Notebooks seem to be the current in thing this year. Taiwan, which is the prime manufacturing country of laptops is struggling with the demand at present. In fact if anything has hindered demand or shipments of laptops then its been shortages of parts. I think what makes it difficult is that the thing changes all the time.

With all the new progress in technology gaming laptops have capitalised a great amount in my opinion. These laptops are also increasing in value because of the difficult competition faced from value laptops. The speed of gaming laptops has greatly enhanced and its really a reasonable means of gaming. I also think that some gaming laptops look really good, with some slick, powerful features. Extreme gaming enthusiasts will always like their desktop gaming machines for performance and rightly so but it’s the versatility laptops give that makes people settle on frame rates. Gaming laptops will no doubt become thinner and more powerful in the coming years and it will be fascinating to see.

Although the market share is ruled by manufacturers selling via retail channels I think the direct model and custom built laptops will forever be around. Sometimes with larger companies the standard of the prime parts is not upto scratch. In a number of cases you can ask for all the primary parts you desire and this is best suited to gamers, professional and hardcore users. The vast number of laptop computers are specified for the moderate user which means you may not find what you’re looking for. Hardcore users require custom laptops because of this. Just like premade laptops there are a number of of manufacturers selling custom laptops all with a unique advantage or increase customer support. This could be a major enticer to a handfull of specialist groups.

I think numerous of people are anticipating the next wave of laptops. Except from what has already been spoken of Ultra mobile notebooks are another massive product seeing expansion this year. Clearly this will be something big in emerging nations. I really think that we are bound to see feather weigth 15″ laptops very quickly as well. This is a thing that can be done even now if we let go of performance. The way the market is developing I can tell gaming laptops will become thinner. New notebook computers are seen every year of so and I’m sure the next year already holds a lot of promise for us enthusiasts.

In my view Rizeon have the best laptops in relation to price and performance.

Yes, preventing intrusions from the web, keeping files safe and ensuring the secure transactions of online banking can be done using free applications. And I mean not demo versions of software, not trial editions, but fully functional tools that many PC users either have never heard about or just don’t trust anything that goes with a 4-letter word. Most of them cost around $30 though there are more sophisticated species that may cost a little bit more.

As soon as these details have been entered, an error page appears; it tells the user that the transaction has been unsuccessful, and offers instructions on how to pay for the ticket by postal money order. So the user may well be fooled twice. He loses his credit card details, putting them right into the hands of cyber-crooks, and then loses money, if decides to buy the ticket by money order. Data loggers, key loggers are just a few programs which harvest info from your computer. Winclear is the only program created specially to auto remove such spywares. html. That is why every computer owner needs winclear.

Protect With Winclear :Goverment People Search Criminal History
Every time we are required to supply a password we need to use a new and different password. For example, suppose you need a password for a bank account, an email account, an internet forum you visit, and maybe you use a password to log on to your own computer (you should). These should be four different passwords. Otherwise a hacker or identity thief only needs to discover one password and then try it out on some bank accounts, email accounts, web forums or anything else associated with your name. Winclear is the only software which is capable of removing keylogger programs. Generally cookies are used as a shortcut to load information that you have already provided to a website presenting no security risk on well known established websites. Winclear has been the industry leader in fighting keyloggers for the last 8 years.

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These should be four different passwords. That is the reason why you need Winclear installed onto your computer. In addition perhaps it goes against the anti-pornography laws in few jurisdictions. Protect your computer security by using Winclear! More about Winclear here: Erase Data.

Are you currently building a network marketing distributorship?

What are your 2 biggest business challenges? Would you like to do something about them?

I bet you would. And here’s the first thing you need to know: These challenges are not your fault!

The cards were stacked against you right from the start!

You just didn’t know it. You didn’t realize it. And here is why they were stacked against you.

Let’s take a very close look at the network marketing business model. Because you’re an entrepreneur, you’re here to make money, you’re in business. So it makes sense to look at the business model, doesn’t it?

What I’ve seen is that very often it’s your company’s business model that causes your problems, not you. Let me give you an example. I’m sure you’ve seen network marketing companies that brag about having a huge, multi-million dollar home office. They have pictures of it on the website, flash presentations, it’s on all the brochures. But the millions of dollars that paid for that building is money that you will never get back in your compensation plan.

In network marketing, the ONLY place that money is made, whether by the distributors or the company, is from the compensation plan. Your MLM company does not have another stream of income that generates money for them.

Company Income Always And Only Comes From YOUR Compensation Plan

So whatever spending you see, that is money that will not come back to you in the compensation plan.

But here’s where it really gets ugly. Your company’s beautiful building requires maintenance. They need a cleaning staff. It has to be painted, windows have to be maintained, bathrooms have to be maintained, these buildings get cleaned every night. They have a water bill, an electric bill, heating, air conditioning. They do everything necessary to make that building a showplace for the company.

Who Is Paying That Monthly Bill?

Where’s the money coming from?

Correct - it’s coming from your compensation plan. That is money that you will never receive in your check. It’s gone.

Now … when do YOU plan on using that building?

Did I hear you say, “Never!”?

Exactly. You will never use that building, yet you are paying for it. And that’s not all. These bloated network marketing companies brag about their call center, and the hundreds of employees they have sitting there, ready to take your order, giving you the best possible customer service.

But every one of those people is a salaried employee. They get health benefits, maternity leave, vacation leave, sick leave. The company has sexual harrassment insurance. Those employees get bonuses over the years, raises. Each one works in an office at a desk, with a phone and computer.

That is a monthly bill.

Who Is Paying THIS Bill?

Exactly. YOU are! (Are you beginning to notice a nasty trend?) That’s more money again that will never come back to you in the compensation plan.

Now … where do you think THIS business model will go in the future? Do you think your company will have less expenses or more expenses?

Sure. It’ll be more. As the building gets older, it needs more maintenance. The longer people work there, the more salary they expect. As the business builds, they’ll outgrow the building … and, of course, build another new building!

Another good indicator of the heart of a company is, where is the warehouse located? Most cities have a warehouse district, very low-rent, low cost. It makes sense for businesses to keep their stock there. But most MLM companies have the warehouse right next to their big new building. Why? Because it’s more impressive, and they can say, “Look at us! Look what we’ve done!”

Who Pays For That Extra Expense?

Yes, of course. It is you.

So what’s the solution? The key is to find a streamlined MLM business … one that doesn’t feel the need to put on a gaudy show with YOUR money! I’ll talk more about that in just a moment.

First, let me give you an example of how this high-overhead business model affects YOUR ability to build your business.

I’m thinking of 3 different companies right now. They all market the same product, a multi-vitamin pack. It’s an awesome product, flat-out works, and all 3 companies market the identical formula, identical raw ingredients. Except Company #3 has also added to the formula a chelated enzyme to allow you to digest & absorb nutrients better.

Now would you agree with me, that to produce that product, same quantity, same quality, same formula, the cost of production for those companies is within pennies of each other?

Of course it is.

Well, Company #1 markets the 30-day supply of that vitamin pack for $117. So do you think you’re going to be able to retail that to someone? Do you know anybody who would gladly pay you $117 for a 30-day supply of a multi-vitamin pack, regardless of how great it is?

I’ll bet you don’t. It’ll be tough, for sure. So therefore, you’re going to have a challenge to retail that product.

Company #2 sells the same formula for $108. It’s still expensive. You’re still going to have a challenge retailing that.

Company #3, which has the same formula, with the added chelated enzyme, so you can digest & absorb it better, sells it for $39.95. Now, I ask you, is that affordable? Do you think you know people who may purchase that product from you?

Absolutely.

The Business Model Drives The Behavior

So what kind of behavior do these different business models create in the field? Here’s what happens.

People who market the more expensive products spend their time recruiting. This is where the money is made for them. There’s no money in retailing for them, because nobody’s going to pay that high price for that product.

So what do they have to do? They have to recruit, recruit, recruit.

And what happens after you join them? When they sponsor you into the business, they have no time to work with you! You’re in, they got the commission, and they have to move on to recruit the next person. They don’t have time to work with you because their business is built on recruiting because they can’t possibly retail products.

Now, do you have any idea why Company #3 can afford to sell the same formula, with the added chelated enzyme for better digestion, better absorption, at $39.95? Why do you think they can do that?

“They must not have the overhead.”

Exactly. They have way less overhead than the other 2 companies. Their warehouse is in the warehouse district. No multi-million dollar home office. They take 97% of their orders automated over the internet, so they need very few actual employees.

Company 3 Has Just a Small Fraction of The Overhead of Company 1 or Company 2

So it’s a more distributor-friendly business model.

I’ve found that 92% of the population doesn’t like to sell and doesn’t want to be sold to. How aggressive do you think you have to be to move a box of a 30-day supply of a multi-vitamin pack at $117 each?

Pretty darned aggressive, don’t you think?

And let me ask you this. Who do you think is buying this? You don’t know anybody who’d buy it. I sure don’t know anybody who’d spend $117 for it. But they sell plenty of it. Who do you think is buying it?

It’s the distributors. The distributors are buying it. Why? Because they have to qualify to get their bonus check. That’s the only reason they’re buying it. This pricing doesn’t create a retailing behavior.

A Real Example Of How To Use An MLM Product

Do you know anybody who suffers from a blood-sugar disorder like hypoglycemia or diabetes?

OK. This person that you know, do you think they might know 5 or 10 other people who also suffer from diabetes?

Yes, they probably would.

OK. Well, do you think they might be interested in a product that could help them rebuild the pancreas and possibly take them off insulin or at least cut down their insulin? Do you think they’d be interested in a product like that?

I bet they would. Do you think they can afford to pay $19.95 for that product?

Sure they could. In fact, if you had that product, you could even afford to gift that to the right people, using it more or less as advertising, couldn’t you?

OK. Now what would you rather have? Would you rather have people coming to your website, purchasing this product for $19.95, all these different people sharing with each other, or would you rather be in one of those first 2 companies, trying to market a $117 multi-vitamin pack? Which one makes sense to you?

Sure. The diabetic product. And look again, why can this company afford to do this?

Because they’re streamlined. It creates a retailing behavior. You can do business this way. Anybody can purchase products at this price, because it’s affordable. Does that make sense?

Of course.

But There’s Another Big Surprise!

This is really interesting - guess which company of those 3 pays more to the distributor in the compensation plan and requires fewer people to get yourself to a $10,000 a month income?

Yes, it’s Company #3. How is it they can do that?

That’s right. Less overhead. And now you’re starting to get the picture. You’re understanding why it’s so tough for you to make money in network marketing.

Next question. As time goes on and the bloated business model of Company 1 & 2 continues, what is going to happen?”

Let me tell you what MUST happen. They’ll have to raise the price of the products and pay less in the compensation plan. It has to happen. There’s no other source of money for them, so there’s no other way to pay for increased expenses. They’ve created a monster that they can’t control. The only thing they can do to keep it going is to keep feeding it.

And this is where you’ll end up paying $4 for a bar of soap, $20 for a bottle of shampoo, $100 for some liquid nutritional. There are MLM companies out there right now where you can find those prices.

Where Have The MLM Giants Gone?

And it will get worse & worse over time. That’s why companies flat-line. You know the famous names of the big-time, old-line companies … they are flatlined.

So what do they do? They go into new countries. They open new countries, because they cannot compete in the US anymore. Their product prices are too high, their pay plan is too inadequate. Their US business & distributor base just falls by the wayside.

I recently read about a well-known nutrition juice. The article had a lot of stories of people making money. The company has an absolutely gorgeous building, all decorated in Tahitian motif. The building temperature is maintained high to be the same temperature as it is in Tahiti! They have a beautiful waterfall, a fountain in the foyer with their nutrition juice pouring out of it!

And what is this company doing to make money? They’re opening up restaurants where they’ll serve food & their juice. Now where is THAT money coming from? It’s coming out of the compensation plan, and distributors are paying for it.

They say they’re doing it to generate leads which will go to certain leaders in the company … which means that if any reps benefit, it will be the heavy hitters - the ones who’ve already built big. It’s just a way of transferring money from the part-time rep to the company and the heavy hitters!

You can look for product prices to increase and rep compensation to decrease. That’s the problem when your overhead is sky-high.

The network marketing business model truly does drive the behavior in the field.

Michael Dlouhy is the expert on network marketing business models and compensation plans. Michael will show you how to start in the right position in MLM … or how to get there from wherever you are. Visit http://www.AskMichaelDlouhy.com .

A short-covering rally is a more orderly event in which a large number of short sellers decide to take profits by covering their positions. The buying to cover often leads to more buying. It can produce a wild short squeeze, but in most cases the action is milder.

You’ll see a short-covering rally in many beaten-down stocks. The greatest impact, though, is seen when the DOW or NASDAQ moves higher as loads of shorts head for cover.

For example, the market rally that preceded the US attack on Iraq was almost certainly a short-covering rally. The DOW and NASDAQ had been sliding since late January and were approaching new lows. Short sellers had made outstanding profits.

Then a few early-bird buyers stepped in to spark a big open on March 17. The shorts took that market strength as a cue to cover some positions and lock in profits. As more and more shorts bought shares to cover, the DOW and NASDAQ surged higher, attracting a horde of buyers who did not want to miss the move.

A typical short-covering rally occurs in the final hour of a market session. If bad news or some other development hits the indexes at the open, short-sellers often hop on the downward momentum and push prices lower. By 3 p.m. ET the DOW could be down 100-plus points.

More often than not, the indexes will stage a comeback in that final hour. Short sellers who have made a tidy one-day profit cover their positions, and that usually produces a spurt of buying. It tends to fizzle out in the last few minutes before the close when the momentum players are out and outright sellers again take control.

Day traders and other savvy investors look for signs of a late-day short-covering rally as an opportunity to grab some index-tracking Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) like the DOW “Diamonds” (symbol DIA) or the NASDAQ ‘Qubes” (symbol QQQ), or some “e-mini” futures contacts on the S&P 500. If the rally runs true to form, the momentum players are out before the closing bell, and hoping a few bucks richer.

You, too, should keep an eye out for short-covering rallies when you’re looking to buy or sell stock. They can be helpful in timing your order.

For more FREE trading tips, enter your email address at:

http://lb.bcentral.com/ex/manage/subscriberprefs?customerid=12826

There are a number of internet sports betting sites. Some have been online for years. You’ll find that most internet sports betting business operate or are licensed by exotic countries like Costa Rica, Barbados or Antigua. This is pretty normal, internet sports betting are regulated almost like regular gambling sports in the United States. Don’t be frightened; it isn’t illegal to place an online bet with licensed internet sports betting site.

The internet sports betting industry has come a long way in shedding its shady image of Big Bubba beating up betters with his baseball bat for not paying up on losing bets.

While there is nothing wrong with betting on whatever event one so chooses, these types of wagers do not belong at internet sports betting site.

Most internet sports betting betters thrive in the research and studying that is involved before placing a bet on a sporting event. It has become a skill to understand and investigate the meaning behind the betting odds and the likelihood that a given team, horse or player will win.

To offer pure chance bets, such as selecting the last Survivor, is an insult to the internet sports betting industry. It could perpetuate an image that Offshore Sportsbook betters are out-of-control gamblers who have to bet on anything and everything to make a fast buck.

That internet sports betting sites offer these types of bets feeds into that image. They are inadvertently hindering the perception that people should have about internet sports betting: That it requires skill and hours of research.

Professional SEO Copywriter. He helps a number of sportsbooks like:

Las Vegas Sportsbook

Hollywood Sportsbook

Last night I watched a television show. It was rather hilarious and disturbing at the same time.

I was actually talking to my mother when I first heard about it. I called her to chat and she told me she was watching this show called “Trading Spouses”. Isn’t that name terrible?

I couldn’t believe my Mom was watching such a thing.

But, after she told me about it, it sounded hilarious, so I decided to check it out when it came on in my time zone (we have a four hour time difference). And she was right, it was hilarious. So, I watched it with my husband last night.

Now, I’m not a big reality show fan. So, I’ll get to the point in a second.

So, anyway, last night’s show was about two husbands that traded places. The one was a New York City lawyer who lived in Manhattan - and he changed places with a low income worker who lived in the country in Georgia.

(Okay, and just to clarify for those of you whose minds might be going elsewhere - there was no hanky panky going on…)

So, you can imagine the difference in life style!

The country guy had his very first plane ride to get to New York, and he was blown away by the speed of life. The rich man’s kids were great; but his wife was a witch. Shocked that he was never at a restaurant that required dressing up, bragging about their beach home being worth $2-3 million, freaking out when someone walked into the kitchen with sand on their shoes, and nagging and pushing the son about getting his bar mitzvah speech right - especially since the affair was costing about as much as a wedding.

They city guy was in culture shock too. The house was run down and messy; and the kids were NIGHTMARES! They were totally out of control.

Unfortunately, I have seen kids that bad before in real life - but it’s been awhile. They were hitting, fighting, ignoring their mom, telling the man to “shut up” - can you believe it? And this was good behavior in front of the television crew and visitors? It was really awful.

So, here were two examples of BAD family relationships. A rich family with kids that behaved - but they couldn’t enjoy their family life because it was to much “go, go go” with a Mom that was wound up so tight that she’d wring the enjoyment out of everything. And a low income family with a family life - but one that sucked because the Mom couldn’t stand to be around her kids.

Oh - and you know what the Mom said about her bratty kids? She said that she “tried everything”. She tried sitting down and talking with them, she tried taking away toys, she tried sitting them in time-out. She tried it all, but nothing worked. Hmmmmm. Seems she left out THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE! The controlled, loving, whack across the caboose.

When are parents going to “get it” that loving, proper, consistent discipline when they’re young means that they’ll be controlled, loving, children that behave when they are 6, 7, and up.

AND - children can’t be happy if they aren’t disciplined. You can see it on their faces. Whiney, out-of-control children are miserable. And so is everyone around them, for that matter.

When’s the last time that you’ve seen a miserable, well disciplined child? You haven’t. I mean, there are a few moments of bad attitude or whatever that quickly goes away with correction; but they are basically happy, content, and secure.

So, anyway, back to my story.

Each family was getting $50,000 for the trade. But the catch was that the visiting spouse made the decision of how the other family would spend their $50,000. The rich man’s answer to fix the low income family? Buy the house, remodel it - basically improve material possessions.

The country man’s answer to fix the wealthy family? Family relationship counseling, cooking lessons, and family vacation time.

And you guessed it - the rich wife flipped out - she was planning on using the $50,000 to pay for her son’s bar mitzvah!!

But, I’ll say one thing. The country man was right on for what that family needed. Less focus on “things” and more focus on “relationships”.

Actually, he was downright clever. He showed America the #1 way to build family relationships…Cooking together.

Ahem. Ring a bell?

Cooking creates family bonds - across all ages - across all abilities. Too bad the country man didn’t have more of that wisdom to have disciplined kids too.

So, if you’re already ahead of the game with well behaved kids - don’t forget about the relationship side of things. And don’t overlook the easiest, most funnest ( he, he), I mean “fun” way to spend time with you kids - COOKING!!!!

Laura Bankston is author of “Homeschool Cooking in a Box” and the “Homeschool Cookbook”. She currently home schools her three children, maintains home school support websites, and manages their family-owned service business. For information on her curriculum and free home school support services, please visit http://www.homeschoolcookbook.com

How’s the weather there?

We use small talk to connect with others in a casual way, and by becoming more mindful of the way we interact with those we don’t know well, we can learn a lot about our confidence level, sense of privacy, and attachment to our own opinions.

Small talk isn’t a replacement for deeper relationshipsit’s the first step toward building them. We start by being fully present and talking about what is right there in front of usthe weather, your client’s new car, your neighbor’s flowers, the pictures on the walls in the interviewer’s office.

Good small talk indicates:

*Awareness. Did you notice that new haircut, office chair, or necktie? You can show others that you are paying attention by mentioning subtle changes.

*Friendliness. You could just smile and nod, but making a benign comment or asking a question shows that you are truly interested in taking the initiative in the conversation.

*A Desire to Connect. It’s easy to go about our lives without talking to others in any kind of meaningful way. By continuing to engage in light conversation with others, you are indicating your interest in getting to know them better.

*Sensitivity: You’re trying to build a bridge, not a wall. Ask questions and look for cues that let you know how the other person is receiving your comments.

Pay attention to your opportunities to use small talk to connect with others, and be mindful of the way you can leverage your words to develop deeper, more meaningful relationships.

Beyond the weather, there are thousands of topics you can use to create that bridge. Keep it light, be aware, and have fun in your conversations, and before you know it, you’ll be one of those people described as someone who has “never met a stranger.”

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and powerful eyes-wide-open ways to get calm, clear and creative. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com.

This article discusses the following topics in question format on stem cells:

What are stem cells?

How are stem cells obtained?

What other potential stem cell sources are there?

Why are we and special groups interested in stem cells?

What are the goals of stem cell research?

How will stem cells affect our future?

If you are deeply interested in stem cells for the first time and want to go beyond this article, go to the National Institute site and read their very comprehensive list of frequently answered questions (FAQs). The URL is http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/faqs.asp.

If you are deeply interested in stem cell research, go to: http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/.

What are stem cells?

The question should be phrased in terms of embryonic stem cells because that is what we are talking about here.

A human embryo is obtained when a woman’s egg is fertilized by a man’s sperm. This occurs in the human body but it can also be done in a laboratory. The procedure is often used in cases of infertility.

I have three grandchildren formed in this way. Their mother donated eggs, their father donated sperm, and the technicians watched the fertilization take place under a microscope. The fertilized eggs were placed in the mother and she gave birth to triplets.

If embryos formed in this way are not placed in the mother they can be and are used for medical research. Often extra fertilized eggs are produced during this process. Scientist would like to harvest these extra eggs rather than discard them. They could then use them to obtain stem cells.

Stem cells are never obtained from fertilized eggs that reside in a woman’s body.

The embryos obtained after they are a few days old are in the form of a mass of cells called a blastocyst; the embryo of about 150 cells. The blastocyst consists of a sphere made up of an outer layer of cells (the trophectoderm), a fluid-filled cavity (the blastocoel), and a cluster of cells on the interior (the inner cell mass).

How are stem cells obtained?

Cell cultures are grown in the laboratory by transferring the inner cell mass of about 30 cells into a culture dish which has a nutrient broth. The cells quickly multiply and fill the dish. They are then transferred to other culture dishes and the process goes on for months.

Once the cells are obtained they can be frozen and shipped to other laboratories.

What other potential stem cell sources are there?

Adult stem cells are a potential source. They can be used to reproduce cell of their type. That is, while embryonic stem cells can differentiate into any type of cell, adult stem cells can only reproduce cells of their type. If they are muscle cells, they can be used to reproduce only muscle cells. However, recent work has indicated that some adult stem cells may be able to differentiate into other cell types.

Why are we and special groups interested in stem cells?

Because stem cells can differentiate, that is, can be used to reproduce other cell types, they have tremendous potential for solving many human health problems.

Some groups do not want scientist to take human embryos for research in any way whatsoever. Because of this, President Bush restricted stem cell research to existing stem cell sources. Other governments have stayed out of the research arena and stem cells are collected at the whims of the scientist.

Scientists argue that excess stem cells are produced in fertility clinics and that they should be used to benefit mankind.

So, what do you think?

What are the goals of stem cell research?

First, scientists want to understand differentiation. We all know that the human embryo creates all the cell types in the human body. Scientists want to know how and when genes turn on and off to create a particular cell type. Abnormal cell divisions cause birth defects and cancer. Scientists want to know what signals a change in the process of cell development. This could lead to cures for cancer and birth defects.

Stem cells could be used to test new drugs rather than human guinea pigs and animals. Damage to the stem cells would eliminate the drug before it could do damage in the market place, as so many drugs do now.

I would like to quote http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics6.asp directly at this point: Perhaps the most important potential application of human stem cells is the generation of cells and tissues that could be used for Cell-based therapiestreatment in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or depleted adult cell populations or tissues.

Today, donated organs and tissues are often used to replace ailing or destroyed tissue, but the need for transplantable tissues and organs far outweighs the available supply. Stem cells, directed to differentiate into specific cell types, offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

How will stem cells affect our future?

Have you heard of the Fountain of Youth?

John T. Jones, Ph.D. (tjbooks@hotmail.com, a retired VP of R&D for Lenox China, is author of detective & western novels, nonfiction (business, scientific, engineering, humor), poetry, etc. Former editor of Ceramic Industry Magazine. He is Executive Representative of IWS sellers of Tyler Hicks wealth-success books and kits. He also sells TopFlight flagpoles. He calls himself “Taylor Jones, the hack writer.”

More info: http://www.tjbooks.com

Business web site: http://www.aaaflagpoles.com

Paying for college sometimes means using student loans. Student loans are specifically designed to help students meet the costs of a higher education. Most student loans offer good deals on tax credits, payback and interest rates. However, before getting a student loan it is important to consider the different types of student loans and where to go to get one.

Student loans can come from private lenders, colleges or the federal government. Federal loans are often guaranteed, which means no collateral is needed to obtain the loan. The Federal Stafford Loan is a commonly used government loan that provides low interest rates. Some Stafford Loans are based on income and others are not. Subsidized loans are based on income and the government pays interest until the student begins repayment. An unstudied loan Leaves all interest up to the student. There is also the Federal PLUS loan that parents can take out for students.

Besides the government loans there are bank loans. Loans through banks differ in payment options and interest rates. Most banks will require some form of collateral for the loan. Collateral is something that the bank will get if the loan is not paid. State loans can be more expensive than government loans and are usually handled through banks. College loans are the most costly and should only be used on an emergency basis. There are also special loans that a student may apply for based upon certain factors, like military affiliation.

Once a loan is secured reading and understanding it is essential. A student should understand about repayment, interest rates and any limits on amounts they can borrow. Understanding where to go get a loan is also important. Student loans may be the only way to ensure a student can afford college, so getting to know the options is a good place to start.

Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides information on student loans at Just Student Loans!

Mrs. Dixon the famous prognosticator and psychic to the stars talked for several hours as my friend sat in the audience and took notes. Although she didn’t believe that Jeanne Dixon was a legitimate source of prophecy she wasn’t listening as much to her predictions, as she was to her choice of words. She counted the personal pronouns Dixon used like, I, me, and mine. The list of pronouns was in the hundreds. She also listed the times Dixon used words like God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit. That list consisted of about a dozen mentions. I remember that I was somewhat shocked by what I thought was a hyper critical assessment of Dixon’s presentation. My friend was one of the mildest and most helpful persons I had ever known and this seemed so out of character for her.

I’ve had over three decades to ponder her critique and ponder it I have. In fact, now I use this same kind of observation without giving it a second thought. I have listened to countless speakers and preachers since then and I noticed that some use all too many personal pronouns while others refer to God, Jesus Christ, the Apostles or the scripture in general. The other thing I noticed, is that I am always far more edified or inspired by the speakers who use the latter method.

In the last ten years or so another type of preaching seems to have emerged. I call it the “you” gospel. Preachers plug the word you in some cases at a rate of a ten to one against words like God or Christ. Its how you feel, or what you accomplish, what you are learning or how you are succeeding. In a success worshipping culture like ours it works very well and preachers taking this approach are not lacking adherents or followers. Many have become more like gurus than preachers of the gospel. I have often wondered why they don’t just forget the gospel entirely and move over into the motivational speakers’ circuit.

I can hardly fight off the temptation to borrow a familiar phrase that the late John F. Kennedy used. Modified for present use it would sound something like this. Ask not what God can do for you, but ask what you can do for your God. Oversimplified? I think not. The last time I read my bible it still said that we are bondservants to our Lord Jesus Christ. I still take this to mean we are serving him and not the other way around. The gospel is to be obeyed, not just used as sensitivity training.

On a recent nationally syndicated TV newscast I listened to several people discussing the chances the believer has to stand up for their beliefs in this difficult place in time. Among them was my former Pastor, Dr. Richard Land who is heard daily on over 600 radio stations around the country. One of the guests speaking along with Richard was a well known U.S. senator. What he said in one breath was more poignant than anything I heard in any sermon for a long time. He said that this is a time of great opportunity for Christians throughout the US, not for proving what God can do for us. It is a time, he said, for us to prove to God that we are thankful for his salvation and ready to prove to him that we are his sons and daughters. Coming from a politician, and yet this statement should be engraved on the minds of every believer from Maine to California.

Jesus said, So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Mt 25:30 KJV How have we managed to twist this simple teaching to mean something almost the opposite of the way it was given? The preachers of the “you” gospel would have us to believe it should read…When God has done everything for us that He has promised to do, it will be very profitable for us.

I thought the “me” generation was only for the eighties but perhaps it has spawned an entirely new generation that might be referred to as the “Me, Myself and I” generation. Oh, those pesky pronouns!

Rev Bresciani has written many articles over the past thirty years in such periodicals as Guideposts and Catholic Digest. He is the author of two books available on Amazon.com, Alibris, Barnes and Noble and many other places. Rev Bresciani wrote, Hook Line and Sinker or What has Your Church Been Teaching You, published by PublishAmerica of Baltimore MD. He also wrote a book recently released by Xulon Press entitled An American Prophet and His Message, Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ. Rev Bresciani has his own website at http://americanprophet.org