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Shopping online can be a very stressful experience. With all of the stories of fraud and identity theft, many people are nervous to shop online. Although online shopping will never be absolutely risk free (but then again, nothing is absolutely risk free!), there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of being a victim of fraud.

Contact Information - At a minimum, full contact information should be readily available on the website including business address and phone number. If this is not available, this should be a warning to you. Also, it is always a good idea to validate the phone number and address of the online business if possible. You can use online phone directories with reverse lookups (the ability to type in a phone number and be provided an address) to verify the phone number and the address. If all of this matches up, this is a good sign. You may even want to call and speak with a live person before making the purchase.

Also, you should consider where you are purchasing from. Obviously, it would be less risky to purchase in Canada or the United States than it would be from an online store in Nigeria where Internet fraud is extremely high.

SSL 128-Bit Encryption - If you are going to do a transaction over the Internet, you want to make sure your information is protected when it is sent through the Internet to the online website. The standard way of doing this today is for a website to use a SSL certificate with 128-Bit encryption. This encrypts the information between your browser and the website, preventing interception of credit cards and other personal information. If the online business does not use SSL 128-Bit encryption, this should be a warning to you. In fact, even if the business is legitimate, I still would not recommend sending confidential information to their online website because it could be intercepted.

So how can you tell if the online website has the SSL certificate with 128-Bit encryption? Just look for the closed lock in the bottom corner of the latest versions of Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. If the lock is there, it is using SSL. You can double-click the lock and verify that it is using 128-Bit encryption as well.

Policies - Refund Policies and Privacy Policies are must reads before buying from an online store. The Refund Policy should be acceptable to you personally; the Privacy Policy will inform you as to how your personal information will be used and protected. Keep in mind, by law if a business is processing or storing your personal information it is required to have a Privacy Policy.

Finally, use your best judgment. If a site looks professional, has full contact information, has secure SSL 128-Bt encryption, and clear policies, the risk is greatly reduced.

W. Roberts
CanuckShops.ca
http://www.canuckshops.ca

I came across the article below and thought it would interest most of the readers here.

What the article does not say is that Mt. St. Helens is known to have been one of the favorite Thetan dumping grounds, Thetans are finally getting free!

Click this to read the complete item;

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051230/ap_on_sc/mount_st__helens

Beware the Dreaded Theet O Vac!

This is good as long as the UFO port down in New Mexico can handle the traffic. People in the know say that the UFO’s are coming in cloaked to avoid causing a panic in nearby towns. This causes a bit of a delay in loading as they have to wait for the cloaking surface to reset after landing. The craft cannot be approached for 23 min and the pilots are afraid the Google satellites will spot them during this time.

Work is set to begin on a huge false volcano that they will be able to fly right into instead of the present situation where there is as many as 300 saucers on the ground at once phasing in and out of cloak status.

Beware the Dreaded Theet O Vac!

In order to protect your family and friends from this new Thetan threat I strongly urge you to get the new Theet O Meter plans today. Any donation you can afford will secure the plans for you via download. These plans will not be available any other way. Once you have built your Meter you will know that it is urgent that we get the Theet O Vac plans into the hands of everyone as soon as possible.

Beware the Dreaded Theet O Vac!

This is being done by donation. Give what you can afford, no more! Your donation will be recorded at PayPal and once the pre-determined target is hit the plans will be posted. At the present rate I estimate they will be available by this summer. Donate now! Help keep Earth free!

My games and blog (http://www.freenewarticles.com) are devoted to the next phase in marketing - Role Playing for the New World!
As I explain and show the fun that it can be to play the role of a Banker, a President, or a crazed terrorist with 85 lbs of explosives strapped to your 80 lb frame. Imagine! Wandering into the Harry Potter premier! Visions of virgins dancing in yor head!
Maybe you will want to play the part of a mortgage broker? Help people ‘get the home they have always wanted’ during a housing bubble!! Talk about realistic!
There will be Tech bubble guys, gold bugs, free article writers, gurus of all kinds, UFO cult members, and many others. All dedicated to helping you spend money you have not earned yet.
Write on target. See my molds here - http://www.delsmolds.com

Fish oil is a great source for Omega-3 fatty acids. Most of the fats we eat are omega-6 or other types of fat, but cold water fish, nuts, and seeds contain Omega-3 fats. There are literally hundreds of studies and articles in the medical literature documenting the benefits of fish oil supplements. Of course eating a diet that is naturally high in Omega-3 fats is good, but these foods may be high in calories, which are not good for weight issues, or may contain heavy metals or pesticides, which if eaten too often can be harmful. So the literature recommends fish oil supplements for most people. And if you have high triglycerides, high cholesterol, vascular disease, a previous heart attack or stroke, attention deficit disorder, depression, or any inflammatory condition such as arthritis or colitis, fish oil can be a part of your treatment.

How much fish oil do I take? Well, if you are interested in maintaining good health and not treating any particular condition, the answer seems to be at least 1,000-2,000 mg per day of the Omega-3 fats. This dose reduces mortality from heart attacks, and reduces arrhythmias. Now the dosing can be confusing since each fish oil capsule contains 1,000 mg of fish oil but lesser amounts of the Omega-3 fats. To determine the amount of omega-3 content, you must read the fine print on the back label which will tell you how much EPA and DHA are in each 1,000 capsule. EPA and DHA are the specific Omega-3 fats. It will contain “x” amount of EPA and “y” amount of DHA. You must add these 2 numbers together to get the total amount of Omega-3 fats present in each fish oil capsule. If these numbers add to 300, a relatively low amount of omega-3 fats, then it will take 4-7 capsules a day to get at least 1,000-2,000 mg of omega 3 fats. This is the amount needed for those wishing to prevent certain problems long term but not treating any particular condition.

If you are trying to treat a specific condition, you need at least 2,000-7,000 mg a day of Omega- 3 fats. This may require 7-24 caps a day, which is too many for most people. So you must find a fish oil supplement that has more Omega-3 fats than 300 mg per capsule. Occasionally pharmacies such as Walgreens or CVS will carry them, but more often you must go to a health food store, a vitamin store, or find it on the internet. There is also a prescription fish oil called Omacor, which is high in Omega-3 fats, containing 840 mg per capsule of omega-3 fats. Four capsules a day will provide 3360 mg a day and is recommended for lowering triglyceride levels. Some doctors will recommend up to 7,000 mg a day of the Omega-3 fats for certain things, but you should do this only on the advice of a physician familiar with high doses of fish oil. Fish oil does “thin” the blood so that cuts will bleed a little longer than usual, but holding steady pressure on a minor cut for 5-10 minutes usually will stop the bleeding.

It is also important to buy a fish oil that is microfiltered to remove all the heavy metals. Salmon and other cold water fish are near the top of the food chain, and their fat accumulates any toxins, such as heavy metals, that are in the algae or smaller fish that they eat. We accumulate the same toxins in our bodies that we consume, so to avoid this, the fish oils are treated to remove such toxins. Also, salmon, or fish oil derived from farm grown fish, has been shown to have higher levels of pesticide residues from food and fertilizers in the water, so farm derived fish oil should be avoided. Ideally a pharmaceutical grade supplement is best if you choose not to take the prescription form. There are several good such supplements available. Ask your doctor for advice if you are not sure what to purchase.

http://www.essential-nutrients.net/

To learn more about supplements available that help prevent vitamin, mineral and essential nutrient depletion that are caused by the prescription or over the counter drugs you are taking:
http://www.essential-nutrients.net/store/PPF/Category_ID/11/products.asp

C. Donald Ford, MD, Diplomate of the American Board Internal Medicine. http://www.essential-nutrients.net/aboutus.htm

Have you made a pot of lentil soup lately? It’s healthful cooking at its best: easy, hearty, tasty and loved by young and old. Lentils come in one-pound bags in the dry beans section of your supermarket. Usually you will find two kinds: ordinary greenish-brown lentils, and orange lentils which are actually just the ordinary lentils with their skins removed. You may also find tiny dark green lentils, called French lentils, but these are usually more expensive and may be in the gourmet or international section of the store. All cook quickly and make wonderful soups.

Here are three of Diana’s favorite recipes. They all use chicken or vegetable bouillon made from cubes or liquid concentrate as the soup base; you can pick your favorite brand or just use water if you prefer.

Golden Lentil Soup
1 cup orange lentils
6 cups bouillon

4 carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons curry powder
pinch cayenne, or to taste

Bring all of the ingredients to a boil in a large pot and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Mash the lentils or puree them with a hand blender . The recipe works equally well with regular (brown) lentils or split peas.

4-6 servings

Italian Lentil Soup

1 cup lentils (any type)
6 cups bouillon
2 onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
pinch cayenne, or to taste
1 teaspoon oregano
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup bulgur
1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley
1 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes, undrained, broken up
2 10-ounce bags baby spinach leaves (or use frozen spinach)
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients but the spinach and black pepper in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cook 30-40 minutes, or until the lentils and bulgur are tender. Remove the bay leaves. Stir in the spinach leaves, cover and cook 2 minutes more. Serve with ground pepper to taste.

6-8 servings

Lemony Lentil-Spinach Soup
8 cups bouillon
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 cups lentils (any type)
1 medium red potato, cut in 1/2′ cubes
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
pinch cayenne, to taste
1 10-ounce bag baby spinach leaves
Juice of one lemon
Freshly ground pepper

Put the bouillon, onion, garlic, celery, lentils, potatoes and spices in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes or until the lentils and potatoes are both tender. Add the spinach and lemon juice and cook 5 minutes more. Serve with ground pepper to taste.

6-8 servings

Read my Good Food Book FREE, with 100 healthful recipes.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

Free weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and nutrition.

Warning! Don’t read if you don’t want to increase your athletic performance in the least amount of time humanely possible.

To become the best you possibly can in any sport you have to make sure that your game is sharp on every level possible. Training is only part of the battle, and nutrition is another part.

I’ve seen it time after time; a lot of athletes have terrible eating habits. Can they help it? Every time you go to a sporting event what type of foods do you see in the concessions? You know the usual stuff which includes greasy chips, fatty french fries, hot dogs, barbeque, candy bars, sodas, popcorn, artificially colored sports drinks and you name it.

Do you think eating like this will help your performance? Know; let me ask you this question. Will your performance improve if you eat better? You bet it would, you see athletes still have chiseled physiques and can still perform well even if they put junk into their body. However your body is a machine and you want to put the highest grade oil you can get your paws on. You don’t want to put no cheap, rusty fuel source into your body do you?

Both cars can run but which one will run more efficiently? Whenever you’re participating in athletics you CANNOTuse your taste buds for nutrition.

Your taste buds will lead you to disaster. You must learn to forget about taste and concentrate on nutrition. Before a sporting event the preparatory routines are just as important as the performance. You should incorporate a proper stretching routine into your pre-game ritual. However, whatever you do, please don’t try to stretch cold muscles, you must do some aerobics first to get your heart going and your body warmed. Think about this analogy. Picture that your cold muscles is a piece of hard taffy. You could try and stretch it but guess what? It will be a heck of a lot harder and that taffy will eventually break just like your muscles, which is parallel to a muscle sprain or tear.

Now imagine your muscles are a warmed piece of taffy. When you stretch it, it will be a lot easier, and it will also expand farther. You always want to stretch your muscles when they are warmed to prevent injury, and also to prevent early fatigue. Nutrition is the big difference between good and elite. Nutrition is also part of the mental training.

Whenever you’re participating in a sporting event you want to put the quickest burning fuel source into your machine so it can convert it into energy. If you consume meats, they will take longer for your body to break down. Also, a lot of meats at concessions are usually processed, are made from various parts of the animals, and contain a variety of harmful chemicals in them. This can leave to quicker fatigue because your body will be using more energy towards metabolizing the food, and less toward feeding your muscles. Also, it will obviously cause some digestion problems like cramps. So when in doubt go for the quickest and most natural forms of carbohydrates.

Forget Gatorade, it will do more harm than good to your performance. It also contains a deadly artificial sugar which is high fructose corn syrup, which spikes your insulin levels up way above normal. Also, forget about the highly processed and perfectly marketed energy bars and energy drinks, they are all garbage. Have you ever read the ingredient labels on them? I would advise so; they usually contain the most cheapest and worthless protein source they can get. They are also filled with excess processed sugars. Energy drinks are highly caffeinated and I would never recommend that to any of my athletes before a game or match. For a complete account of nutrition and proper training get my new hot product, the Ultimate Warrior training program.

I personally guarantee that you won’t be disappointed with it, and once you have this product you will be amongst the elites. In this training program you will find the optimum food sources that athletes should be eating. Two of them are declared to be the two perfect foods that will increase muscle strength and provide real long sustaining energy to your cells. I bet that you never heard of them because they are not technically a food item. It’s not a meat or a plant. Heck, it’s not even a supplement; I wonder what it can be?

Also I have worked many long and hard hours, days and night, and years to develop the perfect drink formula that you can make right at home. It’s our secret formula drink and will provide you with an unbelievable energy kick that you will never get from any sports drink or caffeinated drink. It is also all natural; you have to have this drink before your games or matches. This program will also discuss proper training techniques and how you can train less per day but get more gains out of each practice.

This program will also teach you how to train and increase the muscle specific to your sport. If you have slow twitch muscles than you have stronger endurance but less explosive power, and if you have fast twitch muscles you have a more explosive power but less long distance endurance. Well what if you can have the best of both worlds? Yes everyone is usually born with more of one muscle fiber but it is very likely to increase different muscle fibers making you the complete athlete. Also, this program teaches you how to strengthen your mind and how to use it to strengthen every other part of your body.

Just by reading this program your endurance will increase by an automatic 5%. Sounds too good to be true? Just read the testimonials because they speak for themselves. You can also try other sports training programs because, but once you get this you will know that this book is legit.

This is the most accurate and the best sports product to ever step on the market. The advantage about it is that it can be used by every athlete ranging from golfers to football players, to wrestlers.

It can also be used by the average person looking to get in better shape. So do you want to increase your strength, endurance, speed, agility, reflex, technique and the whole nine yards? If so I would advise to check it out HERE. http://www.cardiacgym.com/. If not than that’s okay but if your competitors have these jealously guarded secrets in their possession than you are in some deep trouble.

Cenewig,

Cardiac Gym staff member, Certified Personal Trainer, Health expert, Health and fitness consultant.

Do you feel that the Retail Industry gives you a very poor deal as both a customer and a parent?

Do you enjoy filling a shopping cart, join a long queue, empty it at the checkout, put it into bags, empty the cart into your vehicle, take it out again and fill up your fridge and cupboards?

Is shopping at a Supermarket or Shopping Mall with a child a very stressful experience for you? Do many of the following little points combine to make you a Happy Shopper or a Resentful Shopper?

1. Is it Difficult to Park – as so many child friendly places taken by either childless customers or those who claim to have a physical impairment but can drive 4×4s, Trucks & SUVs?

2. Is the Cash Machine out in the open – so you are caught in the rain before you enter the store?

3. Is the shopping cart faulty?

4. Is there an electric child machine right beside the entrance – so that your child is already causing you stress before you enter the store

5. Do you ever see BOGOFs on Fruit, Salad, Vegetables or other Healthy Products? I have never seen “Buy One carrot & Get One Free” – have you?

6. Do you see countless products offered for sale in Big Economical Family Packages that are more expensive than two smaller ones?

7. Is there a long queue at the checkout? – having witnessed my local store – the two checkout captains had let the few checkout lanes become swamped with customers wishing to pay & go. Instead of minimizing the waiting time they had wittingly through a total lack of ability allowed the shopping experience to deteriorate before calling for extra staff (all on minimum pay) to deal with customers who had at one point or other enjoyed the shopping experience and considered that the object of the store was to shop & go as quickly as possible.

8. Is there a huge selection of small impulse items at the checkout – do you ever see a child friendly checkout – NEVER?

9. Are the carrier bags made from biodegradable material that takes less than a hundred years to breakdown into harmless matter?

10. Do you have your loyalty store card, the one that allows you to save a million points to give you offers on products that you don’t want?

11. Did you enjoy the experience – Do you want to come back?

Now these are just some of the many reasons why shopping in the 21st Century is such a horrible experience for parents. If you have any further reasons why you hate shopping at major supermarkets or shopping malls please email me. They will be content for further articles which may or may not help the Retail Industry put the Customer First and not the CEOs bonus!

Peter Birch writes articles on many news worthy stories or topics. If you want to include information that can be used in future articles then please email the details.
Contact: peterbirch@bn23.com

The thought of ‘summer camp’ can evoke strong emotions on the part of parents and children alike. These emotions run the spectrum from excitement and fun to fear and anxiety. Camp isn’t for everyone—child or parent. In many social circles it is a status symbol or a family tradition. Neither of these reasons are the appropriate reason for sending your child to camp. The correct reason for providing the ‘camp experience’ is if it is ‘in the best interest of the child.’

Deciding to camp or not to camp—In the best interest of the child is all well and good, but how does a parent determine what is ‘in the best interest of the child?’ Some questions parents can ask are:

1. Is the camp being used to solve a child care problem?

2. Is this an opportunity for my child to learn, grow and experience life in a unique way?

3. Is my child adventuresome—a risk taker?

4. Does my child enjoy new experiences; is s/he ready to do new things when, or even before I am ready to provide them?

5. Has my child enjoyed overnight experiences with family or friends?

6. Does my child have friends and/or cousins who attend camp?

7. Will camp provide opportunities for my child to enjoy favorite activities?

If you answered ‘yes’ to questions two through seven you have it made. If you answered ‘yes’ to question one only, the odds of success are slim. If you answered ‘yes’ to at least four of questions two through seven, the odds are optimal for a successful camp experience.

Selecting the right camp—the ‘right’ camp is the one that supports the interests of your child. Select three or four camps that have activities that interest your child. Visit these camps without your child to determine if they meet your specifications. Some important issues are: the ratio of camper to counselors, the training and experience of the counselors, medical facilities (especially if your child has on-going medical needs). Check food, diet and menus. Are there choices of activities? Ask for references.

After you have narrowed it down to two or three camps, take your child to visit and allow him/her to choose which camp s/he likes best. Allowing your child to choose is crucial for success. You do not have to decide quickly. Indeed, beware of the camp management which wants a decision quickly.

If your child is reluctant to commit to a camp, gentle encouragement is usually the key in dealing with a reluctant camper. This is probably not the first time your child was reluctant to do something new. What is s/he concerned about? Listen, but do not tell your child that it will be okay or that you can protect him/her—because you won’t be there and that may be the core of the concern. Acknowledge the concern or fear as valid. Children usually have a solution to their own problems. Through careful questioning, allow your child to find the answers. Talk about a similar experience and how it was solved, and the possibility that the new situation could be solved in the same manner.

Your child wants to camp, but you may have concerns. Be careful not to convey your concerns. Avoid phrases like: “Don’t worry about…” Call the camp and state your concerns and rely on your reaction to their response. However, having done your investigation earlier, you really would have only minor doubts.

There remains the possibility that your child did not have a good experience last year and therefore does not want to attend this year; or, positive experience notwithstanding, your child is reluctant. Start at the beginning as if it were the first time. Ask yourself the seven questions, research camps, visit, select and gently encourage. Sometimes parents need to make an executive decision. In the vest interest of the child you may need to make an empathetic, supportive, but not popular decision. After a second negative experience in a different camp, consider, however your child just may not be a camp enthusiast.

One last consideration—your child may voice reluctance to go, or complain about the food, activities, etc., because s/he is afraid that showing eagerness to go and/or ‘having a ball’ will make the parents feel rejected. Reassure your child that you will miss him/her, but remind your child, “I am glad you have a good time at camp.’ More often than not you will have a happy camper.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD is a Life Coach, Single Mother of two adult children and grandparent to four Grandchildren and author, If I’d Only Known…Sexual Abuse in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention. http://www.gen-assist.com/book.asp

Reducing wrinkles is a major concern for both women and men. Wrinkling is a fact of life that affects all people, but certain lifestyle choices can make wrinkles appear sooner. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation, either from the sun or the use of tanning beds is a major cause of premature aging of the skin. In addition, doing this can cause malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

Other Lifestyle Choices that Affect Your Skin:

• Smoking increases wrinkles and ages your skin. Don’t smoke and if you do, quit to reduce both damage to your skin and your overall health.

• Diet can affect your skin. Eat a healthy diet that includes a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. These are antioxidant rich foods that can help keep your skin firmer longer.

• Dehydration can increase wrinkling. Drink plenty of water to hydrate your body and skin. You should have a minimum of eight glasses of water every day.

• Avoid alcohol, which causes the skin to sag and become puffy. People who drink a lot of alcohol often look older than those who don’t drink at all, or only drink occasionally. For your skin, the worst time to consume alcohol is before bed.

• Excessive stress affects your skin. Do what you can to reduce the stress in your life. Relaxation techniques, yoga, prayer, reading the Bible and meditation are excellent ways to reduce stress. This will help you look and feel better.

• Don’t sleep on your face, but on your back instead. Sleeping on your face increases wrinkling and increases the effects of gravity on your skin.

Take good care of your skin to help combat the signs of aging. Don’t over wash your face; limit washing to twice each day. This is especially true if your tap water contains chlorine or other chemicals used in water purification. Consider having a water filter installed, or use purified water to wash your face, if you find the chlorine irritating. Never wash in very hot water, which is drying.

Use only mild facial cleansers that contain moisturizing ingredients. Stay away from soap, especially deodorant soaps, which are very drying to the skin. After you have washed your face, pat dry and use a moisturizer. Look for products that are oil free. Water based lotion is best for moisturizing the skin without clogging your pores.

Antioxidants help reduce the signs of aging on your skin. These are found in food, vitamins and skin care products. The best sources are vitamin A, C, E. Antioxidants destroy free radicals, which cause cellular damage, age the skin and cause skin cancer. There is evidence that they work best when combined. For example, vitamins C and E work better together than either vitamin alone. Vitamin A is often found in both prescription and over the counter topical ointments.

Retin A is a prescription topical cream that contains vitamin A. a prescription is needed from the dermatologist for this medication. Retin A treats wrinkling caused by aging and sun exposure. It takes between two and six months to see noticeable improvement. Side effects include redness, burning, itching and scaling, which can last for a few months. In addition, it can cause photosensitivity. You should avoid sunlight and wear a sunscreen when outside in the sun. Pregnant women should not use this cream, as it can cause birth defects in the unborn child.

Retinol is a natural form of vitamin A. It is found in over the counter ointments. There are fewer side effects with Retinol than with the stronger Retin A. Using antioxidant creams containing vitamin C or E may increase the benefits of retinol. These are sometimes found combined in one cream, or can be applied separately.

If you want to see results sooner, consider a skin peel. You will see results fast, without having to wait several months for improvement. In the past, peels were only available from a dermatologist or esthetician. There is now a wonderful TCA peel for home use. Esthetician’s Choice takes just a few minutes to apply and gives fast results. You will notice slight reddening of the skin for a day or so. The skin will then peel, revealing a younger looking complexion. Visit http://www.bestskinpeel.com for information on Esthetician’s Choice and ordering information.

David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests and manufactures various skin peels for plastic surgeons, medispas, and in home use. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.bestskinpeel.com

Atlanta is the capital city of the state of Georgia in the United States of America. With a population of 419,122, the city is the most populous in the state and the economic heart of the Southern United States. The city was settled on territory belonging to the Cherokee and Creek Native Americans, and the area originally had the very pretty title of ‘Standing Peachtree’. Atlanta rests on the ridge of the Chattahoochee River and it is treated to a pleasant, subtropical climate. During the summer, the city receives hot, humid weather, while the winters are generally mild.

The city boasts a large number of attractions to suit all tastes. For visitors interested in Atlanta’s rich history, a good place to start is a visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site. The political activist was born and raised in Atlanta and the site surrounds his boyhood home. The site was declared a National Historic Site on October 10th, 1980. Other historical attractions within the city include the Atlanta History Centre, the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum and the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum.

For nature-lovers, Atlanta is home to the massive, Georgia Aquarium, which is occupied by over 100,000 animals. The city also boasts the wonderful Zoo Atlanta, which has been involved in a large number of conservation and research projects. Atlanta is home to the beautiful Piedmont Park, which stretches across 189 acres and is similar to New York’s Central Park. For those interested in travelling further a field, the picturesque Appalachian Mountain range is just sixty miles north of the city. The city of Atlanta boasts a rich history, beautiful scenery and warm and welcoming inhabitants – the perfect recipe for a relaxing break.

Dara Ward manages over 20 Irish websites including Hotels in Dublin On a more global scale he operates over 150 top hotel and car rental sites including Hotels in Atlanta a site that allows guests book all the best hotels in Atlanta. He is also responsible for Hotels in Miami

When applying for a mortgage loan, you’ll likely encounter the term ‘FICO’ at some point. And even if you don’t hear the phrase mentioned, FICO is there in the background, affecting your chances of loan approval and influencing your interest rate.

So what is FICO, and how does it affect your chances of qualifying for a mortgage loan?

FICO is a computerized credit-scoring model named after the Fair Isaac Corporation, the company that developed it decades ago.

How FICO Affects You
The big three credit-reporting bureaus – Experian, Equifax and Trans Union – use the FICO scoring model to convert your credit history into a credit score. Mortgage lenders in turn use that score to decide whether or not you qualify for a mortgage loan, and to determine what interest rate you’ll pay.

Of course, there are other factors that influence these decisions, but FICO plays a leading role. In other words, your FICO score helps mortgage lenders determine your credit worthiness, how likely you are to pay off your debt, and what risk category you fall into.

The higher your FICO score the better, as evidenced by the scoring brackets below:

650 – 850: The ‘go ahead’ category. Low risk to lender. Applicant has good chance of qualifying for a mortgage loan.

620 – 650: The ‘possible’ category. Moderate risk to lender. The lender will likely request more information from the applicant to base their qualifying decision on.

620 or below: The ‘risky’ category. Highest risk to lender. Applicant will probably have trouble obtaining a mortgage loan.

FICO Factors
Your FICO score is based on your credit report (which is your credit history on paper). Your credit report includes such things as:

• Your debt-to-income ratio
• Number of credit cards held
• Credit card balances
• Other outstanding debt
• Payment history
• Payment delinquencies

How to Keep a High FICO Score
There aren’t any ‘quick fixes’ when it comes to raising your FICO score. Improving your credit is a gradual, cumulative process. Paying off credit cards will help, but it’s best to take a more preventative approach:

Pay your bills on time. Don’t apply for credit too often. Minimize your debt (to improve your debt-to-earnings ratio). In other words, keep a clean financial record.

Conclusion
Think of FICO as a little man watching how you handle your finances … peering over his librarian-style glasses and scribbling notes onto a clipboard. Give him good things to write about, and you’ll have less to worry about when you apply for a mortgage loan.

* Copyright 2006, Brandon Cornett. You may republish this article in its entirety, provided you leave the byline, author’s note and website hyperlink intact.

About the Author

Brandon Cornett is the editor of HomeBuyingInstitute.com, one of the Internet’s largest and most respected libraries of home buying information — more than 100 expert articles in 12 different home buying categories! Put this knowledge to use by visiting http://www.HomeBuyingInstitute.com