Miscallaneous Blog

Clicking with Your Dog is one of those books I wish was around when I had my dog. The training concept here is simple, easy, and scientific. It is easy because of the use of a small clicker that makes a unique sound when pressed. It is scientific, because this type of training is based on operant conditioning, a term coined by B.F. Skinner who was an experimental psychologist and a behaviorist.

Clicking is based on the reward system and the owner’s friendly and positive relationship with his dog. The book can be used as a manual and a trainer can pick up from anywhere in the book to teach any one trick, after getting the dog used to receiving a reward with each click. Unlike the traditional correction-based training, the clicker training is based on common sense and respecting the dog’s needs and character. Step-by-step illustrations explain the clicking process very clearly, and people who can’t wait to start can begin immediately.

Whether you start with a dog that is still a puppy or a dog with already established behavior problems, the clicker training program gives fool-proof results, because the dogs become motivated and eager to learn. Through the use of the clicker, both the trainer and the dog have fun and they learn to bond with one another.

Clicking with Your Dog has ten chapters. The first chapter introduces the reader to clicking. Second chapter is the fast start chapter for the tools and the skills you and the dog will need. Third and fourth chapters are for teaching the dog good behavior and practical skills. Fifth chapter shows games and tricks for your dog to be useful. Sixth chapter is a review of the clicking process plus some extra tips and advice.

Seventh chapter is for teaching the dog to avoid disturbing or hurting people. Eighth chapter addresses the dog’s needs and his bill of rights.

Ninth chapter is the glossary for the tips and terms of clicking. Tenth chapter directs the reader to other training resources, such as websites, books, videos, clicker training supplies and dog-related sites and associations.

Whether the author talks about understanding the dog food labels or helping the dog curb his unnecessary barking, her expression is direct, pleasant, and very understandable. It doesn’t matter if the book is read from start to finish or by skipping around; the reader’s comprehension will remain intact either way.

Clicking With Your Dog: Step-By-Step in Pictures is in paperback with an ISBN of 189094808X. The book is 209 pages with excellent, uncluttered drawings and an easy-to-read text.

The author, Peggy Larson Tillman, worked many years as an elementary school teacher. She discovered clicker training when she got her dog Charles. Then, she went on to teach classes to pet owners, developing her visual instructional material in the process. Peggy L. Tillman and her husband Barry Tillman are also pioneers in the science of ergonomics.

This very effective book with precise instructions and illustrations deserves a place at the top of most other dog training publications.

This article has been submitted by Joy Cagil in affiliation with www.PetLovers.Com/ http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums. Joy Cagil’s education is in linguistics and foreign languages. She is an animal lover. Her webpage is at: www.writing.com/main/handler/item_id/1084695 http://www.writing.com/main/handler/item_id/1084695 .

AP - Barack Obama’s wave of superdelegate endorsements puts him within reach of the Democratic presidential nomination by the end of the primary season on June 3 - even if he loses half of the remaining six contests.

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One of the things I love most about poker is the psychological and emotional aspect of it.

And I’m not talking about outplaying your opponents. I’m talking about the emotional effect the game has on you when you win or lose, or go on that great winning streak or horrible losing streak.

Most players play this game with their hearts on their sleeves. What I mean by that is that they live and die by the hands that they play. They are absolutely elated when their pocket aces hold up, or they turn that flush and take down a huge pot. On the other hand, they are devastated when someone hits their 3 outer on the river to take a pot away from them, or when someone calls preflop with 72o and beats their high pocket pair with trip 7s on the river.

So what is it about these emotional swings that I like?

A key, often overlooked attribute of a good poker player is that they stay in control of their emotions at the table. Regardless of how happy or upset they feel about that win or loss, they maintain an even keel and stay in control. This allows them to be at their best at all times without being ruled by their emotions. Emotional poker is usually bad poker.

When I see a player at my table who is overly emotional at the table, I see dollar signs.

You’ll find that a lot of bad players tend to be the ones that get too emotionally invested in the game. Because of this, I’m hoping they win as many pots as possible through bad play. Not only because it means I have a better chance of winning that money myself (since it is now in the possession of a bad player), but also because of the affect it has on their psyche.

And what do bad, excitable players think after they’ve had a really good winning streak, or after they’ve scooped a huge pot off of an obviously good player? They think that THEY are good! I want them to believe that when they lose it’s just bad luck, and when they win it’s because of their skills.

I’m cheering for them to win all of the pots I’m not involved in!

In short - don’t let your emotions rule your game. Both the incredible high, and lowest of the low feelings can have a negative affect on your game by either a) making you feel invincible, or b) putting you on tilt.

Stay on an even keel, and let your poker skills and knowledge do the talking.

Copyright 2006 - Chris Holdsworth, LearnToPlayTexasHoldem.net http://LearnToPlayTexasHoldem.net . All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Visit our site and sign up for our FREE Texas Holdem Newsletter! Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as the resource box remains intact and there is a live link to this site.

AP - This is how ridiculously good the Detroit Red Wings are playing: They lose the NHL’s top scorer this postseason and their regular-season scoring leader steps up with the first hat trick of his entire career while one of his linemates scores a demoralizing short-handed goal.

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Welcome to the Next Generation of Personalized Children’s Music!

It’s finally arrived… the latest development in the world of personalized children’s music products, Grab and Go technology, by Kids Juke Box Inc, is now available at your local Toys R Us stores across the country and online at www.kidsjukeboxinc.com http://www.kidsjukeboxinc.com

Launching with the very first, Marvel Heroes, Music for Me CD.

This 8 song CD that sings your child’s name throughout, has all of your children’s favorite characters from Marvel, including Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, Wolverine and more…

The patent pending Grab and Go technology, allows parents and kids to create their own personalized music CDs by selecting the child’s name in the personalization process.

Designed to alleviate the significant challenges that retailers have faced when it comes to stocking and selling personalized products, this wonderfully useful, new technology, has also attracted the attention of some of the world’s leading licensed brands as a way of personalizing their products for their loyal customers.

No more, no-name product brands, with licensing giants like Marvel, on board with the program from Kids Juke Box Inc, there is an air of expectancy on the quality of titles and the future development of other product lines utilizing the new technology.

Already developed are the inter active storybook versions of ‘My Day with Spider-Man’ and the world’s first personalized children’s music CD from The American greetings stable ‘Care Bears Music for Me’

Awaiting product release are 2 other fantastic product lines, with a Grab and Go MP3 personalized Alarm Clock and a MP3 personalized Teddy bear. Both of these products come with a USB port built into the toy and can be programmed, to be personalized, with any of the thousands of names available from the Kids Juke Box website.

Each Grab and Go product comes with its own setup software included with the package and it is the setup process that allows the customer to create their own personalized product.

This is a break through in the rapidly growing personalization market and with the advent of more licensed brand like The Children’s Television Network’s Sesame Street characters early in 2007 it is easy to see that this new technology is set to revolutionize the personalization industry.

You can watch a quick demonstration video of the entire process HERE

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SleVZXLxnC8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SleVZXLxnC8

When the personalization process is complete the customer has 2 ways to be able to playback their new personalized CD. The first way is with the GnG Music Player, this flash based music player is also personalized with the customer selecting the name, as a part of the download process.

It is a fully functional music player that runs straight from the customers desktop and also contains a CD burner function so customers can also burn a disc on the second CD provided as part of the Marvel Heroes Music for Me 2 CD set.

The newly personalized disc can be played in any computer and any other CD player, which is perfect for trips in the car and for taking over to a friends place. You can see the GnG Music player in action right here.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6ddBNLOQBc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6ddBNLOQBc

These new personalized music cds and storybooks are sure to be winners this Christmas. A gift that you can give knowing that it is truly unique and something your child will treasure for a long time to come.

Priced at under $20.00 these provide fantastic value for money and you can learn more about these products from Kids Juke Box Inc and their entire range of over 50 personalized children’s music and other personalized products at their website.

www.kidsjukeboxinc.com http://www.kidsjukeboxinc.com

Michael McBride is the VP of International Sales fro Kids Juke Box Inc in Carlsbad, CA enquiries mike@kidsjukeboxinc.com mike@kidsjukeboxinc.com

Reuters - President George W. Bush heads back to the Middle East on Tuesday facing broad skepticism over his chances of securing an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before he leaves office in less than nine months.

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They protect the ends of the fingers and toes from injury. They help you pick up things. They also come in handy when you have an itch that needs to be scratched.

Indeed, nails help us perform many tasks but they’re also the subject of many myths and misconceptions. Strange as it sounds, when it comes to nail care, a lot of people are in the dark and know more about Dr. Phil than they do about their very own nails!

To clear up whatever misconceptions you have about your nails, read the article below courtesy of Somasin AFS, nature’s answer to stubborn fungal nail infections that are difficult to treat. Somasin is made from a unique herbal blend that will restore your nail’s healthy shine and luster in just seven days.

Nail hardeners and gelatin will strengthen nails. False. Commercial nail hardeners do contain ingredients that strengthen the nails. But by doing so, they also make the nails less flexible and prone to break more easily. Since the nails take a lot of pressure in daily life from activities like housework, dishwashing, and gardening, they can benefit from moisturizers that contain petrolatum or mineral oil.

“The best way to grow strong nails is to make sure that they are kept moisturized. Because nails take a lot of abuse in daily life and are repeatedly exposed to harsh detergents and chemicals that can dry them out, it’s important to keep them moisturized. Most nail polish removers are alcohol based, so it is especially important to moisturize after removing nail polish,” said Anthony J. Jannetti in “Nail care myths and facts” in the Third Age web site.

As for gelatin, it has no effect on nail growth and strength. This was an advertising campaign that began in the 1890s when Charles Knox created gelatin from leftover slaughterhouse waste. Knox claimed that this waste material would strengthen nails since cow’s hooves were strong. Unfortunately, it doesn’t so even if you eat a truckload of Jell-O, your nails will still become chapped and brittle if they’re constantly exposed to water. Wearing gloves makes more sense.

Push your cuticles back to help your nails grow. False. This is a bad idea since you can injure the cuticle and expose the nail to a host of problems including nasty bacterial and fungal infections. For your safety, don’t touch that cuticle!

The cuticle is a barrier that protects the skin and the delicate nail matrix, or ‘root’ of the nail. Pushing back on the cuticle can injure it and expose the paronychium, or skin fold around the nail, to bacteria and result in infection,” said Dr. Marta VanBeek, assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City.

Artificial nails are good for you. False. Another bad idea if you have brittle nails or recurrent fungal infections since they can worsen these conditions. When worn continuously, artificial nails can trap moisture, making them a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. They can also cause allergic reactions in some people.

“People with brittle nails should minimize the amount of trauma associated with removing or changing artificial nails. Chemicals used to dissolve the bond between artificial nails and the nail plate can dry out the nail and damage the nail if used too frequently. For people with healthy nails, artificial nails can be fine as long as they are not worn continuously, VanBeek said.

If you’re sick of fungal nail infections and are worried about expensive oral antifungal drugs and their side effects, try Somasin AFS, an all-natural herbal formula that will bring back your beautiful nails. Check out www.somasin.com http://www.somasin.com for more information.

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine www.thearticleinsiders.com http://www.thearticleinsiders.com .

Reuters - U.S. intelligence analysts are examining spy satellite images of China’s Sichuan province, where a powerful earthquake is believed to have killed 3,000 to 5,000 people, a defense official said on Monday.

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Even though I am a huge fan of playing cards, I cannot set aside an evening to play poker with my friends and family because we all have very busy schedules. I miss those evenings when we played poker for hours. Nothing can be compared with sitting down with your friends for a lovely evening of cards, remembering old times and funny memories, drinking a few beers and having some snacks. Personally I find this the best way to enjoy my friends. However, when this is not possible, then I turn to playing online card games, my second favorite activity.

Playing online card game is really easy, you don’t have to call your friends and try to arrange a convenient time and place for everyone to get together and play poker. When playing online, you sign in and then you just get started, everyone is already there, you have virtual cards and a virtual table, as well. Everything is redistributed, cheating is impossible and all you have to do is sit down and play the hand. When you get bored, you are free to go or you could change the table. There are even people who can play two or three online card games at the same time. I can only admire such dedication.

When playing online, you can still make some new friends. Online card games have the opportunity for text conversation, so you can talk to the people you are playing with. Using this chat is great because you are not face to face and you don’t get nervous about meeting strangers. Moreover, you can pretend to be someone you are not and no one will question you. If you start feeling uncomfortable or you get bored with the game, you can leave whenever you want. Playing online card games has the advantages of face-to-face card playing without the disadvantage of commitment and effort. However, no matter how good online card games might be, nothing is better than a nice poker night with your old friends sharing memories and having a few drinks.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning computer software. Learn more at www.computersoftwareinfosite.com/computer-software/computer-software-information/advantages-of-online-card-games.html http://www.computersoftwareinfosite.com/computer-software/computer-software-information/advantages-of-online-card-games.html

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There are a number of ways to enhance your Houston dating experience, and chief among these is to fight your urge to resort to the “dinner and a movie” standby date. Many of us fall into this trap because its simple, relatively affordable, and, best of all, it requires little to no forethought.

But anyone, anywhere, can do that. Singles in Houston have a wide range of entertainment, culture, and other venues to enjoy, so why waste your Houston dating life bogged down in the mundane?

So the first step in enhancing your Houston dating is getting to know your city. Find out when the sporting events are happening, where the historical locations are, or what other local attractions might provide an entertaining evening. There’s always something new and unique to experience in Houston.

The next step is the more important one. Finding the right person to share in your Houston dating excursion. With the right person - someone who shares your goals, interests, and level of commitment - the most simple of activities can become memorable and meaningful experiences.

So how do you find that person? There are a number of ways, but lately online dating services have become a major source for finding your “soul mate” or “someone special”. In the early days, online dating was derided as the last resort for the “socially incapable”. But since technology has increased and the concept has gone mainstream, online dating has surpassed many of the traditional venues for singles to meet.

Some sites even offer you a way to get to know your potential matches before you even meet. The infamous personality test. If they’re done right, this can be a powerful way to enhance your Houston dating life. What does that mean? It means that a computer can’t tell you who to be attracted to, or who to fall in love with. It can, however, give you a perspective on whether or not it would be a good idea. Taking advantage of tools like these can help make your Houston dating more fun, romantic, and memorable.

Consider: how much time have you spent with people that turned out to be a poor match? How many times did it take you more than four or five dates to learn that you weren’t as compatible as you originally though? These online personality profiles can help you avoid these mistakes and enhance your dating experience by helping you find the right people.

Just remember: this won’t work when the online dating services doesn’t give you the freedom to choose. Sites that send matches with the promise like: “This person is good for you. Trust me.” are a lot like overbearing parents who want to make sure you date the kind of person they like, which might be completely outside of your own preferences.

Once you’ve found the right people, and the best activities, you’re ready to get on and experience Houston and all that it has to offer. Houston singles have an incredible array of possibilities to choose from, and with a little bit of forethought, planning, and research, you’re time spent with other singles can be made into something special.

Andy Eliason is a writer at Main10. For more information on Houston dating, or how personality profiles can help you with your dating experiences, check out HeavenlyMatched.com http://HeavenlyMatched.com .

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Empowerism is a multi-level marketing firm and the dba for the firm Life, Education And Prosperity, Inc. of Atlanta Georgia. It is one of the most dynamic programs on the internet today, its not one of the money making companies but it genuinely helps its subcribers with all the tools and techniques possible to be a successful Internet businessman here are some of the thing you get, 50 business leads a month, a prospecting tool that is built in, and tools that will train you to succeed in Internet marketing. Empowerism tools include your own training center, training lessons that are delivered by e-mail, and a message board.

With this MLM you can learn to earn a good income with bonuses. Your membership makes you a distributor.

The Empowerism site is e-commerce enabled for each distributor’s customers so that they can asked for information as well as order services and products that are credited to the distributor. Information such as name, email address, social security number, credit card numbers, bank accounts and zip codes are secured. These users can opt-out of Empowerism.com emails at any time.

The magazine is called Excellent and its 20 or more pages are full of tips and training on how to succeed in your Internet based business. You can access your private training center and view the magazine in PDF and print it if you wish. Articles include Web site design, search engine marketing and plenty of other marketing and traffic building resources.

With your network marketing membership you’ll have a rotator on your start page that will assist you in earning credits on the start page programs of your choice. You’ll have a submitter for search engines to add your site to as many as 25 URLs every month with one click. You’ll get automated letters to send to your own members and more than 20 URLs that redirect users back to your own site. Empowerism even gives you 25 professional looking Web templates with eye appeal. These you can download for whatever you wish to do with them.

Your subscription includes a series of courses that will teach you marketing, setting up and running a home based business, setting goals and growing your business.

These come by e-mail. The Empowerism Web site that you get includes tools to generate traffic. Some of these are free while the others cost little. You can personalize an e-mail to your downline that goes out as a group message. You’ll have a management center for keeping track of prospect, a great selection of e-books written by company trainers and live training and support.

Empowerism’s Web site talks about access for consumers to its products and services but we weren’t able to find any product or service except sales of subscriptions to Empowerism. In other words, the distributor makes her or his money according to how many distributors s/he adds to her downline.

The cost is $24.95 for the first month and $19.95 a month thereafter.

visit: www.hermandias.blogspot.com/ http://www.hermandias.blogspot.com/

visit: www.legitimate-work-home-guide.com/Empowerism.htm http://www.legitimate-work-home-guide.com/Empowerism.htm

NOTE: You have full permission to reprint this article within your website or newsletter as long as you leave the article fully intact and include the About The Author resource box. Thanks! www.legitimate-work-home-guide.com/FreeEbooks.htm http://www.legitimate-work-home-guide.com/FreeEbooks.htm

Herman Dias

AP - John McCain broke with the Bush administration and Republican Party orthodoxy Monday as he not only declared global warming real, but reached out to Democrats and independents with a free-market solution that includes capping carbon-fuel emissions.

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Spacious living is the requirement of every person. But, often it remains a dream for many, because of various reasons. We know, even though the entire world is spacious, a comfortable living is feasible only in a limited area. And, obviously as the population increases, we are forced to adopt a smaller space for living. But, we also have to satisfy all the requirements of a living. So we all look for space saving solutions.

Due to the extremely high cost of land and property, the average person can not afford “spacious” living accommodation. Therefore, most of us have to accommodate all our necessities in between till four walls. Until the last decade, the necessities only included a place to sleep, cook, eat and bathe. But, now with the development of the internet and broadband access many people are able to work from home. This put even more pressure on the limit space in the modern home. The best idea will be to identify functional space saving solutions. One such solution is inflatable beds.

Inflatable beds are suggested as a solution for space needed to work from home since they can free up a room. Inflated air beds have to be inflated only at the time of need, in rest of the time the space can be used for creative purposes. The left over space can be used creatively for spreading office accessories and work comfortably, from the home. At the same time, there is no need to compromise the luxuries in living space to accommodate the office requirements. A guest bed room will be an ideal place to locate the inflated bed as the need of inflation will be only occasionally. But no need to get worried, if no guest room is available; the master bed itself can be replaced with an inflated air bed, because according to Aerobed www.aerobed.co.uk/pages/why.asp http://www.aerobed.co.uk/pages/why.asp , their beds are put through rigorous tests which involve simulating 52 years of daily use.

Space saving solutions required when working from home is essentially the need of era, as more and more people have started, working from home. Experts have proved that there is room for every possible need, if planned intelligently. The use of inflated beds also has to be planned wisely, using good brands and comfortable sizes. It helps to save more space and it is your responsibility to utilize that space for working from home. Hence using such advancements as inflated beds, work from home, without any space constrains.

Julian Smith works for www.maxxsave.co.uk http://www.maxxsave.co.uk , a website which provides free impartial advice, reviews, buying guides, and www.maxxsave.co.uk http://www.maxxsave.co.uk on personal finance, household bills, insurance and electronic products.

AP - Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager, believed to be the last surviving member of the inner circle of plotters who attempted to kill Adolf Hitler in 1944 with a briefcase bomb, has died. He was 90.

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The following is a book excerpt from THIS TIME I DANCE! Creating the Work You Love (How One Harvard Lawyer Left It All to Have It All!) by Tama J. Kieves (www.ThisTimeIDance.com) reprinted by permission of the author.

I invite you to this dance. We live in times that cry out for love and radical resourcefulness. We live in times that beg for new voices of bold grace. Safe choices have led us into unsafe times. Hunger. Pollution. Crime. And barren spirits. We believed we needed “good” jobs. But those “good” jobs did not lead us to the goodness we desired.

It’s obvious, now, that work needs to support not just our lifestyles, but our lives-and life, itself. We need artists, artists in every profession, who can lead the world love-first into the healing realms of devotion expressed.

Take up your love, your desire to express world beauty or bone wisdom, to cherish potential, or to devise and promote that preferable way. A universal intelligence has gifted you with a whispering wish, not to question, mock, or dilute, but to give your life to-and be given life in return. Trust these meek and gargantuan ideas. Tend even the preposterous seed. The idea begs you. I beg you.
You do not know where love will lead.
You do not know where love will lead.
You do not know where love will lead.

Throughout the world’s history, it’s taken desire, not safe, predictable, acceptable, and impenetrable thinking, to spark cures, breakthroughs, shifts in consciousness, revolutions, and renaissances. Discoveries dawned on the minds of the ardent and engaged, the jubilant and enraged, not merely the employed. The worship of convention has never yet led to astonishment and a joyous leap in human potential. Only enthusiasm plants wild gardens in the mind and harvests inspired fruits and flowers. Only enthusiasm, born of light, conceives of brighter worlds to walk in.

What if we all followed our natural desire to share our love and creativity? Can you imagine the loving and the gifted teaching, writing, singing, selling groceries and carburetors, and leading nations and scientific and economic explorations? Can you imagine impassioned, grateful souls at corporate headquarters, in the courtroom and the newsroom, in the wheat fields and the bean fields, and in the operating room? If we each stood in our right place with invincible hearts and visionary minds, would we not stand in a different world? Of course we would. And our feet wouldn’t even touch the ground.

We live in a world of infinite possibility waiting to unfold. We all have so much to give, so much secret richness encoded in the passion of our dreams. Love transforms us into healers and leaders, lights and fountains, and movers of mountains. When each of us pours our life-energy into the art, service, or industry that enlarges our existence, we will, at last, avail ourselves of the most untapped and unsung resource on the planet: creative inspiration.

Choose to use your gifts and live the adventure of this lifetime. Step into the larger scheme of following your dream. Let’s deluge the world with the ultimate dancers, people who feed their souls with work and feed their work with soul.

Soul will see us through.

Copyright 2007 Tama J. Kieves, All rights reserved.

AP - Tim Duncan had 22 points and 15 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Hornets 100-80 on Sunday night in Game 4 to even the Western Conference semifinals at 2-2.

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Know the holiday retail and spending trends

With the increase in gas prices, and the slow down of the housing market, you may think consumers will cut down on their holiday spending in 2006. But many reports and surveys have shown these concerns will have little to no impact on what consumers will spend this year. According to a report from the Radio Advertising Bureau, consumers have withstood challenges this year from energy costs, slow growth in jobs and softness in the housing market, and they will continue to be bullish about the economy and their own financial well-being. Overall spending is expected to be up for many key categories.

Gift Cards

Same as last year, gift cards are expected to be the top holiday purchase this year. Last year, 66 percent of consumers bought at least one gift card. Gift cards are an excellent idea if you are not sure what the person will like. However, many people think they are too impersonal. Retailers on the other hand, like gift cards. They like the idea when consumers come in to use the gift cards, there is a good chance the consumer will want to use the entire gift card balance and even spend more than the gift card.

Department Store Credit Cards

Everyone knows when the holiday season approaches, many department stores offer zero-percent financing or an additional percent off for consumer purchases. A survey conducted by Roper Public Affairs, stated that when consumers were asked how likely they are to make a major purchase this holiday season using either a zero-percent financing or a no payments/no interest offer, fewer than two in ten (18 percent) say it is very likely that they will. Additionally, 71 percent responded that if they were to take advantage of such an offer, they would plan to pay off the total due before incurring any interest charges.

This same survey also found a correlation between age and income level. Ninety-five percent of consumers 65 and older say they are highly unlikely to take advantage of store credit card offers. Twenty-five percent of consumers with household incomes $50 k or greater say they are very likely to take advantage of such an offer. Eighty-one percent of consumers with household incomes $50 k or greater say they would pay off the whole purchase before the interest is due.

If you choose to take advantage of such deals, make sure you pay the purchase off as quickly as possible. Department store credit cards are known for charging ridiculously high interest rates after the promotional offer expires. If this happens to you, the initial savings you received on the product when you first bought it will turn into a net loss, especially if you rack up late payment fees. Online Shopping

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers tips for safe online shopping

? Know the seller. Confirm the online seller’s address and phone number incase of problems

? Know exactly what you are buying. Look out for descriptions like refurbished, vintage, or close out. These terms may indicate that the products are not in mint condition.

? Compare prices of the same product on different website.

? Check the privacy policy to make sure the website will not share your personal information with anyone.

? Pay with a credit card. Credit cards offer consumers the most protection. Do not send cash!

? Use a secure browser. Buy only from websites that offer secure payments.

? Consider shipping and handling costs.

? Print records of your online transactions. (receipts, confirmation e-mails, bank statements, etc.).

? Understand the return policy.

? Check delivery dates. A FTC rule requires sellers to ship items as promised or within 30 days after the order date.

Retail store information for 2006

According to Forbes.com, here are their holiday picks. Specialty stores like Victoria’s Secret, Coach and Aeropostale, will do very well because consumers want premium products. Another specialty store - Gap, is introducing their limited edition Product Red clothing line just in time for the holidays. Product Red is being promoted by Oprah Winfrey and Bono to raise money for AIDS victims in Africa. Forbes.com says Product Red will bring a whole new customer to Gap stores, some who have not shopped there in years. Huge stores like Wal-Mart and Target have already shown a holiday shopping increase in October. Wal-Mart is now selling top notch electronics such as High Definition (HD) televisions. JC Penny is also expected to do well due their large advertising budget and their Red Box holiday campaign. The Red Box campaign will feature 20 - 30 items in advertisement across the whole country.

Protecting your purchases

If you decide to shop with a credit card, choose one that offers a purchase protection plan. There may be an instance that you buy a product that you do not want or a product that breaks or falls apart. Since many stores have a no-return or return for store credit only policy, you are usually out of luck. This is when purchase protection plans come in. If you shop with a credit card that offers return protection, you can receive reimbursement for the purchase price even if the store of origin has a no-return policy. Return protection programs typically involve a limit on the amount per item and an annual limit for the cardholder. Other qualifications such as the condition of the purchased item and the existence of any return/satisfaction guarantee programs at the store may apply. These plans also offer manufacturer’s extended warranties. You may not need to buy additional warranties on major purchases because some credit card companies will extend the terms of the original manufacturer’s warranty. This service could save you the expense of purchasing extended warranty programs. Make sure you familiarize yourself with coverage restrictions before making your final decision.

Pete Glocker is employed in the Education and Charitable Services Department at Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp. (”DMCC”), a 501c(3) non-profit charitable organization located in Boca Raton, Florida. Pete graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BA in Multimedia Journalism and was a web producer Intern for Tribune Interactive products Sun-Sentinel.com and SouthFlorida.com. DMCC provides free financial education, personal budget counseling, and debt management plans to consumers across the United States. Debt management plans offered by DMCC help consumers relieve the stress of excessive debt by reducing credit card interest rates, consolidating and lowering monthly payments, and stopping collection calls and late fees. DMCC financial counselors can be reached for free education materials, budget counseling and debt management plan quotes by calling 866-618-DEBT or by visiting www.dmcccorp.org http://www.dmcccorp.org . Pete Glocker can be reached by email at pete@dmcccorp.org pete@dmcccorp.org .

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