Elaine

The amount of money that you pay each month for your mortgage payments will change over the life of your loan. This could be for any number of reasons. For instance they could go up or down due to taxes, whether or not you have an adjustable or fixed rate mortgage, your insurance premiums and perhaps due to some other miscellaneous fees.

The vat majority of escrow analyses are done not at the beginning of the year but at the end of it. This is when you will see taxes getting higher and your insurance premiums going up. When these go up so does your monthly payment for the next year. So if you are smart you will start learning how to save some money so that when the next year does come you will have some cash to put towards these new price increases.

If you have an adjustable rate mortgage you are at risk even more than those with a fixed rate mortgage. With an Arm your cost can change even more because when the market changes so will your mortgage payment. Those with these types of mortgages can end up paying astronomical sums in interest.

As soon as you get approved for an adjustable rate mortgage it is a good idea to start saving some extra money each month in a reserve fund. Save this money for the times when the interest does rise. This fund could mean the different between being able to meet your monthly payments and not being able to meet it.

Some adjustable rate mortgages will even have ways for you to pay in advance. These types of prepayments can go a long way towards easing your monthly payments. These payments are generally reassessed each year and you can also prepay each year. You can do this each year during the 45 days before your next adjustment.

If it is a fixed rate mortgage that you have as opposed to an adjustable rate mortgage then your monthly payments will not be as volatile but they still can change from time to time. You can still prepay but this will not change your monthly payments at all, it will just help you to pay off the principle balance that much sooner.

If you want to lower your monthly payments and you have a fixed rate mortgage you can see if you can stop paying for mortgage insurance. Once you have built up a certain amount of equity in your home then this should not pose a problem and it could save you thousands of dollars each year.

Martin Lukac, represents http://www.RateEmpire.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate/mortgage market. We specialize in daily updates, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies! Visit http://www.RateEmpire.com today

When it became obvious that there was going to be a shooting war between the North and the South, there were days of immense personal conflict to a great many regular army officers. Among them, of course was Robert E. Lee, who was one of the most famous officers in the army, and to whom Winfield Scott offered top command of the Union army. Lee took a day or two to mediate over this. As a professional army officer, naturally, this was not the sort of thing a man turns down lightly. But he finally refused it on the grounds that he was, after all, a loyal son of Virginia. We don't have that sort of loyalty to homeland these days. But they did then. Lee had it as did a great many other men. Lee had to go with his state and so turned down the promotion and became a General in the Confederate army.

Other officers on lower levels had the same problem. There was a very poignant incident that occurred in what was then the little town of Los Angeles. In an army fort close by to the town, one night in the spring, a farewell party in the officers' quarters was given for some of the officers who were resigning their commissions to go South, as Lee had done. Others were staying in the Union army. One of the latter was a Captain name Winfield Scott Hancock. During the course of the evening, an old friend, Captain Lewis Armistead, came to him. With tears in his eyes, Armistead took Hancock's hand and gripped it saying, " Hancock, you'll never know what this is costing me, but good-bye, good-bye".

As they were saying good-bye, a woman who was present, the wife of one of the officers, sat at the piano and sang the haunting tune "Kathleen Mavourneen" - "when will we se each other; it may be for years and it may be forever".

Armistead went to Richmond; Hancock to Washington. In July of 1863, these two old friends who had not seen each other since that spring evening in Los Angeles crossed paths at the battle of Gettysburg. Hancock was in charge of the Union line Cemetery Ridge around that famous landmark, the "little clump of trees". Pickett's charge was heroically moving forward and at the spearhead of it was a man who carried his felt hat on the point of his sword and waved it high over his head so that his soldiers could see it; that man was General Lewis Armistead. As the Confederates reached the Union line and broke into the middle of it, Hancock was shot down with a wound in his thigh.

Armistead reached a battery in the center of Hancock's line, placed his hand on the muzzle of one of the cannons, waved that hat on the point of his sword and then was shot. He lived just long enough to ask the officers who tried to pick him up and tend him to give his love to General Hancock. It was that kind of war.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Civil War

We all knew workplace and workforce nowadays require more and more mobile-power, Email fax (or some call it Internet faxing) services had turned into a popular communication tools in all sort of business. Nevertheless, the technology is still relative new to the public. We hope via this article, we can give a brief idea to those inexperienced about how Email fax can ease your worklife or business.

What is Email fax or Internet faxing?

In brief, Internet faxing is a service that provides you the ability to send faxes without the fax machine. Instead, faxes are sent or received over Internet in Email attachment format. These Email faxes can be either read in softcopy (.pdf or image format) or printed out by the receivers fax machine.

Why use Email faxing? The benefits of Email fax

By using Email fax services, faxes are sent and received instantly online in a cheaper price when compare to traditional faxing machine.

If you have ever used a conventional faxing machine before, you should be able to know how tiring can it be when a fax machine starts to dysfunction. Paper jam, incomplete fax transmission, fax machine constantly with busy tone, miss fax when out of paper, and cuts off page text are the common scenario you will be facing. Further more, it is not cheap to get a fax machine running. Besides startup cost in buying the fax machine and installing the extra phone lines, you still need to pay extra monthly cost for the fax lines, paper cost, as well as ongoing maintenance cost such as cost of toner cartridges replacement.

What if you can eliminate all these troubles? No more paper jam, no more incomplete fax transmission, no more busy tone, no more miss fax when out of paper, and no more cuts off page text! This is what you can get with Internet faxing; and this is why, Internet faxing is such popular.

As the Internet faxes are sent via Emails, all you need is a PC with Internet connection, which is a must for any business nowadays, and minimum subscription fees on the faxing services. Also by using Internet fax services, you skip the paying for extra phone line, faxing equipments, and also the sky-high fax machine maintenance fees.

How does Email fax works?

It is easy to use Internet fax services. When sending Internet faxes, users will use a web interface given by the service provider or email program like Outlook. The work flow of sending out Internet fax is very similar to sending email. Users will need to key in the fax number instead of email address in the To text bar.

Receiving Internet faxes is easy; you do not need to be familiar with faxing software, nor fax machine neither to use the Internet faxing interface. Normally, the email faxing services will install a small application (toolbar or window box) into your PC as a plug-in inside the email program. Upon receipt, an automated program converts the email to a fax format, then faxes to the number supplied in the fax-header. The recipient receives the fax normally, through fax machine.

Choices in Email faxing services

Seeing Internet fax as an effective answer to the old fax machine, several vendors have produced and are selling Internet faxing services nowadays. There are companies that offer software only solutions that allow you to fax directly from your computer to any fax machine; and there are services offer fax-to-IP Internet gateway products, which are hardware-based routers that emulate a fax machines.

Faxing services that use software (for example eFax or CallWave fax) require that you sign up with fax service provider. For eFax Internet faxing services, the monthly service charge is from $0-$19.95 depend on which package you go for; while limiting their users to only receive fax, CallWave fax charge their users less than 10 bucks per monthly.

The advantages of using this method are that faxing becomes considerably cheaper because you are not making long distance connections over the phone lines, no hardware is required, you get faster transmission, you can send many faxes at once, no dedicated fax lines are needed, and a web interface is available if you wish to add fax-on-demand capability to a website.

Another type of Internet faxing is known as fax-to-IP. Fax-to-IP Internet gateway products needs hardware-based routers that emulate a fax machines. With these, faxing is done in the regular way using the fax machine, but the gateway device, which then dials the destination fax machine and sends the fax, interrupts the process.

The fax-to-IP service is good if you don't send a lot of faxes, but would still like to take advantage of the savings of using Internet delivery. It is also good if you do a lot of international fax calls. The disadvantages are that you won't save much on either domestic faxing, or faxing to countries where the Internet infrastructure is less well developed.

Conclusion

As you already can see from the details above, Internet faxing services are one of the online services that can beneficial greatly to your business or personal expenses.

However in order to get the best from it, one must be careful and review more on the faxing services thats available in the market. Different Internet faxing packages are meant for different categories of users.

In case that receiving fax is only what you needed, you can try out eFax Free which will cost you nothing; if you send faxes frequently and needs a toll-free number for your business, eFax Plus might be something you want to look at. If you are always on the road and need to send email faxes via mobile portal, Call Wave faxing services is recommended.

Teddy strongly recommend business owner to send fax thru Email as the service will save up the faxing cost greatly.

Keeping a steady and a balanced diet during your pregnancy is crucial to your health and that of your baby. Your eating habits have to change during your pregnancy. But how can you make sure that you're eating everything you should while not gaining too much weight in the process?

During your pregnancy you need to increase your intake of the following nutrients:

• Iron
• Calcium
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Folic Acid

You should also increase your overall calorie intake because you're eating for two. But your calorie increase doesn't need to be drastic. In fact, 300 calories more than usual each day should be quite enough for you. Your overall weight gain shouldn't exceed 25 pounds.

Here is a list of things which are good for you to eat during your pregnancy, all of these will assist your baby's development and your own health:

Don't you dare to go on a diet during your pregnancy. Pregnancy isn't the time to lose weight. You need to eat more and gain weight because you're feeding your baby. Keeping a healthy and balanced diet will ensure that you don't harm your baby's development and health and that you will not gain too much weight.

To make sure you maintain a healthy weight gain and a beautiful skin during your pregnancy visit this website How To Look And Feel Great During Pregnancy. Lucy Doyle is a pregnancy and diet expert. To read how you too can ensure your baby's health and look great at the same time visit Lucy Doyle's expert webpage on http://www.squidoo.com/pregnancy-without-pounds-product-review.

Do any or all of these statements sound familiar or resonate with you?

Im not satisfied with my job.
There is too much stress at work.
There is too much stress in my life.
There is never enough money.
The cost of living goes up but not my wages.
Corporate America is eating away at my heart and soul.
I feel trapped.
I do not have enough time with my family.
I do not have time for myself.
I am not living the life of my dreams.
I am ready to retire, but Im worried about having enough money.
I am ready to retire, but I cant afford to retire.
My future looks dim.
My future looks the same, day after day, year after year.
I do not want to be trapped in a 9 to 5 job.

If you feel any of these things, you are not alone. You represent the majority of people. Most people feel this way and put up with these frustrations, year after year. Few take action to change their lives.

It does not take a genius to figure out that people with their own businesses make money and live the kind of life we all dream of and want. J. Paul Getty, said, Id rather earn 1% from what a 100 people do, than 100% from what I do. Gettys principle is what business people do: they earn money from those who work for them.

But . . . , I can hear the but. You are probably saying a few other things that start with But I cant. Thoughts like But it takes money to make money or But Im not a business person or But I dont know how to start my own business or if you are really honest with yourself, But Im afraid; theres no security; what if I fail? What about health insurance? Am I a mind reader? No. I have thought and said all of those things to myself.

My biggest problem, the thing that was holding me back, was fear. I was afraid. Yet, I got the guts to step out of my comfort zone and take a chance. I read the following sentence and it changed my thinking: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. (Albert Einstein) I realized that if I kept doing what I was doing, I would end up right where I was at the end of my life. I did not want that. So, I took a giant step, a leap, and I did it, me, a middle-aged single woman! I grabbed a hold of my dreams and became an entrepreneur. You can do it too. Old or young or somewhere in between, it does not matter what age, race, or gender you are. Your dreams can become your reality if you step forward. The problem with some people is that it has been so long since they have dreamed that they have forgotten what their dreams are. If that is you, get in touch with your dreams. It is easy and it is fun!

I am an educator. A few years ago, I realized that the design of much of our education system primarily trains students to become obedient, compliant workers. Most teachers and professors do not realize they are part of the process because they too were trained in our education system. We have all been taught that when we grow up, we will get a job, have job security, work forty or fifty years, and retire. This is the Corporate American model: they need workers so the education system produces workers. This model worked for our parents or grandparent and more obviously for Corporate America. The mantra was job security, loyalty, and retirement. This model quickly disintegrated in favor of the company. Most people not realize that it is a rare company that has loyalty to its employees. This model is outdated and, as most people can testify, it doesnt serve workers very well. We are no longer in the Industrial Revolution. We are in the Information Revolution. The world is changing and our jobs are about as secure as a loose baby tooth.

We are in the middle of a paradigm shift: a shift toward entrepreneurship.

Those who see the shift and change can succeed financially. Those who do not will find themselves stuck in an dead end maze. If you are dissatisfied and want to change, you can. Do not settle because everyone else does. Now is the time to be bold and take control of your life. Everyone with a desire, a plan, a focus, and the willingness to take action and do what it takes can transform their dreams into their realities.

Network marketing is for the 21st Century what franchises were for the second half of the 20th Century: the average persons way into business and wealth. Start up costs are low, which allows anyone to start their own business. A person can work part-time, hanging onto that job security and health insurance, or full-time. The hassles of employees, buildings, equipment, and start-up costs of a franchise have been eliminated. Many people begin Network Marketing businesses part-time and go full-time when their business income exceeds their job income. There are no employees and a person set his or her own schedule. A college student, a young person right out of high school, young married couples, single parents, middle aged people, retired, nearly retired, anyone can do Network Marketing and have a home based business, working from the comfort of her own home.

Talk about job satisfaction! You will be in the business of helping people improve their lives. You will make friends as well as money. It is a rich, satisfying, exciting business with the added benefit of being fun.

If you have never been involved in network marketing or if you have heard bad things, open your mind and do some research. Rush to your book store or library and get Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, Wave 4 Network Marketing in the 21st Century by Richard Poe, and Multiple Streams of Income by Robert G. Allen. Read these four books and then find more if you have a need for more. These books will point you in the right direction and help you understand finances, how to create wealth, and the Network Marketing industry. Then, find a good Network Marketing company. Transform your dreams into your reality.

To help you choose and evaluate a Network Marketing company, read my article, Clueless About Network Marketing? Its online; do a search.

What are you waiting for? Quit staring at the computer screen. Go!

Cora Foerstner is an entrepreneur and loves doing business from the comfort of her own home! She can be reached at 714-774-0624 or cora@usana.com. Visit her web site: http://www.corafoerstner.com

If Pilates is not an aerobic exercise that is sustained for over 20 minutes how can Pilates for weight loss be effective?

First you must understand that there are three, not just one, component necessary for weight loss, then you will realize why Pilates for weight loss can work.

Most people have false beliefs based on mis-information given to us by the weight loss industry. Because weight loss is a major goal of most people there is lots of money to be made and many gizmo's and gadgets that offer you false hope for weight loss. They want you to believe it is quick and easy to lose weight and their workouts for weight loss are the best.

Let's clear things up a bit before we go on. 1. There is no single diet alone that can get you lean, firm, and fit. 2. No single piece of equipment can do it. 3. No pill, powder, or liquid can help you lose weight.

If you want to live in a healty, fit body you'll need to integrate these three components:

Resistance Training:

I, and many other fitness professionals believe this is the most important component for weight loss. When you understand first that building muscle through resistance exercises like Pilates, the other two components will fall into place.

Muscle tissue is the most metabolically active tissue in the body, so the more you have of it compared to fat tissue the more active your metabolism will be, in turn burning more fat and calories.

Pilates for weight loss works then because it not only builds lean muscle tissue through the anaerobic type strengthening and stretching exercises, but it also builds the muscles that improve your posture making you look taller and leaner.

Frequency: A weight workout for weight loss should be every other day, making sure not to overload the same muscle groups two days in a row.

Overload: The resistance needs to be challenging, with Pilates the reps are between 6-8 times, challenging the whole body with each exercise instead of isolating muscle groups like a traditional weight workout. Functional exercises challenge the muscles that prepare you for activities of daily life.

Moderate Aerobic Exercise:

Moderate aerobic exercise is recommended because it does not develop skeletal muscle. Doing too much aerobic exercise can cause the body to eat your lean muscle tissue leaving you with less muscle and, in turn, more fat.

Aerobic exercise only burns fat and calories when you are actually doing the exercise. Lean muscle tissue is active even when you are at rest.

Frequency: Minimum of 4 times per week Intensity: 60-90% of your age estimated maximum HR = 220 age x 60-90%. Time: 30-60 minutes Type: Doing any movement that you enjoy using your large muscle groups. Biking, swimming, walking, jogging, gardening, sustained exercise.

Eat the Right Foods:

Starving yourself or cutting out certain food groups from your diet impedes your metabolism from working efficiently.

Think of your metabolism as a fire you have to stoke it often to make it work, which means you have to feed it the right stuff and often if you want it to continue to work properly.

Small, healthy meals eaten every 3-4 hours is recommended throughout the day. Start with breakfast right away to wake your metabolism up. Combine in every meal a lean protein (fish, chicken, beans, nuts, lean beef), a starchy carb (sweet potato, whole grain bread, English muffin), and a fibrous carb (fruit or vegetable) of equal portions.

Raw foods such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals are thermic in nature, meaning they take energy to digest. If you are looking to lose weight then the best way would be to fill up on raw foods so the metabolism has to burn extra calories to metabolize or digest these foods.

Jennifer Adolfs is a certified Pilates Mat and Equipment Specialist who works with people of all ages and abilities, specifically those with musculoskeletal conditions. Find more articles about the benefits of Pilates by going to her web site at http://www.Pilates-Back-Joint-Exercise.com

My wife and I were out for dinner the other night and our waitress was an attractive looking young woman who I judged to be in her early twenties. She was very personable and knowledgeable, but she was wearing a short blouse that revealed her midriff and showed a tattoo just above her rear end, and, on her front, there appeared to be something drawn from her belly down to her public area (sorry I couldn't verify this for you). I'm sure she thought this was all rather attractive and I must admit it caught my eye, but frankly I was disappointed that a charming young woman found it necessary to defile her body in order to get someone's attention.

I've never understood the need to paint the human body with tattoos, Some say its nothing more than an example of self-expression. Actually, I think its more of a cry for attention than anything else. Some people try to hide their tattoos, but more and more people today proudly display their body art, regardless of the symbolism or what is printed on them. To me, its kind of like sitting next to a kid at a traffic light with his music blaring. I don't know who he is trying to impress other than himself. It most certainly isn't me.

When I was growing up, I only knew of two men who had tattoos on their arms, my uncle and my barber. Both got their tattoos while serving in the military, but spent several years thereafter trying to have them removed as they found them to be an embarrassment among their friends as they grew older. I've also met a couple of people who survived the concentration camps of World War II and now bear identification numbers tattooed on their arms. In other words, tattoos are not something my generation or those that preceded me hold in high regard. But today's younger generation doesn't think this way and whimsically have their bodies painted at the drop of a hat. Recently, a group of underage girls from the local high school were caught trying to get tattooed at a local parlor (down here in Florida, minors cannot be tattooed without a parent's or guardian's permission).

Years ago, tattoo artists struggled to make ends meet. But with the recent wave of tattoo popularity, they have been elevated to near celebrity status. Heck, there has even been a reality show featuring tattoo artists on A&E. I find interviewing people painted with a lot of tattoos and body pierced like a porcupine to be rather amusing. They certainly do not command any credibility with me, but the kids sure seem to love them.

I guess I have always equated tattoos to a person's intelligence level. The more tattoos they have, the lower the IQ they appear to have. I don't know where I get this image from; maybe it was from watching a few prison documentaries where the inmates are interviewed, all of which are covered in tattoos. Somehow I don't find such people rather credible, nor are they anyone I want to be associated with, which is probably why I'll never get a tattoo. But then again, I guess I'm showing my age.

Tim Bryce is a writer and management consulting located in Palm Harbor, FL, USA. Visit his web page at: http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm

He can be contacted at: timb001@phmainstreet.com

Copyright 2007 Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

If youve taken general high school or vocational courses in biology, chemistry, health or nutrition and find ancient healing arts attractive to you, then perhaps enrolling in a reflexology school may be ideal. Reflexology schools teach students about an age-old, natural healing art based on a variety of theories including Nerve, Meridian, Vertical Zone, and Horizontal Zone Theories. As a study, science and art, reflexology is directed touch that is applied to not only the feet, but to the hands and outer ears as well.

Used for sole purposes of natural healing, reflexology is similar to acupressure and is a stress-reducing therapy intended to relax the whole body. In a reflexology school, students are taught how to apply these specific touch techniques to parts of the feet, hands and outer ears; facilitating learned reflex points of hand, feet and outer ears in correlation to parts of the human body.

Prospective reflexologists will gain essential skills in a reflexology school to help clients and patients to: reduce and eliminate musculoskeletal pain; enhance blood circulation; detoxify; balance body functioning; dis-ease prevention; and improve overall wellbeing through noninvasive touch therapy.

Understandably, candidates must first acquire crucial education necessary at a reflexology school through comprehensive text and workbooks; communication skills; study guides; reference manuals; visual charts; studies in anatomy and physiology; ethics; and hands-on training, in order to become a professionally certified reflexologist. In addition, students may partake in an internship where they may gain practical experience in reflexology at geriatric care centers, hospitals and other medical care facilities.

Typically, reflexology school courses run about 150 hours, or about six months to a year in a vocational setting; but may vary depending on individual school requirements. Subsequently, graduates are often certified by the reflexology school in which they attend. Optionally, students may also gain National certification through the American Reflexology Certification Board as well.

If you are thinking about enrolling in a Reflexology School to attain your education in reflexology, feel free to visit the Natural Healing Directory at SchoolsGalore.com for more information.

08/23/2006 - Reflexology Schools: Theyre not just about Feet By C. Bailey-Lloyd in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc., Managing Organization for SchoolsGalore.com

C. Bailey-Lloyd is the Public Relations' Director & Writer for SchoolsGalore.com -- Your source of information for Foot Reflexology Schools; Natural Healing Schools; and other Alternative Medicine Schools.

VoIP is the newest advancement in audio communications technology, and has a variety of different applications that make it useful. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and how VoIP works is actually quite revolutionary because it streamlines the process of sending analog audio signals by converting them to a much easier to send digital form for transmission.

To understand how VoIP works, youll need to understand the basic concept behind regular analog audio communication as well, since this is the precursor for VoIP. Analog phone calls are actually made via fiber optic networks by digitizing your voice communications for sending the signal across thousands of miles, but once it gets to the final destination (a home or office phone, for instance), the signal is once again converted to analog.

During these calls, the switches remain open even while there is dead air and no conversation is taking place; the circuit is also open in both directions even when only one party is talking and the other is listening. This isnt terribly efficient, and slows down the communication of information considerably.

Packet switching streamlines VoIP

VoIP works on a different premise -- rather than circuit switching, data packet switching sends and receives information only when you need it instead of in a constant stream. It also sends the information packets along whatever open channels are available rather than a dedicated line, which is much more efficient. The information is simply reassembled at the source.

The payload of each packet has a destination coded into it determining the ultimate destination. When the computer at the other end receives all of these packets, it will reassemble the information into useable form. This form of sending audio data is extremely efficient because it always takes the cheapest route that is also the least congested.

The compression of information and use of multiple routes in order to send that information over the most efficient route makes sending audio over packet switching quicker, much less expensive and more efficient. The number of calls that can be sent is orders of magnitude higher than it was with the more traditional analog circuit switching systems.

For companies, the savings in long distance charges can be in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year. If companies also make extensive conference calls, VoIP makes even more sense when combined with conferencing options such as document sharing in systems offered by companies like Voxwire and iVocalize.

Different types of VoIP calling are available

• The most commonly used VoIP system is from one computer to another. To set up this type of service, you will need to have a sound card installed in both computers along with microphones and Internet connections. For practical purposes, youll want a broadband connection or DSL -- a dial-up modem will be so slow the sound quality just wont be that good. Aside from that, all you need is a software package that can set you up with everything you need to use VoIP to make phone calls to whomever is also set up with the same system.
• You can also invest in IP phones if you want something that looks just like your standard analog telephones but with VoIP connectability. These simply replace the old-style RJ-11 connectors with Ethernet connectors (RJ-45). Hardware such as routers and the needed software are built right in.
• Analog telephone adaptors (ATA) enable you to connect a standard telephone to your computer Internet connection in order to take advantage of VoIP options. ATA converts analog signals to digital so that it can be transmitted properly via the Internet.
• The newest option on the market is the Wi-Fi phone, which uses short-distance Internet transmission of VoIP to replace cell phones calls. Wi-Fi broadcasts over the radio spectrum to cover short range areas for users in certain areas, and these hot spots have popped up across the U.S.

The upshot of VoIP is that standard long-distance charges may soon become a thing of the past. As more and more consumers turn on to VoIP and broadband connections make it easy and inexpensive (as well as practical) to make phone calls over the Internet, fewer individuals will be willing to pay high rates to make a telephone call they can make for free or next to nothing via their computer.

VoIP saves you money on long distance

Theres no by-the-minute charges with VoIP, no set-up fees, and no time of day or overages. Thats the great thing about VoIP plans. You just pay a monthly fee and get to make all the calls you want over your computer for one monthly fee. Its so simple and elegant, and its the solution that everyones been wanting and waiting for far too long.

You dont have to wait for a certain time of day of day of the week to make telephone calls with VoIP. Theres also the advantage of being able to use your VoIP connection from anywhere -- remember, youre not tied to a phone jack to use your number, but an Internet connection, so you can call from anywhere with many calling plans.

Some of the companies that offer excellent VoIP plans with unlimited calling are listed below with their most popular options:

• Vonage currently offers a $24.95 per month unlimited VoIP package to anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. It includes voicemail, call forwarding, three way calling, call waiting and caller ID.
• Packet 8 can provide unlimited VoIP for $19.95 a month in the U.S. and Canada with a variety of features like call waiting and three-way calling, and can also give you video phone service for about $29.95 per month.
• AT&Ts CallVantage provides the usual U.S. and Canada broadband calling with voicemail, call waiting, etc. along with email, a call log and a do not disturb option, all for $29.99 a month. You also get to keep your phone number for life, no matter where you go -- a great feature for some who move around a lot.

VoIP in web conferencing packages

VoIP is used in almost all web conferencing services as an alternative to standard conference calls, and looking into these packages will give you an idea of some ways to combine VoIP with extras such as white boards, document sharing and video. For less expensive options, many companies can provide strictly audio VoIP conference calls combined with text messaging and document sharing without video.

Some companies that offer VoIP in web conferencing packages separate from video conferencing are:

• Voxwire offers voice communication with features like auto-queue, mute options, individual speaker adjustments and moderator controls along with a follow me browser system so that all participants can view a shared desktop. Two persons can use VoIP for $9.95 a month, or up to ten in a conference environment for $29.95 per month.
• VoiceCaf provides similar services with a wide range of options that vary from packages with VoIP capability for five people at a time on a conference call to up to 500 in one conference call, all for a flat monthly fee. The prices vary depending upon what package you choose, and there are several.
• iVocalize offers VoIP along with Internet conferencing options like PowerPoint presentation capabilities and presentation recording for future playback. They also provide optional Unicode translation in thirteen languages. The most basic VoIP package begins at $10.00 a month with a prices going up incrementally depending upon your needs and how many will be involved in your conference calls.

It is obvious that conference calling as well as standard long distance calling will be changing greatly in the near future as VoIP changes the landscape of telephone service. Land lines for long distance calling will eventually become obsolete as broadband becomes more common and makes VoIP just as commonplace as any other type of telephone call.

And with the greater portability of soft phone options built into laptops and the use of ATA phone adapters, the use of VoIP in the average home will arrive sooner rather than later.

This article on the "How VoIP Works" reprinted with permission.
Copyright 2004-2005 Evaluseek Publishing.

About the Author
Lucy P. Roberts is a successful freelance writer providing practical information and advice for consumers and businesses about everything related to audio conferencing services and VoIP providers. Her numerous articles include tips for saving both time and money; product reviews and reports; and other valuable insights for persons searching the Internet for information about the history of the telephone and related topics.

Your home can be your safe haven. It can be a place of serenity and security. For many of us living stressful lives, however, it can become a place of tension and confusion. One of the wonderful gifts the Angels have for us is to help us cleanse and clear our homes of negative energy.

Have you ever had a party in your home and afterwards, it just didnt feel right? Have you had a visitor come over for dinner, only to have your home feel strange after their visit? These experiences are common. People each have energy of their own. That is obvious in your day to day life. Who do you like to spend your time with? Positive people or negative people? Who do you like to work with in your daily career? Which co-workers do you easily accomplish things with? Its usually the ones who are honest, have great senses of humor and good hearts. But we arent all that way. Sometimes people are negative and you can almost see the dark clouds over their heads. They can come into your home for parties and get-togethers and leave their bad thoughts and negative vibes there. Sometimes we are having an off day and we contribute to negative thinking and energies.

How can we clear our homes and reclaim our lives? Heres a simple 5 step process with the Angels to help you bring the Light back into your home:

1. Detoxify. The Angels encourage you first and foremost to clean up your home! Wash those dishes, throw away that garbage, dust those dust balls away. This is a great time especially as spring approaches to really release the muck out of your home. Ask the Angels for help in this and theyll provide extra energy and a sense of lightheartedness so you can complete this job quickly, with a smile on your face.

2. Donate. The Angels encourage you to release those items around your home that you do not use or you really dont like and you hold onto it for sentimental value. Its ok to release the vase you received as a wedding present 19 years ago. Its ok to let go of those old blouses you honestly dont wear anymore. Gather these items together; make it a family game as you donate gently used items to a charity. Think how happy the new owner will be to receive that purse you only used twice, or that can opener you never used. By blessing others, you are making room for more good to come your way.

3. Clear. Now is the time to ask Archangel Michael to come forward. Ask him to use his powerful sword to clear out each and every room, every closet, every nook and cranny of any negativity or old energy that does not serve you and your family. Michael is the Protector of the Archangels, so hell protect you and with his powerful energy, hell clear away the old.

4. Bless. Now ask all your Angels to be with you as you bless your home. Realize that your home is sacred ground and that you and your family deserve to live in a home that is peaceful and safe. Bless each room in the house. Bless each person in the house. Bless the surrounding areas, neighbors, land and area. Bless each area with whatever comfortable prayer feels right for you. An example is: Beloved Creator, bless our home and all who enter with peace and joy. Fill our home with love and light. May we be safe, nurtured and protected in this space and may we bless others with our love. And so it is.

5. Intention. Now is a great time to set your intention for your home. Affirm that your home is clear and clean. Affirm you have plentiful income for upkeep and updates. If you would like to move, affirm that you bless this home for its new owners and that your new home is ready and waiting for you. Intend that each person who walks in is automatically blessed with positive, loving energy.

Enjoy your new home in its empowered state. Use this technique every 3 months or so as old energies need to be cleansed again. Enjoy working with the Angels to create a loving and peaceful life for yourself.

Annie Bathgate is an Angel Therapy Practitioner certified by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D. and director of ReturnToHarmony, which provides phone and email Angel Readings. She publishes a free monthly e-newsletter for Lightworkers interested in developing their personal relationships with their Angels. Email us to inquire about a Free Sample Experience of the Angels. You can email Annie directly at:

Email: Annie@ReturnToHarmony.com Toll Free Number: 866-238-6556 Website: http://www.ReturnToHarmony.com

Annie Bathgate, ATP, 2007