Champions Forever?

Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong and Chris Evert, were all champions that dominated their respective sports, but like all those before them they found that for one reason or another, no one stays champion forever. Yes the concept of being on top, even if only for a short while, is a dream for most individuals, who would revel in the celebrity it brings. Honor and fame would be theirs as fans would love and adore them. On top of the world, how great would that be? But being on top also has a negative side, as there are always those who desire to be champions too. The champ would indeed be wise, to know that someday one of them will get their wish. No one stays champion forever. The ex-champion life is often different than the previous one, being out of the limelight, deposed and on the verge of being forgotten. How the ex-champ fares in this latter life, depends on the understanding they had then and the preparation they made.

We Americans are the champions of the modern economic and financial world, being the many players for Team USA. We have collectively been on top for the last five decades, with the prosperity and arrogance to show. We don't say I am the greatest!, but we know that collectively, we really think we are. But would we be wise to prepare for the day, when we will be champions no more? Is it possible that our title could be taken from us or could we give it away, being overconfident, deceptive or very, very nice? Our currency is the world's reserve currency and everyone has and uses it, but, what would happen if that changed? What if we weren't financial champions anymore and had to enter the latter life. How would we fare? How would I, and how would you?

Would the inflation that accompanies a devalued dollar affect our nation, with the sharp rise in prices it brings? Goods and services Americans purchase monthly could double in price, hitting incomes hard, in a very short period of time. What if no one wanted the amount of dollars we have anymore, demanding that we pay additional or in someone else's money? Would this affect our national pride, crippling our incomes? What a change in the American champion life, with budgets busting at the seams! Fixed contractual obligations would still have to be paid, even after paying so much more for the most basic of needs. Suffering and default would ensue. How would our countrymen fare in this latter life, not being with the team on top anymore? What about me and what about you? How would we fare when we too could no longer play the game?

Rome, France and Great Britain were all on top at some time before. Their economies and currencies stalled for one reason or another, and each became champion no more. Could it happen to us? Yes, It happened to them. You see, no one stays champion, forever. History screams that it will happen somehow, someway, and discredits the arrogant response of defiance. Ignorance hasn't fared well either as a strategy to retain the coveted championship title. So we'd better come with something never seen in history before. We could repent as a nation, for our national sins, pleasing the great God who went before us in our fight to the top. But if we won't as a nation, then we better as individuals and prepare using Biblical principles.

Limit unnecessary fixed contractual obligations that lay claim on a future income. It may be diminished in power and prowess. It will be tough enough in the latter life, to lay and keep hold of the essentials. Why make it harder by making promises now, that you will wish you hadn't then? America can't always be on top, it's just against all the odds. Be prepared by being lean, living a simplified life and able to stand in the day of trial. Having imagined the fall and picked out a softer landing place, where you'll reside with wisdom until the calamities pass. Study the Bible and all of its financial instruction. Don't wait until too late, following others. Think about history and championship reigns. Then ask the hard questions and be truthful as you answer. What if ours was no longer the world's reserve currency? What will we do to stay on top? Will our nation repent, for its national sins invoking the help of the creator God? Or will we deny and ignore the warnings of times past? How will America fare when this all goes down? How will these things affect team USA? What about me, and how about you? Think my friend and then ask, Can anyone be champion forever?

Tony Gary

Real Estate Investment in Islamabad and Some Other Investments in Pakistan

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. The Islamabad Metropolitan area is the third largest country in Pakistan with a population of over 4.5 million inhabitants.

Real estate property Pakistan becomes the real estate service provider in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and all the adjoining areas nearby. If we talk about today than Property Pakistan is well positioned to bring the scope of real estate brokers, sales agents and consumers. As Islamabad is the most beautiful and modern city of Pakistan and real estate of Islamabad also tells about the commitment with the business and clients.

The best investment places of Islamabad now a days is D12 sector, the development in this area is started almost the roads are carpeted.D.12 sector is located at CDA sector in Margalla Hills it is the most romantic view of the Margalla hills. Islamabad is becoming the most promising place of investment like the sectors including F.6, F.7, F.8 and E.7 Sector. If in case the foreign investors wants to invest in this area of Islamabad than on purchasing a house of any size in of the above sectors. The monthly bases charges on investment according to US$ per month charges will be 2000$ to 15000$ . Other then the sectors there are many more investment places are present near the city or around the city.

Another big and good real estate investment plans is also available in "Gwadar" which is the new seaport of Pakistan. Gwadar is the new modern seaport and new investments have been started on this area and government schemes are also the part of real estate investment. Which are:-

1. New Town Scheme which will be divided into four phases pertaining to 120 yards- 2000 yards plots each.
2. Sangar Housing Scheme which is 13 kilometers long and 4.5 kilometers wide on a sand rock with in sea waters.

The major portion of investment is occupied by the overseas investors and the big investors went to DHA. There are some housing schemes around the country where investors and also the genuine buyers believe that there commitments should be fulfilled. New Phases of DHA is becoming the big part of investment nowadays. Over 60 percent of the investors are coming towards the new DHA phase which is the positive sign for investment.

If we discuss about the investors of property Pakistan who also included the industrialists and exporters, they invest the money into the real estate as it is the most promising and quicker margins in the investment of property Pakistan. Some of the investors as independent analyst usually insist on large part of low price export when it is spend or pay out by the banks during or after the 2002 and it finds its way to the rough investment in real estate. Pakistani banks have started to finance the Real estate Pakistan and in some cases the Crescent Standard Investment Bank Limited, the banks themselves invested a large portion of money in property Pakistan and some cases are still in files too.

Canoscan Lide 100 Overview

Introduction
The CanoScan LiDe 100 is a scanner that can also be used to create a colour copy, PDF or email attachment. Canon equipped the LiDe 100 with several cutting-edge features that make it the perfect machine for scanning and archiving photos.

Speed and Convenience
One of the key characteristics of the CanoScan LiDe 100 is that it makes scanning quick and easy. For instance, a letter-size colour document can be scanned in about 24 seconds. One of the LiDe 100's most convenient features is the one-touch button system used to operate the machine's four functions scanning, copying and creating a PDF or e-mail attachment. Selecting the function you need is literally as easy as pushing a button.
You can save even more time by utilising the LiDe 100's Multi-Scan mode. Lay multiple photos on the scan bed, and the Multi-Scan function will automatically align, scan and name each photo as a separate file.

Image Quality
The CanoScan LiDe 100 has 2400 x 4800 dpi optical resolution with 48-bit colour. Scanned images are sharp, clear and rich in colour. You get accurate colour reproduction, which makes the LiDe 100 ideal for scanning, saving and sharing photos.

The LiDe 100's Auto Scan feature also aids in the creation of high-quality scanned images. Auto Scan detects the type of document you're scanning, such as a photo or business card, and automatically selects the right settings for scanning and saving the document.

Photo Restoration
The CanoScan LiDe 100 can be used to restore old photos. Simply scan your photo, and the LiDe 100's built-in retouching technology will automatically reduce dust and scratches and correct fading, graininess and backlighting. The LiDe 100 is an excellent tool for archiving photographs.

Z-lid Expansion Top
In the past, scanning or copying bulky items, such as pages in a book, was difficult. Canon has created a solution to that problem in the form of the Z-lid. The Z-lid expansion top lifts about 3/4 of an inch vertically to allow thick items to be placed on the scan bed. It then lays down flat for complete edge-to-edge scanning or copying.

Save Space
The CanoScan LiDe 100 features a slim, sleek design. Its compact size saves space and allows you to fit the scanner on your desktop. Workspace clutter is further reduced by the LiDe 100's use of a single cable for both power and a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connection.

Low Environmental Impact
In addition to all its smart features, the CanoScan LiDe 100 is also eco-friendly. The LiDe 100 is built to be highly energy efficient and is powered solely through a USB cable with no external power source. The Quick Start feature saves energy by encouraging users to keep the scanner turned off when not in use. The LiDe 100 powers up with almost no warm-up time.

Conclusion
The CanoScan LiDe 100 is a high-tech scanner that's extremely simple to operate. With top-quality images, photo restoration and one-touch PDF creation, the LiDe 100 was built to handle both personal and business needs.

This article is brought to you by Canon Australia - Scanners for the home and office.

About Canon
Canon Australia is a leading provider of advanced, simple-to-use imaging solutions for businesses and consumers. Canon's Australian R&D company, CiSRA, develops customised solutions for local customers, and exports digital imaging technologies for use in Canon products worldwide. Canon has ranked among the top-three US patent recipients for the past 16 years, and had global revenues of around $ US39 billion in 2007. Canon Australia also operates Canon Finance Australia, which offers one-stop shopping for customers wanting leasing or finance services. For more information, visit canon.com.au.

All You Need To Know About Emerald Beads

Be it a plain string of graduated emerald beads or mixed with gold or silver charms, a necklace or bracelet with emerald beads is a sure eye-catcher. An emerald is a beautiful gemstone that belongs to the gem species beryl. It is the birthstone of people who are born in May or those belonging to the star sign Cancer. However you don't necessarily have to be born in May or belong to a particular star sign to enjoy the beauty of this spectacular stone. Apart from its incredible beauty emerald is said to enhance love and contentment in a person.

As the well known adage goes:

Who first beholds the light of day
In spring's sweet, flower month of May
And wears an emerald all her life
Shall be a loved and a loving wife.

It is well-known for its healing properties, gazing at an emerald is supposed to soothe the eyes and it is even believed to cure epilepsy in children.

Though a lot of estate and expensive jewelry is made using cut stones, emerald beads are a fashion statement unto themselves. You can choose from a single strand graduated stone necklace or several rows of matched and graduated emerald beads to add pizzazz to that little black dress or evening gown- as the occasion demands.

A single emerald may set you back by a pretty penny, since it is rare to find clean gem-quality emeralds. However emerald beads are aplenty since this material is abundantly available in the market as it is not imperative for beads to be totally transparent.

So how do you go about choosing your emerald beads? Well, the ideal colour for an emerald is a pleasing deep-green; the colour of new leaves after a cleansing rainfall. However various tones may be present or the depth of colour may vary from stone to stone. While choosing your emerald beads from your jeweller or ordering them online, make sure all the beads in the string are evenly colored.

Emerald beads wholesale at reasonable prices online and many wholesalers also allow for retail single-purchase orders. Genuine emerald beads can be bought online as several reputed companies have a presence on the Internet nowadays.

Large emerald beads, small and medium in a variety of sizes and shapes are available. For the more adventurous options such as cabochons (a stone with a flat surface and a domed polished top), carvings (stones carved as leaves, flowerets, with striations and designs on their surface), cut stones and drops (tear drop shaped stones with a hole drilled at one end or drilled through) are also available. Beads can be used innovatively in single or multiple strands as necklaces. A long string of small equal-sized emerald beads interspersed with several large silver tubes at intervals can be used as a bohemian chic lariat when worn wrapped twice around your neck or several times on your wrist. Cabochons and carvings are best left to a professional jeweller to set in gold or silver. These pieces are ideal for that custom made jewelry piece you have always dreamed of designing yourself.

Cleaning and Care
Emerald is a naturally brittle stone so cracks and fissures may be visible on the bead. Worry not! This is okay as most commercial grade emerald is buffed with oil or infused with natural or man-made fillers to reduce visibility of the cracks and fissures and enhance the look of the stones. However for the same reason it is very important to take care while cleaning emerald beads/jewelry containing them. Never put your emerald in an ultrasonic cleaner as it may cause the fissures to be filled with dirty cleaning liquid and ruin the stone. Sudden sharp blows or extreme temperature swings may also harm the stone. Therefore do not wear emeralds in Jacuzzis, steam and sauna baths. Avoid using harsh detergents to clean the stones. The best way to clean your emeralds is with a mild detergent and soft brush. Wash clean in tap water and never forget to dry your jewelry before putting it away. Always store your jewelry separately, ie; pieces should be kept well away from each other so that no stones rub amongst themselves thus causing scratches and damage to softer stones.

Same Day Payday Loans

What kind of tension afflicts you a lot? It is shortage of fund. Do you have not additional source of earning to tackle unplanned expenses? If not, you will certainly be struggling to cover uninvited expenses. In that case, you have to borrow fund in constraint. Because of being salaried you feel self-conscious borrowing. Don't to mind! To give you respective financial support same day payday loans prove to be a great source of funding. You do not need to take any step out of your home for applying for the loan. It is possible at home with having a PC connected internet. Immediately, you have to fulfill a simple online application form and submit it on the lenders website. After verifying your details, the required fund is transferred into your active bank account on same day.

Its possibility to get money on same day gives you a breath of liberation in difficult time. Plus point to procure money through these loans is that you do not need to put any sort of collateral against the lender. And so, applying for same day payday loans you can derive the fund that varies from 80 to 750 without facing any difficulty. You can pay the fund back within a time period of 14 to 31 days. A huge benefit is that you can extend the time period by paying nominal fee to the loan provider. Interest rate levied on the fund is a bit high due to absence of security. There is no restriction in usage of the procured fund. You can spend the amount in paying small pending or utility bills such as paying off credit card dues, medical bills, buying multimedia cell-phone, car repairing, traveling expenses and many more.

To fulfill pre-requisites of the loan is inevitable for all borrowers. And so, you need to be an inhabitant of UK above the eighteen years of age, need to be permanent employee with income 750 per month and need to maintain a valid bank account prior to apply for same day payday loans. On maintaining these formalities in you, these loans are very easy to get irrespective of your bad credit profile. Marked with bad credit tags like defaults, arrears, CCJs, foreclosure, insolvency etc are also welcome.

What kind of tension afflicts you a lot? It is shortage of fund. Do you have not additional source of earning to tackle unplanned expenses? If not, you will certainly be struggling to cover uninvited expenses. In that case, you have to borrow fund in constraint. Because of being salaried you feel self-conscious borrowing. Don't to mind! To give you respective financial support same day payday loans prove to be a great source of funding. You do not need to take any step out of your home for applying for the loan. It is possible at home with having a PC connected internet.

Its possibility to get money on same day gives you a breath of liberation in difficult time. Plus point to procure money through these loans is that you do not need to put any sort of collateral against the lender.

Instant Cash Advance Loans: How To Get Your Emergency Cash

The challenge of managing financial emergencies is a very real one these days, thanks mainly to the economic downturn that has seen so many of us suffer. The seriousness of the these emergencies can vary quite a bit, but it still means that finding extra cash fast becomes a priority. Little wonder that instant cash advance loans are so useful.

Of course, small loans are generally not very difficult to access, and even unsecured loans can be accessed if the need is strong. But in emergencies, there is little time to wait for approval or seek out an item of collateral. Of course, instant loans means getting instant approval online.

Also known as payday loans, the terms they boast are not the best from the point of view of the borrower. However, when traditional lenders are set to reject the application, these are a valid alternative that is almost certain to end with approval.

Fast Approval, Fast Cash

The name of the financial package is instant cash advance loan, but it is important to note that instant really means within a few hours. The mechanism for the loan is such that approval can be granted over a matter of hours, with no credit checks to hold the process up, as is the case with traditional lenders.

There is no doubt that the Internet has drastically changed the way we do business and secure loans. Online application forms are simple documents that can be filled out in a matter of minutes. Then, after submitting it with the click of a button, it takes only seconds for the lender to confirm or reject the loan. Easily, instant loan approval is done with no fuss at all.

However, as a payday loan, there are aspects to the loan agreement that need to be accepted if the funds are to be transferred into the deposit account.

Payday Compromises

The thing about these loans is there are several aspects that make them unattractive, but the fact they are so accessible in times of financial emergencies makes them viable. An instant cash advance loan is approved against the income due on the next pay day.

But because of the speed of the approval, the lender charges higher interest, in some cases as high as 30%. And since the loan term can be as short as 14 days, the borrower is under severe pressure to repay the debt on time. Getting an instant loan approval is highly expensive, but highly attractive.

Also, the loan limit of cash advance or payday loans is very low, ranging between 0 and ,500. It means that a ,500 loan repaid after 14 days with interest at 30% means a total of ,950 is needed to clear the debt. And with so much money taken from one paycheck, it can cause chaos with meeting regular financial obligations.

Finding the Best Deals

There is no doubt that the Internet offers the best loan deals, but be sure to check out the small print before committing to any loan agreement. Remember, instant cash advance loans are great in an emergency, but make sure the lender is reputable.

Also, loan terms can vary between lenders, so take your time when searching through the comparison sites, even if they offer instant loan approval.

It is true that a payday loan is a very expensive loan option, but in times of financial crisis, sometimes we have to grit our teeth and keep going. And with valuable funds in your deposit account within 6 hours of submitting an application, the financial emergency can be quickly dealt with.

Boots To Complement The Look

If you are not a fan of boots that reach all the way up to the knees, then a variation called ankle boots may be the answer for you. This type of footwear has the comfort of a boot, but also protects the ankles from the cold weather and injury through spraining. They give support where it is most needed.

In the winter months they are the choice of footwear when having to walk through rain soaked streets or roaming in the muddy countryside. Because the heel is generally not high you will be able to walk in comfort for many miles. This type of boot is also much more comfortable if you are a fan of motorbikes.

Some types of manufacturing industries have adopted this footwear as a safety precaution in the work place. Slippery surfaces on the factory floor are often the cause of sprained ankles. These boots often also have a reinforced toe cap to prevent toes from being squashed by heavy objects.

Of course, these days there are also varieties of this type of footwear that do have high heels. These are often worn as fashion accessories, teamed up with a dressy outfit or paired with a smart trouser suit or just plain jeans. When worn like this the design is more a cross between a boot and a pump.

If they are worn as an accessory on these occasions teamed up with a dress your legs will appear longer and slimmer. However, one word of advice; these boots should never be worn with miniskirts. Knee high boots are much sexier paired with this type of clothing.

From their first appearance when the Duke of Wellington ordered a pair of boots to be designed for outdoor wear, these shoes have never really gone out of fashion. In Wellington's days this footwear was always made out of leather. Rubber did not come on the scene later on and plastics and synthetics had not been invented yet. Even these days shoes made out of leather are still the most expensive and comfortable.

If you have bought a pair with long walks in mind, they should be lined with fur to keep the toes nice and warm.

More and more shoes are these days sold on the internet. There are many retailers out there and it seems that local shops may soon be a thing of the past. It stands to reason as on line shops do not have overheads such as many employees, heat, lighting and expensive council taxes.
People are not shopping with their feet anymore, but position themselves in an armchair in front of a warm fire. We are just too busy working these days to keep our heads above water and you can shop at leisure this way any time of the day you like.

It is now much safer to buy your purchases with your credit card on line. All details are now processed automatically with facilities to encrypt your particulars so that identity fraud and privacy is guaranteed.

Pros and Cons of Pass/Fail College Course

The concept of rating college courses rather than grading them has a long and checkered history. The debate about whether a Pass/Fail College course is better than the traditional 4-point grading system has been recently renewed. A number of top-ranked Universities and Colleges are reintroducing the Pass/Fail system on elective and non-major classes.
The major complaint about the Pass/Fail system for college courses is that many educators feel it leads to the student not applying himself or herself to the work as diligently as they might otherwise do. Some studies do show a drop in student interest when the competitive grading system is removed. Students on the other hand feel the Pass/Fail system allows them to concentrate on favored topics while not becoming academically depressed in subjects they do not excel in. Also, a Pass/Fail ranking is not an option for college courses that are required or needed to fulfill the requirements for a Major.

One of the major concepts behind the 4-Point Grading System is the public exhibition of performance; a competition to achieve the highest possible grade. This grading system does provide a more stratified modifier on the passing grade levels. It can indicate the difference between a student that excels and one who merely manages to keep from failing the course. This lack of distinguishing between outstanding and ordinary students is why the Pass/Fail system is not universally used for indicating students' academic achievements.

Pass/Fail ratings are handled differently than grade points. Where the 4-Point system is used to determine one's Grade Point Average (GPA), Pass/Fail is usually only partially calculated in a student's overall scoring. A Pass grade, while being registered as a passing grade on the student transcript, is not used to calculate into the cumulative GPA. A Fail grade does, however, affect your GPA. They are generally entered as a 0.0 when calculating the average. This is regardless of whether you barely failed or if you made no appreciable effort in the course.

Even among proponents of the Pass/Fail system in college, they recognize that the 4-Point grading system is needful on the high school level. This helps monitor the effectiveness of the education the student is receiving and creates the GPA that helps determine scholarships and loans. In college the main focus of your education should be on career training. Having to maintain a high GPA is not as critical for placement. Regardless of the system used, the bottom line when job hunting is whether or not you have the degree, not what your GPA was.
Since there are good uses for both systems, there will always be a place for their use in the world of academics. The Pass/Fail system tends to be more popular with students as it removes some of the pressure to donate excessive time to less important subjects. Education professionals still have a higher tendency to want the 4-point system to encourage that same drive in any course taken whether it is applied to the Major requirements or not.