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Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Eight Below (Movie Review)

Eight Sled Dogs' Adventure for Survival Teaches Us Courage and
Friendship.


Walt Disney did it again! Unlike cartoon animated movies, this film doesn’t have a smarty animal character but it tells the story about true and unusual animal behavior and adventures. Throughout the movie it makes you feel heartwarming compassion and gives tears in your eyes. Anyone, who loves dogs, this film is just made for you and your family.

The movie Eight Blow is inspired by a true story, which took place in Antarctica. It directed by Frank Marshall and presented by Walt Disney Pictures.

The story begins with Jerry (Paul Walker) and eight amazing sled dogs are ready to take a journey to guide an archeologist, who is looking for a special rock for his research in somewhere in Antarctica. Along the way, Jerry and Sled dogs go through a variety of difficult situations together. When the archeologist fell into water fighting his life in the freezing water, Jerry and his guided dogs dramatically saved him and safely brought him back to the base. Jerry almost lost his fingers from the frostbite to save him.

During the most dangerous winter, the research base has to evacuate until spring. Jerry was forced to leave the dogs behind but promised to come back to get them. However, Jerry couldn’t find the way to go back and rescue them despite of his determination.

Mean while, eight-stranded sled dogs must to learn to survive together in the most vulnerable winter on the planet until Jerry rescues them. Survival instinct of these dogs brought by their friendship and courage to survive together under Maya’s, lead dog, guidance. Their journey for own survival during unforgiving winter lasted over six months.

I wonder what could have happened with humans in that situation. Probably, we tried to kill each other rather than help each other to survive together. We think we are civilized and that makes us human beings, but is it? It teaches us to think through them.

Built in unforgettable bonds of friendship and belief in one another, which make an incredible journey to reunite both Jerry and his beloved dogs in different ways. I felt compassion throughout their adventure to reunite and cheered for their triumphant with tears of joy and happy ending.

Like any other Walt Disney pictures, there is undertone of family theme and happy ending. This is an adventure film the whole family can enjoy.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Tell Them What it is and Make Money.

Can People Really Make Money Providing Their Opinions at Home?

Get Paid To Take Surveys!

There are many legitimate promotional companies that offer a variety of payments for your opinions. You can get paid for your opinions. Often times, these companies pay you a form of cash reward or credits for cash, and also, offer other ways to win cash prizes or free products.

It is great opportunity for staying home moms and part time workers at home. However, it requires time. It takes range of five minutes to 20 minutes depending on the subject or questionnaire.

If you are looking to make a lot of money, this is not the work you are looking for. You can make $150-$300 a month part-time bases for extra money if you sign with several companies. However, if you are lucky, you may win $1,000 to $10,000 for drawings.

Some companies also offer you the opportunity to involve in non-profit donations with your credit.

The following is examples of surveys ads:


Wednesday, June 14, 2006

American Dream: Does Size Matter?

Being Rich Used Be Represented by a big house.
An architect Susanka said, “Size is not where the sense of home resides.” Wealth and a size of house used be coincided as a symbol of rich and famous. It is true that the bigger the house takes the more money to maintain. Therefore, one has to be wealthy enough to have a big house.

However, there is a current trend that many homeowners are trading their home size for comfort according to the Orange County Register Weekly Magazine, Parade. Many of these homeowners were finding more comfort in less space and freedom. Is this trend wealthy new generations’ wisdom and practical minds? The following is a part of the article by Rory Evans.

How Big Is Too Big?
During the real-estate boom of the last decade, it seemed like there was no such thing as too big a home. Today, many Americans—and their local governments—are reconsidering that notion.

  • Lawmakers in DeKalb County, Ga., passed a bill that allows residents to veto construction of new “megahouses.”
  • In Marin County, Calif., would be owners of new homes larger than 4,000 square feet must get approval from local authorities.
  • Pitkin County, Colo. (which includes Aspen) is now considering a 15,000-square-foot cap on home size. Already, houses larger than 5,000 square feet must include a source of renewable energy (such as solar panels) or pay a fee to support local renewable-energy projects.
  • Interim legislation passed last February in Austin, Tex., restricts the size of new homes on existing residential lots: The homes must be no larger than 2,500 square feet, or less than 20% larger than the home that was removed, or no more than 40% as large as the lot.
  • In April, a six-month moratorium was placed on construction of houses larger than 2,000 square feet in historic districts of Delray Beach. Fla.

Source: Parade, the Orange County Register (Insert) Weekly Magazine.

If you like to find out more related articles: Visit http://www.road2million.com

Monday, June 12, 2006

How to Enjoy Your Wealth?

Traveling the world without worrying about finances is one of the ways enjoying wealth. It is one of the rich people’s privileges. Many people have that as their wish lists that can be achieved.

Get rich and stay rich with tips that we provide in our website, and enjoy your wealth a variety of ways. The following is traveling overseas and tips for essentials for your travel.

Traveling Overseas -- Essentials

Traveling to foreign nations is a great way to see the world’s most historical and beautiful sights, meet new people and experience all that other cultures have to offer. But traveling abroad can also expose Americans to many hazards and dangers, and safety should be the first concern of every vacationing tourist or business traveler. To ensure that your next trip overseas is as danger-free as it can be, follow a few tips from a travel expert.

Ted Wright is an international hotelier and a deluxe travel specialist who has lived in nine different countries and has managed some of the greatest hotels in the world. A traveler for the past three decades, Ted was knighted by the Queen of England in 1999 for service to tourism, the arts and the community. Here he offers his advice for staying safe while out of the country:

Insurance. Wright advises all international travelers to take out extra insurance from a travel agent or other provider. Some insurance agencies also offer evacuation or emergency medical services and can even help in the case of a kidnapping.

Important numbers. Numbers to have on hand at all times include your passport number, your social security number and the phone numbers of U.S. embassies and consulates in every area you will be staying in and traveling through. Wright recommends keeping these and other important numbers stored in three different locations.

Be wary of invites. Making new friends is one of the many benefits of travel, but be wary of invitations to private homes unless you really know the person. Use your common sense and politely turn down invitations that seem strange or make you uncomfortable. If you do accept an invitation, let your hotel know where you are going.

Stay in touch. Keep in contact with friends or relatives back home and keep them apprised of your itinerary. If you make changes in your plans, call or send an e-mail so they will know where you are, and when they can expect to hear from you again.

Keep your guard up. And finally, Wright suggests that you always be on guard when traveling abroad. The world is changing constantly and can be just as dangerous as it is exciting and beautiful. Keep your eyes and ears open, use your best judgment, and never do anything that could place you in a potentially dangerous situation.

For more information on safe travel and travel tips, check out the following organizations and websites:

American Society of Travel Agents: Traveling Safely
www.astanet.com/travel/travelsafe.asp

U.S. Department of State: A Safe Trip Abroad
travel.state.gov/asafetripabroad.html

U.S. Department of State: The Bureau of Consular Affairs
travel.state.gov

Safe Within: Travel Safety
www.safewithin.com/travelsafe/

Corporate Travel Safety: Travel Safety Tips
www.corporatetravelsafety.com/TRAVEL%20SAFETY%20TIPS.htm

Source: fineliving.com

Friday, June 09, 2006

Guilt Free Food Recipes

Is There Such a Thing as Guilt Free Healthy Food?

We are living in an environment that is easy to neglect our health whether you work for someone else or work from home. Our lives often become routine and forget small things that make a difference in our lives like food. For some people, eating food is just filling up their stomach.

The secret to enjoy the food is in knowing that you are eating a healthy food. Particularly people who are watching their weight or health. However, is there such a thing as guilt free healthy food?

It sounds oxymoron but the answer is YES. There are plenty of healthy food recipes without giving up taste and nutritional benefits. Eating a healthy and nutritional food is important for anyone. It is not just for rich and wealthy people. Some recipes are so easy to make and take less than 30 minutes.

The following recipe is that I found from the Home magazine and I personally tried the recipe and enjoyed very much. So, I wanted to recommend to everyone who wants quick and easy breakfast or desert using crepes.

Spinach and Ricotta Crepes
(Yield 8 crepes)

  • 2 pounds fresh spinach, stemmed and washed
  • 1 1/4 cups ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/2 cup shredded Jarlsberg cheese or crumbled feta cheese or crumbled goat cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 (6- or 7-inch) crepes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Cooking direction: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-by-13-inch baking pan with butter or margarine or olive oil.

1. Cook spinach in covered pan over medium heat 1 minute, or until slightly limp. Drain spinach and press out excess water with back of large spoon; chop finely. (NOTE: I used a packaged spinach.)
2. In medium bowl, mix ricotta, egg, cheese, nutmeg, spinach, salt, and pepper.
3. Spoon 1/2 cup filling in ribbon down center of each crepe and roll up. Arrange in prepared pan in single layer. Brush tops with olive oil or butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
4. Bake in preheated oven 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.


Nutritional Information per serving: 261 Calories, 14.6 grams protein, 16.5g carbohydrates, 15.8grams fat, 55 percent grams fat, 133 milligrams cholesterol, 370 milligrams sodium.

Source: Home Magazine

Monday, June 05, 2006

How to Build a Wealth in Real Estate?

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Friday, June 02, 2006

Tips for finding the best mortgages.

Where can you find the Best Mortgages?

Interest rates have been rising gradually for a couple of years. Everyone in the housing market is affected both buyers and sellers, and millions of homeowners may see their monthly mortgage payments increase this year. However, real estate is till booming. What is the best mortgage can you find today, if you are in the market?

Choosing a mortgage can be a tricky particularly now days. There are too many options to choose from but how do you know which one is the best fit for your situation.

Some mortgage experts suggest that a fix rate mortgage is the ideal if you plan to stay in your house or a new house more than 10 years or longer. Even it costs you extra to get the fixed rate mortgage it is worth to avoid rate increase in the future. They also suggest that you should read the fine print and comparison-shop whether refinancing or taking out a first mortgage.

You should avoid the following options:

  • Interest only (IO) loan payments – This offers initial low monthly payments because your payments are not included to pay off principal, but when the loan is adjusted your monthly payments can be doubled.
  • Option ARMs – Bankers call this “negative amortization.” This offers you to decide how much you can pay each month; however, unpaid interest will be added to the loan principal later on. As a result, your mortgage balance will grow.

According to a financial report, Federal regulators fear that many Interest only loan and Option ARM mortgage borrowers will be forced to default when their payments rise rapidly. In 2005, banks resold approximately 64.8% new mortgages to investors. Most people assume that banks wouldn’t lend money more than you can afford but it is far from the truth. Banks are willing to sell as long as people want to buy.


Here are some tips for you to consider:

  • If you are a seller, compare the asking prices of similar houses and set yours accordingly. Be flexible.
  • If you are a buyer, do not expect on rapidly increasing home pries to bail you out. Do not stretch your budget to buy a house that you cannot afford.
  • If you have an adjustable rate mortgage, find out how often your interest rate can change and how it is determined. Typically, adjustable rate mortgages are tied to benchmarks that rise when the Federal Reserve raises short-term interest rates. It can rise over the life of the loan.

Here is how you can protect yourself:

  • Comparison shop by looking at the annual percentage rate (APR), which includes all costs and out-of-pocket fees.
  • Avoid unsolicited loan offers.
  • Choose a mortgage broker who sets his/her fee in advance.
  • Choose a mortgage broker who will find you the lowest-cost mortgage. \
  • Decide a loan that you can afford.
  • Do not choose a loan based on the initial monthly payments.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Does Anyone Care for Business Ethics?

As the businesses become globalize, the competition intensifies at the same time. Mergers and acquisitions become in common in order to capture the market share. The size of a company becomes matter. The pressure to increase bottom line from the shareholders and the environmental changes are rapidly affecting day-to-day corporate business decisions. Yet, investors rely on companies' business ethics and honest marketplace.

Since the Enron, Tyco, and Tenet Corporations have become a fraudulent symbol of American corporations, many companies business conducts have been in question and forced to make significant changes in their business practices.

Some companies built their businesses under 'doing a right thing' and lived by their ethical principles. Now a day, 'doing a right thing' is not an option, it is a must. However, it is a challenge and requires discipline thinking and courage particularly in the business world. It must apply ethical policies from the executives to the bottom of the command in a firm in order to believe and practice it as a whole.

In recent years, we have seen the consequence of fraudulent conducts by the greed executives: Hundreds of people lost their pensions, jobs, savings, and retirements. Meanwhile, the Fed caught their tails while they were fattening their own pockets with money. We cheered with deep sigh when Enron CEO Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling were found guilty and both men face the prospect of spending the rest of their lives in prison. But, there is no sign of recovering of $70 billion and 4,500 job losses.

A long time ago, one's greed was considered as its ambition and many people believed that it was a good thing as long as it didn't hurt anyone. Many people accepted building a personal wealth with hard work and honesty with praise. Even companies ran their businesses within the ethical boundaries and the employees and the company reached an agreement without written policies.

The question about business ethics however, has raised long before Enron, Tyco, and Tenet Corporations. Smaller companies have also played games with securities in the past, and some will certainly do so in the future. Despite these crooked corporations on the news, there are many companies take business ethics very seriously and operate businesses under code of conduct.

If an individual doesn't have honesty, integrity, and character to own or run a company, the company probably doesn't have a written code of conduct nor care to do the right thing. Deceptive accounting is more often a consequence of financial crisis than the cause. In Enron's case however, an individual greed is more likely the cause. The market caught onto them before federal regulators did. Our free market is dependent upon trust and accountability. Confidence in marketplace is paramount to open market. Free market economy relies on business ethics of both publicly traded companies and small enterprises.

Business ethics are based on individual's business conduct. Each individual does a right thing and care for another will make a difference in the world of business and society. Enron is an epitome of fraudulent corporations and taught us the consequences of the corporate greed and unethical business practices, which caused grief to thousands of employees and investors.

Honesty, integrity, and quality are the three ingredients for the business success as well as the best quality an individual to possess. Creating the kind of company that stands for something more than the bottom line, and its bottom line will increase. Corporations’ accountability and trust worthy get their investors’ confidence and win the global competition in the long run.

Business ethics should not be just a written policy it has to be imbedded in us to practice it, believe in it, and live in it. Our free and open market is dependent on it and global economy relies on it.