Debt Consolidation or Debt Management?

The number of people facing serious debt problems continues to rise inexorably, with recent research suggesting up to a million Britons could potentially be in genuine danger of bankruptcy. The situation will only get worse if, as predicted, the Bank of England starts to increase interest rates from their current historic lows, leading to higher mortgage payments having to be made from already overstretched budgets.

If you're one of the many thousands facing real problems in meeting your repayments, you've probably been looking for ways out of your predicament, and you'll probably have come across sites advertising debt consolidation and debt management as possible solutions. What's the difference, and which one is right for you?

Debt consolidation is the simplest and most straightforward way of dealing with debt. The basic idea is that you take out another loan which is large enough to pay off all your current debts such as credit cards, personal loans, overdrafts and the like. This leaves you with one single monthly repayment to make, which is already a great step forward in making your finances easier to control.

By making sure that the loan you take out is at a comparitively low interest rate, you should find that your total monthly repayment is lower than it was when you were servicing many smaller, more expensive debts. Also, choosing a longer term to repay your new loan will lower the costs even more.

This sounds perfect in theory, but consolidation isn't without its problems. Firstly, you're not actually reducing your debt, just your monthly repayments. While this may take the pressure off in the short term, in the long term you're likely to be paying more interest overall as you'll be taking longer to clear the debt. You're also usually shifting unsecured debt onto a secured loan, which could put your home at risk if you start to struggle with your repayments.

Debt management is an altogether different and more drastic way of tackling your debt. By entering into a management program, you're handing over the day to day management of your debt to a company who specialises in negotiating with people's creditors. This debt management company will contact everyone you owe money to, and try to negotiate lower repayments by rescheduling your debt, freezing interest, or even cancelling past charges and fees.

You'll still be responsible for repaying much of the debt of course, but in many cases large amounts of your debt can be wiped out almost overnight. There'a also the advantage that you only have to make one repayment a month, direct to the management company, who will then distribute it among your creditors.

Entering into debt management can be a very effective way to reduce your debt and all but eliminate the stresses it causes, but there's also a pretty major problem with it. You'll effectively be breaking the credit agreements you signed, which will severely harm your credit rating for the future. However, once bitten by debt, you might not be too concerned about having problems taking out more credit in the future.

So which is right for you? Consolidation is a popular 'quick fix' and can simplify your finances considerably, at the expense of more interest being paid in the long term, and is a good choice for people who are struggling with their debt to a moderate level. Management is a more drastic solution, and should only be considered by people who really have little alternative, and who are unable to get a consolidation loan because of their credit ratings.



Martin Sumner is a writer for Debtsorter UK, who can arrange a debt management program for people with severe debt problems.

Real estate investing gives work at home mom (wahm) home business opportunity

"Son gives Real estate investing work at home mom (wahm) $25,000 GIFT from home business opportunity"



Real estate investing can offer anyone women the home business opportunity to work at home and become a wahm themselves.



Just ask Mary Wozny, who says "It was a wonderful surprise! I'm sure not many mothers or other wahm's can top getting a cash gift like this from a home business opportunity".



Real estate investing allows you to work at home.



Mary who now has several wahm's as students, states, �real estate investing is a home business opportunity for anyone that is fed up with a job and having to answer to

a boss, or even wants some more cash in their bank.�



An interesting home business opportunity indeed.



Using one creative real estate investing method alone allowed her son, Brad, to contract a property below market pricing with a no risk clause in Detroit.



Even better, he didn�t require a credit check, and sold the contract to another buyer for $25,000 cash.



Best of all, Brad, from Canada - did this from his home office! �That�s how people can work at home, or become a wahm, with this home business opportunity, and generate vast sums of money through real estate investing,� says Brad.



As if that�s not enough, the buyer immediatley wired half the funds into their corporate bank account.



All told, Brad estimates he put just four hours into the deal. �People need to understand, this is truly their ideal home business opportunity. We live in a virtual world now.

Women definitely can become a real estate investing work at home mom (wahm). In under an hour a day, they can have this fantastic home business, and be real estate investing anywhere."



What's more, Brad points out you can do this regardless of your credit or cash situation.



The basic strategy Brad employed is called an Assignment of Contract. It is generally used when people want to generate thousands or tens of thousands in cash from

property quickly.



The benefit of this real estate investing technique is you don�t need a credit check. You don�t need to go through the normal paperwork required to close a property.



And you get your money up front. Brad & Mary are endorsed by Mark Victor Hanse, co-creator of "Chicken Soup for the Soul" Series. Why not learn more about this home business opportunity for yourself. Perhaps someday soon you'll be working at home, or even become a "wahm" yourself.



Their mission is to help 100,000 women & families achieve financial freedom. To discover how you can chart your own course toward financial independence, download $147 of free gifts and tips from their website now at http://www.MillionaireRiches.com



Brad Wozny and his mother generated over $1 Million profits in real estate in 93 days. Their mission to help 100,000 Women & Families Achieve Financial Freedom. Brad & Mary are endorsed by Mark Victor Hansen, co-Creator of "Chicken Soup for the Soul". Click on millionaireriches.com now for $147 in FREE Gifts & Tips. Article Submitted by That Article Guy

Disney Vacation Rentals and Holiday Homes in Florida

If you are looking forward to visiting Disney World or other attractions in Orlando, planning the trick with a little information could help save you money. Instead of opting for the first package that comes your way, its best to get some more knowledge of hotels and other kinds of lodgings available might be a good idea. Even if you are from Florida, some tips form this article may help you in getting your required and budgeted accommodation.



A popular misconception is that the resort exists in Orlando. In fact, the entire Walt Disney World property is outside Orlando city limits; the majority sits within southwestern Orange County, with the remainder in adjacent Osceola County to the south.



Most of Walt Disney World's Central Florida land and all of the public areas are located in the cities of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, located southwest of Orlando and a few miles northwest of Kissimmee. The land within Walt Disney World Resort is part of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which allows the Disney corporation to exercise quasi-governmental powers over the area.



Hotels always come across to be trifle expensive on the agenda whenever you travel irrespective of the destination. The alternative is vacation rentals that offer far cheaper rates than most hotels. Vacation rentals may come to include various kinds of lodging like privately owned cottages, condos or large and luxurious villas that can be directly rented or leased from their owners, their agents or through vacation rental agencies. A lot of variety is available to choose from and they are ideal for families looking forward to make use of Disney vacation rentals.



Florida Disney vacation rental lodgings offer cheaper prices resulting in huge savings in costs compared to staying at a hotel. Most of these privately owned accommodations are listed directly by their owners, resulting in saving more money by avoiding middle men. Orlando being one of the most popular vacation destination in the USA because it has something for everyone - Disney with its four theme parks � MGM Studios, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom in addition to the 3 water parks and more than eight golf courses, not to mention many other attractions.



The Walt Disney World resort also includes six world-class golf courses. The five 18-hole golf courses are the Magnolia, the Palm, Lake Buena Vista, Eagle Pines, and Osprey Ridge (the last two are part of the Bonnet Creek Golf Club). There is also a nine-hole walking course called Oak Trail, designed for young golfers. Together, they are known as Disney's "99 holes of golf." There are two miniature golf courses, Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland.



Walt Disney World paved the way for many other theme parks and attractions in the area, including SeaWorld and Universal Studios, and helped make Orlando a popular tourist destination for people from all over the world.



Since the best time to visit Florida and its attractions is from October to April, it is best to get reservations at least 2 months in advance. If you are a regular Disney buff, you may even consider owning a vacation home there which can be rented out as and when not required by you. Investment, return and appreciation along with the pleasure of a Disney holiday is a reality.



About Disney-VacationRentals.com



Disney World Florida Vacation Rental - Disney Holiday Homes and Vacation Rentals is a leader in luxury vacation rentals around Disney Land Florida, with an extensive portfolio of luxury villas and homes.



To place a Disney holiday home free advertisement or find the perfect lodging for you - visit disney-vacationrentals.com

Hawaii Vacation Accommodation and Lodging

Incorporated as the 50th state in the United States of America on 21st August 1959, Hawaii is an archipelago of Hawaiian Islands lying in the central Pacific Ocean and is also known as the Aloha state. Hawaii is the southernmost part of the USA, lying 2500 miles from the mainland. They were known as the Sandwich Islands (named by the British explorer, Captain James Cook) and became U.S. territory in 1900. The Hawaii includes eight major islands � Kahoolawe, Lanai, Hawaii, Maui, Nihau, Oahu, Kauai and Molokai in addition to many islets. These islands were united under a ruler King Kamehameha the Great.



With its capital at Honolulu, Hawaiian and English languages are widely spoken. The biggest industry in the Hawaii is tourism, contributing to more than 75% of its economy. The main attraction of the Hawaiian islands are its coral beaches, cloud shrouded volcanic peaks, lush green vegetation contributing to its apt name �paradise of the Pacific� with palm trees in abundant sunshine dotting the beauty line.



A vacation to Hawaii can be truly memorable and highly cost saving if planned well in advance and with proper care. Hotels in Hawaii can be expensive and one could spend a fortune on them. There are other options that can provide a family or a group with better accommodation and good facilities if properly researched. Vacation accommodation in Hawaii can be arranged by looking for Hawaii discount vacation rentals, vacation rental homes in Hawaii or condos for vacation rental in Hawaii.



Each and every one of the Hawaiian Islands are unique in their own way. Oahu, home of the Waikiki beach, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor and the capital city Honolulu has big wave surfing. It is the most inhabited and most modern of the Hawaiian Islands and has great nightlife to offer. Kauai, the garden isle on the other hand is the oldest tropical island with scenic surroundings and marvelous nature. It houses the Mount Wai'ale'ale, the wettest spot on earth, Bali Hai and Hanalei. Maui also known as the valley isle has glamorous golf courses, is known for whale watching and the huge and famous Haleakala Crater. Hawaii, the big island boasts of big game fishing, lava fields, black sand beaches, tropical rain forests, volcanoes and waterfalls. The major attractions in the Hawaiian Islands are



The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

The Haleakala National Park and the Haleakala Wilderness

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

The James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge

The Kalaupapa National Historical Park

The Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

The Kona Historical Society

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve

The Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge

The Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge

The Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site

The USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor

The Akaka Falls etc.



For those whoa re just planning the vacation, vacation rentals in Hawaii are usually comprised of stand-alone houses, apartments or condominiums equipped with full amenities and functional kitchens. In Hawaii, most condo rentals and other kind of vacation rentals are located right on the beaches and many also boast of private swimming pools, Jacuzzis and tennis courts. A normal staying period at a vacation rental is a minimum of one week. Vacation rentals work out to be cheaper if the number in the group is higher especially with the use of kitchen for meals.



Vacation rentals facilitate staying in Hawaii, the way the rich and the famous do. Vacation rentals enable the tourists to stay in luxurious beach home rentals or condo rentals for a fraction of the cost of a staying in a hotel. Book early and enjoy the Hawaiian Islands in style.



Hawaii Beach Vacation Rental - Hawaii Holiday Homes and Vacation Rentals is a leader in luxury vacation rentals on Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island, Molokai or Lanai, with an extensive portfolio of luxury villas and homes.



To place a Hawaii holiday home free advertisement or find the perfect lodging for you - visit hawaii-beach-vacationrentals.com

Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals and Holiday Homes

Pets are an integral part of ones family, especially for all pet lovers. So, when a family goes on vacation it is considered that the pet goes along. All vacation planning thus includes the pets and pet friendly vacations and travel planning make more sense. According to statistics, 60 million households in the USA are proud pet owners. About 15 million or 25% of these pet owners travel on vacations with their pets and stay in pet friendly lodgings. For the convenience of these pet owners pet friendly hotels, vacation home rentals and condos are available across many locations. The following are a few tips to keep in mind while traveling with a pet.



1. While making your vacation rental or hotel reservations, make sure you double-check that pets are permitted. Make sure that you get the �pets allowed� receipt for your reservation either online or through normal mail channels. Verbal assurances cannot be relied upon.



2. The next step is to get your pet acquainted with traveling. One can achieve this by using the car. Get the pet into the car and make sure you play with it to make it relax. After a while, take it for a short drive. Increase the length of the drives bit by bit, so that the pet gets used to long drives that you may take on most vacations.



3. Keeping the safety factor foremost in mind, make sure you get your pet to get used to being secured inside the car. Securing harness can be bought from the local pet stores.



4. Make sure you pet is properly tagged with the identification containing the pet�s name, owners name and the phone number, preferably your vacation rental�s or cell phone number. This will ensure that the pet is returned to you easily in case it wanders off in new surroundings. Make sure you have a photograph of your pet handy, so that in case of a loss, enquiries are easier.



5. Always check with your vet before the vacation, if any vaccinations are needed to suit the environment of your destination. If your pet is a dog, make sure you carry the up-to-date rabies tag on its collar. It could be required in many places.



6. Upon arrival at the pet friendly vacation rental always inform the check-in person or staff that you have a pet along with you. Make sure you understand and follow the rules of the place regarding pet restricted areas in the vacation rentals.



7. Never let the pet use the furniture in the pet friendly vacation rental for sitting or sleeping unless covered with your own sheet. Use the bathroom for placing water and food containers over an old newspaper to facilitate cleaning up.



8. Avoid leaving the pet unattended in a pet friendly vacation rental. If you have to do so, please inform the clerk or the rental agent of the same. Make sure you pet is secured while doing so lest it may surprise or hurt the vacation rental staff.



Traveling and vacationing with pets can be fun, if you use a little commonsense and care while doing so.



Pet Friendly Vacation Rental - Holiday Homes and Vacation Rentals where you can thake your dog or cat with you - leader in luxury vacation rentals worldwide, with an extensive portfolio of luxury villas and homes.



To place a Pet friendly holiday home free advertisement or find the perfect lodging for you - visit pet-friendly-vacationrentals.com

Turkey Holiday Rentals and Vacation Homes

Vacationing in a country that bridges the great continental land masses of Europe and Asia can be unforgettable. Most tourists vacationing in Turkey often go back there to savor the flavors again. Surrounded by sea on three sides and its capital Istanbul resting on the Bosphorus Strait, the magnificent view of the sea on either side is simply beautiful and breathtaking. Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire for a few hundred historical years.



Turkey integrates an internal body of water also known as the Marmara Sea. Located in North-West Turkey, the Uludag Mountain is one of the most well known ski resorts in the area. The coast line of South-Western Turkey on the Aegean Sea, also known as the Turkish Riviera is home to Izmir, the largest city in Turkey. The Turkish Riviera houses many modern styled holiday resorts like Kusadasi and Bodrum.



The most important historic attraction of Turkey is the remnants of Troy that can be found along the northern and central areas of Aegean region. One can see 9 Troys that were built over different periods on top of the previous ones. As all of us know, the very popular and famous historical love story of beautiful Helen and Paris of Troy had caused wars in this region in ancient times. As a reminder of the Troy war lies herein in the form of a replica horse that was used as the final strategy to culminate the war.



Ephesus, also known as the Asia Minor in the Roman times is still evident in this region. The wonderful library that still stands along with the enormous open-air entertainment theatre and the ancient houses alongside the harbor attract great many vacationers year after year and remind us of the civilization that flourished once upon a time. Another important site to visit is the last house of Virgin Mary situated on Bulbul Dagi near Ephesus. This holy shrine attracts thousands of Christians and Muslims yearly. Not far from here is the grave of St. John the Evangelist who is said to have come to Ephesus with St. Mary in her last years.



Vacationers coming to Turkey, especially the ones who return year after year have an option to cut their costs by avoiding expensive hotels and using vacation rentals in the form a Turkey villa, condo, farmhouse, cottage, apartment, hotel or even a Turkish castle as per their needs and requirements. Many Turkish people love to rent out their regular apartments, villas, cottages or condos on a weekly basis due to their basic need of finances.



Many of these vacation rental options come with staff and are available in near proximity to major tourist attractions across Turkey. Moreover, after the new laws of the government has enabled foreign investors to invest in Turkish real estate, making the vacation rentals more popular and available. As a regular vacationer to Turkey, one may contemplate buying a condo or a villa there and renting it out to other vacationers when they do not need it. Added to these new laws, Turkey�s progress on the issue of its adaptation into the E.U is being speeded up due to the government�s efforts to improve living standard. This is contributing further to the tourism industry by making available more and more foreign owned vacation rentals.



Turkey is evolving and is set to get expensive. Plan your vacation to Turkey today..!



Turkey Vacation Rentals - Staying in a vacation rental villa is a great way to experience a Turkey vacation. Rent a villa by travel date, use the advanced rental search feature or click on the city and then enter your travel dates.



To place a Turkey holiday home free advertisement or find the perfect lodging for you - visit turkey-vacationrentals.com

Canada Accommodation, Vacation Homes and Holiday Rentals

For the more adventurous and nature lovers, Canada offers some of the best vacationing areas in the world. Winters are wonderful in Canada; with snow clad mountains and skiing "highways". Adventure and relaxation in cities, parks and mountains of Canada can be an everlasting memory, if planned and budgeted properly.



Most favored vacationing spots in Canada are the British Columbia, Victoria, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Islands. The majestic coastal mountains of British Columbia house some of the North America's largest ski resorts, Blackcomb and Whistler Mountain. These towering mountains heighten to about a mile from the valley and are strewn with skiing trails for all levels. They have about 200 trails covering more than 7,000 acres of treacherous mountain terrain.



These skiing trails are often rated high when compared to popular, expensive and always over booked resorts like Colorado, Vail and Aspen. This is due to the magnificent ski slopes and a host of pedestrian-only villages that have multiple shops, restaurants and a variety of nightlife. The best part of the Whistler Resort is its social and community atmosphere. Added to this the value of US dollar in Canada contributes to the attraction of skiers from across the globe.



Glacier National Park is another of the major tourist and vacationing attraction. Known for its breath-taking views of waterfalls, lakes and high mountains and covering about a million acres, this �Crown of the Continent" is very sparsely populated compared to the Yellowstone or Yosemite national parks in the USA. This house of the grizzly is all the more attractive because of the wildlife which is another major attraction for vacationers is Canada. The wildlife spotting in Canada can be exhilarating when one spots a wolf, mountain lion or a Rocky Mountain sheep.



Planning your vacation in Canada can be very easy and low budget considering a host of vacation rentals and private accommodation available across the most sought after tourist destinations.



Many vacation rentals offer a choice of vacation homes, condos, villas, and cabins to meet various needs and tastes of the vacationers. Many of these vacation rentals are also well staffed. Out for offering are pet friendly rentals, vacation rentals on the beach or close to the water, child friendly vacation rentals, vacation homes on a golf course or close to one, ski vacation rentals on the mountain or located close to the chairlift.



Cottages are a preferred mode of vacation rentals in Canada. Many people dive to cottages for the hammock-swaying snoozes, exceptional natural air quality and outdoor pursuits. The distance from millions in a crowded city is to soothe ones nerves in natural surroundings of most of Canada�s known tourist attractions have made them the favorite of vacationers.

Renting a vacation home or cottage is easy, pay the rent for as many weeks as you need. You can rent direct form the owner or through various rental agents strewn all over the place. Choices are easy to make using the book or a brochure available with most agents. The only disadvantage compared to a hotel is that you may end up doing most of the housework, if the vacation home or the private accommodation is not staffed.

The cost of renting or leasing a vacation home or private accommodation is very nominal compared to the cost of hotels. Many owners have turned towards part time renting their properties due to rising cost of real estate and cost of living.

The private accommodation and vacation home renting can bring down your costs of vacationing in the skiing paradise down drastically, allowing you to budget more for your shopping or adventure needs, or even to extend your holiday a little more.



Canada Vacation Rentals - Staying in a vacation rental villa is a great way to experience a Canada vacation. Rent a villa by travel date, use the advanced rental search feature or click on the city and then enter your travel dates.



To place a Canada holiday home free advertisement or find the perfect lodging for you - visit canada-vacationrentals.com

The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Job Hunting

Entrepreneurs are the heart and soul of any free economy. If not for the individuals and small businesses taking on the corporate conglomerates with little more than their creativity and agility, we would all be overpaying for a poor selection of products � while the profits line the pockets of corporate executives and investors. The salary gap between the executives and everyday workers is constantly growing, and the average forty hour work week is gradually expanding closer to fifty or more for many workers.

With the increased cost of living, many people are forced to work jobs that they are miserable in just to pay their basic living expenses. The entrepreneur has a new emerging problem: how do you work 40+ hours per week and still find the time to develop your own business? Following are some tips for anyone that wants to escape the rat race and start their own business:

1) Don�t choose a job based on pay. That�s right - pay is not the most important thing. You should take a job to gain the skills you will need to operate your business. Look closely at what your future business will demand from you. Which parts are you not quite comfortable with? Have trouble approaching people or speaking in public? A sales job may be just the ticket for breaking those fears.

2) Choose a job that is not overly demanding of your time. You will need time to develop your own business and that isn�t possible if the only time you have available is after midnight. Determine what time you�ll need available to develop your business while working and negotiate for that time before taking any job. When a job is first offered to you is when you have the leverage. The employer has laid their hand out and said, �We want you for this position�. At that point you should make sure you have the time you need to meet your ultimate goal of self employment. If the job is not as flexible as you need it to be you should be willing and able to walk away.

3) Fund your business first. Many people have big plans to break away from their jobs but never do it for one reason � money. Not many people can afford to live a life of luxury and afford to start a business, so invest in your business first and make do with what�s left over.

4) Stay focused and don�t get discouraged. It�s easy to get discouraged when you�re working a full time job, your own personal business on the side AND living modestly to fund all this work. You�ll need to stay focused on your ultimate goal in order to maintain this lifestyle for long. If your business is something you truly enjoy, it will be much easier to do, and the feeling will be that much sweeter when you do finally say goodbye to your full time job.

Unless you have alternate sources of income, being an entrepreneur in today�s world takes a very strong work ethic. As full-time jobs suck up more of our time, there is less and less time for your own personal endeavors. That�s why you need to be clear about what you are striving to be and stay focused on using your job as training for when you eventually break off on your own. If done correctly, you can gradually transition to self employment with little risk and great experience and the work ethic you�ve developed will help you tremendously as you venture out on your own.



Joel C. Carlson is the owner of the How to Write A Free Resume website, which offers a free resume maker / creator for instantly formatting your personal information into an attractive, attention-grabbing document.

Erasing index.dat files

1. What are index .dat files?

When you visit a webpage, the content (html files, pictures, flash, java scripts and other) is downloaded and saved to your computer. This is called the cache or Temporary Internet Files. Every time a cache entry is saved, it will also insert a pointer to the cache files in the index.dat file. Internet Explorer uses Index.dat files to keep track of offline data (the cache) like an index in the end of the book.



a. History index.dat files

This is actually a collection of index.dat files. These are history indices, every time you visit a homepage, that address will be inserted into to history index.dat files. Each history index.dat file is associated with a date. In the browser, this is what the history shows.



b. Cache index.dat file

Internet Explorer uses the cache for two reasons. The primary reason is for fast access to web pages. If the web page you visit hasn't changed since the last time you visited, Internet Explorer will load the homepage from the hard drive (the cache) instead of the web. To find the cached homepage on the hard drive, it searches in the index.dat file and the browser shows the local page. The cache will also allow users to access homepages offline.



c. Cookies index.dat file

Every time a web site creates a cookie on your machine, IE will insert an entry in the cookies index.dat file that associates the homepage with the cookie file. Next time you visit that homepage, IE finds the cookie file through the index.dat file.



2. Why are index.dat files a privacy threat?

Index.dat files contain url's to every web site you have visited since the installation of your Operating System. It also contains links to every picture and other Internet resource you have accessed. Index.dat files are in plain text and can be read by anyone capable of opening a file in Notepad. But this is not enough, index.dat file can't be removed manually easily. If you select it in Explorer and hit the delete button you will get an error message that it's being used. In other words, on your hard drive, there are plain text files called index.dat, they contains links to every web resource you have ever visited and you are not able to erase this file. Perhaps no further explanation is needed of why these files are a privacy threat?



3. Index.dat files location

These files are located under each user profile in three different locations. To be able to see them in Windows Explorer make sure you have enabled it to view hidden and system files.



a. The location of the history index.dat files

It is located in the following folder: �C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\History\History.IE5�

Also the file is present in a number of subdirectories with the prefix MSHist, (for example: �C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\MSHist012004073120040801�)

You can find it by typing this address in the Explorer address field and replacing '' with a valid username.



b. The location of cache index.dat file

It is located in the following folder:

�C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5�.

You can find it by typing this address in the Explorer address field and replacing '' with a valid username.



c. The location of the cookie index.dat file

This file is the easiest to find and is found here 'C:\Documents and Settings\\Cookies'.

You can find it by typing this address in the Explorer address field and replacing '' with a valid username.



4. How do I erase index.dat files?

Erasing the index.dat files is a complicated and time consuming task. The files are locked by the system and can't be erased directly.

On Windows 95/98/ME you need MS-DOS skills. The idea is to create a boot disk, start the computer with the boot disk, and remove the files from the MS-DOS prompt.



On Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 you can make the Windows unlock the files by creating a new temporary user with administrator rights.



4.1 The easy way to delete index.dat files

Instead of using boot disks and other methods, try out Wipe Expert, and let it delete the index.dat files or optionally clean it. Our product will also clean up many other privacy threats in your system.



A free evaluation copy of Wipe Expert can be found at: http://www.bodrag.com/internet-eraser.html



Dragos is the webmaster of the BODRAG website: www.bodrag.com

Face Up to Your Debts, They Won't Go Away

Record numbers of people are struggling under the burden of heavy debt, and when things start to get unmanagable it's easy to try and ignore the situation in the vain hope that the problem will go away. Of course, we all know deep down that our debt situation has to be tackled, however stressful and scary the prospect might be. So how can you go about facing up to your debts?

The first thing to do is take a long look at your financial situation. How much money can you afford to devote to repaying debt? Are there any ways to increase your income? Are there any ways to reduce your expenses? By drawing up a sensible and honest budget plan you'll at least know the true extent of your problems, and you'll be taking the first step to getting back in control.

Next, you need to look at your repayments and expenses, and identify which are the most important. Your mortgage or rent should always be your number one priority, closely followed by essential bills such as electricity and water.

Make sure your budget plan will cover these essentials first, then add in the costs of daily necessities such as food. After you've done this you should have a figure for the total cost of your most important expenses. Subtracting this figure from your total income will give you the amount you now have to devote to reducing your debt.

It's vital to cover the minimum repayments on as many debts as possible, as charges for late payments or missed payments will only push you deeper into the red. If you find that you don't have enough spare funds to make all your minimums, then contact your creditors and politely explain that you're experiencing financial difficulties and need help. This step can be daunting, but remember that the person you speak to will only be an employee of a company and won't take the situation personally.

Most creditors will be happy to come to some arrangement with you to reduce your monthly payments, either by restructuring your debt over a longer repayment term, or switching to interest-only repayments for a while.

If after trying to renegotiate your debt you find you still can't make ends meet, it could be time to reconsider a consolidation loan. Debt consolidation works by taking out a single large loan to pay off all your smaller, more expensive debts such as credit cards and the like. By getting a loan with a lower interest rate and spreading your repayments over a longer term, you can reduce your monthly bills quite substantially.

Unfortunately there are drawbacks to consolidation loans too. You'll be going deeper into debt with yet another loan, and will probably end up paying more in interest charges in the long term. You might also find it difficult to get a consolidation loan unless you own your own home or have other assets to secure the loan with, and homeowners will risk losing their home in the future if they can't keep up the repayments. For these reasons it's best to think carefully before choosing the consolidation option.

No matter whether you choose a consolidation loan or not, it's important to remember that debt affects huge numbers of people and it's nothing to be ashamed of. The only way out of your debt problems is to face up to them, and try to get back in control of your finances.



Nicholas Hunt is a contributor to 1Stop Personal Finance, where you can read more about debt problems and debt management.

2006 US Census: Cape Coral Florida real estate - 5th Fastest City in Growth

No, there's no Starbucks here. And you won't find a regional mall or any big name bookstores either.



But according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau News report issued on June 21, 2006, Cape Coral Florida remains the ffifth-fastest growing city in the country! Owners of Cape Coral Florida real estate are rejoicing.



Why? Because Cape Coral Florida real estate values are poised to continue it�s double digit growth.



The Census report, released on June 21, 2006, said the city grew at 9.2 percent from July 1, 2004, to July 1, 2005, reaching a total population of 140,000. Almost a year later, 154,000 people live here, based on city estimates. Cape Coral also was No. 5 on the census growth chart in 2003-2004.



Florida had three cities among the 10 fastest growing in the nation: Port St. Lucie (third), Cape Coral (fifth) and Miramar (eighth).



For buyers wanting a waterfront lifestyle, Cape Coral real estate offers miles of canals to the Gulf of Mexico, and is in great demand.



Bordered on the east by the Caloosahatchee River and on the west by the Gulf of Mexico, Cape Coral Florida real estate provides thousands of waterfront property opportunities with access to the Gulf.



Founded in 1970, Cape Coral Florida�s year round temperature averages 76 degrees. Cape Coral can very well be known as the "new Naples".



The second largest city in the state spanning 115 square miles, Cape Coral has been coined the �Venice of the West� as it hosts 400 miles of canals.



Real estate buyers can take advantage of the unique Cape Coral Florida real estate opportunity by locking in at yesterday's prices. Says one local Realtor, �Instead of saying, 'I can't afford it,' why not ask yourself 'How can I afford it?'"



Cape Coral Florida real estate provides abundant lifestyle opportunities to raise a family, start a business, or get a job with one of the new companies that have also recently relocated to the area.



Cape Coral Florida is also a wonderful place to retire with some of the best golfing and boating to be found anywhere.



Considering all that Cape Coral has to offer, it's no surprise that the Cape Coral real estate market is healthy.



Whether it is the boating, fishing, golfing, restaurants, or great weather Cape Coral Florida real estate offers, this beautiful city does not seem to disappoint.



Brad Wozny is a real estate expert! Check out his his latest website on Cape Coral New Homes. There you can find lots of interesting information about what every investor raves, as the #1 place to buy lots and houses in the country!

Satellite TV Trends - Watch Digital TV on Your PC

The reign of the conventional television receiver is coming to an end



For decades the world has been buying and watching standalone TV sets. They have faithfully entertained us and provided up to date information. Well as up to date as was possible in between the adverts. Things are now radically changing. The world you live in is very different from the world of past years, this is a world where digital communications, computers, digital TV, Satellite TV and the Internet are everywhere you look. The computer is now as common in your home as the TV set ever was and I know of many people that have more computers in their home than they have standalone television sets.



Your television used to be the best and in some instances the only way to get up to date information about current affairs and news. This is no longer the case now that we have computers in the home connected to a planet-sized library of information called the Internet. You can get up to date information about literally any topic instantly by browsing the Internet whenever you feel the need.



Is a standalone TV no longer required?



That's a very good question. Until recently the computer that you might typically use in your home hasn't had the power or capacity to perform the same functions as your TV set but this is no longer the case. Even the most humble of modern notebook PC is now capable of receiving and playing digital TV from sources such as terrestrial, cable or satellite digital TV. You can even watch analogue TV transmissions until they are phased out.



The secret to using your TV to watch digital video



When it first became possible to watch digital video, or analogue video for that matter, on your PC you were required to install a video capture card inside your PC. You then had to find a way to get your chosen source of signal converted into a form acceptable to the add-in card. Typically you had to provide an analogue signal for the capture card. This provided an acceptable solution for desktop PC's but it wasn't very good for notebook PC's.



Along came cheap powerful notebook PC's and USB 2



Have you seen how powerful notebook PCs are now? Even the cheapest you can get is good enough to watch DVDs and streamed digital video. You might also be surprised when you compare the cost of a notebook PC with a good standalone TV receiver. When I bought my notebook I paid only half as much for it as I did for my TV. Desktop PCs are even cheaper. All modern PCs have fast and convenient USB 2 adapters, which is the magic that allows you to watch satellite, cable or terrestrial TV just by plugging it in.



USB satellite TV



The USB 2 standard PC interface is one of the best advances in computer technology for a long time. It's versatile and fast enough to cope with a variety of different applications including streamed real time digital video. Manufacturers of computer peripherals have jumped on this opportunity to bring you a mountain of products that enhance your computer by simply plugging them into the USB socket.



There are USB digital TV units available for terrestrial, cable and satellite TV so you should have plenty of choice. All these devices conform to the DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) standards in 3 basic versions. DVB-T for terrestrial TV, DVB-C for cable TV and DVB-S for satellite TV.



Digital TV USB adapters - disadvantages



By adding a USB adapter for digital TV to your desktop or notebook PC you can easily and cheaply turn your computer into a high specification television. However if you want to watch encrypted pay for view channels then you will have to go with the decoder box supplied for the service. The output of the decoder box can still be fed to your PC via a USB 2 analogue video adapter.



Digital PC TV is the future



Computers aren't going away anytime soon and neither is digital TV and video. Computers are only going to get more powerful at the same time as they get cheaper and digital TV is capable of far more than is being used right now. It won't be too long before the standalone TV set is a thing of the past.



Steve is webmaster at www.sattelite-television.thegrandfatherclock.com

Sattelite TV - What you need to know when buying a digital TV

Timeshare Reps In Malta Stopped By Tourist Authority

Frequent and repeated incidents of tourists being confronted in the street while on holiday in Malta has led to the Maltese authorities taking action against the timeshare companies who employ sales staff to seek out possible visiting buyers.



Complaints have risen in recent years from tourists who have had their time on the island spoiled by being approached on a daily basis to attend presentations - that can last up to four hours -in the hope that some will buy into holiday property ownership and timeshares.



But the Maltese tourist authorities have seen the damage it is doing to the island's economy, and have decided to act.



'It has come to the stage in Malta', comments Roger Munns of Malta holiday guide http://www.yourmalta.com , 'that some holiday makers are being approached on a daily basis - sometimes twice a day - by timeshare touts who get paid a commission for every potential buyer they persuade to take to a presentation. As well as the feeling of not being able to go out without being accosted by these people some were giving verbal abuse to those who declined, or simply followed them down the street after being told no - and hounding tourists'.



With the tourism market vital to the Malta economy, the Malta Tourist Authority recognised that some visitors would be so put off the island by high pressure sales people that they wouldn't return - potentially losing Malta millions in lost revenue from repeat visitors.



'In today's world,' explain YourMalta, 'Malta has to compete with new destinations in Europe as well as Spain and her islands. Cheap Malta flights aren't in themselves enough to sustain tourism at reasonable levels anymore, although this will be welcome, but the trick of sustained tourism is to have repeat business, and timeshare touts bothering visitors to the island are enough in some cases to make sure that repeat visits don't happen.'



The legislation the tourist authorities needed to be able to protect the tourists has recently been passed, and the Malta Tourist Authority is planning to outsource security patrols to police the timeshare touts. And in a clever move designed to enforce the legislation effectively, the Malta Tourist Authority are being paid around 3000 Euros for each rep the timeshare companies employ for a bond that will allow them to work in a regulated way. Instead of waiting to take each incident through the courts the MTA will be fining the companies found breaking the rules and taking the money out of the deposited bond money, with the timeshare companies having to make it up immediately to the required amount.

Malta Hotels



YourMalta say they welcome the stance the Malta Tourist Authority are taking to protect the visitors to the island, and cite recent examples of why action has become necessary.



In two recent incidents British tourists have been targetted, by young male and female timeshare reps, and while some were based outside hotels in Malta others were driving around in cars and stopping tourists as though they were going to ask for directions pointing to a map of Malta before delivering their sales pitch, with some more persistent than others.



The timeshare reps are predominantly from the UK and targetting UK tourists who visit the island for the good weather in Malta, and the UK is a main market for Malta. On occasions the British tourists have had to resort to threaten violence to be left in peace, with the timeshare reps retorting that they were only trying to make a living.



'In truth', comment YourMalta, 'While the timeshare reps are trying to make commission, for every penny they earn they could be losing the Malta economy far more with every approach they make as the tourists soon get fed up with the persistent efforts to sell them something they don't want. Those tourists are sometimes having their whole holiday spoiled and are less likely to return.



The last thing the island needs is for tourists to step off their Air Malta flight to be accosted before they even reach their hotel with a sales pitch that reminds them of double glazing salesmen back home. The Malta Tourist Authority tell us they will come down on any culprits like a ton of bricks.



We welcome the pro-active stance taken by the Malta Tourist Authority to protect the British visitor and to ensure that they can enjoy their holiday, which will hopefully be the first of many to Malta. The Malta Tourist Authority is to be commended for not only recognising the problem, but taking action to ensure the Maltese economy doesn't lose millions in lost revenue from unhappy Brits who might otherwise take their spending money elsewhere in the future'.



Time alone will tell if Malta can protect her visitors.



Your Malta produce a destination guide at www.yourmalta.com which includes details of Malta accommodation and properties in Malta .



The travel guide also includes flight to Malta details

and holidays in Malta .

Breaking Story! Land FOR SALE By Owner: Why is America's Best Kept Secret West Virginia Real Estate?

The �new gold� is West Virginia real estate, folks. But the land for sale by owner there is disappearing. In fact, land for sale by owner in West Virginia has diminished greatly.



Why? Two words: �mountain estates�. West Virginia real estate is attracting out of state baby boomers buying land for sale by owner that offers peace, quiet, and year-round recreation. A perfect spot to build that dream home in the mountains.



A 2-5 hours� drive from New York or Washington, anyone retreating to a private, mountain hideaway there quickly recognizes why West Virginia is one of � if not the best - places to retire.



Recreation and nature abound. Buyers are noticing land for sale by owner in West Virginia is scarce. For the moment, the best kept land for sale by owner secret for West Virginia real estate lies in the southwestern part of the state, around Beckley, West Virginia, which neighbors the two quiet mountain towns of Daniels and Shady Spring.



While the amount of land for sale by owner diminishes, Beckley, West Virginia real estate owners prosper from its benefits.



For instance, Beckley, West Virginia real estate boasts:



� The lowest crime rate in America,

� 17 epic golf courses,

� 3 national parks, teaming with trout filled streams and rivers

� Year-round recreational facilities,

� And just 60% property tax paid on a property�s Tax Assessed Value



It seems West Virginia real estate buyers acquiring all land for sale by owner will profit tomorrow from their purchases made today. Further, with the recent opening of two high-end, gated real estate communities, demand for Beckley, West Virginia real estate is increasing.



The smallest and most exclusive private community near Beckley, Willow Wood Acres, quickly sold 60% of its 23 wooded lots that range from 1.5 to 7.35 acres in size.



Best of all, West Virginia real estate owners in Beckley enjoy summertime activities like hiking, biking, and fly fishing. Winter enthusiasts cross-country ski and snowmobile. By the way, nearby Winterplace Ski Resort also has 27 runs across 90 acres of skiing terrain.



Simply put, land for sale by owner around Beckley, West Virginia is nationally recognized. Be it golfing, dining, shopping, or for the outdoors and fresh mountain air, West Virginia real estate is a wise choice for any buyer looking to escape the fury of the city, and enjoy fresh mountain air. Think about it. If you grab some of that remaining West Virginia real estate land for sale by owner now, it will surely generate many pleasant memories for you and your family in the years ahead.



To learn more about Beckley, West Virginia real estate and take advantage of some exclusive land for sale by owner, visit

http://www.MyWillowWoodAcres.com



Brad Wozny is a real estate lifestyle luxury expert who has written and published articles across the globe commenting on real estate markets throughout the United States.

As a real estate developer and builder of custom homes from Michigan, West Virginia and into Florida, Wozny's ample real estate experience and travel schedule provides him with the opportunity to gain a unique perspective on current real estate sales.

Credit Card Cheques - An Expensive Convenience

When most people think about credit cards, they first think of a rectangular piece of plastic that is physically swiped in a machine when you make a payment. In recent years however, there has been an increasing trend towards borrowing on your account without actually using your card, originally by quoting your account number over the telephone, and more recently when shopping online.

Add to this the ability to withdraw cash using your card, and nowadays a credit card account is perhaps better thought of as a more general line of credit you can use in many situations, rather than simply a convenient payment method. Credit card cheques are a natural extension of this idea, but they have attracted a fair amount of controversy - not least over the amount they cost.

Credit card cheques are similar to a traditional bank cheques in that you make them out to the company you're paying, and sign for the amount to be taken from your account. Card issuers say they are useful for using your credit account in situations where plastic can't be used - for example, paying a utility bill by post.

The crucial difference is that with a credit card cheque, you're adding to your card debt rather than simply transferring funds from your bank account, and this kind of debt is usually significantly more expensive than that arising from general credit card use.

Firstly, most card issuers treat cheque payments as a 'cash advance' and charge a percentage handling fee of the amount of the cheque, usually at a rate of around 2.5%. This in itself makes the cheques a rather expensive proposition, but there's more to come - the interest rate will also usually be much higher than the purchase rate of your card.

It's not unusual for cheques and cash advances to be charged at rates higher than 20%, even if the purchase rate of your card is closer to 10%. While this difference may not seem significant, especially if your cheque was for a small amount, a process known as 'allocation of payments' means it can be very important indeed.

Each repayment you make to your card will be used to pay off your cheaper debt first. So, if you're carrying a balance you built up through purchases, your cheque debt will effectively go to the back of the queue and will sit in your account, happily attracting interest at the higher rate. It's not until you clear all your purchases and balance transfer debt that you start to repay the cheques.

This means that if you use cheques regularly, a significant amount of the interest you're charged will be at the higher rate, and it will take much longer to repay your card balance, a fact which critics say isn't made clear enough on the cheques themselves. This lack of clarity has led to calls for a ban on sending out cheques as a matter of course, so that a customer has to specifically ask for them to be issued.

So should you use credit card cheques at all? It's not a cheap form of credit, especially if you are carrying a balance on your card, and this needs to be weighed against any convenience aspect. In any case, it's perhaps a little ironic that after decades of being told that plastic was more convenient than cheques, some card companies are now saying the opposite - and profiting handsomely in the process.



Michael Strauss is a personal finance writer for CardSense.co.uk, where you can compare deals on dozens of credit cards, including balance transfers and low interest cards.

Interactive Voice Response

As the user's interaction with the database is predetermined by what the IVR system will allow the user access to, IVR technology does not require human interaction over the telephone. Example, banks and credit card companies use IVR systems because their customers can receive up-to-date account information instantly and easily without necessarily speaking to a person. IVR technology is also used to gather information, such as telephone surveys in which the user is prompted to answer questions by pushing the numbers on a touch-tone telephone.



Generally the system plays pre-recorded voice prompts to which the person presses a number on a telephone keypad to select the option chosen, or engage in simple answers such as "yes", "no", or numbers in answer to the voice prompts. The latest systems use natural language speech recognition to interpret the questions that the person wants answered. One of the newest trends, Guided Speech IVR, integrates live human agents into the design and workflow of the application to enable speech recognition with human context.



Other innovations include the ability to speak complex and dynamic information. Examples would be an e-mail, news report or weather information using Text-To-Speech (TTS). TTS is a computer generated synthesized speech and is no longer the robotic voice people associate with computers. Real voices are used to create the speech in tiny fragments that are glued together before the caller hears it.



IVR systems can be used to create and manage many services such as telephone banking, order placement, caller identification and routing, balance inquiry, and airline ticket booking. Voicemail systems are different from IVR systems because they are a one-way communication tool (the caller leaves a message), but IVR systems attempt two-way interaction with the caller. Automatic call distributor (ACD) systems are often the first point of contact when dealing with any larger business, and can be used in place of more expensive IVR systems. IVR systems are mainly used at the front end of call centers to identify what type of service the caller wants and to extract numeric information such as account numbers as well as provide answers to simple questions like account balances or just to allow pre-recorded information to be heard.



IVR systems are often referred to as being unhelpful and difficult to use because of the poor design and lack of appreciation of the callers' needs. A fully functional IVR system should connect callers to their desired service promptly and with minimal flaws.



IVR call flows are created in a variety of ways. Older systems, which depended upon proprietary programming or scripting languages, and modern systems, which are structured similar to WWW pages, using the VoiceXML or SALT languages. This allows any Web server to act as an application server, enabling the developer to focus on the call flow. Developers need not require specialized programming skills, as any Web developer already have the tools needed to create an IVR call flow.



IVR as a technology can be utilized in different aspects:



-either equipment installed and setup on the customer premise or

-as an Outsourced Solution Provider (OSP)



Article contributed by San Singhania who is a VoIP consultant at Lantone Communications. Led by a team of experienced IT developers, Lantone Communications is one of the leading VoIP Provider in Singapore.

Free online advertising for Vacation rentals

With the advent of the internet and the spread of its reach to the most remote corners of world, vacation rental advertising online has never been easier. Due to varied nature of human tastes and widely scattered vacation spots across the globe, internet may be the only and the fastest medium to book vacation rentals, airline tickets or hotels in real time. As a vacation rental owner, advertising on the internet is very easy and also free at most websites. One could begin by writing a good descriptive and informative paragraph about the vacation rental available.



The description or the listing should have a catchy headline that catches the reader�s attention. Something like �In the very heart of nature� or �The sandy tan paradise� etc. The reader should be fascinated by your headline. The description itself should contain details about the number of bedrooms, equipment installed, furnishings etc. Your description should make your vocational rental stand out in the crowd of other advertisement sin the same category. Always highlight things like saunas, swimming pools, tennis courts etc. They help putting your advertisement in the luxury class and obviously fetch you better rentals.



There is no one better to write your advertisement, since, as the owner, you would be best informed about the property. It is just a matter of expressing the same to the prospective renters. Many a vacation rental web sites also help by giving you the option of dedicating a web page to advertise your property. In case you opt for a larger advertisement or a webpage itself, make sure they contain good quality photographs of your rental property. Pictures speak better and more efficient than words.



Make sure you describe the common areas, kitchen and bedrooms in such a way that the renter can visualize them beautifully in his/ her mind. If your property is stand-alone like a condo, cottage or a villa, the pictures of the exterior can set it apart, especially if you can capture the docks or swings or saunas. If it is on a beach, you can have a picture of the beach front that the renter can use. Take your own time and come up with the best description you can, since first impressions are the last impressions.



Since, internet has become the biggest resource for vacation rentals across the globe, the advertisement modes have also evolved over the past few years. Many vacation rentals sites offer free listings for limited periods like 3 months or six months. Many websites also give you free listings on a percentage of the rent proceeds when rented. Holiday home listings are also available for off season renting and offer free listings. Travel directory listings can be a great help while looking for free advertising listings. Using the travel directory listings you can advertise only at those pages where your vacation rental belongs to. Another innovative and imaginative way to advertise your vacation rental is through blogging and travel forums. Since you are already into vacation rentals, you can request your old customers to give you honest testimonials that can be used to post on various blogs and forums related to places where your vacation rentals are located.



Milan Matchev - founder of ArrangeYourVacation.com Vacation Rentals by Owner and 1001 Ferienwohnungen, has been in the Real Estate and property management business for 11 years making him an expert in his knowledge of the vacation rentals market.



ArrangeYourVacation.com - offers free advertising and vacation rentals free listing for holiday homes.

Travel Insurance Facts

Travel Insurance as the phrase states, is an insurance taken out to cover the medical needs of the insured while traveling outside his/ her town of residence. While embarking upon a trip, it is important that one should be covered by travel insurance; however, while choosing a travel insurance policy, it is important to know the flavors available. Most international travel insurance policies cover medical needs, however many a policy also cover financial and monetary losses in the event of loss of luggage or any other losses suffered due to reasons set in the policy.



Travel insurance coverage is of various kinds but can be broadly classified into five kinds:



Comprehensive travel medical insurance: This kind of coverage is best suited for people who have no medical coverage, even in their home town. This is best suited to people who travel a lot or are posted on a job outside their country of citizenship.



Medical evacuation insurance: This kind of medical travel insurance covers costs of an air ambulance and the cost of doctors and nurses in the place of injury. Evacuation is very expensive and is not really necessary, because most countries today have excellent medical facilities to take care of emergencies. This kind of coverage is needed for sportsmen taking part in extreme sports who may need immediate and advanced medical attention in case of a mishap.



Emergency travel medical insurance: this kind of medical insurance is for people who are covered at home, but the coverage does not include traveling medical aid. This kind of coverage only covers emergency medical services abroad and the post incident care has to borne at home by the individual or the existing medical cover at home. Make sure that your home cover does not include travel cover before you opt for emergency travel medical insurance.



Supplier default insurance: This kind of insurance will cover any monetary losses borne by you in case of the airline or operator you are traveling by goes bankrupt. This coverage has been cut back since the September 11 incident and many companies have stopped offering it.



Trip cancellation or interruption insurance: This kind of insurance covers the penalties levied due to cancellation of the trip for reasons as specified. The reasons may include injury or illness to the insured or a person of his/her family, or a travel companion.



How to get travel insurance



The internet is the best source to find the best international travel insurance suited to you. You may find many companies offering cheap vacation insurance, cheap worldwide travel insurance, and Multi trip holiday insurance and so on. All these are various words used to mean the same.



Most travel agencies and service providers offer travel insurance as an add-on option when you buy tickets from them. Many of them offer various kinds of international travel insurance that suits their services. It is important to pick and choose the insurance that suits your needs rather than just buying what is being offered.



Many regular insurance agents also offer international travel insurance especially the longer version kinds like the comprehensive travel medical insurance. Travel coverage when included with health coverage works out cheaper in the long term, and works best for frequent and long term travelers. It is however important to discuss your needs with your regular insurance agent before taking up a policy, so that you do not end up paying twice for the same coverage.



Milan Matchev - founder of ArrangeYourVacation.com - Vacation Rentals by Owner and 1001 Ferienwohnungen - offer free advertising and free vacation rental directory for holiday homes.



Read more about International travel insurance!

Ways to Avoid Bankruptcy

There are several options available for you if you are in credit card debt and do not want to declare bankruptcy. One option is obtaining a debt consolidation loan and closing all existing credit lines. Debt consolidation is where you take a new unsecured loan and use the funds to pay off your outstanding debts. All this does is revolve your debt so its not really a wise choice.



What an unsecured debt consolidation loan will do is consolidate all your unsecured debt and help you avoid bankruptcy. This new money can save you hundreds of dollars per month if you choose to use your loan to pay off existing debt - especially high rate credit cards. Even if you don�t own a home, you could qualify for their debt consolidation loan. But dont forget now you will have to pay this loan back.



Debt consolidation loans are repayable over a longer term at a relatively low interest rate. This means that the monthly repayments are lower. If the loan is secured on your property then the interest rate and payments may be even lower.



But you must compare the pros and of debt consolidation loans before taking the plunge. There are two options for consolidating debts � either you borrow money to pay off all your debts or seek assistance from a debt consolidation program. Which option will meet your needs has a lot to do with whether you can qualify for qualify for low mortgage rates on debt consolidation loans , and the total amount of debt you need to consolidate.



Borrowing for debt consolidation immediately eliminates multiple debt payments. All debt collection actions eliminated. Seeking debt consolidation services immediately decreases your monthly payments. It also brings to a stop, and in some cases, eliminates some interest and fees. All you do is pay ONE LOW monthly payment when choosing a credit counseling program.



Debt consolidation is an excellent tool that can help you manage and decrease your debt when you just can't seem to do it on your own. There is no way that you can completely fix bad credit without the ability to reduce debt and pay your bills on time. However, once your debt has reached a certain level, this can seem almost impossible to accomplish.



A credit counsellor can provide you with the option of enrolling in a debt management plan, which provides immediate relief and allows repayment of debts without the high fees and negative ramifications of bankruptcy.



However, your choice has to be based upon your financial situation, as well as fit in with your own sitiuation. A debt consolidation program is the better choice of the ones given above.



We have been assisting people with their debt consolidation and credit counseling needs for over a decade, and our reputation as a full service debt consolidation company is unsurpassed in the industry. We can assist with debt consolidation of unsecured debts.

Zoonoses

Zoonoses



Zoonotic diseases are diseases that can be transmitted from family pets to humans. At greatest risk are small children due to their curiosity and less than desirable hygiene habits. Adults are just as prone to transmission, especially if adequate preventative health care for the pets isn't provided.



Diseases are spread to humans mainly by biting and scratching, but also by coming in contact with their feces. Always wash your hands after handling your pet, and avoid bringing your child to public areas where animals may have defecated. The most common zoonotic diseases are Rabies, Lyme disease, ringworm, and intestinal parasites such as hookworms and roundworms.



While Rabies and Lyme disease are the more serious, the intestinal parasites occur much more frequently. More than 1/3 of the nation's dogs are infected with intestinal parasites, and the Centers for Disease Control estimates between one and three million people are zoonotically infected each year in the U.S. alone.



Chief among the intestinal parasites are hookworms and roundworms. As many as 20% of children in the U.S. contract roundworms from their pets each year. Roundworms in humans are a result of ingesting animal feces, while hookworms are contracted through skin penetration. Hookworm larvae migrate within the skin causing localized irritation and infection.



Ringworm and Bartonellosis are more commonly transmitted by cats than dogs. Ringworm is not a worm at all, but a fungal infection of the skin that resembles round red rings on the skin. Bartonellosis or "Cat Scratch Fever" is a bacterial infection under the claws of the cat that can cause skin infections resulting from a scratch from the cat.



Cleanliness is the best prevention of most zoonotic diseases, both by you and your family and by your pets and their living conditions.



Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest dog clothes, dog collars, dog carriers and more for their best friend. Feel free to check out the site at www.joncopets.com









Submitted with Article Distributor.

Energy Needs of Your Dog

Energy Needs of Your Dog



Dogs need energy for growth, work, and lactation and so on, and obtain it by "burning up" (digesting) protein, carbohydrates, and fat. The energy content of food is measured in calories and while most people think of calories as a bad thing, they are only bad if you consume more than you need.

A dog's energy requirements are determined by its weight, and activity level. The smaller the dog the fewer calories are required. The following chart can be used as a good starting point.

Dogs Weight Energy needed (calories per day)



Small 5 lbs. 290 10 lbs. 410 20 lbs. 700



Medium 30 lbs. 920 50 lbs. 1300 60 lbs. 1600



Large 70 lbs. 1810 80 lbs. 1950 90 lbs. 2190



These values should be increased for the following circumstances:

Growing puppies x 2

Pregnancy x 1.5

Lactation x 3



Based on the analysis of pre-packed dog foods, dry, semi-moist, canned, and biscuit, the following table gives a good idea of the number of calories per ounce of each type.

Dry 96.4 calories per ounce

Semi-moist 85 calories per ounce

Canned 28.4 calories per ounce

Biscuit 99.2 calories per ounce



Based on this information, if you have a 20 lb. dog, it will require 700 calories per day. To meet this requirement you will have to feed him approximately:

Dry 700 / 96.4 calories = 7.26 ounces

Semi-moist 700 / 85 calories = 8.23 ounces

Canned 700 / 28.4 calories = 24.64 ounces

Biscuit 700 / 99.2 calories = 7.05 ounces



Individual products may vary in calorie content, but most manufacturers will supply analysis on request.



Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest dog clothes, dog collars, dog carriers and more for their best friend. Feel free to check out the site at www.joncopets.com











Submitted with Article Distributor.

The Ultimate SEO Strategy is a Useful Website

The biggest challenge an ethical website optimization company must deal with is the expectations of clients. All too often a client will expect the SEO to achieve top rankings on competitive terms for a website that is nothing more than a brochure for the company. Usually this is just a misunderstanding about SEO and how search engines work.

The primary job of search engines is to provide quality search results. In other words, when a searcher types in a keyword, the very first results should provide them with the most useful information available on that topic. An ethical SEO is not out to trick the search engines into giving top rankings for a website that provides little more than a sales pitch. Any methods for doing so are merely a temporary solution. Search engines are constantly working and adjusting their algorithms to rank useful, content rich sites above the rest. Once the latest SEO trick is rendered ineffective, you�ll be left having to pay more to try and get your rankings back.

While it�s tempting to go the quick and easy route to achieve better rankings, the very best way to dominate the search results long term is simply to provide excellent tools and information related to your industry. You need content that other websites actually want to tell their visitors about � and it�s not as hard as you think.

If you hang around the major online forums in your industry for a while, you will see the same questions and problems coming up over and over. A good SEO can help to find the necessary information about what your potential customers are looking for. Once you know what their problems are, develop an online tool or custom application to solve at least part of the problem. Here�s the kicker - then you give it away. That�s right, free of charge.

It may seem counter-productive to spend money to create a useful tool and then give it away, but on the internet, free things make money. Now your website has become a much more valuable resource for the kind of people that buy your products. Now you will be considered an authority in the industry by the people using the application. Now your site is one of those sites that the search engines are trying to find and raise to the top of the results, and most importantly, your potential customers are telling others that have the same problem by telling their friends and blogging about your site. The viral marketing effect on the internet is capable of reaching far more potential customers than any company can afford to pay for.

Getting quality sites to link to a site that is nothing more than a sales pitch for a company and it�s products is much more difficult, time consuming, and ultimately expensive than actually providing useful content in the first place. You�ll find that when you give to your potential customers, they will give right back in the form of purchasing your products. So take a look at the sites ranking in the top ten for your industry keywords and ask yourself if your site truly deserves to rank above them. If not, its time to make your website more valuable. Your future customers will thank you for it.



Joel Carlson is a Search Engine Strategist for Bitwise Logic, Inc. - a professional web development company that provides creative custom web applications and website optimization services for businesses around the world.

Choosing a Contractor for Your Home Remodeling Project

Most of us have either had a bad experience with a contractor or know someone who has. Virtually anyone can pass themselves off as a contractor, so it�s up to you to make sure that the person or company you hire for your next home remodeling project is knowledgeable, capable and most of all, ethical. Here are a few tips for making sure that you choose a quality contractor that will meet the needs of your next home remodeling project:

- Be wary of unusually low bids. A common practice of unscrupulous contractors is to first get your business by throwing out an extremely low bid on the project and then try to make a contract that is as vague as possible, leaving room for them to cut corners, take longer than expected, or both.

- Check the materials to be used. Sometimes lower quality materials are substituted or some materials are simply not specified in the bid. Get knowledgeable about exactly what types of materials you want used in your project and make sure those are the materials that are quoted in writing.

- Check the timeframe of the bid. The time it takes for the project to be completed is always important. You�ll quickly get tired of strangers walking through your house and construction sounds echoing throughout the hallways. Some contractors will be vague about how long it will take them to finish, but you shouldn�t tolerate it. A quality contractor is experienced enough to know how long it will take and will have the manpower available to make it happen. You�ll find that paying a little more for an earlier completion date is usually worth the money.

- Don�t sign anything until the bid has everything you want. It�s important that you get all of the important elements of the bid in writing. Some contractors may leave something out and then quote it to you over the phone later. At that time, be sure to ask them to send over a new bid so you have it in writing. Good contractors fully understand the importance of getting everything in writing so there is no misunderstanding on either side and they won�t have a problem sending you a revised bid.

- Save all documents and communication about the project. Now that you�ve ensured that everything is in writing, be sure to save all documents related to the project in a single place for easy retrieval. This way if you see something being done differently than you remember agreeing to, you can quickly retrieve the signed documents to determine if and where a mistake was made.



Most contractors are ethical and really do work hard to make their customers happy. By following the steps listed above, your attention to detail will scare away any immoral contractors and the contractor you do choose will be happy that you are both in agreement about exactly what will be done.



Harley Burke is a former contractor that offers useful tips and ideas about remodeling any part of your home, including fireplace remodeling ideas, Basement Remodeling Ideas and more.

Article about Data Entry and the Various Industries that use this Service

Data Entry and the Various Industries that use this Service



Group of people flooding Excel sheets with alpha and numeric characters� spontaneous sound of pressing keyboards� these are what you will find in data entry service. From giant financial institution to small telecom subscriber data entry service rules the back office job of any business. Irrespective of business volume, storing digital records in the database can make turn business process efficient.



About data entry service



Based on the types of business process, today you will find a wide array of data entry services, e.g., Online/Offline Data Entry, Legal Document Entry, Insurance Claim Entry, Card/Book/Image Entry. Watching the advantage of maintaining digital databank, industries are opening a new division �data entry service� as back office operation. The demand of data entry service has grown remarkably and today it is considered as one of the profit making outsourcing job.



Data entry for various industries



Any invoice processing system comes with several steps, e.g., collection, monitoring, reporting and keeping records through data entry service. Inside the back office of banks, insurance and credit/mortgage companies you will find a separate data entry team who are engaged in storing financial records of their customers.



Across the globe, telecom industry has benefited from data entry services. From storing official records in the database to managing telecom billing system, you will realize the need of data entry service in telecom industry. However, local dealers are also taking the advantage of data entry service for managing information of the subscribers.



Recording millions of health reports, patient notes and doctor reports in digital format are not quite easy for any healthcare industry. Data entry service has made the task simple � creating digital database from pool of printed information. The growing requirement of data entry service in modern healthcare industry has opened a new avenue of � Medical Transcription. This is an IT enabled service where people convert analog data in digital form and create a database.



Medium and large direct marketing agencies collect customers� details and use them in their business process. Customer details include name, street address, contact number, email address etc. Think about managing pool of information for future use! Data entry service can make the job simple. It will create a digital database that can be used for business process as well as market research.



Processed database plays a significant role in travel and tourism industry. Think of an airlines company where operators need to keep records of every passenger who are traveling, who have booked a ticket, who missed the flight and who are in a queue to confirm their flight. Without efficient data entry service it will be hard to record travelers� information and flight schedules accordingly.



Finally, it is the role of data entry service in IT enabled services. From BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) to KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing), digital databank provides adequate support in performing B2B and B2C interaction. You will find separate back office for data entry service in the Call Centers or KPO organizations, creating and managing pool of digital data for business process.



Today you will find the significance of data entry service in different industry verticals. With the pace of time, demand for data entry will grow rapidly to reduce the pain of creating database. In future, this will create more opportunities for data entry operators across the industry.

Are You Puppy Proof

If you are considering getting a puppy you should be aware of potential dangers that may exist within your home. Problems that we would never notice can be overwhelming for a puppy, especially in new surroundings. A sure test is to walk around your home on your hands and knees and see things from your pet's point of view.



Look for electrical cords, window blind cords, children's toys or anything small enough for him to swallow. Stairs and stairwells should have a gate at least until he can walk up and down safely. Garbage cans can contain anything and most dogs love to turn them over and prowl. Poisonous cleaning products under cabinets should be moved out of reach or locked away.



Poisonous plants are everywhere, at least poisonous to a dog. Both dogs and cats will eat or "graze" on grass and most plants. Unfortunately, these plants are toxic to both and some can be fatal. This warning also applies to outdoor plants, but to a lesser degree, as grass is usually preferred.



Other outdoor hazards are ponds and swimming pools that would be almost impossible for a small animal to get out of. Watch out for outdoor steps and stairs, steep drops from a deck or patio or even in the property itself. And lastly, traffic. If your property isn't fenced, never leave a puppy loose, as their natural curiosity will lead right into the street.



Bringing home a new puppy can be exhausting, but is the most critical in your relationship. First impressions are indelibly marked in an animals mind and it is vital to establish an atmosphere of security, affection, and mutual confidence.



Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest dog clothes, dog collars, dog carriers and more for their best friend. Feel free to check out the site at www.joncopets.com























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The Vets Examination

The Vets Examination



Nobody likes surprises, so it's always nice to know what to expect when you take you're pet to the veterinarian. A good physical exam usually begins by weighing and recording so that a continuing record can be formed. An increase or decrease in weight can indicate a problem. Next, the temperature is taken, usually rectally with a normal temperature of 101 to 102.5 degrees for both dogs and cats.



Coat and skin are examined next as poor hair coat or skin can indicate a poor diet or dermatological infection. Coat should be shiny, not brittle and coarse, and the skin, clean and not greasy. While handling your pet, the bones, muscles, and joints, nails, feet, and lymph nodes are checked for any abnormalities. The chest, heart, and lungs are examined with a stethoscope, along with the rate and nature of respiration.



At the head, both ears are examined deep into the ear canal for infections. The visible eye structure and lids are examined and the interior of the eye is checked for cataract formation, and an examination of the mouth and throat for infected gums, loose teeth, tartar buildup on the teeth and any damage or swelling in the throat.



Lastly, at the rear, the anus, anal glands, prepuce/penis or vcalva are checked for any abnormalities, and the anal glands cleaned if they are compacted. During the examination the vet will usually ask the name of your pet's food and any other treats or vitamin supplements, along with any medication you may have given your pet.



A fecal sample will be taken for examination to check for intestinal parasites, such as hookworm and roundworm, and a blood test may be recommended if heartworm is suspected. No checkup would be complete without a flea and tick prevention/treatment with a choice as to who will administer the treatment, you or the vet. While the exam may sound involved and complicated, the entire process usually only takes about 30 minutes and guarantees your pet a healthier happier life.



Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can read articles about anything pets as well as shop for the latest dog clothes, dog collars, dog carriers and more for their best friend. Feel free to check out the site at www.joncopets.com

























Submitted with Article Distributor.