If you have recently filed bankruptcy, you may wonder if its possible to get auto financing again. There are more and more loan companies all the time that have new programs to help finance people with bad credit. An auto loan is easier to get financing for than a personal loan or an unsecured loan because the lender can use the car as collateral against the loan, in case the borrower ever defaults or doesn’t make the loan payments.

Here are some tips to help you when getting financing to purchase or refinance a vehicle after a recent bankruptcy.

1. Get Financed To Re-establish Your Credit - Getting a new car loan can help you re-establish your credit when you make your payments on time. Once you have made payments on time for about 6 months or longer, you should be able to refinance your car at a much lower rate. As you make your payments on time, your credit score will increase.

2. Buy The Lowest Priced Car You Can - When financing a car after a recent bankruptcy, you can expect to see interest rates as high as 14-19% or more. It is not wise to buy a car that is more expensive than you need because, initially, you will be paying such a high interest rate on the amount you are borrowing on. If you do want a more expensive car, wait until you have made payments on time for a year or two, after your credit rating has increased. Then, you should be able to get an interest rate of around 9-10% or less.

3. Get Multiple Offers - There are many lenders online that will offer you up to 4 offers from one application. Most of these loan companies will not even pull your credit with the initial application, they will just ask you to describe your credit. This way, your credit score will not drop from being pulled too often.

See my recommended

After Bankruptcy Auto Lenders online.
Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, which offers help with after bankruptcy car loans.

With the enormous boost in poker’s exposure over the past few years, many new players are introduced to no-limit hold’em through online poker tournaments. It’s a natural progression seeing as how many beginners have gone from the couch to the computer, learning tournament poker from professionals and fortunate amateurs on countless televised events. Many beginners even do the smart thing and immerse themselves in a no-limit poker book or two to refine their skills, and they may even have some success at Sit ‘n Gos or multi-table tournaments. However, many of these players spill over into the no-limit side cash games offered at all online sites and fail to adjust their play. While it’s true that in poker the most money is made in cash games, many players make critical errors when they try to transition into this format. My goal in this article is to help you eliminate some of those mistakes.

One of the most basic, but important, things to realize about cash games is the difference in structure to tournaments. In no-limit poker tournaments, you pay a specific buy-in and are given an arbitrary amount of arbitrary chips. Those chips have no cash value, and you can only make money by finishing in one of the top places. You can only lose your original buy-in. In cash games, you’re playing with your own money. The chips on the table - digital or otherwise - represent your hard-earned dollars. Don’t treat them like a tournament buy-in. You can lose real money real fast, and no one will be there to stop you from re-buying as many times as you’d like hoping to recoup your losses.

Another cash game mistake that many tournament players make is playing too aggressively too often. They also tend to bluff more often than cash game players, trying to use the same relentless aggression that has worked for them in tournaments. That style of play simply isn’t necessary in cash games where the blinds stay at the same level and no one is worried about being knocked out. I tend to play more aggressively and bluff more often in tournaments because my opponents tend to be more timid and willing to let go of their hands. Veteran cash game specialists can simply wait for a premium hand or trap their opponents when they have the best of it. You don’t need to play a lot of hands and combat the blinds in a cash game. Playing, and winning, one big pot with pocket Aces can make you a winner for the session. The great part about playing online is that no one will give you the evil eye when you double-up and promptly leave the table.

Also, tournament-style gameplay has become common in online no-limit cash games. Many inexperienced players have an all-in mentality that stems from loose tournament play. You’ll see hands like AK vs. JJ or AQ vs. 66 where all the money goes in preflop. This is simply unnecessary and a sign of impatience. None of these hands are a big favorite, which means that these players are willing to risk their entire stack on a coin flip. This type of play makes sense in a tournament setting where you are continually battling the blinds, you may be shortstacked and need to double-up, or you’re just looking to put the maximum amount of pressure on your opponents. In a cash game, why not wait for a better spot before getting in all of your money? Instead of going all-in and chasing out worse hands when you’ve Aces or risk going broke when you’ve got Jacks, why not make a standard raise of 3 or 4 times the big blind and re-evaluate the situation on the flop? Patience is rewarded in no-limit cash games and you’re under no pressure to accumulate chips.

Unlike in a tournament, you don’t have to play in a cash game until you either go broke or gain every chip on the table. The blinds are the cost of doing business at the table - not an ever-increasing chip monster dictating your actions. If you’re a beginning player, you should play tight and wait until you have a top hand in proper position. As you gain experience, you can begin to open up your starting hand requirements a bit. Don’t forget that in cash games, you can take your chips off the table and walk away at any time. Separating your cash game strategy from you tournament strategy can do wonders for your bankroll. Playing a straightforward, dull, and consistent game is often the best strategy to crush no-limit online cash games.

The author is an experienced online poker player and writer. He also runs Online Poker Reviews - http://www.beatthefish.com - and The Most Haunted Online Poker Rooms - http://www.hauntedpoker.com.

It had been three years since I had last seen my wife and I new that once we parted ways there would be no turning back. Too much damage had been done and it was finally clear to me after years of lies and deceit that our marriage was doomed from the start.

From the first time I laid eyes on her I could sense she had a mischievous and somewhat sassy way about her. Yet it attracted me and I sensed an undeniable flirtation in her smile and in her captivating eyes. She was too drop dead gorgeous not to be seeing anyone, besides that she probably had guys hitting on her left and right and I she seemed to be the type of woman who was used to being pursued and definitely not one to initiate any thought of making the first move. No, as much as I enjoyed meeting her that night, I felt confident that nothing would ever come of this, never the less she stayed on my mind for days after that first encounter.

Sometimes a person turns out to be happy they were wrong and this was definitely one of those times. She called me and asked me if I would go out with her. Some things in life we just can’t figure out. They make no sense, yet we tend to complicate things way too much. I mean think about it; boy meets girl, boy likes girl, girl likes boy, girl and boy get together. Yes, it’s that simple, but to me it was like splitting atoms. I had so many questions about how a hot girl like her would find me as attractive to her as she was to me. It’s kismet baby, don’t fight it, don’t question it, and definitely don’t pass up an opportunity like this. It’s ashamed this story was not destined for a fairy tale ending though, in fact it turned out to be quite the opposite. Outside of the physical attraction, the foundation of our relationship was built on rocky ground, but unfortunately at the time both of us had clouded judgments, co-dependency, and a constant need to be high, and high we stayed. We fell in love all right, although for both of us our true love and loyalty was to our drugs of choice.

My life was beginning to be unmanageable, although the drugs told me differently. My life was becoming so out of control. I wasn’t calling the shots any more; my addiction was leading me to believe that I wasn’t the one with the problem. On the contrary, I saw myself as a victim and in my distorted mind I was more than convinced that it was the world that owed me. I soon lost all humility, humble no more, with an absence of gratitude, disillusioned, and slowly but surely heading down a path that would eventually take me years of despair, and leave me spiritually bankrupt and emotionally break me down so low that it would take years to find peace or any perspective of who I was, what I had become, and how was I to ever regain my dignity and find any self respect or self love again. The guilt along with the shame came very close to killing me and my life had become no more than a mere existence.

My wife’s journey was running parallel with mine, never the less we were having a lot of fun in the beginning. You see, the drug induced me loved being with my drug induced wife and we believed our selves to be head over heals in love. It was a great relationship that our addictions had with each other, they loved being high together and were very supportive of each other when it came to lying, cheating, and deceiving the empty shells of our true selves. It was a lot easier letting our addictions lead our lives. They allowed us to avoid reality and support our lack of truth, sincerity, and morals. They didn’t take life to serious, and with that they had totally turned us into puppets. numb and without worry. They convinced us that our lives were good, that we were happy and So In love with one and other, and eventually we began to believe all the lies. We never really have any opportunity to fall in love or to love each other unconditionally. We don’t know how to love our selves, much less another. We become self centered and self-seeking, willing to keep our addictions fed, while starving our selves and our partners from anything real or unselfish.

If I am poisoning my own body, spirit and mind, then what does that say about my ability to love another? I thought I was in love, I wanted so much to be loved, but I never had the chance. Our addictions fell in love, long before I ever had an opportunity to truly know her, to care for her, or to put her well being ahead of mine, a; symbols of real love for another. lt took years before I found the clarity to understand the true nature of our disease before I finally realized that “Addictions Fall In Love, and addicts fall for the lies”….

If you enjoyed this article, please visit Jay’s Family sites at Jays Plan - Secrets of a Single Dad and Family Health With Mister Mom

Jay Bartels is the author of many human interest stories. Jay’s own story of hope and inspiration can be found on his highly resourcefull family sites. Jay is a single father raising two young girls and shares his experiences in several journals that can be found on his web sites. If you would like to contact Jay, he will be happy to accept your email to him at BOCABOYJAY@aol.com

Goals are a great tool for motivation. But if you don’t use them correctly, they can also be a source of frustration. Goals are only empowering if they are used properly. So how do you make a goal into something that is a benefit for you?

Goal-setting strategies are important especially for to help you create the type of success you desire and deserve. Here are five goal-setting techniques to help you realize them.

1. Balance Your Goals: In your life you will have personal development goals, personal finance goals and things goals. Don’t neglect any of them. It is ok to want things, but don’t forget to balance those pursuits with your own growth as a person. All of these goals are important so be clear about all of them and make them real for you.

2. Plan Actions From Your Goals: Goals are not items for your to do list. Your goal is what you are striving for. Plan specific actions that lead you towards those goals. Use the goals to provide your compass for those actions. When you plan actions for the day you can easily tell if they’re going to be effective if you have clear goals to compare them against.

3. Share Your Goals: If you were an archer, would you keep it a secret that your goal is to hit the bull’s-eye? Too many keep their goals a secret. Share your goals with people who will support and encourage your aims.

4. Write Down Your Goals: Make your goals real by recording them. Put copies of your goals on index cards and keep copies in the car and in the bathroom and review them regularly. Make them the center of your focus. Don’t just set them and then ignore them. Your goals are like a compass to tell you which way to go. The exciting part is that you get to chose the alignment of your compass.

5. Don’t Give Up: Your goals and the actions you take to get them are different things. Don’t be afraid to try something, fail and try something else. Take effective and massive action to meet your goals and understand that any true goals will take many steps to achieve. Sometimes you will make a misstep, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the goal. Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s only those who abandon their goals who don’t achieve them.

Dave Saunders is an author and speaker on motivation and finding balance between body, mind and spirit. Visit www.the-time-management-guy.com and receive free time management and goal setting tips.

Scientology and Tom Cruise–Megastar Tom Cruise has always politely and
respectfully been a Church of Scientology member and supporter. But these days, the War of the Worlds actor has been a lot more smug and outspoken in the media about the views held by him and his church on the field of Psychiatry.

While there has been a media blitz around Cruise and his new movie and new
relationship with the much younger actress Katie Holmes, the actor has been using
much of his time in interviews to talk about Scientology and take a few jabs at
mothers who use antidepressants for Postpartum Depression–like actress Brooke
Shields (Down Came The Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression).

Cruise and Shields have been having a media feud over the topic of medication and
depression, and it appears that Cruise blasted psychiatry and medication use even
further in his Today Show interview with Matt Lauer.

When Cruise discussed postpartum depression, his opinion (based on Scientology
views) was that all antidepressants do is mask the problem of depression. It is his
belief that depression can be treated with vitamins and exercise.

While vitamins are great as supplements to keep the body nourished, let’s be frank
here. It is dangerous and almost bordering ridiculous to advise a women suffering
from postpartum depression that she should take vitamin therapy and a long walk
to avoid feeling the urge to shake her crying baby! Or to increase her interest in
even holding her sleeping baby.

While no one is recommending throwing antidepressants down every mother’s
throat with the baby-blues, postpartum depression on the other hand is a serious
condition that often responds favorably to antidepressant therapy.

Tom Cruise also believes (based on Scientology views), that there is no such thing
as a chemical imbalance.

What Cruise needs to keep in mind is that many treatments in modern medicine are
not based on exact proof, but supposition. It was theorized at one point that drugs
that targeted brain chemicals in humans would either cure on help alleviate
symptoms of mental illnesses.

And now there is proof that certain drugs which affect brain chemicals help the
affected person manage their illness. Ask someone who has been severely
depressed, someone suffering from bipolar disorder, or a schizophrenic. Ask the
people that love them. For many sufferers of mental disorders, there is a difference
and improvement in the quality of their lives when they take their medication. That
is a fact that cannot be denied.

While Scientologists probably mean well– they have very affective programs
helping drug addicted people get clean and great reading programs for children,
they seemed to have fallen into the traps of many other religions and organizations
by standing on their moral high horse and generalizing or demonizing certain
people, groups, or theories.

My opinion? Tom Cruise needs to go somewhere and start planning his wedding.
Brooke Shields could write another book based on the controversy that has been
thrown her way. And us mere mortals? Well, I know if I start seeing Elvis cooking
green tomatoes in my kitchen, that somebody better get me to the nearest shrink
immediately:)

Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and an online advice expert. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998.

Visit her for Advice & Counseling, or take one of the Free Life Assessment, Relationship Ready, or Depression Screenings today. Subscribe to the growing self-help ezine “Better Choices”.

Contact info: info@girlshrink.com

© GirlShrink Inc. The author
grants reprint permission to opt-in publications and websites so long as the
copyright and by-line are included intact and the article is not used in spam.

Our pets depend on us for their every need, including their pet meds. The more you know about pet meds, the more you’ll be able to recognize the signs when something is wrong with your pet, and know the best way to respond. Learning even a little about pet meds can bring peace of mind to you and your four-legged companion.

Your veterinarian is your best source of information. Don’t hesitate to ask questions at regular check-ups of any pet med concerns you may have. The proper pet medication can clear up an uncomfortable or painful ailment so your pet can feel good again. There are many pet med home remedies as well. If your dog or cat has trouble with ear infections or ear mites, pour a half teaspoon of almond oil into their ear canal and gently massage their ear to help clean it out. A 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water works well too. Irritated eyes can be treated with a drop of castor oil, although it’s wise to call your vet if the problem persists.

Caring for your pet’s skin can be as simple as being mindful of its diet and using gentle shampoo for bathing. Nothing can be so frustrating for a pet as itchy skin. There are many quality pet meds online products available (even discount pet meds) on the market to help ward off skin troubles.

As with health care for people, preventative medicine is essential. Know which pet med vaccinations your pet needs and see make sure to get them on a regular basis.

About The Author

Mike Yeager - Publisher; http://www.a1-pets-4u.com/

It is important to keep a chimney clean regardless of the type of fuel burned. This can prevent fires as well as prevent noxious gasses from entering the home. The chimney carries away toxic gasses emitted from the fire in the fireplace and it is an important safety measure to ensure it is clean and free from blockage. A chimney sweep will perform routine maintenance and inspection to ensure proper safety standards are met.

It is advised that maintenance on the chimney be performed once per year. In other countries this is a standard accepted practice. However, this idea is still quite new in the United States. It is growing in popularity, though, because of the increase in deaths and injuries related to fireplaces. Over 5,500 fires and 10,000 gas poisonings occur each year due to improper fireplace maintenance. These figures can be greatly reduced with proper care.

Chimney sweeps are available in all areas and can be easily found in the phone book or via an Internet search. Choose services that are experienced and affordable. It is also recommended to obtain a service that is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a non profit organization that educates tests and certifies chimney sweep services.

The chimney sweep will first inspect the chimney for any damage and determine the extent of cleaning necessary. It is advisable to hire a chimney sweep that only does inspections and cleaning, and does not actually do the repairs. This forces them to be objective about repair needs and can minimize unnecessary expenditures. After the inspection, the cleaning will begin. The room surrounding the chimney will be protected from falling dirt and particles so no damage is incurred. Once the chimney is thoroughly brushed and clean, the technician will vacuum the particles and do a final cleaning of the surrounding area.

Some people may be tempted to do the work themselves. However, there is an aspect of danger to the job and it can be very time consuming and tiring. It is necessary to utilize the proper equipment and have access to the roof and interior of the chimney. This can sometimes prove dangerous with the use of tall ladders. Professional chimney sweep services are licensed and bonded which will protect your investment. The cost of the service is affordable, generally fewer than two hundred dollars, and depending on the chimney the cleaning will only take approximately one hour. Therefore, using professionals is recommended.

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for ChimneySweepService.com. To learn about how to chimney sweep and hiring a chimney sweep, visit us.

Intro

One of the big advantages of PCs over earlier types of computers is that they’re upgradable. If you get to the point where you need a faster computer, more storage space or whatever, you don’t have to buy a new PC. You can upgrade it by buying just the extra part you need. But sometimes it’s better to just take the plunge and replace it… and how do you know what part to upgrade? Here’s my guide:

Memory

Adding memory is one of the most popular upgrades. It makes a big difference to how fast your PC runs. When your PC runs out of memory for what it’s doing, it stores information on your hard drive instead. Your hard drive is nowhere near as fast as the memory. The more memory you’ve got, the less often your PC will need to store things on the hard drive as it works. So the faster it will go.

How much memory is enough does depend on what version of Windows you’re running. With Windows XP, 256MB is considered a bit on the low side, though it’ll be just about OK. 512MB is decent and 1024MB is really good. If you have Windows 95 or 98, you can get by on 64MB though it’s worth going to 128MB even if you just use your PC for basic office work. More will make it really hum along.

It also depends on what you’re using your PC for if you’re just typing up the odd letter and sending emails, then 256MB will probably do you but if you’re editing video or playing the latest 3D games, it’ll be worth getting the full 1024MB.

If you buy memory, make sure you get the right type for your computer the best thing to do is go to a shop and get them to pick the right type and to fit it for you. You CAN fit it yourself if you know what you’re doing but be careful!

Hard Drive

Another upgrade that can be worthwhile is a bigger hard drive. If you don’t have enough space for all your files and programs then it’s obviously a good plan! I’d also recommend it if you have only just enough space. When your hard drive is nearly full your PC has to scamper around it trying to find empty space every time it wants to save something… and that takes time.

I’d recommend keeping your existing hard drive and adding a new one instead of actually replacing your existing one. No point in throwing it away if it’s still working!

A typical hard drive nowadays is anywhere from 40GB to 160GB if you’re getting a new one it might as well be big!

With a hard drive you can either fit it yourself or get a shop to fit it… or there’s a third option. You can buy an external version which plugs into your computer via a USB port. These are great for moving information from one PC to another. If it’s always on one PC, I prefer the hard drive neatly tucked away inside the case… but again, it’s up to you.

Bigger/flat monitor

If you’ve got a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitor (the type with a box sticking out the back, like a television) you might fancy one of those stylish flat ones. It’s not just a fancy gadget, they also fit better on a small desk and you can have it closer to the wall than a big cumbersome CRT.

If you decide to go for it, think about whether you want one with built in speakers. It keeps you desk nice and tidy and looks more stylish. But you can get much better sound quality with separate speakers.

You also could think about what size of screen you want. It’s measured in inches from one corner to the opposite one. 17inch is pretty standard for desktop PCs though the flat screen types tend to seem bigger than the CRT type even when they’re the same size. For normal use, I wouldn’t particularly recommend getting a big one but if you do a lot of design or gaming, it might be worth it.

Processor

I’m not a big fan of processor upgrades. People talk about the processor speed when they’re saying how fast a PC is but there’s a lot more to it. Upgrading the processor without upgrading the other parts doesn’t tend to make much difference. And if you’re going to change the other bits too, you’re probably best off just buying a new PC. It’ll probably be cheaper.

CD Writer/DVD player/DVD writer

This is a simple one. If you don’t have a CD writer and you want to be able to write CDs, get one! As usual, I’d advise you to get it fitted at the shop you buy it at. Or you could get an external one that plugs into a USB port.

If you fancy it you could even get a DVD player or DVD writer, if you want to put your home movies on DVD. Again, you can either get it fitted or buy an external one.

Graphics Card

This is a bit of a specialist one. If you’re into fast 3D games, then it might be worth getting a faster graphics card. If you aren’t, it probably isn’t. A standard graphics card can handle ordinary graphics pretty well. It’s only when the PC throws fast 3D at it that it struggles. Then the PC itself has to do some of the work for it, leaving less time for the PC to work out whether you’ve been clobbered by a goblin.

Epilogue

The crucial point about upgrades is that it really does depend on what you use your PC for. If you’re happy with what your PC is doing for you, don’t let anyone talk you into feeling you have to upgrade.

Tim Wakeling is the Author of Computers One Step at a Time, a home course using plenty of pictures of the screen to show you how to use your PC. He also writes a free monthly newsletter about computers for non-experts. Find out about both at http://www.osaat.co.uk

© Tim Wakeling, UK 2005. You may re-publish this article online and in print as long as you leave it unchanged.

The sex aid industry has been ever changing since it all blossomed in the 70s. The sexual toys for sale become even greater each year and the sex toys for this year are outstanding. If you have not got into sexual toys yet then this year is a great time to try. There are a myriad of benefits of having toys, they will probably help to spice up a love life, help to give gents a better time in the bedroom and help women to release stress. Sex Bomb are the largest sex toy retailer and have the best sex toys in stock!

There are an ample range of sexy toys available on the market and the largest sellers have always been realistic dildos. Luckily if blokes get embarrased about acquiring sexual toys girls might now see reputable sex toy shops online. And the sex toys are dispatched next day usually. When gents are using sex aids it can help to use lubes to help ease sexy toys in. Girls can get sexual lubricants in all yummy flavours. My fav is coffee. You must consistently make sure that after playing with a sex aid that you clean it. By cleaning your martial toy you make sure you keep dirt levels low. The great thing about sex toys is guys can use them by themselves and with their partner.

In my view gaming laptops have lost their once maintained special title. I remember when they were not so widespread. For sure they were hardly manufactured in large qty’s however system builders did generate a lot of money on them. Regardless of that people most likely wanted one. People reckoned they were the best laptops and rightly so. Even though they did get people thrilled I do not believe they sold in quantities because not many people really buy laptops that are above the average point. As larger manufacturers see the potential in the gaming notebook sector, things appears to have changed. If mass produced, manufacturers can generate big margins on gaming portables. These brands have probably been losing a bit of cash on lower end units so this should be an attractive opportunity. International manufacturers would surely find it effortless to get prospects to buy these laptops. Small retailers definitely have their work cut out for them now. In my view the tier 1 companies will control the market direction. Additionally the familiar brand name will give purchasers more confidence.

The notebooks are surprisingly good too. I believe this would still be the encouraging factor for littler manufacturers though. The custom build factor is an enormous benefit to the customer. Usually a lot of comparisons of the tech specs will be carried out and the techies can say what the superior notebook really is. For this type of segment, the configurations are normally more sought after instead of the styling.

For the buyer, this has many positives. One technique that the littler companies may apply is to lower markup in to sell more units. Its difficult to predict what could take place to be honest as the market is a fast evolving one. Whether laptop prices will be reduced on the whole is another topic however the best laptops are normally over priced. It is difficult to know what will take place now that the global brands have gotten involved in creating gaming laptops.