Decorative and faux painting is fun but don t start until you read this

I think decorative and faux painting techniques look great, are fun to do, and add a personal statement to a room. I’ve been adding my personal look to the walls in my homes ever since my husband and I purchased our first “fixer-upper.” When I first starting using faux and decorative painting techniques on the walls in our home it was a financially motivated action. We didn’t have a lot of extra money. I couldn’t afford new furniture or flooring for a room but I could afford to buy some paint. But just painting the walls a solid color seemed boring to me so I started exploring faux and decorative painting. It didn’t take me long to get hooked. Why do I like faux and decorative painting on walls so much? 1) It’s an inexpensive way to change the look of an entire room. Paint is the most economical way to change the look of a room. 2) A painting technique on the walls minimizes and hides cosmetic flaws such as surface cracks and less than perfect patching jobs. 3) It’s easy to change when you’re sick of it. Repainting a room that has paint on the walls is a whole lot easier and much less time consuming than stripping wallpaper off walls and preparing those walls for paint. 4) It adds your own personal look and style to a space. Color and texture are fun and interesting. An entire home painted the same off-white color is dull and boring to me. A faux painting technique can evoke any mood you want in a room whether it’s a Tuscan look, retro 70’s look, a country look, something elegant, a cheery bright look for a child’s room, or any other look you want. 5) The choices of techniques and paints are nearly endless. Some of the more popular technique choices include: sponging, ragging, dragging, color washing, stenciling, crackling ( decorativepaintingzone/faux/cracklingfauxpainting), marbling, gilding, wood-graining, spattering, feather-dusting, and stippling. You could also use one of the specialty paint products on the market today such as Venetian plaster to create the look you want or buy a faux painting kit such as a Woolie painting kit to help make your project as fun and easy as possible. While I highly recommend faux or decorative painting, there are a few things I’ve learned since I’ve started faux painting that I’d like to share with you. Some of these items are things to “not do” that I’ve learned the hard way. Others are tips and suggestions that were helpful to me. 1) Go to your local paint store or decorative painting store and look at the samples they have. For example, Home Depot has lots of different booklets and paint chips with faux paint finishes on them for you to look at and even take home to look at in your lighting. That pretty metallic finish on a paint chip in the store make look garish when you get it home and look at it in your home’s natural lighting. 2) Consider taking a class before doing your first project. Some paint stores and home improvement stores, such as Home Depot, offer free faux painting clinics and workshops. You can also find some very good faux painting classes for a reasonable fee by looking in your local paper or doing an Internet search. 3) Practice your technique on a piece of scrap wallboard before doing it on your wall. This is especially important if you are blending colors. A few years ago my son wanted his bedroom painted. He wanted me to use a Woolie (a great faux painting tool available at most paint supply stores) to blend together a burgundy and a caramel color. Each color looked great by itself, but when they got blended together too much a dark fuchsia color emerged. And anything resembling pink was not something my son wanted on his wall! Because I had been faux painting for years I didn’t listen to my own advice about trying the technique on a piece of scrap board first nor did I buy sample sizes of paint to try out. I bought gallons because I wanted to save time. Luckily the store agreed to exchange the paint for me free of charge but we did have to paint over a wall and wait for it to dry before starting over with new colors. 4) Remember that the texture of your walls will dictate, to some extent, what faux painting techniques you can and cannot use. If your walls are smooth you can do just about any technique you want. But textured walls are very common, especially in newer homes. You may see striped walls in a brochure or on a sample wall and decide that’s what you want to do in your home; but if your walls are textured it’s going to be nearly impossible to achieve straight lines for your stripes. Keep in mind that faux finishes on paint chips from a store are done on a smooth surface. They will look a little different (but may still look very nice) if you do that same technique with the same colors on a textured wall. 5) If you’re going to do a faux technique in an entire room don’t start on the wall that people will first look at when they walk into the room. That means don’t start on the wall directly across from the doorway. Unless you’re a professional, it takes a little while for you to get your technique perfected in a room. Put that less than perfect start in the least noticeable part of the room. 6) If you get tired while painting and need a break, don’t stop in the middle of a wall. Stop at a corner. If you stop in the middle of the wall and don’t come back to work on the project again until after the paint is dry, you’re going to have a noticeable line on the wall. It won’t be pretty. 7) Think twice about mixing your own color with paint you have at home unless you are absolutely positive you’re going to have enough paint to do the entire job. If you mix your own color and run out of paint before you finish it will be time-consuming and challenging to match that color. You might be able to match it because many paint stores have specialty machines that can match a paint chip you take in, but if you’ve mixed together two different sheens of paint (for example let’s say you mixed a flat paint and a satin paint together) you’re going to have a hard time reproducing that same sheen. In some cases it may not be noticeable; but in other cases it will. If you’re a beginner, start with an easy paint technique. Sponging is very easy and looks great. Another favorite of mine is the Woolie I mentioned earlier. There are a couple of different types. I like the Woolie roller best. It’s really easy to use and the results are fantastic. It comes with a short video. Watch it before you start painting. If you’re not going to watch the video before you buy your paint, there’s one important thing to remember. Buy paint colors that are at least two places away from each other on a paint strip. For example, if you pick out a paint strip with 5 yellows on it, don’t buy two colors that are right next to each other because they will be so close in color that you won’t see much variation when you put those colors on the wall and start to blend them.

Travel to spain for language immersion programs

Learning to speak Spanish is very beneficial today, particularly if you will be spending time in Spanish speaking countries whether for business or pleasure. One of the most convenient ways is learning Spanish online. There are several method options available, and many online programs allow you to learn without ever leaving your home. The money spent and time invested will be well worth it. Speaking Spanish can also give you an advantage in the job market since often prospective employers are, often, especially interested in bilingual employees to help communicate with the Spanish speaking clients and customers. There are many websites offering at home Spanish courses. Some are even free, though the websites charging a fee usually have more resources and a more thorough program to help you learn the language faster. But, there is no harm in trying a free site at first. You can always find an alternative online course f you do not feel you are learning at a good pace. The largest organization for teaching the Spanish language is the Instituto Cervantes. It is a public instituted that was started in Spain in 1991, but it is now on four continents. The organization aims to promote the teaching of the Spanish language as well as the Spanish culture throughout the world. The courses offered cover vocabulary, grammar, phonics and spelling as well as the Spanish culture, diversity among those Spanish speaking countries and socio-cultural issues. The program at the Instituto Cervantes is a great way to learn the Spanish language. Online is a good way to learn the basics of the Spanish language, but immersing yourself in the language is the best way to become fluent. By traveling to a Spanish speaking country, you can not only practice speaking and understanding the language but you can also experience the culture, food, traditions and history of the area. There are language immersion programs available throughout the world. Many programs are available in cities such as Madrid or Barcelona in Spain, though programs are available in many Spanish speaking countries around the world. Language immersion programs require that you live in that country for a pre-designated period of time. The courses are offered in groups or one-on-one instruction and often include afternoon and evening activities outside of the classroom. You will have time to travel on your own which helps you gain confidence in your speaking skills by interacting with Spanish speaking people in the market, stores or restaurants. Choices for accommodations vary from staying with a host family to sharing an apartment with another student. There are benefits to both. A host family enables you to interact and experience the culture continually, while sharing an apartment gives you the opportunity to study with another student.

Jp ppc affiliate programs

Cash and Pay-per-click Affiliate Programs Millions are paying to get a ride on the Information Super Highway everyday. Now, it is widely known that the Internet is an accessible resource of many income-generating activities. Whether you belong to a private sales company or you are just interested in internet marketing, PPC affiliate programs can be a powerful venue to make money from the Internet. A partnership with an affiliate merchant is a win-win situation for the merchant and the affiliate: sales are soaring because of exposure and traffic while the affiliate is earning good cash. To make things much simpler: the affiliate merchant provides a strip of advertisement and pays you when someone clicks on the ad’s link. You can get a commission of $0.10 to $0.30 for every click, but it sometimes it can go higher depending on your merchant affiliate. Sometimes, merchants require a quota ($1.4 for every 1000 clicks). Plus, you can get discounts from your merchant affiliates if you happen to like their products too. You can just kick back and relax while your website is generating cash. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? What is PCC Affiliate Program? PPC means pay-per-click, wherein you get in partnership with an affiliate company that literally pays you for every click. There are actually two types of PCC affiliate programs – those who pay a commission based on the number of clicks and the other based on the sales. The pay-per-click scheme is much more popular than pay-per-lead because the affiliate gets paid by just clicking the ad, regardless of whether the visitor buys from the affiliate merchant or not. Plus the chances of a visitor purchasing something from the affiliate merchant are not really that high. In choosing an affiliate program, read the fine print carefully – some pay-per-click programs get the ratio of the number of people who went to your site and the actual people who clicked on the ad. If you have a heavily targeted website, this can hurt your earnings. How do I start? Of course, you need to have a website. Depending on your target audience, choose the best affiliate merchant that is most related to your topic. For example, your website is about Carpentry then you can search for affiliate programs that sell tools used in carpentry. However, if you don’t have a website, that’s not a problem. You can put up a content site about absolutely anything under the sun like ‘Taking Care of Dogs’ or ‘Decorating your own Home.’ But wait, its not over yet. We are faced by a dilemma – on how to increase traffic! You first need to get internet surfers to see your website, then the ad. How do I increase my traffic? First, design your website in such a way that it will attract internet users. A user-friendly site is always recommended so that the customers will know which one to click. Take into consideration the look and feel of the advertisement. If it doesn’t look professional, most likely, users will just ignore it. Place the ad on a strategic location – one where users can see it clearly. Visibility of the ad is always important. Another way is to post a link to your website in forums, web communities, ezine articles or bulletin boards. However, this method requires a lot of effort – that defeats your purpose of getting easy money in the first place! The key is to do something once and forget about it. It’s like putting your business on autopilot. To maintain you pay-per-click business, be sure to track down site activity, so you are updated on how much money you are making. Can I make more money? If you think you can go to the next level, you can try a two-tier affiliate program. This gives you the power to recruit affiliates. Other than the money you get from your website’s clicks, you will also get a percentage of what your affiliate generates. Some companies give 30% to a soaring 50% commission on all referral sales. Remember, you should be able to manage and monitor your affiliate program. If you can recruit more affiliates, then you can get paid more without even moving a finger! Choose affiliates that can most likely attract more internet users and bring more traffic. You just have to know the right people.

Music equipment auctions

Music has come a long way; it is getting better everyday with high end music gears. All the music enthusiasts have a great ardor for musical instruments and gear. You may be a budding singer, composer, music learner or even a CEO who plays the chords for his hobby. There is a music lover in almost all of us! It is the matter of how strongly we pursue our desires. With several companies like guitar centre, gear-vault and instrument exchange providing the services, buying and bidding for the music gears online is becoming popular. Your bid for the most coveted music gear may help you get it at low price, which makes it a good deal or rather a steal one must say. All you need to do is to register with the websites of the service providers, in case you wish to buy, bid or sell music gear online. There are takes for every kind of music gear buyer, find the one which suits your needs and budget. You may be a college going hunk playing just for hobby or having part time income. So, why to be gloomy about costly price tags of high end music gear, when you can get the same at a cheap price online? The most interesting service provided is to swap your music gear with another. This is an option available online. You just need to be a member of the sites of the companies available with such options and dabble across the offers available on their website. With a wide range of music gears like Amplifiers, Guitars, Electronic Guitars, Bass Rigs, Drums, Recording equipments, Processors, Pedals, DVDs, Audio CDs etc. on offer, you are sure to find some interesting stuff for yourself. Swapping is a value added service provided to equip you with advanced music gear at a cheaper price against your existing music gear. With an efficient utilization of these features, you can get rid of the music gear you don't wish to keep anymore. Perhaps, it is much advantageous to adopt new technology for enhanced experience. Gifting yourself with a fresh gear would be very overwhelming. Go ahead and head on to the wonderful opportunities. All the music gears present here belongs to world reputed brands. Both new and used music gears are on sale. Find an appealing music gear and strike a good deal for it online. All your music generation needs will be fulfilled there. Moreover, online payments are secured via Pay-pal to avoid any blunders. You will find everything on auction very descriptive, which enables you to make a sound choice. It may be a text, image and even video description of the music gear. So, go clicking and find the chords for plucking music out of the strings.

Anxiety americanization part 1

Along an island in the North Sea, five miles from the Dutch Coast, stretches a dangerous ledge of rocks that has proved the graveyard of many a vessel sailing that turbulent sea. On this island once lived a group of men who, as each vessel was wrecked, looted the vessel and murdered those of the crew who reached shore. The government of the Netherlands decided to exterminate the island pira tes, and for the job King William selected a young lawyer at The Hague. "I want you to clean up that island," was the royal order. It was a formidable job for a young man of twenty-odd years. By royal proclamation he was made mayor of the island, and with in a year, a court of law being established, the young attorney was appointed judge; and in that dual capacity he "cleaned up" the island. The young man now decided to settle on the island, and began to look around for a home. It was a grim place, barren of tree or living green of any kind; it was as if a man had been exiled to Siberia. Still, argued the young mayor, an ugly place is ugly only because it is not beautiful. And beautiful he determined this island should be. One day the young mayor-judge called together his council. "We must have trees," he said; "we can make this island a spot of beauty if we will!" But the practical seafaring men demurred; the little money they had was needed for matters far more urgent than trees. "Very well," was the may or's decision--and little they guessed what the words were destined to mean --"I will do it myself." And that year he planted one hundred trees, the first the island had ever seen. "Too cold," said the islanders; "the severe north winds and storms will kill them all." "Then I will plant more," said the unperturbed mayor. And for the fifty years that he lived on the island he did so. He planted trees each year; and, moreover, he had deeded to the island government land which he turned into public squares an d parks, and where each spring he set out shrubs and plants. Moistened by the salt mist the trees did not wither, but grew prodigiously. In all that expanse of turbulent sea --and only those who have seen the North Sea in a storm know how turbulent it can be-- there was not a foot of ground on which the birds, storm-driven across the water-waste, could rest in their flight. Hundreds of dead birds often covered the surface of the sea. Then one day the trees had grown tall enough to look over the sea, and, spe nt and driven, the first birds came and rested in their leafy shelter. And others came and found protection, and gave their gratitude vent in song. Within a few years so many birds had discovered the trees in this new island home that they attracted the attention not only of the native islanders but also of the people on the shore five miles distant, and the island became famous as the home of the rarest and most beautiful birds. So grateful were the birds for their resting-place that they chose one end of the island as a special spot for the laying of their eggs and the raising of their young, and they fairly peopled it. It was not long before ornithologists from various parts of the world came to "Eggland," as the farthermost point of the island came to be known, to see the marvelous sight, not of thousands but of hundreds of thousands of bird-eggs.

Carbohydrates high blood sugars diabetes know the connection

: There is a strong connection between carbohydrates, high blood sugars and diabetes. Carbohydrates give your body the energy, or fuel, it needs to function properly. There are two types of carbohydrates; simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are in foods such as fruit sugar, corn or grape sugar and table sugar. They are single-sugar moleculesplex carbohydrates are the foods that contain three or more linked sugars. So carbohydrates create blood sugars and that's where the problems start for diabetics. Understanding more about the connection helps to control your diabetes... A Personal Experience I am a diabetic type 2 and, at the moment, I control my blood sugars through tablets and diet. Blood glucose control is extremely important for any diabetic - it is the only way of minimising future health complications; heart disease; neuropathy resulting in amputations; kidney disease and early death. Four years ago my A1C sugar levels were starting to get out of control - they weren't massively high but were creeping up. My Doctor increased my medication - with no real satisfactory results, my blood sugars were all over the place; I could go from a high reading at night and be woken by a hypoglaecemic (low blood sugar) in the early hours. Then I discovered the Atkins diet and, because I wanted to lose weight, I started to follow the low carbohydrate, high protein menus. That's when I discovered the real connection between complex carbohydrates, high blood sugars and my diabetes. Suddenly my blood sugars stabilised and it was because I was no longer piling in huge amounts of carbohydrate, which were pushing my blood sugars far too high. This seemed to fly in the face of conventional advice on the right diets - complex carbohydrate rich - for diabetes. You see, I already understood I had to avoid sweet, sugary food - these contained simple carbohydrates. I hadn't realised that the more complex carbohydrate of bread, potato and cereals affected my blood sugars as well. But (there's always a 'but' isn't there?) the Atkins diet did not really suit me. I had constant diarrhea which was stressful and debilitating. So I came off that diet after 3-4 months and, of course, my blood sugars began to get out of control again. But now I knew about the connection, all I needed to do was find the right program for me that followed the low carbohydrate principle. And just recently, whilst doing research for my diabetes website, I discovered a program that suits me, and which I describe in more detail on my website for diabetics. My advice to any diabetic and pre-diabetic, do your research! Understand the close connection between the complex carbohydrates you eat, how they affect your blood sugars and how it can make it difficult to control your diabetes. Once you understand that link, look for a diet or system that you can adapt to safely bring your blood sugars back under control. Remember, too many carbohydrates (complex or simple) give you high blood sugar levels and if you have diabetes it means your body cannot cope with the additional overload.

19 Landing page success tips

Landing Page Success Tips Also known as the “name squeeze page” or “lead capture page”, you can build your mailing list by funneling all of your would-be subscribers through the creation of a landing page. Not only do you do the work just once, your traffic driving efforts can be focused onto just one effective method. The following are tips in creating a successful landing page that converts visitors into subscribers on a very huge percentage. Success Tip 1: Offer a freebie in exchange for your visitor’s email address. I very much endorse this method of building your mailing list. You can offer a special report or a sample of your paid product to your visitor in exchange for their details such as name and email address. Success Tip 2: The landing page must be written professionally. When writing your page, treat it as if you are writing a sales letter. While you are not necessarily making a hard sale or try to get someone to buy your product upfront, being able to entice your visitors to give their details to you is just as important as selling. Success Tip 3: Other than your opt-in form and perhaps important disclaimers and terms, there shouldn’t be any other links on your landing page. Success Tip 4: Rub in the benefits of the freebie you are offering more than a mere subscription to your newsletter. You should focus most of the attention of the letter on encouraging your prospective visitor to download your free offer. Later, you gently remind your prospect that he or she has nothing to pay but just merely subscribe to your newsletter in exchange for the freebie. As a final reminder and conclusion, in order to build trust, you can include your hand-written signature or a photo of yourself explaining where you are coming from and how you can help your visitor through your free report on offer. [Insert Your Resource Box Here] (Words: 316)

Las vacaciones son la mejor solución para relajarte

Si te sientes un poco estresado con el trabajo, con tu pareja o con la familia y necesitas tomar decisiones, ver a los problemas con otra perspectiva siempre ayuda. Aquн te recomiendo tomar unas pequeсas vacaciones en donde tu decidas. Puede ser el lugar mas inesperado el que te puede hacer mejor. Debes buscar en diferentes sitios que lugares estбn disponibles por el fin de semana o una semana entera (si te la puedes tomar). Los lugares mas ideales deben ir de acuerdo a tu gusto. Por ejemplo si disfrutas del sol algъn lugar de veraneo con el mar y la playa van a ser perfectos. Si no te gusta la playa, busca algъn lugar en las montaсas tranquilo que te traiga paz y serenidad. No necesitas gastar mucho dinero para tener un buen resultado, ya que solo unos dнas es suficiente sin tener que perder mucho tiempo en el viaje de ida y vuelta. Puedes optar de ir en auto que es mбs econуmico o en aviуn depende de los precios. Si vives en Europa, un fin de semana en Barcelona no te costara demasiado y sin duda te abrirб la mente y dejara atrбs los problemas que parecнan tan grandes que no te dejaban pensar. Tomarte unas vacaciones es algo positivo que solo traerб buenos resultados. Lo sitios desde ya dependen de tu poder econуmico. Si tu disposiciуn no tiene limites, St Tropez en la costa de Francia es un lugar vacacional ideal. Fiestas desde las 3 de la tarde en la playa, mercado en el centro del pueblo, las playas mas increнbles y mucho mas. Si tu poder adquisitivo es un poco limitado, puedes ir a palma de Mallorca en Espaсa, a Ibiza o elegir entre muchos de los puertos de la zona. Si vives en Sudamйrica o centro Amйrica, uno de mis lugares favoritos es Punta del Este en Uruguay. Aunque un poco caro, siempre saldrбs de ahн con una sonrisa. Las playas mбs inolvidables, junto con los bares de moda, y actividades entretenidas las 24 horas del dнa te esperan ahн. Si no optas por ir a Punta del Este, Brasil es otro de los lugares mas increнbles. Ahн puedes ir a Buzios disfrutar de los camarones con palito, las playas los cocos, los helados, y mucho mбs. En Argentina tambiйn puedes encontrar lugares vacacionales, como Miramar, Pinamar, Mar del Plata, y otros. Si buscas lugares sin playa durante el invierno puedes ir a Bariloche, Villa La angostura, Las Leсas en donde puedes esquiar. Sin duda, cualquier lugar que elijas un poco alejado de tu trabajo, o deberes diarios te ayudara a relajarte y pensar mas tranquilamente como solucionar o seguir adelante en tus decisiones.

Illegal downloading unfair to artists

Filesharing and illegal downloading has been a big issue for media companies since the late 1990s. It should come as no surprise, but an extensive new UK study by Entertainment Media Research shows that illegal downloads are at an all time high just as paid download growth is slowing. Cinema isn't doing well, it's probably affected just as much as music where illegal downloads are concerned. Every month, some five billion illegal downloads are passed around the internet, and the entertainment industry sues several hundred people. Despite the years of litigation, illegal downloads are 10 times as common as legal digital sales and are still growing at 60 percent a year. Currently illegal downloads are cutting into DVD sales. The number of people buying music online has doubled since last year, but illegal downloads are also on the rise. But if it is true that illegal downloads are injurious to content holders, you would think that they would be embracing legal download services with prices at least approaching that of movie tickets, or if not current PPV ( still exorbitant ). The consequences of illegal downloads are very real: from the risk of legal action to the likelihood of computer viruses, spyware, identity theft and other threats from the peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing software typically used for downloading. Steps taken by ISPs to arrest piracy could be anything from sending primary warnings to a subscriber about his illegal activity to limiting the speed and quantum of downloads by the particular subscriber, and jamming the line while the illegal downloads are in progress. The biggest reason for why illegal downloading is still occurring is that most people don't have enough knowledge about copyright law. Whether that is the case or not may remain to be seen, but it doesn't change the fact that illegal downloading is still a crime. Many free illegal downloads are not of any great quality and to find one online among thousands of similar downloads is too time consuming in the end. There can be no doubt that the need for action against illegal downloading is now urgent. Illegal downloading is not fair to the artists, musicians and actors who put a lot of time and effort to make the songs/movies for us to enjoy.

The inertia of power

I hate it when Saddam Hussein gets proved to be right ... Buried in all his pre-invasion bluster was a promise that Iraqis would give the Americans 'another Viet Nam' if they tried to occupy the country. To many, this sounded like just another empty threat, but I took note when he said it. The reason for my attention had nothing to do with Saddam or any tribal fealties in his favor. Instead, it gave me pause to recall a comment made to me by a veteran foot soldier who fought in World War II. We had a conversation in Geneva in the early 1980s, just before the Cold War began to thaw. I remarked about the superior weapons technology that I thought gave America a distinct advantage over the Soviets, and the vet responded by dismissing hi-tech armories. "War is about killing your enemy one at a time and gaining territory a step at a time," he said. "And you can only do that with the grunts on the ground." In what's become a prolonged battle between the forces of technology and terrorism in Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is the latest to challenge the old vet's advice. It's also looking like he'll be the latest to rue that decision. However, such repentance will probably not occur in the short term. Just as the Gulf of Tonkin fabrication --- where the Johnson presidency alleged a since-debunked North Vietnamese torpedo boat attack on an American destroyer --- and the Watergate burglary were subordinated to the public as mere historical footnotes by the administrations in power at those times, the present American presidency appears to believe its power of office can trample any truth that may give the lie to its Iraqi folly. The trappings of the American presidency are such that the presidency's ability to do this is an established fact. Richard Nixon suppressed the truth long enough to win re-election. Lyndon Johnson ultimately saw a nation so divided by the Viet Nam issue that he chose not to seek a second term, but not before plunging the USA into a full-scale war. Now, it's George W Bush who has slithered into another four year term, based in part on his administration's spin machine successfully keeping the roots of his Iraqi misadventure obscure to the public. The harsh reality is that the omnipotence of the world's most powerful government makes the task of calling it into immediate account virtually impossible. Before any resistance can be effectively raised, considerable damage --- in lives and resources --- has already been irretrievably done. We already know that in Iraq, there were no weapons of mass destruction. This has been countered by the presidential argument that, well, Saddam was a bad man. We also know now that there was no relationship between al-Qaeda and Saddam. Yes, said the presidency, but there could have been in the near future; this soon became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Furthermore, even though the presidency claimed that American forces would be welcomed as liberators in Iraq, the locals there have so far shown a strange way of expressing their gratitude. How can these retorts go so consistently uncontested, with the possible exception of The Daily Show, which is merely a cable comedy channel's satire of the news? Now comes further evidence which damns the dubious premises of presidential Iraqi policy, which has recently appeared in the journal, Foreign Affairs. The author, Paul Pillar, is the recently resigned CIA head of intelligence for the Near East and South Asia, who held that office from 2000-2005. His job included managing the Bush administration's secret assessments regarding Iraq. In the article, he contends that invading Iraq was a pre-ordained goal and that, if the presidency had to resort to misleading information in order to gain support for doing so, then they would provide it. The article, 'Intelligence, Policy and the War in Iraq' doesn't have any new revelations. Its significance is the fact that Mr Pillar, a 28-year CIA operative, was directly involved in the picking and choosing of data ordered by the presidency to make its case, rather than being allowed to take the more ethical and responsible path of reviewing all data and arriving at objective conclusions. (Lest someone attempts to accuse Mr Pillar of being a bureaucratic malcontent, he was installed on the faculty for Security Studies at the prestigious Georgetown University soon after his resignation from the CIA.) The astounding carnage of Viet Nam --- 58,000 American dead, over 150,000 wounded; approximately 2-4million Vietnamese dead and wounded --- still dwarfs the totals for the Iraqi incursion, but tell that to each family who loses a loved one and see if it offers them any solace. These soldiers, fighters and innocents are not dying or being maimed for noble causes, but for cynical agenda: vague definitions of an enemy on one side and warped extreme fundamentalism on the other. The fact that the casualties in Iraq show no signs of subsiding make the assertions in Mr Pillar's article all the more exasperating. A new documentary has also been recently released. 'Why We Fight' was produced and directed by Eugene Jarecki, who used a spectrum of interviews to delve into the effects of current American foreign policy. These range from former Bush adminstration officials to critics to American fighter pilots to a policeman who lost a son when the jets hit the towers in New York. Jarecki's premise is based on a famous 'farewell' speech by Dwight David Eisenhower in 1961, who warned of a shadowy 'military-industrial complex' that had the potential to hijack American foreign policy without the public's ability to sufficiently contain it. Given Eisenhower's status as the Allied supreme commander in World War II as well as his presidency, his warning was not only jarring, but prophetic, especially coming as it did on the throes of the Viet Nam conflict. All appearances now are that it's even more pertinent today. In retrospect, it is also ironic to think that it may have been the Americans who were being held in check by the balance of power posed by a totalitarian Soviet regime. There's no doubt the reverse was true, as well, but I had always thought the Americans realized their best global weapon was their culture; I continue to believe their culture, not their weaponry, caused the USSR to collapse. As such, I fail to understand why each successive American presidency hasn't realized that simple and obvious observation. Putting that point to an unscientific test, I've asked various citizens of Iraq --- and Iran, for that matter --- what foreign country they most admire, and more often than not, they cite the USA. If I follow that with a question about which government they least admire, they cite the USA. Call me simplistic, but not only does it seem burgers and bluejeans do a better job of making friends, they cause significantly fewer deaths in the process. However, as long as the American public allows its presidency the inherent power of overbearing rebuttal to any dissenting information without a constant call to justify itself, there will be no subsidence in damaged lives or diverted resources. Until then, as Saddam, the old vet and history have combined to predict, Iraq is a grunt's war, fought one building at a time. And, like every other war, not every grunt will come home alive or well.

Start helping others by helping your own link partners

Internet is becoming a very competitive place to promote any products. That is why cooperating with other webmasters to exposure a website is a very important activity one should accomplish today. Reciprocal linking is one of the oldest and the most popular strategies you can put into use. Here are some benefits you could gain by exchanging links with other website owners: - Search engine spiders can find your website and get it indexed. - Your website could gain better position in search engines. - You could get direct visitors from your partners' websites. If you are agree with me that reciprocal linking is beneficial, I think it is not wrong to give more benefits to your link partners, people who have helped you in expanding your business on the internet. The concept of "overdeliver" should not only be implemented by adding extra bonuses in your main products. The first thing you can do is by building inbound links to your link directory. You can do it by submitting articles to article directories with a direct link in your signature that points to your links page. Actually everytime you submit an article to article directories you have a chance to build inbound links to any webpage you have, not only to your homepage. If you hate writing you can use private label articles or take some parts of a private label ebook. Just don't forget to make the articles as unique as possible. There is another way you can do to help the sites that you have exchanged links with. Instead of creating a link directory that looks like a link farm that only contains a list of links, try to add one or two paragraph on the top of each of categories/subcategories. Consider to use reciprocal linking software like LinkMachine or eSyndicate that allow you to do it. Use private label articles if your link directory consists a lot of categories/subcategories. But remember that besides you should rewrite the articles, make sure the contents are relevant with your categories/subcategories. Similar with other things in this life where there will be a reaction for every action, there are also several things that could happen if you help your link partners by following the tips above. First, the more inbound links you build to your link directory the easier will be for you to swap links with others. Every webmaster has different rules in accepting their partners. Many good websites require that their links will be placed on a web page which is already listed in big search engines and/or has a minimum PR requirement. Submitting articles to article directories could help you overcome this problem. In addition, people will be more confident to trade links with you if your link directory does not look like a link farm. Just treat your link pages like your "real webpages" by adding a short of description on each of them. In summary, if you are running a business on the internet with the "helping others spirit", why don't you start it by helping your own link partners? Don't be scared that people will leave your website and go to their sites. However sooner or later they will leave your website, no matter how good it is. Happy helping ...

Packing for the movers

You’ve chosen a new home, selected a mover, and now comes the task of packing for the move. There are 3 important things you should remember that will save you a lot of time and frustration later: • Collect all the materials (boxes, tape, paper) you’ll need to pack. • Don’t put packing off until the last minute. • Stay organized! Here’s a list of the materials you’ll need to pack efficiently: • Paper for wrapping your items: Many people collect old newspapers and use them. Just remember that the news ink never dries and will come off on your belongings. If you want to avoid the need to wash everything when you arrive, you can purchase packing paper from your mover. • Boxes: You can collect boxes from your local supermarket and other businesses. Select strong boxes in good condition and make sure they have covers. Divided boxes like liquor boxes are great for glasses and stemware. Your mover can also provide you with boxes especially made for moving. However, these boxes are expensive and you may want to purchase only those which are usually necessary like wardrobes for hanging clothes, mattress cartons, and cartons for large pictures, mirrors and table lamps. • Sealing Tape - Use plastic tape that’s 1Ѕ-2” wide • Magic Marker – to mark boxes for contents and special instructions like “fragile”, “this side up”, etc. Now that you have all your materials, you’re ready to start packing! Start as far ahead of time as you can. Waiting until the last minute will create a nightmare you don’t want to experience! If you begin early you can pack a few boxes a day and have everything completed without stressing yourself unnecessarily. It’s really important that you keep your packing organized; it will save a lot of confusion later. It’s best to pack a room at a time so that you can keep everything thing together that belongs together. Start in areas containing articles that aren’t used frequently such as your attic, basement, garage, etc. You can leave an extra box to hold items that can’t be packed early. Packing Up the Kitchen The hardest room to pack is probably the kitchen so let’s discuss that in detail. Remember when you’re packing fragile items to pad the bottom of the box with several sheets of paper. Place the heaviest items on the bottom of the box and the more delicate things on top. When you pack flatware like plates, saucers, etc., wrap each item separately and then combine in groups of three. Rewrap that group in more paper and seal with the plastic tape. Each group will then be better protected. Stand them on end in the box. You can nest glasses and cups 3 or 4 together and separate with small sheets of paper. It’s best to pack them in divided containers if you have them. If the box isn’t full to the top, stuff with additional paper. If you don’t have divided containers, you can place them in other boxes where you have empty space; just be sure to fit them in toward the top of the box so they aren’t crushed. Don’t nest Goblets and stemware, wrap them individually. Try to keep small kitchen appliances like the toaster, crock pot, etc., all together rather than mixing them with other items. Wrap them individually with 2 or 3 sheets of paper and wad up paper to fill any empty space. However, if you have a lot of extra room you can add some pots and pans. You can nest pots, pans and large bowls in groups of 3 with a couple sheets of paper between each of them. When you pack boxed foods such as cereal and rice, be sure to seal the tops with plastic tape. (Remember to do this for salt and pepper shakers also!) If your things are going be stored for very long, you may want to discard these items to avoid rodents or insects. You can pack filled canisters as long as they are individually wrapped and the tops are sealed with plastic tape. Finally, here are some miscellaneous tips to remember: • Don’t pack anything that’s flammable, combustive or explosive. This includes items like aerosol spray cans, gasoline, and paint thinners. • Empty all drawers. • Pack heavy items like books and canned goods in smaller boxes. • Pack bulky and lightweight items like toys, blankets, and pillows in large boxes. • You don’t need to wrap toys, books and shoes individually. • Stand books and records on end. It isn’t as hard as it sounds, but it you don’t want to deal with packing, your moving company will be happy to pack for you ~ of course, that service comes with a very hefty price tag! Happy Moving!

Options for the best credit card

Consumers who want to maximize their options on a credit card should first find out all the terms and related costs associated with a particular card. For those who feel that the best credit card is one that is low-rate and no-frills, they should determine if the card has annual charges, as no-frills users do not need to pay such fees. Some upscale prestige cards, air-mile credit cards and similar rewards packages collect annual fees in exchange for perks, services and other rewards. The definition of a best credit card varies depending on personal preference. Individuals currently have many options available in the market, including instant approval cards, cash back credit cards, low-interest credit cards and prepaid debit cards. The percentage rate (APR) is another crucial element users must weigh before signing up for what they feel is the best credit card in the market, particularly those with balances, as lower interest rates mean lower payments for carriage and substantial savings. For fixed-rate cards, owners can expect interest rates to be more stable – a credit card on 12.99% interest is likely to remain at that level for a relatively longer period of time compared to a variable card. However, holders decided on securing the best credit card should be aware that even fixed-rate terms could change, although card companies are required by law to issue a written notice for any rate adjustment at least 15 days prior to their affectivity. Variable-card customers need to know if their plans feature minimum APRs, or ‘floors’ – the lowest-possible levels that interest rates could fall to, inclusive of any adjustment by the US Federal Reserve. A Bankrate poll indicated floors for 24% of variable-rate issuers surveyed, with 75% of that group already at minimum APRs through October 2001. This means that the interest rate on these cards will only go up in the future. How long or short a grace period is for settling balances is another factor that customers seeking the best credit card should consider. Since interest charges kick in when the grace period lapses, a company offering longer grace periods means a more extended time for users to settle outstanding obligations without paying interest before their next card purchases are penalized. Individuals seeking the best credit card deal should also be aware of all penalty policies covering missed payments, purchases exceeding the limit or balance transfers. First USA and other providers have a $35 ceiling for such transfers, while Citibank has a $50 cap.

How to select a 0 apr interest credit card

When you are looking for a credit card, you probably already know that you cannot beat a 0% APR interest credit card. After all, what can be better than paying no interest? Of course, this only applies to the introductory offer, but it can sure beat the interest levels you may already be paying on another credit card. Getting the perfect 0% APR interest credit card, however, will not come as easily as that. Here are some other things that you want to look for to make your credit card an even better deal. 0% APR Interest May Apply To More Than One Thing When you look at the ads for credit cards and you see 0% APR interest credit cards, it may apply to more than one thing. Generally, it applies to the overall interest rate on the credit card. This means that there is no interest charged on a balance during the introductory period. Of course, there will be late fees if you do not make the minimum payment on time. The other thing it can apply to is the balance transfer option - if it has one. This option on a 0% APR interest credit card means that you can make transfers of outstanding balances from other cards onto this card and pay 0% APR interest. The time frame, however, is what you need to notice, since it may be different than the general introductory offer. Also, check to see if there is a balance transfer fee or not. Some cards can charge up to 4% for this service. Rewards Available Just about any kind of reward may be possible with a 0% APR interest credit card. So, if you are looking for air miles, a student card, a business credit card, or any other kind of reward - it can be found somewhere. Rewards means that you can get anywhere from one to six points for every dollar that you charge to the card. These points accumulate and you can get either rebates in cash amounts, or discounts toward future purchases. Many cards will give you more points toward the purpose of the card (gas card, air miles card, etc.), but many will also give you one to three points for every purchase you make at the grocery store, the pharmacy, and the gas station. Compare Card Offers Before you sign-up for the 0% APR interest credit card, you will want to shop around some and see which one may be the best offer for you. There are many offers out there - in the mailbox and online, but not all of them are what you really want. Be sure to look at the various fees, and try to get one that has as few fees as possible. If you have good credit, this will allow you to get a good card and better rates of interest. Remember to pay for your purchases each month in full and on time. This way you are sure to be able to enjoy the rewards without having fees and charges eat away at your benefits.

Communication is vital for a healthy relationship

When people are told that they need to communicate more they often think that that is an open invitation to talk but there is a complete difference between talking and communicating. Communicating is an art, and art of combining the ability to express your opinions and feelings in such a way as to ensure that the person or people you are talking to understand what you are trying to say with the ability to listen and understand another person’s point of view. The number of times I have sat in a room, often in meetings and at conferences and I’ve just watched and listened to what is going on around me. It is totally fascinating when whole groups of people have no ability to listen to their colleagues, partners or friends and therefore cannot understand or comprehend any opinion other than their own. What could have been covered in five minutes or learned in half an hour often takes hours or days just because people refuse to sit back, listen and understand. Over the years it’s amazing the number of times people are provided with information that, if they acted upon, could totally alter a relationship, career or the success of a business. But, because the sheer lack of peoples ability to listen to and think through another persons point of view unique opportunities pass them by. Relationships are no different to the work environment other than there are, usually, just two of you. Often, what could be a marriage made in heaven is destroyed by the sheer inability to communicate. The most successful relationships, be it business or personnel are those whereby both parties have strong verbal and listening skills. Many relationship problems begin with poor communication. Couples often feel that their partner should know what they are thinking and how they feel so do not communicate and then wonder why they feel neglected and under valued. How many people decide not to tell their partner something just because they don’t know how to say it and then the problem just eats away at the relationship until there is no relationship left? What a waste, just the sheer ability to share a problem can make what seemed to be an insurmountable issue a tiny little blip on a large horizon. So whenever you feel stressed or don’t know what to do don’t just bottle it up, talk about it, seek advice and listen to the answer. Don’t keep quiet when you know in your heart a problem has to be aired and don’t put off until tomorrow what has to be sorted today. Tomorrow never comes!! It is how you say something that will ruin a relationship and not what you have to say. The wrong way is just to blurt out something that you know will aggravate or distress your partner. The last thing you want is for them to get defensive, storm off or burst into floods of tears. You want the person you are trying to communicate with to be open and perceptive and in order to be able to achieve this, your timing and approach has to be right. Every individual is different what will work with one person won’t necessarily work with another and with some people all you can do is sew the seed and then let them walk away and work it out for themselves. One person I know never actually listens to anyone. She is one of those people who is always right no matter what, hasn’t a clue about being a team player and operates within a zero tolerance zone. Traditional approaches and method of reasoning just don’t work and alls you can do is plant the seed of thought which eventually develops into her, own acceptable idea. Given peoples individuality you need to learn what, is the right approach for you and your partner. Make sure that you never start a discussion if you don’t have time to finish it, don’t insist on a debate when one of you is off out to work, dealing with the kids or just relaxing in front of their favourite TV programme. If the timing seems to be never right ask the question ‘when would it be a good time for us to just sit down and talk?’. Whatever you do, do not let yourself appear agitated either in what you say or how you say it. Body language can just as easily put your partner on the defensive as what you say to them. Even if your partner is vying for a fight just don’t react. Remember, the first golden rule, approaching defensive with defensive is a sure way to failure. One of the key ways to improve communication is to develop strong listening skills. Couples often fail to listen to what their partner has to say, interrupt and give the impression that no matter what is said they won’t change their mind. One trick to ensure that you have listened and you do understand is to repeat what you have heard. This will demonstrate that you have listened to what was said and by repeating it back you have the opportunity to comprehend and understand. How often do we try and work through a problem and it’s only at the point we are explaining the issue to someone else does the magic light bulb switch on which enables us to come up with the answer. If you are taking an exam would you expect to know everything just by being told it once? For most people I would say not. We have to work at it and work at it hard. No one ever said marriage would be easy it’s just another lesson we have to learn as we experience life but if you want to save your marriage and make it even more special than it was before then there is very little to stop you. Relationship problems can lay heavy on your mind, become a burden and what was originally a small issue can develop into an insurmountable mountain. If you begin to feel that marital issues are beginning to weigh heavily on your mind, take a break and do something you enjoy and preferably with your partner. If you can refocus your attention of the better things in life, day to day issues always seem that much smaller. Spending a little time together and enjoying each other's company could enable you and your partner to recapture some of the feelings that have been lost through constant arguing and help you regain a positive perspective on your relationship. Just one last word of advice, when you are feeling down and feel you no longer want to save your marriage just remember that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. If you believe you have financial issues now what do you think it will be like when you split your assets, if you feel you don’t have time to do things what will it be like when you are on your own or worse a single parent and if you feel lonely now how will you feel when every time you walk in your front door all’s you have is your own company. Now none of these thoughts have been aired to encourage you to stay in a bad relationship but rather to make you consider whether or not yours is as bad as you think. You are the master of your own destiny and if you want to turn a bad marriage around you have the power at your fingertips.

Piano playing and excuses a sour mix

You’ve just finished playing the piano for family members or some friends. If you’ve truly played poorly, the instinctive thing to do is to delve into a repertoire of excuses, some of which might include: “Who can play at this time of day?” “Of course that wasn’t good. You try playing when someone in your audience has a whistling nose.” “I just started his piece last week. What do you expect, Liberachi?” “Okay, so you try playing it. It’s difficult, man!” Although there may be truth peppered in these thoughts, the last thing that a pianist wants to do is to get into the habit of jumping into an excuse. It is unprofessional and, although beginners are by no means professionals, they must aspire towards the habit of behaving professionally for a smoother road in the future. Almost worse than the ‘excuse for poor playing’ statements, are excuses given when a performance is actually good. Not being able to take a compliment is one of the worst habits that you can acquire. Here’s why. If an audience member throws a compliment your way, they may actually be sincere, rather than just attempting to be nice. If you deny them their opinion, then you lesson yourself and them. Here’s an example. Audience member: “That was so great. I loved your playing.” Here are three atrocious responses: “Oh, come on. I stunk! I can’t believe anyone really liked that garbage performance.” “Ya, but did you hear all of those mistakes that I made? I’m so embarrassed.” “You’re just saying that to be nice. You don’t have to be nice, you know. Just tell me the truth for a change. My playing was terrible.” In the first response, you’ve destroyed your audience member’s credibility. If they really liked your performance, then they’ve just told that person that their opinion is uninformed and blatantly incorrect. In the second response, you’ve just told an unsuspecting admirer that you made a lot of mistakes. Perhaps they really didn’t hear or focus on that aspect of your playing. You’ve now downgraded your performance. Your admirer may possibly be convinced that you did not play that well, after all. The third response is downright offensive. Just because you’ve hit rock bottom in an emotional roller-coaster ride, doesn’t mean that you have to take a passenger along with you on that ride. So how can you rid yourself of excuses, and ineffective and unprofessional responses? That’s easy. Practice stating the correct responses. For example, if someone asks you to play the piano and you don’t play well, then try: 1. smiling at the end of the performance, 2. taking a bow even if you don’t feel like it, 3. saying “there you go” or “thanks for letting me play for you”. Of course, if you played poorly to the point that you couldn’t even get through the intended piece, then you can most certainly have a sense of humor about the situation without putting yourself down excessively. “Oops” or “Okay, I guess I need a bit more practice” are acceptable. However, the better solution would have been not to have played in the first place. Play only if you are very prepared mentally, physically and emotionally.

Online poker party poker considering this poker giant read this first

As the popularity of playing poker became a global phenomenon in recent years, more and more people turned to playing poker on the Internet. And although millions of people got involved in the popular pastime, there are still some out there who haven’t tried playing poker Online. If you’re one of those people, getting started can be quite confusing. There are so many different poker rooms Online, it can be quite difficult figuring out where to play. So, if you think Party Poker - PokerInfoSource/Go/Party-Poker is the right poker room for you Online, here is some more information to help you make your decision. Party Poker is the best known part of an Online gaming company called PartyGaming Plc, which has become the largest and best known Online poker brand since its launch in 1997. Its main headquarters are in Gibraltar and it is listed on the London Stock Exchange as a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Party Poker itself was launched in 2001 and although most of its consumers are U. S. consumers, it is headed in Gibraltar because of legal constraints of Online gambling in the United States. Since the launch, Party Poker is the largest Online poker card room. At peak times, over 100,000 players can be found wagering at Party Poker tables. Here are some of the immediate benefits of Party Poker: - It is free to download and play - It is quick and easy to install - It is listed on the London Stock Exchange - It is licensed and regulated - It offers fast cash outs - And the site is committed to responsible gaming of persons 18 years of age and older At Party Poker, you can play Texas Hold’em – both no limit and fixed limit, Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo. And, whether you’re interested in spending money or not, this Web site can accommodate. It offers both real money and play money games, including a bad beat jackpot with over $600,000 American. While you may be able to make some extra cash at Party Poker tables, the Web site takes a percentage of each ring game pot above $5. This is called the rake. It also takes 10 per cent of all entry fees for all real money tournaments. The tournaments offered by Party Poker are numerous and lucrative. At times, more than 10,000 people can be winning and losing in a single tournament. Both single and multi table tournaments are available, and tournaments can begin at scheduled times and can also occur spontaneously. If you’d like to try a Texas Hold’em tournament without the risk, you can participate in play money tournaments, although these are generally single table events. So, if you’re interested in getting into playing poker Online, Party Poker might just be the site for you.

Getting help with your term papers

Sometimes, assignments such as term papers can be overwhelming, especially if a student doesn’t know what the project includes. A term or research paper is a form of academic writing that entails a more abstract, critical and thoughtful level of inquiry that is beyond the usual writing that you may be used to. Although writing a term paper may seem to be a daunting task especially if it’s your first time to write one. There are various term papers writing tutorials online that are available for free complete with discussions and lectures at the college level and of course let us not forget the famous saying that states that “practice makes perfect”-this means simply that the more you write the better you will become in writing term papers. There are various steps involved in writing terms papers and these are as follows: • You need to familiarize yourself with the works of the professionals or the subject or topic of your term paper. Research online or better yet interview personally various authorities on the subject or topic that you are going to write about. Build your subject based from the information that you have gathered. • Compare their ideas with yours regarding your topic for the term paper. All of your gathered information will comprise the supporting facts for your topic or your subject. You need to outline all the relevant information you have gathered including your own ideas on your topic. This may come as a surprise to you but you will soon find out that most of your professors are more interested in applying your own ideas in providing academic context and credibility to what you want to prove. This is because your professors already know what the experts are saying regarding the topic since there are already hundreds of books written about the subject and all conclusions are just the same. But your conclusion and views on your subject matter are fresh ideas that have not been documented or published into a book. Now that you know that a term paper is more of a presentation of your own ideas backed up with information from some of the experts in the topic you have chosen, it’s now going to be easy for you writing your term paper. You have two styles to choose from on how you want to present your ideas in the term paper and these are either analytical or argumentative. The analytical way of writing your term paper makes use of evidence to analyze the different facets of an issue. On the other hand, the argumentative way of writing term papers employs the use of evidence in order to attempt to convince the reader to agree on your particular stand on the presented debatable topic. Moreover, in creating an argumentative term paper, the very main focus is given to your insights since this serves as the center on which an argumentative paper balances rather than just interspersed or tacked on the end of analytical papers. It is also the most popularly used style in writing term papers. Whatever strategy or style you choose to present your idea it will create a great impact on how your term paper will be graded or accepted for its relevance.

Persuading the loan provider

The art and science of getting loans has been highly simplified. The application process is easier. One no longer has to take on the hassle of making inquiries at different banks and with different lenders. Information can be come by easily on the net. For those who are not too familiar with the whole rigmarole of getting a loan, the Internet is full of not just the kinds of loans available, but also of advice on how you could channel your loan search. Merely shopping around to find the best deals is not enough with respect to actually securing a loan. One also has to persuade the lender to supply the loan amount. Now the question that arises is: What would get the lender to approve? This is the question that you will have to have answers to, for this is what will tip the balance in your favor when the time comes. You have to ensure that the loan provider cannot disapprove of your application in any way. Primarily, three aspects will be the determining factors. These include your credit history, your income level, and the loan-to-value ratio. If you want to get that loan, and a good amount, take it upon yourself to ensure that the lender finds what he is looking for. Typically, you should have a good credit score. This can be achieved if you have taken care not to default on any bills. Your credit report should not reveal any legal judgments against you as far as your finances are concerned. At the same time, your income levels shall also be an important factor. The lender will want to know factual details such as how much you earn, for how long you have been at your current job, and how much you spend every month. This information will be used by the lenders to assess whether you will or will not be able to repay the loan. The amount that you end up securing will depend on the value of the house. Most lenders do not provide loan amounts of over eighty percent the value of the house. When it comes to home equity loans, the house's current market value will be used to determine how much of a loan you should get. Getting the best loans will involve a certain amount of research and scouting around for the best deals. But beyond helping you locate the best deals, this is not going to help you to much. The trick lies in convincing the lender of your creditworthiness. When securing a loan, that is the main barrier standing between the money and you.

How to get cheap homeowner s insurance online in arkansas

Homeowner's insurance is designed to protect a person's biggest asset – their home – and its contents in the event of a disaster. Homeowner's insurance does not offer any insurance protection in case of flooding and certain types of wind and earthquake damage may be excluded or restricted, so it is important that you make arrangements for other types of insurance if necessary. In the vast majority of cases, homeowner's insurance protects a home from fire and burglary, so if you wish to get cheap homeowner's insurance online in Arkansas you must first take the time to make sure that your home is as fire and burglar-proof as possible. Let's start by removing the most obvious fire danger first – cut back all weeds and brush at least ten feet away from all buildings on your property. Flammable liquids, such as gasoline, must be properly stored and kept away from any open flame, such as those used on most water heaters. Install outdoor motion-sensitive lighting to deter burglars. Trim all bushes away from windows so burglars have fewer hiding places while they are doing their business. If you can afford an electronic monitoring system for fire and burglary you may be able to save up to 30% on your monthly homeowner's insurance premium. Every outside door needs a working deadbolt lock and every window, regardless of what floor it is on, needs a working lock. Inside your home you must have the required number of smoke and fire detectors and they must be properly mounted and working. Batteries need to be replaced twice yearly. Many people choose to replace batteries each time they change their clocks ahead or back an hour. Purchasing a fire extinguisher specifically designed for kitchen fires and keeping it handy in your kitchen can also reduce your homeowner's insurance premium. And, as crazy as it might sound, keeping your credit history clean will also keep your homeowner's insurance premiums down. The higher your credit score the lower your monthly premium. One last thing. You want to insure your home for its full replacement value and for the full value of its contents – but do not make the mistake of paying for homeowner's insurance on the value of the land that your home sits on – the land does not need insuring. O. K. Now you know what you need to do in order to get cheap homeowner's insurance online in Arkansas – so now it's time to actually get online and start making those comparisons. Don't get lazy and think that you only have to fill out the form on one site. Wrong. Each site only compares a handful of companies. If you're really serious about finding the absolutely lowest possible price for your homeowner's insurance you're going to have to take the extra time to make your comparisons on at least three different websites – and then pick the best price you can get.

Keeping silver shiny and stunning

You never leave the house without your silver pocket watch. You bring it with you everywhere you go. It has been with you through birthdays and divorces, promotions and demotions, and even moved with you across states! With such frequent and heavy use, your silver pocket watch is bound to show signs of wear and tear. Your strongest and most persistent foe, in this case, is tarnishing. What Causes Tarnish Silver, whether real or plated, is metal. Humidity and chemicals in the air can cause it to lose its beautiful luster. These two, however, are not the only causes of tarnishing. Silver may also become tarnished upon exposure to salt, wool, felt, rubber bands, carpet padding, sulfur in the air, latex gloves, and oily residue left by our hands and fingers. Even food could tarnish your silver money clip, too. Tarnish-inducing food include onions, eggs, mayonnaise, and salad dressing. Preventing Tarnish The silver lining in this particular cloud is that tarnish may be prevented? How? Through proper storage and care of your silver pocket watch. Treat your beloved silver pocket watch as you would a favorite necklace or a pair of earrings. When not in use, wipe your silver money clip clean. Wash it every now and then in warm water, using phosphate-free detergent. Then, dry it wit a soft cotton cloth. Cleaning Silver The worst thing that you could do to your silver pocket watch is put it inside a dishwasher. Your silver pocket watch is not a plate. Do not lump it with the kitchenware. The detergent and high temperature in dishwashers will leave your silver pocket watch looking dull. The proper way of cleaning silver is as follows: 1. Wash with phosphate-free detergent and warm water. 2. Dry with a clean and soft cloth. If you don't have this, you may use soft cotton ball. 3. While wiping, be sure to rub in a straight, back and forth manner to maintain a uniform appearance. Do not rub in a circular motion. Removing Tarnish Tarnish comes in different colors. Yellowish to brownish hues indicate the tarnishing is in its early stages and is therefore easier to remove. They may be washed off with warm water and phosphate-free soap. Or, they are simply wiped off by a polishing agent. Black discoloration, on the other hand, is a sign of advanced tarnishing. To remove tough blemishes, use chemical dips. Professional silver restorers use chemical dips for black tarnishes that cannot be removed by liquid or paste polishes. Under no circumstances should you use toothpaste as a cleaning or polishing agent. Toothpaste has particles that are abrasive to silver. Silver, whether plated or the real thing, is no different from people and ideas. It cannot survive the test of time without some help.

Atv safety tips

1. Before You Squeeze The Throttle * Choose the Right Vehicle - Adult model ATVs are for riders age 16 and older only. Younger riders should never ride an adult-sized vehicle until they are at least age 16. This is especially important, since younger children are usually injured on ATVs due to their size or inexperience with operating vehicles. * Complete a Safety Course - First-time riders should always take an ATV safety course before heading out on the trails. Safety courses educate riders of the correct way to operate and ride an ATV to ensure he or she knows how to handle the vehicle. Also, safety courses will teach riders of all ages the appropriate behavior when riding an ATV, making it critical for teens and adults to attend. * Gear Up - Riders should always wear an ATV helmet and other protective gear, including gloves, long pants, footwear that covers the ankles, a long-sleeve shirt or jacket and eye protection. * Respect Vehicle Capacity Guidelines - Riders should never carry a passenger on an ATV unless the ATV has been specifically designed to carry an operator and a passenger. Since you have to manipulate your weight in order to control the vehicle, two riders on a vehicle is incredibly dangerous. Also, the ATV may be unable to successfully hold the combined weight of two riders, making it less stable and more apt to roll over. 2. When You're Rolling * Respect the Environment Where You Ride - Always obey all applicable laws and ride only in approved or designated areas and trails. Make sure to get permission before riding on private property and never ride on paved surfaces. * Choose Your Settings - When it comes to where to ride your ATV, ensure you choose a proper setting. Avoid roads and streets, since ATVs are not designed nor intended to be driven on concrete or asphalt with larger cars and trucks. Also, avoid improper terrain that may encourage the ATV to roll over due to instability in the ground. * Know Your Limits - Do not ride at excessive speeds or past the limit of your visibility. Do not attempt maneuvers beyond your capability. Increasing the speed — especially through certain terrains—decreases your control and the vehicle’s stability, making you more prone to have an accident. * Don’t Drive Impaired - Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Even over the counter or prescription medications can impair your reaction time, thinking process, and judgment, so be sure to avoid operating an ATV during this time. * No Tricks or Stunts - The most injuries on ATVs occur when the vehicles are operated improperly. Take great care in riding your ATV and be sure to avoid any tricks or stunts that will encourage an accident. Furthermore, avoid improper interaction with other individuals, whether they are on an ATV or not. * Tell a Friend - Always make a plan before you ride and tell someone where you’re going. Ride in a group of two or three and create a buddy system. * Carry a Communication Device with You - ATV operations should be sure to carry a cell phone or walkie talkie with them at all times so that they can call for help in the event of an emergency. This is especially true if you are riding alone, which is not encouraged, so that someone will be able to find you if you become injured.

Disturbed memory amnesia

: Amnesia, is a condition where mrmory is disturbed. Amnesia affects both organic and functional causes. An example of an organic cause of amnesia is damage to the brain, through trauma or disease. Where as an example of a functional cause involve physcholigical elements such as the defense mechanisms. There is several different types of amnesia which I have broken down below: Lacunar amnesia Lacunar amnesia relates directly the loss of memory on one specific event. Global amnesia Global amnesia is when you lose your entire memory. It is thought that this is a defense mechanism that are body instates after a very traumatic event. As a result of this complete loss, it is common that post-traumatic stress disorder can develop, and involve the spontaneous and realistic flashes of these traumatic memoreis. Traumatic amnesia Traumatic amnesia occurs most often due to a head injury, such as falling or being hit on the head. General with traumatic amnesia the length of the amnesia is directly related to the extent of the injury itself. In often cases a mild trauma is suffered, during events such as a car accident, where the occupant of the car might have an interuption in their memory just before the accident because of a brief loss in the memory transfer mechanism. Dissociative amnesia Dissociative amnesia refers to the long-term repressed memory that can result in emotional or pschological trauma. Childhood amnesia Childhood amnesia, which in several instances is called Infantile amnesia, is probably the most common type of amnesia - the failure to remember events from our childhoods. There is many popular theories as to why we have this loss of memory from our child; most recently it has been thought to be as a result of language development or under-developed parts of the brain.

Hot sauce heating things up

There is nothing like a dash of hot sauce to liven up even the blandest of all dishes. In fact, true to the genre of sauces all over the world, the hot sauce is not only an accompaniment but also does honors as the prime ingredient in many dishes. The term hot sauce could not have been more apt for it refers to any hot and spicy sauce made from chilly peppers or chilly extracts and vinegar. Thus, you can have sauces made from any kind of chilly pepper (i. e., the fruits of plants hailing from the Capsicum family) like red peppers, habaneras or tabasco. The Tabasco sauce is the most popular amongst all the hot sauces available. How hot your hot sauce is going to be is determined by the type of pepper being used. Thus, you have the bell pepper with a barely-there taste at one end of the spectrum and the robust habaneros, which will work up quite a steam, at the other end. Interestingly, it is a substance called capsaicin, which imparts the characteristic heat to the pepper. The hot sauce is a popular constituent in many Mexican and Cajun dishes and in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. However, its most widespread use is, as a barbequeue accompaniment. Barbecue sauce is poured onto grilled or barbecued meat. It is also used as a dipper. A hot barbecue sauce is usually a blend of sweet, sour and spicy elements and the most popular combination contains tomato flavorings, vinegar and sugar. Barbecue sauces come in myriad forms, with every region boasting of their native BBQ sauce. Thus you have the fiery Texas variety with a tomato base, the vinegar and tomato based Arkansas variety tempered down by molasses, the white mayonnaise based Alabama type and the black pepper, mustard and vinegar concoction hailing from South Carolina. For all the fire they spew, hot pepper sauces are easy to prepare. Take a few peppers (the number wholly depends on how hot your sauce will be) like habanera or tabasco, a cup of water, 1/3 cup red wine vinegar, one bell pepper, a tablespoon of paprika, salt to taste and cumin if you so desire. Chop or grind the peppers and boil it with all the ingredients. Lastly, crush this heady mixture in a blender. Your hot pepper sauce is ready. A word of caution While working with pepper and pepper sauces, do remember to don the gloves. Some peppers are nothing short of live ammunition and are known to cause skin irritation and are especially nasty when they get into the eyes. There is more to a pepper than just the tangy taste. Peppers are storehouses of vitamins A, C and E, potassium and folic acid. So apart from the distinct taste, the hot sauces also impart some nutritional value to the dishes they grace. The hot sauce holds its own in whatever dish it appears. As the saying goes, like it or loathe it, you just cannot ignore it.

Make money with adsense using private label articles

One popular money-making system online today is the use private label articles with Google ™ Adsense. Since there are many ways to actually set up campaigns and promotions with this strategy online, here are some basics to get your operations under way. To begin with, revise and tweak your private label articles a little so that they are unique; you want to make sure you don’t have duplicate content from others who may have purchase the private label articles, too. Then brand them with your by link that includes a link to your website. And head to Google’s Adsense page, sign up and learn your way around Adsense. Then there are a variety of things you can do with the articles. Only a small sampling of options follow. Customize them to fit your niches, needs and budget. And read on to find out how to learn more. Use your private label articles with your Adsense code and make money: - By marketing other people’s products. Search out affiliate marketing programs like those at Clickbank and Linkshare. Sign up for free, then get the affiliate links for products you want to market. Insert them in your private label articles, add your Adsense code to the HTML version of your article in Notepad or with your favorite editing tool or program, then market with them. Add them to an autoresponder, place a sign up form on a web page or add the sign up email address to your signature files in emails and forum posts. - Set up a blog or website, load your private label articles to the site, then insert your affiliate or your own product links plus Adsense code to the pages. Invite website visitors to subscribe to your blog. And set up an autoresponder, inviting subscribers to click the pages each week for your new articles. In the autoresponder messages, only include an article blurb or excerpt to attract clicks. That way you can send your messages in text, if you like, and still get traffic to the HTML pages with full-color blog images and any graphics you may have around your Adsense and other ads and content. - Host an article directory on your website. Hire help setting up a script with Adsense blocks in the article template pages so that when your readers and you submit additional articles to the directory, Adsense code is inserted directly into each new article automatically. - Set up a Review area with your private label articles. Insert your Adsense code plus any affiliate links you may have for the products you are reviewing. Invite your readers to submit reviews, too, and have a template for them to use that inserts Adsense directly. There are a lot more ways to use make money with Adsense using your private label articles. So take steps to learn all you can about Adsense and how to set up campaigns and tracking. Plus discover all you can about private label rights, especially private label rights articles to see how you can make more money.

Hypnosis delving into the subconscious

You have surely heard of hypnosis, and you have probably either seen a demonstration on television or have personally witnessed it. Frankly it probably scares you and it should. There is a lot of damage to be done when you give a person the authority to suggest things for you to either do or believe while you are very vulnerable and suggestive. Thankfully things are being regulated better now and the great news is that the power of this exercise is incredible. Hypnosis can be used to treat thought disorders, addictions in the medical world. Hypnosis can also be used to motivate, give confidence to, and success train those in or aspiring to be in some sort of business. Because both the business and medical worlds have seen the benefits of this powerful technique there has been pressure on the governing bodies in this country that have made it more safe for the patient or client. Doctors are now more comfortable writing a script for hypnosis therapy as they have seen the data that shows significant improvement for patients that suffer from harmful patterns of thought including those with anxiety and depression to even more severe mental illness like bipolar and schizophrenia. Insurance companies are now starting to pay for this treatment because of the data that they have especially for things like addiction and smoking in particular. You talk about one of these hardest things to accomplish like smoking cessation and you can start to understand why now that it is being treated successfully with hypnosis. This tells you something about the way our brain operates. Basically a lot of things are happening in the background that we are not aware of, in our sub-conscious. This makes sense too when you can think of a good example where it is obvious. I personally think of sports and athletic performance (which also can and is being improved through hypnosis) as my example. Sports are so fast that there is not enough time to think about each little important step. If you did you would either be real slow or real sloppy. So there is a part of you that is obviously taking in the information and moving your body accordingly in order to do what your brain is telling you--this is the subconscious.

Gift ideas for your nearest and dearest one

: Gifts are a medium to express love and emotion towards another person. It is usually presented to people who are very close. Presenting gifts has now become a very common affair, whereas initially it was just restricted to occasions like, marriages, birthdays, Christmas, New Year etc. Today with the growth of society and with growing relationships, the frequency of presenting gifts to near and dear ones has multiplied several times. A lot of things need to be considered while gifting somebody. Topping the list is the relationship you share with the person. Secondly, the occasion needs to be taken care of and finally, fixing of your budget is necessary. Gifts are exchanged on various occasions, a unique gift presented with love, does not only makes the recipient happy but it also helps in the strengthening of bond. Various occasions can be listed when gifts are shared. Lets check on a few interesting ideas of gifts on various such occasions. Marriage Gifts: Marriage is a very special occasion in a person’s life, and to make this day a memorable one, unique and special gifts are presented to the newly wed couple by their near and dear ones. Depending on your relationship and of course your budget, you can choose from a special honeymoon package to a remote island, to gold and diamond jewellery to present to the couple. If a honeymoon package does not suit your budget you can also arrange for a cozy dinner for the twosome in a good restaurant, which they can enjoy and make it memorable. Presenting them with a surprise gift while they are dining will be an added treat. Presenting household items to the newly wed is also a good and useful idea, if they are moving into a new home after marriage. New Baby Gifts: To welcome the new life in your relative or friend’s house, gift them with baby stuffs, like baby toys, dresses (make sure they are little large in size, as babies grow fast), baby toilette sets etc. If your budget permits you can also present them with a small nursery setup in their home, for the new baby. Birthday Gifts: Birthdays are unanimous occasion to present gifts to someone. Not much needs to be thought while choosing a birthday gift for someone. You just need to pick up things that will suit the person’s personality or if you are aware of something he/ she has been looking forward to buy. Surprising the birthday boy/ girl with flowers and cakes is a tried, and tested idea, which always clicks. New Year and Christmas Gifts: This is probably the oldest occasion in history when family members exchange gifts. There is no specification as to what you should gift. The idea of exchanging gifts on New Year and Christmas is to wish them a happy and successful year ahead. It is a great idea to present things your friends and relatives have been wishing to have. This shall make them happy. What else could beat a happy New Year start? Gifts for Him/ Her: To gift that special person in your life is the toughest job indeed. You always want your present to be the best for your partner. If the choice is getting too difficult, it is safe to settle for generic options. In case you are looking to gift her, pick up a good jewelllery piece, which is a hit amongst women. You could also chose from cosmetics, stuffed toys, dresses or a good ladies perfume, which she will surely like. While choosing a present for him, the best options include the eternal, perfumes, shirts, office stationeries like organizers or a good branded pen. If your partner is a music freak you could also gift them with the latest release of their favorite musician. The custom of exchanging gift is a sweet gesture to develop relationships and to show how much you care. Gifts are a great medium to express those thoughts, which you could not phrase in words.

Quick history of world war two european theater

The War's beginning? Some would say that World War Two began with Germany’s Invasion of Poland on the 1st September 1939 and the ultimatum of Britain that without a German withdrawal a State of War would exist. Needless to say there was no German withdrawal and WWII began, Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declaring war on the 3rd of September 1939 Others would argue that world war two was simply the second round of world war one. Although the major powers had yet to realise it the continuance of the war between the Axis and Allies would result in the end of European dominance of the world and the destruction of their colonial empires. By renewing the fight they only ensured their own demise no matter who won the outcome. Some have claimed that the Treaty of Versailles was ‘harsh and unreasonable’ and therefore was the seed which guaranteed the second world war. Germany would seek to redress this wrong. In truth the Treaty of Versailles was no harsher than the very terms that the Germans had sought to impose on the Russians in 1917/18 with Russia forced to secede large tracts of territory and pay large indemnities in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. In truth the greater cause of the second world war was the belief by many Germans that they had never lost the first world war. German territory had not been invaded, the troops felt they had never lost. In reality the army had to return to Germany to preserve the state from social meltdown, as Germany was in greater danger from internal enemies than the threat posed by the allies. Hence the belief that Germany had only lost the war due to a stab in the back at home. This breakdown however was the result of a state put under immense pressure and succumbing to economic pressure and political facture, in order to win a modern war, victory in the field is no longer enough, victory must be obtained over the whole system of the other nation. (i. e. destroy its will to fight). Germany had lost the strategic battle, its system had collapsed and hence it lost the war. The British Navy had succeeded in its blockade of the Germany economy and had thus brought about its ruin and defeat, (even if the Navy hadn’t proven itself in open battle). Germany had lost its allies, Turkey and Austria, and had failed in production with less airplanes, few tanks and had run out of manpower. Although Germany had not lost the battle, it had lost the war. Nevertheless this myth of not having been really defeated lead to resentment at being labelled the losers. Soon every problem in Germany was related to past wrongs. The great depression was the final straw. Mass unemployment and hyperinflation left a perfect environment for an extremist political party to gain enough support to take centre stage. In this case the Nazi’s with a combination of nationalism, racism, authoritarism, and the promise of better times gained enough political power to begin the takeover and change a democracy into dictatorship. Careful staged events such as the burning of the Reichstag and downright bully boy tactics led to complete dictatorship. In order to continue to deliver on promises Hitler who was the embodiment of the state had continue to expand, first via appeasement and then outright war. The killer blow was the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed on the 23rd of August 1939, in which Hitler was free to carve up Poland with the acquience of the USSR. Thanks to the Bitzkrieg tactics and superior ordanance the German army quickly overcome Poland. With France and Britain disgracing themselves by doing nothing on the Western front. Once Poland was over Germany cemented its position by invading Denmark and Norway on the 9th of April 1940, guaranteeing its access to Swedish iron ore and opening up the North Atlantic. The invasion of France began on the 10th of May 1940, it also included a co-ordinated invasion of the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium with careful German planning producing brilliant results, France failed before it had even begun. A lack of will only quicken the defeat. The beginning of Germany's ultimate defeat though had already been sown with the failure to destroy the British at Dunkirk (which began to evacute on the 26th May 1940), and by failing to seize the French Navy. This combined with oppressive occupations produced stiffening resolve. Victory had gained Italy as a partner, but it was to prove a fatal marriage with Italy being more of a hindrance than a help. However for now the third Reich rejoiced at France's demise and the French signed the armistice on the 22nd June 1940. In less than two months since beginning its offensive Germany had defeated all its enemies bar the British Empire. Turning East:- It has become clear from historical records that Germany did not have the capability to invade Britain nor did Hitler have the patience to take the time neccessary to allow his current superior position to pay dividends to secure the situation and to build up the necessary naval superiority and required landing craft to invade Britain. Nor build the heavy bombers required to seriously bomb Britain into oblivion. This lack of patience and overconfidence from what had already been achieved lead to the fateful decision to turn east and invade Russia. This plan was further doomed by the unnecessary invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece on the 6th April 1941, brought about by Italy’s failure and Germany’s rescue to later be repeated in North Africa. The delay to Operation Babarossa would be costly. Operation Babarossa began on 22 June 1941. Three German army groups, an Axis force of over four million men lay in wait to invade Russia and Comrade Stalin was ‘asleep at the wheel’ having ignore British intelligence about Hitler’s invasion plans. German success was doomed within sight of the Kremlin with the onset of winter and the confirmation to Stalin that Japan had no intention to invade, thus freeing up the Siberian Army to be transferred to the defence of Moscow and the winter offensive in which the Russians began a counterattack on the 5th of December 1941. The unprepared German army froze to death. Russians Counter Attack at Moscow Stupidly on the 11th day of December 1941 Germany declared war on the USA (After Pearl Harbour 7th December 1941). Unofficially the nations had already been at war with the USA supplying arms to Britain and USSR and US destroyers battling U-Boats in the Atlantic. However for Hitler to formalise it with a declaration of war was stupidity personified. A second throw of the dice. After the failure to succeed at Moscow or to take Leningrad and link up with the Finn. s Hitler had a throw at Stalingrad and the oil fields of the Caucasus on the 22nd August 1942. At first once again Bitzkrieg tactics rained supreme with the Germans reaching Stalingrad on the 8th of September. Once again Hitler failed by allowing his army to get into an urban fire fight for which they were unsuited, allowing the Russians to spring a giant trap and destroyed an entire army (surrendering on 31st January 1943), this combined with the Allied success in North Africa which resulted in the destruction another German army lead to the irreversible change in the course of the war with German doomed to destruction. The Allies fight back. With growing success in the battle of the Atlantic, and the victory at El Alamein on the 4th of November 1942 the allies began to swing into the offensive, with operation torch begun on the 8th of November 1942, the allies began to sqeeze the Germans out of North Africa. Next they invaded Italy, starting with the invasion of Sicily on the 10th of July 1943. They continued onto the boot of Italy however this proved to be a costly exercise due to terrain favouring the defender, Rome not being liberated until 4th June 1944. The real end game began with the invasion of Normandy on the 6th June 1944 (D-Day). With the success of the invasion and breakout of the bocage. Success at the Falaise pocket and Kursk confirmed Germany’s fates. The End Game Despite Hitlers gamble at the Battle of the Bulge (Dec. 1944) the end was already on the way with the Allies laying waste to Germany from the air and the Russians laying waste with massed artillery and troops. The destruction of Berlin and the death of Hitler (30th April 1945) confirmed to the die hards it was over, V-E day being 8th May, the Germans having surrendered the day before. Why Germany lost the War. It failed the Diplomatic battle – it failed to convince Spain another fascist nation to join in the cause. It failed to turn occupied countries into allies. It failed to have a unified plan with its allies. Imagine if Japan had been convinced to invade Russia instead of bombing Pearl Harbour. Imagine if the USA had been encouraged to stay out of the war for another year. In other words Germany failed to win hearts and minds, by the oppressive actions of the SS and others in Poland and Russia, instead of winning over many who would have gladly joined in the overthrow of Stalinism and helped guarantee German victory. Nazism with its German nationalist roots and outright racism just didn’t offer anything to non-Germans. It failed the Technological battle – although Germany produced new amazing technological advances in rockets and the like, it either failed to produce the really important technology early enough, i. e. radar, nuclear weapons, or failed to recognise and exploit to their full potential advances that really made a difference i. e. Jet power. It failed to adopt Total War. Until late in the war when Albert Speer took over the economy German hadn’t fully exploited available resources. The Nazi philosophy regarding women had prevented full labour and military use. Whilst the Russians had no such qualms with females even serving in active front line units. In slaughtering the Jews and others deemed unwanted the Nazi’s wasted valuable military resources and valuable human resources which could have been applied in more useful purposes. German relied on slave labour to make up the gap, whilst Britain and the USA had an army of willing labourers in "Rosie the Riveter." German further wasted resources in futile projects such as the Atlantic wall (which didn’t even succeed in stopping the Allies for one day) and anti-aircraft guns which absorbed thousands of guns would have been more useful on the front as anti-tank batteries and the men in manpower it took to operate them. It also diverted resources to unnecessary battles such as Greece and North Africa. It believed its own propaganda and thus made Fatal mistakes. Some of these fatal mistakes included failing to realise that the enigma machine had been compromised. The Nazi's believed it was "unbreakable", thus would not realise how intell was leaking. Further fatal mistakes including failing to succeed in the intellegience war, apart a notable success in compromising the Dutch resistance most German intellegience activities paled into insignificance when compared to British Intell. That's not to say British intell was perfect but Churchill summed it up best with "in war the truth is so precious it must be wrapped in a tissue of lies". Hitler was sold on the Pas de Calais being the true invasion point. Further by centering all its confidence in the Fuhrer it lead to the disaster of Stalingrad, etc. Hitler may have thought he was a Military Genius, but after the conclusion of the invasion of France he made few successful contributions. One might asked what would have happened if the German Generals had been allowed to run the show? I believe if the German economy had been fully geared up for the war from the beginning and if it had addressed some of these factors above there would have been every likely hood that they would have succeeded. We should not think that the outcome of World War II was guarantee, it was only with much sacrifice by the allies that final victory was achieved. This article is dedicated to all those who fought in destroying the evils of Nazism. In particular to my Great Uncle Ivan HARRIS who died on Wednesday 22nd July 1942 fighting in North Africa fighting for New Zealand.