Forex requires Patience

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This adage often brings back the memories of my past days when I was trading initially in the currency exchange market. Indeed, there's nothing more hurtful than losing your invested money in the FX market. But, online currency trading is like life where you're got to learn from your wrong moves and keep moving on. Learning the basic skills of online forex trading could be easy but, practically, one needs to acquire the advanced skills to play safe through thick and thin of FX trading.

I have traded in forex for many years and, if you count on me, I must tell you that the secret of successful trading lies largely on the hunch and intuition of an trader. Technically expressed, you should have the accurate forex alerts and forex signals to be able to make the right moves in the currency market. However, this is easier said than done as the skills of the Currency Trading Signal takes a long time to master. This is why while a few people are able to boost their forex pips in a short span of time, the others take a long time to achieve the same or maybe, some of them get frustrated and just give it up! The reality is that not many people are ready to be entirely devoted to the perilous process of online forex trading.

Forex Swing Trading

When evaluating the forex market for swing trade opportunities the focus is placed on predicting directional changes or continuations for a given currency pair. For this we rely on technical analysis.

In technical analysis, just as in fundamental analysis, there are lagging indicators and leading indicators. One of the most reliable tools used to predict forex market swings is Elliott Wave analysis. Elliott Wave analysis can be used to identify trends and countertrends, trend continuation or exhaustion and to evaluate the potential price targets of a trend.

You can apply Elliott Wave analysis to both long and short position swing trade set ups for your currency pairs.

Elliott Wave theory is named after Ralph Nelson Elliott, who concluded that the markets moved in a repetitive pattern of waves. He attributed this action to the mass psychology of the market.

Elliott concluded that the market’s movement was a direct result of the mass psychology of the time and that the stock market is a fractal. A fractal is an object that is similar in shape, but at different scales. A great example of a fractal in nature is a stalk of broccoli. The stalk and the individual branches look exactly the same; just the branches are smaller in scale.

Fractals just happen to form in accordance with Fibonacci ratios. Is this a coincidence?

Elliott attributes this mass psychological move to the human trait of herding. Even though Elliott’s theories were based on stock market price movements, it has been applied to evaluating Presidential approval ratings and fashion trends changes as well.

The conclusion, the market price actions are not the cause of economic growth or slow down, but the reflection of the mass psychology of investors. If the mood of the investing public is upbeat then a bull market ensues. This is counter to what most individual perceive, that because there is a bull market the mood of the investing public is upbeat.

Elliott Wave patterns follow a sequence that the markets move up in a series of 3 waves and down in a series of 2 waves. This 3 wave impulse and 2 wave corrective sequence form the foundation of the 5 Wave impulse pattern (the opposite is true in a downtrend).

The Elliott Wave Counts are as follows;

Wave 1 - Short Covering
Wave 2 - Pullback from Short Covering
Wave 3 - Major Rally Phase
Wave 4 - Institution Pause in the Rally
Wave 5 - Retail Buying

Wave 1 is usually the weakest of the impulse waves. It is a brief rally based on short covering of the bears from a previous move down. When Wave 1 is complete, the currency pair sells off, creating Wave 2.

Wave 2 ends when the market fails to make new lows. You often see dominant reversals patterns form at the end of this wave signaling the being of the rally phase or Wave 3.

Wave 3 is the longest and strongest of the impulse waves. This signals strong currency buying or selling in the direction of the trend. This trend usually starts of slowly, but tends to accelerate as it breaks to new highs above the top of Wave 1.

Like any trend, especially a strong trend a correction will occur. Traders will begin to take profits and the currency pair will retrace. This signals the beginning of Wave 4.

Again the currency pair will rally ushering in the Wave 5 rally. Wave 5 is typically supported by the retail traders and not institutional buyers (the herd) and tends to lack the momentum generated in the Wave 3 rally. This creates divergence that can be easily measured on any technical oscillator. After the currency pair breaks to new highs above the previous Wave 3 high, the rally loses steam and changes trend.

This trend change can result in either a new 5 Wave impulse pattern or a corrective in nature.

Don’t Believe Everything that You Read

I just ran across an interesting article on the accuracy of personal finance writers in the Akron Beacon Journal of all places — gotta love Google News! The article correctly points out that personal finance books, news stories, etc. are often riddled with factual errors that might lead you to make bad money moves. How can you protect yourself? The article has several common sense suggestions.

First off, never assume that anything you read on a personal finance matter is the full story. Many personal finance issues are far too complex to be covered fully in a typical article or column. Second, consider the source, and decide whether you can trust their accuracy with regard to the topic at hand. Finally, don’t ever make a decision based solely on what you read in a personal finance article, as it might just be plain wrong.

This last point is actually good advice when it comes to virtually any single source of financial information. In fact, you can’t even trust the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers to give you the straight dope on tax matters, as a recent government study revealed that 20% of walk-in visitors get wrong answers to their queries.

Perhaps Reagan had it right: Trust, but verify.

10 Tips for Marketing Yourself and Your Business

If you are like most independent contractors and/or executives of small businesses, you spend sleepless nights worrying about how you will acquire customers and grow sales. Therefore, marketing your business effectively becomes a critical component to your overall success.

1.
Focus on Your Core Competencies Know your target market and the value your product or service will bring to them. Focus your sales and marketing efforts towards these groups. Avoid spending time trying to acquire customers you cannot properly serve.

2.
Develop a Clear and Concise Message Create a 30 to 60-second statement that clearly explains what you do, for whom, and why your target audience should buy from you. Have this message become your company's mission statement and raison d'être. Practice your message and notice how your target audience reacts to it.

3.
Create Collateral Materials Nothing says you are a viable business more than having a company logo, business cards, stationery, brochures, and possibly even a web site. Keep it all simple, and do not order more than a 3-6 month supply of printed materials. Once these pieces are in place, do not be shy about using them.

4.
Join Networking Groups Join or form one or two networking groups with individuals you do not know very well. Tell people what you do and who your target market is. Help others by connecting them with potential suppliers or employers. In time, they will return the favor to you.

5.
Network Every Day Networking is not limited to groups and networking meetings. Carry your business cards with you at all times and be prepared to talk about your company's mission statement at a moment's notice. Your next hot prospect might be standing behind you at the grocery store.

6.
Leverage Your Current Customers Happy customers are your best sales people -- ask them to provide testimonials and/or references for prospects. Consider establishing a customer referral program, and provide free/discounted services or a monetary reward for every customer that they recommend.

7.
Develop Alliance Partners Form strategic partnerships with others who sell a complimentary product or service to your target market. These alliances can be as simple as sharing contacts and leads, or they might take on a more formal structure. Either way, the goal is to broaden your reach beyond your own network.

8.
Become an Industry Leader People like to buy from subject matter experts. Therefore, look for opportunities to share your skills and talents by writing articles or lecturing on a topic within your area of expertise. Even teaching a night course at the local college or community level will give you additional exposure.

9.
Don't be Afraid to Try If you are serious about growth, spend time outside your comfort zone and try new things. Sometimes new ideas will work, and other times they won't. Either way, the process will teach you something new and valuable about yourself and your business.

10.
Brainstorm with Others You are in business for yourself, but that does not mean you need to have all the answers yourself. Whether you are a natural born marketer or one that sees marketing concepts as completely foreign, kick around ideas with others whose opinions and values you trust. You never know where your next “big idea” will come from.

These are just 10 tactical ways in which you can easily market yourself and your business. There are many more ideas that can work as well. Use these approaches as the building blocks to acquire customers and grow sales. However, for the best results, it is recommended that you incorporate your tactical initiatives into an overall marketing or business plan that acts as the compass/guidepost for your company's day-to-day activities.
For a FREE consultation on how to jump start your marketing plan, please contact http://www.engelmanmanagement.com/

US Dollar: What to Expect in December

US Dollar: What to Expect in December

We are entering the last trading month of the year which usually draws out a lot of unique factors that can affect the demand for US dollars. A few weeks ago, we published a report on the seasonality of the US dollar and we found that based on 20 years of data, the dollar has a greater tendency to fall in the month of December (see report). These risks are higher this year with problems in the financial sector still plaguing the US economy; we could see another month of volatility because options are expiring and traders across different markets are divided on what to expect from the Federal Reserve. The futures market is currently pricing in a 100 percent chance of a quarter point rate cut with 42 percent of that probability in favor of a half point cut; in other words the odds for 50bp over 25bp is quickly nearing fifty-fifty. The dollar however was stronger across the board today and the main reason for that is the expectation that the Fed will come to the market’s rescue. However over the medium term their rescue efforts should be dollar negative and regardless of what the Fed decides to do, half of the market will be surprised. For the US dollar and the currency market this means one thing and that is volatility. Fundamentally, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has set the tone for trading last night when he reiterated the cautionary comments made by Fed Vice Chairman Kohn earlier this week. Bernanke told the markets that the relapse of funding problems has tightened credit conditions significantly and he believes that consumer spending could be particularly vulnerable this month given higher energy prices and mortgage payments, a weak housing market, and unfavorable volatility in equities. Today’s US numbers were mixed. Personal income and personal spending growth declined but the PCE deflator and Chicago PMI accelerated. Ultimately the bad news outweighed the good which is why rate cut expectations continued to rise. The Middle East Council meeting begins on Monday read our special report on what this could entail for the US dollar.

U.S. Forex Market Commentary

U.S. Forex Market Commentary

EURO

The euro strengthened vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar today as the single currency tested offers around the US$ 1.4730 level and was supported around the $1.4555 level. The common currency rocketed to a new lifetime high following negative remarks about the U.S. dollar from a Chinese official. Notably, French President Sarkozy said currency “disarray” could lead to an “economic war.” Many traders are wondering if unilateral or multilateral intervention may be implemented to smooth out some of the move in the U.S. dollar. The Bush administration seems to have a hands-off policy regarding the greenback and does not seem to want to stray far beyond its “strong dollar” mantra. Data released in the U.S. today saw Q3 productivity print at 4.9%, much stronger than the 3.3% rise that was expected and the largest gain in four years. Also, Q3 unit labour costs fell 0.2%, the first decline since Q3 2006 and unit labour costs have risen 4.3% over the past year, down from 5.1% y/y in Q2. The pullback in unit labour costs will please Federal Reserve officials. Traders are generally unsure if the FOMC will ease monetary policy further in December or if they will remain on hold. The Fed’s decision will largely be data-dependent and if a further erosion is seen in the U.S. housing sector, the Fed may be forced to reduce borrowing costs further. Richmond Fed President Lacker reported the Fed “did the right thing” by cutting rates in response to the recent credit market turmoil. Other data released in the U.S. today saw September wholesale inventories up 0.8% with wholesale sales up 1.3%. In eurozone news, German September industrial output was up 0.3% m/m and Germany’s Five Wise Men reported 2008 GDP should slow to 1.9% from an expected 2.6% gain this year. Most traders do not expect the European Central Bank will change interest rates tomorrow. Euro bids are cited around the US$ 1.4560 level.

Pc Satellite TV - Review of Satellite TV for Pc 2006 Software

Satellite TV for PC 2006 is one of the best packages I have found. This site is offered at the best price and quality that I have seen. With over 3000 channels at a one time only fee of $49.95, is the cheapest for the best quality that I have yet to see for PC satellite TV. Many PC satellite TV offers are not of the same quality as this one. I have been using it for several months. Had paid the original cost of $169.00 and still thought that was a great deal for getting PC Satellite TV. Click Here For LinksAmong the 3000 channels they offer from around the world, you can get sports from many different countries including the united sates and Europe. I found that once you install the software on your pc, it is very easy to use. You can easily browse through hundreds of channels from around the world. These channels include sports, new, movies, music, weather, kids channels, educational and more.They give you so much to choose from sometimes it is hard to make a choice. When you get PC satellite TV on your computer you can do almost anything you want when it comes to PC satellite TV for entertainment and information. The software package comes with an automatic membership to receive all the stations. PC satellite TV allows you to capture your channels from any location in the world. This makes it great when you download it to your laptop. As long as you have Internet access you can plug in and watch.When it comes to PC satellite TV this one truly stands out from the rest. They offer a money back guarantee if your not satisfied. I rate this offer a perfect ten for PC satellite TV. To get more details click on the link at the top of my web site.Please visit some of my sites TV Satellite and Computer Satellite TV

Watch Nfl Football - There is a Way to Watch Nfl Football for Free

There is a Way to Watch Nfl Football for Free

Is there any way to watch NFL Football for free? I asked myself that question months ago when i was trying to find way to watch NFL football on my PC. After surfing on the net for hours in order to find an appropriate program, I finally found it. It was a program that allowed me to access several channels; the most important thing is that I could watch NFL football for free.However, I did not use the software for too long because many problems occured often when i was trying to watch NFL games, the worst case happened when the problem emerged in the last minute before the game started, that compelled me to find another program. The problems i had experienced are:- Sometimes the channels, you are going to access to watch NFL football, are not online.- Slow buffering process.- Frequent disconnection.I gave up I said to myself. My friend suggested me a software after hearing my complaints. The suggestion was the greatest gift from him, I told him. I never thought of wanting to spend any of my money on that kind of software, but this one had changed the point of my thought.After telling the story to my other friends, they checked out the software on the net and they were shocked. They could actually watch NFL football games and still get access to more than 3,000 channels.I advised them that they can save more than $1000 every year if they switched from their monthly TV subscription at home to this software, which i personally had done so. I wasted a lot of time looking for a good software that will work well for long time but in fact there was not any. I could have saved that time if I only I knew about this software early and was willing to spend just a low one time price for this program. It is not about the time only but small portion of the stress as well.It happened to me alright, I hope it will not happen to you. I believe the value of time is greater compared to the money we spend.I considered this software as free, why?Because I only released a one time payment for lifetime access, if i do the math on the price and the unlimited access for the future, the software is literally free. Watch NFL football for free is not a problem anymore. Many of people have chosen to switch to this software, which mean they chose to save their money since they are rarely at home, they chose not to worry about missing NFL football game no more, and they chose to spend their time and money wisely.I certainly hope that this article could be a valuable reading for you. I would like you to know that you can watch the NFL game you missed with the on demand feature available in the software. If you do want to know more about the software, feel free to visit watch NFL Football for free.

Home Insurance: The Perfect Stocking Stuffer

Home Insurance: The Perfect Stocking Stuffer

The holiday season is also a good time to reassess your home insurance needs, namely theft endorsements and floaters for all those new, pricey possessions. If you give or receive jewelry, computer gadgets or fine art, you should probably discuss additional coverage with your insurer. An endorsement to your homeowners’ policy allows you to set a higher amount of coverage on certain personal items covered under your current home policy.
A personal articles floater covers purchases, like jewelry, for their full value, based on a receipt or appraisal. If you are storing expensive items in your car while shopping and they are stolen, they won’t be covered under your auto insurance. However, if you have adequate homeowners’ insurance with the appropriate add-ons, you may be reimbursed for a portion of the cost.

How do I get started in Forex?

How do I get started in Forex?


1. Overtrading: Each trade costs you a couple of pips—Consider your trades well before you make them. Each faulty trade, even if exited quickly, drains equity.

2. Bad money management: One bad trade can wipe out a year of patient, smart trading. Manage your risk using stop loss orders, so that you never risk too high a percentage of your equity on any one single trade.

3. Lack of knowledge: If you have never traded Forex before, educate yourself! Successful traders are not born that way. The difference between success and failure in the Forex market depends in no small part on the knowledge and education of a trader. For the beginning trader, a proper education is essential before investing in the Foreign Exchange. Find a program you are comfortable with, and begin practicing on a demo account.

Online Stock Broker

Who Is A Stock Broker And Its OfferingA online stock broker is a qualified professional who is registered with one or more stock market and provides stock market investment related services to his or her clients. The services include various activities including buying and selling stocks, providing consultancy on stock market investments and managing one’s stock market investments. There are different types of stock brokers primarily categorised based on the variety and extent of services that they provide. The basic service that a online stock broker provides is to provide platform for investor to buy and sell stocks. This type of brokers merely executes the instructions of the clients and completes the formalities to formally buy or sell stocks at the stock exchanges and charge a nominal fee for the brokerage services. This type of service is particularly beneficial for those who are well conversant with the functioning of the stock markets and keep regular tab on the market. As the final decision of buying or selling a stock will remain with the investor so he needs to be well aware of the market and other factors that affect the stock prices. Now there is another type of stock brokers who provide stock market quotes and guide the investors on stock market investment with regular feedbacks and tips. In this case, it also provides the decision of selling and buying the stock lies with the investor; they are effectively guided by the stock broker. As you can easily understand that this service is much more than just executing instruction and involves a team effort; however, the charges of these services are also relatively higher. But if you are not in a position to regularly keep track of the stock market movements but have the knowledge and experience to take the final decision, this is the service that is perfect or you. Then there is another type of stock brokers who are much more than just a broker. In fact the range of their services goes beyond just stock trading. These brokers basically double up as stock brokers and investment planner. This kind of broker takes account of the investors finds and gauge their investment objectives and then take care of the stock market investment all by themselves. They plan the investments, decide which stocks to buy and which stocks to sell and do the formalities as well. As you can fairly understand that charge for this service will be much more and it is suitable for those high net worth individuals who have adequate funds but do not have the time to take care of the investments by themselves. Then there is another type of stock broker, the online stock brokers, who provide online stock trading services. In this case, the investors have to do the trading and make decision themselves. But for that they need not go to the stock markets. They can execute the buying and selling actions with just a few clicks of and sit at their home or office. The best thing about the online stock trading is that it offers real time trading. Moreover, as there is no paper work and no middleman involved the brokerage so the commission is significantly lower than any other type of stock brokerage. These are the reasons that more and more investors prefer online trading these days. These are the different options that you have got for trading at the stock market. Now you have to decide which one is the best stock market trading option for you before you select your online stock broker and start investing in the stock market.

About the author:Why Choose Sogoinvest:cheap trading stock optionsContact sogoinvest: Contact Online stock trading company

Free Online Forex Trading Course

To attract more Forex trading customers, most Forex dealers offer free real-time quotes, charts, and online order entry platforms on their websites. They may also provide demo accounts to practice trading with free real-time quotes which, one might say, is rather like getting a free online Forex trading course. If you are new to Forex trading, it should not hurt to try a free online Forex trading course. Forex trading is sometimes perceived as easy to get into, probably too easy. If you have the money, a brokerage firm will open an account for you.But though easy to get into, Forex trading is not easy. For one, you need to draw up a trading plan to guide you; but few brokers will sit down with you to develop such a plan. To get a feel for trading as you develop your trading plan, you could check out a free online Forex trading course and learn from the insights and exercises in it.One insight you can get from the free online Forex trading course is that there are differences among Forex traders. There are many who approach Forex trading with a gambler’s attitude, while others are more circumspect speculators. The free online Forex trading course will probably show you what makes them different.You would find out that speculation is engaging in a risky business transaction on the chance of generating profits. Speculation is not gambling, and your free online Forex trading course will warn you against the latter. Gambling generally involves pure chance and blind luck.Forex trading is based on the currencies of countries with real issues of trade flows, surpluses or deficits, changes in interest rates, and economic stability. A free online Forex trading course will explain that Forex speculators must strategise carefully, research thoroughly, and plan realistically if they ever hope to understand what is happening on such large macroeconomic dimensions.That is fundamental analysis, though, and you probably will not get as much instruction about it in a free online Forex trading course. What you will have plenty of will be technical analysis and techniques of using the charts to guide your Forex trading decisions. Still, your free online Forex trading course can teach you to strategize and plan based on the charts.If you as a small speculator are not careful, you can get caught in a perpetual cycle of losing. For instance, you may read something in the newspaper that looks like a sure-fire trade. You might then hype yourself up about how much money can be made from the trade, and proceed to execute it without any strategy, research, or planning. That would surely be unwise. Look at the trading plan that you developed with the assistance of the free online Forex trading course. Surely the free online Forex trading course advised you to make a well thought-out trading plan. It need not be more than two pages or so, but it will be your most vital navigational map in the tricky waters of Forex trading. It will tell you how much you are willing to lose on a trade; it should tell you when to enter a trade, when to exit a trade, and show you how you can protect your profits. As you keep practicing the simulations on the free online Forex trading course, you will feel more confident about Forex trading. And always remember to submit yourself to the discipline of your trading plan. In Forex trading, the cliché is that you ride your profits and cut your losses. Your free online Forex trading course will show you that a trading plan brings that cliché to life.

About the author:Online Forex trading company offer a Free Online Forex Trading Course that to attract more Forex trading.

How To French Kiss A Woman

It is an experience that most people would remember: their first French kiss. Some people would say it was a great experience while some would prefer not to mention it. But, we all know that French kissing is a very delicate and sensual experience. Research has said that women's lips are one of their erogenous zone, so it's important for men to leave a lasting impression with women. And if you French kiss her like no one else, you'll most likely to kiss something else of her next. The skill of kissing does not simply consist of knowing how to move your tongue inside a woman's mouth without hitting her tonsils. It involves the entire mouth - the lips, tongue, teeth, and the rest of the body. Here are some basics: 1) Give the lady a hand. Position your hands on her body while kissing her. Hold her face firmly but gently as you slip your tongue inside her mouth and suck on her lips. This will definitely make her toes curl. Also, try to gently pull her hair back from the back or slightly squeezing the part of her body that is located right under her breasts (her ribs). This could make for some very enticing kissing sessions. 2) Pay attention to the way she kiss. People often give out what they would like to receive, so pay attention to the way she kisses you. That could be an indication of the way she wants you to kiss her. Does she bite on your lips or try to gently suck all the saliva off your tongue? Reciprocate by doing the same. She will love you for it. 3) Tell her what you like. Does your loved one kiss you like she's trying to suck the life out of your body? Does she kiss too fast, too slow, or without using her tongue? Try not to tell her what you don't like, but rather what you do like. That way you won't hurt her feelings. 4) Control her mouth. The next time you kiss her, hold her face with your hands tenderly and kiss her the way you would like to be kissed. If she is not turn on by this, then your sensual tongue will surely do the trick. 5) Make it long-lasting. Women loved long, slow, juicy, and enticing kisses. Your partner will definitely feel your passion through one of those prolonged tender kissing moments. Just like in the movies, kiss her hard and deep. Now that you've discovered the basics of kissing, let's move on to some ways to make her think and want to kiss you all the time, hopefully. Here are some simple tips that can make you the ultimate Casanova: 1) Suck on her tongue. Turn your mouth into a soft suctioning device on her tongue. Suck on her tongue mimicking the way you would suck on a woman's clitoris. 2) Lick her lips with your tongue. Lick on her upper and lower lips in a slow, ticklish fashion. Once you have lubricated them adequately with your saliva, move your lips around her lips and let your saliva wet both of your mouths. 3) Suck on her lips. If licking her lips quickly makes her wanting more, then begin sucking on her lips. Do it one at a time as no one wants to feel as though they've stuck their mouth inside a vacuum. Be careful when you suck on her lips; don't get too rough or she will get turn off and pushes you off. You would not want that to happen, do you? 4) Move beyond her mouth. Don't be shy. You would not want to confine yourself to kissing just her lips. There's a whole face and body to explore. Go ahead and French kiss her chin, her neck and her breasts? Kiss her eyes, behind her ears or her wrists. Be bold and try something different. You'd be surprised at the results that a little creativity can produced. If you've never been complimented on your kissing techniques before, now you'll know the basics of being a professional kisser. A quick way to tell if she enjoyed the experience: when you kiss her and then pull back, her eyes stay closed for just a moment longer. This usually means that she thoroughly enjoyed your kiss and there's a good chance that you could take it a step further. Just remember that everything starts with a kiss.

About The Author
Joshua Wong works as an Accounts Executive and wants to promote awareness to good music and music appreciation. He's also into the concept of internet marketing. Visit http://www.e4l.biz/money.htm?wcw1908

"The Departed" Is Best Mob Film Since Mario Puzo's "The Godfather" in 1972

The Departed – 4 Stars (Excellent) Let me get to the most important thing first: Director Martin Scorsese won an Oscar for "The Departed".
Scorsese, one of the most accomplished directors of our era, has been nominated for 7 Oscars-5 for Best Director and 2 for Best Screenplay-before winning with The Departed.
He had also received 7 Golden Globe nominations-6 for Best Director and 1 for Best Screenplay-and won for Gangs of New York before winning again for The Departed this year (2007).
The Departed is simply the best mob film since Mario Puzo's original Godfather in 1972. Besides Scorsese, The Departed won for Best Picture, Best Screenplay (William Monahan) and Best Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker), giving The Departed 4 Oscar wins to The Godfather's 3 (Marlon Brando for Best Actor, Best Picture and Best Screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola). Mark Wahlberg was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor as Sgt. Sean Dignam.
The Departed also picked up 45 more wins and another 45 nominations, including another win for Scorsese (Best Director) and nominations for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Best Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson and Mark Wahlberg) at the Golden Globes. In short, The Departed brought home more hardware than a Home Depot shopping spree. The icing on the cake for Scorsese was his best box-office opening ever ($26 million), his highest grossing film ever with $132 million nationally and $288 million worldwide through March 2007, and $48 million more in VHS rentals. The film's budget was $90 million. The all-star cast of DiCaprio (Billy Costigan), Matt Damon (Sgt. Colin Sullivan), Jack Nicholson (Frank Costello), Wahlberg (Sgt. Sean Dignam), Martin Sheen (Capt. Oliver Queenan) and Alec Baldwin (Capt. George Ellerby) did not hurt a lick. The story takes place in Boston where Irish Mob boss Frank Costello (Nicholson) embeds Colin Sullivan (Damon) as an informant with the Massachusetts State Police. Simultaneously, the State Police assign Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) to infiltrate Costello's crew. When both sides figure out the situation, it is left to Sullivan and Costigan to discover each other's identity. Along the way, 22 people get whacked (this is a Mob flick), the "f" word is used 237 times (about 235 times too many), and we get a study in relationship psychology as the only real love interest-Madolyn Madden-is a criminal psychiatrist who is wooed by both rivals. The Departed kept my attention riveted for 151 minutes. The three main characters (Costello, Sullivan and Costigan) all show their anguish in balancing survival, winning and conquering the moment. There are apparently two versions of this film. I saw the longer version that is rated R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, and some strong sexual content and drug material. This film is not for children or young adults, not that young adults do not hear the same "f" word dozens a time a day at high schools all over the country, but who needs the "f" word 237 times in 2.5 hours? Nobody. I managed to tune out the cussing and concentrate on the story, acting and presentation that were excellent for an action flick with Mob presence.

About The Author
Ed Bagley's Blog Publishes Original Articles on Current and Past Events with Analysis and Commentary on Movie Reviews, Sports, Lessons in Life, Movies, Sports, Jobs and Careers and Internet Marketing intended to Delight, Inform, Educate and Motivate You the Reader. Find Ed's Blog at: http://www.edbagleyblog.com http://www.edbagleyblog.com/MovieReviewArticles.html http://www.edbagleyblog.com/LessonsinLifeArticles.html

A Fraud Lawsuit Under California Law

Fraud Lawsuits in California The various ways a victim can be defrauded are as limitless as the bounds of human ingenuity. But under California law, wrongful actions are generally characterized as civil "fraud" only under one of the following legal theories:
1. Intentional Misrepresentation. Probably the most common type of fraud is a false statement. But not every false statement is fraudulent. The elements of a claim for intentional misrepresentation are: a. An intentionally or recklessly false statement of fact. Not every false statement is a false statement of "fact." Statements of opinion generally are not actionable. Sales talk, or "puffing" ("This is the best location in the county!"), is generally not actionable. However, if the defendant claims to be an expert or there are other reasons to expect that the victim would rely upon the defendant’s opinion as a statement of "fact," an opinion may be treated by the court as a statement of fact. Also, a statement need not be made directly to the victim. For instance, if the defendant made the false statement to a third person with the expectation that the statement would be repeated to the victim, the victim may have a valid claim for fraudulent misrepresentation. b. Intention to defraud. If a representation of fact was intentionally false and a material part of the transaction (e.g., "this house does not have flooding problems"), it is likely the false promise was made with the intention to defraud the victim. c. Reasonable reliance upon the false statement. The victim must have actually relied upon the statement to change his or her position (e.g., the victim would not have purchased the house if he or she knew the truth). The false statement need not be the only reason the victim changed his or her position, but it must be at least part of the reason. Also, the victim’s reliance on the false statement must be reasonable. If the victim knew or should have known the statement was false, the victim did not reasonably rely. The sophistication of the victim will play a role in determining whether his or her reliance on the statement was reasonable; e.g., a sophisticated real estate investor’s reliance on a representation about the qualities of a house may not be reasonable while an unsophisticated buyer’s reliance may be. Even an unsophisticated victim, however, "may not put faith in representations which are preposterous, or which are shown by facts within his observation to be so patently and obviously false that he must have closed his eyes to avoid discovery of the truth." Seeger v. Odell (1941) 18 Cal. 2d 409. d. Resulting in damages. There must be measurable damages that were caused by the fraud. It is not enough that the victim was told a lie (e.g., "A famous movie star once slept in this house"); the victim must also be able to prove some type of damage resulted from the lie.
2. Negligent Misrepresentation.
A claim for negligent misrepresentation is generally the same as a claim for intentional misrepresentation, except the victim must only prove the defendant did not have "a reasonable basis" to believe its statement of fact was true (as opposed to proving the defendant knew its statement was false). If the defendant’s false statement was both honestly made and based upon reasonable grounds, however, there is no claim. Punitive damages are not available for negligent misrepresentations.
3. Concealment.
A claim for fraud may also arise if the defendant concealed or failed to disclose a material fact during a transaction, causing damage to the victim. The elements of a claim for fraudulent concealment are: a. The defendant failed to disclose or concealed a material fact with an intent to defraud the victim. b. The defendant had a duty to disclose. There is not always a duty to disclose facts during a transaction. If there is a duty, it generally arises in one of four different circumstances: (i) The defendant is in a "fiduciary relationship" (such as being a partner) with the victim; or (ii) The defendant took steps to hide important information from the victim (as opposed to simply failing to tell the victim); or (iii) The defendant disclosed some information to the victim, but the disclosed information is misleading unless more information is given; or (iv) The defendant is aware of key information and knows the victim is unlikely to discover that information. In addition, California laws may create a duty to disclose in certain transactions. For example, sellers of residential property in California generally are required to make written disclosures about the condition of the house. c. The victim must have been unaware of the fact and would not have acted as he or she did if he or she knew of the fact. d. The victim sustained damages as a result of the concealment.
4. False Promise.
A claim of fraud may arise if a defendant entered into a contract and made promises that it never intended to perform. The elements of a false promise claim are: a. The defendant made a promise. b. The promise was important to the transaction. c. At the time he or she made the promise, the defendant did not intend to perform it. d. The defendant intended the victim to rely upon the promise. e. The victim reasonably relied upon the promise. f. The defendant did not perform the promise. g. The victim was harmed as a result of defendant not carrying out his or her promise. h. The victim’s reliance on the defendant’s promise was a substantial factor in causing the victim’s harm. It is important to understand that a broken promise, alone, is not a sufficient basis for a fraud claim. More than a mere broken promise is required. The victim must also prove that the defendant did not intend to perform the promise at the time the promise was made. In practice, it is usually difficult to tell the difference between a broken promise and a promise made without an intention to perform. Courts generally look for circumstantial evidence to support a false promise claim (as opposed to a broken promise claim), such as the defendant broke its promise immediately after making it. Characterization of a claim as fraud has many advantages to a victim; primarily, the victim may be able to recover punitive damages in addition to actual damages. Also, the measure of damages is generally more liberal under fraud and other "tort" theories, allowing victims a more complete recovery. But even if a wrongful action does not fall under the definition of "fraud," it still may lead to a valid legal claim. For instance, a broken promise - while not necessarily fraudulently - may still constitute a valid breach of contract claim. While punitive damages and emotional distress damages are generally not available for breach of contract in California, the victim still should be able to recover his or her monetary damages. This article constitutes general information only and should not be relied upon as legal advice.

About The Author
Michael Abney is a business and real estate litigation attorney in Orange County, California and a partner in Drosman Abney & Percival, LLP. An honors graduate of Harvard Law School, Michael has been a California lawyer for 19 years. You can contact Michael at http://www.DapLawyers.com or (949) 727-0880

Barley Wine and Cigars: A Dynamic Duo

The saying, “it’s lonely at the top," is true for cigars. A type of smoke that makes the Marlboro man look weak rather than rugged, cigars have a way of excluding themselves from the group. Yet, you can’t fault the cigars. They might not want us to elevate their reputation and status by deeming them synonymous with luxury and sophistication; for all we know, cigars are standing in the background - looking lovingly at pipes and cigarettes - yelling, “Can’t we all just get along?" Luckily, cigars might have found something to relieve their loneliness: they just may have a lifelong companion in barley wine. Upon performing research, I was surprised to find how many websites laud the combination of cigars and barley wine. And, naturally, I was even more surprised to find these websites weren’t just the ones that sell barley wine. For those not familiar with barley wine, the simplest way to remember it is by the term “barely wine." Truth be told, barley wine isn’t really wine at all; because of its high alcohol content, it only thinks its wine (ironically, after a few too many bottles, I sometimes think this same thing about myself). With wine like characteristics, the big difference is in the ingredients: barley wine is made with grain instead of fruit. If it were cereal, barley wine would be Wheaties while wine would be Fruity Pebbles. Still, barley wine is not without some fruit flavor. It displays both sweetness and bitterness at the same time, giving it a unique taste among beers. While it originated in England, barley wine is available worldwide. However, when sold in the US, barley wines are required to be sold with the label, "barley wine-style ales," thus avoiding confusion for the wine-seeking consumer. Barley wine is sometimes aged, much like wine, and used for celebratory occasions. It is this last sentence that undoubtedly makes the ears of cigars - with their penchant for celebration - prick up. Cigars and barley wine compliment each other nicely. With a slightly peaty taste, barley wine does maintain some whiskey-like characteristics and, as most of us know, cigars have never found a whiskey they do not like. Unlike wine, barley wine doesn’t always go well with food, but, luckily you don’t eat a Churchill. Many cigars, depending on your individual palate, do well with barley wines, in particular Old Nick Barley wine, which, according to many consumers, is one of the best barley wines on the market. Overall, the key to pairing a good barley wine with a good cigar is to keep the tastes in cahoots, you don’t want the flavor of the beer and the flavor of the cigar fighting each other for your attention. It’s also a good rule to pair up beers of lighter color to cigars with lighter wrappers. This may help keep one from overpowering the other. When it comes down to it, barley wine and cigars are good friends, and you just might find yourself - as you beg to be included - asking the duo to become a trio.

About The Author
Jennifer Jordan is an editor and staff writer for http://www.whatsknottolove.com. At home in a design firm in Denver, Colorado, she writes articles specific to the finer things in life.

Freelancing as A Career Option

Home bound workers can either consider telecommuting or freelancing. While telecommuting may keep you out of your home for some hours a week, online freelancing is a good way to make money if you are forced to stay at home. For example, homemakers, part-time students, retired folk, or others who wish to supplement their income from jobs or businesses can all consider freelancing. Freelance Skill Sets You can start earning as a freelancer as long as you have skills that someone is willing to pay for. For example, writers, web designers, photographers, and programmers can earn a substantial income by creating articles, websites, portfolios and software from home. The Internet is a hot and viable source of income for freelancers from around the world. Your target customers can be webmasters, online business owners, blog owners etc. For example, blogs and wikis are hot sources of income for freelance writers nowadays, and there's no reason why you can't tap into this market if you possess good writing skills. Freelance Income On the flip, your income may fluctuate from one month to another. As with all businesses, freelancing does not guarantee a stable paycheck at the end of the month. So keep a small kitty reserve for dry days or have another source of income for which you can work part-time. Be prepared to accept boring, low-level work initially just to keep the cash flow strong. Once you get a good reputation for providing original, high-quality work at reasonable price, then clients will flock to you. Freelance Advantages Probably the best thing about freelancing is that you get to work at your pace, in your own hours, from home, and be your own boss. That means, your shop is open 24x7. And as long as you provide good quality work and meet deadlines, your clients will remain happy with you. In order to be visible, you also need to be seen and heard in the right places, like forums, blogs, online groups, etc. Spend time everyday to visit such sites because they are invaluable repository of freelance gigs and email addresses of prospects. Alternatively you can sign up with freelance sites like Elance.com, GetAFreelancer.com and Scriptlance.com where you can start bidding on projects and snag a few as early as today! To conclude, a freelance business is one of the best ways to earn money from home and to work for your own self. If you've got a fair amount of time on your hands, maybe you too should consider freelancing as your full-time career alternative or supplementary income source. (Hint: While you can find plenty of lucrative freelance assignments on Elance, the other sites mentioned above generally tend to feature lesser-paid projects. However, if you're just starting out as a freelancer, the competition on Elance can prove to be really tough. So you might want to first try GAF and Scriptlance to build up your portfolio, and then go for Elance.)

About The Author
Lewis Low is the founding editor of OnlineBizPromo.com. For more Practical Online Business Ideas and Work-From-Home Opportunities, visit his Work-At-Home directory at http://www.OnlineBizPromo.com

Two new mobile authentication technologies introduced by Bank of America

An optional feature for consumers and small business clients, SafePass is an extra security system available free of charge to online customers. To access the service, it is necessary to register your mobile phone on the BoA website accounts overview page. Once registered, you will then be issued with a six-digit code by SMS. The code can be used to authorize a range of online transactions, including money transfers that exceed regular limits, authorization of new payees for bill paying, and addition of new accounts for online transfer.
The code expires after it has been used once. BoA are promoting the new system as an extra layer to protect against unauthorized transactions. SafePass is designed to be used in conjunction with SiteKey, BoA's existing secure log-in system, which uses image and word recognition, as well as posing a series of three questions to customers before giving them access to their accounts. Using SafePass, customers will be able to log-in from computers not recognized by SiteKey. The code is used to authorize online transactions, such as transferring money for amounts over current limits, authorizing new payees in bill pay, adding new accounts for online transfers. Says Lance Drummond, e-commerce executive for Bank of America: "We're committed to introducing features that continue to give our customers greater peace of mind when banking online." BoA claims that SafePass will significantly increase the security of online transactions and access to online accounts. A second aspect of the SafePass system currently being piloted by BoA is a wallet-sized card with an embedded button that can be pressed to automatically generate the single-use code. BoA plan to release the SafePass card for online brokerage customers of the bank's Investment Services before the end of this year. Use of the card will be necessary to perform some online brokerage transactions. BoA also plans to issue the card from next year as an optional feature for consumer and small business customers that can be used in conjunction with or in place of the SMS option. http://psbill.com/two-new-mobile-authentication-technologies-introduced-by-bank-of-america.html

Be Famous in Myspace

If you have a knack for singing, dancing acting or just about anything that people may love, why don’t you share them online? The internet is a another world of possibility that anyone can now do anything and be heard if the thing that they do best is interesting to other people. The internet could be anyone’s stage and you can easily show your talent and be known in the internet. Others are so good; they have used the internet to become famous. They don’t just create a website tell their friends to look at their video. Even though it will spread, it’s going to be really slow as it will just pass through the word of mouth. How do you do it? Social networking websites and the best in the US is Myspace.com.
Just create an account and sign yourself up as an artist and you’re on your way to popularity. The only excuse of not knowing the popularity Myspace.com in this country is if you’re living in a bomb shelter for more than 15 years. This social networking website has become the hangout of some people that is has become short of an addiction to them. Don’t just count thousands but millions. Social networking website connects you to other people even though you don’t know them personally. You can share how you feel and what you would like them to see or hear. Since it can be shared to one person to another, there’s a chance that you will be recognized and in no time you’ll have friends from all over the country. As we have said this is one of those sites that you can use as a platform to be quite famous for some time. There’s a page there dedicated for artists where you can sign up and be part of the great pool of artists that you have there. Once you’ve sign up, people will naturally browse through your songs and before you know it, people will acknowledge your work and you become famous. On the paper that’s really easy as one, two, three. But if you’re half committed to being famous either by music or film, you won’t get anywhere. There are hundreds of wanna bees in the internet that doesn’t even get close to be recognized by a hundred of people online. What they just do is create some silly music and from there try to impress people by being quite crazy in their songs. If you’re really an artist, you might get recognition but if not, people will just scorn you since you’re just wasting their bandwidth. Here’s a tip: if you want to break out in myspace.com you have to consider who goes there often and who are most likely to be looking for things online. If you’re creating music for the people of 40-60, you’re in bad shape since most of the people that are using online are way below that age. The famous people that can be launched to fame are those that create music for age group 16-30. If you can do something to entertain them you’re on your way.

Debt Management – Improve Your Credit Now!

If you are a borrower who is overburdened with innumerable debts, you may be having a very tough time. Constant debt burden can weigh heavy on the financial status of the borrower. Therefore, it is very important that you carefully plan out your course of action. It is important for you to manage your debts properly if you want to get over the debt burden. A debt management plan enables you to consolidate the existing debts into one single loan and make a payment for the same. Any borrower who is indebted to more than two creditors can avail debt management plan. Following these simple steps will help you get out of debt easily. • Spend only on the essential items – Ensure that you don’t spend money recklessly on things you don’t need. Spend only on the basic necessities. Also, always pay only by cash and not through credit cards. • Prepare a budget – Follow a budget which takes into account your earnings and spending. This will help you keep an account of your spending. • Pay On Time – If you always make payments on time for all your debts, you will never fall in the debt trap. This can also help you keep your financial situation intact. • Switch over to a cheaper debt plan – This will help you to reduce your debt burden and get a loan at a lower rate of interest too.
Alternately, you can also opt for a debt consolidation plan. A debt consolidation plan will help you consolidate all your debts into one single loan and make a single payment for the same. It goes a long way in reducing your debt burden.
Debt consolidation is the easiest solution for all your debt problems. Debt problems occur when one borrows money for some personal expenses and is unable to payback the amount to the creditors on time. This problem if not handled at the right time can lead to serious financial complications. Almost everyone finds themselves suffering from debt problems at on point or the other.
Therefore, debt consolidation comes across as the easiest solution for all the debt problems. Under this scheme, a debtor can consolidate his debts, negotiate with the creditors, reduce his debts by up to 40 per cent – 60 per cent and also restructure the payments in easy monthly installments. Moreover, the borrower can also eliminate late fees and taxes too.
What’s more? You can also get over the bad credit problems with the help of debt consolidation. A borrower can easily improve his credit and improve his financial situation. You can even apply online for a debt consolidation plan and save your precious time.
For more information Information Visit on: http://www-debtmanagement.co.uk/get-out-of-debt.asp

What Does It Take To Qualify For A Payday Loan?

Payday loans are a fast way to come up with cash you may need to hold you over until your next paycheck. This can make them very convenient because it allows you to get money very quickly. Here are some of the qualifications you will need to get a payday loan. Since you are entering into a legal contract, the first requirement is that you be at least 18 years old. A second one is that you have a job. You will need to have been working at this job for at least three months, and some lenders may require more. You will be asked for your place of work, as well as a contact name in many cases. Your pay will also be a factor, but your credit rating will not be considered. This nice fact makes it so that just about anyone who is working can get a payday loan. The amount of income that you make, though, will need to be more than $1,000 per month. There is some variance here, too, and some lenders may require up to $1,500. It will also be easier to get a payday loan if you have your pay put into your account with direct deposit. Then there is the matter of a checking account. You will need to have had one for at least three months. Your payday lender will want to put the money from your loan right into it. This makes them feel more secure - and more willing to lend you the money, too. In fact, if they can't deposit it directly, you will probably not get a loan. In some case, they may be able to use a savings account, but that is only if your bank will permit it. When you are being approved, you will also need to authorize them to withdraw the money directly from your account. You can do this by postdating a check to the date the payday loan is due, or sign an authorization that allows them to withdraw it electronically. Your loan application, if you apply online, will be quickly followed by a phone call from a potential lender. They will call to ask you a few more details and to fill in some gaps in the information. In some cases, you will be asked to fax them copies of your paystubs, and possibly some bank statements, too. If you are looking for a faxless payday loan, it will probably take considerably longer to be approved. This means that they will need to call your employer to verify the information. There are a lot of differences in some of the features of payday loans between lenders. One of the largest of these differences is the matter of interest. The interest can go anywhere from 15% all the way up to 30%. Another difference could be in the way you pay the loan. Most will require you pay it all on the due date, but some are now allowing you to make several payments. This means that it will pay to spend a little time in shopping around for the better deal.About The Author:Joe Kenny writes for the UK personal finance sites offering loans, credit cards, mortgages and insurance products - http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/ and http://www.nationsfinance.co.uk. For US residents seeking loans, refinance or mortgages visit http://www.rebuild.org/

Is Your Financial Planner Going To Pay Your Long Term Care Bills?

I always like to ask my clients, "Will your financial planner be willing to pay your long term care bills, will they have access to good quality Home Health Care Providers?" Many lawyers and advisors are now reluctant to recommend against Long Term Care Insurance for fear of law suits later on, from children, when hundreds of thousands of dollars were required to pay for their parents long term care bills. Planners who fail to recommend coverage are more times than not, unaware of the real RISK of needing care one day. The senior has now become the GREATEST financial risk that Americans face today. The majority of them are unaware of it because let's face it: No One wants to think about needing Long Term Care. It is going to happen to someone else! Long term care bills are the biggest reason for financial failures among seniors today. Yet there are a lot of Financial Planners and Investment Advisors who will say that you don't need Long Term Care Insurance. If you already have a lot of money, perhaps you don't! The question is: Would it be a smart decision to have this coverage? What we are seeing today are many Financial Planners split on the subject of LTC Insurance. You will hear some say that if you have any resources you should not be without it, that it is an integral part of financial planning, while others think if you have enough money you should self-insure. Who is right? Every financial advisor I talk with would recommend long term care coverage if he knew in advance that his client would need several years of long term care. Do the math. In a state where long term care bills are averaging $170 per day, and the average premium is $4000 a year for a couple, aged 60, and they live another 20 years, they have paid out $80,000 in premiums for the peace of mind that they will not go broke. Without the insurance, they could end up paying over $80,000 in less than two years for ONE OF THEM on the advice from a Financial Planner telling them that they DON'T NEED IT! It must be concluded that Financial advisors who recommend against LTC Insurance figure you are not going to need care since they would recommend you obtain coverage if they knew you were going to have to spend several hundred thousand dollars. You should find out from the advisor what is the BASIS for their prediction? Also, be aware that Advisors are sales people. They are in the business of making you money. If you purchase Long Term Care Insurance, you have less money for them to manage! The decision is yours. At this point in your life, are you more interested in making a few more thousand dollars a year or are you more interested in protecting what you have already earned from the most DEVASTATING financial risk that people face in America today? One of the biggest financial mistakes a person can make today is needing Long Term Care and having no coverage! Is this a mistake you want to take a chance on making? Seek out a LTC Insurance Specialist to help you make the best informed decision for you and your family. Remember, your Financial Planner or Advisor is not going to pay your long term care bills. You will!About The Author:Georgia McClure is a Long Term Care Finance Specialist residing in Tampa, Florida. A recognized expert in planning for the cost of Long Term Care, For more information on LTCi visit http://www.longtermcareinsurance-guide.com/long-term-care-bills.html

What is the Source of Your Next Opportunity?

What is one of your biggest problems or concerns today? Is it your financial situation, your health, your job, or lack of job, or any of dozens of others. What is your foremost dream and desire? Is it financial independence, great health, relocating to your paradise, or helping others achieve their dreams? Consider the next question very carefully. How do you view your problems or concerns and your dreams and desires? Do you see them as insurmountable and unattainable or do you see the many opportunities associated with your problems or dreams? In every situation there are opportunities, even some life changing opportunities. The truth is, there is a fortune in each of your problems and dreams. The number of opportunities from one circumstance is amazing. Opportunity is defined as “a combination of circumstances favorable for the purpose”, and “a good chance”. It is interesting that some of our biggest problems create the most favorable circumstances, or opportunities. Many of the world’s great creations and breakthroughs have been the result of someone solving a problem, or perceived problem. Richard Simmons built an exercise empire out of his problem of being overweight. In an attempt to solve his father’s health problems Robert Jarvick invented the artificial heart. Both afore mentioned individuals contributed much to our society, and in the process created wealth for themselves. The list is extensive of those individuals who have taken great action in the face of what they considered problems, and great opportunities. There are three key elements to the foregoing examples. First is the perception of a situation, or problem, which needs changing. Second is the vision to see an opportunity and a solution for that problem. Third is taking consistent, persistent action to make that vision a reality. Each day new opportunities come our way. At the very basic level we always have the opportunity to be better at what we are doing, which often leads to unimagined, even life changing opportunities. Author and coach Jim Rohn puts it this way. “Every person you meet – what couldn’t it be? Unlimited! Maybe a friend for life. The next person could be an open door to retiring. The next person could be a colleague for years to come. It’s big time stuff”. How many times have you looked back with regret about having let an opportunity pass you by? At the time you may not have recognized that an opportunity was in front of you or you dismissed it because you couldn’t see its true potential and value. The point is not to focus on past decisions but to become more aware and sensitive to present and future opportunities. A wise man once told me “don’t look to the past and what might have been. Look to the future and what might be”. What great advice! What do you want out of life? Is your present situation providing the life and lifestyle you really want? Are you seeking to change the direction, and results, in your life? If you are looking for new opportunities are you really serious about making change, taking advantage of opportunity, and taking consistent and persistent action? All it takes is desire and a belief in self to achieve great success in any endeavor you choose. Today simply focus on being the best you can be in whatever you do. At the same time open your eyes, and mind, to the many opportunities life has to offer. Who knows, the next idea could be your ‘life changing opportunity’. Carol Carroll Life Style Mentor and Successful Entrepreneur, is helping many become the next success story. Whether you're looking to create an extra few thousand dollars per month, be an ex-corporate executive, or the next millionaire Mom, Carol can assist you to create a second stream of income and greater peace of mind. For more information visit : Build Wealth

The Real Truth About MLM And Network Marketing

Let me tell you the truth about MLM (Multi Level Marketing) and network marketing-- most people who get involved in the business fail at it. The common figures tossed about on the Internet these days say that 95% of the people involved in MLM fail. I will argue that figure later, but for now, let’s just say maybe 9 out of every 10 people in network marketing will fail. There are many reasons people fail in MLM. They may have gotten involved in a bad company with a poor compensation plan. The products may not be top quality or anything special, so there is no demand for them. They may have received little training, poor training, or even no training at all. They might have been abandoned by their sponsor. They may have had the wrong expectations-- thinking that the money will come pouring in without any effort on their part. But the biggest reason for MLM and network marketing failure is giving up! On the other hand, compare this to traditional entrepreneurship, which has its problems, too. I am a college business professor, and I’ve had traditional businesses of my own, so I know the odd of success in starting up a traditional business are that 9 out of 10 new business will fail the first year. And then there is another 4 in 5 chance that those businesses who survived the first year will fail to make it to the fifth year. Wow, when you consider the amount of money spent and/or borrowed to get those businesses running, that’s pretty scary! Add to that the time involved in running a small business. Often people put in 60+ hours a week, for less income than a job would give them. I’ve often seen dreamers who started their own traditional business find themselves crashing and burning with reality as they lost their credit, their homes, and in some cases marriages and families. Ouch! I believe in entrepreneurship! I believe in the dream of having your own business-- no boss, no time card. Freedom to set your own hours, work where you want, live where you want, spend time with your family, travel and take time off whenever you want. Freedom. That’s what its all about! And it’s not traditional business that brings this freedom, it’s network marketing. I’ll take the odds in MLM and network marketing any day! I’ll tell you why. If the 95% failure figure is correct, then it’s including all the people who just sign up to try the product, or decide for whatever reason they don’t want to work the business. The truth is, for those who really want to work at this business, 95% of all people who stay with their network marketing company for 10 years will reach the highest level of their company’s compensation plan, which is usually at least $500,000 annually. And the income needed to start and run a network marketing business is nominal compared to a traditional business! I’ll take those odds any day! You see, all you need to do is: 1) Find the best network marketing company you can. 2) Commit to learning and working your business. 3) And don’t quit. Success in MLM and network marketing is a choice. Choose to do it! I can do that. How about you? This article may be freely copied as long as it is not modified and the resource box accompanies the article, together with working hyperlinks.About The Author:I’ve found what I truly believe is the the best network marketing company ever! It's called ForeverGreen, and it’s the perfect time to get involved. Check it out now at http://marine-wellness.com By Dianne Ronnow © 2007. All rights reserved.

Essential Benefits Of Remote PC Access Software

With technology entering into every aspect of business, how can remote PC access technology remain confined only to the big businesses? Even if you run a small business, you would make a great investment by having telecommuting system in place. Whether you need to stay home to look after your sick child or simply need to monitor your field agents, you can do it by using remote PC access program without being in the office.
A lot can be said for remote PC access; essentially, it allows you to work as hard as you need to from the comfort of your own home. When you or your coworkers are telecommuting, it allows you to work independently but with some support from the office. With remote PC access, you’ll be able to stay on top of your work, no matter where you are or what you are doing.
Why should you leave it all at the office unless you want to? With remote PC access, telecommuting is breeze and you’ll be able to operate from from home or from coffee shops. If you have an internet connection, you can (and should!) work. Remote PC access will allow you to work at your own pace and in your own good time; whether you are a night owl or an early bird, you’ll be able take advantage of your natural periods of alertness.
How many times have you had to help someone at the office while you’re at home, or vice versa? Telecommuting allows you to help your coworkers online, either by logging in to their systems or just through giving them detailed instructions. Remote PC access can also help you in situations where your password is required but you do not necessarily feel like coming into the office.
One of the biggest advantages of telecommuting is the improved communications. Remote PC access will allow you to stay in contact with the home office while you’re traveling and allow traveling field agents to stay in touch with you. You can keep each other informed of how tasks are going and whether there is anything else that should be covered in the area prior to his return.
When you are using remote PC access, you will find that your office runs smoother. Any organization is only as good as its communication, and when you are telecommuting, you are ensuring that communication has top priority. Make sure that you look for the best remote PC access software for you today.
Nevertheless, it may not be easy to find an ideal PC access software but don’t get yourself a cheap useless software as it won’t do any good to you. You may want to try this amazing free trial offered at http://trygotomypc.com/freetrial and then pay for your full version to see the difference that quality remote PC access software can make.

Accessing The Hidden Job Market

The Truth Behind the Open Job Market
Most job seekers rely on the open job market which includes job posting boards and help wanted advertisements in local newspapers to source job leads. While it appears on the surface that these search vehicles have an abundant number of job leads, the reality is that very few people secure their positions through these methods of search. Only about 5-10% of people in search find their jobs using these two methods combined. One of the main reasons it is so difficult to land a job through a job board is that the job seeker is faced with insurmountable competition and limited means to differentiate their candidacy. It’s not unusual for a hiring manager to receive over 500 resumes for one open position. With no personal relationship with the hiring authority, the job seeker is forced to rely on technology and hope that the resume they submitted for an online opportunity contains enough keywords and consistency with the job spec to garner an acknowledgement from the hiring manager. The sad truth is that the number of companies that even acknowledge receipt of the resume is under 25% and the percentage of companies that offer candidates any additional information regarding their candidacy is in the single digits.
How to Make Time Spent in the Open Job Market More Effective
So what’s a job seeker to do? Send their resume out into cyberspace, cross their fingers, and hope for the best? Absolutely not. Far too many people waste valuable hours of search time sending their resumes into a virtual black hole. If an unemployed job seeker considers their full-time job to be finding a job and an employed job seeker considers their search to be a part-time job, no more than two hours of each week should be dedicated to posting for jobs online. Candidates should be frugal with the amount of time they spend online and take advantage of time saving online search methods such as using aggregate boards such as SimplyHired, Indeed, and Jobster which cull information from numerous online boards or setting up job email alerts on several large or niche board sites.
Why There is More Opportunity in the Hidden Job Market
Once the two hours of online search is accounted for, the job seeker still has several hours per week to dedicate to the rest of their search. Most people (over 80%) find their jobs through the hidden job market, the jobs that are not posted and that are communicated word of mouth. Open positions might not be listed on job boards for several reasons. Perhaps the company once had the position on a board and was unsuccessful in finding a candidate, so they are now searching offline. Maybe the company doesn’t have the money to post online. Many companies consider their employee referral programs a better source of hires and promote the program extensively throughout the firm. Or a situation exists in the office where someone is on performance counseling and will probably be managed out of the organization in the coming months. Still other companies have policies regarding internal posting practices and make opportunities available to their current employees before looking outside for potential candidates. In some instances a company plans to expand in a particular area but doesn’t want to post online for fear of tipping off the competition regarding their future expansion plans. These are all reasons why a viable position might not be posted online.
Finding Job Leads Through Cold Call Techniques
There are two main ways to access jobs in the hidden job market. The first is to cold call into an organization and try to find a connection to the person who is capable of making a hiring decision. Approximately 10-20% of people in search find their jobs by cold calling into companies. The cold call is made regardless of whether there is an open position or not. The goal is to identify industries and companies that provide a good fit for the job seeker based on their competencies, achievements, and geography and try to gain an introduction to someone in the company to convince them that you are a person worth knowing. By proactively establishing the relationship before the hiring authority has an actual need, you increase your chances of being the go to guy once a viable position surfaces. Prospecting for a new job is very similar to sales prospecting. The difference is that in the first scenario you are marketing yourself. There are numerous ways to find leads into companies. The public library houses an abundance of company-relevant reference guides that you can use to cull valuable information about an industry, company, or decision maker. Some of the many valuable resources available include Hoovers, The Corporate Directory of U.S. Public Companies, Consulting and Consulting Organization Directory, Gold Book of Venture Capital Firms, Thomas Register of Manufacturing Firms, and the Corporate Finance Sourcebook. In addition, there are professional research firms such as FTT Research that specialize in finding decision makers within companies.
Networking Your Way to Your Next Job
The second and most successful method of sourcing jobs through the hidden job market is networking. Over 70% of people in search find their jobs through networking. Networking at its most fundamental level is information sharing and relationship building. When you network effectively, you seek out opportunities to meet new people, share information about yourself, learn about other people, and offer assistance to others whenever possible. Good networkers agree to meet with people to try to help them even if on the surface there is nothing in it for them. They open up their minds and their rolodex, share contacts and try to make recommendations in an effort to help people get closer to their personal and professional goals. Networking is not about asking for favors or asking for jobs. As a matter of fact, when you network you should never ask for a job. Doing so might make the other person uncomfortable, because they may not know of a job opening or the appropriate decision maker. Good networkers ask for information about an industry, company, or person to get one step closer to the decision maker. The problem that most people face when they network is that their circle of contacts has stagnated over the years because they have become far too comfortable within their inner circles. But it’s never too late to jump start your network and start planning for your future.
Job seekers can start to accelerate their networking efforts by first identifying people in their immediate world. This may include friends, family, members of local community or religious organizations, doctors, dentist, accountants, etc. Everyone you know knows approximately 200 other people and one goal of networking is to try to tap into the people that your acquaintances know to extend your visibility and reach and try to pinpoint others who can help you in your search. Next try to identify companies you are interested in and people who work for those companies. They don’t have to be people who do what you do; they act as a bridge between you and the people you need to meet at a company. They can offer you invaluable information about the company’s culture, how open jobs are handled, where employees hang out after hours, etc. They can introduce you to others in that company who may be one step closer to your ultimate decision maker. Excellent resources for finding members of companies you are interested in include professional associations, virtual social/business networking sites such as LinkedIn, Ryze, and Ecademy, corporate alumni sites such as CorporateAlumni.com and BrightCircles.com, and school alumni sites including those listed on your undergraduate/graduate school home page and Classmates.com.
Whether you are currently in job search or are planning for a new position or career in the future, it is imperative that you begin to tap into the hidden job market now to build relationships with people and companies that can help you secure a place for yourself in another organization in the future. Make networking an integral part of your career strategy today so you can reap the rewards of the process for years to come.

About the author: Barbara Safani, owner of Career Solvers, (http://www.careersolvers.com ) has over 12 years of experience in career management, recruiting, executive coaching, and organizational development. Ms. Safani partners with both Fortune 100 companies and individuals to deliver targeted programs focusing on resume development, job search strategies, networking, interviewing, and salary negotiation skills.

Get Your Unclaimed Money Share

According to a study made recently in the United States by financial experts, 9 out of 10 Americans should get a part of the unclaimed money. As a matter of fact, a staggering sum of money ( billions of dollars to be more exact ) from unclaimed money, funds, IRS refunds are laying around in several Government agencies, some of them are yours and you should do something about this situation, with other words, claim what you are entitled to.The Internet can help you regarding this matter, there are several trusted online records information providers that can help you reclaim what belongs to you: money, property, refunds. For example the records traces can include: holocaust victims settlement funds, missing bonds & lost saved deposit boxes, social security benefits and postal money orders, missing inheritances and abandoned properties and the list could go on.If you are wondering for how long the unclaimed funds are held then you should know that once the funds are remitted, in almost every situation, the funds are held in a perpetual trust fund ( with other words, forever ) until the owner of the funds can be found. The law is on the owner’s side because there are provisions that protect the holder from potential liability.Another question that many people ask is how do holders know when to report unclaimed property – the obligation to report & remit these funds is triggered when there hasn’t been any owner ( generated activity for a determined period of time, also known as “ dormancy period “ ).As I have mentioned in the second paragraph, the Internet is a great tool for claiming what is yours. You are probably wondering how these sites actually work, it is quite simple as a matter of fact: you just have to enter your name and address and they will trace down your financial history and find out what you are entitled to as well as the source of origin for it, source ID and other similar information. It is quite easy, anyone can do it, there aren’t any financial knowledge you must be aware of.If you don’t trust these sites you should ask yourself what do you have to lose? I will answer it for you, nothing; you can only gain by accessing these sites. Many people have no idea about unclaimed money, this is why you should exclude yourself from this category; you have some rights, you are entitled to money/property/IRS refunds, why not take what is yours?Regarding security of your personal data people shouldn’t make any problems as these sites take every precaution to protect their users/members, online and offline. Many of these sites have links to other similar sites, this is very useful because you can enter each site and then choose which one is the most suitable for your needs.All in all, using these sites is a quick and efficient way to claim what you are entitled to and more and more people should use this method for getting back what they in fact own.

About the author:Chief editor at the Division of Unclaimed Money Administration. Expert researcher of unclaimed property and unclaimed assets in general. For more info visit http://www.unclaimedmoney.us.com.

Stop Exchanging Time For Money

Most people exchange their time for money. Their entire compensation package is determined by the number of hours that they work in a given week. Typically, an hourly wage is set which is multiplied by the total hours worked during that time period. The standard in this country is 40 hours with overtime accumulated after that. One's complete paycheck is contingent upon them showing up for work. Miss a day of work and there is no pay earned without sick time.Another common pay plan is a salaried position. This is similar to the hourly except the pay rate is the same each week regardless of the number of hours worked. Overtime is usually not available in this scenario. Unfortunately, most people end up working more that the normal 40 hours under this plan. Companies put so much pressure on employees to increase production that the time spent working seems to lengthen with each passing year.This is the common mindset that is instilled in all of us growing up. We are taught the we are to do well in school to get into a good college. Once there, high achievement is stressed so that we can get a good job with a decent salary. When we accomplish that, the pressure is to work hard so that we can advance to higher ranks within the organization with an associated increase in pay. Finally, we can retire after a productive career and drift off into our golden years.Unfortunately, in this era, this concept is not realistic. Although the educational system still prepares us to get a job, the lifetime employment with the same company is bygone. People typically work for numerous companies during their careers. Massive layoffs are well documented. Loyalty either from the company or the employee is almost non-existent. Oftentimes, people are caught in financial hardship due to unexpected changes in circumstances.How does one get ahead? It almost impossible to attain financial abundance when exchanging time for money. The reason is simple. There just is not enough hours in a week to work to make it profitable long term. Eventually, there is a cap on one's earning potential due to the time limitation. Couple this with the fact that taxes take a greater percentage the more that is earned and one quickly realizes that it is a fruitless proposition. The key is in the concept of passive income. Basically, passive income is money acquired without you “directly” working for it. It is income that is not an exchange for time. If work is required, it is done one time with the money flowing in multiple times. There are two forms of passive income: income derived from business and income derived from investments. Business income is the money that one receives without actually needing to work in the business. One acquires a business that is either run by someone else or is self sufficient. The profits generated are taken out by the owner thus yielding passive income.Income derived from investments is making money from money. Instead of you working for money, it is putting your money to work for you. depending upon the investment, a rate of return is realized which generates passive income. Examples of this are dividends from stocks, appreciation in real estate, interest on savings, etc... The wonderful aspect of this type of income is that the money is created regardless of one's efforts. If you don't show up for work, the income still exists. You will earn the same while at work as you would sitting on the beach. In addition, this allows one to increase their overall efforts. If your money is working while you are focusing on something else, you are, in effect, paid twice for your time. It is easy to see how it is possible to create massive wealth under this scenario.Focus your attention on creating passive streams of income. It holds the key to all financial freedom.

3 Myths About Saving Money

We are a nation of debtors. All the statistics over the past decade point to this. The savings rate is at an all-time low. At no point in our nation's history have we saved less money. At the same time, we also have used credit to supplement our spending, pushing this to an all-time high. The result is lots of people in financial turmoil. Unfortunately, part of reversing this dilemma is to begin putting some money away each week. Consistent saving of money is a habit that needs to be bred in all individuals if they hope to achieve financial independence. Of course, when you challenge people with this, they immediately begin to throw out the excuses. Some of these excuses are so prevalent that the majority of society believes them.Here are the three biggest myths about saving money that people believe in:1.I cannot afford to save money.This is absolutely not true. Everyone can save something each week/month. The reason that individuals tend to spend everything that they have is because of habit. There are numerous ways to reduce expenses so as to have a little to put away. People often claim to be spending all that comes in. This is true in most instances. However, is it not possible to bring a bag lunch one day at the cost of a few dollars rather than going out. This will save somewhere between $4-$6 each time it is done. It becomes easy to put away $25.00 a month into a savings account when this is implemented.Another aspect of savings that makes it really easy is the advent of direct deposit. Most companies offer this service to their employees. Typically, individuals have their entire pay check going into a single account-the checking account. Of course all bills are paid out of this. An easy way to alter this is to give the company a second account number. This account, a savings account, will receive a percentage of your pay; perhaps 5%. An interesting observation is that people do not even miss the money out of their checking account after a couple of weeks. It is also fun to watch the savings account grow over the course of months.The two strategies make it fairly simple to save money on a regular basis. It basically requires a commitment to develop a new habit.2. Just owning assets is the same as cash.There is an old saying 'cash is king'. Nothing can beat having a lot of money in liquid form. There is simply no substitute. People who believe that having things that are worth a lot of money is what wealth is all about are misguided. It is true that owning assets are a vital part of financial success. However, having a net worth of $1 million is not the same as having a million dollars in cash. The primary benefit of assets is the cashflow that they throw off. Many people do not work a job because their assets throw off enough cash to cover their expenses.The fallacy behind this belief is that often people do not own the assets they are referring to. Take real estate as an example. Those who claim to be wealthy when they add up the value of their properties often find themselves in trouble when market conditions change. This is because the bank truly owns the property. The mortgage needs to be paid in full before it can be considered an asset. Even after that occurs, there are taxes, insurance, and upkeep to be factored in. Also, if someone gets into a dire situation, it typically is not possible to turn real estate into cash. It is not a liquid asset. Cash is the one resource that will allow you to get through the difficult circumstances.3. Saving will make me have to sacrifice the things that I want.As mentioned, people spend more than they take in. When we factor the credit given to people, the average individual spends 110%-125% of what they earn. Obviously, that equates into a lot of interest paid over the course of time. Figuring the amount of interest of something bought on credit often runs into the thousands. Often the interest is equal to the original purchase price meaning that one paid double for the item. By saving money, one can pay for the larger ticket items such as furniture, a car, or vacations with cash. The savings in interest alone will more than pay for the 'sacrifices' you made. In reality, saving money does not hinder one's lifestyle; it actually provides freedom. Over time, you will not be without but rather enjoy more. Refrain from buying into the myths about saving money. Shattering these beliefs will allow you to begin your path to financial freedom. It is the most basic component of investing. Setting a little aside each pay period will provide the resources to attain higher rates of returns. It will also reduce the stress and pressure that is common with the financially overextended lifestyle.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

About the author:Dennis Harting is the Head Coach at Your Rich Life. He is an acclaimed speaker, trainer, and best-selling author. His international best selling books include Your Easiest Million and The Ultimate Procrastination Handbook. He also has had thousands of articles published worldwide. His programs and more information can be found at http://www.yourrichlifeinc.com.