House Slaves (abeed Al-beit) ?

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/NAAyT)

The radical Al-Qaida has finally given their opinion of the Barck Hussein Obama victory and it's not a pretty response! If Obama needed a "heads up" about this radical group or maybe a little added incentive, he's got it now. In al-Qaida's first response to Obama's victory, al-Zawahri also called the president-elect—along with secretaries of state Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice—"house negroes." 

Al-Qaida's No. 2 leader used the racial epithet to insult Barack Obama in a message posted Wednesday, describing the president-elect in demeaning terms that imply he does the bidding of whites. The message appeared chiefly aimed at persuading Muslims and Arabs that Obama does not represent a change in U.S. policies. Ayman al-Zawahri said in the message, which appeared on militant Web sites, that Obama is "the direct opposite of honorable black Americans" like Malcolm X, the 1960s African-American rights leader.

I guess we all have our insights into what HONORABLE means!   :-(

Wouldn't it be interesting IF Osama is caught by Obama soon after taking office. I am sure Obama has as much interest in getting the #1 man as anyone. And in so doing he would elevate his status even higher than it is now. Could he, or any man, handle such praise and adulation? I doubt it.

The message included old footage of speeches by Malcolm X in which he explains the term, saying black slaves who worked in their white masters' house were more servile than those who worked in the fields. Malcolm X used the term to criticize black leaders he accused of not standing up to whites. The eleven minute message features the audio message by al-Zawahri, who appears only in a still image, along with other images, including one of Obama wearing a Jewish skullcap as he meets with Jewish leaders. In his speech, al-Zawahri refers to a Nov. 5 U.S. airstrike attack in Afghanistan, meaning the video was made after that date.

Our politicians had Obama in Arab dress and al-Zawahari has him in Jewish garb. Sometimes a guy just can win for losing.  :-)

Al-Zawahri said Obama's election has not changed American policies he said are aimed at oppressing Muslims and others. I don't know about that, but what I am struck by is Obama's reliance on Bill Clinton's staff. CHANGE? Did all of these people (three dozen to date) CHANGE from who they were in the 90's or am I missing something here? Since Obama is still President-elect, let's hold off on judging.

Opps! Too late for El Rushbo and Hannity to withhold judging.

House Slaves (abeed Al-beit) ?

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/hi0iu)

The radical Al-Qaida has finally given their opinion of the Barck Hussein Obama victory and it's not a pretty response! If Obama needed a "heads up" about this radical group or maybe a little added incentive, he's got it now. In al-Qaida's first response to Obama's victory, al-Zawahri also called the president-elect—along with secretaries of state Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice—"house negroes." 

Al-Qaida's No. 2 leader used the racial epithet to insult Barack Obama in a message posted Wednesday, describing the president-elect in demeaning terms that imply he does the bidding of whites. The message appeared chiefly aimed at persuading Muslims and Arabs that Obama does not represent a change in U.S. policies. Ayman al-Zawahri said in the message, which appeared on militant Web sites, that Obama is "the direct opposite of honorable black Americans" like Malcolm X, the 1960s African-American rights leader.

I guess we all have our insights into what HONORABLE means!   :-(

Wouldn't it be interesting IF Osama is caught by Obama soon after taking office. I am sure Obama has as much interest in getting the #1 man as anyone. And in so doing he would elevate his status even higher than it is now. Could he, or any man, handle such praise and adulation? I doubt it.

The message included old footage of speeches by Malcolm X in which he explains the term, saying black slaves who worked in their white masters' house were more servile than those who worked in the fields. Malcolm X used the term to criticize black leaders he accused of not standing up to whites. The eleven minute message features the audio message by al-Zawahri, who appears only in a still image, along with other images, including one of Obama wearing a Jewish skullcap as he meets with Jewish leaders. In his speech, al-Zawahri refers to a Nov. 5 U.S. airstrike attack in Afghanistan, meaning the video was made after that date.

Our politicians had Obama in Arab dress and al-Zawahari has him in Jewish garb. Sometimes a guy just can win for losing.  :-)

Al-Zawahri said Obama's election has not changed American policies he said are aimed at oppressing Muslims and others. I don't know about that, but what I am struck by is Obama's reliance on Bill Clinton's staff. CHANGE? Did all of these people (three dozen to date) CHANGE from who they were in the 90's or am I missing something here? Since Obama is still President-elect, let's hold off on judging.

Opps! Too late for El Rushbo and Hannity to withhold judging.

Now House Prices are Seemingly Falling, How Does This Effect First Time Buyers?

(My Original Blog Post: http://www.addicting-flash-game.com/now-house-prices-are-seemingly-falling-how-does-this-effect-first-time-buyers)

However, with banks and building societies now being much more diligent about what they are willing and able to lend, the fact that prices have fallen somewhat is offset by the fact that it is now much harder to borrow money than it has been for many years.


Not too long ago, I was commenting about how some lenders were willing to lend up to 6 times your annual salary. Today, I was able to find only two mortgages online willing to lend £200,000 with no deposit on a salary of £40,000 (i.e. 5 times annual salary). However, there were plenty of offers available when only wishing to borrow £160,000 (4 times salary) on a £200,000 property as the risk is seriously offset by a sizeable deposit. Reducing the property value to £160,000 and asking for a 100% mortgage on £40,000 per year produced a significantly shortened list, although it was still feasible to borrow money. The problem however, lies in the fact that the average salary in the UK is not £40,000, it is nearer £24,000 with average property prices approaching £200,000. A little bit of research on the internet shows that it is still possible to raise a mortgage on a property with a value of £200,000 with a deposit from £10,000 on a salary of £24,000, but this would mean monthly mortgage repayments of around £1200 which would have to come from a take home pay of around £1400 per month. All of this is assuming that that as a borrower you have no other commitments such as credit card bills or outstanding student loans, which seems unlikely given the demographics and spending behaviours of typical first time buyers. In fact, it seems that those on the housing market are more likely to find themselves in spiralling debt given these frightening figures than those who remain in the house share or flat share market.


So, does the recent slide in house prices help the first time buyer? Well, it’s probably a move in the right direction, but for most, it would seem that renting property represents the short to medium term future.

Barack Obama: the Name of Politics 2008

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/T1wJd)

The power of black community is rising constantly with black leaders proving their leadership qualities and mettle. The success of black community is entirely based on the positive efforts of black entrepreneurs, black CEO's, black executives and black business leaders around the world. Their success and vision have inspired the growth of blacks not only in USA but also in the rest parts of the world as well. Here, we’ll highlight the achievements of Barack Obama, who has dominated the political scenario in the US.

 

The rising success of Mr. Obama has proved that sky is unlimited for those who know how to make a world of their own. Democrat Barack Obama of Illinois has been running the country’s presidential elections, soon to be held this year in US.

 

For reaching on the top of this electoral battle, he has to beat arch rival Hillary Clinton in the Democratic nomination and Republican John McCain in the general election. Obama would be the country’s first black president if he wins the election.

 

In 2004 Democratic National Convention, Obama first shot to fame with his roaring speech in which he talked about his personal story in concern with the traditional American ideologies of independence and desires.

 

Obama, the son of a Kenyan father and a White mother, won with a huge margin a few months later. After his election, Obama became a major attraction of the media industry. In 2007, he declared his candidature for the US presidential election in a rally held in South Carolina. A senator for Illinois, Obama worked on several issues such as AIDS education and prevention with the Republican colleagues.

 

Early Life

Named after his father, Obama was only six when his parents got divorced. Later his mother married an Indonesian and he moved to Jakarta. In his four years of life in Jakarta, Obama practiced Christianity and attended secular Catholic schools, though his father and step-father were Muslims.

 

Later, he moved to New York to study political science at Columbia University. In 1988, he joined Harvard Law School and became a famous lawyer. He practiced civil rights laws. There, he met his future wife, Michelle, with whom he has two daughters.

 

Barack Obama is not a political candidate but he is the hope of many people who know how to fight destiny to make the right path of success.

President Barack Obama #44

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/ChFIG)

It is finished- the campaigning. Now Barack H. Obama is the 44th president of the United States. The 43rd president is back home in Texas, albeit Midland. And George will get to see the house that his wife bought in Dallas for the first time. The inauguration balls are over, the hoop and hype have come and gone and the Obama family have spent their first night in the White House. History has now been remade. Today marks the first day of reality- as President of the United States.

Obama said it in his inauguration speech, "That we are in the midst of crisis is now well-understood," Obama said as Bush sat a few feet away from him on the Capitol platform. "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America."  Oh yeah, we're in a crisis and as he spoke the stock market was falling like a rock.

President Obama, on his first full day in the Oval Office, will pivot his attention Wednesday from celebration to the grueling work of securing confirmations for the rest of his Cabinet nominees and determining the way forward in Iraq and Afghanistan. Timothy Geithner, Obama's nominee for treasury secretary, comes up for his first confirmation hearing Wednesday after an earlier hearing was postponed over questions about tax problems.

Since launching his campaign two years ago Obama has pledged to overhaul or improve dozens of domestic and foreign policies and programs. In his address Tuesday, he also stressed his determination to lift America's global image. The more than 1 million spectators on and around the National Mall for Obama's swearing-in Tuesday personified how high a bar Obama's supporters have set for him.

"Expectations are so sky high for him, I think a lot of Americans expect things to turn around in six months," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. He said two years might be a more realistic goal for major changes to take place under the Obama administration.

Meanwhile, Obama awaits the confirmation of the team that he has hand-picked to help him on day one. The vote for Hillary Clinton's nomination for secretary of state was also held up until Wednesday over a single senator's objection. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spokesman Jim Manley said Clinton would nevertheless "receive overwhelming bipartisan support."

Among those confirmed Tuesday were Obama's pick for energy secretary, Steven Chu, homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano; agriculture secretary, Tom Vilsack; education secretary, Arne Duncan; interior secretary Ken Salazar; and veterans affairs secretary Eric Shinseki.

Welcome to your new job Barack!   :-)

Affordable Housing is Relative to the Consumer

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/ORc8X)

You may have spoken to developers, financial representatives and realtors who have boasted about their experience with affordable housing, but putting your confidence in individuals who stand to make a profit and have little to lose may result in misinformation. Your credit score in addition to the total of your down payment will dictate the interest rate you will be required to pay on your mortgage. When you are looking for a property, this figure will have a huge bearing on the property that will fit your budget. Of course, the estimation of "affordable" can vary enormously from one person to the next. Remember this when you see the description, "affordable," in your review of homes on the MLS.

Home buyers that have secured a comparably low interest rate and have a substantial down payment must still keep future surprises in mind. Ask yourself if you are ready to be tied down to to a huge financial commitment for the next 20-30 years? Unexpected circumstances may have a far reaching impact. Take into account the possibility of medical expenses. If you and your spouse separate, would either one of you be able to afford the mortgage payment without the others contribution? Even joyful occasions like a wedding or the need to pay college tuition could affect you ability to pay your the note on your house. With these variables in mind, ask yourself if you can still afford the house you have in mind? One way to bypass these problems is to buy a home that will not stretch your budget to the breaking point. There are distinct pluses to owning real estate too. Once you have paid towards your loan for a few years, you can access the equity that you have built. Home equity is fund that will be available for family trips, emergencies and home remodeling projects.

The probability of being able to afford the home of your dreams is determined by your credit score. Your credit rating can even be the final factor in receiving a loan. If you're not positive how your credit score will affect your ability to purchase real estate, contact a realtor. They are a great resource to find out whether you can buy the home that fits your expectations. If your real estate and banker feel that you can apply for a loan, they can give you an idea of the sum to expect. When you know how much you can borrow, and the interest rate you qualify for, you can better decide on what is affordable for your situation.

Practice discretion when it comes purchasing a home. Don't be duped by savvy illusionists that may try to convince idealistic home buyer's to spend more than they are realistically capable of repaying. Remember too that property taxes go up along with the cost of living, so even if you get a fixed rate mortgage, this variable will continue to rise even if your mortgage does not.

The Oratorical Prowess Of Barack Obama

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/KTDGr)

A good politician gives lots of speeches. A great politician has the oratory skill to use his speeches to motivate, inspire, and convince people to follow him. The recent American presidential race showed the world the importance of giving a good speech, the importance of having great oratorical prowess. Barack Obama inspired millions of Americans to follow him to the White House during the course of the 2008 presidential campaign.

Most Americans have never met Barack Obama and they never will. They do feel connected to him because of the power of his pre-election speeches. On the campaign trail Obama used style to give meaning and believability to his words. This often ignored trait of great orators made Americans feel as if they knew Barack Obama personally and they believed what he had to say.

Obama is an expert at using rhythm and cadence during his speeches to involve his audience. Frequent pauses during his speeches allow the audience to participate by cheering, clapping, and chanting. It also gives listeners the chance to actually absorb what he is saying.
Experts note three advantages to using well placed pauses during a speech.

• A pause will allow the speaker to take a breath and gives the audience a chance to respond

• A pause during which the audience responds lets people feel connected to the speaker - they are participating in what he has to say

• A pause which lets the audience respond shows the speakers generosity - he allows others to speak and does not take all the time for himself

Barack Obama's,a African American speaker in his campaign trail speeches, and his presidential speeches, are excellent examples of the above three advantages. Instead of following the modern, just the facts style of many of today's orators Obama looked to the great speakers of the past for inspiration. Barack Obama may be a "new" style candidate but he has taken full advantage of "old school" techniques when speaking in public.

Which House Should I Flip?

(My Original Blog Post: http://www.addicting-flash-game.com/which-house-should-i-flip)

The $10,000 question (actually in most cases, this question is worth much more than 10 grand): which house makes a good fix-and-flip candidate? Well there are plenty of attributes to consider when trying to answer this question. The first thing you should do is pre-qualify an entire area or neighborhood. When doing this, there are a number of factors you need to research. However, after you qualify an area (we can call this your "farm"), finding potential fixer-uppers will be much easier.

When qualifying an area, start at the city-level and look at data that is readily available on the Internet. First and foremost, check the quality of the school district within a city you're analyzing. Make sure it ranks above average within your state. Second, check the crime rate for that city. Make sure it ranks below average for your state. If both of these results are satisfactory, it's time to hone in on the neighborhoods within that city.

When qualifying a neighborhood, it's best to choose a neighborhood that isn't "slum cheap" but also isn't "yuppie rich". You want to find a nice medium price range of homes that is both comfortable for a wide market of buyers in your state and has a good level of desirability. The larger your market, the better your chances of selling a property quickly.

Choose cities and neighborhoods that are within a comfortable distance from your home. You will likely make over a dozen round-trips to this property, so unless the profit potential is enormous, try to choose something close enough that will be "worth the drive". The final factor when choosing a neighborhood is to look at the past sales within the last year or two and figure out the answer to this question: what is the average number of days does it take to sell a home in this neighborhood? If the answer is "less than 90 days", that indicates that there is a level of desirability and demand - something that definitely makes houses in this neighborhood desirable to you. There might be websites on the Internet that provide this information - if not, seek out your Realtor.

Once you have your target neighborhoods and you know what type of houses go for what kind of price, finding potential fixer-uppers becomes much easier. More often than not, these properties will come in the form of foreclosures. Have your Realtor conduct daily searches for you. Next, you'll need to determine what your operational budget is. This is the amount of money that is readily available to you for rehabilitating properties. To reduce your personal financial risk, do not include money in your bank account(s) when calculating this number. Simply add your available credit lines on your credit cards. For example, if you have $2,000 left on a Visa and $7,000 on a Home Depot card, your operational budget is $9,000.

After hammering down what your operation budget is and you find a potential fixer-upper, have your Realtor give you a ball-park estimate as to what it would sell for in a fixed-up state. Likely, your Realtor will review past sales of comparable properties in that same neighborhood to come up with an accurate guess. Take that number and subtract 10% (this represents bargaining room with buyers) - this is your estimated sale price.

Finally, decide how much money you feel is worth all this effort. This becomes your target profit. Now you can determine how much you can afford to offer for the property by doing some quick math: (estimated sales price) - (operational budget) - (your target profit) = the maximum price you should pay for the property Now that you know the maximum price, be sure to offer well under it to allow for some bargaining room.

If a property is located in a "qualified area" and passes the "quick math" test, you have a strong potential candidate for a possible fix-and-flip property! For more free articles and previews to The Field Guide to Flipping Homes, visit the official site at www.homeflippingfieldguide.com!

Buying French Houses

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/FNZDr)

Buying French Homes



Here are a few basics of what this broad subject has to offer up to any individual who wants to know more about it.



The viewry known as France offers investors a great opportunity to payment from the ever increasing land ideals. France is very fortunate to have a committed housing advertise, which will prolong to dwell that way for being and being to come. The low land expenses are forever an attraction to the part, with firm swelling and prospects to keep the overseas home buyer next back for more. For everybody interested in overseas heartfelt estate - France offers adequate of payments.



The land in France is cool to access, with many customs to range the coast. In most gear, you can get there certainly for a very mean expense. As many know, France is prominent for their transfer approach, which includes high momentum trains that tour to most of the districts. There are also ferries that envelop the part, viewing low expense flights as well. Once you buy a home in France, you�ll cursorily become accustomed to the lifestyle there.



A lot of people who want to buy a home in France, do so because of the surroundings. retail a home in France is more than just the house, as you�ll get a risk to experience the finer equipment in life. France has some romantic attractions, which makes it great for married couples looking to consume their life together. toss in some great drinks and relaxation, and France has all of your activities enveloped - along with a handsome and spectacular house.



The second half of this article will help you to extend upon what you have learned in the first half.



disparate other districts throughout the world, France has one of the most established lawful processes, one that has been proven time and time again over the being. Locals perceive the lawful approach as cautious, as it helps for those who are interested in French land. As you can tell, French heartfelt estate is very different from that of the United States.



while there are many positions overseas that you can invest in, France is actually ideal to be one of the best. France is known as a realm of renters, with adequate of heartfelt estate unfilled for grasp. If you want to rent out your land, buying in France will sweet greatly mean that you won�t have any evils renting. There are forever people looking for escape rentals and such in the part, making it great for investors or those looking for a back salary.



disparate other heartfelt estate positions, France offers you mountain snowstorm done with marine living. France is a immense district, with adequate of houses to want from. If you�ve been looking for overseas heartfelt estate, France is a position you can�t go wicked with. There is forever something to do here, and adequate of equipment to see. As a back home or as a way of life - France represents an amazing and cultivating lifestyle that you basically must see to trust.



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As they say, knowledge equals power, so continue to read information on this topic until you feel you are adequately educated on the subject.

Barack Obama's New Deal

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/FKZvP)

 The general election of the presidency is proceeding intensively. And after a intensive competition the candidate of the Democratic Party of the United States Barack Obama and the candidate of the republican party John Mc Cain have the great hope to win the general election to become the new president of the United states. And the public opinion keep an eye on the candidate of the Democratic Party  Barack Obama. If he can finally heading to White House successfully, he will be the first Africa American president in the history of the United States.

I once attend one of  Barack Obama's lecture. He didm't wear a suit and leather shoes instead he only weard a Nike sportwear and sneaker. And he looks like very Approachable, not looks like other politicians.I learned later that online shopping is one of his biggest hobbies. And he didn't like to live in a luxury life. Rolex company once suggested to design a special watch for him.But he only bought a  common watch from http://ping.fm/InMs2. And he also bought chothers and shoes from some small online shopping store such as  http://ping.fm/5GAf7 just like a common American. But his powerfull lecture really impressed me.

Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya, where he grew up herding goats with his own father, who was a domestic servant to the British.
Barack's father eventually returned to Kenya, and Barack grew up with his mother in Hawaii, and for a few years in Indonesia. Later, he moved to New York, where he graduated from Columbia University in 1983.

He went on to earn his law degree from Harvard in 1991, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Soon after, he returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights lawyer and teach constitutional law. Finally, his advocacy work led him to run for the Illinois State Senate, where he served for eight years. In 2004, he became the third African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

No matter Barack Obama or John Mc Cain win the general election the the New Deal will be brought into effect.And the policy of Bush Goerment will be abandoned totally. The candidate of the Democratic Party  Barack Obama claimeed that in order to regain the confidence of the money market, the raform of the supervise to the Wall Street is necessary and very important.He said that he will make related plans if he can heading to White House.

And the policy to China will be one of the most important things. Both  Barack Obama and John Mc Cain appealed that both China and America should  strength cooperation between removal of barrier to trade,to answer global warming,improvement of military communication,nonproliferation and so on. The new policy will befinit both China and American.

Compare to the policy if the new goverment and the Bush Goverment who antagonize everywhere?and make  the American be immersed in the war of Iraq and was throw stones by many people. The new goverment focus on the reform of economic and friendly diplomatism. And most Anericans expectec that this new goverment's New Deal will be as effective as the Roosevelt government's new deal to pull the United States out of the g economic depression.

President Barack Obama To Save It Jobs In America

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/L2m8o)

IT jobs in America are really high in demand not only among the Americans but also are considered to be a lucrative opportunity for people of different countries. Many young people after securing a place in the IT sector try to settle down in America as the place gives them more opportunity, more comfort and one of the best standards of living. It gives them more fame and prosperity as well. Recently it has been noticed that IT jobholders are in deep trouble due to the current recession. They are either losing their jobs, or not getting one at all. But things may change soon. US President Barack Obama is trying hard to control this uncertainty.

It cannot be denied that many individuals try to look for jobs without getting or without having any kind of formal training. This really creates a huge problem. In order to get a good IT placement you have to go through some good training. You can opt for online training, which is easily available. Online computer training is a good option for any IT career holder to move ahead in this time of recession. President Barack Obama is trying everything to improve the current scenario and bring stability especially to the IT jobs in America. If you have a vision to work beyond IT a special training in this particular field is mandatory in order to get a better job. Just by a good search at Internet you will be quite close to what has been your dream. If you are interested you will get to know about many online training centers and among them you have to choose the best. It is not always easy to go to an institution for the training so online computer training is in high demand and very much helpful for you.

Every online training center usually has online computer training videos for the users. So by watching these videos you can gather ideas about the center and their way of working. You need not to worry about these trainings. All that is required from you is to have a computer, an Internet connection a little amount of time and the most important that is willingness to carry on the course. There may be trainings for many courses and all will end up with an examination to judge how much knowledge you have gained. You can go through the e learning modules as well because these provide an instructional knowledge for the users. Once you join an online computer training module you will enjoy the full freedom to quit it and choose the next one if you are dissatisfied with it. In that case you will get back the whole refundable money. There are many online training courses, which provide you ample knowledge to increase your skills and brush up your knowledge. Online computer training videos are available which are a great source of learning for the beginners. To secure a good IT job and to stick to the same in this high competitive world demands more and more basic as well as advance training courses.

Red Hot Tips to Prevent House Fires

(My Original Blog Post: http://www.addicting-flash-game.com/red-hot-tips-to-prevent-house-fires)

Every 20 seconds a fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the nation. Statistics tell us that over three quarters of all fires start in the home, and this could mean your home. Most deaths from a house fire happen between the hours of 10p.m. and 6a.m. - when we are asleep and unaware of what may be happening in the house. These figures point to the usefulness of a smoke alarm.



One third of all households have a smoker living in them, and the highest risk group for a home fire is those who drink and smoke at home. It is often not the flame that kills people, but the lack of oxygen from the smoke. Smoke from a fire is responsible for three quarters of all deaths from fire, which is another reason why we should all install a smoke detector. (By the way- do not paint over the smoke detector to match your decor.)



Many fires are electrical fires. If you live in an old house, or are uneasy about the wiring, you should turn off all your appliances at night. This does not mean leave them on standby. On stand-by appliances are still using energy. Depending on the appliances this standby can represent as much as 10% of your bill.



While preventative measures are best, you could take precautions and risk having your family think you are paranoid! Keep an 'escape kit' of a bucket of water, towels, a whistle, a flashlight and duct tape handy, and you will be well prepared for the worst.



If you are indoors and you hear a fire or smoke detector and your door feels hot, do not open it. Most rooms have two ways out, door and window. If your windows are high, you can buy a window escape ladder. If you keep all doors closed at night, the fire will stay contained for longer, while you escape.



A common cause of fire in the home is oil overheating in a hot frying pan. Fire extinguishers are best for immediate action to a small fire, so keep them in a fire hazard area like the kitchen, the garage etc. and make them in easy to see. Make sure you know how to use it; it can be nerve wracking trying to read instructions with red hot flames leaping at your eyebrows.



For home use purchase an ABC type fire extinguisher. A is for paper and wood, B is for combustible fuels, grease and oil and C is for electrical fires. Most home fires involve all three, hence the requirement for an ABC extinguisher.



If the fire seems too fierce for a fire extinguisher, or if you have any doubts that it will get out of control, leave immediately and phone the fire department. This is 911. There are many fire departments that offer a free home fire safety visit and some areas even include a free smoke alarm!



If you live in a condo, make sure that you and everyone in your home know the condo's fire safety plan. Walk the different routes and have a pre-arranged meeting place outside. Keep an escape kit as mentioned above.



If you use a fireplace, get your chimney swept and inspected once a year. Keep wood and paper away from the outside of the fire. You could also install a spark arrester that stops fires from your chimney.



If you plan to have a real fir tree this Christmas, make sure you water it every day to keep it wet. Tests by the National Institute of Standards and Technology show that a match cannot light a wet tree. They recommend that you stand it in 7.6 liters of water and keep it topped up.



Finally, guard the real treasures of life - your photos. Keep photos, legal documents and irreplaceable papers or jewelry in a heavy leather case, a safe or (best of all) away from the house. Some things can never be replaced by insurance.

Why Barack Obama Won the Election - and Why Mccain Lost

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/p4Lks)

The recent victory by Barack Obama in his bid for President of the United States made history, but in more ways than one. The obvious one is that he will become the first African-American president in history. The less obvious point is that he used a powerful tool to win the election that has never been used in that context before - Internet Marketing.

Yes, Internet Marketing won the election for Obama. And Internet Marketing cost McCain the presidency.

How?

Well, quite simply, Obama's team saw the power of the Internet. They saw the power of viral marketing, and they used it. In the not-so-recent past, any grassroots political movement needed a tremendous amount of organization, money, and time in order to make a difference. And make no mistake about it, Obama's supporters were grassroots all the way - after all, the Democratic Party establishment had propped up Hillary Clinton as their candidate of choice. The DNC and their big money was originally behind Clinton. Therefore, Obama's people had no choice but to go grassroots.

By doing so, they've proven to us that grassroots movements are now more powerful than ever - they may now be the most powerful variety of political movement - all because of Internet Marketing.

How did this happen?

Well, let's take a step back and look at the business world to understand just what Obama's people did with the Internet that made such a difference.

If you were to ask someone on the street who the biggest, wealthiest, and most powerful companies in America are, they'd undoubtedly start thinking of Fortune 100 companies. General Electric. General Motors. IBM. And so on. And yet, if you look at the current situation in the overall economy and in the financial markets, it's painfully obvious that these big corporations - GM in particular comes to mind - are in big trouble. They are facing bankruptcy and are begging the government for billions of dollars in bailout money just to stay in business.

Why?

Because they failed to use the viral nature of Internet Marketing to surpass the competition. And they're getting their pants beat off by small, swift, young companies that are based online and that use Internet Marketing as the centerpiece of their overall marketing strategy.

With that in mind, we can consider longtime politicians like John McCain to be establishment-type dinosaurs, just like those struggling Fortune 100 companies. And Barack Obama's campaign - whether you agree with him politically or not - is comparable to the young, swift, Internet-centric companies that are taking over our economy.

Now let's get to the point here. If you're a business owner, a salesperson, a prospective entrepreneur, or just about anyone who desire success in today's world, you need to understand that Internet Marketing is your ticket to success. Even if you run or plan to start a traditional offline business, for example a florist or an auto repair shop, your ticket to lots of customers and plenty of ongoing business lies in Internet Marketing. If you don't, you'll be defeated just like John McCain, GM, and those other old-world dinosaurs are constantly defeated.

Learn how to use the power of Internet Marketing and viral marketing online. It is the only sure way to business success in today's competitive, changing world!

Growing Your Collection: How to Choose the Right Doll House Kit

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/xbsHT)

It's such a great shame if something that is just beautiful, and obviously took much care and effort, just ends up gathering dust in the basement.

Good thing for all miniature enthusiasts, their collections have a place to go in case they need a home. Enter the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis in Missouri. This haven for intricate and well-crafted miniatures has provided the avenue for a good number of private collections to be appreciated by many. In here, exhibits are akin to legacies, and they communicate a part of the original owners' passion and artistry to the museum's patrons everyday.

Established in 1989, this non-profit museum is the brainchild of a group of ladies who reflected on the future fate of their treasures. Concerned that their children were not as enthusiastic as they were about their miniature collection, or that they did not have the space to store and exhibit their collection, these ladies envisioned a museum that would house their work.

You can tell that it's passion and love for the craft that sustains this museum, as it is manned by a volunteer board. Originally, the group's collection can be found at the Miniature World Museum in St. Charles. But in 2000, this passionate group was able to purchase a building for their own. Today, the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis is not just home to the original founders' collection, but displays donated collections from other enthusiasts and museums that closed as well.

The highlights that this museum offers include the sponsorship of two miniature shows annually: the Gateway Miniature Fair and the Garage Sale. In these much-anticipated events, dealers from all over the country exhibit and sell their miniature crafts. It is a perfect opportunity to network with other enthusiasts, get a market for your miniatures, and browse through offerings of dollhouses, dolls, furniture, and dollhouse accessories of different varieties.

If the fairs are not enough to infect your friends with the miniature collecting bug, you can also take them to classes and workshops on miniatures that the museum sponsors. These are usually held within the building where the exhibits are located. Make sure you stop in their library too, and browse through their resources; the museum has assembled together a variety of books and articles about this wonderful and engaging craft.

Then there's the exhibits themselves. The Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis stands by its slogan: that 'miniatures act as a window to history'. You can find exhibits there that vividly capture certain points of our history; from detailed historical houses, to dolls dressed according to the norms of the times they represent. They also have exhibits that follow a particular theme, such as fall scenes and winter holidays.

Among the collections that are guranteed to entertain and inspire you are fully-furnished Georgian Houses, a Long Branch Saloon with a doctor's office, Santa's Summer Home (imagine that!) and a Victorian House Party. There are also unusual miniatures, like miniature needlework and exquisite silver dinnerware from the Netherlands and India.

Accepting It's Over and How a Quick House Sale May Help

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/3KxnD)

Whenever a relationship breaks down it is a shock, even when you have known for a while that its just not working out and the final decision to part is likely to stay with you for a long period of time. It can take months for it to really sink in and throughout this time it is common to fantasize about reconciliation, reunion and recriminations.

Understanding what went wrong is often the first step on the way to recovery and it’s easy to get stuck in questioning, how could they do that to me? What did I do wrong? Whose fault it is?  This is only natural.

However a more positive approach is to center on the relationship, as opposed to individual responsibility and I found the following questions beneficial: -

What were things like when we first met?

What was good about our relationship?

In what way have we changed?

Why were we attracted to each other?

Have any external factors influenced our relationships?

Just what is it that has prevented us from rising above our differences?

The answers to these questions may be upsetting but the more we understand, the easier it is to let go and then move on. This was a time that I felt many emotions, including sadness, anger, despair and confusion.  Additionally, there is a multitude of practical issues to take care of, such as, supporting your children, birthdays, childcare, informing the school, access arrangements and seeing the in-laws.

It is common after a relationship breakdown to find that you are having a battle with feelings of low self-confidence and self-esteem.  There are so many things to arrange it can be easy to neglect your own feelings. Don’t be too hard on yourself and accept and be thankful for any support your friends and family provide.

This is a tough time to be a parent but the children must know what is happening. Hiding the truth from them is not protecting them and may leave them confused and wondering whether they can trust you. Obviously how much you tell them will depend on how old they are.  Sharing your feeling will help them make sense of how they feel and allow your children to show their feelings as well.

My biggest worry was my concerns over money and property.  You know, managing the finances when you have to survive on a lower income and who gets what in your family home, the pet.  Will I have to sell? Where will we live?  This can really drag you down.  Luckily I found a solution to my problem, which saved me from any despair.

There are many house sale specialists who offer an alternative to that of an estate agent, so I decided to investigate this option. I found a website headlining “ Sell your home in as little as seven days” This I considered would go along way to solving a great number of my problems. I contacted An Instant Sale in Leicester on their free phone number and although I live nearly three hundred miles from their main office, a local representative visited me the very next day.

We agreed on a price and a date, and the cash from the equity in my property was transferred to my account, I was able to make the settlement with my partner and had some spare money to carry me through and I am not homeless.  Not only did they buy my home but they also arranged for me to rent back at the normal rent for our area.  If my circumstances improve, I have a pre-agreed price, to re purchase my home in the future.

Barack Obama’new Deal

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/TgOgg)

Barack Obama’New Deal  

The general election of the presidency is proceeding intensively. And after a intensive competition the candidate of the Democratic Party of the United States Barack Obama and the candidate of the republican party John Mc Cain have the great hope to win the general election to become the new president of the United states. And the public opinion keep an eye on the candidate of the Democratic Party  Barack Obama. If he can finally heading to White House successfully, he will be the first Africa American president in the history of the United States.

I once attend one of  Barack Obama's lecture. He didm't wear a suit and leather shoes instead he only weard a Nike sportwear and sneaker. And he looks like very Approachable, not looks like other politicians.I learned later that online shopping is one of his biggest hobbies. And he didn't like to live in a luxury life. Rolex company once suggested to design a special watch for him.But he only bought a  common watch from www.watchinstyle.com. And he also bought chothers and shoes from some small online shopping store such as www.lowestmall.com just like a common American. But his powerfull lecture really impressed me.

Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya, where he grew up herding goats with his own father, who was a domestic servant to the British.
Barack's father eventually returned to Kenya, and Barack grew up with his mother in Hawaii, and for a few years in Indonesia. Later, he moved to New York, where he graduated from Columbia University in 1983.

He went on to earn his law degree from Harvard in 1991, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Soon after, he returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights lawyer and teach constitutional law. Finally, his advocacy work led him to run for the Illinois State Senate, where he served for eight years. In 2004, he became the third African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

No matter Barack Obama or John Mc Cain win the general election the the New Deal will be brought into effect.And the policy of Bush Goerment will be abandoned totally. The candidate of the Democratic Party  Barack Obama claimeed that in order to regain the confidence of the money market, the raform of the supervise to the Wall Street is necessary and very important.He said that he will make related plans if he can heading to White House.

And the policy to China will be one of the most important things. Both  Barack Obama and John Mc Cain appealed that both China and America should  strength cooperation between removal of barrier to trade,to answer global warming,improvement of military communication,nonproliferation and so on. The new policy will befinit both China and American.

Compare to the policy if the new goverment and the Bush Goverment who antagonize everywhere?and make  the American be immersed in the war of Iraq and was throw stones by many people. The new goverment focus on the reform of economic and friendly diplomatism. And most Anericans expectec that this new goverment's New Deal will be as effective as the Roosevelt government's new deal to pull the United States out of the g economic depression.

Troubled Waters - Whole House Reverse Osmosis

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/W4YIW)

How does reverse osmosis work? The answer, generally speaking, is not very well. While reverse osmosis filters do provide some level of protection from toxins hiding in our tap water, when this process is stacked up against other filtration products it tends to fall short of the mark.

 Though the reverse osmosis process was first created for industrial use, residential or whole house reverse osmosis systems have been available since the 1970's. When it was first conceived, reverse osmosis seemed like a logical answer for those who were becoming increasingly unhappy with the quality of their tap water. If this process could help remove toxins from our water, what's not to like?

 While the single filter approach represented by reverse osmosis worked well enough for the printing and photography industries, where it was first used to provide mineral free water, the realities about its use on a larger level were more bleak. As we began to ask how does reverse osmosis work we began to understand that the process doesn't translate well for domestic use.

 Technically speaking, reverse osmosis works by running pressurized water through a specially designed filter in order to remove harmful toxins and mineral buildup. The problem with whole house reverse osmosis systems is that the use of a single filter necessarily limits both the amount of toxins which can be removed and the mineral levels left behind.

 So exactly how does reverse osmosis work to remove toxins from your water? The reverse osmosis process is based on molecular structure but unfortunately, all toxins are not created equal. Those with a smaller molecular structure can still slip through the reverse osmosis filter and wind up in your water. At the same time, many helpful minerals, which have a larger molecular size, will be stripped from treated water, leaving a product which is less than ideal on two counts.

As technology has increased, so too has the amount of chemicals and toxins in the average municipal water supply. We are exposed to everything from chlorine, herbicides and pesticides to traces of prescription drugs on a daily basis through our own tap water. While a whole house reverse osmosis filter system can provide some level of protection, it simply can not remove everything that may be lurking in our water.

 The only way to be completely sure that you are providing the cleanest, safest, healthiest water for your family is by using a multi-stage filter system. If you've asked how does reverse osmosis work, then consider how multi-stage systems compare. By using a series of filters of gradual sizes, a multi-stage system traps and removes a much higher percentage of harmful compounds than any other type of water filtration. It's really that simple.

 You want the best for your family, we all do, and when it comes to providing the best quality water for all of our daily needs reverse osmosis filters simply don't get the job done. Don't short change your family, give them the best water possible by installing a whole house multi-stage water filter system today. Your family's health is worth it.

 

U.s. in Store for Trillion-dollar Deficits, Says President-elect Barack Obama

(My Original Blog Post: http://www.addicting-flash-game.com/us-in-store-for-trillion-dollar-deficits-says-president-elect-barack-obama)

Herbert/AP President-elect Barack Obama speaks to reporters after a meeting with his top economic advisers Tuesday.

WASHINGTON-President-elect Barack Obama forecast trillion-dollar deficits for "years to come" on Tuesday,arguing that the government has no choice but busting the federalbudget to rescue a precarious economy.

"We're already looking at a trillion-dollar budget deficit or closeto a trillion-dollar budget deficit," Obama told reporters at a meetingwith his economic team.

"Potentially we've got trillion-dollar deficits for years to come,even with the economic recovery that we are working on at this point,"he warned.

The federal deficit stood at $455 billion when the 2008 fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2008.

Obama wants to pump at least $775 billion into the economy through a two-year stimulus spending plan. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada this week predicted the plan could be in the ballpark of $1.2 trillion.

"Obama is sending a plan to Congress knowing it's going to increase.The $775 billion is just a baseline. It could balloon to over atrillion dollars," said a Senate leadership source.

Obama's economic rescue package includes a $300 billion middle-classtax cut and comes on top of the $800 billion bailout plans for theailing finance and banking industries and the Big Three automakers.

"We're going to be investing an extraordinary amount of money tojump-start our economy, save or create 3 million new jobs, mostly inthe private sector, and lay a solid foundation for future growth,"Obama said.

He wants to expand unemployment benefits, increase food stampallotments and boost construction jobs. He also is consideringsubsidizing up to 65% of health insurance costs for laid-off workers,sources confirmed to the Daily News.

Obama took a jab at President Bush, saying his administration will restore transparency and accountability to government.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is pushing to include an expanded college tuition tax credit somiddle-class families can write off $4,000 per child. Obama likes theidea, but isn't sure it should be included in the stimulus legislationor a separate bill.

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky urged Congress to proceed slowly - ignoring climbing unemployment,slumping housing and retail sales, a gridlocked credit market andskyrocketing tuition costs.

"We should encourage, not discourage questions," said McConnell, whowarned Democrats against a "reckless rush to meet an arbitrarydeadline."

But as the measure is cobbled together, the President-elect againput Congress on notice he won't tolerate a plan that includespork-barrel "earmarks" for projects like Alaska's notorious bridge to nowhere.

"I'm saying there are no earmarks in the recovery package. That is the position that I am taking," Obama said.

Congress has pledged to curtail the often politically motivatedearmarks - money appropriated in the middle of the night for petprojects.

A senior Senate source disclosed Obama is working most closely with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on the spending plan.

"The Senate is going to play follow the leader on this one. Obamahas decided Pelosi is the person to drive the stimulus package. We'rejust going along for the ride," the Senate source said.

Crowded House Tickets - Australian Pop-rock Band Returns To The Stage In 2007

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/E4d2Q)

Crowded House tickets, for at least a decade, were some of the most sought-after concert tickets in the world, as the rock band that proudly represented Australia with their pop-rock style and chart-topping hits. After several years apart, the band is getting back together for another tour, and that's got music fans excited all over the world. A look at the band's history could help explain this high degree of anticipation.

Beginnings

The origins of the band began to come together in 1985 in Melbourne, Australia. The band was originally called "The Mullanes," and they gained notice around Australia and New Zealand by banging around in local clubs and perfecting their fresh rock style. These live shows soon garnered them notice, and they signed a record deal and relocated to Los Angeles to get to work in the studio.

The band released their self-titled debut album in 1986, and unfortunately, Capital Records did not see a lot of potential with the release, so it didn't get a lot of support or publicity. However, the band continued to tour aggressively, and their live style resulted in a loyal following. Crowded House tickets became a hot item, especially after their single "Don't Dream It's Over" was released and became an international hit.

Success

After a mildly successful follow-up release in 1988, Crowded House gained worldwide fame with their 1991 release, Woodface. The album climbed inside the Top Ten on the charts in both Australia and the UK, and set the stage for their subsequent releases to all enjoy significant commercial success.

The band continued to grow in stature, and their real acclaim came as a result of their intense and engaging live performance style. They have always toured relentlessly, and their fans even adopted a name for themselves. "Crowdies" could be seen at every stop on every one of their tours, and this fan base is what inspired the members to continue on within the industry.

Going Forward

On November 24, 1996, the band played a farewell concert on the steps of the Sydney Opera house, and the estimates for the size of that crowd range from 120,000 to 250,000. The band from there quietly went their separate ways, but years later, rumors began to surface that they were considering a reunion.

Those rumors proved true recently, as Crowded House will once again embark on a tour. It's been over 10 years since their last foray onto the stage, which means that Crowdies everywhere will be lining up in anticipation of their shows. If you want to see this band, you'll be one of millions who will use Crowded House tickets in the near future.

Flipping Houses for Profit

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/Fjm4s)

Today, there are many money making trends that exist. Some are worth it while others are complete scams. One long standing trend that has been around is that of flipping houses for real estate profits. Not only does it really work, it can bring in killer cash!


When you find a property that you want to flip, it is important to do the research. Make sure you buy property that mainly needs cosmetic repairs. Avoid costly structural repairs. In making repairs and improvements, you will want to look at ways you can get the job done as cheaply and efficiently as possible. Doing this will save you a lot of money in the end, allowing you to make a higher profit for yourself.


After you have found the property and have done the research, now it is time to buy it. Make sure you buy homes at a much cheaper price than you will be selling it. One way this can be done is by purchasing HUD homes at cheap rates, and then fixing them up to be sold at higher prices. You will have to own the home for at least six months before you can sell it. Many lenders will not want to deal with you if you have had the home for any lesser amount of time. Some investors and lenders will even require that you own the home for nine months.


Now that things are set in place, it is time to start planning the sale of the house. Here are some tips as to how this can be done effectively allowing you to maximize your potential for profits:


1. Usually, the longer you wait, the more you can sell the house for but you also have to consider how soon you need to recover your investment.


2. Get the house appraised after you have made all of the necessary repairs so you know how much to ask for it.


3. If you do not have to get your investment back immediately and can afford to wait, wait until the market comes to a peak. The market tends to rise and fall, and obviously, you want to sell when the prices of homes are higher.


4. If you can sell the house yourself, you can cut out the realtor fee but if you cannot sell yourself and use a realtor, be sure you deal with someone with experience and a high sales record. Try to keep the sales commission at no more than six percent.


It is also important to know who you will be targeting and how you will need to target them. People you can target are lawyers, mortgage brokers, CPAs, notary publics, and title representatives. You can get a list of such individuals from a mailing broker and mail them postcards and news letters letting them know you are in the business of buying up foreclosed properties as well as properties that are sold in the process of a divorce. You can also tell them that you purchase probate and distressed properties. As they see your cards, they can pass them along to their clients so they can get in touch with you. You may be able to get some good prices on properties to fix up and flip this way.

Challenges ahead for Barack Obama

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/Cq2Gd)

Barack Obama completes 100 days in office on 30 April 2009. It is a good precedent adopted by many to look back and take stock of the positive as well as the negative aspects and if in need of formulating better policy initiatives, both internal and external in the days to come. The youthful President took charge of affairs at a time when US was (and is) facing uphill tasks on the economic front which is still in doldrums or in a shambles. The financial melt-down is still a looming threat to all nations across the world which had its genesis in US, thanks to the unregulated free market economy adopted by the Republican Party (GoP) and its leaders.

Mr.George W Bush, the former President, a Republican who “carved a niche for himself” in formulating a policy affecting both internal and external affairs (thus he became the beloved of all) handed over power on a platter to Obama. Obama was by then kept abreast of all the developments which were not to his liking and hence was not alarmed or embarrassed.

 

While on his whirlwind tour of US to campaign for his Presidential candidature, he reminded the electorate of gigantic tasks ahead and appealed for their co-operation to surmount the obstacles one by one.

 

“We must throw ourselves up from the deep pit we have fallen in” – was his message to his supporters.

 

“While the Wall Street thrives, we should not allow the main street to suffer”- were also his famous words to the American citizen. Those words indicated his determination to rescue the economy from the deep ditch which found itself in as a result of eight years of misrule by the GoP.

 

With good intentions he proceeded to build up the economy, pumped $787 billion and later pumped more into the economy to bail-out banks, other institutions and for health-care across America. Obama is an advocate of Keynesian theory of economics is not on good terms with free-market economy which is unregulated and it always argues “markets always correct themselves” and there is no need of interference by the government. But that was not to be. The experience proved it with the crumbling down of the economic policies adopted by the former government and its economists like Alan Greenspan.  

 

A man reputed for his coolness, diplomacy and cordiality- Obama is known for these qualities- lost his cool after assuming power, when he came to learn about the huge sums of bonuses sanctioned by the executives of AIG (American International Group)-the World’s largest insurance company which was bailed out with pumping in of tax payers’ money-to themselves. The bureaucrats had no regard for the failing economy and its after-effects like recession and retrenchment were notorious for their selfishness and greed which are characteristics of a capitalist economy. After his scathing attack and with the Government’s decision to impose 90 percent tax on the bonuses they had sanctioned to themselves-some of them returned the amounts in full-not all of them. The bureaucrats of the Citi group also followed suit and they were also forced to remit the bonus back.

Still the damage control exercise is going on but the formidable tasks are still staring in the face of President Obama. Not cowed down by the threats ahead, Obama moves with brimming confidence is a good sign. After the first round of G20 Summit hosted by George Bush to bail-out the global economy in Washington, the then President on 15 November, the second round of the Summit was in London, hosted by Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of Britain on April 2-3. Indian Prime Minister ManMohanSingh was also a participant in the Summit. The deliberations adopted there, if implemented in letter and spirit could be of helpful to a certain extent to the nations across the World - all are tasting the bitter fruits of economic down-turn - such as increasing the fund of IMF from $250 billion to $750 billion with the intention of extending help to needy nations to bail-out their economies and to help the member countries to get back huge amounts of unaccounted money stashed in safe havens like Liechenstein Bank in Germany and UBS in Switzerland by the political leaders and industrial tycoons.

 

Something is better than nothing- it is said. Differences there were, like France and Germany joining hands against encouraging bail-outs, instead they advocated for strict regulations and Britain and US on the other side giving more importance to bail-outs.

 

With more and more countries turning to the Left- last week Iceland, which was one of the safe havens for black money also turned to the left- after a colossal financial turmoil, still the apostles of Capitalism are busy deliberating on their next steps to bring back the free-market economy through the backdoor.

 

Obama, after the Summit flew into Germany first, then to France, Czech Republic and his last stop was Turkey. It was a historic tour, he got a chance to display his diplomatic potentials at everywhere he went befriending all without sowing the seeds of animosity, hatred and one-upmanship. The election of Anders Fogh Rasmussen , the former Prime Minister of Denmark as the new Chairman of NATO was a fine example of winning the hearts of everybody in the selection of Rasmussen . As far as Turkey is concerned Rasmussen was a hated figure from the very day a derogatory cartoon of Allah was published in a Danish Newspaper by its cartoonist. But Obama could prevail upon Turkish leaders cajoling them into agreeing for the appointment of Mr. Rasmussen as the NATO Chairman. A defining example of Obama’s statesmanship.

 

Similarly holding out an olive branch to Iran, which was on collision terms with US during the Bush era and the simultaneous reciprocating gesture by the Iranian authorities is also a step forward, though it is not a great leap, in establishing peace after a long gap. Both countries have a lot of ground to cover to establish durable peace in the trouble prone-area.

 

One remarkable step forward anyhow is the fifth historic meeting of the Organisation of American States held at Trinidad-Tobago last week. It was an ideal occasion for Obama and the Latin American countries to forget the past and pave the way for camaraderie. Obama’s moment with Hugo Chavez, the Venezeulan Head must have been an unforgettable experience. Chavez’s presentation of the renowned book by Edwardo Galeano titled- “Open Veins of Latin America”- to Obama was  reported with much prominence by the International media. But Cuba is still elusive and it is for Obama to take initiative to bridge gaps with the Latin American Communist nation, which is still undergoing sanctions slapped by US in 1948. Sixty years of mutual rivalry has to be put an end to, a new era of friendship and co-operation established. Cuba had to endure many a hardship on account of the frequent and indirect efforts by US to undermine the leadership, especially of the greatest revolutionary of our times Comrade Fidel Castro. CIA, US Intelligence agency in the past vainfully tried several times to physically eliminate him from the whole scene.

 

Anyhow past is past, now it is an opportune moment to lift the embargo and pave the way for lasting friendship

 

Keeping in mind all these positive aspects in mind propensity or could we say aspiration for remaining always at the top of the ladder is somewhat puzzling. The dream of a Uni-polar World still remains at the top of any US head’s agenda. A multi-polar World- that is not to any President’s liking. A mystery.

 

The ongoing crisis in Iraq, an exploding situation confronting Afghanistan and Pakistan and Obama’s undesirable interest and pumping of huge sums to Pakistan to tackle terrorism actually belie our expectations of this young leader.

 

He has ample time to learn. It is pertinent here to note, he has taken only a few steps ahead. Let us wish him all success in his endeavour to bring peace and prosperity on the occasion of his completion of hundred days in office.

 

 

 

  

 

President Barack Obama's Mortgage Modification Finally in the Works

(My Original Blog Post: http://www.addicting-flash-game.com/president-barack-obamas-mortgage-modification-finally-in-the-works)

Don't think that your President doesn't know the economy is struggling. President Barack Obama's mortgage modification program is taking the economy by storm with him offering a little added help for those really struggling financially.

With the rapid decrease in property and home values it has become very difficult for home owners to be able to sell their home in hope of getting away from the struggle of owning. Many more home owners are becoming completely stuck with their homes until they reach foreclosure which is what any lender really wants to avoid.

Back in February this mortgage modification came about to help those that no longer have that 20% equity due to the rapid decreases in property values. Usually you are required to have at least 20% equity before you can qualify for a mortgage modification making it a true struggle to be approved.

Now many more homeowners are having the opportunity to avoid foreclosure with this new plan that Barack Obama has started. This is preventing over five million people who own homes from foreclosure and have the ability to continue living in their homes. Mortgage lenders have been given new guidelines to follow when approving applicants for a mortgage modification allowing them to help many more homeowners out then before.

With a larger portion of the United States homeowners paying at least 40-50% of their earnings into their mortgage many are finding it even more difficult to pay their mortgage which is where this mortgage modification plan comes in handy for many.

For those participating in home refinancing you could find yourself either saving money or spending money depending on how the refinance is done. If your home refinance was done incorrectly you could end up paying more back then you saved which can be frustrating. You want to get the proper information before you do this and ensure the lender has given you all the necessary details for a safe home refinance.

Many are signing up for President Barack Obama's mortgage modification program in hope to save themselves financially. Make sure when you apply for this mortgage modification program that you are ready to supply all the necessary details right away. The sooner you are prepared the sooner you will be approved and saving yourself some needed cash through these hard times. Everyone needs a little financial relief and Barack Obama is prepared to give you some needed help with his brand new mortgage modification program.

5 Tips You Should Know Before Buying A House

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/Gyg7t)

Too often potential home buyers will spend more time telling everyone what type of house they plan to buy and in what area, but not enough time researching their personal finances, the cost to buy, the location or the real estate market. They will visit a realtor's office with no real plan other than what type of house they want and information about where they work. Before, wasting valuable time and money, prepare yourself before you walk into anyone's office by doing the following:

1. Know your personal finances and contributions to your home purchase. Make copies of your last four weeks of pay stubs, bank statements, and references. If you know that you may leave your job, possibly be laid off or the company may be closing, you may want to reconsider buying a house. However, if none of this applies to you, consider how much you have in savings and investments and make copies of these statements as well. Also, research first time home buying programs that offer down payment assistance.

2. Know what is on your credit reports from all three agencies (Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union). Pull your credit reports and make copies, this way you can prevent lowering your score with too many inquiries from lenders. Begin to pay off unpaid balances, dispute any charges that you haven't made and pay off credit cards.

3. Know what you want. Make a list of features in a house you must-have, would like and not want. Decide on a location and research on how the equity has increased in your area. Consider the price range you can afford. Ask yourself what mortgage payment would you like to make on the house? Some banks offer a free online calculator at their websites to determine home affordability.

4. Know a mortgage broker instead of a mortgage lender & get pre-approved. The broker will work with many different mortgage companies, while the lender will just represent one. He or she will verify that you can indeed purchase a home loan in a specific price range. To obtain a pre-approval, a lender evaluates your credit history, and calculates your housing and debt ratios. You should expect to verify your income, length of employment and source of down payment.

5. Know a Real Estate Agent. In most states, a real estate agent must disclose which party he or she works for. When you contact an agent, verify that the agent can work as a buyer's agent. They should not disclose confidential information about you to the seller's agent. Ask the agent about his or her services if you. Also, request a blank copy of the buyer agency contract and study it. Don't let anyone pressure you into signing an agreement that doesn't feel right.
A good agent will walk you through the process and return your calls quickly.

Sell House Fast for Quick Cash

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/KpQ1o)

There are many cases of individuals who find themselves in need of quick cash. Be it bankruptcy or business losses, financial problems, divorce, inflation rate, or any other emergency situations, many individuals find that the only way to get quick cash is quick property sale. A loan can be the answer to your problems, but you have to consider the high interest rates. Furthermore, the amount that you need may not be covered by your bank balance, in which case you situation may become quite desperate. Of course, there are always your family and friends, or other reliable people that you can turn to for a loan, but what they have to offer may not meet your need for cash. This is why the liquidation of your assets emerges as the only way of getting a hold of the cash you desperately need.



The conversion of your property into liquid cash can be the only solution to your problem, as it often represents a fairly large amount of cash. However, it sometimes happens that homeowners need more than just the cash; they also need to sell house fast. Under these circumstances, you are not presented with the same options that you would have if you were to sell your property without being pressured by time, and you may be forced to sell your property for a lot less than it is actually worth. Still, you need not panic, as there are many investors who are interested in purchasing your property. Quick property sale, as a result of an emergency, is a recurring situation, and therefore many agencies have specialized in selling properties fast in order to meet the needs and demands of their clients. Such people have access to a very wide network of property investors, and therefore your problem may be solved a lot quicker and more conveniently that you expect.



If your only way of getting a large amount of cash in short period of time is to sell house fast, then here’s what you have to do. Since time is a serious issue for you, going online for an application and an offer is probably the best thing to do. Filling out an online application form only takes a few minutes, and you will be contacted in very short time in order to discuss your circumstances. You will also be made an “offer in principle” based on the information you have provided. If you accept this offer, your house will be surveyed and you will receive a written offer, which are free of charge. The sale process will be completed quickly and easily, with the solicitor of your choice, whose fees will also be paid for by your investor. The completion date of the sale process is also your choice, and no one will pressure you into moving out quickly unless this is what you desire. Quick property sale does not necessarily imply that you have to vacate the property and relocate quickly. If you decide to sell house fast, you are also presented with the option of renting back your house. You will continue to live in your home as a tenant for as long as you wish or need and at an agreed rate.



For more resources about Sell house fast or even about quick property sale, please review this web page http://ping.fm/2kfJK

Barack Obama is a Maverick Thinker

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/gcENC)

Love him or not, Senator Barack Obama has proven to be a Maverick Thinker. His campaign has done so many things that are just not standard politician fare. Just the idea that a young, African-American man would even have a real shot at the Presidency is a maverick thought in itself. But, Sen. Obama is on the verge of being elected President of the United States. The lessons of his highly successful campaign should be applied to your business every single day.


This is not to say that everything the Obama campaign has done is completely original. It's just that the campaign has been able to mix some ideas of the past with new ideas, and package it as something fresh and new. It seems the Senator and his aides are able to recognize what has worked well in the past, but are not just rehashing it the same way it was done previously.


If you're honest, regardless of what candidate you support, Sen. Obama has made Senator John McCain look plain, old fashioned, and just out of date.


The Key to the Obama campaign is positive buzz. The announcement that Sen. Obama will accept the Democratic nomination in a football stadium in front of 75,000 people is downright brilliant. Rather than stand on a stage in front of 19,000 people in an indoor arena, he will give the most important speech of his life in a massive venue. He will be surrounded by thousands of cheering supporters. On TV screens across America this will look amazing, and reinforce the image of Sen. Obama as the overwhelming choice of the people. How can John McCain help but look small in comparison?


As brilliant an idea as this is, it is not completely original. John F. Kennedy did the same thing in 1960. Many voters today don't remember the Kennedy years, but they know he is revered. Just hearing that JFK accepted his nomination in a football stadium, and that Obama is doing the same links them emotionally in the hearts of many Americans. Especially young Americans, many of whom will vote for the first time this year.


Now consider how you can Omabatize your business. Whether it's politics, entertainment, or business people always flock to the hottest buzz. Your marketing should make you stand out first and foremost. Marketing technical jargon, and the same old bullet point features or benefits makes you just another face in the crowd. Our culture has A.D.D., so you need to grab the attention of your target market. You want to have the hot new product or service that is ready to set the world on fire.


Vanity matters. So many people I work with fear tooting their own horn. They feel if they brag too much about their product or service they'll be perceived in a negative fashion. Ever heard of a fellow named Donald Trump? There has never been a bigger self-promoter. Even when he was a virtual nobody he figured out how to get attention, and use publicity to rocket to the top of his industry. That's not easy in New York City, but he did it to perfection.


Just like Sen. Obama, love him or not you have to admit he knows how to get what he wants. Four years ago most people had no idea who Barack Obama was. Yet, just four years later he is on the cusp of becoming the most powerful man on Earth. That's pretty wild, and amazing self-promotion.


So, don't be afraid to talk up your business or your products or services. Don't be arrogant, but be proud. Talk about what you do in the same way you would talk about your child who is an honor student, or about that sweet new sports car you just bought. When you beam with pride you give off a positive vibe that people pick up on. People are always drawn to positive messages that make them feel good. Your target market will be far more receptive to you if they feel you can somehow transfer your positivity to them to make their life better.


The big thing in molding the image you want people to have of you is how you package yourself or your business. You won't find many competing companies that are both successful by looking the same as each other.


Think of Coke & Pepsi. Both soft drinks look alike if you pour them in a glass, but they are packaged very differently. They both have bright, colorful labels that are nothing alike. They both use plastic bottles, but they are shaped very differently and evoke different emotions. Their logos are also very different.


The lesson is trying to look like your most successful competitor will will really make you look a like something your customers have already seen before. There's nothing to motivate them to take a deeper look. You become the same old same old. Don't copy what others have done. Be bold. Your customers will be motivated to give you a call, or check out your web site by feeling as though they might find something new and exciting. Maybe you have a solution that your competitors don't.


One of the most successful pieces of copy I ever wrote was two sentences on a postcard. It read, "You're pissing away millions of dollars every year by not managing your inventory properly. You might want to fix that." It was a little crass, I know, but boy did it get the attention of those who received it.


The point is don't be afraid to be daring. Don't be shackled by so called "business language." Speak to people the way you would about your favorite movie or your cool new smartphone with all the bells and whistles. It's OK to say what you do is "awesome" or "cool" or gasp, FUN.


Be controversial. Even the bad publicity that has surrounded Sen. Obama has kept him at the forefront of almost every news cycle since the start of the year. His decision not to take public financing was very controversial. Heck, just the fact that a black man is within months of possibly being elected President is controversial. Barack Obama is controversial, and that draws people to him. His positive message keeps them in his corner.


Sen. Obama is the sunshine breaking through the clouds. Ronald Reagan said it was morning in America , and that made people feel good. It conjured up an image of a new beginning with the prospect of great things to come. Sen. Obama brings a similar message of hope and change in an increasingly dark time. People want to believe that great things are just ahead, and will vote for the person they think will bring those great things to their lives.


Be sunny and positive. No one likes a rain cloud, but people love fun in the sun. Let your customers know how good they'll feel working with you. They'll be happy to vote for you to bring those rays of sunshine to their daily grind. Of course, your customers cast their votes for you in dollars, and that will make you feel pretty darn good too.

President Barack Obama Comic Book Superhero

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/akIBT)

President Barack Obama has just completed his first 100 days in the White House as President of the United States of America. He is not only popular among the public, he is also gracing the pages of comic books. Comics have been written about his life, his life as President so far, and his journey through the presidential candidacy. He has made short appearances in Spider Man and has even been the star character in a comic called Youngblood. I’m sure that he was excited to appear in Spider Man because he told people that he used to collect Spider Man comic books.

In the Youngblood comic book, Barack Obama was a tough guy character. He character even carried a gun throughout the comic story. The plot of the story was that the White House was under attack and President Barack Obama was on his own to defend it. His secret service men were shot and killed, which left him running for his life. Although he carries a gun on him, he never shoots the gun in the comic. He saves his own life by safely hiding under a large clock. A lot of readers thought this comic was very controversial simply because he was featured with a gun. However, the main idea of the story is that he defends the White House from the bad guys.

In a series of comic books by IDW Publishing, Presidential Material, he will also be featured. IDW Publishing has featured other political candidates in their comic book series such as John McCain. Last year, IDW publishing wrote comics during the height of the presidential campaign. The comic helped in the media frenzy that gained both Barack Obama and John McCain a lot of attention. The comics written about them were biographies. Having a comic book biography is a great way to get people who are interested in comics also interested in the presidential election. And it works the other way as; people who are really involved with the elections will start to like reading comics. The series during the election became so popular, especially about Barack Obama, that they printed five in the series. Now that Barack Obama is our President, the Presidential Material series will cover his life during the inauguration and his first 100 days in office.

President Barak Obama is comparable to superheroes we read in comics. He defends the nation while making sacrifices against his own life. He never stops working to protect us and do what’s best for us. That is the job of the President, and the more you read about superheroes, you will also know it’s their job to protect, defend and do what’s best for their cities.

 

Why Mini Skirts And Buying A House Go Hand In Hand For Joe The Renter

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/9GMNN)

Hey girls! Becoming a home buyer may not be about wearing mini skirts. But how much money you can borrow for buying a house goes hand in hand with current fashion.

How do I know? My dad said so.

I was one of those kids who asked too many questions. Good thing it was the mid 60's and not the 19th century. Surely, my inability to quit asking questions would have made me very unpopular during Queen Victoria's reign.

Little did I know the questions I asked my father as a child would eventually help me grasp the connection between affording a mortgage and skirt lengths.

I was born into a farming family. But by 1956, Dad took advantage of the price of land to sell the farm, move our family to southern California and launch a banking career.

I was the youngest so unlike my siblings, my childhood consisted of standing in shiny bank vaults not Illinois corn fields. In fact, I was more familiar with the price of corn than how to grow it.

By junior high I was already asking my dad, "If there is less money during a recession, where does it all go?"

My father, uncles and granddad were known for their "isms". I think this was partial to southern Illinois living. One of Dad's favorites was to compare the economy to skirt hems. I argued the logic. Not surprising. I was a teenager.

Now here is what Dad claimed. When economies flourish, fashion dictates shorter skirts. Good times equal more leg. But when economies take a dive for the worst, the result is a return to more traditional values including longer skirt hems.

Like I already mentioned, this logic escaped me. I didn't buy my father's theory because I knew better and here is why.

Being the youngest child in our family, I tagged along while Mom ran errands. Since moving to California, she had taken up the hobby of sewing. When I had nothing better to do, I accompanied her to fabric stores where I can still smell the dye that stung my eyes. I also paid attention to how much fabric cost.

So, I disagreed with my dad's claim that The Great Depression was responsible for long skirts. To me it was obvious. I knew long skirts required more fabric. I also knew additional fabric meant more expense.

So, if it were true that there was less money during a recession, why would fashion dictate longer skirts?

As you are reading this, take a moment to reflect on the era of the Flappers. Now those girls knew fashion. It was the Roaring 20's, optimism reigned and prosperity ruled. And guess what! Skirt hems rose exposing the leg.

Oh boy, I was beginning to understand what Dad had been trying to tell me. During times of prosperity, traditional standards were assigned less importance.

Turn the clock forward. It is 1998 and I am an adult. Seems I had followed in my dad's footsteps because I was listening intently to a Freddie Mac speaker. I was also head over heels in mortgage lending.

To paraphrase the FHLMC representative attending our conference, "We are seeing little correlation between debt ratios and foreclosure statistics."

Now that one little statement blew traditional lending practices out of the water and in my opinion charted a new destiny for America.

Just as traditional values were set aside during the Roaring 20's, underwriting standards of traditional mortgage lending were becoming old fashioned and cumbersome by the late 1990's. FNMA, FHLMC and even FHA were gradually raising their skirt hems that were feeling too modest.

By 2001, financial skirts across America were changing with the styles. "No downpayment? NO problem! Lots of debt? Well, that's no reason to stop you from buying a house."

In fact, you may have watched a TV advertisement showing a woman sitting by herself at a table. Silently, house keys slid across a table to her. After she hesitantly asked, "Just like that?" a reassuring voice answered, "Yes, buying a house is just THAT easy."

Well, buying a house may have been that easy but how about affording the mortgage? Who was addressing Joe The Homeowner's mortgage affordability with more than just lip service?

Where was the balance between traditional standards and changing economic attitudes?

As history demonstrated, the speculation of the Roaring 20's eventually humbled the mighty Bull. Panic on Wall Street ushered in The Great Depression along right along with longer skirts.

Similarly, it appears hemlines were destined to fall once again. Yet the fate of the 21st century economic mini skirt could have been avoided by considering Joe The Homeowner and how much he could afford in a mortgage.

After all if homeownership isn't benefiting Joe, what's the purpose.

Housing Market Cools But More Needs To Be Done To Assist Buyers

(My Original Blog Post: http://www.addicting-flash-game.com/housing-market-cools-but-more-needs-to-be-done-to-assist-buyers)

The figures show that house price inflation slowed to only 0.1% in April, significantly slower when compared with a 1.1% increase for March, and the annual house price change fell to 4.8% in April from 5.3% in March, leading to an average UK house price increase of £1490 to £163,573, from £162,083, up by nearly £7,500 more than at this time last year. This is equivalent to a price increase of more than £20 per day over the last twelve months.


According to Nationwide's Group Economist, Fionnuala Earley, "The cooling in prices in April was not unexpected given the surge in March and shows the wisdom of not placing too much emphasis on one month's set of numbers. However, the underlying picture remains reasonably healthy as demand conditions have remained quite firm. While the number of house purchase approvals fell back sharply in February, from 121,000 to 115,000, this remains a buoyant level of activity, well above the ten year average of about 100,000 per month."


On the whole, this represents good news for the housing market, as prices settle following on from the high levels of house price growth seen throughout the rest of the year, however a legacy of price increases has lead to the nation's mortgage debt burden hitting the trillion pound barrier. Deirdre Hutton, Chairman of the National Consumer Council warned, "With 6 million families already struggling to keep on top of their credit commitments, even a small increase in interest rates could tip many more into a spiral of financial despair. Stories of individual misery lie behind these headlines. Now is the time for people to take stock of their borrowing commitments and to think twice before taking on further debt."


Bradford

Top-Ranking Communities For Housing Growth In United States

(My Original Blog Post: http://www.addicting-flash-game.com/top-ranking-communities-for-housing-growth-in-united-states)

On August 21, 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau released information about housing growth in the Nation. The Bureau provided data covering the period from July 1, 2004 to July 1, 2005. The data was segmented by changes in the actual number of housing units, as well as the percentage change in housing units for a particular county.


As a nation, there were approximately 124.5 million housing units as of July 1, 2005, which was a 1.5% increase from July 1, 2004.


Listed below are the top 15 counties that added the largest number of housing units for the period observed. San Diego County ranked #12 with 13,964 housing units added from 2004 to 2005, which represents a 1.3% increase from the previous year.


1. Maricopa County, Arizona (52,203 units added)

2. Clark County, Nevada (35,114 units added)

3. Harris County, Texas (33,698 units added)

4. Riverside County, California (29,689 units added)

5. Miami-Dade County, Florida (21,375 units added)

6. Los Angeles County, California (19,950 units added)

7.Lee County, Florida (19,894 units added)

8. San Bernardino County, California (17,032 units added)

9. Tarrant County, Texas (16,281 units added)

10. Fulton County, Georgia (15,374 units added)

11. Orange County, Florida (14,003 units added)

12. San Diego County, California (13,964 units added)

13. Palm Beach County, Florida (13,777 units added)

14. Hillsborough County, Florida (13,086 units added)

15. Bexar County, Texas (12,333 units added)


The Bureau also provided data with regard to the largest percentage change in housing units from July 1, 2004 through July 1, 2005 for U.S. counties. The top fifteen counties were:


1. Flagler County, Florida (14.8% increase)

2. Sumter County, Florida (12.8% increase)

3. Pinel County, Arizona (10.2% increase)

4. Osceola County, Florida (9.5% increase)

5. Franklin County, Washington (9.4% increase)

6. Culpeper County, Virginia (9.3% increase)

7. Washington County, Utah (8.6% increase)

8. Kendall County, Illinois (8.5% increase)

9. St. Lucie County, Florida (8.2% increase)

10. Rockwall County, Texas (7.7% increase)

11. Loudoun County, Virginia (7.4% increase)

12. Paulding County, Georgia (7.3% increase)

13. Walton County, Florida (7.3% increase)

14. Yuba County, California (7.1% increase)

15. Fannin County, Georgia (7.1% increase)


The Census Bureau consolidated data about counties to determine which states had the most rapid housing growth in terms of percent change from 2004 to 2005. The top fifteen states were:


1. Nevada (4.4% growth rate)

2. Arizona (3.5% growth rate)

3. Florida (3.1% growth rate)

4. Idaho (2.9% growth rate)

5. Utah (2.9% growth rate)

6. Georgia (2.7% growth rate)

7. North Carolina (2.1% growth rate)

8. Colorado (2.1% growth rate)

9. Texas (2.0% growth rate)

10. Delaware (2.0% growth rate)

11. South Carolina (2.0% growth rate)

12. Virginia (1.9% growth rate)

13. Washington (1.7% growth rate)

14. Minnesota (1.7% growth rate)

15. Hawaii (1.7% growth rate)


California ranked #19 with a 1.4% growth rate. The housing growth rate from the nation as a whole was 1.5%. For more information, go to the Census Bureau's web site.