A new spin on ways to prevent global warming: whatever works!
It's been many years now since global warming surfaced in public awareness. For many years since the concept was introduced, certain contingents were in denial. Despite world renowned scientists, agencies and organizations being in agreement that the world needed to quickly develop and implement ways to prevent global warming, not enough has been done. It's getting to a critical juncture as we speak. Desperate situations sometimes require desperate measures. You wouldn't think that an issue as important as the survival of humanity would need to be quibbled over and bickered about for years before some real action was taken.
There have been some steps taken in the effort to initiate ways to prevent global warming, but a bit slow if you ask me. The recent move to subsidize the growing of corn to be made into fuel smacks a bit of pork barreling. Especially when a recent news report stated that sorghum, a far less acreage-heavy crop, which produces four times the energy, can serve the same purpose in a superior way. Aren't there scientists who could have brought this to light before they ever started down the corn road? Probably so.
News sources also recently revealed that New York City's electric use, at a current cost of $13 billion a year, has prompted some clever engineer to harness the water currents in the East River with turbines. These turbines, turning much like a windmill does, creates great gobs of free energy. This project is now in the works. This solution is one of the great ways to prevent global warming. Other cities with such resources, take note! There's really no time to waste.
The greatest detriment of ways to prevent global warming seems to boil down to a lack of publicity. Maybe it's really a marketing issue. In order to spur our trusty government folks on, a certain Frenchman, Alain Robert, also known as 'Spiderman', decided to climb the 52-story New York Times building as a publicity stunt, to promote the issues involved in ways to prevent global warming. Msr. Robert has climbed up more than 70 famous structures worldwide, including the Eiffel Tower.
As he ascended, he stopped briefly on the 15th floor to unroll and display a day-glo yellow, can't-miss-it, banner which read, "Global warming kills more people than 9/11 every week." Now that's an attention-getter!
Apparently, some people took offense at mentioning global warming in connection to 9/11. However, it's surely something people can relate to in terms of horrific numbers. Msr. Roberts was arrested at the top of the skyscraper and charged with reckless endangerment, making graffiti, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. Jeez!
The arresting detectives deemed him to be 'unrepentant'. Msr. Robert's comment was, "I just did my stuff for my statements on global warming." He did make a big splash in the media. Time's growing short, so, whatever it takes, I say.
Flowering cherry trees make a spectacular springtime garden display
After a long, dreary winter, we're all ready for spring. Even if you're not a gardener, you can still appreciate the sight of a little patch of daffodils or tulips. Their bright, cheerful colors herald the coming of spring and warmer days. Perhaps that's why my grandmother often said, "You're as welcome as the flowers in May!", a wonderfully touching sentiment.
In most parts of the country, winter melds into spring, with the bright spring flowers offering a brilliant, but brief display of glorious color. Maybe this is why we treasure them all the more, because the display is fleeting. Nonetheless, we enjoy each bright flower, never missing a day to take a good look at these delightful spots of color.
So how can we prolong the joys of spring in the garden? We don't often think of the lovely flowering cherry tree when we're contemplating the spring garden. In country settings, you'll often encounter the flowering cherry tree along rural roads where they seem to thrive, virtually unattended. If left unpruned and unshaped, the flowering cherry tree may grow in many shapes, from a natural vase shape to a tree gone wild. Only in spring does this tree stand out in all its glory.
While most deciduous trees lie dormant, with their branch formations being their main asset, the flowering cherry tree is first spotted sprouting flower buds which stand out in sharp relief. In a matter of weeks, seemingly overnight, the buds give way to lovely pink flowers burst forth in a magnificent display that dominates your view. Although the flowers last but a few weeks, the joy of the display makes this tree well worth planting in your home garden.
In summer, they seem to hide in the landscape among the many other trees, of unassuming stature or distinction. However, the flowering cherry tree has many practical qualities which make it an asset to any garden. A relatively small tree, it can be planted in a patio situation in fairly close proximity to your home without fear of damaging your foundation with its roots. It can be grown in most gardening zones, as it tolerates a bit of winter chill.
Planted in a location which affords a view from inside your home gives you cheer in springtime and an element of shade during the summer. The purple leaves lend variety of color in the summer garden as well. In fall, the leaves turn color gradually and subtly. A well-pruned flowering cherry tree provides a charming silhouette in winter and allows light to come in during the cold months.
Although the flowering cherry does not produce fruit, it's certainly worthy of a spot in your landscape.
In your average aquarium, the water plants are an afterthought. Most people never even include real ones. They throw in some fanciful fake coral, strands of plastic algae, and perhaps a fake water lily or two. No thought is given to a consistency, and the whole effect is rather fake and tacky – like putting a plastic treasure chest at the bottom of the fish tank. In my case, however, the water plants were the first thing I thought of. The interest in fish came next.
You see, I have been interested in under water plants for as long as I can remember. Plant growth in water used to be mysterious and vaguely terrifying to me. We went to a very murky lake to go boating when I was a kid, and I used to be frightened of the giant strands of algae that would stretch to the surface all the way from the bottom. I would picture them getting tangled up in the propeller, then slowly climbing aboard to grab us and drag us down. I was so frightened of them, in fact, that it was difficult for my dad to even convince me to go swimming.
Somewhere along the way, my water plant phobia became a love of them. I don't know when the change happened, but by the time I was in college, I was studying marine ecology. I was interested in the growth of plants in water, and how it was affected by environmental pollution. In the area I was living at the time, you see, this was a big issue. Water pollution was making algae blooms occur in the lakes. This had the effect of turning many previously clear lakes into swamps within a few years. It was wreaking serious havoc with the watershed, and we wanted to understand the process.
Of course, nowadays water plants are more of a hobby for me. I have a koi pond in my backyard, but the fish are not the main attraction. The pond plants are. I have many plants that, at least according to most experts, shouldn't be able to grow in a small backyard ponds like mine. I have certain secrets that I'm not willing to divulge, and they have earned me a well-deserved reputation as a master of underwater ecosystems. My aquarium is no less impressive, and people come by to see it all the time, as well they should. After all, what else does a retired ecologist do with his time?
Civil War Miniatures
My first exposure to Civil War miniatures was when I was a kid. My dad was a private investigator, but in his spare time he was also a collector and painter of miniatures. He had all kinds of different miniature figurines, including World War II miniatures, replica tall ships, and a collection of Dutch windmill replicas. His favorite hobby, however, was adding to his Civil War miniature collection.
There are many different ways to collect miniature toy soldiers. Some people like to get fantastic knights in armor, armed with majestic weapons and regaled in bright and shiny armor. It does not matter to some of these collectors whether or not their knights are realistic. The point is the fantasy for them. With Civil War miniatures, however, realism is always at a premium. The major civil war toy soldier collectors will actually do historical research to make sure that their miniatures accurately reflect the regiments of the various battalions which served in the Civil War. Civil War replicas are not made for the casual collector in general. People who aren't serious about it generally don't get involved.
My dad was extremely serious. As a matter of fact, he had one of the best Civil War miniatures collections in town. A lot of his friends were involved in Civil War reenactment, and collected replicas and authentic artifacts from that period of time, but not my dad. For him, having a miniature army in front of him was the thrill. He didn't really care whether he had artifacts from the actual conflict. He liked to see the battle spread out in front of him and envision what things were like in the war.
Now that I am a father, I am starting to revisit miniature Civil War soldiers. My son has just started a unit on the American Civil War in school, so naturally it is time to go into my closet and dig out my own figurines. I'm thinking about giving him some for his birthday, but maybe I should show them to him first. It might make sense to gauge his reaction before I entrust my antique toy soldiers to my son. If he is only slightly interested in them, I had better keep them myself. If he is like most boys, however, he will be absolutely thrilled to get the Civil War miniatures. I would say nine kids out of ten love to play with toy soldiers.
There are flashlights and then there are extreme flashlights designed for hardcore users. Which one are you keeping in your home or vehicle? I prefer the latter! This is based on my experience with numerous flashlights over the years. I've had my share of plastic, D-batter lights that don't offer much illumination. Fortunately the market has grown dramatically. Now there are outstanding military flashlights that release up to 500 lumens of light at once. This blows the old-school stuff out of the water. Say hello to the age of Surefire!
I can still recall the lame blue flashlight I had as a child. It was naturally plastic and ran off of 2 D-batteries. It worked as much as I thought flashlights were supposed to at that time. But, it hardly even glows in comparison to the Surefire flashlight I wield today. I've never seen any flashlight that could hold a candle to the Surefire 10X Dominator. This bad boy can light your entire home. When I click it on, it's almost like a police-grade spotlight. I love it. However, I can't tote this hefty flashlight around with me at all times. That's why I keep it in the house and carry a Surefire Executive Defender on my person. These are compact and tough as can be. At around 5 inches, you can easily slide it in your pocket. The stainless clip makes it simple. But it's not just about strong light beams! Military flashlights are also idea for self-defense. The Executive Defender is crafted from T6 aircraft grade aluminum. This is seriously tough stuff. These flashlights have been known to stop bullets. It's even become part of Surefire's pitch. At least one police officer has been saved by his Surefire flashlight. That's truly amazing. Anyway, military flashlights such as the Defender is designed with blunt prongs on the top and base of the flashlight. This makes it ideal for striking an attacker.
The phenomenally bright beam of military flashlights such as Surefire can blind an aggressor. This is especially true at night. Imagine getting hit in the face with 100 lumens of light after your eyes have adjusted to the night sky. it will blind you temporarily and cause you to see spots. Maybe you need to check out a few military flashlights and find a quality self-defense tool to carry.
As a civilian, it's generally difficult to understand what law enforcement officers have to deal with on a regular basis. Far too often, people make lame assumptions like cops just cruise around eating doughnuts and passing out tickets. This couldn't be further from the truth. Do you think you could handle realistic police training? If it genuinely is so simple and laid-back, why don't you pursue a career in law enforcement? Hmm, my guess is that reality deters you from such actions. We all know in the back of our minds that police officers put their lives on the line regularly. This is NOT something most individuals are willing to do. What does it take to enforce the law these days?
Growing up, I had a father in law enforcement. Therefore I was able to hear all about police training and what state troopers deal with daily. If you're not clear on what the difference between a cop and a state trooper is, I'll clear things up. Police officers have a jurisdiction, which is most likely a city limit or county. State troopers on the other hand, have jurisdiction in the entire state. Now, there is one aspect of police training that you may have never thought of. It doesn't involve a physical weapon such as a firearm or pepper spray. It involves a voice. Law enforcement officers are trained to use their voice. It may sound amusing, but the human voice is a powerful thing. Okay, so you've heard that spiel before. But I'm talking about powerful in a different way. An officer of the law is trained to scream orders at a suspect if need be. This naturally causes the human body to react compliantly. The mind is shocked by the shouts, and does as it's told. My father went through a police training course such as this, and he claimed it worked well for him throughout his career. Actually I got a taste of it when I wasn't following orders at home.
Law enforcement officers acquire all sorts of police training these days. Naturally as time has moved forward, more training is essential. One aspect of police training is control. While police officers have to be able to control situations, they also have to be able to control their temper as well. When you're in a field like this, things can get out of hand quickly.
My Experience In Private Investigation Training
I started training to be a private investigator on a whim. There was a criminal justice class being offered at the local junior college, and I thought I would give it a shot. I had never been that interested in private investigation training, but I did think that I had the right sort of mind for it. After all, I have always been fascinated by puzzles and mysteries. I didn't really want to be a police officer, but private investigation training seemed right up my alley. I knew it would give me the chance to see what I thought of law enforcement without enrolling in a full-time police academy.
As it turned out, I liked it a lot. Private investigation training is nothing like you might imagine it from all the cop shows that most of us watch. A private investigators training involves a lot of theory before you get to the glamorous stuff. You have to learn all of the rights and responsibilities of a private investigator, the laws regarding what you can and can't do, and the basic techniques of the trade. Private investigation training involves little firearms or self-defense practice. If you are going to be a private investigator, you have to handle that stuff on your own. In reality, however, most of the private investigators I know don't carry firearms all that often. It is not your job to fight it out with the bad guys – you leave that to the police officers.
Private investigation training varies a lot from school to school. Some places give you the minimum training required to get your license, while others like to go above and beyond the requirements to make sure you really know what you're doing. I personally always like to err on the side of being too prepared. You can never have too much training, but you can definitely have too little. Some people, however, see it differently. There are a lot of folks who want to learn their jobs out in the field. They feel that they don't need as much training, and would rather get started as soon as possible. For these folks, a more fast-track program is the way to go. Either way, private investigator training is the start of a great career. It is fun, lucrative, and fascinating. Best of all, unlike other law enforcement careers, you don't have to do what your sergeant tells you. As a private dick, you can be your own boss.
About two years ago, one of my good friends started working in the Chicago Police Department. To say I was surprised is an understatement. He had been the quintessential rebel in high school, and I certainly never expected him to get involved in police work. He always did his own thing and went his own way, defying authority at every turn. Police officers, by contrast, are the model of authority. I couldn't figure out what would get him involved in police work in the first place. Was a police officers salary that good? Was the job market in his chosen field – graphic design – that bad? I was almost afraid to ask him, but one day I brought it up over drinks at our local bar. I was surprised by his answer.
Apparently, my friend wasn't your typical police officer. I was right in my thinking that most rebel kids do not go on to become cops. That, in fact, was exactly why he joined the police department. The police jobs seemed cushy enough, and the pay was pretty good, but what he really wanted was to have the chance to change things from inside. Both of us have vivid memories of How Chicago police officers would treat us when we were growing up. All you had to do was be a teenager, hanging out on the street with your friends, and you were fair game for the cops. They would question you, write you up for tiny infractions, and basically do anything they could to drive you away.
That sense of injustice, of being picked on by police officers and being mistreated just because of who he was, stuck with my friend into his adult life. That is why he decided on a criminal justice career. Unlike many people who get a law degree to try to make the world a better place, he said he could do the most good in the police department. After all, almost everyone who becomes a police officer sees the world in black and white. There are good lawyers out there who can see beyond this kind of polarized thinking, but there aren't many cops who can. By bringing a more subtle, nuanced, intelligent outlook into a major metropolitan police department, he thought he could do more good than he could as a lawyer. Although it doesn't seem like he has a chance, I still respect his integrity for trying. If nothing else, he will be an honest cop.
Stop signs are not a double-entendre, even if they're hidden in a tree!
Although the meaning of a stop sign is unequivocal, police forces around the country issue hundreds of thousands of tickets to motorists for infractions against this familiar sign's message. Have you ever received a ticket for running a stop sign? Statistics say, probably so. There's not a motorist alive who could successfully argue against the merits of this safety sign.
This big red sign is internationally recognized. It means that you must stop your vehicle and look both ways before proceeding. It's just common sense. No one gets in their car intending to drive around ignoring stop signs. You know you could hurt a pedestrian or other motorist with such carelessness.
However, some ordinarily well intentioned drivers devise certain rationales which circumvent the conventional meaning of the stop sign. This is what constitutes the bulk of traffic tickets for this particular offense. You're not some guy who has just robbed a bank and is blowing stop signs in his getaway. You're just meandering down a street in your quiet neighborhood. As you approach the intersection, you can see at least 500 yards in every direction. Not a soul in sight. You execute what the cops characterize as the 'mental pause'. A little pressure on the brake pedal and you're on your way.
You failed to see the officer, poised at the juncture of a little alley right near the intersection. You're bagged. There's no sense in fighting the ticket. You just pay the fine and agonize over the sure-to-come hike in your insurance rates. Although ignoring the rules of the road in this scenario would never have resulted in injury or damage, you're still wrong in the eyes of the law.
Habits are easy to pick up. Don't make a practice of exceptions to the rules when driving. It takes but a few seconds to actually come to a stop at that quiet neighborhood corner. Making a habit of abiding by the rules could one day save a life. Making a special list of your own exception cases will cost you and you may hurt someone.
What about the situation where the stop sign is made invisible within the branches of that lovely tree at the corner? Unless you live in the neighborhood, you won't know it's there. There's that wily officer, sitting down the block. Now here's a ticket you can and should, fight! Here you've changed your driving practices, abiding by the law, and now your insurance rates are going to go up, you've got a fine and all because the city didn't trim the tree or move the stop sign! A serious accident could have occurred. Get them to fix that and dismiss your ticket!
Do you have an emergency action plan for your family?
If you watch the nightly news, you're aware of the frequency of natural disasters, such as the recent monstrous earthquake in China and swarms of tornadoes which devastated a large area of the United States. Besides such natural disasters, we must all be prepared for home fires, school lockdowns and the like. Health emergencies call for an action plan as well. If you don't have a comprehensive emergency action plan in place for your family, now is the time to make sure you cover such eventualities and post your plan in a prominent location at home. Such a plan can literally make the difference between life and death. Here are some suggestions on making a meaningful and through emergency action plan to keep you and your family members safe.
To begin with, you'll need a list of phone numbers which includes doctors, dentists, schools, hospitals, neighbors and emergency shelters. Look into your community resources and include organizations which may pertain to your family's needs. For example, if wildfires are common in your area, find out who you can contact for updates or help should the need arise. When a crises is upon you, you'll have the information at hand. Post this list on the frig.
To find the recommended procedures to deal with a natural disaster, get online and search 'disaster-type emergency action plan'.
Only a couple of decades ago, people living in California didn't give a thought to planning for a tornado which might strike their locale. Likewise, regions not usually prone to flooding in past decades might now be susceptible. So if you do have an emergency action plan, you'll do well to reexamine and update it. If you don't have any plan at all, do spend the few hours required to put one together.
A one-inch binder should be adequate to contain all the information you need. You might use index tabs to separate various categories for easy lookup. In front, put all the numbers on the frig list. Your second tab might contain first aid procedures. If a family member suffers from a life-threatening condition, such as a heart condition or epilepsy, put the information pertinent to dealing with a crises at the front. Next, have a tab for each natural disaster you might encounter.
When your emergency action plan binder is complete, get all of your family members together and go over all of the contents. Make sure everyone knows what to do in case of emergency. Older kids should carry a list of relevant phone numbers in their wallets, so that you can keep in touch and coordinate your actions. Be sure everyone knows where to meet or look for one another should the need arise.
Keep this binder in a specific location, accessible at any time. A little foresight can save you and make you feel more secure and prepared for just about any threatening event. You'll sleep better.
Natural Disasters
In the past several years, it certainly seems like the amount of natural disasters has increased dramatically. We’ve all watched the forecasts for the deadly hurricanes that slowly approach the shorelines and pray that they don’t strike with too much fierceness. We’ve seen the aftermaths of the tornadoes that seemingly appear out of the sky without any warning and destroy everything in its path. The entire world stared in wonder at the unrelenting tsunami that struck in the Indian Ocean years ago and took 150,000 lives as its souvenir. At the current moment, a volcano in Hawaii is showing its glory and attracting thousands of tourists to witness one of the most spectacular of all natural disasters.
In every corner of the world, natural disasters have had some sort of impact. Nature has its way of letting human beings know that it has more control over the planet than we like to believe. Natural disasters cannot be prevented. They can, however, be forecasted at times and some of the outcomes can be prevented. Thanks to modern day technology, we can see hurricanes coming before they have the chance to perform a sneak attack. People can evacuate towns and board up their residences. They may be able to prevent quite a bit of damage, but we all witnessed the results of Katrina’s rampage a few years ago. Early planning saved a lot of lives but additional planning could have prevented the mass amounts of destruction. No matter if you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, learning safety tips and having a plan of escape is always a good idea. There are lots of sources online for tips and information about being prepared.
Tornadoes can be discovered a few moments before they hit but often times, there is little forecasters can do to warn people ahead of time. It is one of the natural disasters that simply strike when the elements are right. Most times, people barely have enough of time to make it to shelter. What causes natural disasters? Luckily, through research and a lot of brave people who run towards the storms when the rest of the populations are running away, we’ve learned much about them. Obviously, no one will ever be able to learn how to prevent them but at least we know how they happen and why. High school students learn about hurricanes and tornadoes, thunderstorms and avalanches in their science classes. Experiments will be performed. Previous natural disasters throughout history will be studied. And yet, there is something about natural disasters that will keep them somewhat of a mystery.
Investing Money While in College is Smart
Ah, the college years! This is that time in life where you get to finally break loose and be your own person. No more living under your parent's roof and obeying their strict rules. Suddenly you're out living on your own and attending a massive school that takes up most of your time. So, how do you plan on investing money while in college? Consider the basic expenses you'll have whether you like it or not. There's generally rent, tuition, text books, food, and anything else you have to spend on living. Naturally you can get rid of the rent bill by living at home with the folks while attending a university. This would in fact help you with the process of investing money while in college.
There's no doubt that most people do not think about investing money while in college. This is the time when all you can think about is getting your work done, doing well on exams and midterms, and having some good old-fashioned fun as a young adult. Sound about right? However, if you can manage to invest a little money while in college, you will be way ahead of the game. In reality, most individuals wait until they're out of school before they start investing capital. The truth is folks tend to invest after the age of thirty. Some even put it off longer. Obviously this means that they won't have as much money saved for the future.
Where to begin? One way to start investing money while in college is through stocks or bonds. These are good investments since they naturally increase over time. Purchase some stocks now when you have the extra cash and just let them grow. A second way you can invest money while in college is in a simple savings account. Let the cash sit there and collect interest as the college years go by. This is probably the most common route people take. Keep in mind that there are endless ways to invest money for your future. The trick is not spending it on material things when you're feeling anxious or tempted in a store. Proper investing takes patience and will power.
Sort out pie-in-the-sky from true money making ideas
Ideas for making money are never out of favor. However, today, just about all of us are trying to brainstorm and come up with money making ideas to increase our income. The trick is to sort out the wishful thinking ideas from the effective strategies that produce results. Let's look at how you can bring your money making ideas to fruition.
Although there's nothing wrong with dreaming, you want to be sure that there's substance and a market need associated with your dream. For example, let's say your dream is to have your own jeweler's shop, stocked with your own creations. The problem is, you're broke and lack the capital to fund your shop. This money making idea is not viable, given your resources. While you may be the finest jeweler around, it's not going to fly.
On the other hand, perhaps you've come up with a design for a product which no one else is marketing and for which there's a need. You may well have found a new market niche that could pay off handsomely. Such a money making idea can fulfill your dream and generate income. If you've done your homework, studied the demographics and believe you have the means or talent to successfully market your product, this idea is realistic.
When you're in the brainstorming phase, put all your skills on the table. If you have extensive knowledge on a certain topic, consider writing booklets on that topic, designed to be informative and educational. You write the booklet once, but can sell it over and over again. All the effort is up front.
Once the booklet is completed, you've got a product which generates passive income. You may be able to enjoy the income from your initial work for years to come. Another benefit of passive income is that very little capital is required.
Again, do your homework. Find out how many other people are marketing booklets on your topic and examine the quality of information offered. Cooking, gardening and pets are some of the most popular topics which sell. If your expertise is in insect behavior, your audience may be quite limited. In this case, you'd want to discard this money making idea possibility. It's not worth the effort.
Let's say you're an expert seamstress and you've been making clothing all your life. You also make the classiest draperies around. This is a money making idea waiting to happen. You can open your business right in your home. You already have the equipment and can gain a tax advantage from your home business. You have the advantage of word-of-mouth referrals from friends and neighbors, so your advertising budget can be nominal. Why not?
You probably have a half dozen realistic money making ideas right at your fingertips. The trick is to work within your means and available resources and think creatively but objectively. As long as the market for your concept is there, you almost can't help succeeding!
Help Paying Rent
I rarely need help paying my rent,But when I do the situation can be pretty bleak. Once you're out of college, you can't very well ask your parents to help pay rent. You have to grow up one way or another, and oftentimes your parents don't have the money to afford paying your rent anyway. There are resources out there, but you need to be careful and you need to be savvy. For every sincere group out to help the poor, there are two or three who want to take advantage of you while you're down.
One of the most frequently used tools there for help paying rent is the payday cash advance. Payday cash advances can actually be a pretty good tool if you are just a few days behind. After all, if you wait until you actually get the money, it can increase the money you owe. Penalties and threats from landlords are not a lot of fun, so it can be worth the money you have to pay to the cash advance center.
Then again, if you can enlist a friend's help paying rent, you will have better luck. Friends will not charge interest for a short-term loan, and that makes a big difference. Think about the people you know and whether any of them owe you a favor. You'd be surprised how often you can find just the help paying rent you need at your moment of greatest urgency.
Then again, if you chronically need help paying rent, it might be time to investigate new job opportunities. You'd be surprised at the resources that cities have to help the working poor. There are, of course, temp agencies that offer job training which you can go to. Even better, you might be able to get federal assistance. Federal job training And placement programs are often hard to find out about because they don't tend to advertise efficiently. If you can discover them, however, you can often get more than help paying rent. You can get help pursuing an actual career so that you don't have to live paycheck to paycheck.
Still, when you are living with the immediate reality of having to pay rent in the next week, it is hard to think of things in this kind of global perspective. Sometimes, what you need is a short-term fix so that you can have time to think about a long-term solution.
Borrowing money can be a very tricky ordeal for some people. I know that I am not good with numbers, and things like interest rates are especially tricky for me. I know what the numbers mean, and when I might be getting something good and when I am not, but I often leave the thinking about loan rates to my husband. He seems to have a knack for deciding if a rate is worth it, or if we should hold out for something better. Many people who are looking to buy homes and cars should also know what he does about interest and what it can do.
There are times when interest rates are always good. That is when the economy is in full swing, and when many are interested in having loans. When this happens, banks have to lower their interest on loan rates some so that they can draw in the most customers. If they price too high, people will just seek a loan somewhere else. However, when things get tighter and loans are getting harder to find, the loan rates you find many creep up and that can cost you in the long run.
What many don’t think about with loan rates is that when you have bad credit, you are going to have to pay a higher interest rate not matter what. That is, if you can get a loan for anything or not. Recently, the sub-prime housing loan market took a hit, and that means those with questionable credit are going to have a harder time getting a loan than they ever had before. It also means that those sub prime loans may have an even higher interest rate than they did just a year ago. Banks and other financial institutions wanted to loan to more people, but they also have to protect themselves when they do that.
When you think about what you can get for loan rates, think about your credit. If you have problems, and you don’t want a very high rate, you should take care of some of the problems on your credit before you apply. If you have good credit, remember that you are someone that the banks want to loan to, and you can shop around to find the very best loan rates that are out there. Just a small percentage of a point can mean big money over the life of a loan, so finding the best deal is always something anyone should do no matter what type of credit they have.
Treasure Hunters
I think that hunting treasure must be one of the most universal fantasies in our culture. Treasure hunters are glorified in movies, video games, novels, and every other medium there is. After all, what could be better than finding buried treasure. It combines history, mystery, archeology, danger, and all the other adventurous attributes into one seamless whole.
I have been a sort of amateur treasure hunter for most of my life. I started off with a metal detector like many geeky kids do. Most metal detecting treasure hunters don't find much besides a little bit of spare change, but some people actually strike it rich. I had a friend who bought a metal detector and found a stash of Roman coins near an excavation site. In the end he made hundreds of dollars off it – not a fortune, but more than enough to recoup his expenses. Best of all, he had quite an adventure.
Of course for amateur treasure hunters, sometimes the treasure doesn't even have to be real. If you have never had a treasure hunting party and you're interested in buried riches, you should consider holding one. It's basically a scavenger hunt for grown-ups, only a bit more intellectual. The clues will involve riddles, anagrams, and other sophisticated word games for adults. There are even some private companies that hold parties for the would-be treasure hunter. If you can get invited to one of these events or sign up for one, it is certainly worth it to do so.
Still, my favorite thing is reading about the famous archaeological expeditions that have happened over the centuries. I love hearing the story of the discovery of King Tutankhamen, for example, or reading about the excavation of Mayan ruins in Latin America. Although my job doesn't allow me to go on these treasure hunts, I can always dream. Through the books I read, I can certainly live them vicariously.
Of course, if you want to be a real-life treasure hunter, you can always get an education in archeology. Although some archaeologists work in far tamer occupations, quite a few are treasure hunters. They get to dig up excavation sites looking for any signs of ancient civilizations. I know a few people who do this professionally, and they say that it is a lot of fun. It is not all excitement – there's certainly no gun play involved like in Indiana Jones – but the work is every bit as rewarding.
Average Job Salaries
When I was growing up, I never really worried about average job salaries. My parents had a list of average salaries by job that they wanted me to look at when I was getting ready to graduate high school, but I simply was not interested. I was pretty sure that I knew what to do with my life, and an average job salaries list wasn't going to change that. I wanted to spend my life being an artist, and I didn't care if I was poor.
A couple years on my own, working a minimum wage job and struggling to make rent has changed my feelings about average job salaries a little bit. I realize that it is a mistake to make up your mind based on average salaries alone, but it is still an important factor. Let's face it, few people want to give up all the amenities of life To pursue a dream, and it isn't really practical to do. You don't have to be poor to be an artist. As a matter of fact, it doesn't even help. Making enough money means that you can take trips to places you find inspiring, take time off every now and then without worrying about not being able to afford rent, and in general have more energy to devote to your art.
One of the things about average job salaries that struck me was how much difference a little bit of specialization and training made. I have a liberal arts degree from A good university, and up until recently that would have counted for something. Nowadays, however, - unless I fall into a really good office job – I could probably make more money with a certificate in some very specific field of knowledge. If I took some human resources management classes, massage training, or college course for residential nurses, I would have some skill that I could market. Just being educated doesn't cut it anymore. You need to specialize.
Looking at the average job salaries, I realize that there is a lot I can do with my humanities training provided that I'm willing to get a little bit more schooling. The thing is, I don't really want an office job. Being cooped up in front of a computer all day is not my idea of fun. When I am writing or doing art, I am mostly sitting around anyway. I've been thinking about getting into something more hands-on as a change. That way, after working all day I will be ready to sit down and start on my creative projects.
Financial Planning for Retirement
Now that I'm getting older, I've decided that I really need to start saving some money for retirement. I'm still in my mid-thirties, but I don't even have as much as a single IRA in my name, so I'm definitely behind in the game. I've been reading news articles about how Social Security isn't likely going to be around when I retire, so I know I can't count on the government to take care of me. Plus, the cost of living just continues to skyrocket, which means that financial planning is even more important now than ever before.
As I said, I've never really worried about financial planning before, but I guess it's better late than never. I don't have a personal adviser for money matters, so I've been doing a little research on the Internet to try to find out how other people are saving up for retirement. I was pretty overwhelmed by the amount of financial planning information out there, so it's definitely going to take me some time to weed through it all.
From many of the websites I've reviewed thus far, I've learned that the most important financial planning decision I have to make is what kind of investment vehicles to put my money into. There are plenty to choose from, of course, so I really need to be aware of the return rate I'd be getting before I part with my money.
For example, simply keeping my money in a savings account that yields 3 percent annually isn't the smartest financial planning move I can make. That rate of return doesn't justify tying up my money, so I'd be better off putting it in stocks or bonds that can yield two to three times the interest.
Another thing I learned from the various financial planning website I visited was that it might be helpful to sit down with a professional planner to go over my current situation. Together, we could discuss my goals for the future, calculate how much money I think I'll need for retirement, and work out a viable investment plan to help me reach my goals before age 65.
That sounds like an excellent idea, so I'm currently looking for someone in my area who is qualified to assist me with my financial planning needs.
I have to admit that I'm very relieved to finally be doing something about my retirement. Hopefully with some sound financial planning now, I'll have a sizable nest egg to enjoy in my golden years!
Free Affiliate Programs to Earn From
There are so many people making loads of money online these days. Are you one of them? Hey, if the answer is no, then you'll seriously want to reconsider. It's important to realize that there are so many different ways to make a living via the Internet. Fortunately some of these ways don't even cost you any money. This is what it's all about. Making cash from your home without spending. Take free affiliate programs for instance. You can literally earn money through affiliate sales. Every time a product is sold, you make a percentage of the sale.
You may not be too familiar with free affiliate programs at this point. Let me elaborate a bit. Affiliate programs are basically online marketing programs. Think about your website or blog. If you don't have one at this time, imagine what it would focus on. Let's say your website's focus is weight training. You can sign up for free affiliate programs and acquire your own personal links, which lead web surfers to the affiliate products. When a sale is made through one of your links, you earn a percentage of the sale. This can range from 5 percent all the way up to 75 percent. So if you make a sale and the total product cost is $100, you can make $25 if your cut is 25 percent. That's pretty sweet considering all you did was add a link to your website or blog. With free affiliate programs, you don't even have to waste time pitching the product over and over. Let your site do that.
There are also affiliate products that cost money. While some of these may be worth your while, depending on the products you wish to sell, you never have to pay to get in the affiliate sales game. Therefore this is an awesome opportunity for you to earn from home on your computer. Seek out free affiliate programs that are suitable to the theme and content of your website or blog and you'll be well on your way to making great affiliate sales. All it takes is a little effort on your part, but what job doesn't. If you'd like to learn more about each free affiliate program prior to attaining your own link, do a little reading first. This way you'll know how much you can make from each sale. In the end, this is a wonderful way to add an additional stream of income to your lifestyle.
Help Getting Sponsored
There are many different types of money support that athletes, drivers, and even entertainers can get. One of the most common things each tries to do is to find companies that will fund some of their expenses in return for free advertising. Getting sponsored does not have to be hard, but there are some things to consider. You have to have enough clout or pull to make a company believe that their money will be worth the investment, and they could pull out at any time.
Normally, the more successful have an easier time getting sponsored. Athletes often have this in the form of commercial endorsements. They get paid to say they like something, and they may wear that companies logo quite often and will use the product publicly. This type of sponsorship is normally only seen at a professional level. Even then, getting sponsored can be a bit tough. For the amateur athlete, looking for sponsors on a local level might be the best idea when this is your goal. Most of the time, this sponsorship will be for an entire team. The company may buy uniforms for the team in these cases.
Some of the most common types of sponsorships come in the racing industry. Racecar drivers that race in NASCAR always have sponsors, though some have to run a few good races to make getting sponsored a bit easier. The bigger drivers may have companies fighting over them. However, your local track is probably full of drivers that have sponsors as well. Most of the time, getting sponsored on this level is rather easy, but the amount of money given to the driver is nothing like you would get on a national level. Most offer gas, tires, and other parts in exchange for some free advertising on the car.
Some musical bands try very hard to find support as well. Getting sponsored as a musical act may depend on how much you play, and how many people come, on average, to see you perform. If you routinely play in bars, your best chance of getting sponsored would be through companies that sell alcoholic drinks. You can get some financial support, and quite often, free drinks and specials for your audience. Sponsorship is just another form of advertising, but in this case, it can help the little guy get a leg up in whatever it is that they do the best.
Apply For a Credit Card Online
There are times in life when you're flat out broke. Maybe it's not payday yet and you've just paid all the bills. Unfortunately you still have to purchase groceries for the week. Obviously you can't just not eat! So where are you going to get some extra funds from so you won't starve? Well, you could always try to apply for a credit card on the web. It's funny, but a lot of folks don't realize that this can be done on a whim. While you may be out of cash at times, or experience rough patches in life with finances, this doesn't mean that you don't have options.
Think of major credit card companies such as MasterCard.com and Visa.com. It's a cinch to get on the web and apply for a credit card through these companies. After all, this is why the majority of us choose major credit card companies in the first place. We want to have a few resources when it comes to finances and regular expenses. While no one likes massive APRs or oodles of debt, you can always acquire a credit card and keep it paid off. Let's say you apply for a credit card on the web, you receive the card and keep it for emergencies. Then ones day you realize your car needs new tires, but you have no money left in the bank to pay for this. Obviously this is a major problem. You can't drive around with bald tires, which could pop at any time. This is when you whip out your Visa or MasterCard and buy those tires. Then the next time you have the money, you pay the credit card off so there isn't interest building up.
Discover Card and American Express are also wonderful credit card companies to select from. Online you can apply for a credit card with either one of these. The cool part is that you don't even have to wait a few weeks to attain a response through the mail regarding whether or not you were accepted. Not any more. Now days you can apply for a credit card online and see your results the very same day. This is great because if you don't get approved, you can always move on and apply for a different credit card.
Cheap car insurance does not have to come from a cheap company. There are plenty of options to consider that will leave you more than happy in your investment. In order to find the best rates for you, you do have to conduct some research. Making a phone call to order cheap car insurance isn’t always the best approach.
When you are looking for the least expensive option you often overlook some real gems in the process. You may find that the same insurance provider that covers your rental insurance or homeowner’s account has wonderful packages for you to consider. Cheap car insurance is often the result of combining accounts into one big package.
Another approach to getting cheap car insurance is to buy liability only. This way, you are covered if you hit someone else and that’s it. If anything else happens, you have to come up with the money to pay for it. There are restrictions that apply and many lenders require that you have more than liability insurance.
Before you make any rash decisions you should do a little realistic self-assessment. There are those of us who can get away with cheap car insurance while others should make a sound investment in this kind of program. You may cringe at the idea of spending more money to stay legal and safe but it will pay off if you have an accident.
Consider your risk. If you spend a lot of time in your vehicle and you are not really lucky when it comes to avoiding the occasional fender-bender then you may want to forgo cheap car insurance completely. I know. It isn’t very attractive but there are some sound reasons for making a little more of an investment.
Paying for the more expensive option is never attractive but there are ways to make the process bearable. You can opt for monthly payments in smaller installments rather than a painful quarterly bill. It is much easier to pay out a little each month rather than a whole lot three times each year. Even though you don’t have cheap car insurance, with monthly payments, it will feel like you do.
Some of us can only dream of getting really cheap car insurance. Past driving history and age are two things that factor into the payment no matter which company you choose. However, if you just keep plugging away and if you keep driving safely, cheap car insurance can be attained.
Credit Card Promotional Offer to Consider
There are so many different credit cards these days. We no longer live in a world of MasterCard and Visa. These days there are a number of credit card companies and countless credit card deals to consider. Now, some folks may be wondering why they would ever choose to take advantage of a credit card promotional offer. It's simple really. Maybe you currently have a nasty balance on a credit card that you're trying to get rid of because the annual percentage rate is too darn high, or maybe you want to take advantage of the rewards program offered with the new credit card. Either way, there really are some good reasons to consider a credit card promotional offer.
Think about the current credit cards you have in your wallet or purse. What is the outstanding balance on each of them and how high is the APR or annual percentage rate. This is crucial because it determines how much money you fork out every month to interest alone. Let's say that your APR is 16 percent. That could prove to be quite pricey if you currently owe 15 or 20,000 dollars on your credit card. The company is making oodles in interest off you every month. That's bogus and you should be on the lookout for a much more desirable credit card promotional offer that allows you to do a balance transfer with a zero APR for the first year. These are wonderful since you can basically get rid of that old credit card and have your balance transferred to the new one for and pay no interest for an entire year. This gives you ample time to pay a great deal of the balance off.
Consider reward points when you think about new credit card offers. The truth is that many credit card companies advertise a credit card promotional offer that involves bonus points, which apply to free gift cards for restaurants, shopping mall stores and electronic superstores. It's safe to say that pretty much everyone can use these to their advantage. This type of credit card promotional offer generally factors in how many dollars you spend on the credit card. Each dollar spent will commonly earn you a point. Then when you hit 1,000 or 2,000 points, you can receive a nifty gift card. It's that simple. Keep your eye out for credit card promotional offers in the future.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards Are Available
No one likes debt! It really is that plain and simple. Unfortunately many individuals become afflicted with debt at some point or another in their lives. In fact, most of us do! While getting upset and frustrated about it won't solve anything, balance transfer credit cards just might. You see, when you finally realize that you're in a substantial amount of dept and your interest rates are awful, it's time to begin seeking out alternatives. Maybe you need to consolidate your debt or check into balance transfer credit cards with low APRs. Either way, there are options out there to assist you with your dept problems.
Credit cards are funny little things. We all end up applying for at least one at some point or another. In the beginning the interest rates are low and the credit card offer looks appealing. Well, this sadly doesn't last long. Suddenly the credit card is maxed out and the APR has skyrocketed from 8 percent to 20 percent. That's never a good thing. Fortunately there are balance transfer credit cards available also. Many of these offer you a new card with a decent percentage rate and 0 percent interest for the first year on balance transfers. These are the credit cards you should consider taking full advantage of. This way if you currently owe 10,000 dollars on one credit card, you can apply for the balance transfer credit card with no interest and have that 10 grand transferred to the new card. For an entire year you won't have to pay anything on interest. If you sit down and calculate it out, that is a great deal of money saved. Especially if your past APR was close to 20 percent.
Although credit card companies can be a pain, it's crucial to keep an eye out for the balance transfer credit cards that have a starting zero APR or extremely low annual percentage rate for the first year? Now, I know what some folks may be thinking. What if the no interest balance transfer credit card goes up after one year. This very well could happen, but that just means you can switch to another credit card is they choose to do so. Often letting them know that this is your plan will cause them to lower the APR.
Most economic reports are stating that more people are filing foreclosures on their homes than at any other time in our history. The causes are multiple. Many people have bought homes beyond their means using short term low interest rates, and when the balloon payments come due they cannot afford them. It is easy for people to assume that their income is going to increase in a five year period, but the reality is that salaries are not keeping up with the cost of living, and so many unexpected expenses come up for home owners that the ability to save money is quite limited.
When we have a house foreclosed or another financial incident the work begins to restore our credit. Improving credit ratings is not easy, but it is possible. The important thing is to show future creditors that you can make payments on time. This can be done in a number of ways. The important thing is to work at improving credit rating seriously and methodically.
I work with people that have bad credit. My role as a case manager is to help people establish a budget and to stick with it. This is not easy for many people to do. It is tempting to spend money when it comes in rather than saving it. I try to teach people to treat their savings account as if it were a bill. Once we have established the amount that can be saved this amount goes into the savings account just as if you were paying your electric bill or phone bill. Once a small amount is accumulated in the savings account I have the clients approach the bank for a limited amount credit card. We keep the limit very low so the person cannot get into debt. I encourage the person to purchase things they have budgeted for with the credit card and then pay the amount off at the end of the month. This helps to establish a pattern of paying on time and also staying in under the established limit. Most banks know the benefits of improving credit ratings so they gladly help their bank customers by offering low interest credit cards. If the bank does not have a credit card they most likely have a debit card. The use of a debit card in not as effective in improving credit rating, however it does show a pattern of responsible spending.
The most important thing is to work on getting your credit history cleaned up. It is not going to do it by itself, you need to consciously work at it and ask financial institutions to help.
Considering bankruptcy? Get some answers to bankruptcy questions first!
You may find yourself in such dire financial condition that you truly feel there's no way out, short of filing bankruptcy. There are surely cases where filing bankruptcy is your best or only option. However, bankruptcy is a serious situation which requires considerable research and thought before you proceed. Recent changes to bankruptcy laws have made it more difficult for an individual to file for bankruptcy. The law is quite complex and there are many caveats, which exclude certain types of debts from being discharged. For these reasons, you'll want to get some straight answers to bankruptcy questions before you commit yourself in court. Let's take a look at some situations that may apply to your case.
There are several types of debts which the court may not allow to be discharged in your bankruptcy filing. For example, if you have obtained a government funded or guaranteed loan for education, you will still be required to repay this debt. If you owe alimony or child support, the court will not discharge this obligation. Certain debts owed for injuries or death as a result of a DUI will also stand after bankruptcy. In some cases, condominium fees you owe will also not be discharged. There are also tax claims which are not dischargeable. You can see that having all of these debts may make your bankruptcy pointless. This list is certainly not comprehensive, so you'll do well to consult an attorney or simply do some research on getting some of your answers to bankruptcy questions before you incur yet more debt.
If you have a criminal conviction, under title 18 of the United States criminal code, where you have been ordered to pay restitution, bankruptcy will not help you. This debt will stand.
Many people facing bankruptcy erroneously assume that they are allowed to keep vehicles which are financed, as your transportation is essential. This is no longer true. If you have a couple of vehicles for your household which are financed, the lender has the right to repossess both vehicles. Bankruptcy will not protect you.
Here's another common, but surprising answer to bankruptcy questions. If you're paying a mortgage on your home, this debt also survives bankruptcy.
Your creditors have the right to challenge you in a separate court proceeding on a debt which they feel they should be allowed to collect, regardless of the bankruptcy. They can sue you to validate their claim, costing you more money and the risk that you will be stuck with this debt.
If you're considering bankruptcy, do your research and get all of your answers to bankruptcy questions, before you opt for filing. There are many other options that may well serve you better.
Bill Consolidation Loans
Bills are piling up and you don’t know what to do. Perhaps you have lost your job, or you may have just suffered through a long illness. It may not matter that you are now back to work, the back bills seem to keep coming up and you have no idea how to get out from under them. Perhaps you have made some mistakes in your past, or suffered through a divorce that has destroyed your credit. There are many reasons why bad credit happens, but the most important thing to think about is how to make it go away. Some use bill consolidation to make those problems disappear.
If you can safely pay back your debts without denting your current budget too badly, you can always make arrangements to pay the money off on your own. However, for many, that is simply not an option. More and more are living paycheck to paycheck, and most families need two incomes to survive. When one source of income goes away, even momentarily, things are quickly out of reach. You can find many sources for bill consolidation loans, but make sure you find the one program that is going to work the best for you.
Some bill consolidation programs will find a bank to give you a high interest loan to pay off all of your debts at once. This can be very helpful, but it d
