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The best laptop computers are listed here according to what consumers say are the best laptops…

1. Best Laptop Computer #1: Apple MacBook MA700LL/A 13.3″ Notebook PC (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive) – White

• Product Description: Why just notebook? The world and cyberworld seems brighter when you’ve MacBook. The most advanced and affordable Mac notebook ever gives you a blazingly fast mobile architecture in a beautiful design that costs less than slower, clunkier models. It’s like getting a sports car for the price of a scooter. Talk about performance, MacBook’s powered with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with speeds revving up to 2.0GHz. Thanks to a 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display, MacBook provides the perfect combination of pixels and portability. Built-in wireless capability of MacBook puts the world back in World Wide Web. If there’s a wireless hot spot nearby, you can get online. No need to waste valuable surfing time configuring your computer. Just open it up. MacBook automatically detects wireless networks within range and asks nicely if you’d like to join any of them. That’s it. Catch up on your blog, share this weekend’s trip as a Photocast, or just chat with your friends. With built-in utility software to help make living easier and funnier, the MacBook MA700LL/A helps the business and joys that embrace who you are and aspire to be. Your MacBook comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. SuperDrive DVD Writer – (write) up to 2.4x DL DVD+R, 6x DVD-R/+R, 4x DVD-RW/+RW, 24x CD-R, and 10x CD-RW / Read up to 8x DVD-ROM and 24x CD-ROM Intel GMA 950 Graphics Processor with 64MB of Memory (memory is taken from the main system) Built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi AirPort Extreme Adapter Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+ Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) Built-in iSight Camera and Omnidirectional Microphone Built-in Stereo Speakers Ports – 2 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire 400, 1 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, Combined Optical Digital Audio In/Line-In, Combined Optical Digital Audio Out/Headphone Out Color – White Unit Dimensions – 1.08 (h) x 12.78 (w) x 8.92 (d); Unit Weight – 5.2 lbs. Up to 6 hours use per charge.”
• To see picture and get more info:

2. Best Laptop Computer #2: Apple iBook Notebook 14.1″ M9848LL/A (1.42 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB DDR SDRAM, 60 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)

• Product Description: “Includes: lithium ion battery, AC adapter, VGA adapter, Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, iLife ’05, Safari, Sherlock, iSync, iCal, AppleWorks, Quicken 2005 for Macintosh, & more. Apple 14.1″ iBook G4 Notebook Computer – This lightweight (a mere 5.9 lbs.) notebook computer features a powerful 1.42GHz PowerPC G4 processor and 512MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM. An impressive 1-2 punch that can handle your everyday applications, as well as your more demanding programs – like graphical and video editing or games. Being a great mobile computer has it’s drawbacks though – you’ll want to take it everywhere, which can increase the odds of your iBook getting a few bumps and bruises. Not to worry though, because Apple has you covered. The built-in Sudden Motion Sensor senses changes in the iBook’s axis position, as well as accelerated movement. So if you drop it, the hard drive heads are instantly parked, protecting your data. When the iBook is level, the hard drive is automatically released for normal operation. Those are just a few of the many features this iBook has in store for you. Take a look at what else it has to offer: 60GB ATA/100 4200RPM HDD Slot-Loading SuperDrive – up to 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD-RW, 4x DVD+RW, 24x CD-R, 16x CD-RW, 8x DVD-ROM, & 24x CD-ROM 14.1 XGA Display Native Resolution – 1024×768 ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 graphics with 32MB of dedicated DDR SDRAM Built-in 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapter Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR Support 1 FireWire 400 Port (up to 400 Mbps) 2 USB 2.0 Ports (up to 480 Mbps) 10/100 Ethernet VGA Video Out (with included adapter) S-Video & Composite Video Out (requires optional adapter) Built-in 56k v.92 Modem.”

3. Best Laptop Computer #3: Sony VAIO VGN-C240E/B 13.3″ Notebook PC (Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 1.66 GHz Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD RW Drive, Vista Premium)

• Price: $1,449.99
• Product Description: “More than just good looking, the VAIO C240E/B has the heart of a champion backed by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, DVD Writer and Energy Saving 13.3-inch Widescreen LCD with XBrite-ECO Technology. Enjoy the freedom and flexibility of integrated Wireless LAN and extended battery life to bring the Internet to you anywhere in your house. This 5.07 pounds lightweight mobile PC also comes with Windows Vista Home Premium operating system making content management a breeze and an easy way to enjoy your digital entertainment on-demand. 2GB (1GBx2) PC2-4200 DDR2 533MHz Max Memory 160GB Serial ATA 5400rpm Hard Drive Optical Drive – 4x DVD+-R Double Layer, 8x Write DVD+-R, 6x DVD+-RW, 24x Write CD-R/RW, 24x Read CD, 8x Read DVD, 5x Read and Write DVD-RAM Multimedia Card Reader – ExpressCard 34 Slot 5-in-1 Memory Card Adapter supporting Memory Stick, Memory Stick(R) PRO, Secure Digital, xD Picture Card and Multimedia Card (MMC) Windows Sound System 13.3-inch 1280×800 XBrite-ECO WXGA LCD Technology Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 224MB Video RAM VGA Out with Smart Display Sensor Interface Ports – Ethernet Port, Headphone Jack, 4-Pin iLink Interface, Memory Stick(R) Media Slot, Modem, Microphone, Port Replicator Connector, S-Video Output, 2 USB 2.0 Port, VGA Output and DC-in Operating System – Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Dimensions – Width 12.98 x Height 1.47 x Depth 9.28 inches Weight – 5.07 pounds Note – When you first turn this machine on, you will have to wait ONLY 5-6 minutes before you use Windows Vista.”

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The best laptop computers are listed here according to what consumers say are the best laptops…

1. Best Laptop Computer #1: Apple MacBook MA700LL/A 13.3″ Notebook PC (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive) – White

• Product Description: Why just notebook? The world and cyberworld seems brighter when you’ve MacBook. The most advanced and affordable Mac notebook ever gives you a blazingly fast mobile architecture in a beautiful design that costs less than slower, clunkier models. It’s like getting a sports car for the price of a scooter. Talk about performance, MacBook’s powered with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with speeds revving up to 2.0GHz. Thanks to a 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display, MacBook provides the perfect combination of pixels and portability. Built-in wireless capability of MacBook puts the world back in World Wide Web. If there’s a wireless hot spot nearby, you can get online. No need to waste valuable surfing time configuring your computer. Just open it up. MacBook automatically detects wireless networks within range and asks nicely if you’d like to join any of them. That’s it. Catch up on your blog, share this weekend’s trip as a Photocast, or just chat with your friends. With built-in utility software to help make living easier and funnier, the MacBook MA700LL/A helps the business and joys that embrace who you are and aspire to be. Your MacBook comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. SuperDrive DVD Writer – (write) up to 2.4x DL DVD+R, 6x DVD-R/+R, 4x DVD-RW/+RW, 24x CD-R, and 10x CD-RW / Read up to 8x DVD-ROM and 24x CD-ROM Intel GMA 950 Graphics Processor with 64MB of Memory (memory is taken from the main system) Built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi AirPort Extreme Adapter Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+ Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) Built-in iSight Camera and Omnidirectional Microphone Built-in Stereo Speakers Ports – 2 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire 400, 1 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, Combined Optical Digital Audio In/Line-In, Combined Optical Digital Audio Out/Headphone Out Color – White Unit Dimensions – 1.08 (h) x 12.78 (w) x 8.92 (d); Unit Weight – 5.2 lbs. Up to 6 hours use per charge.”
• To see picture and get more info:

2. Best Laptop Computer #2: Apple iBook Notebook 14.1″ M9848LL/A (1.42 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB DDR SDRAM, 60 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)

• Product Description: “Includes: lithium ion battery, AC adapter, VGA adapter, Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, iLife ’05, Safari, Sherlock, iSync, iCal, AppleWorks, Quicken 2005 for Macintosh, & more. Apple 14.1″ iBook G4 Notebook Computer – This lightweight (a mere 5.9 lbs.) notebook computer features a powerful 1.42GHz PowerPC G4 processor and 512MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM. An impressive 1-2 punch that can handle your everyday applications, as well as your more demanding programs – like graphical and video editing or games. Being a great mobile computer has it’s drawbacks though – you’ll want to take it everywhere, which can increase the odds of your iBook getting a few bumps and bruises. Not to worry though, because Apple has you covered. The built-in Sudden Motion Sensor senses changes in the iBook’s axis position, as well as accelerated movement. So if you drop it, the hard drive heads are instantly parked, protecting your data. When the iBook is level, the hard drive is automatically released for normal operation. Those are just a few of the many features this iBook has in store for you. Take a look at what else it has to offer: 60GB ATA/100 4200RPM HDD Slot-Loading SuperDrive – up to 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD-RW, 4x DVD+RW, 24x CD-R, 16x CD-RW, 8x DVD-ROM, & 24x CD-ROM 14.1 XGA Display Native Resolution – 1024×768 ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 graphics with 32MB of dedicated DDR SDRAM Built-in 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapter Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR Support 1 FireWire 400 Port (up to 400 Mbps) 2 USB 2.0 Ports (up to 480 Mbps) 10/100 Ethernet VGA Video Out (with included adapter) S-Video & Composite Video Out (requires optional adapter) Built-in 56k v.92 Modem.”

3. Best Laptop Computer #3: Sony VAIO VGN-C240E/B 13.3″ Notebook PC (Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 1.66 GHz Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD RW Drive, Vista Premium)

• Price: $1,449.99
• Product Description: “More than just good looking, the VAIO C240E/B has the heart of a champion backed by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, DVD Writer and Energy Saving 13.3-inch Widescreen LCD with XBrite-ECO Technology. Enjoy the freedom and flexibility of integrated Wireless LAN and extended battery life to bring the Internet to you anywhere in your house. This 5.07 pounds lightweight mobile PC also comes with Windows Vista Home Premium operating system making content management a breeze and an easy way to enjoy your digital entertainment on-demand. 2GB (1GBx2) PC2-4200 DDR2 533MHz Max Memory 160GB Serial ATA 5400rpm Hard Drive Optical Drive – 4x DVD+-R Double Layer, 8x Write DVD+-R, 6x DVD+-RW, 24x Write CD-R/RW, 24x Read CD, 8x Read DVD, 5x Read and Write DVD-RAM Multimedia Card Reader – ExpressCard 34 Slot 5-in-1 Memory Card Adapter supporting Memory Stick, Memory Stick(R) PRO, Secure Digital, xD Picture Card and Multimedia Card (MMC) Windows Sound System 13.3-inch 1280×800 XBrite-ECO WXGA LCD Technology Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 224MB Video RAM VGA Out with Smart Display Sensor Interface Ports – Ethernet Port, Headphone Jack, 4-Pin iLink Interface, Memory Stick(R) Media Slot, Modem, Microphone, Port Replicator Connector, S-Video Output, 2 USB 2.0 Port, VGA Output and DC-in Operating System – Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Dimensions – Width 12.98 x Height 1.47 x Depth 9.28 inches Weight – 5.07 pounds Note – When you first turn this machine on, you will have to wait ONLY 5-6 minutes before you use Windows Vista.”

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There is currently a genuine state of confusion regarding commercial loan rates. The confusion is not just restricted to borrowers, either. Brokers, lenders and professional investors are all struggling to get a handle on what is going on with commercial loan rates.

Borrowers are under the impression that we’re at historic lows. They hear about the feds lowering rates and also hear national banks quote ridiculously low rates. What these national banks aren’t advertising is that their decline rates are at historic highs. Is difficult to be able to track a statistics like this but my friends and associates that work at intuitions like Bank of America, CITI etc tell me that there decline rate are at 95% or so.

So what that means is that they are cherry picking to an incredible degree (can you blame them?). The low commercial loan rates that they are advertising are only relevant for 5% of the borrowers that apply. Think about that for a moment, for every 100 people that fill out those 6 page applications, provide their tax return, etc, 95 of them are getting declined. As a comparison the decline rates are normally more like 50%.

The confusion is not just restricted to borrowers but to professionals in the industry as well. The spreads or margin are varying from one lender to the next more than we have seen. People in the business are struggling to understand why. Normally if you were to get 10 quotes on the same deal the commercial loan rates would be within .25 -. 35% of each other. Perhaps a few would tweak the prepayments or term, etc but their rates would be close. Now we are seeing commercial loan rates on the same deal varying between 2% -3%…

Part of the problem is that some of the lenders and banks themselves are having their cost of capital increase. Some of their credit rating are being lowered, as their balance sheets are scrutinised. So despite the Feds lower their rates, the margins that the banks charge (in order to cover their costs, risk and make a profit) go up as their cost of capital go up. So as one bank is more financial healthy than the next its costs of capital varies.

So what’s the happy ending? We currently don’t have one. If you’re thinking of buying or refinancing a commercial property in the next few months we would suggest getting it done now as in maybe a while before things re-stabilize and commercial loan rates become more universal.

Jeff Rauth is President of Commercial Finance Advisors, Inc out of Birmingham, Michigan. He has a STORE for commercial loan brokers. Contracts, spreadsheets, books, etc. Products starting at $4.95! Check it out commercial mortgage broker store or commercial loan rates

It time again to revisit alternative financing strategies for business owners needing money. Whether your business needs capital to grow, meet payroll, or to just simply survive, there are numerous alternatives for your company when banks so ‘NO’.

Personal loans are no longer viable options for business owners. Banks have tightened their purse strings on personal credit just as they have with business credit. This tightening typically does not have anything to do with the state of your credit or the value of your collateral. But more reflects their past indiscretions with their depositors’ money. Further, most business owners, over the last two or three years, have already encumbered all of their personal assets, leaving nothing of value to collateralize.

The following lists many alternatives that may still be available to your business. These alternatives allow business owners to capitalize on their previous hard work; be it from building relationships with suppliers and other business partners to closing sales and building a strong customer base:

Using Your Business Relationships!

Trade Credit: It never hurts to work with your suppliers. Ask for better terms; either more discounts or longer time for payment. Here you can reduce your overall costs or allow more time to collect money from your customer before payment is due to these suppliers. Now, your suppliers may baulk at this discussion as they are probably feeling the same pinch as you are. However, impress upon them that it does their business no good (short term or long-term) if you go out of business, have to cut back your standard orders, or are forced to find other suppliers who offer better terms.

In conjunction with trade credit, do all that you can to collect your receivables from your customers, as soon as possible. If your suppliers offer you discounts for early payment, offer the same to your customers (just maybe not at the same magnitude) or offer discounts for cash. This allows you to collect payments faster as well as reduce you costs by paying less for the goods you need to run your business. Just remember, in this type of economy, cash is king.

Using The Strength of Your Customers!

Receivables and/or Purchase Orders: If your business has accounts receivables sitting on its book just waiting to be collected, you maybe able to get cash for those assets NOW. There are cash advance companies (not banks) that specialize in purchasing your receivables. Companies like Bridgeport Capital Service, RTS Financial Services, or Paragon Financial Group. These companies will purchase your invoices for up to 90% of their amount. They will then work with your customers to collect these receivables (saving you both time and money on collection). When the invoices are paid, these companies will refund to you the remaining 10% of the invoice amount. This type of funding is great for struggling companies as these cash advance businesses will focus more on your customers’ credit and business strengths than your.

Many of these same companies will also finance your purchase orders. If you place an order with your suppliers and agree to pay for their goods over time, these cash advance companies will finance these agreements. This could allow your business the opportunity to take advantage of trade discounts (percentages off the purchase amount) as your company will have immediate cash to satisfy your supplier. This is very similar to having a line of credit with your bank but as an individual credit facility for each purchase.

Credit Cards: I not saying go out and get more credit cards. If your business accepts credit cards, there are companies (again, not banks) that may advance cash to your company based on your FUTURE credit card receipts. These facilities are only paid back when your business generates credit card sales. Thus, if you have a slow month, you are not stuck with a huge monthly loan payment. As your credit card sales ebb and flow, your repayment of these advances will ebb and flow in tandem.

Using Your Character!

Need just a small amount of cash to get you by? Try social lending sites like All World Private Funding!, Zopa, Prosper, or Lending Club. These sites create peer-to-peer lending in which ordinary people, who have additional cash, can review your request and contribute to the funding of your loan. The benefits of these programs include getting the money you need, possible lower rates and better terms than most banks offer, and you get to tell your story directly to the lenders.

Similarly, there is Micro-Credit companies. The largest in the US and around the world is ACCION USA. Micro-finance companies limit their total out lay to a maximum of $25,000 per loan. However, most micro-credit funders like to build relationships first with their borrowers. Thus, they may only approve smaller amounts in the beginning and increase your loan amount as you pay back each facility. These companies will also work with startup firms or those that have been turned down by traditional banks and other financial institutions.

Never forget your friends and family. These are the people who know you best and may better understand what you are trying to do with your business. There are many cons with borrowing money from those closest to you but new companies like Virgin Money will help you manage this new relationship. Companies like Virgin will help you keep everything in a business like manner.

Now, while there is a lot of focus these days on traditional banks, most communities also have Credit Unions. Credit Unions are not-for-profit organizations. Thus, they do not have to worry about Wall Street or shareholders. While the majority of Credit Unions have yet to fully adopt commercial lending departments, they should have lending programs in place that will meet your business needs.

Some of these alternative options maybe a little more expensive, overall, then having a single credit facility with a bank. But, they are a sure fire way of leading your company through our current credit drought. The key to success is to do your homework. Find the program that best fits your needs and that will provide the greatest benefit at the lowest cost to your business. Some business owners tend to panic a bit when they begin to feel the credit pinch. It is only natural as raising money for your business is time consuming, time that can hardly be spared in these trying times. But, remember to think about the long term. Don’t just settle on the first source that gets approved, find the best fore you. Be diligent!

Joseph Lizio holds A MBA in Finance and is founder and owner of http://www.businessmoneytoday.com

So you want to host a wine tasting? Make it fun! Wine tasting doesn’t have to be a stuffy affair. After all, wine is first and foremost about pleasure. So even if you are trying to organize an education tasting, you should keep it enjoyable. One of the best ways to keep your guests interested and focused on the wine while having a great time is to plan a fun wine tasting theme. A cohesive theme helps keep the tasting focused and helps to get guests involved, drawing them out to comment on and discuss the wines. After all, the discussion is what is really the most fun and educational, not just tasting the wines. Otherwise you could just have wine tastings all alone at home!

Some of the themes listed below are not mutually exclusive. Mix it up, make it interesting in any way that seems entertaining to you and your guests. You can even throw in some wine tasting party games to really turn up the excitement.

Blind Wine Tastings:

A blind wine tasting is a fun way to get everyone involved and keep your guests guessing. In a blind tasting, the tasters are blinded to the wines. Generally, the bottles are covered with a brown bag to hide their identity and then numbered with a marker. That way your guests are not biased based on the label, producer, price or anything else. You can share your unbiased thoughts and impressions about the wines. You can have random wines or they can all have some theme, such as a vertical or horizontal tasting (see below). It can even be fun to incorporate a game such as scoring each wine to see which wine gets the most votes. Or you can award prizes for the person who guesses the the most wines correctly (vintage, producer, region, grape varieties, etc.). At the end you reveal the wine and can discuss further once you know what the wines were. It is a good idea to reveal the wines while everyone still has a bit of each wine left to taste so they can go back and reassess their impressions after finding out what they were drinking.

Vertical Wine Tasting:

A vertical tasting is an assortment of the same wine, from the same producer and vineyard, across several vintages. It is a great way to begin to understand both the style and specific characteristics of a producer or vineyard as well as the subtle differences that result from the different growing conditions of different vintages. While this can be difficult to arrange for someone new to wine, who only has access to the newest wines that are on the current market, if you have friends who collect wine and can help source the bottles this type of tasting can be very educational.

Horizontal Wine Tasting:

A horizontal wine tasting theme is much easier to put together. It is a tasting of various wines from the same vintage. Ideally, wines from the same region and general style are tasted from one vintage to compare the different producers and vineyards. This helps to learn about the characteristics of the vintage as well as the differences between the various producers or vineyards the wines come from. This type of tasting is much easier to put together than a vertical tasting because the wines all come from the same vintage. If you stick to a current vintage then you will have many options you can find in the marketplace. While it is generally best to stick to one region or style of wine, if you really want to challenge your guests you can include several wines from the same vintage but from different regions, grapes or countries to help learn about the, sometimes dramatic, differences between them.

Wine Region Theme:

A great way to learn a lot about a particular wine region is to host a tasting where the theme is just one wine producing area. Choose several wines produced in that region, from different producers, vineyards and sub-regions within the area. As you and your guests taste through them, pay attention to the similarities as well as the differences. Can you identify any characteristics that unify the wines? What sets them apart? Ask these questions to your guests. If you draw people out to talk, discuss and argue, your tasting will be more fun and educational.

Wine Scoring Party:

Another fun way to get your guests all personally involved is to ask everyone to score each wine. While most tasters find it easy to say if they like or don’t like a wine, it requires much more attention to the details of the wine to give it a specific score. There are different ways to do this. One of the best is to supply your guests with a wine tasting score sheet which serves as a template to score wines. You can have sections with room for notes on the wine name, color and appearance, aroma, flavor and mouthfeel and overall impressions and conclusions. For the standard 100 point score they can give up to 5, 15, 20, and 10 points each for the color/appearance, aromas, flavors and overall impression/finish, respectively. The scores for each are added and added to 50 to create the final score between 50 and 100. You can then compare scores across guests and figure out how the wines ranked.

Wine and Food Pairing Dinner Party Theme:

Traditionally, wine is not meant to be enjoyed alone. Throughout history wine has accompanied food and many people believe that alongside food is where you should enjoy and judge wine. While tastings of wine alone is a lot of fun, a full dinner can really make the food and wine shine, bringing out nuances of each that were missing before. If you or your friends love to cook, pairing wine with each dish or course is a great way to both learn about the wines but also to learn about what types of wines work with specific foods. You can serve several wines alone with a given course and vote on which paired the best with the food. A fun way to do this is to choose a country or region and pair that area’s cuisine with the wines produced there. For example, you can pair traditional Spanish cuisine with Spanish wines. The cuisine and wine of these old cultures grew up alongside each other over centuries and therefore they often create some of the most profound food and wine pairings. There are so many other options, from the general (like French wine with French food) to the specific (like Provençal cuisine with Bandol wine or Southwestern French cuisine with Bordeaux). If you are really enthusiastic you can even decorate the room and table in the style of that region to get everyone in the mood. Get creative and make it fun!

Josh Dusick is the editor of the Wine Tastings Guide at http://www.wine-tastings-guide.com where you can get information about how to host a wine tasting party, how to serve and taste wine and even about pairing wine and food.

I’m sure there are many men out there who will agree that there are certain things a woman should never ask their husbands and boyfriends. Not only do men prefer not to deal with these annoying questions, women usually don’t want to hear the answers… not honest answers, anyway!

Here are some of the top things you should never ask a guy:

1. Does this make me look fat?
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but if you’re worried that an outfit makes you look fat, it probably does. Don’t wimp out by asking for a guy’s opinion. Any man who doesn’t want to get his head bitten off is going to lie and say, “Of course not, honey.”

2. What are you thinking?
Personally, I don’t buy into the rumor that men only think about sex. They think about other things too, like pizza and dinosaurs. They’re probably not thinking about you, though, at least not at the precise moment when you ask this rather blunt question. It puts them on the spot, possibly even making them forget what they were thinking about in the first place. That, or they’re thinking about something they’d rather not discuss. If your guy is thinking about Christina Aguilera’s boobs, do you really want to know about it?

3. Which do you like better?
Whether you’re talking about shoes, dresses, or jewelry, most men don’t care. And if he’s one of those men who actually has an opinion on what looks more fashionable, you probably won’t agree with him anyway. You’ll both be a lot happier if you trust your own judgment.

4. Do you think she looks pretty?
This is a loaded question. We of course know that the only correct response is, “She’s not as beautiful as you, honey.” But he might shoot himself in the foot and answer honestly: “Yeah, she’s pretty hot!” This is an insecurity issue.

In short, never ask a question if you’re not prepared to hear an honest answer!

Wishing you joy in your relationship,

Dana Rhinehart

Want to enjoy a happy marriage like I do? Want to find out for sure if you and your partner are compatible? Visit http://strongrelationships.info to get a list of pre-marriage questions you need to ask your partner.

PT, for those of you who are not familiar with the initials, stands for many things. Some of the more popular are Perpetual Traveler or Permanent Tourist. Others are Prior Taxpayer, Privacy Thinker, or Prepared Thoroughly. But what is PT all about?

In a nutshell, a PT arranges his or her business and personal affairs as a Sovereign Individual, by unfurling various ‘flags’ or country bases and by treating governments as service providers instead of rulers. For example, there would be a citizenship flag (“second passport”), an official residence flag, a banking flag and so on. Each of these would be from different jurisdictions. That way, you are not bound to any particular country.

The ultimate PT goal is not to be resident anywhere! That is how you become a Permanent Tourist, at least on paper. You might for example spend five months of the year in one home, five months in another, and a couple of months vacationing, visiting friends or taking a cruise in between. That way each country treats you as a tourist and does not consider you a tax resident. You then keep all your assets stashed safely offshore, earn your money over the internet in other countries, and live totally tax free completely legally. If you drive cars, own real estate etc they are all held in company names, or simply rented or leased. So you don’t appear on any government ‘Big Brother’ style databases.

PT is based on the theory that most countries treat tourists better than citizens.

In fact, the beauty of this idea is its simplicity. As a ‘PT’ wherever you are, you always appear to be from somewhere else!

You can usually live and travel in better style and for less money than it costs to remain where you are. You can also chose to enjoy places that encourage the lifestyle and social norms you have always wanted to live.

PT will appeal to a wide spectrum of people who dream of being able to disappear when events and times in life make it convenient to do so. As a PT, a Perpetual Tourist, you run your own life. Using freedom tools such as the flags theories you can put a significant distance between yourself and bureaucrats that want to determine what is best for you, ‘for your own good’ of course!

A Brief History of the PT Theory

The PT theory was, according to urban legend propogated in the books, inspired by Harry Schultz, a Monaco-based newsletter publisher of North American origin who first coined the “three flags” theory back in the 1960s. Schultz’s claim to fame is that he is quoted in The Guinness Book of Records as the world’s highest paid investment consultant.

Later, a writer using the pseudonym W.G. ‘Bill’ Hill wrote a series of books including PT1, PT2 and The Passport Report which were published by Scope International Books in Hampshire, England. This same company published books by authors including Adam Starchild, Reinhard Stern and Jon Golding and Bob Beckman, also under the imprint ‘Milestone Publications.’

Scope went out of business in the mid nineties and was absorbed by an American direct marketing company who are still using much of the material today. The majority of it however has been toned down somewhat, not surprisingly as it is published from within the USA.

Other writers have taken up the PT theme in books like The International Man by Doug Casey, The Internationalist by Nicholas Pullen, and most recently in 2006 by a group mysteriously calling themselves “Grandpa and Others.” They wrote an attractive-leather bound three-volume set of limited edition books known as Bye Bye Big Brother. Or simply “BBBB.”Bye Bye Big Brother is also available in an abridged, paperback version from Vera Verba, a Chicago-based imprint. But hardcore readers should be aware that the abridged version has edited out some of the more cutting edge, controversial material included in the original.

From Three Flags to Six Flags

 The original theory espoused by Harry Schultz and Harry Browne (“How to Find Freedom in an Unfree World”) talked about three flags:

• Have your citizenship somewhere that does not tax income earned outside the country.  
• Have your businesses and speculations in stable, low or no tax countries.
• Live as a tourist in countries where what you esteem is valued, not outlawed.

Later W.G. Hill added two more flags – business havens where you make your money, and playgrounds where you spend your time, as a separate flag to your official residence – thereby creating a five flag theory – the level of complication or sophistication is up to you! Finally, in Bye Bye Big Brother, a sixth flag was added – cyberspace, where all the other five flags come together, a place where you can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time!

Shortcomings and Concerns about the PT Theory – and the Dangers of Camouflage Passports!

View on the PT theory is that it’s a great idea, provided you treat it as what it is: a slightly tongue in cheek knock at the establishment with a wicked sense of humor. A client of mine recently read it and said it was riveting, like reading a novel.

PT is a well thought out idea to break free and escape, especially if you like international living and the traveling lifestyle. It’s probably aimed more at those with well over a million safely tucked away in a Swiss bank seeking the kind of asset protection arrangements that their lawyers would not tell them about… while being less useful (but nonetheless interesting reading) for those who are just starting out on their quest for offshore wealth building opportunities.

PT is certainly not a step-by-step plan you should follow blindly. Indeed, it’s clearly not for everybody. We say, “by all means read the literature.” It’s an idea you can read about, absorb and enjoy… and then adjust to your own situation.

 always had a slightly different vision, and still do today.  What’s the difference? Well it’s not easy to live out of a suitcase, or to have to worry about counting the days you are in a certain country due to limited tourist visas or the concern that you will become a tax-resident. There are more sophisticated plans available today, and we write about them in our newsletter for members. We also tend to focus more on opportunities for creating wealth.

An Important Warning about the Legalities of the PT ‘Six Flags’ Theory

Here’s an important warning. Some of the tactics in the original PT books might have seemed like harmless fun back in the eighties, but in today’s world they could get you into hot water.

By way of example, one of the products frequently promoted was the so-called camouflage passport. Camouflage passports are booklets that look like passports from countries that used to exist but don’t any more – the intention being to fool anyone who might have learned about countries like Ceylon, Dutch Guiana, British Honduras or the U.S.S.R. in their school history classes, but who didn’t know that those countries today are called Sri Lanka, Suriname, Belize and Russia. Camouflage passports were promoted as a way to avoid terrorist attacks, by confusing terrorists in a hijacking situation into thinking that you came from a neutral country rather than a target country like the USA, UK or Israel. However in the current environment merely having a camouflage passport in your possession is more likely to get you labeled as a terrorist than anything else!

Indeed, it has been said that ‘Big Brother’ thinks PT stands for Potential Terrorist!

Peter Macfarlane is an author and lecturer on offshore finance, investment, due diligence and wealth creation matters. He is joint editor of The Q Wealth Report http://www.qwealthreport.com

Many times, we see others as well as ourselves getting into the debt trap very easily. A deadly debt trap never allows the savings to remain with you. However hard you try to save money, you ultimately spend them on paying huge interests on your accumulated debts. So what all, does it take to save money and lead a care-free life without debts? To crack this puzzle, you need not think hard.

While we can see various reasons trigger one deep down into the word of debts, we can broadly classify these so-called reasons as personal, economic and social. Personal situations may include reasons like loss of job, cut in the pay, accumulation of existing debts, treatment of illness, family crisis and so on. Personal situations are never predictable and so one should always be prepared for any such crisis contingencies, which can cause a major blow to the income. It is always advisable to set aside some portion of your income in a different bank account, so that it can be effectively used during such contingencies.

Coming to the economic triggers, one can get blown away with a sudden loss in business, tumbling sales, bad debts, inflation, economy slowdown etc. Currently, we are indeed witnessing the recession in the economy with the cost of living doubled and the means of income reduced.

While personal and economic reasons may be unpredictable, social triggers definitely are self- sponsored and can be truly avoided by adopting certain means. Don’t you think you will be in a posh car showroom tomorrow, if today you see your junior colleague getting that swanky car to the office? Yes, I am talking about status anxiety. As you put a step ahead each time in your career and status, you always tend to get anxious about maintaining the same. As a result, you do not even hesitate for a single moment and delve deep down in the debt-pool.

When we go out for shopping with our friends, we do tend to splurge more than what we actually should. Many things are purchased just because “My friend also bought it”. And to make things simpler, we always carry the very famous “plastic money” with us. Credit cards had come as a convenience, but now we use it to satiate our status hunger. Although, it may sound a little strange, but it’s always wise to ask yourself a small question “Do I need to buy this?” before you actually swipe your card for the purchase.

And what happens next is the rather unending sequence of debt repayments. If you have bought an exotic product on debt, just check out the interest rate you are paying on the actual or principal amount and then you would come to know the real worth and utility of the product.

You get into debts largely because of two reasons – Improper planning and tendency to spend more. Always remember that debts should be availed ONLY if necessary and ONLY to the extent of what you can repay without much encumbrances. Budgeting, planning and control are three simple, yet magical keys to have a debt free life.

Andy Eaton is £21,040.57 in debt, read his personal blog and discover his step-by-step plan for why and how he is eliminating his debt. His journey to debt free is going to happen quickly for him as he is using a plan. Follow his amazing story at http://www.sick2debt.com

Black cats are often the last choice for people interested in getting a new cat. Some shelters will not even take them since getting them adopted is so difficult. Why are black felines shunned? In the cat world, black is one of the most common colors. Potential owners may want a different look such as various color combinations, stripes or a different solid color.

Some people are superstitious of black cats. A common superstition is that a black feline walking across a human’s path brings bad luck. A black kitty can make humans that subscribe to that particular belief very fearful or at least, uneasy. Interestingly, in other places such as the UK, black-coated cats are believed to bring good luck. Also, discovering a white hair on a black feline is considered to be good luck. Since white hairs are common on black animals, there are many chances to find good luck for the owner of a black kitty.

Historically, black cats have often been considered to be harbingers of evil. They were thought to be friends to witches, and witches could supposedly take on the physical form of a cat in order to hide among humans in order to carry out evil deeds.

Potential owners may avoid black felines if they have a a lot of light-colored furniture and carpets or a tendency to wear a lot of light-colored clothing. Unfortunately, black coats shed like any other colored coat, and black hairs do tend to show up more on light colors.

Black kitties have the false reputation of not having good personalities. Since a cat’s personality traits are due to environment and genetics and not coat color, black felines have the same range of personalities as other cats. But, stray black cats may be more likely to be targeted for abuse, and abused cats are less likely to make good companions without lots of work on behalf of the owner. This phenomenon may be partially responsible for the belief that black felines are not as friendly as other cats.

Please consider a black cat if you are searching for a new feline friend. Remember that around the month of October, some shelters restrict adoption of black animals due to safety concerns on behalf of the pet and a high rate of returns from people who want to use the cats as Halloween decorations. Plenty of black felines are loving, sweet, and wonderful companions, and one could be the perfect cat for you!

Learn more about cat behavior, cat-related products and other cat topics at http://www.felineinfo.com/blog

History is filled with all kinds of bizarre tax schemes. Britain’s William III introduced a tax on windows, Roman emperor Nero taxed urine and India once levied a tax on moustaches. Meanwhile, the state of Maine in the US still taxes blueberries.

In fact, in recent times there have been plenty of surprising developments in taxation – here is a selection of some of the latest news stories about odd tax schemes from around the world.

Hungary April 23, 2008 – The Hungarian culture minister reveals his plans for a tax on ties

‘Hungary’s culture minister has unveiled plans for a tax on ties. ‘Ties and bow ties are created by designers, who are artists, and therefore some of their earnings should support the arts and culture here in Hungary,’ said politician Maria Schneider. She added: ‘Good design is after all a sign of culture, so it is right that the Culture Ministry should benefit from it. People are just as keen on buying a Cavalli tie nowadays as they were more than a century ago on buying a Dickens book.’ Schneider wants a 0.8% tax on all sales.’

US, January 21, 2006 – Tennessee introduces a tax on drug-dealing

‘A US state’s tax on drug dealers has brought in nearly $2 million in its first year. Tennessee’s so-called ‘Crack Tax’ came into effect last January. Under the scheme, drug dealers are expected to pay taxes on illegal drugs and alcohol. They pay confidentially, and when they do, they get a stamp. If they’re caught without the stamp, they’ll be prosecuted for tax evasion, as well as drug dealing. All money made from the stamps goes to fighting drugs.’

Romania, October 24, 2005 – A Romanian university creates a tax on sleeping over

‘A Romanian university has slapped a ‘sex tax’ on students inviting their partners to spend the night with them in dormitories. The Alexandru Ioan Cuza Univeristy in Iasi charges £4 each time a boyfriend of girlfriend spends the night with one of the 1,800 people living on campus. One dormitory manager said: ‘If they want to spend the night with their girlfriends or boyfriends then they should pay. This is not their home. And it is not such a high price to pay.’ He added that hundreds had already paid the charge, with male students particularly keen to pay and saving the receipts to show friends. The university hopes to raise about £28,000 a year which will go towards repairs at the dormitories.’

Brazil, May 9, 2005 – Brazilian man sues after being subjected to vomit tax

‘A Brazilian man is suing a bar in Brazil which charged him a £4 puke tax. Luiz Fernandes Peres had the ‘tax’ added to his bill after a friend was sick in the toilet. The Taverna Pub Medieval Bar in Natal imposes the fee whenever anyone is sick on the premises. But an angry Mr Peres told Terra Noticias Populares: ‘I consider this extortion.”

Daniel Egerton writes on behalf of SamsTax, a company providing simple online self employed tax software to help business people keep track of their income and expenditure with ease throughout the year.