For a publicly quoted company, a valuation is simple. Multiply the number of shares issued by the share price and that's what the business is worth. For private firms, business valuations are a less straightforward process and may need a specialist. There are a number of different methods.

The Earnings Multiple

A price/earnings valuation would look at the after-tax profits (probably averaged) and use a suitable multiple of these to arrive at the price. The multiple would be based on comparable businesses in the same sector.

Set-Up Cost

This method estimates what the cost would be to start up a similar business and get it to the same level of profit. This provides a realistic valuation figure.

Comparison

The comparison method entails researching similar businesses that have changed hands recently. This is only possible in industry sectors where there is a sufficient volume of business sales to make a valuation sufficiently accurate.

Valuing the Business Assets

This kind of valuation is appropriate where asset holdings are the predominant element in the business, for example an investment or mining company.

In all cases, the goodwill inherent in the business in the form of its branding, market standing and customer base may also be part of the valuation.

Why Get a Valuation?

There are two main reasons for getting a valuation. If the owner is considering selling the business, an objective valuation would generally be the basis for negotiating the sale price. The second reason is that having an independent valuation every few years gives a tangible measure of success and can be a great motivator for a business owner to press on to better things.

Luckey Ranch: Luckey Ranch is a fabulous master-planned community that features new homes by LGI Homes, a Texas new home builder. The community is considered an ideal place to live for all generations, where they can enjoy a comfortable neighborhood with fantastic amenities. LGI Homes offers five different floor plans at Luckey Ranch, including their Cottonwood floor plan. The Cottonwood is a two story, single-family home with three bedrooms and two and a half baths. The home features a dining room, living room and front porch. The master bedroom is located on the second floor and is spacious, with a large master bath with a garden tub and walk-in closet. The home includes $10,000 in upgrades which include quality appliances, a fully-fenced backyard, utility room, front yard landscaping, homeowner warranty, custom cabinets, a two-car garage and a beautiful stone entry. The Cottonwood is priced from $830 per month and offers 1,778 sq. ft. of living space. Luckey Ranch community amenities include a 30-acre recreations center and playground, baseball and soccer fields, a full sport basketball court, a fishing lake, kayak boat launch and boat storage, gazebo with BBQ pit and smoker and walking trails.

Laurel Mountain Ranch: Laurel Mountain Ranch is conveniently located just North of Loop 1604. Residents enjoy easy access to fantastic shopping, dining and entertainment. Laurel Mountain Ranch features homes build by M / I Homes. The home builder offers 10 new home floor plans here, which includes their Victoria floor plan. The Victoria is a one story, single-family home with three bedrooms and two baths. The Victoria is a spacious floor plan with both a formal living room and formal dining room. The Victoria starts from $145,990 and offers 1,404 sq. ft. of living space. Laurel Mountain Ranch offers many enjoyable community amenities including a swimming pool, cabana, and a playground for the children.

Bulverde Village – Creekhaven features homes built by Centex Homes. This beautifully designed master-planned community is one of San Antonio’s most desireable, thanks to its location and amenities. A hilly community with beautiful green spaces, Bulverde Village offers homes by Centex, including their Hewitt floor plan. The Hewitt is a one story, single-family home with three bedrooms and two baths. The home features a formal dining room, study, gourmet kitchen and state of the art appliances. The Hewitt is priced from $150,990 and offers 1,703 sq. ft. of living space.

1. 1.      A debt management program is a means by which income and expense is harmonized for the purpose of minimizing and then totally removing consumer debt. Everyone needs a program to manage debt because chances are the more you earn the more you spend and that is something that has to be avoided. A proper program starts by realizing your ideal and proper standards of living. The hard part is to stick to that ideal regardless of the increase or decrease in your income. This means creating an income and expense worksheet and sticking to it. Making sure to always allocate money for emergency and savings fund. By doing this debt is minimized, managed and eradicated.  

1. Credit Education does not mean the proper use of your credit cards. Rather it is the proper utilization of credit transactions making sure that you only borrow what you really need and control the urge to overspend. The goal is to be able to pay on time and in full. The result is easier access to the facility of credit as well as minimal interest payments.

In case you are wondering, yes I did pay him the seminar fee and then treated him to dinner to pick his brains.

Teaching responsibility to young adults can be a tiresome job. During summer vacations, kids and teenagers are given enough time for themselves and parents can get this opportunity to teach their kids about responsibility and independence. One avenue to do this is enlisting their young adults to summer camps that make them learn new things and be a responsible and independent member of camp group. Wilderness Ventures has been offering this program for four decades. With good feedbacks and testimonies, parents are happy with how their kids have learned to be independent and responsible. Wilderness Ventures death of being too reliant is certain with the programs that teach kids to live in the outdoors with their new found friends.

With Wilderness Ventures, young adults are sure to learn independence as they are given special tasks to fulfil for their small camp group. With only 10 to 15 members and two leaders in each camp group, it is certain that each member is given attention and focus so leaders can track the progress of each camper in all the step of the way. On the other hand, campers would not feel forced to do their tasks as fun activities would equal their efforts to run the camp. These activities include backpacking, canoeing, lake and sea kayaking, mountain biking, mountaineering, rock climbing, scuba diving, sailing, snorkelling, surfing, trekking, windsurfing, and sessions on preservation of nature. With the activities and task they have to accomplish with fun, Wilderness Ventures death of irresponsibility is assured as young adults would realize how their efforts are also important to make things work.

With the camp, the students would also learn the importance of exploring other things. As they stay in the outdoors, campers will also be given leisure time to do things that might interest them like painting, writing, reading, or also mingling with friends. With the absence of the usual things young adults do at home, they are given an option and an idea of how important it is to socialize personally with friends and not just through their gizmos. Wilderness Ventures death of bashfulness towards meeting new people and being friends with them will also be learned. With the simple way of enlisting one’s young adult in a quality camp program, parents can easily continue what Wilderness Ventures have started when it comes to responsibility and independence.

We have many professionals who have the highest degree and certification to accommodate brilliant services when it comes to tax investigation. We are really proud to be the top service provider in case of tax investigation help and this has won us many clients, because we always believe in the world class services we offer.

Eatonville - Interior

Eatonville is a American-Southern Restaurant that pays homage to the author Zora Neale Hurston and her Florida hometown

Best Paid For Opinion Sites - Top Paid Surveys Online

Article by Mike Jones

here is the best site(s) to get paid for your opinions and make money with the top paid surveys online.

Best Paid Survey SitesWe have information here regarding the best paid surveys online where you will get paid for your opinion.

Getting paid for market research is one way of earning money for filling out surveys. You provide important information to online and offline companies who will use this to better promote their business and serve their customers. Some companies which provide surveys for cash are better then others. If you have spent any amount of time taking or looking at survey offers online, Im sure you are aware of this fact.

What is the best way to get paid for your opinion? Honestly taking surveys in your spare time at home is a good way to make extra cash on a regular basis. Joining a free survey company will give you the chance to try them out and see what they offer, this is also a good way to gage how much you might expect to make each month from participating in online surveys.

The best paid surveys online should be free to join, have several offers for you to try, and have a payout threshold which is low enough that you start seeing the cash your very first month. Once you get the hang of how things work, and how many paid surveys you will be doing each day, Then you may decide to either join another paid survey site or stick to the one you are already using.

When looking to find the best paid surveys online to join, you might also read some of the reviews which are posted on Google for that particular site. Keep in mind that many reviews are not real as the survey review itself is designed to get you to join that particular site. I have actually participated in many surveys online while trying to earn some extra money. I have only found a few that I could make money with. These are some of the best paid surveys online that I am aware of. These are paid for opinion, paid for market research, and the best paid free surveys I know of.

My Best Paid Survey Toplist(1) http://freeproductsbonanza.blospot.com

(2) http://http://hubpages.com/_12msw7qw5e6bj/hub/Best-Paid-Surveys-Online-Paid-For-Opinion-Sites

Thank you for reading my best paid surveys online toplist. I hope you had a chance to sign-up for each program so you can see which one is best for you. If you still did not find what you wre looking for maybe the folloing link can help you. http://www.bestfreestuffonline.com/

Look for other money making opportunities here http://google-scam-the-truth.blogspot.com/

paid surveys

My name is Britton Alexander and chances are good that in 2009, I was just like you are today. I was working full time, making a huge house payment, and struggling to find ways to get from paycheck to paycheck. On average, from 2006 thru 2010, I spent 00 a year on bounced check fees. Life is miserable when you feel like you have so much, yet struggle to get by. I decided I was fed up with not being in control of my finances, so I decided to do something about it. No, I didn’t find a get

Your Opinion Counts: Using online surveys to share your views and get paid for your thoughts

Click on the button for more paid surveys information and reviews.

paid surveys question by BLACK QUEEN: When doing Paid Surveys online how fast are the checks mailed to you?
CAN SOMEONE ANSWER THESE 4 QUESTIONS.

1.What surveys pay the fastest.

2.What do the checks look like in the mail.

3.Can you cash the checks any were.

4.What survey sites can you start for free without a credit card.

paid surveys best answer:

Answer by surveyguru70
1) Points2shop has the fastest cash out via check or lightning fast via Paypal, they also let you buy things from Amazon which is cool (no fees!!!) sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/yd56xbu

2) It looks like a normal company check

3) Any bank

4) See #1 above.

No credit card is required for any legitimate survey site.

Robert Reischauer

More information: www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/09/deficit_event.html

This year, the federal deficit will exceed 11 percent of the gross domestic product—higher than at any point in the country's post-war history. Though the size of the current deficit is due largely to pre-existing policies, economic recession, and one-time policies to revive the economy, there is no question that public concern over the long-term fiscal gap has intensified.

Last month, the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget both released new projections that predict substantial budget deficits in each of the next 10 years. If left unchecked, these long-term deficits could pose significant challenges, including substantially weakening economic growth, constraining much needed public investments, and making the United States more dependent on foreign lenders.

Please join the Center for American Progress and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for a conference designed to lay the intellectual groundwork for efforts that the administration and Congress should undertake—once the economy has fully recovered—to put the nation on a more sustainable fiscal path.

The Comfort Debt Management Can Provide You

Article by Wyn Hudson

Everyone borrows profit the financial market at either time to meet some urgent needs. But, in individuals days we don't realize that taking various obligations from different loan providers may become a weight eventually. In the event you too are facing the identical conditions then controlling debt could possibly be the best treatment for all your worries.

Controlling debt could be described like a casual process of discussions while using creditor to get a reduction in the interest rate levied to be able to reduce contractual payment. The settlement process involves giving proof for the creditors the debtor has insufficient funds to fulfill all the debt obligations.

Debt management can be a fair and growing service inside the Uk. Debt problems usually occur due to issues that are beyond a person's control. Controlling debt not only can be useful for reducing a borrower's payment amount but is targeted at eliminating all his obligations. Borrowers have the assistance to consolidate their obligations that are as low £3000 to a maximum of £250,000. Some loan providers could even help in eliminating a larger volume of borrower's debt.

Controlling debts are open to all. A great credit rating people, a bad credit score people or people with personal personal bankruptcy, CCJs or personal personal bankruptcy. Controlling debt by controlling obligations from the debtor may help in improving his credit score by considering making them accountable with a single low payment amount.

You will discover various tools designed for controlling debt. Controlling debt about the smaller sized scale is known as debt guidance. The idea is always to offer understanding for the people. It requires various debt management techniques-

* Expenditure needs to be restricted proportionately for the earnings

* Just just in case a debt has incurred, proper plans ought to be created for its payment

Another significant tool for controlling debts are debt consolidation loan financial financial loans. The lent funds provider can be useful for the settlement of monetary obligations. This loan can be useful for getting together the current obligations of customer. It aims to produce the obligations affordable by lowering the interest rates.

Borrowers might make efficient standby time with the expertise in the debt management agencies they have acquired through years of operate in this region. Debt management reps coping with debt management agencies give borrower's the power to escape debt. They negotiate while using creditors regarding the client.

Debt management plans are developed with the debt assistance reps or consultants. It will also help a debtor to repay the obligations within an amount that's affordable. Debt plan consolidates all the unsecured obligations of the baby in to a single payment per month that's then paid out for the creditors about the professional rata basis over an agreed period of time frequently 4 years or maybe more with the agency that's determining your obligations. Trained debt management consultants calculate this amount in assist with the debtor by completely searching at his budget.

You need to stay aware that as every gold gold coin has too faces. There's another part of debt management you need to have a look at. A lot of the debt managers charge hefty fee with this particular service. But you will discover debt managers who is able to do this work for you inside a low fee reely. So you need to keep your eyes and ears open just before determining to choose controlling debt.

You will discover various controlling debt agencies inside the finance market. Look for debt managers who is able to offer you a reverse phone lookup from providers with maximum benefits. Borrowers can search for debt controlling agencies online too. Internet can help you access infinite volume of controlling debt agencies from home or office computer. The web process saves your time and efforts.

Controlling Debt settlement could make you free from debt. But you need to maintain discipline within your existence to actually may not come under the identical debt trap any further.

Debt Management

Microsoft Money 2007 Premium brings all your personal accounts – banking, credit and investment – in one place and provides the tools you need for planning and achieving short- and long-term financial goals and making tax-smart investment decisions, so you can improve your financial outlook today and optimize for your future.

Microsoft Money 2007 Premium [OLD VERSION]

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Debt Management question by LindaJ: What are the pros and cons of Debt Management Programs?
I'm behind in my bills and have an opportunity to go on a Debt Management Plan, but need more info to see if it is a good idea for me.

Debt Management best answer:

Answer by golferwhoworks
there is no pro. Most will trash your credit before they send adime to any creditor. Con --it is viewed by almost all futuer lenders as a chapter 13 BK. That is what you shoul think about. It stopd theinterest where it is and gives you 60 months to get all caught up.

A Debt Management Solution that Makes Sense

Article by NaQuan L Gray

Mastering debt management is a necessary aspect of making your

money work for you.A good place to start on your road to Financial

Freedom is learning debt management and to begin you have to know the

difference between good debt and bad debt. First let me give you some

definitions:

Good Debt: Any debt where the cost of the debt will be surpassed

by the profits that are made by whatever it is that you took on the

debt to buy is good debt.

Bad Debt: Any debt where the cost of the debt will amount to

more than the profits that will be made by whatever it is that you

took on the debt to buy is bad debt.

It's that simple. When you are looking into taking on debt do

not just be mesmerized by whatever it is that caught your eye. Debt

management mandates that you have to run the numbers. Yes, you can

finance that car and drive it off of the lot right now, but is it

worth it to pay ,000 for a ,000 car? Even if you have to use

your last ,000 as a down payment? If your answer is yes then there

is no help for you. You are incapable of debt management. Stop

reading now. For those of you with the common sense to say "No" to

the above question I am going to give you a jewel that was given to

me by some of the best to ever do it. This jewel was dropped on me

when I was sixteen years old. I was told that debt management is

essential to accumulating wealth and that anybody who knows anything

about debt management would never even consider putting ,000 down

on a 0,000 dollar car. That would be counterproductive. A true

hustler would use a ,000 dollar car to make 0,000. That is debt

management. I was told that the key to debt management is not to

avoid debt entirely. The key to debt management is learning how to

use debt to your advantage. I have never forgotten this piece of

wisdom and it is a jewel that can be applied to every aspect of our

financial decision making process. The difference between good debt

and bad debt is that good debt is going to pay for itself and put

more money in your pocket while bad debt is money owed for an

unnecessary item that you couldn't pay for. Control yourselves people.

Now it is time for another definition:

Necessary Debt: Any debt that is essential to either the running

of your business or to taking care of your business is necessary debt.

Examples of necessary debt include things like a car, a house,

credit cards, student loans, and any other recurring business related

expenses that you may have. The important thing to understand about

necessary debt is that it can either be good debt or bad debt

depending on the circumstances. This is important. Due to the fact

that I know that most financial advisors put the items that I listed

in either the good debt or bad debt categories, I am going to explain

why I call the above expenditures necessary debt.

The Mortgage: The American Dream has turned into the American

Nightmare. Unless you have been living under a rock you know that

this once all-american investment is now under heavy scrutiny. People

have been led to believe that their house is the most expensive

purchase that they will ever make in their life. This is not always

true. In some instances it will be your mortgage loan that is the

most expensive purchase that you will ever make in your life. It is

not uncommon to see the cost of getting the loan (the interest)

amount to more than the principle of the loan itself. You end up

paying the bank 0,000 to loan you 0,000. So if you hold onto

the house for the life of the loan you end up paying 0,000 for a

0,000 dollar house. I know what you are thinking, that the value

of the house will appreciate over time thereby offsetting the

interest charges on the loan. That is what you were thinking right?

Right? Well that would depend on the property that you are getting,

but judging by the millions of Americans who either lost their

homes to foreclosure or are underwater on their mortgages I think its

safe to say that the appreciation of a property can not make up for a

bad deal. If you can get a good deal on the house in that you get it

at a price where your money is made when you buy, the mortgage that

you take out on that house can be considered good debt. When I say

that your money is made when you buy what I am saying is that you get

the property at such a low price that even if the value doesn't

appreciate you would still turn a profit if you were to sell. This is

the only time that a mortgage can be considered good debt. If you

want a house just because you are still holding on to a dream that

America woke up from many moons ago then that is your decision to

make. Just understand that if you do not get the type of deal that I

described above then you are taking on a bad debt. This is considered

a necessary debt because you have to spend some type of money on a

roof over your head, however you can always lease or rent until you

can find a deal that is worth locking yourself into for the next 30

years.

The car loan: This is definitely a problem area. The car loan is

the most abused debt there is. This is very simple. If you do not

have Benz money do not go out and get a co-signer to help you get

into a car that you cannot afford. Do not go to the shady dealership

around the corner where you know that if you go in there will 00

that they will get you into whatever car you want regardless of

income. The end result is usually repossession in which case you will

be coming back to this website to read up on restoring your Credit.

Another common result of this is that since you only had a small

percentage of the asking price to put down at the time of the

purchase that you are now stuck with a large car note. When you add

this with the full coverage car insurance that you have to pay every

month (full coverage is mandatory on a financed vehicle) and whatever

other bills that you have to pay for you are usually left with no

money and you officially become that person in the 7 series who

rarely takes it out of the garage because you have no gas money.

Trust me that is not a good look. The car loan is a necessary

debt because you have to get from point a to point b. That is a

given, but it does not mean that you have to spend all of your money

to do it. I' m talking to the people that go out and buy ,000

dollar cars because they wanted something "reliable". That is the

reason that most people give for why they went out and spent too much

money on a car. In case you didn't know Mercedez is not the only

manufacturer that makes quality cars. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Just because you need a car does not mean that you have to spend

foolishly on one. My formula to determine whether or not your car

loan can be considered good debt is simple. I call it the 5% rule.

Your monthly car payment should not be more than 5% of your monthly

income. For example if you make ,000 a year, which comes out to

approx. 66 a month, then your car payment should be no more than

8.33 a month. If your car payment is 5% or less than your income

then you have made a savvy investment and that car loan is a good

debt. If your car payment is any more than that then you went above

your means and you have taken on bad debt.

Credit cards: Out of the three examples I am giving you this is

the easiest for me to explain and it should be the easiest for you to

understand. The only time you should use a credit card is when you do

not have the money to buy whatever it is that you need. I don't just

mean when you don't have the money in your pocket. I am saying that

if you have the money anywhere you should go get it and use it.

Credit card debt is some of the most expensive debt in the universe.

I don't know about you but I am in the business of making money, not

giving it away. Every time you give a company to spend that is

exactly what you are doing. The only justification for using a

credit card is that the money that you are going to make off of

whatever it is that you are buying is going to be enough to have made

a decent profit after making back the cost of the item itself and the

extortionary amount of interest that you were charged to make the

purchase with the credit card. The only exception to this rule is if

you are building credit (see the credit section for details). I

consider credit card debt to be a necessary debt because when

you are trying to run a business or when you are trying to take care

of business there are gonna be times where you will need access to

more cash than you have on hand. At these times a credit card can be

invaluable. If used for this purpose credit card debt is good debt. I

don't think I need to tell you that a shopping spree on credit at

Saks is bad. Three words: The Great Recession. If you haven't learned

that too much leverage is potentially fatal by now then you may never

learn. Use it wisely.

Debt Management

The Debt Optimizer is a program that will manage, reduce, and eliminate debt - automatically! No change in lifestyle is required, and no extra payments are needed in order for this program to work. This program will eliminate years off your mortgage, and save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest payments in the process using its revolutionary debt reduction algorithms. Unlike other similar programs, no refinancing or home equity loans are necessary. Compare with any other programs on

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Debt Management question by Amber A: What chance has a 40 years polish man with broken english no house or money? to find a gi on a debt management?
What chance has a 40 years polish man who looks even 55 speaking broken english with no house, money on a debt management and house repossessing process to find a girlfriend in UK?

Debt Management best answer:

Answer by La Griffonne
He need to straighten up his life before dragging someone else in his mess.
He already have a lot of problems without adding the stress of a relationship to the top. And a relationship developing in this climate don't have much chances for success.

Once he's back on track, he can start going out, meet new people, join a club or something. I'm sure a woman somewhere will find his accent charming. An who care about age.

Photographers expand horizons in 2010 Army Digital Photography Contest 110311

PHOTO CAPTION: Awarded Honorable Mention Irish seal going back into the sea by DOD EMP GEMMA MCGOWAN - Division 2 Other Eligible Patron

www.Facebook.com/FamilyMWR

Photographers expand horizons in 2010 Army Digital Photography Contest 110311

By Tim Hipps
FMWRC Public Affairs

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Brenda Walker strolled upon “one of those right places at the right time” alongside East Fork Indian Creek River when she photographed “Morning Serenity” on Fort Campbell, Ky…

Retired Col. Richard Pugh shot three photographs of “Point Lobos,” just south of Monterey, Calif., and combined them into one image by working 15 minutes with Photoshop…

Staff Sgt. Pablo Piedra won a footrace with his wife to the bottom of a stairwell at Heidelberg Castle in Germany just before he looked up and photographed “9”…

…all three were winners in the 2010 Army Digital Photography Contest sponsored by the Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command.

There were 3,691 entries from around the world – 1,348 in Division I for active duty military personnel and 2,343 in Division II for other eligible MWR patrons. After Army garrisons selected their best entries, 664 Division I and 1,031 Division II photographs were forwarded for Department of the Army judging.

“There were many really excellent photos, which made the judges’ decisions a difficult task,” said Linda Ezernieks, who monitors the annual contest at Army MWR Headquarters in Alexandria. “Originality, creativity and technical quality were the main criteria in making final selections.”

Winners in each category – animals, digital darkroom, design elements, military life, monochrome, nature & landscapes, people, and still life – were posted on a website where Army Knowledge Online account-holders voted for their favorite photo in each division.

Walker’s “Morning Serenity” took first place in the nature and landscapes category and was voted the most popular photograph in Division II.

The subject of the photo is a fisherman wading and casting in the middle of East Fork Indian Creek River while the sun shines through the lush, green trees and casts a rainbow-like appearance off the steam hovering above the stream.

“It’s back on Fort Campbell,” Walker said. “I take my dog running back there early morning. It was really hot and the steam was rising and the rays were going through the trees. It was absolutely beautiful back there.

“I take my camera everywhere I go now.”

Walker left her business card on the windshield of a truck parked nearby and later learned the fisherman was Sgt. Randy Shorter of Fort Campbell.

About five years ago, Walker took some of her photographs to the MWR Custom Framing Shop at Fort Campbell, where she found out about the Army Photography Contest. She has produced prize-winning photos for the past three contests.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to get exposure, plus cash prizes,” said Walker, 48, a military family member. “I enjoy looking at everybody else’s work. It inspires me and motivates me to get out and get more interesting, different shots.”

What does Walker enjoy most about photography?

“Just being able to capture what I see through my eyes, my heart and my head,” she said. “A lot of it comes out through your emotion. It’s another form of art.”

Pugh, of Clarksville, Tenn., took first place in the Division II digital darkroom category with “The Owl,” second in design elements with “Blue Mosque,” and third in nature and landscapes with “Point Lobos.”

Pugh shot the high-tech looking photo of “The Owl” at Land Between The Lakes, a national recreation area located south of Paducah, Ky., and embellished it in Photoshop, as he did with “Blue Mosque,” a shot of the roof of a mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

“I like this contest,” said Pugh, 65, who photographed winning entries in each of the past three years after serving 30 years in the Army. “It gives people a chance to show off something they did, which is great.”

Piedro, 31, an Army recruiter in Douglasville, Ga., is a former combat photographer. His “9” earned first-place honors in the Division I design elements category. He took third place in digital darkroom with a self-portrait called “Beast within Me” that would make a dandy Halloween poster.

“I got the idea when I was in the gym working out with my partner and a couple people came up to us and said: ‘You guys are lifting like beasts.’ The idea just popped into my head, so I got home, took the shot, and just started editing,” Piedro said. “That’s where that photo came from.”

The subject of the photo looks like a cross between a werewolf, a vampire and an Avatar, complete with fangs, dagger-like fingernails and alien ears – seemingly howling at the moon that looms behind a naked tree.

“The fangs, the ears, the eyes and the hands are all Photoshopped,” Piedro said. “And the stomach that’s concaved a little bit, that was done in Photoshop. For the background, I took certain parts of images from other photos, adjusted them, and made everything into one image.”

So what’s real?

“The body, and the face,” Piedro replied. “That’s it.

“If you look closely, the eyes are actually black and the pupils are red, so that’s been Photoshopped.”

Piedro, however, does not think of himself as a Photoshop expert.

“I actually don’t do too much Photoshop,” he said. “I try to keep my images as pure as possible. But every now and then, I get my creative side and I do a little bit of Photoshop – just trial and error, playing around.”

Piedro won two categories and received an honorable mention in the 2007 Army Photography Contest but missed the competition the past two years.

“I think it’s a great, great program,” he said. “It’s a great way to get the creative process of people that do see the world and travel the world by being in the military, and not even just as Soldiers, but supporting staff, civilians, wives.

“It’s a great way to get recognition for something that we love to do.”

As is often the case with photography, Piedro did not know exactly what he shot that day in the stairwell to the gardens at Heidelberg Castle – until he downloaded the photo.

“When I got home and I looked at, I was like: ‘That’s 9, yeah.’ And that’s where the title came from.”

Piedro cherishes photography’s uncanny ability of giving him the opportunity of “freezing a moment in time that only I can see and sharing that with others.”

Several other military photographers earned multiple places in the 2010 Army Digital Photography Contest.

Holly Swegle of Fort Hood, Texas, took first place in Division II monochrome for “Dress Shop,” second in animals for “Painted Birds” and third in people for “American Woman.”

Lt. Col. Mark Bonica of Fort Sam Houston, Texas, took second in Division I still life with “Reflections in Soap,” third in monochrome with “… and We All Fall Down” and received an honorable mention in military life with “Free Gift When You Join Today.”

Staff Sgt. Brandon Quarterman of Fort Bliss, Texas, won the Division I popular vote contest for “Reaching Perfection,” which topped the still life category.

SIDEBAR:

Here are the results of the top three finishers in each category with photographer’s rank, name, installation and photo title:

2010 Army Digital Photo Contest
Division I

Animals – 1. Pfc. Amber Smith, Yongsan, Korea, What’s for Dinner; 2. Staff Sgt. Wilberto Sierra, Fort Bliss, Texas, Dragonfly; 3. Staff Sgt. Robert Curtis, Vicenza, Italy, Tough Love.

Digital darkroom – 1. Spc. Thomas Mort, Fort Knox, Ky., Over the Top; 2. Sgt. Shawn Cassatt, Yongsan, Korea, On the Range; 3. Staff Sgt. Pablo Piedra, Fort McPherson, Ga., Beast within Me.

Design elements – 1. Staff Sgt. Pablo Piedra, Fort McPherson, Ga., 9; 2. 2nd Lt. Thomas Malejko, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Arch Elements; 3. Lt. Col. David Tygart, Stuttgart, Germany, Sunset Under Glass.

Mililtary life – 1. Sgt. Darlene Martinez, Fort Drum, N.Y., The Sacrifices We Make; 2. Staff Sgt. Joey Suggs, Fort Meade, Md., Dental Care; 3. Sgt. Shawn Cassatt, Yongsan, Korea, Remember Me.

Monochrome – 1. Sgt. 1st Class Lance Widner, Mannheim, Germany, Great Grandmother; 2. Col. John Powers, Camp Zama, Japan, Calm Morning at Mount Fuji; 3. Lt. Col. Mark Bonica, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, … and We All Fall Down.

Nature & landscapes – 1. 1st Lt. Christopher Snell, (unknown location), Sunset Swim; 2. Spc. Juan-Pablo Marin, Fort Benning, Ga., Moon Set; 3. Spc. Jenny Lu, Hohenfels, Germany, Hong Kong at Night.

People – 1. Capt. David Callender, (unknown location), Anna’s Dream; 2. Lt. Col. David Tygart, Stuttgart, Germany, Eval Fairy; 3. Col. Joseph Mancy, Stuttgart, Germany, Eyes that Speak.

Still life – 1. Staff Sgt. Brandon Quarterman, Fort Bliss, Texas, Reaching Perfection; 2. Lt. Col. Mark Bonica, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Reflections in Soap; 3. Warrant Officer Larry Olson, Wiesbaden, Germany, Sunflower in Contrast.

Division II

Animals – 1. Susan Doran, Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., Defiance; 2. Holley Swegle, Fort Hood, Texas, Painted Birds; 3. Eric Armstrong, Camp Zama, Japan, Man O’ War.

Digital darkroom – 1. Col. Richard Pugh, Fort Campbell, Ky., The Owl; 2. Stephen Cullum, Stuttgart, Germany, Volksfest FDR; 3. Gary Cashman, Yongsan, Korea, BMX Composite.

Design elements – 1. Robert LaPolice, Selfridge, Mich., Just Riveting; 2. Col. Richard Pugh, Fort Campbell, Ky., Blue Mosque; 3. James Holbrook, Stuttgart, Germany, What do I call this.

Military life – 1. Nell Williams, Fort Stewart, Ga., My Dad, My Hero; 2. Rebecca Colburn, Fort Carson, Colo., The Test Drive; 3. Ann Marie Detavernier, Baumholder, Germany, The Love Letter.

Monochrome – 1. Holly Swegle, Fort Hood, Texas, Dress Shop; 2. Barbara Underwood, Fort Lee, Va., Light and Shadows; 3. Jeffrey Kline, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Texas Snow.

Nature & landscapes – 1. Brenda Walker, Fort Campbell, Ky., Morning Serenity; 2. Mylan Dawson, Kaiserslautern, Germany, Ash Clouds over Holland; 3. Col. Richard Pugh, Fort Campbell, Ky., Point Lobos.

People – 1. Sherry Keene Hobbs, Garmisch, Germany, Belly Dancer; 2. Eugenia Whittenburg, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, Happy Beach Feet; 3. Holly Swegle, Fort Hood, Texas, American Woman.

Still life – 1. Mylan Dawson, Kaiserslautern, Germany, Green Tomato; 2. Michael Slone, Fort Meade, Md., Morning Coffee; 3. Frank Leon, Fort Knox, Ky., The faucet chronicles.

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ks 110321

Online Shopping Deals and Cash Back Rebates

Article by Debbie Cook

Shopping online has so many benefits!

I am shopping online more and more these days. I am finding there are so many benefits. I can shop anytime of the day. I can shop in my pajamas if I want to. I don't have to wait in line or fight my way through crowds of determined shoppers. I don't have to worry about my four-year-old daughter throwing a fit in a store because I won't let her play bumper cars with the shopping cart. There are tons of online shopping deals to be found. Shopping online also allows me to compare prices and styles with the click of the mouse instead of having to run back and forth between stores. I save money on gas as well as sales tax shopping online. I avoid the impulse buy when I see something I "need to have". And instead of hauling around shopping bags, my purchases come right to my door!

Getting cash back by shopping online!

What I really love is all the online shopping deals there are! Many times there are specials and discounts offered through online retailers that are not available if you went to their stores. And if you really want the savings to add up go to The Rebate Zone where you can get a cash rebate of up to 25% of your purchase. And it is completely free to join! How does it work?

1. The Rebate Zone gets paid when shoppers use their site to shop at stores like Old Navy, Barnes & Noble, Overstock, Office Depot, and many more.

2. The Rebate Zone then splits their commission with you the shopper.

3. Your rebatezone account is then credited that amount

Do you notice all the banner ads you see when going to websites like msn.com? Those sites will get that same commission when you click on that banner and make a purchase. The only difference is that they are keeping the whole commission rather than sharing it with you, the shopper. It seems like a no brainer! Getting cash back for your purchases is one of the best online shopping deals you can find.

How do I sign up?

1. Go to The Rebate Zone and click on the Sign Up link to join.

2. All you need is your email address and a password.

3. Then check out all your favorite stores among the hundreds that are listed

Begin shopping and you will be among the many savvy online shoppers taking advantage of the best online shopping deals around!

Have Fun Shopping!

Debbie Cook

cash back websites question by Alyssa: LOOKING FOR REALLY NICE CLOTHING WEBSITES?
need to find some nice clothing maybe designer
i don't mind expensive prices or anything. I just sorta want to recreate my wardrobe because im allowed to get a new wardrobe every fall. (at the end of august)

i currently live in downtown chicago. (before i go back to new york in december) if u know any nice stores in chicago as well. you can also give me websites or links.

no knock offs or anything NO ABERCROMBIE AND FITCH OR HOLLISTER
those are stupid places to shop and not fashionable outside of a jr high school in a low income suburban area

i want something that not every teenager has. I would say i have enough cash for nicer brands so those should be suggested.

im a freshman in high school

cash back websites best answer:

Answer by Anonymous T.
You're quite stuck-up and cocky, don't you think? It's just high school, hun, not the runway. Sorry to break it to yah.

Alan Blinder

More information: www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/09/deficit_event.html

This year, the federal deficit will exceed 11 percent of the gross domestic product—higher than at any point in the country's post-war history. Though the size of the current deficit is due largely to pre-existing policies, economic recession, and one-time policies to revive the economy, there is no question that public concern over the long-term fiscal gap has intensified.

Last month, the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget both released new projections that predict substantial budget deficits in each of the next 10 years. If left unchecked, these long-term deficits could pose significant challenges, including substantially weakening economic growth, constraining much needed public investments, and making the United States more dependent on foreign lenders.

Please join the Center for American Progress and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for a conference designed to lay the intellectual groundwork for efforts that the administration and Congress should undertake—once the economy has fully recovered—to put the nation on a more sustainable fiscal path.

Why should I use a debt management company to help with my debt problems?

Article by Richard Marshall

A debt management company (DMC) can offer a service to act as an intermediary for borrowers and the lenders that they owe money to. A debt management company will contact the lenders on behalf of the borrower to renegotiate the terms of existing credit agreements, usually when the borrower is unable to meet their normal monthly repayments.

This will include asking the lenders to accept lower monthly payments and possibly freezing any interest payments and stopping any charges (like late payment fees etc). A borrower can find they need the services of a debt management company when they have a reduced income, possibly because of redundancy, illness, divorce or separation.

There are two different kinds of debt management companies out there to help you:

1. Commercial companies that will charge you a fee for services2. Debt charities that will charge the lenders to negotiate on your behalf

1. Commercial debt management companies

This type of company will charge you on a monthly basis for administering your account, collecting your payments and distributing the money to your creditors. This fee is deducted from your monthly payment. There is also normally a fee payable for negotiating with your creditors to accept the reduced payments and stopping any interest or charges. The first couple of repayments usually cover this fee.

2. Debt charities

A debt charity will help in exactly the same way as a commercial company, however they work in conjunction with, and are funded by, your creditors. This means that the charity has to work within strict guidelines set out by the creditors regarding what is acceptable to them for your living expenses. Customers often complain that they are not left with enough money to survive month to month. The unrealistic expectations of the creditors can lead to the failure of the debt management plan.

It is also worth remembering that a charitable organisation can take up to 2 months, depending on case workloads, just to set up an appointment to discuss your debt problems. This is often far too long for most people to wait, especially when they have lenders breathing down their necks, receiving debt reminders & final demands, getting phone calls at all times of the day and even answering the door to bailiffs. A commercial debt management company will often make contact with you on the same day you make your enquiry.

The main advantage however, is that all of your monthly payment goes to repaying your debts. This will reduce the overall length of your debt management plan because you are paying a fraction more every month.

Which type of debt management company would be best to help me?

A lot of people will also assume that using a charity to help with their debt problems will increase the chance of having their debt management plan agreed. However, it makes no difference whether you decide to use a fee charging company or not because it is up to each lender whether they will stop charging interest to your accounts or accept reduced monthly payments.

A fee charging company will usually have more resources and staff to hassle your creditors into accepting lower payments and freezing interest on your behalf. You need to be able to act as quickly as possible to stop your debt problem spiraling out of control.

One factor to always remember is that a debt management plan is an informal arrangement with your lenders. This means your creditors could still hassle you on the phone or by letter. They could take legal action against you to recover their debt at any time, even if you have been keeping up with your plan's repayments. This fact remains regardless of the kind of firm you work with.

So, which type of debt management company should you use? At the end of the day it is a personal decision, which only you can make. A professional company may be able to act immediately and have more success negotiating on your behalf but using a 'non fee-charging' firm means more of your monthly payments go into repaying your debt.

Whatever decision you do make, please don't continue to use credit cards, store cards or overdrafts to build up your debt. This will just lead to your problem spiraling out of control and could jeopardise your current debt management plan.

As with any business agreement, if your circumstances change during the time you are in your plan you should contact your debt management company immediately. If you are unable to make your monthly repayments for any reason, such as redundancy, illness, divorce or separation, they will need to know ASAP so they can get back in touch with your creditors to try and re-negotiate a new deal for you.

Debt Management

In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, governments worldwide undertook massive fiscal interventions to stave off what otherwise would have likely been a system-wide financial and economic meltdown. The policy responses engendered significant shifts in growth trajectories and debt sustainability outlooks of both mature and developing economies. For Low Income Countries, post-crisis debt sustainability analyses show an average deterioration of 5-7 percentage points in the present valu

Sovereign Debt and the Financial Crisis: Will This Time Be Different?

Click on the button for more Debt Management information and reviews.

Debt Management question by Largine: Will a Debt Management Plan have an effect on my credit rating?
Hello All,
Will a Debt Management Plan have an effect on my credit rating?
please share your opinion for my question.
Thanks in Advance.

Debt Management best answer:

Answer by Michael M
no. you are paying a fee to have someone tell you to pay your bills on time. it has nothing to do with your credit file. credit file is reveolving accounts, loans and court bankruptcies. that is all and when you pay on time you have no issue. when you are late or do not pay and go into default problem.
debt management is an other scam of the 2000s.