Dont ArgyBargy Simply Do It!

THE SERIOUS WORTH OF SILLY

Serious things cannot be understood without
humorous things
Nor opposites without opposites.
Plato

Silly things can help us to achieve important things. Today will be a silly day.

Echo-words are so much fun to say. They feel good on our tongue and often make us laugh -- at least when we first hear them. I just learned the term argy-bargy, and I laughed when I heard it. It means an argument or to argue; its both a noun and a verb. Its cousin is argle-bargle with the same definition.

Argy came from argument and then it picked up an echo along the way and became argy-bargy. Can you imagine the possible results when you begin to use the term? Lets not argy-bargy. That alone might defuse any tense situation. Incorporate it into your vocabulary and enjoy the pattern interrupt whenever you use it.

Hurly-burly is another echo-word. Hurly comes from the root meaning to howl. Sometime in history burly joined hurly because it rhymed. We seem to like echo words -- hodge-podge, wishy-washy, what else?

A BUNCH OF GIBBERISH

Make an echo for your name. Make several. Say aloud: My name is Julie-bulie, or Stephanie-yephanie, or Richard-slichard [use your own name, of course. You are messing around and messing around is good. Messing around loosens up the paths in your brain and the habits of your tongue. Messing around supports your creativity.

I like nonsense. It breaks up the brain cells. Dr. Seuss

Now for more messing around, more creativity push-ups. Talk gibberish. Say only nonsense syllables. If you have trouble starting, take each of the vowels sounds and use variations of them. O, zo, po, kwo, ifmo, noto, tooro, ogtolopo.

You might want to find a friend and have a whole conversation in gibberish. You will be surprised at the level of communication. (We often use gibberish in training programs to how much of communication is nonverbal.) And you will surprised at how much you will laugh. Remember all those gifts that laughter gives you?

Spend several minutes speaking gibberish and see what happens. You will feel your mind freeing up. You will feel released. You may not be able to stop.

Silly is one of the most powerful creativity inducers you have. Hey, reader-kreader, get silly-pilly now.

And Today . . .

I have a friend who is a comic and character actor, and a master of gibberish. A fun kind of friend to have. He is also a jazz musician. He introduced me to the amazing activity of scatting.

Jazz musicians improvise with their instruments. Some jazz singers improvise in a certain way with their instruments, their vocal cords. They scat. Scatting is like gibberish set to music. They sing nonsense syllables. When you hear scatting, you hear a kind of freedom and often some playfulness.

Yep, thats your assignment for today -- scatting. Get out your favorite music and scat to it. Get your whole body involved. Scat at the top of your lungs and below a whisper. Let the neighbors hear (or co-workers, if appropriate). Then scat so softly you can barely hear it. Mess around, scat around, play around.

When you are not near music, scat to the songs in your head.

Scat no less than fifteen minutes today, preferably much more. Scatter your scatting throughout the day. You will enjoy that freedom after you jump in and do it. Break the silly barrier and try it. What have you got to lose?

You will dissolve some ruts in your brain and some furrows in your brow. And scatting can be very aerobic when you bring your body along.

What a LULU (Loosen Up, Lighten Up) day this is going to be.

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Stephanie West Allen, JD, brings humor and motivation to organizations.
http://www.allen-nichols.com
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10 Short Self-Help Quotes To Add Punch To Your Ezine, Newsletter Or Website.Noel Peebles

Any of these quotes may be freely published with the authors name and website address left in tact.

10 SHORT SELF-HELP QUOTES TO ADD PUNCH TO YOUR EZINE, NEWSLETTER OR WEBSITE.

By Noel Peebles

1. Power And Control

Your present life is the result of the decisions you have made over the years and the same will be true of your future. You have the power to take possession of your mind and to direct it to whatever ends you desire.

Noel Peebles, Author Sell Your Business The Easy Way http://www.instantsellbusiness.com

2. Circumstances

Are your current circumstances holding you back? Or is it what you choose to believe about those circumstances and your power (or lack of) to change them?

Noel Peebles, Author Sell Your Business The Easy Way http://www.instantsellbusiness.com

3. Ideas

Every day millions, probably billions, of ideas pop into the minds of people
all around the world. In reality though, only a small percentage of ideas are
worth the time it took for the thought. Most ideas are fleeting sparks of inspiration that go nowhere. Sadly, they get forgotten about before they ever see the light of day.

Noel Peebles, Author Sell Your Business The Easy Way http://www.instantsellbusiness.com

4. Making Choices

Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You create the life you live through your
choices and your thoughts. You won't always get exactly what you want, but in the long run you will get what you expect.

Noel Peebles, Author Sell Your Business The Easy Way http://www.instantsellbusiness.com

5. Dreams

When you dare to dream, it is amazing what miracles can be achieved. Trouble is; most people never start dreaming their impossible dream.

Noel Peebles, Author Sell Your Business The Easy Way http://www.instantsellbusiness.com

6. Success In Life

The game of life is real and is played between the ears. The way you think
determines the decisions you make. The decisions you make determines what you do. And what you do determines how successful you will become.

Noel Peebles, Author Sell Your Business The Easy Way http://www.instantsellbusiness.com

7. Friends And Family

Your friends and family will want the best for you. Their motives and intentions will be good. But, be warned; they all see the world through their own fears, faults, and failures.

Noel Peebles, Author Sell Your Business The Easy Way http://www.instantsellbusiness.com

8. Goals

What do you really want? That question is at the foundation of all success.
Do you want it badly enough that you will work through problem after problem and failure after failure, to get what you really want?

Noel Peebles, Author Sell Your Business The Easy Way http://www.instantsellbusiness.com

9. Learning

Each attempt is not a failure. It is simply another step forward...a learning
experience, leading to your ultimate success.

Noel Peebles, Author Sell Your Business The Easy Way http://www.instantsellbusiness.com

10. Experience

I believe we can learn more from the experience of others than we have time on this earth to discover for ourselves. The trick is to learn from those
who have already been there. Trust their experience above those who haven't done what you want to do.

Noel Peebles, Author Sell Your Business The Easy Way http://www.instantsellbusiness.com

Any of the above quotes may be freely published with the authors name and website address left in tact.

*********************************************

Get Your 100% FREE mini-course 17 Powerful Secrets That Have Made Business Owners Into Millionaires. 100% FREE! Simply send a blank email to: instantsellbusiness@ReportsNetwork.com

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Noel Peebles runs his own direct marketing and internet company, supplying marketing and management solutions for small businesses.

Child Injury Prevention

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a majority of stroller accidents are caused by tipping. Whether caused by standing children, or unbalanced loads, the result is usually an abrasion or laceration.

However, a much more serious accident that doubles in number each year is one involving a motor vehicle and a stroller. Every year, hundreds of children are seriously injured or killed by otherwise cautious drivers that simply do not see a child stroller in a crosswalk or a parking lot.

Picture this real-life scenario:
You're waiting at the cross walk with your baby in a stroller, trying to peek over the car parked on the side of the road to see if it's clear so that you and your baby can cross safely.

It looks all clear. You push your stroller in front of you, and as the stroller is emerging from behind the parked car, suddenly another car or a truck comes speeding down the street or around the corner.

The driver does not see the stroller because it's below his eye level, the driver does not see you because you are blocked by the parked car, the driver has no idea that your stroller and your baby are in his path.

After a near miss of his own, Brett Cohen of New York, a father of three, felt compelled to find a solution.

With the go ahead from his wife, he started development on the Stroller Safety Flag. During the development process, Mr. Cohen continued hearing stories of tragedies from all over the U.S., and with news of each tragedy, he poured more time and resources into his invention.

The purpose of the Stroller Safety Flag is to slightly lead the stroller so the flag is seen before the stroller emerges. It mounts quickly, easily, and securely on all models of strollers through the use of a patent pending universal device. It can even be mounted horizontally to jogging strollers to prevent cars from getting to close.

Indoors, the flag can be instantly shortened to half its height.
The Stroller Safety Flag is also useful for ride-on toys, bicycles, and wheelchairs.

For more information on dad advice, please visit: http://www.greatdad.com/
About the Author

Brokers or Lenders ? Which Do You Want for Your Real Estate Mortgage?

A mortgage is a mortgage is a mortgage. NOT! Not only do mortgages differ between lenders, but they also differ greatly by the lenders, themselves. There are two types of real estate originators ? brokers and loan officers.

Brokers generally are self-employed professionals, who work to secure a real estate loan for you. They work through a variety of lenders and earn a fee for the transaction. Most of the mortgage lenders who advertise on the Internet are brokers.

Loan officers are employees of a bank, credit union, or other lending institution, such as a mortgage company. They sell and process mortgages and other loans only for their employers. They are usually local and in a physical location.

There are advantages and disadvantages in using both brokers and loan officers for your real estate purchase, so you need to shop for the one that is right for you and your particular circumstance.

Brokers

The advantages to using a mortgage broker for your real estate purchase are many. Usually, the better deal they get for you, the buyer, the more they are paid on the transaction ? a big plus for you. If your local bank, mortgage company, or credit union has refused you a loan, a mortgage broker may be able to find a lender, even if you have bad credit ? just expect to pay a higher interest rate. If your real estate is unique or commercial property, using a mortgage broker to secure a loan is at times easier and faster.

One downside of using a mortgage broker is that your mortgage loan will be sold to another lender immediately after closing. Another is that brokers choose to do either non-conforming loans, which are higher risk and usually higher interest rates, or conforming loans. This limits your loan options. Brokers do not have to disclose a ?good faith? estimate on what closing costs will be, nor are they regulated by the Fair Credit Act. Additionally, they seldom have a physical office with employees offering you face-to-face customer service, and they generally are in another town or state than where your real estate is located. This means they may not understand the local market in which you purchased your real estate. Important issues may arise from the real estate classifications and terms used by your appraiser, for example.

Loan Officers

Though loan officers offer a variety in the types of loans available, you are limited to only those products offered by one institution. Usually a local institution, the loan officer will be familiar with all local regulations and issues will not arise over lack of knowledge in local market terminology.

Banks and Mortgage Companies

Bank and mortgage company loan officers will give you face-to-face customer services, at least before the closing. Like brokers, banks have the option of selling real estate loans on the secondary market. Some banks sell only low-end mortgages or those that require too much servicing with little return. Some sell the loan but keep the servicing portion, making it appear that your mortgage continues to be owned by the bank or mortgage company. They are required, however, to tell you during the initial paperwork if your mortgage may be sold. I suggest you ask before you ever get to that point, if this is a deal breaker for you.

Bank and mortgage company loan officers are licensed and must meet certain criteria. They have more criteria that you must meet, as well, in order to secure a loan (banks usually require the most). Many real estate buyers are refused mortgage loans by these institutions. Both banks and mortgage companies generally do offer better rates and terms. They also must disclose a good faith estimate on what closing costs will be, and they are regulated and audited under the Fair Credit Act.

Credit Unions

You must be a member of a credit union to apply for a loan with them. Many credit unions do not offer real estate loans. The major advantage of securing a loan from a credit union is that they pass on only actual costs of the loan to you ? no broker fees or commissions. They also never sell their loans on the secondary market, they always are local, and give you continuing face-to-face customer service.

What to Do

The time to begin looking for a mortgage lender is before you begin looking at real estate. Ask family and friends for referrals, as well as their experience with the real estate lender. Ask your real estate agent for referrals. Then, contact each prospective lender and ask questions ? lots of questions! Compare interest rates, terms, after the closing mortgage sale policies, and what criteria do they require that you meet in order to qualify for a real estate loan.

If you are a residential real estate buyer, consider getting pre-approved for a loan. You will know exactly what you can afford to buy, which usually turns out to be much more than you expect.

Spend as much time shopping for a mortgage lender as you will for your real estate. The deal you get can save or cost you thousands or even millions over the life of the mortgage. Get the best deal possible, as well as the right lender for your real estate purchase.

John Harris is an expert researcher and writer on real estate topics such as economics, credit improvement tips, home selling advice and home buying preparations. For more on San Diego Homes for Sale visit http://www.twtrealestate.com

Downturn in Home Ownership Can Be a Windfall to Savvy Investors

With the housing market beginning to cool and interest rates on the rise, this may be an excellent time for investors to buy rental properties. The combination of those two market factors, along with an increase in the number of folks looking for new housing, could spell big profits for savvy real estate investors.

In the second quarter of 2006, home ownership actually rose somewhat, to 68.7 percent (although it was up less than a half percentage point), but that figure is down more than a percentage point from the high point, which occurred in the second quarter of 2004 (69.2 percent). Although that rise may be good for real estate sellers, recent interest rates, coupled with a large increase in property values during the housing boom many areas of the country experienced over the last several years, have made it much more difficult for buyers to get into homes of their own.

What does that mean to investors? It means that even at during the peak of home ownership in 2004, more than 3 out of every 10 Americans still rented the houses in which they lived, and it appears as if that figure may increase. In the last week of July 2006, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that applications for home loans had reached a four-year low. As an investor, those figures should spark your interest, because they indicate that more people are being forced to rent, whether they want to or not, until market factors adjust to make home ownership more feasible.

That fact was borne out in a recent survey by the National Multi Housing Council, which discovered that some 75 percent of apartment executives reported lower vacancy rates, higher rents, or both. In fact, the survey found that the Market Tightness Index, which is used to measure rental market conditions, increased to 85 in the second quarter of 2006, which was the highest number on record. Any number above 50 on that scale indicates improving market conditions for landlords, and it's been above 50 for 12 consecutive quarters. (The last time it was below 50 was July 2003.)

All of these factors offer a clear indication that owning rental properties makes more sense than it has in a long time, and that trend appears set to continue for some time to come. That conclusion was verified when a study by Harvard University identified a number of demographic forces that are combining to strengthen the rental housing market, especially echo boomers and second-generation Americans. The fact that investors are having to pay higher interest rates to buy rental properties has also translated into increased rents over the past few years.

With home buyers having more difficulty financing their dream homes, it appears as if the rental market will continue to strengthen for some time, at least until a market correction brings down home prices, which have been spiraling significantly over the past few years. As more and more people begin to look at renting as an option while they wait for that correction, savvy investors may be able to experience increased profits by adding more rentals to their inventory.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher teaches beginning real estate investors four ways to make money in any real estate market. Free Real Estate Investing Business Plan and free ebook, The Truth about Making Money Flipping Houses at http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com

Affordable Disney World

Is there such a thing as an affordable disney world? What! You must be joking right? Fortunately for you, I have been to disney world several times, and have learned some tricks along the way...

1) Do some research beforehand and find out if there are coupons: The internet is a wonderful place to learn about coupons. You should also look to see if you can save additional money by getting your disney tickets at a local grocery store in Orlando. We did this and saved big!

2) If you can, travel during the off season: Disney does a lot less business then, and not only are the parks much less crowded, but the hotel rates drop bigtime. Pulling the kids out of school can be a pain, but you can call it an educational trip. Just have your kids keep track of what they did, and what they learned.

3) Save on eating costs: You can eat breakfast at your hotel, and pack lunches to eat in the park. Disney actually allows you to bring a backpack of food inside!

4) Don't buy souvenir every single day: Buying your souvenirs at the end of your trip cuts out those impulse buys. Plus, when you are buying stuff every day you don't realize how much you've gotten, it really adds up! This way you can decide at the end of the week, after you have seen all of the parks, and know exactly where to spend your money.

I sure hope that my tips help to make an affordable disney world for you!

Matt Bush is an experienced and caring parent. He also loves to travel! Did you know you can save 50 to 75% on flights and hotels by using ravel agent only' rates?
Click here to read Matt's honest review on Travel Industry Secrets and decide for yourself

Tips About Your Real Estate Agent

So you're looking for a new house or a lot for sale on which you can build your dream house. You know you need to enlist the aid of a real estate agent. Here are some tips that will help you find the right one.

The first thing to remember and, ironically, the most important thing for a lot of people, is that your real estate agent will not be working for you. That's a common misconception. No matter who the real estate agent is and how close your personal ties may be, the agent's primary objective is to sell a piece of property to you. In fact, his income depends on that sale. The larger you pay for the property you want, the bigger his commission. Bear that in mind: it is in the real estate agent's interest to make you spend more.

Sometimes we become really comfortable and open with sales people that we share confidential matters that can have huge bearing on a potential sale. For instance, you may tell them that you are desperate for a piece of property because you have to move out of your old house within a week. This lets your sales agent know that they can sell the property to you at a high price. As a general rule, don't let anyone know how much you are willing to pay for a new house or lot.

Oftentimes, the first question that a real estate agent throws at you is precisely that: how much are you willing to pay? It's an old ploy so don't fall for it. In response, simply state the price that you want to pay and, if they ask again, tell them that's the ceiling. Add that if the seller does not agree to that price, then there is nothing to talk about and move on. Chances are great that a serious seller (or buyer, for that matter) will immediately turn down a prospect upon hearing the first bid. In all likelihood, a serious buyer or seller will negotiate and explore options.

Finally, don't let your real estate agent choose the lawyer who will write up the property agreement, precisely because the agent is trying to sell you something. It would be far better if you selected your attorney yourself.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Real Estate, Business, and Finance.

Travelling safely with your child

Travelling safely with your child

When you have children your priorities change and you suddenly have to be completely responsible for someone else's life. A small child relies on you completely for its protection and welfare. A child's safety is particularly important when travelling. It is the drivers' responsibility to ensure that all passengers are properly strapped into the car, especially children until they can be taught to strap themselves in.

Every year around 30 children between the ages of 0 and 11 are killed in car accidents, 450 are seriously injured and another 8,000 are slightly injured, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Many of these children could have been spared from injury if they had been properly restrained in the car they were travelling in. For example in a crash at 30 mph where a child is unrestrained they would be thrown forwards with a force of between 30 and 60 times their own body weight. There is no substitute for a proper child seat that is fitted according to the manufacturers' guidelines. Holding a child without restraint is dangerous as it would be impossible to hold on tight enough to them in the event of an accident.

A car seat is the only really safe way to transport your child in the car. There are different seats you can buy according to the size and weight of the child. You must buy a seat that is appropriate and get advice on fitting it in your car. Not all car seats fit in all cars so you should check with the retailer before you buy, that your seat is suitable for your car.

To help you buy the right seat for your child we've put together a list of hints and tips to follow when buying your child's car seat.

Tips for buying a car seat

*First of all you should make sure that every car seat you consider meets the United Nations standard Regulation 44.03 and carries the 'E' mark that verifies this.

*Look at the range of options available. Manufacturers have websites that list details of their car seats and also lots of information on safety and helpful user guides. Here is a list of some of the leading car seat manufacturers.

http://www.britax.co.uk/

http://www.mamasandpapasonline.com/

http://www.maxi-cosi.com/

*When you are buying a car seat for a newborn baby there are two options available to you. You can either buy a rearward facing seat which is suitable until your child weighs about 10/13kg. These are often supplied with buggies and can be lifted in and out of the car. You can also buy a two-way seat which faces inwards for about the first year and then outwards until the child is around 150cms tall. If you go for the rearward facing seat you will need to buy another seat for the child when it grows and possibly a booster seat in between for a child that weighs 15 - 25kgs

*Not all car seats fit all cars so find out which ones are suitable for your vehicle and then follow the instructions very carefully

*The car seat should be light and comfortable to carry. This will make it easier for you to take your baby in and out of the car

*It seat should be well padded for the child's comfort and have good head support as a small baby cannot support its own head

*You should never put a rearward facing car seat on a seat where there is an active airbag because if the airbag inflates in an accident it could kill your baby. Many cars allow you to disable the passenger airbag

*Never buy a second hand car seat as like motorcycle helmets you cannot see all damage that may have been sustained in a previous accident

*Make sure the seat doesn't wobble about at all and feels very secure, you could check this every time you put the baby into the seat

*Check the seat for wear and tear and for any harnesses that may be twisted

*If you are a member of the AA or the RAC then you can speak to one of their technical advisors and find out exactly how to fit your car seat. Call 0990 500600 for the AA and 0990 313131 for the RAC

All new car seats will have to meet the International Standards Organisation FIX (ISOFIX). This is a new standard for fitting car seats and lots of new cars will have to have ISOFIX fitting points which will enable the seat to be literally plugged into ISOFIX points in the car. This will make fitting car seats much safer and much more straightforward. Studies have shown that many car seats are not fitted properly so this will mean that children will be much safer in the future.

Car accidents happen all the time so it is better to be safe than sorry. Make sure that your child's seat is fitted correctly and that your child still fits the seat, this will help prevent injury in the event of a road traffic accident. If you are involved in a car accident that was not your fault and you or your child are injured then you may be able to make a personal injury claim.

For more information visit www.wheelsatonce.com and get free legal advice and assistance following a car accident.

-ENDS-

Editorial notes:

Wheelsatonce provides help to hundreds of people who have been involved in non fault accidents. They can organise a compensation claim, a replacement car, repairs to your car and if you need the services of a breakdown company they can also get your recovery and storage account paid.

Visit www.wheelsatonce.com or call 0800 78 38 846

About the Author

Author:
Sophie Evans - www.wheelsatonce.com
Call 0800 78 38 846 for more details