com.

Tips for Dating Success, Online and Off
Stephanie Schwab

Dating, online or off, can be scary and frustrating. Follow these ten simple tips to help get you in the right groove - and off to a great start!

1. Be Confident
Confidence, confidence, confidence! Nothing is more attractive than a person who is confident in their own skin. Once you are happy in your own skin and self-fulfilled, you will attract the matches you deserve, not just the ones you settle for. So relax and be your genuine self.

2. Be Interesting
Read the newspaper and know what's going on in the world. Current events are great conversation starters. Interesting conversation will attract others to start talking to you.

3. Increase Your Chances
Don't limit yourself by dating and approaching one type of person. Don't pass on someone until you get to know them. Love happens at the most unexpected times with the most unexpected people!

4. Use Great Props
Never leave your home without a prop -dogs, kids, unusual jewelry, a fabulous scent, a sweatshirt with your favorite passion, interesting ties, hats, or an interesting book or newspaper. Props can break the ice and help in starting up a conversation.

5. Network
Just as you network with your friends, colleagues and family for work, you can call on them to network for you on your dating quest.

6. Be Honest
Be yourself from the start. People can always sense when you are not being 100% honest and it is a turn off and leaves people feeling weary of you.

7. Be Proactive
Go after what you want. You have nothing to lose by trying, so get out there.

8. Stay Positive and Have Fun
Be playful, light-hearted and spontaneous. Show your vulnerability.

9. Start a Conversation
The best opening line is saying hello. Talk about the surroundings, ask a question, ask for help, or state an opinion.

10. Be Patient
The first person (or second or third) you connect with may not be the right one for you. Have patience and realize that you may need to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince (or princess)!

Stephanie is the Match Maven for iMatchup.com, a popular online dating service with over 2.7 million members in the U.S. and Canada. She is a relationship expert who fields questions from users on everything from online profiles to how to propose marriage. Visit www.iMatchup.com for more information.

Getting The Big Picture Series: Part 2-"What's Beneath The Surface?"

Treci Cauthen

Getting The Big Picture Series: Part 2-"What's Beneath The Surface?" by Treci Cauthen

When you take a piece of gold to a pawn shop sometimes they will take a small saw-like tool to scrape the jewelry to find out for sure "What's Beneath The Surface". Sometimes they find pure gold, silver, or tarnished metal.

Well it's the same story when it comes to conducting business on the Internet. Some Opportunities fall far from the mark. Some "Get Rich Quick" schemes will read, "Earn $10,000 Every Month" or "Make A Million Dollars and Retire Early".

"Big earnings with minimum effort" not likely my friends..

What's Beneath The Surface?

"Tarnished metal".

You pay $29.95 for an envelope stuffing job offer. The fee is to set you up with supplies, or, you pay $19.95 for an information package to start your own home business. Only to find that you never hear back from them. If your a busy person you could forget that you ever signed up for the offer. If your a take charge type of person that decides to investigate the matter you may find a disconnected telephone or a bad mailing address.

"The Silver"

Let's say you stumble upon a website that sells electronics, or some other retail products. You have seen there website and it is impressive. They are willing to build you a website just like theirs for $49.95 with a monthly $20 fee for hosting your website. They are willing to pay you 40% commission for items sold.

Hey, you could be on to something here...

But the problem is they leave you hanging. You don't have a clue how to market the product. Some might, give you a list of free classified ads and tell you to submit your site to the search engine. It's more than likely that you will never make 1 sale with they're technique due to anxiety especially if you're looking make a sell instantly. You burn out quickly and your efforts come to a dead halt.

"The Gold"

Your one of the lucky ones. You've landed on a site that has great products/services with all the trimmings. A solid Business Opportunity will take you by the hand and show you the way. They will train you with articles, presentations and online courses. They will be there to support you when you need answers. They won't leave you feeling "lost in the storm". But you will need to stay focused, patient and you have to want to learn because there is alot to take in and "Knowledge is Power".

Getting The Big Picture?

Treci Cauthen is a Writer/Internet Marketer. Find Home Internet Business:: Opportunities, Articles and Resources! go to: www.homeinternetbusiness.com ***Natural Cures
Telecom USACopyright © 2004


Debt Reduction Solutions
Mark Lambie

Finding solutions to reducing your debt takes some thinking and research on your part. You have some good choices available to you and we shall list these key debt reduction solutions for you right here:

1. Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line of Credit. Your 21% charge card can be reduced to nearly 6% over night. How? By taking out a line of credit or equity loan against your home. Equity loans and lines of credit are available at low rates and banks are very willing to extend this service to you as your home is your collateral. Pay off all of your credit card debt with the loan and you will achieve debt reduction solutions immediately.

2. Replace high interest credit cards with low interest cards. Yes, in this day of low interest rates, many credit cards carry high interest rates. Ask your credit card issuer to reduce their rate closer to market rates. If they refuse to budge, consider applying for a low interest rate card from another provider. Transfer your balance to the provider offering the best rate.

3. Debt reduction solutions can be realized through the selling of other assets including: an extra car, antiques, jewelry, extra property, renting out property, or liquidating some other assets. Check around your home and see if there is something that you owe that can be sold on eBay or locally at a yard sale. Take the proceeds from your sale and pay down your debt, starting with the biggest debt first.

4. If you do not owe a home, or the home you do own has negligible equity built up then you cannot get equity from your home. Still, depending on your income, you may be eligible for mortgage refinancing below market rates. Check with your bank or local housing authority to see if you qualify for a low or moderate income loan. The savings you realize through reduced mortgage payments may help you pay down your debt.

Finding debt reduction solutions that work for you is an important first step in eliminating debt. Make a plan and stick with it and you will soon be living a debt free/care free life.


Mark Lambie is the founder of Fast Debt Settlement We provide a free service that matches you with debt consolidation specialists

Wonderful White Gold Wedding Rings

In any type of normal world, the race for the No. 8 seed in either Conference wouldn�t matter at all, save for adding some interest to the final third of the season. In the East, the No. 8 crew will probably draw the Miami Heat in round one, facing off against the inside-outside twosome of Shaq and D-Wade, who are poised to bring a big golden trophy to South Beach. It won�t be pretty.

The picture�s a bit different in the West, though --- the battle for the No. 8 slot is a tighter affair, and there�s interest from close NBA watchers. Granted, the last team in draws either the Spurs or the Suns, and both are going to be hard to knock off. But --- let�s say Steve Nash�s injuries continue to nag at him. Let�s also take into account that playoff basketball slows down and focuses on half-court sets. The Suns suddenly seem beatable, right? The Spurs are a bit tougher --- they thrive in half-court sets, and they�re the definition of consistent.

Still, let�s say the Lakers get the No. 8 seed --- a possibility we�ll investigate. The Lake Show has reached 4 of the last 5 Finals --- granted, with a vastly different chemistry. But Kobe is still a rare player. Let�s say Minnesota gets in just under the line --- they were the No. 1 seed last year, and possess arguably the league�s most game-altering player in Kevin Garnett. And if the Nuggets --- a young, eccentric mix of quality players --- get the nod, they might have enough firepower to run a full series with either San Antonio or Phoenix.

Since the No. 8 seed in the West could, theoretically, knock off a potential No. 1, we decided to investigate who�s most likely to come out as No. 8 in late April. We evaluated only the Lakers, T-Wolves, and Nuggets, because let�s be honest --- as good as the Clippers have played this year, do you honestly see them anywhere near the NBA Playoffs? We thought so.

Each team is assigned 3 (highest), 2, or 1 (lowest) points in four different categories: Personnel, Coaching, Remaining Schedule, and Intangibles. Scientific, no?

Personnel:
The Lakers have Kobe, who is arguably the best player in the game. He�s struggled without a presence in the middle (no offense to Chris Mihm�), and there�s serious strains on his image following the rape trial and tumultuous breakup of the championship run Lakers. Beyond Mr. Bryant, though, Los Angeles doesn�t have much. Caron Butler was promising as a rookie, but hasn�t done a ton since then. Lamar Odom is the second key to this team --- he needs to play at the level he�s capable of playing at, and he hasn�t been doing that. He goes in the tank more than Vince Carter claims he went in the tank in Canada, especially against higher-level foes.

The Timberwolves have an amazing team on paper. Garnett, the reigning MVP, can beat you every which way. Sam Cassell is an experienced, showstopper point guard, and Latrell Sprewell can still score in buckets. Wally World gets injured, sure, but he�s got game. The problem is, the entire team has underachieved this year, which creates a need for big games from Trenton Hassell and others. That shouldn�t be necessary given this squad, especially when Sprewell is playing for 14 million per (even though he�s apparently below the poverty line).

The Nuggets are good all-around. We�re still waiting for Camby to tear something, and Nene has been on the injured list since Valentine�s Day. Carmelo Anthony has slumped a bit in his sophomore campaign, and he doesn�t play defense much at all. Earl Boykins has become a star here, regularly pacing the team in scoring, and Andre Miller --- who must be with his 19th NBA team by now --- seems to have acquired the poise of a true floor general, leading this team pretty well on most nights. K-Mart has been energized by the recent hire of George Karl.

Points: Nuggets 3, T-Wolves 2, Lakers 1

Coaching:
Who�s Frank Hamblen? He�s not Rudy T. He�s not Coach K. He�s not Phil Jackson. In sum, he�s probably not good enough.

Kevin McHale probably shouldn�t have pulled the plug so soon on Flip Saunders. Saunders was a great coach, and a playoff upset this year would have re-invigorated his team. Now, McHale�s got himself on the bench. Let�s consider other 1980s Celtics as coaches --- ML Carr, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird. Moderate successes, yes, but are any still coaching? There�s a reason why� eventually, they all underachieved. Putting an underachiever with a group of underachievers probably isn�t the best mix�

George Karl is a savvy veteran coach. You can say all you want about his conspicuous lack of jewelry, but he�s won 60 games twice. The Nuggets have never won 60 games. The Nuggets have been on fire since he got the job from Michael Cooper by way of Jeff Bzedlik, recently winning six in a row. �Melo�s game is more diverse, more guys are getting quality minutes, and the team seems to play with a confidence and unity previously lacking. Karl was the right addition here, even counting rumors that he might be looking to ship Anthony away for his fear of playing tight defense.

Points: Nuggets 3, T-Wolves 2, Lakers 1

Remaining Schedule:

The Lakers, who are 20-11 at Staples Center, play only 10 of their remaining 23 games at home. In addition, they go on a road trip next week which features games at Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia, Miami, and Indiana. They end the season with relative cream puffs Golden State and Portland, but play three consecutive games right before that against Phoenix, Sacramento, and Dallas. All of those games are at home, but are still tough draws.

The Timberwolves, only 17-14 at home this year, play only 9 of their remaining games at Target Center, and their last two home games are against Seattle (on pace for 59 wins) and San Antonio (on pace to win the West). In addition, they have road games at Phoenix, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Dallas sprinkled throughout their final month and a half.

The Nuggets are 18-9 at Pepsi Center this year, and play 14 of their final 23 contests at home. In the final month, they do travel to Minneapolis, but they also get 2 games against the Hornets --- the worst team in the league --- and also play Portland and Golden State, both in the Mile High City. The Nuggets also draw the Grizzlies twice in the final three weeks. While the Grizz are playoff-bound themselves, it�s a favorable match-up for a streaking Denver squad.

Points: Nuggets 3, Lakers 2, Timberwolves 1

Intangibles
Kobe needs to reach the playoffs as a No. 8 seed, score 50 points every night, and off the No. 1 team in the West. In some ways, it would help restore his credibility and erase notions he can�t do it without Shaq. Also, it might help Frank Hamblen not become an assistant again next year.

The Timberwolves need to prove their 2003-2004 campaign was no joke, and some of their contract year players could benefit from the extra playing time and bigger stage of the playoffs.

The Nuggets are young, and aren�t expected to do much besides make the playoffs. They have a determined team and a determined coach, but aside from Anthony keeping pace with LeBron (who�s probably going to make the playoffs this year), the team doesn�t have a ton to prove right now.

Points: Lakers 3, Timberwolves 2, Nuggets 1

The Final Score:
Nuggets 10, Timberwolves 7, Lakers 7

Karl�s bunch is streaking, all right --- straight into a first-round date with the best of the West.
The Race for Number Eight
Ted Bauer

In any type of normal world, the race for the No. 8 seed in either Conference wouldn�t matter at all, save for adding some interest to the final third of the season. In the East, the No. 8 crew will probably draw the Miami Heat in round one, facing off against the inside-outside twosome of Shaq and D-Wade, who are poised to bring a big golden trophy to South Beach. It won�t be pretty.

The picture�s a bit different in the West, though --- the battle for the No. 8 slot is a tighter affair, and there�s interest from close NBA watchers. Granted, the last team in draws either the Spurs or the Suns, and both are going to be hard to knock off. But --- let�s say Steve Nash�s injuries continue to nag at him. Let�s also take into account that playoff basketball slows down and focuses on half-court sets. The Suns suddenly seem beatable, right? The Spurs are a bit tougher --- they thrive in half-court sets, and they�re the definition of consistent.

Still, let�s say the Lakers get the No. 8 seed --- a possibility we�ll investigate. The Lake Show has reached 4 of the last 5 Finals --- granted, with a vastly different chemistry. But Kobe is still a rare player. Let�s say Minnesota gets in just under the line --- they were the No. 1 seed last year, and possess arguably the league�s most game-altering player in Kevin Garnett. And if the Nuggets --- a young, eccentric mix of quality players --- get the nod, they might have enough firepower to run a full series with either San Antonio or Phoenix.

Since the No. 8 seed in the West could, theoretically, knock off a potential No. 1, we decided to investigate who�s most likely to come out as No. 8 in late April. We evaluated only the Lakers, T-Wolves, and Nuggets, because let�s be honest --- as good as the Clippers have played this year, do you honestly see them anywhere near the NBA Playoffs? We thought so.

Each team is assigned 3 (highest), 2, or 1 (lowest) points in four different categories: Personnel, Coaching, Remaining Schedule, and Intangibles. Scientific, no?

Personnel:
The Lakers have Kobe, who is arguably the best player in the game. He�s struggled without a presence in the middle (no offense to Chris Mihm�), and there�s serious strains on his image following the rape trial and tumultuous breakup of the championship run Lakers. Beyond Mr. Bryant, though, Los Angeles doesn�t have much. Caron Butler was promising as a rookie, but hasn�t done a ton since then. Lamar Odom is the second key to this team --- he needs to play at the level he�s capable of playing at, and he hasn�t been doing that. He goes in the tank more than Vince Carter claims he went in the tank in Canada, especially against higher-level foes.

The Timberwolves have an amazing team on paper. Garnett, the reigning MVP, can beat you every which way. Sam Cassell is an experienced, showstopper point guard, and Latrell Sprewell can still score in buckets. Wally World gets injured, sure, but he�s got game. The problem is, the entire team has underachieved this year, which creates a need for big games from Trenton Hassell and others. That shouldn�t be necessary given this squad, especially when Sprewell is playing for 14 million per (even though he�s apparently below the poverty line).

The Nuggets are good all-around. We�re still waiting for Camby to tear something, and Nene has been on the injured list since Valentine�s Day. Carmelo Anthony has slumped a bit in his sophomore campaign, and he doesn�t play defense much at all. Earl Boykins has become a star here, regularly pacing the team in scoring, and Andre Miller --- who must be with his 19th NBA team by now --- seems to have acquired the poise of a true floor general, leading this team pretty well on most nights. K-Mart has been energized by the recent hire of George Karl.

Points: Nuggets 3, T-Wolves 2, Lakers 1

Coaching:
Who�s Frank Hamblen? He�s not Rudy T. He�s not Coach K. He�s not Phil Jackson. In sum, he�s probably not good enough.

Kevin McHale probably shouldn�t have pulled the plug so soon on Flip Saunders. Saunders was a great coach, and a playoff upset this year would have re-invigorated his team. Now, McHale�s got himself on the bench. Let�s consider other 1980s Celtics as coaches --- ML Carr, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird. Moderate successes, yes, but are any still coaching? There�s a reason why� eventually, they all underachieved. Putting an underachiever with a group of underachievers probably isn�t the best mix�

George Karl is a savvy veteran coach. You can say all you want about his conspicuous lack of jewelry, but he�s won 60 games twice. The Nuggets have never won 60 games. The Nuggets have been on fire since he got the job from Michael Cooper by way of Jeff Bzedlik, recently winning six in a row. �Melo�s game is more diverse, more guys are getting quality minutes, and the team seems to play with a confidence and unity previously lacking. Karl was the right addition here, even counting rumors that he might be looking to ship Anthony away for his fear of playing tight defense.

Points: Nuggets 3, T-Wolves 2, Lakers 1

Remaining Schedule:

The Lakers, who are 20-11 at Staples Center, play only 10 of their remaining 23 games at home. In addition, they go on a road trip next week which features games at Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia, Miami, and Indiana. They end the season with relative cream puffs Golden State and Portland, but play three consecutive games right before that against Phoenix, Sacramento, and Dallas. All of those games are at home, but are still tough draws.

The Timberwolves, only 17-14 at home this year, play only 9 of their remaining games at Target Center, and their last two home games are against Seattle (on pace for 59 wins) and San Antonio (on pace to win the West). In addition, they have road games at Phoenix, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Dallas sprinkled throughout their final month and a half.

The Nuggets are 18-9 at Pepsi Center this year, and play 14 of their final 23 contests at home. In the final month, they do travel to Minneapolis, but they also get 2 games against the Hornets --- the worst team in the league --- and also play Portland and Golden State, both in the Mile High City. The Nuggets also draw the Grizzlies twice in the final three weeks. While the Grizz are playoff-bound themselves, it�s a favorable match-up for a streaking Denver squad.

Points: Nuggets 3, Lakers 2, Timberwolves 1

Intangibles
Kobe needs to reach the playoffs as a No. 8 seed, score 50 points every night, and off the No. 1 team in the West. In some ways, it would help restore his credibility and erase notions he can�t do it without Shaq. Also, it might help Frank Hamblen not become an assistant again next year.

The Timberwolves need to prove their 2003-2004 campaign was no joke, and some of their contract year players could benefit from the extra playing time and bigger stage of the playoffs.

The Nuggets are young, and aren�t expected to do much besides make the playoffs. They have a determined team and a determined coach, but aside from Anthony keeping pace with LeBron (who�s probably going to make the playoffs this year), the team doesn�t have a ton to prove right now.

Points: Lakers 3, Timberwolves 2, Nuggets 1

The Final Score:
Nuggets 10, Timberwolves 7, Lakers 7

Karl�s bunch is streaking, all right --- straight into a first-round date with the best of the West.

Ted Bauer writes for http://www.hoopsavenue.com