Few people realize that the dollar is not money and so they leave themselves open to be robbed. The dollar is a fraud that has been foisted on an unsuspecting public by governments inflating the money supply. Let me explain.

Real money has certain desirable features that allow it to function in commerce. These required features or criteria were developed over centuries of experience in trade. Time tested features of true money include -

1. It must be a medium of exchange. In other words it must be available in sufficient quantity, be easily tradable, and have only a small difference in price between buying and selling. The money should be easy to transport – which is facilitated if it has a high value to weight ratio. In some of these respects the dollar qualifies as a medium of exchange, but read on.

2. It needs to be a unit of account. The money should be capable of being divided into smaller units without damaging its value. In the case of precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum, they can be traded as bars or melted down and formed into much smaller units like coins, and if required, melted down into bars again. This is why olden day barter goods like wheat or animals are not suitable as money.

3. It must also be fungible. This means that any one unit should be identical to another of the same unit. For example two coins of the same unit should be identical in size, weight, and metallic content.

4. It helps if money is a fixed weight or measure so that it is easy to count. Paper notes for example have different face values but weigh the same, making them a poor measure.

5. Most importantly, money should be a store of value. After all, if you exchange goods or property for money you want something of equivalent value in exchange. Paper money is just pieces of paper with pictures on it and has no intrinsic worth, yet every day people exchange worthless pieces of paper for physical goods. This state of affairs has only existed in the last century and will not last much longer.

6. The value must be stable and not subject to major fluctuations, and it must be real and genuine, not an artificially created value, as with paper money.

7. In addition it should be difficult to counterfeit while still being easy to recognize. Once again paper money fails this test.

Centuries, and indeed millenia, have resulted in two metals in particular  assuming a leading role as money. These metals are gold and silver, with copper filling a minor role. Gold and Silver meet all the requirements listed above.

When gold and silver were used as money, inflation was vitually unknown. Inflation is associated with the fiat money (paper money) system that is now in place across the world. Governments print paper money (or the electronic equivalent) in steadily increasing amounts which inflates the money supply. This increased money supply pushes up the prices of the fixed amount of goods and services that are available. This is what causes inflation. Inflation is a thief which steals your wealth because the value of your cash is continually decreasing. A dollar today will only buy 5% of what a dollar could buy back in the 1920’s when the U.S. and most countries were still on a gold based monetary system.

One way to preserve wealth in inflationary times is to purchase items which are stores of value. Anything which cannot be produced in ever increasing amounts qualifies, but only gold and silver which are limited in supply, and difficult to obtain, are qualified to also act as money. Gold bullion and silver bullion, along with gold coins and silver coins are becoming increasingly scarce as investors seek to preserve their wealth in these inflationary times. Supply is diminishing while demand is increasing. Check out the prices and availability online and buy bullion while you still can. The dollar is about to be consigned to the scrap heap of history, to be replaced by real money.

Technorati Tags: Desirable Features, Different Face, Equivalent Value, Exchange Goods, Face Values, Intrinsic Worth, Measure 5, Medium Of Exchange, Metallic Content, Money Supply, Paper Money, Poor Measure, Precious Metals, Real Money, State Of Affairs, True Money, Two Coins, Unsuspecting Public, Weight Ratio, Worthless Pieces

During my research into fasting, I came across the Master Cleanse diet, it appears to be a very popular one and is considered pretty solid. Some of you may remember it as the same ‘diet’ Beyonce used to lose a few pounds for Dreamgirls.

After reading the reactions of others on the internet to the cleanse I found it very encouraging and also informative of what it truly takes to complete. A few of the people who I spoke with about the master cleanse diet who had attempted it did not have the discipline to get by the first two or three days. As most fasts require not eating I have never been able to stick with it for more than a day. Technically, being a juice fast the master cleanse does offer some sustenance (the lemonade drink used for the cleanse is also why it is called the lemonade diet by some.)

The premise is simple, but simple does not equal easy.. Though the guidelines are few, the will power necessary to succeed is another thing altogether. Though I found a great book called the Master Cleanse Secrets that gives lots of tips & advice to make it much, much easier.

One thing touted is the weight loss from the diet but that was never my main concern. I am looking to get the toxin cleansing that it was originally created for. I felt really tired and sluggish lately and enough people have told me how much better they feel after a fast that I went for it once more.

The original book states to spend 10 days on the cleansing program, though I’ve heard of people staying on it longer. Like 20+ days long.. I decided to commit to only 5 days to see how I reacted. Considering I never made it past 2 days before that was quite an accomplishment.

I have to give credit to the secrets book. It was a great resource that kept me going when I hit a sticking point . Just from reading it I had much more confidence in my chance of success. That confidence translated into success.

Another good thing was the timing was perfect as I had recently spoken with my doctor about fasting. If you are thinking of trying this or any kind of fast you should definitely clear things with your doctor first. It’s your health don’t play games.

The final verdict: I feel much better after the 5 days and I am considering doing it again. Next time I will shoot for the full ten days. One tip I can give you is to not jump right back into your old diet, especially if you have a bad McDonald’s habit. You will get excellent guidance on how best to handle that.)

Technorati Tags: Accomplishment, Amp, Beyonce, Book States, Confidence, Discipline, Dreamgirls, Fasts, Juice Fast, Lemonade Diet, Master Cleanse Diet, One Thing, Premise, Sticking Point, Sustenance, Toxin, Weight Loss

Muck Boots has created a boot specifically for the hunter.  I was amazed when I first saw these boots.  They were a beautiful camouflage color and there was no doubt as to the exceptional quality of these boots.

As I lifted the boots from their box, I noticed how lightweight they were.  Quality, combined with lightweight and comfort.  Not to mention the unique airmesh breathable lining throughout the inside of the boots.

What makes the Muck Boots Woody Armor so unique are two things, the first being its scent free rubber that the boots are made from.  How important is this?  Well, animals are very sensitive to smells and they can smell natural rubber a mile away.  You don’t want your boots giving you away when you’re trying to track down that big game.

The second feature that distinguishes this boot from all others is unique toughness that the boot exhibits.  The boots have been tested using diamond back rattlesnakes and with several strikes to the heel and toe, none were able to penetrate the boot.  Now that’s safety from unexpected surprises when trouncing through the swamp or woods.

With stealth and protection, the Woody Armor is a hunter’s dream boot, and since it’s so light and comfortable they can be used for anything, field work, outdoor play, or just something to protect your feet from the elements as you walk to the store.  I am so impressed with these boots, that I wear them for everything, not just hunting.  Try a pair on, you won’t want to take them off.

Technorati Tags: Airmesh, Armor, Big Game, Camouflage Color, Diamond Back, Free Rubber, Hunting Boots, Muck Boots, Natural Rubber, No Doubt, Outdoor Play, Rattlesnakes, Rubber Boots, Stealth, Strikes, Swamp, These Boots, Toughness, Unexpected Surprises, Woody

Walk in bath tubs and slide-in bathtubs provide you the most relaxing and satisfying bathing experience of any baths available.

The idea of a bath tub healing your mind, body and soul are not new thoughts. The ancient Romans spent whole afternoons at the public baths, fraternizing or reading. Bathing was used as a therapeutic and calming approach . Water is not just for disinfecting but also for making us feel better. Now you can enjoy these same healing advantages with premier bathtubs or slide-in bathtubs.

The value of heat through bathing in water while in a bathtub with doors is calming. Walk in tubs ease muscle tension and relieve pain while making better circulation by causing blood vessels to widen. Water treatment is one of the first , least expensive and safest methods for treating many ordinary diseases. With a safety tub or slide-in bath, water convalescence at home couldn’t be more effortless.

Just look at the health benefits a safety bath can provide:

A Full Soak (up to the chest):

*Calms your mind

* Stabilizes your emotions

* Reduces sleeplessness

* Calms muscle strain

* Decreases hemorrhoids

* Decreases arthritis pain

* Expands circulation

* Promotes purging of impurities via the skin

* Calming to the nerves

* Assists with bladder and urinary problems

* Alleviates mild colds

* Minimizes fevers

* Helps to maintain metabolic function

Sitz Bath (up to your hips):

* Advantageous for ailments affecting the abdomen

* Inflammations

* Pelvic congestion

* Cramps

* Hemorrhoids

* Menstrual difficulties

* Kidney and intestinal pains

Hot Footbath (up to your calves):

* 15 minutes to rejuvenate cold feet

* Alleviates the bladder

* Assists the kidneys

* Cuts back throat and ear inflammations

Cold Foot Bath:

* Helps tired feet

Hot and Cold Foot Bath

* Boosts circulation in the legs

* Assists varicose veins

* Assists headaches

* Helps insomnia

* Cuts back high blood pressure

A cool bath can also ease itchy skin, mild depression, asthma and unlike popular belief, can enhance your sex drive.

Technorati Tags: Ancient Romans, Arthritis Pain, Bath Water, Foot Bath, Footbath, Fraternizing, High Blood Pressure, Metabolic Function, Mild Colds, Mild Depression, Mind Body And Soul, Muscle Strain, Muscle Tension, New Thoughts, Pelvic Congestion, Public Baths, Urinary Problems, Varicose Veins, Walk In Bath Tubs, Walk In Tubs

The fat loss business is filled with fads which promise to dramatically melt all your weight away! There are fad diets which can help you lose weight within a couple of months, diet pills you simply need to pop daily in order to lose weight, etc. In fact, there is no dearth of “magical fat loss products”, though you will rarely hear about a product which magically boosts your metabolism!

I am not sure why everybody is not focusing on finding ways of improving their metabolic rate, since it is the main key to weight loss success. In this article I will tell you how our metabolic rate effects our body weight and how you could use this method to lose of fat permanently!

Do you want fast fat loss? How fast you will be able to lose weight depends primarily on your metabolic rate. If you have a high metabolism, fast weight loss will be possible for you. On the other hand, with a slow metabolic rate you are less likely to be successful in losing weight. Now we’ll consider how to boost your metabolic rate.

While we humans are blessed with natural metabolism which keeps us fit and healthy, it is sometimes insufficient to help you with fast fat loss. If you are to burn fat fast, you need to increase your metabolic rate to abnormal levels! There are diet pills which promise to skyrocket your metabolism in no time; however they come with several harmful side effects, not to mention that the metabolism increase you gain with their help is short-term. Diet pills are, therefore, not a long-term solution for fitness & weight loss.

Some experts say that the most effective way of boosting your metabolism naturally is by increasing your lean muscle mass. The more muscles you have, the higher your metabolic rate should be and the faster you would lose weight. Luckily muscle building doesn’t cost an arm and a leg; you can do it with the help of burn fat exercises!

Undertaking intense on a regular basis would help you achieve fast fat loss. These strenuous workouts may seem to be strenuous at first look, but unlike cardios, you need to do them only for fifteen to twenty minutes daily. By spending as little as twenty minutes per day, you should be able to burn weight rapidly as well as build strong lean muscles at the same time. These muscles will help you burn fat even when you are not exercising! Now we will consider what are the most effective intense exercises to achieve this?

Inevitably, lifting weights comes to mind the moment I think of intense exercises. People wrongly believe that they should do several low intensity repetitions using light weights to achieve the maximum benefit from weight lifting. Truth to be told, the higher and shorter your reps are, and the heavier your weights, the quicker you would burn fat and lose weight. It’s recommended that you do no more than 10-15 reps, but you should ensure that the weights you use are heavier than five or six pounds!

As you will be doing strenuous exercises, it is important that you replenish your body by increasing your water intake. When your body remains hydrated at all times, you would find working out much less difficult, since water will help your body recover quickly from the strain of these workouts! It’s also important to consider fat burning diets as well as proper hydration.

In addition, water is itself a great metabolism increaser as well as a powerful detoxifier that cleanses all toxins from the body. The minimum recommended water intake for a normal adult is about eight to ten glasses a day.

Technorati Tags: Abnormal Levels, Amp, Boosting Your Metabolism, Dearth, Diet Pills, Exercises, Fad Diets, Fads, Fat Burning Tips, High Metabolism, Lean Muscle Mass, Long Term Solution, Losing Weight, Main Key, Metabolic Rate, Muscle Building, Muscles, Natural Metabolism, Quick Weight Loss, Weight Loss Success

History of Mistletoe

The mistletoe, native to the forests of Northern Europe, is a parasite implant on deciduous and evergreen trees which produces yellowish flowers and waxy white berries. Its closest relative in North America has yellowish flowers and waxy white berries, and is also commonly known as mistletoe. Notably, it is the official floral emblem of the State of Oklahoma.

The name mistletoe came about from two Anglo – Saxon words: mistel which means dung and tan which means twig. And so, mistletoe quite literally means dung on a twig. Mistletoe infers that life can spring up from dung. This leeching plant grows and thrives on the dung of birds on the branches of trees. As a result, mistletoe became the symbol of vivacity and fertility.

The Christmas and New Year tradition of embracing for the bashful and kissing for the brazen under a sprig of mistletoe dates back to olden Britain. Also, it was prevalent among the Druids who were the learned class of the Celts.

The Druids celebrated the beginning of winter ( winter solstice ) by collecting mistletoe and burning it as a sacrifice to their pagan gods. To ensure a year of good faith, peace, and familial harmony, they hung sprigs of mistletoe around their homes. Twigs of the evergreen displayed visibly outside their homes welcomed relatives, friends, neighbors and weary travelers and the mistletoe within encouraged them to embrace shamelessly. Feuding parties or foes who happened to meet under trees that contained mistletoe were required to lay aside their weapons and settle their differences.

The Druids believed that the mistletoe had healing properties. It was often prescribed for female infertility and as an antidote for poisons of all kinds. The gathering of mistletoe was a ceremony by the highest priests using gold knives. Such a carefree rite of harvesting mistletoe is dramatically portrayed in Bellinis opera Norma.

The Celtic Druids were not the only people who ascribed so many marvelous attributes to the mistletoe, the Scandinavians, who called it mistilteinn; also believed that it was the plant of peace, the plant of hope and the plant of harmony. The Scandinavian lore claims that the mistletoe belonged to Frigga, the Scandinavian star of inclination, and the embracing and kissing custom is thought to have come from this notion.

Mistletoe was also used for a decorative green in the Roman Empire during their feasts of Natalis Solis Invicti and Saturnalia. Due to its ties to idolatrous festivities, the Church banned the use of mistletoe when Christmas on December 25 was officially recognized as the birth of Christ in the the fourth century.

As an alternative to the mistletoe, the holly was ironically proposed even thought it too had strong associations with atheist rituals. Nevertheless, the hollys white flowers were to signify the purity of Christ, the acerbic leaves were to symbolize the thorns in Christs crown and the red berries as drops of His blood. Thus, the Holly became a Nativity tradition, but, surprisingly enough, the churchs ban on mistletoe which was in effect throughout the Middle Ages still persists today.

Technorati Tags: Anglo Saxon Words, Celtic Druids, Evergreen Trees, Female Infertility, Gold Knives, Good Faith, Healing Properties, History Of Mistletoe, Mistel, New Year Tradition, Northern Europe, Opera Norma, Pagan Gods, Sprig, State Of Oklahoma, Vivacity, Weary Travelers, Winter Solstice, Winter Winter, Yellowish Flowers

Nice one! my great new dental plan just kicked in!

It’s been so long since the last time I was insured that I’ve ended up suffering from a great deal of dental pain. Fortunately, my new job has an insurance plan that is extremely flexible. Because of that, I’ll be having my dental problems fixed up right. My coverage is so excellent, as a matter of fact, that I am seriously pondering going beyond the ordinary basic dental measures and maybe getting some cosmetic dental work also. My family has been going on about getting some some straightening or some laser whitening, so I’ll see what kinds of prices we can get on dentists who do that sort of thing.

The main difficulty, for me, is how to find a reputable dentist in the Tampa Bay area. I feel bad to admit it, but my family currently has no regular family dentist that we have a history with.We live in Tampa, Florida, so I’ve been on the lookout for a Tampa Bay dentist that has a good reputation and has a a lot of good experience with the things we’re looking for. It’s tough to find! There are a lot of things you have to think about when you’re searching for a dentist. For example, I don’t know if I would want to see a dentist who didn’t get the majority of his experience in another area of medicine.

As far as the most current dental practices go, I’ve really been thinking about getting some done. The most advanced techniques have definitely been making leaps and bounds these last ten years. I’ve been hearing about them on the radio, how much better they are than the more old-fashioned dentistry techniques. I’ve been looking around the web for “dental implants Tampa” and it appears as though the techniques and equipment they use is just light years past what you would have expected to get 25 years ago, so I’m hoping that my family will be able to benefit from such great dentistry now that I have a a job that provides dental insurance like this.

Technorati Tags: Cosmetic Dental Work, Dental Implants, Dental Insurance, Dental Pain, Dental Plan, Dental Practices, Dental Problems, Dentistry Techniques, Dentists, Family Dentist, Good Experience, Insurance Plan, Last Ten Years, Leaps And Bounds, Light Years, Lookout, Matter Of Fact, New Job, Tampa Bay Area, Tampa Florida

Your iPod works wonderfully at home, on the train or the bus and even at the gym. But what about the car? I’m sure you’d love to listen to the plethora of FM stations that broadcast from every nook and cranny of the world. A device that would play in stereo sound and have user friendly features as well would be ideal, right? Well, the iPod FM transmitter is just the right thing for you. The iPod FM transmitter is a device that can play iPod music through any FM player, be it in the car, at home or anywhere else so that you get an iPod FM.

What should I look for in the FM transmitter?

The FM transmitter must be compatible with your iPod, to begin with. Generally, most FM transmitters are compatible with all iPods – be it the iPod photo, video, nano or the iPod mini. They must be equipped with independent batteries so that the transmitters’ do not put undue strain on the iPod batteries. In most FM transmitters, the batteries are standard AAA (either one/two batteries). They must provide maximum, non-stop playback and should be able to charge while in use. Easy to use, handle, carry and compact and wireless connectivity between 10 and 30 feet are the other important parameters. But above all, the sound quality that the transmitter delivers must be exquisite, to say the least. Some FM transmitters come fitted with a technique that minimizes the background noise, thus delivering output of the highest quality.

Look for the warranty on the product, should be at least for a year. The FM transmitter should be compatible with other MP3 players, DVD players, computers and laptops- versatility is the key. It should be able to connect to several frequencies (some transmitters can connect to almost 200 channels).Good looks are always an added advantage and there’s nothing like it if the FM transmitter matches the interiors of your car. The LED indicator must have a bright and clear display and there should not be a need to adjust the settings very often. A remote control that can be fitted on to the steering wheel would facilitate ease in operation.

Griffin, iTrip, Audia X are some of the leading players in the iPod transmitter business. The cost of these transmitters varies between $20 and $60.

The iPod FM transmitter is compact, self contained, stylish and sound great. Both your iPod and the car are sure to fall in love with it.

You might also want to check out how do you download songs onto an iPod, mp3 songs for download and where to download music easy and fast .

Technorati Tags: Aaa, Background Noise, Dvd Players, Fm Transmitters, Independent Batteries, Ipod Fm Transmitter, Ipod Mini, Ipods, Laptops, Mp3 Players, Nano, Nook And Cranny, Parameters, Playback, Plethora, Rsquo, Sound Quality, Stereo Sound, Versatility, Wireless Connectivity

Sometimes it is a big pain, getting a contract phone. You will feel delighted, if you were previously rejected and now somebody promises you guaranteed contract phone. You can fail to get a phone contract, mainly because of your poor credit standings. All the retailers of phone plans will check your credit history before signing a contract with you. However, there are now options and workarounds.

Guaranteed Contract Phone Even if You Have Bad Credit History

Your pay as you go phone is giving you major headaches. You can’t top up your phone with enough money, because you can’t find the right shop in the new city you are in. You also hurl curses at the world at large, when you exceed your credit and your phone goes silent. You tried a contract phone and what you repeatedly get is rejection. How can that be when all the phone companies want your business? A guaranteed contract phone is not everyone’s right. Learn to live with it, or continue reading.

The companies that choose to give you contract phone irrespective of your credit history are 3, O2 and T-mobile. However, you just can’t walk into a showroom and get a guaranteed mobile phone. You can, if you have been in the United Kingdom for many years and you have good credit history. If that is not the case, you can go online and get the contract – of as low as £9 a month, for a minimum of 18 months. And that is cool.

And the place is not the website of the mobile phone service providers. It is somewhere else. A few websites offer you Guaranteed Contract Phones.

However, don’t be surprised if you are faced with the requirement of a deposit, higher interest rate and higher per month commitment. Those are the common features almost everywhere. However, with the condition of the economy and business, services are now more than willing to give you a good contract, which lets you stay connected to your friends and family.

At least a few retailers can now give you the regular contracts, even if you have bad credit history to show off. It is because, these phone companies need your business. They have rejected your application only because of the potential risk of lending to you. After all, everybody knows history repeats itself and the phone companies are worried if you will pay them.

Going through certain websites, you can surely get your phone and the ability to chat in the network of your choice. This is because, the phone companies trust these online retailers to sell their products to reliable persons.

With the right kind of online retailer, the only catch you have is to sign a direct debit contract. Of course, you need to submit proof of address and employment. Address proof is a prerequisite for pay as you go plans too.

Get the guaranteed contract phone, even if you have bad credit history. Just make sure you find the website that gives you all the benefits and convenience of a regular application, which is supported by good credit standing.

Technorati Tags: Bad Credit History, Business Services, Contract Phones, Curses, Economy, Enough Money, Friends And Family, Headaches, Interest Rate, Mobile Phone Service, Mobile Phone Service Providers, O2, Options, Pay As You Go Phone, Phone Contract, Phone Plans, Phone Service Providers, Poor Credit, T Mobile, United Kingdom

Most people do not enjoy sitting for an exam of any kind. Some tests such as everyday school work type test are one thing. Then there are tests that are given to show achievement or are required for certification in a career related area. Or there are test to readiness to enter a college or career program. Even though there are many different kind of tests they all share some common elements when it comes to preparing to pass the test.

Before taking any test it is very important to study the material. That may sound like common sense but many people try to wing it and do not put in the proper amount of time studying. You also need to study smart and yes you need to understand the material however you also need to understand how to take a test. There are strategies that some may say are test preparation secrets to help people pass an exam.

Some of the more common tests include college entrance exams such as the ACT or SAT exams. When sitting for those type of tests it is really important to use proper materials such as SAT test prep study guides to help you prepare. The more practice questions you use the better. If you are lucky the study materials you are using will have former exam questions or questions that mimic real world type problems.

In addition to those common college entrance exams there are a lot of other tests you may never have heard about. And you know what, they all have something in common in that you really need to prepare. So whether you are sitting for the ACT test and need to use ACT test prep study guides or sitting for a different exam, put in the time needed to help you do well on the exam. If you put in the time and study smart hopefully you will only need to take it one time. No one wants to take a test in the first place, but if you have to take it multiple times it is just that much harder to get motivated.

Technorati Tags: Act Test, Amount Of Time, Career Program, College Entrance Exams, Common Sense, Elements, Everyday School, Exam Questions, How To Take A Test, Lot, Many People, Multiple Times, Practice Questions, Proper Materials, Real World, Sat Test, Study Guides, Study Materials, Test Preparation, Type Test