1:29 PM

Kopi Luwak: A chic Coffee, but Choc price

Publié par Mohamed L.RED




Kopi Luwak (pronounced [ˈkopi ˈluwak]) or Civet coffee is coffee made from coffee berries which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus). The civets eat the berries, but the beans inside pass through their system undigested. This process takes place on the islands of Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi in the Indonesian Archipelago, in the Philippines (where the product is called Kape Alamid) and in East Timor (locally called kafé-laku). Vietnam has a similar type of coffee, called weasel coffee, which is made from coffee berries which have been regurgitated by local weasels. In actuality the "weasel" is just the local version of the Asian Palm Civet.

Kopi is the Indonesian word for coffee, and luwak is a local name of the Asian Palm Civet. The raw, red coffee berries are part of its normal diet, along with insects, small mammals, small reptiles, eggs and nestlings of birds, and other fruit. The inner bean of the berry is not digested, but it has been proposed that enzymes in the stomach of the civet add to the coffee's flavor by breaking down the proteins that give coffee its bitter taste. The beans are defecated still covered in some inner layers of the berry. The beans are washed, and given only a light roast so as to not destroy the complex flavors that develop through the process. Some sources claim that the beans may be regurgitated instead of defecated.
In early days, the beans would be collected in the wild from a 'latrine', or a specific place where the civet would defecate as a means to mark its territory, and these latrines would be a predictable place for local gatherers to find the beans. More commonly today, captured civets are fed raw berries, the feces produced are then processed and the coffee beans offered for sale.


Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world, selling for between $120 and $600 USD per pound, and is sold mainly in Japan and the United States. It is increasingly becoming available elsewhere, though supplies are limited: only 1,000 pounds (450 kg) at most make it into the world market each year (Pg 23, The Gospel According to Starbucks; Sweet). One small cafe, the Heritage Tea Rooms, in the hills outside Townsville in Queensland, Australia has Kopi Luwak coffee on the menu at A$50.00 (=US$48.00) per cup, selling approximately four cups a week, which has gained nationwide Australian press.[1]. In April 2008, the brasserie of Peter Jones department store in London's Sloane Square starting selling a blend of Kopi Luwak and Blue Mountain called Caffe Raro for £50 (=US$99.00) a cup.[1]
A 2004 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) scare led to thousands of these civets in China being exterminated, [2][3] but the demand for the coffee was not affected.

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2:03 PM

How to Choose a Los Angeles Hotel

Publié par Mohamed L.RED

Location! Location! Location!

The most important factor in choosing a hotel for your visit to Los Angeles is location. You may think you're getting a bargain by booking a hotel away from the tourist centers, but when you calculate in how much of your visit you will have to spend sitting in traffic to get where you want to be, it may not be such a good deal.
Of course, where you want to be depends on what you are planning to do. In some cases, it makes sense to split your trip into more than one hotel. Disneyland Disneyland is one of the top tourist draws to Southern California, and if you're planning to visit Disneyland, it makes sense to stay nearby. You can get a shuttle from Hollywood or Santa Monica to Anaheim, but to get the most out of a Disneyland visit, you'll want to arrive early and stay late, possibly with a break in the middle of the day.
The Disneyland Hotels are naturally the most convenient, being inside and adjacent to the park itself, but there are plenty of less expensive options surrounding the park, some even within walking distance. There is an Anaheim Resort Shuttle that picks up at area hotels and drops you at the theme park for a small fee so you can avoid dealing with Disneyland parking. Hollywood If you're coming to Los Angeles to see Hollywood, go to nightclubs and fine restaurants, see TV shows being taped and see movie stars' homes, then staying in the heart of Hollywood is your best bet. This is the area around Hollywood and Highland where you'll find the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
There are a variety of accommodations from youth hostels to three star hotels (trying hard to be 4 star) within a few blocks of this intersection. From here you can pick up most tour buses, use the Holly Trolley to go to nightclubs and theatres up and down the strip, or take the Metro to Universal Studios Hollywood or downtown for more options. In general, staying west of Vine Street is preferable. Hotels listed in East Hollywood are in a somewhat less desirable neighborhood for tourists.
If you're in town specifically to attend a TV show taping at CBS, like The Price is Right, there are a couple nice hotels in the Fairfax district (near Fairfax and 3rd) right around the corner from the studio. There are also hotels near NBC/Universal Studios which provide easy access by Metro to the heart of Hollywood. The BeachesThe LA area has over 80 miles of beaches. Santa Monica is the most popular tourist beach. It has the widest selection of hotels and nightlife within walking distance and plenty of shopping. It's also convenient for accessing the quirky boardwalk at Venice Beach to the south, or the more scenic Malibu beach to the north.
If you're looking for something more low key, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach have more of a beach town vibe and are popular with surfers.
Long Beach has a nice waterfront, marina and plenty of nightlife, dining options and other attractions besides the Queen Mary. There's plenty of beach to lie on if you're not planning on going in the water. However, a breakwater eliminates any wave action and the water regularly fails health tests, so it's not the best option for swimming.
In Orange County, you'll find most of the surfers at Huntington Beach, bikini babes and resorts at Newport Beach and a thriving arts community and nicest landscape in Laguna Beach. Downtown Downtown is where you want to be if you're coming to town for a convention or a sporting event at the Coliseum, Staples Center or Dodger Stadium. It's also a great place for a performing arts weekend getaway at the Music Center or a visit to the historic and cultural center of LA. You can walk from El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Site, home of the oldest house in the city and a Mexican marketplace, to Chinatown and Little Tokyo. For shoppers, there's also the Fashion District, Diamond District, Flower District, Toy District and the bustling Mexican shops along Broadway among the elaborate old movie palaces. Hollywood is just a 15-minute Metro ride away. Once you've decided where you want to be based in Los Angeles, travel search engines can help you find something in your budget range.
Kayak searches multiple consolidator sites and the hotels' own sites to find the best price on a room.
Some people find Kayak unwieldy because you have to go through a lot of steps to find the information you're looking for. You can also book directly through a travel search engine like Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz, or Hotels.com. I have not found that any one of them consistently has better prices than the others on the same hotels, so I usually compare more than one.
Try Priceline. My brother Nardo recently shared with me his strategy on getting the hotel he wants at a discounted rate through Priceline. First he calls the hotel where he wants to stay to make sure they have an appropriate room available. Then he makes a Priceline bid for 35% of the reference price listed on Priceline, using the hotel's neighborhood as the location and the number of stars of that particular hotel. This works best at short notice. He has been known to use this technique from the parking lot of the hotel in question and get a room. You don't always get the exact hotel, but something close. Not all hotels participate in Priceline.
He also suggests that you start looking for just one night even if you need more. There's always the option to add nights if you get a hotel you like, and if you don't like the hotel, you can go somewhere else the next night. You can also try another search for more nights if your first offer is not accepted, since you can no longer immediately raise your bid without changing other criteria.
Rate-shopping tip from Rick Steves: Call. If you're not willing to risk Priceline putting you in a hotel other than the one you chose, there's another strategy that might work to get a reduced rate. Once you find the best rate you can on a third party site like Expedia or Travelocity, you can call the hotel and ask for the sales manager. Tell him or her the price you found online and ask if they will give you the room for 10% less. Since this is what the hotel would get paid by the discounter anyway, they will usually give you the same rate directly if you ask.
Additional Discounts: Additional discounts are available for members of AAA, Costco and certain credit card holders. You can also find hotel discounts in the Entertainment Book.


Walt Disney World How To Choose A Hotel & Save Money

All of the rates cited in the following pages are what are called "rack rates." That means they're typical prices listed in the hotel brochures or the ones that hotel clerks give over the telephone. You can almost always negotiate a better price by purchasing package deals, by assuring the clerks they can do better, or by mentioning to the clerk that you belong to one of several organizations that receive a discount (such as AARP, AAA, the armed services, or a labor union). The Orlando Magicard can save you plenty of cash as well. Even the type of credit card you use could get you a 5% to 10% discount at some of the larger chains. Any discount you get will help ease the impact of local resort taxes, which aren't included in the quoted rates. These taxes will add 11% to 12% to your bill depending on where you're staying.
The average, undiscounted hotel rate for the Orlando area is currently about $101 per night double, and that rate in good times climbs about 5% a year. The lowest rates at WDW are at the Pop Century and three All-Star resorts, which, depending on the season, can run from $82 to $141. They're pricier than comparable rooms in the outside world, but though they are small and basic, they are still Disney-owned and offer the same on-property advantages as Disney's more expensive resorts.
WDW's 2007 value seasons or lowest rates are generally available from January 1 to February 14, August 5 to October 3 (except Labor Day weekend), and November 25 to December 19. Regular season rates are available from April 15 to May 23 and October 4 to November 24. Summer rates (only at Disney's value and moderate resorts) run from May 24 to August 4. Peak rates apply from February 15 to April 14, and holiday rates from December 20 through December 31. While the actual dates will shift a little (and will also change depending on the level of hotel you choose), the same periods should apply in 2008.
If you're not renting a car or staying at a Walt Disney World or Universal resort, be sure to ask when booking your room if the hotel or motel offers transportation to the theme parks and, if so, whether there's a charge and exactly what it is if they do. Some hotels and motels offer free service with their own shuttles. Others use Mears Transportation, and rates can be as high as $16 per person round-trip (some hotels make these arrangements for you; others require you to do it). On the other hand, if you have a vehicle, expect to pay $10 a day to park it at Disney and SeaWorld, $11 at Universal.
If you stay at a WDW resort or one of Disney's "official" hotels, transportation is complimentary within WDW.
In or out of Walt Disney World, if you book your hotel as part of a package, you'll likely enjoy some type of savings. The Walt Disney Travel Company (tel. 407/934-7806) offers a number of Disney resort packages.
Outside Disney, you'll probably be quoted a rate better than the rack rates contained in the following listings, but you should try to bargain even further to ensure you get the best rates possible. Ask about discounts for students, government employees, seniors, military, firefighters, police, AFL-CIO, corporate clients, and, again, AARP or AAA, holders of the Orlando Magicard, even frequent traveler programs (whether you have hotel or airline membership). Special Internet-only discounts and packages may also be featured on hotel websites, especially those of the larger chains. No matter where you end up staying, always ask again when you arrive if there are any additional discounts or promotions available. But never come to Orlando without a reservation: Taking chances on your negotiating skills is one thing, taking chances on room availability is quite another. Orlando is a year-round destination, with a heavy convention and business trade, and international vacationers flock here during periods when domestic travelers aren't. If you come without a reservation, you may find yourself extremely disappointed -- or completely out of luck.
In the "Amenities" section of the accommodations descriptions, I mention concierge levels where available. In these hotels within a hotel, guests pay more to enjoy a luxurious private lounge (sometimes with great views), free continental or full breakfast, hot and cold hors d'oeuvres served at cocktail hour, and/or late-night cordials and pastries. Rooms are usually on higher floors, and guests are pampered with additional special services (including private registration and checkout, a personal concierge, and nightly bed turndown) and amenities (such as upgraded toiletries, bathroom scales, terry robes, hair dryers, and more). Ask for the specifics when you reserve a room.
You'll also find counselor-supervised child care or activity centers at some hotels. Very popular in Orlando, these can be marvelous, creatively run facilities that might offer movies, video games, arts and crafts, storytelling, puppet shows, indoor and outdoor activities, and more. Some provide meals and/or have beds where a child can sleep while you're out on the town. Check individual hotel listings for these facilities.
Staying for Less -- Although many people participate in the airlines' frequent-flier programs, not many take advantage of the major hotel chains' frequent-stay clubs. Even if you don't stay in a hotel for more than your yearly vacation, you may be able to realize real savings by joining its program.
Like the airlines, many hotels will let you build points for staying at a participating property, dining in its restaurant, or using another service they include as a partner. Although programs vary, points can generally be traded for free nights, discounted rates, special perks, or, in some cases, frequent-flier miles. And the price to join is right -- it's free. Simply joining a hotel club may make you immediately eligible for discounts, give you express check-in and checkout privileges, and provide free breakfast, local calls, or a morning newspaper. And there's no reason you can't join more than one.
Here are a few frequent-stay programs that offer perks to travelers:
InterContinental Hotels Priority Club (tel. 800/272-9273; http://www.priorityclub.com/) covers the InterContinental Resorts, Crowne Plaza hotels and resorts, Holiday Inns, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, and Hotel Indigo. Priority Club members get express check-in, access to discounted rates at select hotels, and other perks. The perks vary according to hotel but often include breakfast, local phone calls, late checkout, and/or parking.
Choice Hotels International Guest Privileges program (tel. 888/770-6800; http://www.guestprivileges.com/) covers Sleep, Quality, Comfort, Clarion, Cambria, and Mainstay properties. Participants receive perks such as express check-in, special rates, room upgrades based on availability, extended checkout times, and free local calls and newspapers.
Hyatt Hotel's Gold Passport program (tel. 800/304-9288; http://www.goldpassport.com/) gives members a private reservation phone number and express check-in, complimentary newspapers, and access to the hotel's fitness center. You'll also receive special offers and discounted rates from select Hyatt properties including Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites.
Hilton Honors Worldwide program (tel. 800/548-8690; http://www.hiltonhhonors.com/) covers Hilton, Conrad, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, and Homewood Suites. It offers expedited check-in, a dedicated reservation line, late checkout, and a free daily newspaper among other perks.
Other frequent-stay programs include Starwood Hotels Preferred Guest (tel. 888/625-4988; http://www.starwood.com/), Marriott Rewards (tel. 801/468-4000; http://www.marriottrewards.com/), and Loews First (tel. 800/563-9712; http://www.loewshotels.com/).



How to Choose the Right Hotel
5 Ways To Choose Your Hotel

You are planning a holiday abroad for your family, and want everyone to have a good time. You surf the internet for hotel descriptions, but from the pictures that you see and what you read, all hotels project a perfect image of themselves. How can you tell which ones are better? You have never been there and know no one at your destination. At the same time, you don’t want a hotel room that will bust your budget. How do you choose?
Check Independent Hotel RatingsWell, the first step you can take is to visit hotel search engines for guest ratings for hotels represented by the search engines. In addition to pre-negotiated rates with individual hotels, most agents ask for ratings and comments from previous guests. Reading their comments will give you a fair idea on what to expect from the hotels located in your destination. Be sure to read a few comments in order to get a fair overview. Certain incidences described may only be rare occurrences that may already have been corrected.
Hotel Chains and FacilitiesAre they part of an international hotel chain? Most international chains have stringent standards that are adhered to as well as a standard theme across all chains. They may have similar facilities (health clubs, spas, business centers, etc) which are important to maintain the hotel’s high standards. Other things you can look out for include concierge, shuttle services to the city, airport transfers as well as good laundry services.
LocationPerhaps one of the most critical things when selecting a hotel is its location. Hotels that are near to shopping areas, train stations or the city center charge higher rates as compared to those located elsewhere. Analyze a map of the area before you book to determine the nearest shopping areas or access to trains which will give you much convenience in moving around. Also, check with the hotel if they have any large tour groups coming in at the same time. Hotels charge higher rates during high occupancy periods and do not have the flexibility of late check-outs. These are important aspects which, if overlooked, may affect your tour schedule as well as your impression of the hotel’s level of hospitality.
Rates and DiscountsHotel rates are a huge factor when it comes to choosing a hotel. However, paying more does not necessarily mean that you will receive an equivalent level of service and standards. One of the ways to maximize on prices would be check if they are part of an alliance with flights or car rental companies, which offer discounts to customers of their allies. Sometimes, credit card companies offer their cardholders exclusive rates to special hotels which can be pretty attractive. Additionally, if it’s possible to use your frequent flyer points to redeem hotel discounts, this could help reduce hotel costs as well.
Boutique HotelsFinally, apart from chain hotels, boutique hotels may are great alternatives for romantic getaways for couples or families seeking hotels of a more distinctive theme. Many boutique hotels have fewer rooms but offer more value added services such as spas within the bedroom, breakfasts in bed or even in-room massages. In the end, your choice of hotel really depends on what you want out of your holiday.
You may visit Hotels Search EU PTY LTD to find the most trusted hotels at top destinations across the world.

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2:03 PM

A Mediterranean Diet - How to Lose Weight Safely

Publié par Mohamed L.RED


If you are looking for a way to lose fifteen pounds in two weeks, a high protein diet, a low carb diet, a fruit diet, a no fat diet, a blood type diet, a juice fast, a diet named after a place in Miami, a grapefruit diet, a cactus diet, a coffee and cigarette diet, a diet that includes sweets, a diet based on your body type, a diet based on an ancient religion or a diet based on your hair color, then this article is NOT for you.
Fad and crash diets, such as the ones described above are not only unhealthy but they also cause rebound weight gain. Also most diets, even though diet gurus write them, cause an initial weight loss but the ultimate result is that you gain all of the weight back the minute you go off the plan. If you don't gain it back within a couple of diets, you are likely to gain it all back plus a bit more within a year.
Crash diets dehydrate you, low calorie diets put your body into starvation mode so you plateau so you can't lose one more pound and high protein diets stress your kidneys and clog your arteries.
So how does one lose weight?
There is only one answer to this question.
You need to expend more calories than you are taking in. Restricting certain foods, eating so-called fat burning foods, or dehydrating yourself with special pills or teas does not do it. It is simple math. The only way is to eat a little less and exercise a little more. Here is the equation below:
Eating Less + Exercising More = Weight Loss.
This is not a magical formula, it is just logic. It is also not a fast way to lose weight. As I have mentioned before, this is not an article about how to lose ten pounds in three days or 30 pounds in a month. It is about safe, healthy weight loss.
In order to lose weight quickly and safely and without putting yourself at risk for such health hazards as dehydration, kidney failure, malnutrition, exhaustion, nervous dysfunction, tooth loss, dull hair, wrinkles, cellulite, sudden heart failure or stroke and lose the weight so that it stays off, you should lose no more than approximately two pounds a week!
Although that might not sound like a large amount of weight to lose it actually is! If you lose 2 pounds a week that means you can achieve a weight loss of ten pounds a month! If you only have twenty pounds to lose then your weight loss is not only quite rapid, but you have the extra guarantee that it will stay off because you have followed a sensible exercise plan that did not involve starving, exhausting or depriving yourself. If you are willing to drop your impatience and desire for immediate gratification and stick to an exercise plan and healthy eating habits, then a Mediterranean Diet is for you. Remember being slim is only good if you are able to enjoy it!
Do You Need to Lose Weight?
Fascination with Fat
If you want to lose weight, you first need to assess whether you need to actually lose weight or are simply a fashion victim. Unfortunately this society is fascinated with fat - who has it and who doesn't. As we are persuaded by so many images in the media that persuade us to believe that you can never be too thin, many of us are bad judges of our actual body weight.
If you are under the age of eighteen and reading this book, the first thing you need to do is consult with your parent about your plans to lose weight. Have her make an appointment with a physician so that he can indicate to you whether or not you are a candidate for weight loss.
If you are an adult, it is possible that you may not be overweight and are just trying to be, as Bridget Jones put it in Bridget Jones Diary "a stick insect with eyelashes." It is also very possible that you know you need to lose weight but have no idea where to start.
If you are obese and you know it, then you have to check with a physician first to see how your health is before you embark on any exercise program or plan. The same is also true if you have any kind of medical condition but especially a thyroid condition or heart condition. Some physicians may not recommend a weight loss program for those who are over 40 as due to genetics and hormonal changes some people naturally just round out or gain weight in a way that simply cannot be changed. If your doctor tells you your spreading hips are due to menopause or genetics, believe him! It is not clever to fool with Mother Nature.

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2:03 PM

Car Insurance

Publié par Mohamed L.RED

You already know that in many places the law requires you to carry at least basic car insurance, but why should you spend money on all the extra car insurance coverage you can buy?
The reason is really quite simple. A good car insurance policy should protect you from financial loss and cover as much risk as possible. So the more types of coverage you buy with your car insurance the more protected you should be. Sounds pretty simple right? Well yes and no. You need to understand the coverage you have purchased to make certain it covers what you think it covers.
The easiest way to make sure you have the coverage you need is to do these three simple insurance tests. If your policy passes all of them then you know you’ve got the right coverage.
Don’t duplicate insurance coverage. In other words try to insure for the same risk as few times as possible. Overlapping coverage is inefficient and costs you money. The way the car insurance industry works it is sometimes difficult not to duplicate coverage but in many cases you can eliminate the duplicate coverage.
Now you might be thinking well that’s pretty straight forward. But really it’s quite easy to find that you’ve done exactly what you shouldn’t have. This rule tends to get broken most often because we tend to insure for the same event under different policies. For example you purchase additional medical coverage to protect you in the event of an accident but at the same time you carry a full health plan insurance that covers emergency treatment. This is the same event and you are paying for it twice. Of course dropping your auto coverage only works if this is a commuter car that only you use. Otherwise you’ll need the additional coverage for passengers.
But double coverage also occurs will collision and comprehensive coverage. People buy uninsured and underinsured motorist property damage insurance but really you don’t need to because your collision will cover damages done to your car by the uninsured driver and if your worried about an uninsured driver hitting your house, well that’s what your home insurance policy is for.
These are just examples but what it really comes down to is you need to pay very close attention to what you are buying for coverage. It’s important to have adequate coverage but duplication costs you money and benefits no one but the insurance company.
Buy car insurance that offers the broadest coverage. So for example if you are buying insurance that covers your car if it should become wrecked search for coverage that covers your wrecked car no matter what, rather than buying one coverage for an auto accident, one coverage for fire, and one coverage for theft. Again you may not be able to combine everything under one coverage but you should be able to do some grouping such as fire and theft being under the same coverage.
It’s often hard to tell when you are breaking this rule. An example would be you purchase additional medical insurance with your car insurance that covers the driver but it covers only injury related to an automobile accident. Mean while your medical insurance covers accidental injury which would be an auto accident. You would be better off putting that money towards a better medical insurance that covers higher amounts or has a lower deductable.
For each portion of coverage you purchase keep the dollar value consistent for example if you value your car at $5000.00 on your accident coverage, you shouldn’t value your car insurance at $8000.00 on theft. Most car insurance companies won’t allow it, and if you find one that does and an accident occurs you are only going to get the lowest value you stated. It could also add a great deal of additional paperwork and hoop jumping to a claim. So find the correct value for your vehicle and stick with that value on all policy coverage.
This rule is very easy to get caught on, and you can easily miss that you have quoted more than one amount. This rule is broken most often with liability coverage. It makes no sense to set your financial security at one million dollars for 1 million dollars on your home but only 100,000 dollars on your car insurance. With either scenario if a major accident occurs you’ll be held footing the bill. You need to be sure you are covered up to what you are worth or the potential of what you may be worth in the future. So keep your numbers consistent.

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5:45 PM

Student Loan Consolidation - Save Money, Pay Less, Spend More

Publié par Mohamed L.RED

Save Money, Pay Less, Spend More on What You Want? Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Well, if you'll spend a few minutes learning about student loan consolidation, you'll soon be armed with enough information to make some really good decisions and help you achieve all of the above, and more. Student loans are available to students (and parents) in need of help with living costs while studying and working on a degree program. For many students, student loans are their largest source of cash and income (in some cases, their only source). What often happens, is students acquire multiple student loans, then begin to have cash flow problems, which leads to charges on one or more credit cards. These credit cards are typically issued with very high interest rates, often 20% or higher. This is a severely problematic financial trap, and a very tough way to get started in life for a young person who is still in school or just about to graduate. So, how does student loan consolidation work anyway? Well, unfortunately, too many students leave college with debt that weighs them down heavily, burdening their lives with debt that will haunt them for many years to come. More often than not, students accumulate multiple loans from various lenders. This leads to multiple payments each month, and often several loans with unfavorably high interest rates. Loan consolidation allows students to combine multipleloans into a single instrument, one loan from a single lender. In effect, this is like refinancing a mortgage or credit card or other debt consolidation - multiple debts reduced to one. The balances of the multiple loans are paid off by the loan consolidation lender, and voila' - a single loan payment at a more favorable interest rate. Translation: lower monthly payments, less overhead costs for the borrowed money, and more immediate cash flow to spend on more important items today. A student should seriously evaluate consolidating loans if the consolidated loan would result in a lower interest rate that the current student loans, especially if the student is struggling to make multiple student loan repayments. Often times, the merged loan includes a more flexible set of repayment options, plus no charges, fees or prepay penalty. In some cases, there may even be no pesky credit checks, loan collaterals or cosigners involved. Student loan consolidation can reduce payments up to 60 percent (actual amount saved will depend upon the existing loan interest rates). The other factor is the term of the loans. Typical loans are for a 10 year term. When consolidating student loans, its possible to refinance for up to 30 years (like a home mortgage). It's important that there be no prepayment penalties, since the student will likely want to pay these loans off much sooner, once their earning power is improved after graduating and progressing in a career that pays reasonably well. Of course, the longer the loan period, the higher the interest rate, and lower the initial payments, which frees up precious cash flow when it's needed most - while the student is in school. So, if a student has multiple loans, typically in excess of $7,500 total, there are many benefits of looking seriously at a student consolidation loan. It's a great way to free up cash flow, pay less each month, and save money while in school


STUDENT LOAN CONSOLIDATION BENEFITS
The many benefits of student loans will help you get through school, have more cash and defer more payments until when you're able to truly afford them.
Reduce your monthly loan payments by up to 60% or more in some cases
Reduce your interest rate - stop paying excessive interest
Reduce the number of separate payments to just one
Improve and repair your credit rating
Loan refinancing can drastically reduce your monthly payments by enabling you to effectively stretch out repayment from the standard 10 year period for up to 30 years!
Lower payments obviously means you'll have more money available to deal with other expenses, like living expenses, car payments, and life's other key necessities (e.g., beer, Internet, poker, etc. - just kidding :)
Why pay now when this is the one point in time when you're earning abilities are at the lowest point they'll ever be again (hopefully!). By deferring payment further out, it gives you many more options, both now and when you get out of school, and better prepares you to take on the world and the road ahead

Like most things, before just jumping into the first thing that comes along, it's very important to invest just a little bit of time gaining a good understanding of your options, and especially the risks and pitfalls associated with these student consolidation loans. Fortunately, you're here, so you're well on your way...
Remember - you'll be living with this decision for a very long time, so take a few minutes now and understand these things before jumping in by looking at these things very carefully, so be sure to check out the articles and other useful links on this site.

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5:45 PM

Forex And Daytrading

Publié par Mohamed L.RED



Online trading is great way for serious investors to make money, but inexperienced traders often wind up with big losses. A good set of instructions can minimize the risks and save months of expensive trial-and-error learning. Day Trading Day Trading had its heyday during the bull market of the 1990's. All the amateurs have since dropped out, but day trading is still being practiced by professionals. There are fewer opportunities in the current market, but skilled investors can still find them if they know what to look for. FOREX Trading The Foreign Exchange Market (FOREX), the world's largest financial exchange market, originated in 1973. It has a daily turnover of currency worth more than $1.2 trillion dollars. Unlike many other securities, FOREX does not trade on a fixed exchange rate; instead, currencies are traded primarily between central banks, commercial banks, various non-banking international corporations, hedge funds, personal investors and not to forget, speculators. Previously, smaller investors were excluded from FOREX due to the huge amount of deposit involved. This was changed in 1995, and now smaller investors can trade alongside the multi-nationals. As a result, the number of traders within the FOREX market has grown rapidly, and many FOREX courses are appearing to help individual traders increase their skills. As a matter of fact, it's advisable to take FOREX training even before opening a trading account. It is vital to know the market mechanics of FOREX, leveraging in FOREX, rollovers and the analysis of the FOREX market. Due to this fact, potential FOREX traders would do well to either enroll in a FOREX training courses or even purchase some books regarding FOREX trading. There are pros and cons to enrolling into a FOREX course. For beginners a FOREX course is a rapid method of learning the basics of FOREX trading. Not much time is spent on history of the market or arcane economic theories. Often, on-line or phone support from a skilled FOREX trader is available to answer any questions. Also, the information is condensed and practical, often with graphs and charts. The disadvantage is the price, as courses are more expensive than a paperback from the bookstore. Also, the course may just teach the approach of the trader who wrote it, and individuals have different trading strategies. The student may grow accustomed to the logic and focus of the teacher without coming to realise that nothing is predictable in the FOREX market, and many different strategies will bring profits in varying market circumstances. Also, knowledge of practical applications may not be enough, as the FOREX is highly unpredictable and there are many external factors, such as political issues, affecting the flow of finances in the market. The best advice would be to do some background research on the FOREX market first, and then enroll in a course.

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5:45 PM

How to Choose the Right Accounting Software for Your Business

Publié par Mohamed L.RED


With any good luck and a good amount of hard work, you're having the same problem many business owners today are facing. Your business is growing rapidly and you're having problems controlling your finances. Time and time again, that Microsoft Excel spreadsheet you've been using just isn't getting the job done for you. So, you’ve decided that you’re ready to take the next step, and buy a full-featured accounting software program. Many options are available to choose from, but I believe the best solutions to be Quicken Premier Home and Business by Intuit, QuickBooks Pro also by Intuit, and Peachtree Accounting by Sage. In order to decide on the right package for you, you need define the type of business that you operate. With the rise of self-employment (businesses with one or more owners but no paid employees) a need has arisen to manage business and personal finances on one platform. Intuit has released Quicken 2005 Premier Home and Business to fill this need. This software is perfect for the small business owner who receives income from investments, real estate, and/or internet marketing. Also, Quicken 2005 Premier Home and Business is well priced at only $89.95. For more typical brick-and-mortar business owners, you will usually need a more robust solution like QuickBooks Pro or Peachtree Accounting for functions like payroll reporting and check producing. Each piece of software has its advantages, but don't forget that QuickBooks has been the standard in business accounting software for many years now. As for features and basic operations, both applications will provide you the same functionality and convenience for your business. One additional factor to consider in your decision is that Peachtree Accounting is less expensive than QuickBooks. Both starter versions of Peachtree and QuickBooks are priced at $99.95 each, but the full-featured version of Peachtree is priced at only $199.95 while the full-featured QuickBooks Pro is priced at $299.95. At the end of the day, the biggest advantage QuickBooks offers over Peachtree is compatibility with other applications. For example, most commercial banks (Bank of America, SunTrust, etc...) provide you with files designed to work directly with QuickBooks, so that you can read, study, and decipher transaction details. Also, some banks will allow you to update account information in real-time with QuickBooks. Check with your bank to see what accounting software their online services support, and you should be able to make your decision. About the author:Brandon Hall owns http://www.accountingsoftwareportal.comwhich is a site dedicated to providing resources, links, articles, and news related to accounting software products.

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3:51 PM

Now Is the Right Time to Consolidate Student Loans

Publié par Mohamed L.RED

Now Is the Right Time to Consolidate Student LoansStudents graduate from college with that prize possession: the much-anticipated college degree. Then there are those students who graduate college with that added bonus: a stack of student loans. While searching for the ultimate job, the last thing a student needs is worrying about how to pay off a ton of student loans.Student Loan Consolidation in One Simple PaymentIt would make life so much easier to pay one student loan bill instead of five, six, seven or even eight – sometimes more! After graduation there’s so much to think about: finding the ultimate job, finding a place to live, and figuring out how to pay for everything. Thinking about paying monthly student loan bills certainly will not make life easy or happy. No one enjoys paying bills. The task becomes even worse and more stressful when there are piles of bills to pay. By consolidating student loans life will get easier and payments might be lower.Fast Track to Student Loan ConsolidationConsolidation isn’t a foreign word and it’s not too big of a word to understand. Consolidation is easy. It combines all of a student’s loans into one payment. It’s that simple. It’s easy as pie and will let you breathe easier too. Student loan consolidation is convenient and allows you to combine all your loans. In addition, consolidation is no longer only geared toward federal loans. Now students also can consolidate their private loans.The Time is Now for Student Loan ConsolidationThere’s no time like the present to consolidate outstanding student loans. Even though interest rates on federal student loans were at their lowest from July 1, 2004 to July 1, 2005, it’s still a great time to combine student loans. The rates most likely will increase in July 2006, so consolidating now is a bright idea. Federal student loan consolidation can be as low as 4.75 percent. Private student loan consolidation depends on the lender, and the borrower’s credit.Students who have multiple student loans oftentimes are inundated with varying interest rates and repayment terms. Getting it all in order every month can prove to be a literal nightmare.Student Loan Consolidation IncentivesWith federal student loan consolidation, rates are fixed. Students also can take advantage of deferment, forbearance and cancellation options.Another highlight of student loan consolidation is the extension of payments. Many students find they can extend a 10-year repayment plan to as long as 30 years. This depends on a borrower’s balance, so it’s important to check out the options. Student loan consolidation offers students the same interest rate on the same amount, but for a longer term, hence better affordability.There are so many good reasons to get on the road to student loan consolidation. By taking a stack of student loan bills and combining them into one, it’s like a magic trick. However, it’s a trick that will help ease life for many students who are inundated with multiple loan bills, not to mention all of the other daily stresses of life for graduating students.
Article Source: http://keywordbeast.com

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3:51 PM

Mortgages - Low Down Payments

Publié par Mohamed L.RED

Today’s mortgage environment is much different from that of the past. One of the biggest differences is low down payment mortgages that only require 3-5% down on your total mortgage. Why exactly have mortgage down payments dropped so much recently? A substantial part of the reason why down payments are smaller is because of the sharing of risk amongst parties involved in your financial transactions. Mortgage lenders are objective institutions seeking to maximize profit and they used to require about 20% down payment on loans before they were able to spread risk to Fannie Mae. Now, with the commonplace ability to sell loans to Fannie Mae, they are willing to lower the down payment because their risk is lower. A low down payment in the single digits may be good for you the borrower, up front, in the initial phases, however, lenders have ways by which they secure their ability to get paid in the event of default lowering their risk. One way that lenders compensate for a low down payment loan, below twenty percent of total loan value, is by requiring a borrower to pay private mortgage insurance(PMI). While private mortgage insurance is not a huge expense it is still an expense, often being .5% of your total mortgage. If you take out a $300,000 loan, then you can expect to pay about $1,500 per year in PMI insurance. These payments will be required until you reach a twenty percent pay off on your loan. However, a lender may be able to make you continue to pay even as twenty percent is breached. Another method for obtaining a loan with very little out of pocket expense is to take out two loans at the same time. One is a primary loan to cover the main mortgage, and another is a secondary loan to cover the down payment. This is often referred to as piggy backing loans and has gained some popularity. People sometimes refer to this method of financing as taking out a second mortgage. You will essentially have two loans to pay each month, so your debt load is going to be higher. If you don't have the cash to pay a down payment, then you should carefully consider if you can service two loans every month of the year in addition to other major expenses.By meeting certain qualifications, a person may be able to acquire an FHA loan, which only requires a 3 percent down payment. However, loan insurance is required with these mortgages to alleviate some risk, and the total loan amounts are relatively small. If you live in an area with a high cost of living these loans may not be available. Veterans administration loans can be utilized by military families looking for mortgages with lower down payments.
Article Source: http://keywordbeast.com

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3:51 PM

How To Pay Your Forex Broker

Publié par Mohamed L.RED

The forex market, unlike other exchange driven markets, has a unique feature that many market makers use to entice traders to trade. They promise no exchange fees or regulatory fees, no data fees and, best of all, no commissions. To the new trader just wanting to break into the trading business, this sounds too good to be true. Trading without transaction costs is clearly an advantage. However, what might sound like a bargain to inexperienced traders may not be the best deal available - or even a deal at all. Here we'll show you how to evaluate forex broker fee/commission structures and find the one that will work best for you.


Commission StructuresThere are three forms of commission used by brokers in forex. Some firms offer a fixed spread, others offer a variable spread and still others charge a commission based on a percentage of the spread. So which is the best choice? At first glance, it seems that the fixed spread may be the right choice, because then you would know exactly what to expect. However, before you jump in and choose one, there are a few things you need to consider. The spread is the difference between the price the market maker is prepared to pay you for buying the currency (the bid price), versus the price at which he is prepared to sell you the currency (the ask price). Suppose you see the following quotes on your screen: "EURUSD - 1.4952 - 1.4955." This represents a spread of three pips, the difference between the bid price of 1.4952 and the ask price of 1.4955. If you are dealing with a market maker who is offering a fixed spread of three pips instead of a variable spread, the difference will always be three pips, regardless of market volatility. (For more, see Common Questions About Currency Trading.)In the case of a broker who offers a variable spread, you can expect a spread that will, at times, be as low as 1.5 pips or as high as five pips, depending on the currency pair being traded and the level of market volatility. Some brokers may also charge a very small commission, perhaps two-tenths of one pip, and then will pass the order flow received from you on to a large market maker with whom he or she has a relationship. In such an arrangement, you can receive a very tight spread that only larger traders could otherwise access. Different Brokers, Different Levels of ServiceSo what is the bottom line effect of each type of commission on your trading? Given that all brokers are not created equal, this is a difficult question to answer. The reason is that there are other factors to take into account when weighing what is most advantageous for your trading account.For example, not all brokers are able to make a market equally. The forex market is an over-the-counter market, which means that banks, the primary market makers, have relationships with other banks and price aggregators (retail online brokers), based on the capitalization and creditworthiness of each organization. There are no guarantors or exchanges involved, just the credit agreement between each player. So, when it comes to an online market maker, for example, your broker's effectiveness will depend on his or her relationship with banks, and how much volume the broker does with them. Usually, the higher-volume forex players are quoted tighter spreads. (For more, see Getting Started In Forex.)

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3:51 PM

Bad Credit Student Loans - Let Forex Trading Pay For Your Studies

Publié par Mohamed L.RED

When I left school, my parents pretty much left me to do my own thing. This meant I had to pay for my own studies, or find a job. I was really interested in going to university but I had absolutely no way of paying for it. I had no credit record, hell I had no record of any type. This wasn't going to change my mind, I wanted to study; I had no interest of getting a job yet, well lets put it this way, I don't like getting my hands dirty or spending long ours serving people their food, and taking their crap at the same time.
I decided to try making money on the internet. There are many different types of money sources online, but none of them really appealed to me, or rather contained too much work. You might think I'm lazy, but I believe in the whole "work smart, not hard" idea.
After a couple months I ran into something called forex trading. People were earning massive sums of money, hell even more than my parents salaries combined for 2 years. I did my research and came to the conclusion that if I was to make any money from this, it would take years to learn and to gather the experience.
Ever heard of an automated forex trading system? Well me neither, until a couple months ago. It's a system that trades on the forex market for you automatically, even while you sleeping, or out on the town with your friends, or in my case; while I was studying.
The best thing about automated forex trading systems is that most of them come with a 60 day money back guarantee, which allowed me to test the program for 60 days, on a demo trading account, which is just an account that trades on the live forex market, with "play money". If I saw no profits within 59 days, I simply returned the program and tried another one. It's as simple as that.
I am now studying a BSC in Information Technology Management Stream, and I don't need to worry about bad credit, or even getting a student loan, as my automated forex trading system is paying for all of it.
For reviews and more information on the top automated trading systems, please click here
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Oberholzer

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3:51 PM

How To Get Cheap Whole Life Insurance Quotes

Publié par Mohamed L.RED

Whole life insurance quotes the most expensive kind of policies that are on the market due the fact of cash value over time. Whole life insurance is permanent life insurance coverage that lasts as long as you live and continue to make on time premium payments. The reason that whole life insurance quotes are so much more expensive is due to the fact that the policy will have to pay out a death benefit when you die.
Whole life insurance quotes are available online from many insurance companies that have an online presence. Online life insurance quotes let you search for the policy that best suits your needs. When you log onto each site, you can read the information regarding the whole life insurance policies available and request free quotes. You should request at least three or more quotes so you can compare the different rates.
When you compare the whole life insurance quotes you have got, the cheapest is not always the best one to choose. They can be quite affordable because the payment of premiums stretches out over a longer period of time. When you are comparing the online life insurance quotes you receive, you shouldn't just think about the amount of the monthly premium but the length of time that you have to pay the premiums.
The death benefit you choose in your whole life policy will never decrease and the premiums will always stay the same. With quotes for term insurance, the benefit and the premiums remain the same for the term, but could change dramatically when you renew the policy at an older age.
In order to determine how much of a death benefit you need with whole life insurance, you should sit back and evaluate how much money your family would need to survive without you. You have to look at the fact that the bills still need to be paid and your income will no longer be available. The sum of the death benefit is one of the factors that does determine the price of the whole life insurance quotes you receive. Other factors include your age, occupation and health.
The younger you are when you choose to get whole life insurance, the lower cost it will be to you. In your later years, you won't have to budget for the premiums, because they will be paid up. You can also borrow against the amount of money you build up in the whole life insurance policy, but this is part of the policy and doesn't have any effect on the quotes you receive.
When comparing whole life insurance quotes there are quite a few things to think about.
For a website totally devoted to Life Insurance visit Peter's Website Life Insurance Answers and find out about [http://www.lifeinsurance-answers.com/term-life-insurance-rates.html]Life Insurance Answers as well as [http://www.lifeinsurance-answers.com/term-life-insurance.html]Term Life Insurance and more, including Online Life Insurance and Life Insurance Agents.
Article source: http://juicyarticles.net/articles/How-To-Get-Cheap-Whole-Life-Insurance-Quotes-510
Article keywords: whole life insurance quotes, whole life insurance, online life insurance quotes

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1:10 AM

For My first posting i want to introduce my ciy: Constantine

Publié par Mohamed L.RED



Constantine (Arabic:Arabic: قسنطينة) is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast.
Regarded as the capital of eastern Algeria and the centre of its region, Constantine has a population of over 500,000 (750,000 with the agglomeration), making it the third largest city in the country after Algiers and Oran.
Constantine is situated on a plateau at 640 metres above sea level. The city is framed by a deep ravine and has a dramatic appearance. The city is very picturesque with a number of bridges and a viaduct crossing the ravine. The ravine is crossed by four bridges, including Pont Sidi M'Cid.
Constantine has one university, the University of Constantine, which was founded in 1969. There are museums and important historical sites around the city.
Constantine is the railhead of a prosperous and diverse agricultural area. It also a center of the grain trade and has flour mills, a tractor factory, and industries producing textiles, wool, linen, and leather goods[citation needed]. Algeria and Tunisia serve as its markets.




The city was originally settled by Numidian people, and was known as Sarim Batim. Later its name was Cirta, thought to be from the Phoenician word for "city", but originates in fact from "Thacirth" which is an Imazighen (Berber) word for a traditional wheat grinder made of stones (due to the stony look of the city). Constantine was capital city of the Numidia, a berber empire that emerged in the 3rd century BC. The city was founded in 203 BC by king Micipsa, with the help of Greek colonists. She distinguished for the splendour of the public buildings and its population overcame that of all other towns of northern Africa. It had an army of 10,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry. In 113 BC the town was conquered by Jugurtha. Later it served as base of the Roman generals Caecilius Metellus Numidicus and Caius Marius. In 107 BC the latter gained a victory over Jugurtha in the nearby of Cirta. With the suppression of king Juba I and the rest of the supporters of Pompey in Africa (46 BC), Julius Caesar gave special civil rights to a part of Cirta, under the name of Sittlanorum Colonia. It became the head of a confederation of four similar settlements in North Africa.
In 311, during the civil war between emperor Maxentius and usurper Domitius Alexander (former governor of Africa), the city was destroyed. Rebuilt in 313, it was subsequently named after emperor Constantine the Great, who had defeated Maxentius. Conquered by the Vandals in 432, Constantine returned to the Byzantine exarchate of North Africa from 534 to 697. It was conquered by the Arabs in the 7th century, receiving the name of Qusantina.
The city recovered and in 12th century was again a prosperous market, with connection to Pisa, Genoa and Venice. Since 1529 it was intermittently part of Ottoman Empire, ruled by a Turkish bey (governor) subordinate to the dey of Algiers. Salah Bey, who ruled the city in 1770-1792, greatly embellished it and built much of the Muslim architecture still visible today.
In 1826 ,the last Bey, Ahmed Bey ben Mohamed Chérif became the new head of state and led a fierce resistance against French occupation forces. By 13 October 1837 the territory was reconquered by France, and in 1848 it was incorporated into the colony of Algiers (Algeria).
In World War II, during campaign in North Africa (1942-43), Constantine and the nearby city of Sétif were used by the Allied forces as operational bases.


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