Charleston Homes: Buying? Selling?

Many people are finding it necessary to move due to the sluggish economy of the last few years. One of the desired locations in real estate is the Charleston area. Relocating is usually difficult but an experienced realtor can make the move less painful.

Karen Koerner, a licensed realtor with three decades experience working in real estate and with Charleston homes, knows the area well and has helped many families find the perfect fit. Ms. Koerner can find the ideal existing residence or work with a family on new-house construction. Having moved 14 times herself, she understands the stress involved in moving. Have you had your house up for sale for months, maybe even years and it's just not moving in this slow economy? Are you stressed because you need to sell your house because you're facing foreclosure or you've been lucky enough to get a job in another city and have to find a new home? Ms. Koerner has the professional experience and knowledge of the housing market that you need to get the job done!

Ponzi Schemes: Will They Ever End?

The picture of the man at the left is that of Charles Ponzi (taken in 1910) who had a pyramid money scheme named after him. A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that repays returns to investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors. Ponzi concocted the scheme in 1919 involving investments in postal currency, People were cheated out of $10 million . He was eventually jailed for wire fraud and deported back to Italy in 1934.

In 2009, according to The Associated Press, nearly four times as many of theses investor schemes fell apart as in 2008. The scheme is extremely simple: investors are attracted by promises of high profits paid with money from an ever increasing pool of new investors. There's no reserve fund.

Charles Ponzi became famous for using the investment technique in the early 1920's. He didn't invent the scheme: it was described in Charles Dicken's 1857 novel Little Dorritt. Ponzi took in so much money in his operation that he was the first person known for it throughout the United States and the fraud was named after him.

These Ponzi schemes usually collapse on themselves. Bernard Madoff had the ability to deceive individuals and institutional investors (as well as security authorities) for long periods of time. His variation on the Ponzi scheme is the largest financial investor fraud in history committed by a single person ($64.8 billion). Madoff pleaded guilty and is serving a 150 year prison sentence. More than 150 Ponzi schemes collapsed in 2009 including a $1.2 billion one by a dis-barred lawyer Scott Rothstein. These huge financial failures have resulted in many fraudulent schemes being brought to the attention of the authorities.

source: The Associated Press

Ready To Print But Don't Have Ink?

Ready to print something but just found out that you're out of Dell ink in your cartridge? Whether it's something that's vital for a business meeting or something personal, the result is the same: you're stuck! The days of hand written letters, homework and office work is no more. Almost everything is written on computers and then printed.

Printer ink can be very expensive and it's easy to go through a cartridge in a short time. At inkgrabber.com, you can purchase Dell ink cartridges at affordable prices. Dell printer ink is available for all the major brands including Apple, Brother, Canon, Dell, Kodak, HP and more. Laser and inkjet printers will function whether a new or remanufactured cartridge is used so why not get the work done in the most economical way possible?

The Egyptian Goddess: Bast

Bast (also known as Baset or Bastet), was said to be the daughter of Ra who was first known as the Sun Goddess but after contact with the Greeks was changed to the Moon Goddess. Bast was so loved by the Egyptians that the city of Bubastis, a trade major center, was named in her honor. There was also a temple to Bast located in the harbor.

Usually portrayed as a woman with a cat's head, she is often shown holding loaves of bread, perfume bottles and accompanied by kittens, Bast represents feminine qualities including cosmetics, perfume, oils, fine art and jewelry.

Go Beyond A High School Education

You've graduated from high school. Now what? No finances to pursue a college education and don't know what to do with your life? If this is you, there are many college scholarships that are going unclaimed. Many people are not aware of the obscure scholarships that are out there. Everyone knows about academic and sports scholarships, but have you ever heard about some of the more unusual ones?

There are scholarships for left handed students available. Yes! That's right. Picasso, Babe Ruth, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton are among the noted left handed people. If you're thinking more about the medical field, why not look into scholarships for medical students? You don't have to be a doctor. There's money available for medical assistant training also.

Healthy Eating = Healthy Heart

Is it difficult to get the proper nutrients you need in your diet? Without them we are prone to a number of health problems. Instead of cooking a healthy meal after a long day at work, people often pick up some take-out on the way home. This is fine once in a while. But if this is something that is a lot more common than eating healthy, you need to take steps to make sure that you get all of the nutrients you need.

Although dietary supplements are really a 20th century thing, the ingredients used to make them have been used by people for thousands of years, in order to stay healthy and even treat illnesses. In fact, some of those treatments are the basis for much of today’s medicines. There are a number of uses for dietary supplements, including:

* To treat diseases and other illnesses

* To prevent illnesses

* To aid in weight loss

* To aid in weight gain

Many physicians recommend that their patients use dietary supplements if they have certain health issues, such as an inability to eat, meaning they are not getting the proper nutrients. Some doctors recommend dietary supplements to patients who are very obese, as a means of kick starting their weight loss.

Not all dietary supplements are safe, and in some cases, may even be dangerous. It is really important to discuss any dietary changes, including the addition of supplements, with your physician. He or she will be able to help you choose which one is best for you, based on your medical history and lifestyle. Some of the negative effects of dietary supplements include:

* Allergic reactions

* Interaction with prescription medication

* Poor manufacturing of supplements can lead to a number of health issues

Dietary supplements have their good and their bad features but for most people who use them, they are the best way for them to get all of the vitamins and nutrients they need to be healthy and happy, not to mention maintain a healthy weight and look terrific. There are many different types of dietary supplements and the one you choose will depend on your dietary needs.

***Check with a medical professional before using any supplements or starting a diet***

For Zombie Lovers Everywhere!!!!!

Love online games that offer lots of challenges and levels? Want to be able to create your own Zombie? You can when you use the Zombatar! In a new game from Gamehouse (GH) your Zombie will take on all challengers and challenges when you play Plants vs. Zombies.

Use powerful plants to battle the Zombies that keep on surging to destroy what's in their path as they move forward. Wonderful and beautiful graphics enhance this game along with mini-games that can be played along the way.

Scrubs, Scrubs & More Scrubs

Nursing uniforms and scrubs used to be either white or drab blue or drab grey. Today, they are making a fashion statement and medical personnel have fabulous color choices. Many of the new uniforms and scrubs are wrinkle resistant which is very important for the long hours the professionals spend on the job. Made from high quality fabric, they are stylish as well as functional. Manufactured in the United States, they feature stitching on the pockets of the scrub bottoms and matching stitching on the pocket of the scrub top. Blueskyscrubs.com offers flare-leg or boot-cut bottoms and tapering waist tops (surgical hats that match the uniforms are also available).

If you're looking for a lab coats, you'll find them also. Made of a wrinkle-resistant, teflon-protected cotton (100%), they're piped in slate gray. They fall just above the knee and have plenty of pockets. Orders totaling over $155.00 (excluding gift certificates, tax and additional shipping) are shipped free.

A Better Used Car

Looking to get rid of the "old heap"? You might not be able to afford a new car, but there are many excellent, available used cars in Chicago. You can select a car by make, year, mileage, the features you want it to have and more. Worried about the history of the vehicle? Ask for a Carfax report to put your mind at ease.

Have you been thinking about getting a Audi A6? Maybe one that has a metallic exterior? An Audi that gets great mileage? You'll get excellent, experienced help every step of the way whether you have a vehicle to trade-in or not and a vehicle that fits into your budget. In these difficult economic times, a reliable used car is a necessity.

Is Your Breath Icky?

Most people have bad breath at sometime but some foods and drinks can be the cause of the problem. Dr. Harold Katz, author of "The Bad Breath Bible" talks about the subject in his book. We all know the onions and garlic contribute to bad breath. Cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts are also culprits. These vegetables have high concentrations of sulphur compounds. The sugar and dairy proteins in chocolate candy helps promote bad breath.

Many mouthwashes and toothpaste formula are the same as they were 100 years ago. Many mouthwashes still contain a high concentration of alcohol which dries out the mouth. Some toothpastes contain sodium lauryl sulfate (the chemical term for soap).

To keep fresh breath, avoid sugar. Look for sugar-free products. Drink plenty of water and drink tea instead of coffee.

Source: The Flint Journal

The Right Boots For The Job

If your job requires good work boots that offer protection in hot and cold weather and are cost effective, then the red boots pictured on the left are not the ones you'd choose. Coastalboots.com is the site that offers a wide range of style, material and price. Have a wide foot? EE width is not a problem. Looking for a tall boot or a low athletic back? Again, not a problem.

Steel toe work boots made of leather and thinsulate with a Goodyear outsole or a snap on/pull on full grain leather boot with an ASTM rated steel toe also are available in a wide width. Caterpillar brand offers a steel toe athletic boot and Dayton has a lace up oxford. Work shoes are no longer the ugly, uncomfortable things they used to be. There is a great selection to meet every one's work needs.

Joey Houssian Faces The Media

Remember the game children played where they whisper something to someone, then that person whispers what they heard (or think they heard) to the next person and it passes on down the line of children? When they get to the last child in line, he/she says what they heard (or thinks they heard). Does it even come close to the original statement? Usually not! It's probably not even close.

This is similar to what happens in the business world where something has been stated and is not the truth. Joey Houssian of Outdoor Adventures is responding to a statement that 100 of the company's sled dogs were slaughtered because the company is in financial difficulty. Facing the media, he responded and pointed out that the accusation from an employee is under investigation but he takes "moral responsibility" for everything that happens within his company.

Outdoor Adventures Responds

All of us read the newspapers, watch the news on television or get the latest information from the Internet. How accurate is the information that we are given? Does the reporter have all the facts? Is the Internet source reliable? Is the newspaper slanted in it's views? Sometimes information is not what it seems.

Outdoor Adventures, owner of sled dogs that reportedly slaughtered 100 dogs to help reduce the costs to their slumping financial bottom line, is responding to these accusations. Company spokesman Joey Houssian responded with a letter to the newspaper (Vancouver Sun) and an interview stating that the company didn't know about the huge number of dogs that were killed or how they were slaughtered following the accusations of an employee. The charge is under investigation.

Let It Rain! The Metal Roofing Can Handle It!

Spring is really here! Looking around outside, I've seen over a dozen robins already (5 at one time), buds are appearing on trees and tender shoots are popping up (hope the squirrels give them a chance to grow this year). Looking around the neighborhoods, I've seen quite a few roofs that didn't survive the winter well.

Many will need re-roofing (April showers have arrived full force in my area and can do serious damage to old roofs) and a great way to go would be with metal roofing. Initially, it's a little more expensive than traditional roofing shingles, but in the long run, the investment pays for itself. These roofs are almost maintenance free and are lightweight so that the support beams of a structure bear less weight. They can also be recycled and the best part is that this type of roofing can usually be installed over an existing roof reducing cost as there is no removal that needs to be done.

Exercise For Breast Cancer Survivors

For many years, breast cancer survivors have been getting bad advice according to an article by Marilynn Marchione of the Associated Press. For decades, doctors warned that lifting heavy objects like groceries or weights would cause arm swelling.

New research gathered in a federally funded study, shows that weight training helps prevent this problem. Dr. Eric Winer, breast cancer chief at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston, states that women who do lifting have had fewer arm problems because they had better muscle tone and increased bone strength.

More than 2.4 million Americans are breast cancer survivors and this study could make a big difference in their quality of life. Lifting weights, which boosts muscle mass and bone strength, was thought to be a bad idea for women prone to lymphedema (a build-up of fluids that causes painful swelling of the arms or hands).

In the study, half of the women were told not to change their exercise habits. The other half were given 90 minute weight-lifting classes twice a week for 13 weeks. Wearing custom-fitted compression garments on the affected arm, they gradually worked up to more challenging weights and repetitions. They continued the exercises on their own for an additional 39 weeks. Their arms were measured monthly. The weight-lifters reported fewer symptoms and greater strength that the non-weight lifters.

Time To Get Rid Of The Clunker

Hopefully your car isn't in this bad shape but now may be the time to upgrade. If you're looking for a great deal on used cars in Utah, this is the web site for you. You can view the inventory from a dealer close to you.

Do you want to look into a pre-owned Ford Focus and live in Orem or Salt Lake City? Check them out by year, model, mileage, interior, manual/automatic, color and more. Want to have a CD player, front impact airbags and four wheel suspension? Not a problem. Want one of the Nissan models? There's plenty to choose from including Quest, Pathfinder, Altima and Frontier. There's a used car out there just waiting for you to drive it away.

Don't Wait! It's Not Too Late!

You haven't been able to save any money for your old age. Bills, bills and more bills prevent you from saving. Does that sound like you? Whether you're just starting your first job or have retirement in sight within the next few years, it's never too early or late to start planning for your financial future. Every little bit helps no matter how small the amount is. Financial planning needs to be done by everyone especially in these tough economic times. You"ll learn how to do stock trading and become financially successful with Firstrade.

If you decide to do business with an online trading company, you'll be placing your financial future into trusted and experienced hands at www.firstrade.com. The important thing for a person of any age is to have a program for regular saving and investing. If you had started 5 years ago, imagine what $10.00 would be worth today. To plan for retirement, you could open an IRA (Individual Retirement Account). This government offering can be tax deferred or tax exempt.

Firstrade is an online broker that can help you find answers to your questions. After you've spent years raising a family, getting your children through college, seeing them get married and are now enjoying your grandchildren, you want to be able to enjoy your "golden years" in style and be comfortable knowing that you're not going to outlive your money.

It's never too late to set up IRA accounts with the purchase of gold bullion or coins. Even when the world economy was low in the last several years, gold kept it's value. An ounce of gold has seen a continuous increase in value and is still recognized around the world as a solid monetary commodity. Buy and sell orders can also be placed with mobile trading.

Get Out Of The Dark Ages

When I was in school learning how to write, we used fountain pens that had to be dipped into an ink bottle(I know, I'm giving away my age)! Then the ball point pen became very popular and fountain pens became a thing of the past, for the most part.

Enter the age of COMPUTERS!!!! What an innovation that was. No longer did someone have to hand write anything. As time passed computers got smaller and smaller and their capabilities became greater and greater. Printers have kept pace with the changes in technology too. Whether the demands you put on your printer are large or small, brother.com.au is the source to use. Whether you're looking for laser or LED printers, there's something to meet every one's needs and budgets. With high performance and low operating costs, this is the way to go.

Fun When You're On The Go!

Love to travel, visit or stay in new places? Not sure where to go to find hotels and coffee shops that are reflective of your alternative life style? Not a problem. You'll enjoy lots of places where you'll be very comfortable in your surroundings and with the people you'll meet. A unique place to visit is the renovated home of Gianni Versace (a noted fashion designer) in Florida which is now an exquisite hotel with a friendly restaurant where one will spend as much time looking at the surroundings as at eating.

Thinking about visiting the Las Vegas area of Nevada? Find fabulous deals at fabulous hotels, casinos and resorts including the Excalibur, Planet Hollywood, Luxor and more but be very aware that alternative lifestyles are not widely accepted there. As the saying goes: "it's a nice place to visit" but not to reside in.

Medical Help And Your Computer

Are you new to the area because of a move? Traveling and someone gets sick? It's not as hard as you might think to find a doctor in your state. If you've recently moved to a state (Delaware for example). there's an easy way to find doctors that are locally located. There's a site that lists doctors by state. Click onto the state to bring up a listing of doctors by city. Looking for a specialty doctor? This site helps you with that also.

If you need to find a Nevada critical care specialist, your search is just a mouse click away. Once on the site, click on the name of the city you need and a list of specialist's names will come up. Click onto the individual names to find out what their medical field is. You'll find information on their education/schooling, their background, what kind of insurance they accept and more. Then call to set up an appointment! Easy as that!!!!