Self Serve Car Washes in the United States
In the 2003 Auto Laundry News Survey it was determined that only 10% of the Coin-op Car Washes had a web site. So if you are doing lots of individual research on car washes that are self serve, do not expect to find a lot of data on the Internet. Owners of coin-op car washes say that only 76% have internet access. The average population is 64% in the US. Not much better, so this low tech sector of the Industry seems to remain un Tech. Only 15% of coin-ops surveyed took credit cards for tokens, machines or even concession machines. Of which 17% only claimed to have concession machines, which most feel are 1/3 of their income if they had them. Only 4% had drinking water fountains. 13% had added an in bay automatic in the last five years. 51% had more than one location.
Today I visited 3 car washes that were coin ops owned by the same person. One had seven bays, another had three bays and one automatic, another had a car wash in front with 4 bays and an automatic and another car wash in the back with 4 more coin-op bays. All had attendants and machines. The survey seemed to follow the study of today. 68% said they were in middle-income areas. Only 7-9% had more than 5 car wash sites from 2000-2003 surveys and generally they were not all in only one city. Those with automatic in bay units found that those inbay units generated a gross of $5,435.00 and The average costs including Equipment was nearly $2,000.00, with the average breakdown time 2 weeks per year. 15 days. Best season was winter for the industry. Spring was also considered very good. Noon to 7 pm were the best hours. Busiest day of week was Saturdays. Only 18% have attendants. 43% had part time attendants and mostly on weekends. Average monthly gross income per bay was $1300.
The units we visited today seem to be inline maybe slightly higher than this of the Auto Laundry News Survey. All surveyed said that 2002 they made less money than previous years, which would make sense due to the lesser amount of personal monies, less money flow in this recession and lower employment figures. Also things, which plague the industry, were droughts and water shortages, restrictions and public perception about water. 20% of all owners of coin-ops are thinking of building another one. 27% said they did have other self serves in their car wash area of marketing.
Average coin-op being built cost $226K in equipment and $300K in land and improvements. This is why we are not interested in talking to poor people who think they want to build a car wash and think they will not have to work once built. We have talked to people wishing to build car washes with $30,000 down payment and think that they can build it for $45,000 I have to tell you judging by what we have learned and this survey you would not even be close.
Even with an SBA loan you need 20% down, so you would need $100K to do the deal if everything went right in most cities of any population base worthy of a good volume business. The Survey had some interesting thoughts, which said the average vacuum coin-op made $.20 per minute and each bay made $.38 per minute. We hoped you enjoyed this review of the survey to get the actual survey go to the Auto Laundry News Magazine web site.
Friday, August 31, 2007
When Photography Isn't the First Option
Today I hesitated, and watched the skies. Okay, they don't move - something to do with the Firmament being placed there by God, in His wisdom. But the clouds looked as if they might be getting ready to do something nice.
So I tossed a coin. Then I tossed another one, because I lost the first. This new one decided for me: I SHALL go out and see what photos I can take, even if there's nothing worth while.
The trouble is, I wanted to convince myself that there was nothing worthwhile to take a picture of. I was warm and snug at home and there was lots of coffee on tap and some good programmes on TV.
But that changed dramatically; the sky lightened, the sun peeped through, and a glorious sunset descended over the world - well, my part of it anyway. I waited a little longer, and the sky turned red - so red that it seemed on fire. I posted the pictures on the Shutter forums, and I think they're as good as it gets.
Another time, another place, another coin - and I probably wouldn't have gone outside at all. But the moral of the story is, of course: have faith, await inspiration, follow your judgements and dont forget the coffee will still be there when you get home.
Well, thats more than one moral but Im not counting. Im just musing over some great images.
Today I hesitated, and watched the skies. Okay, they don't move - something to do with the Firmament being placed there by God, in His wisdom. But the clouds looked as if they might be getting ready to do something nice.
So I tossed a coin. Then I tossed another one, because I lost the first. This new one decided for me: I SHALL go out and see what photos I can take, even if there's nothing worth while.
The trouble is, I wanted to convince myself that there was nothing worthwhile to take a picture of. I was warm and snug at home and there was lots of coffee on tap and some good programmes on TV.
But that changed dramatically; the sky lightened, the sun peeped through, and a glorious sunset descended over the world - well, my part of it anyway. I waited a little longer, and the sky turned red - so red that it seemed on fire. I posted the pictures on the Shutter forums, and I think they're as good as it gets.
Another time, another place, another coin - and I probably wouldn't have gone outside at all. But the moral of the story is, of course: have faith, await inspiration, follow your judgements and dont forget the coffee will still be there when you get home.
Well, thats more than one moral but Im not counting. Im just musing over some great images.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Can You Afford Not To Look After Your Personal Finances?
Investing is a subject a lot of people dont want to think about. And there is good reason for that. Investing seems scary. It either sounds like something only the rich do or something that only a skilled professional can do. But the truth is that investing is something that everyone can and should doas soon as possible.
Why should you start now?
Think about this. There are two ways to make money. You can exchange your time for money or you can make your money work for you. Most of us work 40 hours a week. In this case, you are trading your time for money. But wouldnt you rather earn more than you are making? If you are making $1,000, wouldnt you rather be earning $5,000? Most people think the only way to earn more is to work more. Work overtime is their motto! But there is more to life than working. Investing gives you the chance to let your money work for yousaving you time and earning you money.
But is the purpose of investing to get rich?
Some people dont invest because they think that investing is something you do to get rich. They figure theyll never earn enough to get rich, so why bother. But thats not what investing is for. Investing is a way for you to be able to maintain your current lifestyle.
Think about this: what if the company you worked for suddenly closed down? What are you going to do when you get to retirement? Sometimes working more is not a viable option. Investing gives you another source of savings and earning income. You dont invest to become a multi-millionaire (of course no one would stop you if that happens); you invest so that you can provide for yourself in the way you are accustomed to both before and after retirement.
Many people are convinced that investing is the right thing to do at this point, but, there are some misconceptions people have about investing that prevents them from actually doing it. These misconceptions are that:
Investing is too hard
Investing is too risky
You need a lot of money to invest
Lets look at each one of these misconceptions.
Investing is too hard.
You may think that investing is just too hard. But a lot of that has to do with the terminology of the investment industry. I mean who knows what Fed Fund rates, mutual funds, indexes, or blue chip stocks are? But you dont need to be scared off by a bunch of wordsin the end they are just words. Just like you probably didnt know what PMI was before you bought your first house or what APR was before you got your first credit card, you can learn what these things are. And you will find that they arent so hard to learn. And if you seek the advice of a professional, they can explain it to you.
Investing is too risky.
Some people have the idea that investing is risky. Movies such as Wall Street, no doubt, lead people to think that. But the fact is that investing is only as risky as you want it to be. Do you want to take huge risks? You can invest in international stocks. Want to play it safe? Go with bonds. The risk level is up to you and only you.
I cant afford to invest.
Many people think they cant afford to invest. But when you look at the alternatives (social security may not be there, job security is not 100%), you really have to ask yourself how can you afford not to invest. And the earlier you start, the more money you will earn. Even if its only a small amount, the money you invest today will earn you big in the future.
Investing is a subject a lot of people dont want to think about. And there is good reason for that. Investing seems scary. It either sounds like something only the rich do or something that only a skilled professional can do. But the truth is that investing is something that everyone can and should doas soon as possible.
Why should you start now?
Think about this. There are two ways to make money. You can exchange your time for money or you can make your money work for you. Most of us work 40 hours a week. In this case, you are trading your time for money. But wouldnt you rather earn more than you are making? If you are making $1,000, wouldnt you rather be earning $5,000? Most people think the only way to earn more is to work more. Work overtime is their motto! But there is more to life than working. Investing gives you the chance to let your money work for yousaving you time and earning you money.
But is the purpose of investing to get rich?
Some people dont invest because they think that investing is something you do to get rich. They figure theyll never earn enough to get rich, so why bother. But thats not what investing is for. Investing is a way for you to be able to maintain your current lifestyle.
Think about this: what if the company you worked for suddenly closed down? What are you going to do when you get to retirement? Sometimes working more is not a viable option. Investing gives you another source of savings and earning income. You dont invest to become a multi-millionaire (of course no one would stop you if that happens); you invest so that you can provide for yourself in the way you are accustomed to both before and after retirement.
Many people are convinced that investing is the right thing to do at this point, but, there are some misconceptions people have about investing that prevents them from actually doing it. These misconceptions are that:
Investing is too hard
Investing is too risky
You need a lot of money to invest
Lets look at each one of these misconceptions.
Investing is too hard.
You may think that investing is just too hard. But a lot of that has to do with the terminology of the investment industry. I mean who knows what Fed Fund rates, mutual funds, indexes, or blue chip stocks are? But you dont need to be scared off by a bunch of wordsin the end they are just words. Just like you probably didnt know what PMI was before you bought your first house or what APR was before you got your first credit card, you can learn what these things are. And you will find that they arent so hard to learn. And if you seek the advice of a professional, they can explain it to you.
Investing is too risky.
Some people have the idea that investing is risky. Movies such as Wall Street, no doubt, lead people to think that. But the fact is that investing is only as risky as you want it to be. Do you want to take huge risks? You can invest in international stocks. Want to play it safe? Go with bonds. The risk level is up to you and only you.
I cant afford to invest.
Many people think they cant afford to invest. But when you look at the alternatives (social security may not be there, job security is not 100%), you really have to ask yourself how can you afford not to invest. And the earlier you start, the more money you will earn. Even if its only a small amount, the money you invest today will earn you big in the future.
Hardness of Gold: Misconceptions!
The Scottish Heirloom Company, like most jewellery manufacturers, produces our product range in Sterling Silver, 10 kt (karat), 14kt and 18kt gold.
When choosing items in gold, customers are often reluctant to choose the higher karats of gold. This is not due to the higher prices, but they have heard that 18 kt gold is softer and will wear away faster than 10kt.
Is this correct? - The answer is a definite "NO!".
This is usually a surprise to many customers and also to, strangely enough, many jewellery stores sales staff..
This incorrect belief is kind of understandable, as it is fairly well known that pure (24 kt) gold is too soft to be used in most jewellery and has to be alloyed with other metals to make it harder and more durable. It is then believed that the more of the other metals that are added to the gold, the harder it becomes. The sales staffs in some jewellery stores, that mainly sell cheaper 10 kt gold items, also sometime state this idea in order to help sell the 10 kt items.
Here are the approximate maximum "Vickers" hardness values of the various Karats of gold. The higher the number, the harder the alloy.
10 kt ............ 170
14 kt ............ 180
18 kt ............ 230
Sterling silver .. 65.
As you can see, contrary to most people's expectations, 18 kt gold is the hardest of the alloys.
The term 'Karat', also spelled 'Carat' comes from the Greek word for the seed of the Carob tree. These seeds are very uniform in weight and were once used as standard weights when measuring very fine items. The term Karat or Carat is now also used as a measure of the purity of gold, as a number of the parts of gold by weight in every 24 parts of a Gold alloy. The other metals included in most gold alloys are usually copper, silver and zinc.
24 kt is pure gold, with no other metals.
18 kt is 18 parts gold and 6 parts total of silver and copper. (75.0% gold)
14 kt is 14 parts gold and 10 parts total of silver and copper. (58.3%)
10 kt is 10 parts weight of gold to 14 parts of other metals. (41.6%)
Because Gold is so much heavier than the other metals, the actual amount of gold, by volume, in the different alloys is much less.
10 kt = 41% by weight and 24% by volume.
14 kt = 58.55 by weight and 39% by volume.
18 kt = 75% by weight and 61% by volume.
Which is best?
We always produce items, which are designed to be Heirlooms and as such are made to last for many generations. Whether it is 10, 14 or 18 kt, it is certainly not going to wear out. My favourite is, however, 18 kt gold. It is the hardest wearing, looks good and is almost 40% heavier than 10 kt gold, so feels as gold should, - solid, and heavy!
10 kt and 14 kt alloys also make very nice items.
It usually comes down to price, with 10kt gold being around half the price of 18 kt gold.
The choice is yours!!
The Scottish Heirloom Company, like most jewellery manufacturers, produces our product range in Sterling Silver, 10 kt (karat), 14kt and 18kt gold.
When choosing items in gold, customers are often reluctant to choose the higher karats of gold. This is not due to the higher prices, but they have heard that 18 kt gold is softer and will wear away faster than 10kt.
Is this correct? - The answer is a definite "NO!".
This is usually a surprise to many customers and also to, strangely enough, many jewellery stores sales staff..
This incorrect belief is kind of understandable, as it is fairly well known that pure (24 kt) gold is too soft to be used in most jewellery and has to be alloyed with other metals to make it harder and more durable. It is then believed that the more of the other metals that are added to the gold, the harder it becomes. The sales staffs in some jewellery stores, that mainly sell cheaper 10 kt gold items, also sometime state this idea in order to help sell the 10 kt items.
Here are the approximate maximum "Vickers" hardness values of the various Karats of gold. The higher the number, the harder the alloy.
10 kt ............ 170
14 kt ............ 180
18 kt ............ 230
Sterling silver .. 65.
As you can see, contrary to most people's expectations, 18 kt gold is the hardest of the alloys.
The term 'Karat', also spelled 'Carat' comes from the Greek word for the seed of the Carob tree. These seeds are very uniform in weight and were once used as standard weights when measuring very fine items. The term Karat or Carat is now also used as a measure of the purity of gold, as a number of the parts of gold by weight in every 24 parts of a Gold alloy. The other metals included in most gold alloys are usually copper, silver and zinc.
24 kt is pure gold, with no other metals.
18 kt is 18 parts gold and 6 parts total of silver and copper. (75.0% gold)
14 kt is 14 parts gold and 10 parts total of silver and copper. (58.3%)
10 kt is 10 parts weight of gold to 14 parts of other metals. (41.6%)
Because Gold is so much heavier than the other metals, the actual amount of gold, by volume, in the different alloys is much less.
10 kt = 41% by weight and 24% by volume.
14 kt = 58.55 by weight and 39% by volume.
18 kt = 75% by weight and 61% by volume.
Which is best?
We always produce items, which are designed to be Heirlooms and as such are made to last for many generations. Whether it is 10, 14 or 18 kt, it is certainly not going to wear out. My favourite is, however, 18 kt gold. It is the hardest wearing, looks good and is almost 40% heavier than 10 kt gold, so feels as gold should, - solid, and heavy!
10 kt and 14 kt alloys also make very nice items.
It usually comes down to price, with 10kt gold being around half the price of 18 kt gold.
The choice is yours!!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Gold Investment - 2006 Is Another Year Of Big Rally
Spot Gold price has been keep rising for the past years (2001 - 2005). Will it continue to rise in 2006? Most of the analyst say a definite "yes" this question, now the question has turned to be "How much do you think Gold price can reach?"
Someone mentioned it can reach US00 per ounce. I am reservative on this number but I think 00 is really possible. Today the gold price close at 0. Still another 0 to go !!
1) The Gold market has been bear for about 20 years. The rally has just started and very seldom will finish within a short period of time.
2) China demand for Gold is getting more and more, and supplies are starting to get short. Gold storage is always limited in the world. It will only get harder and harder to mine gold. When supply is short while demand is strong, price will naturally goes up.
3) US dollar will top very soon once the interest rate stops increasing. Weak dollar will benefit Gold price.
4) Gold is always a shelter for capital. If in any case the country becomes unstable, risk of war, or ecomony becomes worse. Investors tends to buy more gold instead of stocks.
5) It is quite clear that Gold is in Bull market cycle. It normally has 3 phases, and it is probably running the 2nd phase. In the 3rd phase, gold price will boost up and everyone will be crazy about buying gold. When this starts to happen, it is a signal the gold bull market is ending very soon.
Spot Gold price has been keep rising for the past years (2001 - 2005). Will it continue to rise in 2006? Most of the analyst say a definite "yes" this question, now the question has turned to be "How much do you think Gold price can reach?"
Someone mentioned it can reach US00 per ounce. I am reservative on this number but I think 00 is really possible. Today the gold price close at 0. Still another 0 to go !!
1) The Gold market has been bear for about 20 years. The rally has just started and very seldom will finish within a short period of time.
2) China demand for Gold is getting more and more, and supplies are starting to get short. Gold storage is always limited in the world. It will only get harder and harder to mine gold. When supply is short while demand is strong, price will naturally goes up.
3) US dollar will top very soon once the interest rate stops increasing. Weak dollar will benefit Gold price.
4) Gold is always a shelter for capital. If in any case the country becomes unstable, risk of war, or ecomony becomes worse. Investors tends to buy more gold instead of stocks.
5) It is quite clear that Gold is in Bull market cycle. It normally has 3 phases, and it is probably running the 2nd phase. In the 3rd phase, gold price will boost up and everyone will be crazy about buying gold. When this starts to happen, it is a signal the gold bull market is ending very soon.
The Basics of Real Estate Investing
Real estate investing may not be everyones cup of tea, but some people who have already tried investing in real estate know that it can be highly profitable and lead to much better quality of life. There are several keys to making significant profits in real estate investing deals. And when the deals are profitable, you will certainly be well on your way to success.
For real estate investing newbies, dont be afraid of the challenges and pitfalls you may encounter along the way. There is definitely a lot to learn, but in the long run after you have gained some experience, youll hopefully become a master at closing profitable real estate deals.
There are 5 core skills that are necessary for building a real estate investing business. These will be the key factors in creating a profitable real estate investment portfolio.
These are the 5 core skills of real estate investing:
1) You must learn when and where to find the right kind of sellers.
2) You must learn the art of being a master negotiator when it comes to closing your real estate investment deals.
3) You must be able to quickly and accurately analyze each real estate investment deal so youll know exactly when to proceed and when to pull the plug.
4) You must become an expert in all areas of real estate investing and understand such terms as lease options, cash sales, wrap mortgages, short sales and other terminology common in the real estate investing trade.
5) You should totally understand the meaning and concept of investing in real estate, including all of the financial risks and benefits.
Now is a great time to consider investing in real estate. There are great potential rewards and the effort you put forth can yield enormous monetary returns on your investment.
Your confidence level will grow when youve gained some experience and closed on your first few real estate deals. But, don't stop there...
Continue to learn about real estate investing and to develop your investment skills. In a short time you may find yourself managing a profitable and growing portfolio of investment properties.
Continue to follow your real estate investing "game plan" and always keep an eye out for the hidden investment opportunities. The opportunities are definitely out there and with a little knowledge and desire can be yours for the taking. So, why not get started in what might be a new and exciting (and profitable) career today?
Real estate investing may not be everyones cup of tea, but some people who have already tried investing in real estate know that it can be highly profitable and lead to much better quality of life. There are several keys to making significant profits in real estate investing deals. And when the deals are profitable, you will certainly be well on your way to success.
For real estate investing newbies, dont be afraid of the challenges and pitfalls you may encounter along the way. There is definitely a lot to learn, but in the long run after you have gained some experience, youll hopefully become a master at closing profitable real estate deals.
There are 5 core skills that are necessary for building a real estate investing business. These will be the key factors in creating a profitable real estate investment portfolio.
These are the 5 core skills of real estate investing:
1) You must learn when and where to find the right kind of sellers.
2) You must learn the art of being a master negotiator when it comes to closing your real estate investment deals.
3) You must be able to quickly and accurately analyze each real estate investment deal so youll know exactly when to proceed and when to pull the plug.
4) You must become an expert in all areas of real estate investing and understand such terms as lease options, cash sales, wrap mortgages, short sales and other terminology common in the real estate investing trade.
5) You should totally understand the meaning and concept of investing in real estate, including all of the financial risks and benefits.
Now is a great time to consider investing in real estate. There are great potential rewards and the effort you put forth can yield enormous monetary returns on your investment.
Your confidence level will grow when youve gained some experience and closed on your first few real estate deals. But, don't stop there...
Continue to learn about real estate investing and to develop your investment skills. In a short time you may find yourself managing a profitable and growing portfolio of investment properties.
Continue to follow your real estate investing "game plan" and always keep an eye out for the hidden investment opportunities. The opportunities are definitely out there and with a little knowledge and desire can be yours for the taking. So, why not get started in what might be a new and exciting (and profitable) career today?
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
better investing
Better Investing
There might be nothing more pleasing that watching your money grow with little effort on your part. There are a number of ways to do this, but the most common way is by investing your money in a variety of stocks, bonds, or ventures. When you dive into the investing world, you may find it is difficult and complicated, and you may not want to handle it on your own at first. You need help and advice to make better investing decisions, and to make more money as you go.
If you aren’t happy with simply earning interest on your money with a savings account, you need some better investing options. The next step up would be a money market account. These are something like savings accounts, but they earn a higher interest rate. The difference is that you have to have a minimum amount in your account at all times. You are essentially giving your bank permission to use your money for their investments, and they then split some of their profits with you. If you aren’t willing to take a huge risk with your money, this is one of the better investing options you can take.
For those who are into stocks and bonds, you have to keep a closer eye on your money. If you find you are lost, and keep losing money, you might need better investing advice. You can find any number of consultants to help you, and some will do all the work for you. They charge a commission, so if you have very little money to invest, this might not be your best option. You can also look online to find better investing tips and tricks for those who choose to handle their own investment portfolio.
When planning for retirement, you are always looking for better investing advice. You can use your companies 401K plan to save, or you can open an individual retirement account at your bank. Remember that these are both considered investments, and are not covered by the FDIC if you were to lose money. Talk to your bank representative for more information on IRAs, and call your human resources department if you have questions about your 401K.
You can also find tips for better investing by doing some research online. There are many sites devoted to better investing, and how to get the best return on your money. Don’t forget about investing in property. This can mean you become a landlord, or you buy land in hopes to sell it for a profit at a future time. No matter which route you choose, you can find tips online to help you get started, and to help you remain in the black.
Better Investing
There might be nothing more pleasing that watching your money grow with little effort on your part. There are a number of ways to do this, but the most common way is by investing your money in a variety of stocks, bonds, or ventures. When you dive into the investing world, you may find it is difficult and complicated, and you may not want to handle it on your own at first. You need help and advice to make better investing decisions, and to make more money as you go.
If you aren’t happy with simply earning interest on your money with a savings account, you need some better investing options. The next step up would be a money market account. These are something like savings accounts, but they earn a higher interest rate. The difference is that you have to have a minimum amount in your account at all times. You are essentially giving your bank permission to use your money for their investments, and they then split some of their profits with you. If you aren’t willing to take a huge risk with your money, this is one of the better investing options you can take.
For those who are into stocks and bonds, you have to keep a closer eye on your money. If you find you are lost, and keep losing money, you might need better investing advice. You can find any number of consultants to help you, and some will do all the work for you. They charge a commission, so if you have very little money to invest, this might not be your best option. You can also look online to find better investing tips and tricks for those who choose to handle their own investment portfolio.
When planning for retirement, you are always looking for better investing advice. You can use your companies 401K plan to save, or you can open an individual retirement account at your bank. Remember that these are both considered investments, and are not covered by the FDIC if you were to lose money. Talk to your bank representative for more information on IRAs, and call your human resources department if you have questions about your 401K.
You can also find tips for better investing by doing some research online. There are many sites devoted to better investing, and how to get the best return on your money. Don’t forget about investing in property. This can mean you become a landlord, or you buy land in hopes to sell it for a profit at a future time. No matter which route you choose, you can find tips online to help you get started, and to help you remain in the black.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Rare and Beautiful World Coins
Ideas for Collecting Coins from Around the World
Collecting world coins is a fun hobby that gives you the feeling of travelling the globe vicariously through your coins. A collection of world coins offers a unique insight into the culture and history of other countries, and encourages you to learn at least a few words of a variety of different languages. World coins can also be an interesting step into the world of coin collecting, because it is a relatively inexpensive pastime. Many of the coins are still in circulation, making them easy to find and light on the pocketbook to buy. Oftentimes, children start their coin collections with world coins for this reason.
Ideas for Collections of World Coins
While some people may enjoy collecting world coins haphazardly, simply enjoying whatever coins they happen to come across, others prefer more of a challenge. While it may be impossible to collect every coin from around the world, you can create a lovely coin collection that is challenging and fun to complete by selecting a particular theme to pursue.
The most obvious theme for a collection of world coins is a concentration on a specific country. If that idea seems a little bit stale, you can also broaden your collection by concentrating on a region or aspect of a country. For example, you could start a world coins collection from South American countries, nations where English is a national language, or from island nations.
Another interesting possibility is to combine two interests by concentrating on a favorite thing or hobby outside of coin collecting. For example, a coffee lover might collect world coins from countries that produce coffee beans, or an auto enthusiast might collect coins from countries that produce his or her favorite automobiles.
You dont have to use countries as a central point of your world coins collection, however; you can also build a collection around a specific motif on the coins themselves. Some people have collections of coins featuring a particular animal, such as an eagle or a panda bear. Others concentrate on flowers, trees, or birds. Someone interested in military history might enjoy a world coins collection featuring famous fighters, for example.
Another idea for starting a collection of world coins is to concentrate your efforts on coins from a particular year. Some people really enjoy collecting world coins that were minted in their birth year, or which commemorate another date that is important to them.
If none of those ideas appeal to you, perhaps youd like to concentrate on a specific metal used to make the world coins. While precious metals like gold and platinum are obvious choices, some people enjoy putting together collections of world coins minted from common nickel or copper.
If any of these ideas have inspired you to start a collection of world coins, you might want to pause a moment before you start building a collection, and check out the prices and availability of coins matching your desired theme. It wont be much fun to start a collection of gold bullion coins, only to realize that you cant afford more than one or two pieces. A few minutes with a world coins catalog will help you decide if your ideal theme for a collection is also feasible with your budget.
Ideas for Collecting Coins from Around the World
Collecting world coins is a fun hobby that gives you the feeling of travelling the globe vicariously through your coins. A collection of world coins offers a unique insight into the culture and history of other countries, and encourages you to learn at least a few words of a variety of different languages. World coins can also be an interesting step into the world of coin collecting, because it is a relatively inexpensive pastime. Many of the coins are still in circulation, making them easy to find and light on the pocketbook to buy. Oftentimes, children start their coin collections with world coins for this reason.
Ideas for Collections of World Coins
While some people may enjoy collecting world coins haphazardly, simply enjoying whatever coins they happen to come across, others prefer more of a challenge. While it may be impossible to collect every coin from around the world, you can create a lovely coin collection that is challenging and fun to complete by selecting a particular theme to pursue.
The most obvious theme for a collection of world coins is a concentration on a specific country. If that idea seems a little bit stale, you can also broaden your collection by concentrating on a region or aspect of a country. For example, you could start a world coins collection from South American countries, nations where English is a national language, or from island nations.
Another interesting possibility is to combine two interests by concentrating on a favorite thing or hobby outside of coin collecting. For example, a coffee lover might collect world coins from countries that produce coffee beans, or an auto enthusiast might collect coins from countries that produce his or her favorite automobiles.
You dont have to use countries as a central point of your world coins collection, however; you can also build a collection around a specific motif on the coins themselves. Some people have collections of coins featuring a particular animal, such as an eagle or a panda bear. Others concentrate on flowers, trees, or birds. Someone interested in military history might enjoy a world coins collection featuring famous fighters, for example.
Another idea for starting a collection of world coins is to concentrate your efforts on coins from a particular year. Some people really enjoy collecting world coins that were minted in their birth year, or which commemorate another date that is important to them.
If none of those ideas appeal to you, perhaps youd like to concentrate on a specific metal used to make the world coins. While precious metals like gold and platinum are obvious choices, some people enjoy putting together collections of world coins minted from common nickel or copper.
If any of these ideas have inspired you to start a collection of world coins, you might want to pause a moment before you start building a collection, and check out the prices and availability of coins matching your desired theme. It wont be much fun to start a collection of gold bullion coins, only to realize that you cant afford more than one or two pieces. A few minutes with a world coins catalog will help you decide if your ideal theme for a collection is also feasible with your budget.
What is Stock Investing?
Are you frustrated in your effort to learn about stock investing? Here is a short overview to stock investing.
Stock investing is a popular tool that many use for creating wealth. Anyone from teenagers to retirees can own stock and many of them do. You can never be too old or too young to be an investor but the faster you start the better off you will most likely be.
So what are stocks anyway?
Stocks are just pieces of a company that you can buy or sell. Basically you become part owner in a company and when the company is doing well usually the stock will do quite well since other investors will want to invest in the company so they can profit.
Why invest in stocks?
People invest in stocks for many reasons, the most obvious one is you can make money doing it but there are other reasons such as it is nice to take part in this pastime and can be a fun and rewarding hobby if you work at it.
What do I need do stock investing?
Before you invest in stocks youll need to open up a brokerage account a broker I use is called Scottrade you can find them here: http://www.scottrade.com/ after you setup the account you need to research stocks and then choose which ones you think would do the best and then take action and invest in the companies.
Are you frustrated in your effort to learn about stock investing? Here is a short overview to stock investing.
Stock investing is a popular tool that many use for creating wealth. Anyone from teenagers to retirees can own stock and many of them do. You can never be too old or too young to be an investor but the faster you start the better off you will most likely be.
So what are stocks anyway?
Stocks are just pieces of a company that you can buy or sell. Basically you become part owner in a company and when the company is doing well usually the stock will do quite well since other investors will want to invest in the company so they can profit.
Why invest in stocks?
People invest in stocks for many reasons, the most obvious one is you can make money doing it but there are other reasons such as it is nice to take part in this pastime and can be a fun and rewarding hobby if you work at it.
What do I need do stock investing?
Before you invest in stocks youll need to open up a brokerage account a broker I use is called Scottrade you can find them here: http://www.scottrade.com/ after you setup the account you need to research stocks and then choose which ones you think would do the best and then take action and invest in the companies.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Magnificent Kinkakuji
Last week during his tour of Kyoto Japan, President Bush visited the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) and described it as magnificent. He was probably referring to the 1398 Japanese architecture but may just as well have been referring to gold prices which are at an 18-year high. Gold has been a magnificent investment and still has considerable upside.
It is a rare portfolio that I build for a client that does not have some allocation to gold and other precious metals. There are three basic reasons why investors should still consider adding it to their portfolio.
First, gold prices are not normally correlated to other asset class prices. It therefore serves as a buffer or shock absorber to the value of a portfolio when other assets classes are out of favor.
Secondly, there are supply and demand factors. Central banks have been net sellers of gold over the past twenty years. Gold accounts for about 9% of the $4.4 trillion in world central bank foreign exchange and gold reserves, down from 15% in early 2000.
But some central banks are now going the other way. For example, the Russian central bank wants to increase golds share of its reserves from 5% to 10%.
Jewelry demand for gold is also picking up especially in China and India. Global investors are also using gold as a hedge for a global recession and potential decline in value of the U.S. dollar or the Euro.
On the supply side, production of gold has been relatively flat for the last 5-7 years and does not appear to be turning around due to maturing mines and higher extraction costs.
The third reason to have some gold exposure in your portfolio is that it serves as disaster insurance from unforeseen but potentially devastating events such as widespread terrorism or severe economic or political upheaval.
Many gold bugs insist that the only true gold exposure is through gold coins. An easier way to gain instant gold exposure is through the iShares COMEX Gold Trust ETF ( IAU) that is up 15.3% so far this year. Another option is investing through the iShares South Africa ETF (EZA) which has considerable exposure to the gold and mining industry and is up 15.9% this year.
Dont come down with gold fever. A 5-10% allocation to your core conservative portfolio should get the job done. Expect some lusterless years as well as some magnificent returns and restful nights knowing you have some gold under the pillow.
Last week during his tour of Kyoto Japan, President Bush visited the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) and described it as magnificent. He was probably referring to the 1398 Japanese architecture but may just as well have been referring to gold prices which are at an 18-year high. Gold has been a magnificent investment and still has considerable upside.
It is a rare portfolio that I build for a client that does not have some allocation to gold and other precious metals. There are three basic reasons why investors should still consider adding it to their portfolio.
First, gold prices are not normally correlated to other asset class prices. It therefore serves as a buffer or shock absorber to the value of a portfolio when other assets classes are out of favor.
Secondly, there are supply and demand factors. Central banks have been net sellers of gold over the past twenty years. Gold accounts for about 9% of the $4.4 trillion in world central bank foreign exchange and gold reserves, down from 15% in early 2000.
But some central banks are now going the other way. For example, the Russian central bank wants to increase golds share of its reserves from 5% to 10%.
Jewelry demand for gold is also picking up especially in China and India. Global investors are also using gold as a hedge for a global recession and potential decline in value of the U.S. dollar or the Euro.
On the supply side, production of gold has been relatively flat for the last 5-7 years and does not appear to be turning around due to maturing mines and higher extraction costs.
The third reason to have some gold exposure in your portfolio is that it serves as disaster insurance from unforeseen but potentially devastating events such as widespread terrorism or severe economic or political upheaval.
Many gold bugs insist that the only true gold exposure is through gold coins. An easier way to gain instant gold exposure is through the iShares COMEX Gold Trust ETF ( IAU) that is up 15.3% so far this year. Another option is investing through the iShares South Africa ETF (EZA) which has considerable exposure to the gold and mining industry and is up 15.9% this year.
Dont come down with gold fever. A 5-10% allocation to your core conservative portfolio should get the job done. Expect some lusterless years as well as some magnificent returns and restful nights knowing you have some gold under the pillow.
Buying Jewelry For Your Business Part 1 Buying Gold Jewelry
Whether you presently own a retail or web based business and are looking for an additional profit center or you are thinking of starting a business, jewelry is a no-brainer choice for a proven product category. The buying public, (particularly woman) never tires of jewelry as the choices in color, materials, finishes and styles are endless and annotations continue on and on. Every generation reinvents jewelry for itself in much the same way that it reinvents music and fashion. Styles change but the basic facts remain the same. If you are a seasoned professional, please consider the following a refresher course. To the new comer, use this information as a foundation for your ongoing jewelry education.
Gold Jewelry Basics
The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, its usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.
The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.
Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you dont see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.
Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.
Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.
Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.
Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.
Whether you presently own a retail or web based business and are looking for an additional profit center or you are thinking of starting a business, jewelry is a no-brainer choice for a proven product category. The buying public, (particularly woman) never tires of jewelry as the choices in color, materials, finishes and styles are endless and annotations continue on and on. Every generation reinvents jewelry for itself in much the same way that it reinvents music and fashion. Styles change but the basic facts remain the same. If you are a seasoned professional, please consider the following a refresher course. To the new comer, use this information as a foundation for your ongoing jewelry education.
Gold Jewelry Basics
The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, its usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.
The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.
Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you dont see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.
Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.
Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.
Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.
Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Streaks Happen: Winning and Losing Streaks Explained
Winning and losing streaks are a familiar aspect of gambling. But they are often misunderstood.
Streaks can lead gamblers astray. I sometimes wonder how much money has been lost because a player does not understand streaks.
For example, players who feel they are on a winning streak may bet accordingly. They believe that since they are on a winning streak, it will continue. So they bet as if they must keep on winning.
On the other hand, players who have been on a long losing streak may assume that they are overdue for a win. They may assume that since the roulette wheel has come up black five times in a row, next time it will certainly come up red. So they bet all their money on red. If the wheel comes up black again, they may think the wheel is rigged, or they are just cursed with bad luck.
You may already understand the problem with this approach. Consider a simple coin toss. If I throw a coin five times and it comes up heads each time, is the coin suddenly overdue for tails? Am I on a "heads winning streak" which I can expect to continue? Of course the answer to both questions is no.
Each toss of the coin is independent. No matter how many times the coin comes up heads, the probability of heads on the next toss remains 1/2. The coin does not in any sense remember how many times it has come up a particular way.
So why do streaks occur? Is there any pattern to streaks? If there is, can we take advantage of this pattern?
As you will see, streaks are not really mysterious. In fact, we can actually predict their existence using simple mathematics. We can also study their behavior using computer simulations.
Let's continue using the example of coin tossing. We know that the probability of heads in a single coin toss is 1/2. So is the probability of tails.
We also know that if we toss a coin ten times, there is no guarantee that we will get exactly five heads and five tails. But in the long term, we expect the result to get closer to 50% heads and 50% tails.
If we toss the coin many times and record the results, we will see examples of streaks of various length. Sometimes we will see three heads in a row, sometimes five tails in a row. On the surface, there may be no apparent pattern. But on closer study, a pattern does emerge. I'll provide an example later in this article.
First, to help understand this pattern, let's consider the case where we throw the coin 1024 times. This may seem like a strange number, but it's convenient because it's a power of 2, and this makes the example easy to work out.
In theory, we expect half the tosses to result in heads and half in tails. 1024/2 = 512 so we expect 512 heads and 512 tails.
If we assume exactly 512 heads and 512 tails, then we can have at most 256 streaks of length 1. To imagine this, think of a simpler case where the number of throws is only 16. Consider the sequence with the following pattern:
HHTTHHTTHHTTHHTT
This sequence has 16 throws, 8 heads and 8 tails. There are exactly 4 HH streaks and 44 TT streaks. There can't possibly be more than 4 of each kind of streak and still have exactly 8 heads and 8 tails.
This is just one possible outcome. In general we expect longer streaks to occur sometimes. However, we expect them to occur less often than shorter streaks.
For example, we would expect a HHH streak to occur only half as many times as a HH streak. To see this, compare the pattern HHHX with HHXX, where X is either H or T. For HHHX, X must be T to maintain the streak. If X is H, then the streak changes from HHH to HHHH. In other words there is only one way the HHH streak can happen in the sequence HHHX. But HHXX can occur two ways, as HHTH or HHTT.
So we would expect, allowing for longer streaks, that we should get HH streaks 128 times, HHH streaks 64 times, and so on.
Now we can construct a theoretical table for how often streaks of each length should occur.
Length Times
------ -----
1 128
2 64
3 32
4 16
5 8
6 4
7 2
8 or more 1
How does this theoretical result match with a real experiment? Since it's tiresome to throw a coin 1024 times, I wrote a short computer program to simulate this experiment. Instead of tossing a coin, I use a software random number generator.
The program simulates 1024 tosses and keeps track of how often each length streak occurs. Here's the result of one run for streaks of H.
Length Times
------ -----
1 126
2 66
3 32
4 19
5 7
6 3
7 0
8 2
9 0
10 1
The pattern fits well with our theory, although not exactly. Of course this is typical of experiments in probability. We could increase the number of throws in order to achieve results which come closer to the theoretical result.
My program has done nothing but simulate throwing a coin 1024 times, with equal probabilities each time of heads or tails. Yet, streaks occur. Moreover, they occur in a pattern, as our simple theory predicts.
I hope that this article provided some insights into streaks. I'll conclude with this thought. When it comes to independent events such as tossing a coin or throwing the dice, you can know that you have been on a streak, but you can't know if the streak will continue.
Winning and losing streaks are a familiar aspect of gambling. But they are often misunderstood.
Streaks can lead gamblers astray. I sometimes wonder how much money has been lost because a player does not understand streaks.
For example, players who feel they are on a winning streak may bet accordingly. They believe that since they are on a winning streak, it will continue. So they bet as if they must keep on winning.
On the other hand, players who have been on a long losing streak may assume that they are overdue for a win. They may assume that since the roulette wheel has come up black five times in a row, next time it will certainly come up red. So they bet all their money on red. If the wheel comes up black again, they may think the wheel is rigged, or they are just cursed with bad luck.
You may already understand the problem with this approach. Consider a simple coin toss. If I throw a coin five times and it comes up heads each time, is the coin suddenly overdue for tails? Am I on a "heads winning streak" which I can expect to continue? Of course the answer to both questions is no.
Each toss of the coin is independent. No matter how many times the coin comes up heads, the probability of heads on the next toss remains 1/2. The coin does not in any sense remember how many times it has come up a particular way.
So why do streaks occur? Is there any pattern to streaks? If there is, can we take advantage of this pattern?
As you will see, streaks are not really mysterious. In fact, we can actually predict their existence using simple mathematics. We can also study their behavior using computer simulations.
Let's continue using the example of coin tossing. We know that the probability of heads in a single coin toss is 1/2. So is the probability of tails.
We also know that if we toss a coin ten times, there is no guarantee that we will get exactly five heads and five tails. But in the long term, we expect the result to get closer to 50% heads and 50% tails.
If we toss the coin many times and record the results, we will see examples of streaks of various length. Sometimes we will see three heads in a row, sometimes five tails in a row. On the surface, there may be no apparent pattern. But on closer study, a pattern does emerge. I'll provide an example later in this article.
First, to help understand this pattern, let's consider the case where we throw the coin 1024 times. This may seem like a strange number, but it's convenient because it's a power of 2, and this makes the example easy to work out.
In theory, we expect half the tosses to result in heads and half in tails. 1024/2 = 512 so we expect 512 heads and 512 tails.
If we assume exactly 512 heads and 512 tails, then we can have at most 256 streaks of length 1. To imagine this, think of a simpler case where the number of throws is only 16. Consider the sequence with the following pattern:
HHTTHHTTHHTTHHTT
This sequence has 16 throws, 8 heads and 8 tails. There are exactly 4 HH streaks and 44 TT streaks. There can't possibly be more than 4 of each kind of streak and still have exactly 8 heads and 8 tails.
This is just one possible outcome. In general we expect longer streaks to occur sometimes. However, we expect them to occur less often than shorter streaks.
For example, we would expect a HHH streak to occur only half as many times as a HH streak. To see this, compare the pattern HHHX with HHXX, where X is either H or T. For HHHX, X must be T to maintain the streak. If X is H, then the streak changes from HHH to HHHH. In other words there is only one way the HHH streak can happen in the sequence HHHX. But HHXX can occur two ways, as HHTH or HHTT.
So we would expect, allowing for longer streaks, that we should get HH streaks 128 times, HHH streaks 64 times, and so on.
Now we can construct a theoretical table for how often streaks of each length should occur.
Length Times
------ -----
1 128
2 64
3 32
4 16
5 8
6 4
7 2
8 or more 1
How does this theoretical result match with a real experiment? Since it's tiresome to throw a coin 1024 times, I wrote a short computer program to simulate this experiment. Instead of tossing a coin, I use a software random number generator.
The program simulates 1024 tosses and keeps track of how often each length streak occurs. Here's the result of one run for streaks of H.
Length Times
------ -----
1 126
2 66
3 32
4 19
5 7
6 3
7 0
8 2
9 0
10 1
The pattern fits well with our theory, although not exactly. Of course this is typical of experiments in probability. We could increase the number of throws in order to achieve results which come closer to the theoretical result.
My program has done nothing but simulate throwing a coin 1024 times, with equal probabilities each time of heads or tails. Yet, streaks occur. Moreover, they occur in a pattern, as our simple theory predicts.
I hope that this article provided some insights into streaks. I'll conclude with this thought. When it comes to independent events such as tossing a coin or throwing the dice, you can know that you have been on a streak, but you can't know if the streak will continue.
World of Warcraft - How to Get the Maximum Gold?
World of Warcraft is one game that can be worked around if one has a lot of Gold. Gold possession is the most important aspect of playing. Gold is the basic foundation of your existence in the game. To buy items form other players and vendors, you need gold. To get training and acquire new skills from the trainer, you need gold. Gold enhances your character in World of Warcraft as in any other MMORPG game.
The most important factor that contributes to building your character in World of Warcraft is to become a professional early i.e. to take up or grab a profession like skinning or mining. Killing animals and selling their skin to others is a profitable profession that rakes in gold as well as moulds your character by leveling out, two birds with one arrow. Mining, similarly can give you unexpected mounds of valuable or demanded mineral ores that can be sold for a premium to make a killing profit and enhance your profession as well. That is the value of profession and its contribution to your character building.
World of Warcraft undoubtedly integrates the best questing compared to other MMORPG games. Quests can be used to give you a huge advantage over others. Always get hold of a quest whenever you can. Leveling a quest takes little time, but EXP gained from killings in the quest and the rewards of completing a quest have their distinct advantages like gaining some important items and of course money. Add on bonuses of quest completion can lend you greater speed and better character through becoming richer.
Usage of gears in World of Warcraft is certainly advantageous but will deplete your gold resources heavily. Investing in gears in the initial levels from 1 to 40 would not be worth the gold spent. These levels have lesser gear dependency and you can complete these levels from what you gain from the quests. Keep the gold and wisely invest in higher level gears.
Keep track and observe the drops of your kills. Humanoids in World of Warcraft drop more items and gold compared to other mobs, so, level yourself killing as many humanoids as you can.
The bottom-line is Gold, the more you have, the better off you would be, World of Warcraft or not. All the best
World of Warcraft is one game that can be worked around if one has a lot of Gold. Gold possession is the most important aspect of playing. Gold is the basic foundation of your existence in the game. To buy items form other players and vendors, you need gold. To get training and acquire new skills from the trainer, you need gold. Gold enhances your character in World of Warcraft as in any other MMORPG game.
The most important factor that contributes to building your character in World of Warcraft is to become a professional early i.e. to take up or grab a profession like skinning or mining. Killing animals and selling their skin to others is a profitable profession that rakes in gold as well as moulds your character by leveling out, two birds with one arrow. Mining, similarly can give you unexpected mounds of valuable or demanded mineral ores that can be sold for a premium to make a killing profit and enhance your profession as well. That is the value of profession and its contribution to your character building.
World of Warcraft undoubtedly integrates the best questing compared to other MMORPG games. Quests can be used to give you a huge advantage over others. Always get hold of a quest whenever you can. Leveling a quest takes little time, but EXP gained from killings in the quest and the rewards of completing a quest have their distinct advantages like gaining some important items and of course money. Add on bonuses of quest completion can lend you greater speed and better character through becoming richer.
Usage of gears in World of Warcraft is certainly advantageous but will deplete your gold resources heavily. Investing in gears in the initial levels from 1 to 40 would not be worth the gold spent. These levels have lesser gear dependency and you can complete these levels from what you gain from the quests. Keep the gold and wisely invest in higher level gears.
Keep track and observe the drops of your kills. Humanoids in World of Warcraft drop more items and gold compared to other mobs, so, level yourself killing as many humanoids as you can.
The bottom-line is Gold, the more you have, the better off you would be, World of Warcraft or not. All the best
Friday, August 24, 2007
The Truth About Gold Jewelry
Without a doubt, Gold is one of the worlds most precious metals. It is also a certainty that gold enjoys an unsurpassed popularity as a medium for jewelry expression. Both jewelry artisans and consumers alike are "in love" with gold. There seems to be no end to the range of colors, finishes and styles available and gold remains a perennial favorite setting for gemstones. Gold can last forever, will not corrode or rust and can be found anywhere. Gold exists in plants, rivers, oceans, mountains, its nearly everywhere but it is extremely difficult and costly to extract this amazing metal. Did you know that a single ounce of gold can be pulled into a thin wire that stretches nearly five miles long? An artisans hammer can work that same ounce into a very thin sheet that can cover a 10ft x 10ft(100sq. ft.) area. Also, it takes nearly 3 tons of gold or to extract a single ounce of pure gold. Well if you didnt now you know! Gold Basics The word Gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, its usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold. The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry. Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you dont see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece. Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark. Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is. Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay. Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate. Vermeil (ver-may), a special type of gold plated product, consists of a base of sterling silver that is coated or plated with gold.
Learn How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off. This informative Special Report reveals little-known facts and insider trade secrets that many jewelers would prefer you didnt know. To get your FREE copy please go to http://www.morninglightjewelry.com.
Without a doubt, Gold is one of the worlds most precious metals. It is also a certainty that gold enjoys an unsurpassed popularity as a medium for jewelry expression. Both jewelry artisans and consumers alike are "in love" with gold. There seems to be no end to the range of colors, finishes and styles available and gold remains a perennial favorite setting for gemstones. Gold can last forever, will not corrode or rust and can be found anywhere. Gold exists in plants, rivers, oceans, mountains, its nearly everywhere but it is extremely difficult and costly to extract this amazing metal. Did you know that a single ounce of gold can be pulled into a thin wire that stretches nearly five miles long? An artisans hammer can work that same ounce into a very thin sheet that can cover a 10ft x 10ft(100sq. ft.) area. Also, it takes nearly 3 tons of gold or to extract a single ounce of pure gold. Well if you didnt now you know! Gold Basics The word Gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, its usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold. The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry. Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you dont see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece. Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark. Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is. Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay. Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate. Vermeil (ver-may), a special type of gold plated product, consists of a base of sterling silver that is coated or plated with gold.
Learn How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off. This informative Special Report reveals little-known facts and insider trade secrets that many jewelers would prefer you didnt know. To get your FREE copy please go to http://www.morninglightjewelry.com.
How to Read Slot Machines
The first thing you need to do is to learn how to "Read" a machine by reading the pay out table before playing. We will now examine the information provided in the payout table.
Firstly it will tell you the denomination of the coin needed to play that machine. For instance, I'm sure you have seen people drop a dollar into a machine that only accepts quarters, and than have the dollar rejected.
Lets now look at the different types of machines on offer:
Multiplier: This is a good machine if you want to play one coin at a time as it does not penalize you for if you do not play the maximum bet. This machine has a predetermined pay out for a certain symbol, and the number of coins you play multiplies it. So, if the machine pays 5 coins for three cherries when you play one coin, it would pay 10 for two coins and 15 for three coins played.
Bonus Multiplier: This machine rewards you for playing maximum coins, but you need to decide if the bonus on offer is worth playing the extra coins. It operates the same as the multiplier, however it offers a bonus when you play maximum coins and hit the jackpot. Three Jackpots symbols may pay 1,000 for one coin, 2,000 for two coins and 10,000 for maximum coins.
Multiple Payline: These machines have more than one line of play and each coin played activates a particular line. You will not receive anything if you hit a winner on a line that is not activated. The older machines used to have three lines but the newer video slots can have up to nine lines.
Buy-a-Pay: You only play this machine if you are playing the maximum coins - as you will win nothing if you hit the jackpot with one coin! The maximum coins played activate the largest jackpot, as each coin activates a different pay out. One example is the "Sizzlin 7's" machines. The machine will pay on cherries, bars and sevens. The sevens pay 1,000 coins. If you play one coin you can collect only on the cherries. If you play two coins you can collect on cherries and bars. You need three coins in to collect on the Sizzlin 7's.
Progressive Slots: Always play the progressive slots with maximum coins. With these slots a certain percentage of the money played are added to a pool to pay top jackpot. "Megabucks" or "Quarter Mania" are examples of machines from several casinos linked together to offer a life changing jackpot. Some casinos have machines linked together within their own casino to offer mini-progressive jackpots. However, remember that the percentage of the payout on the lesser wins is reduced to provide for the big prize.
We hope that this information will make you more effective slots players. And remember to read the pay out schedule before playing.
The first thing you need to do is to learn how to "Read" a machine by reading the pay out table before playing. We will now examine the information provided in the payout table.
Firstly it will tell you the denomination of the coin needed to play that machine. For instance, I'm sure you have seen people drop a dollar into a machine that only accepts quarters, and than have the dollar rejected.
Lets now look at the different types of machines on offer:
Multiplier: This is a good machine if you want to play one coin at a time as it does not penalize you for if you do not play the maximum bet. This machine has a predetermined pay out for a certain symbol, and the number of coins you play multiplies it. So, if the machine pays 5 coins for three cherries when you play one coin, it would pay 10 for two coins and 15 for three coins played.
Bonus Multiplier: This machine rewards you for playing maximum coins, but you need to decide if the bonus on offer is worth playing the extra coins. It operates the same as the multiplier, however it offers a bonus when you play maximum coins and hit the jackpot. Three Jackpots symbols may pay 1,000 for one coin, 2,000 for two coins and 10,000 for maximum coins.
Multiple Payline: These machines have more than one line of play and each coin played activates a particular line. You will not receive anything if you hit a winner on a line that is not activated. The older machines used to have three lines but the newer video slots can have up to nine lines.
Buy-a-Pay: You only play this machine if you are playing the maximum coins - as you will win nothing if you hit the jackpot with one coin! The maximum coins played activate the largest jackpot, as each coin activates a different pay out. One example is the "Sizzlin 7's" machines. The machine will pay on cherries, bars and sevens. The sevens pay 1,000 coins. If you play one coin you can collect only on the cherries. If you play two coins you can collect on cherries and bars. You need three coins in to collect on the Sizzlin 7's.
Progressive Slots: Always play the progressive slots with maximum coins. With these slots a certain percentage of the money played are added to a pool to pay top jackpot. "Megabucks" or "Quarter Mania" are examples of machines from several casinos linked together to offer a life changing jackpot. Some casinos have machines linked together within their own casino to offer mini-progressive jackpots. However, remember that the percentage of the payout on the lesser wins is reduced to provide for the big prize.
We hope that this information will make you more effective slots players. And remember to read the pay out schedule before playing.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Guide To Choosing Gold and Platinum Wedding Rings
Nothing says forever like gold and platinum wedding rings. These precious metals mark the permanence of a lifelong commitment, and will endure beyond decades of married life.
Whereas gold is a traditional setting, platinum has taken off as the newest trend in wedding jewelry. The decision to go for the gold or opt for platinum is based on the personal style of the bride and groom. However, certain factors may contribute to the couples wedding ring selection.
Style
What does your wedding ring say about you? Platinum is geared toward a more modern look, whereas gold is traditionally beautiful. When evaluating your style, consider the future as well as the present, as you will quite possibly be wearing this ring for years to come.
Matching Existing Jewelry
Look at your (and your fiances) jewelry collection do you see gold, silver or a combination of both? If a bride typically wears only silver jewelry, she may wish for a platinum ring to accent her existing pieces; conversely, a gold jewelry fan would likely pick a gold ring. Grooms may wish to match their ring to their favorite watch or ID bracelet. If a couple has different tastes, they may choose a wedding ring that incorporates multiple colors.
Quality
While gold will stand the test of time, platinum is a stronger and more durable metal. Couples that decide on gold should select 14-18k wedding rings. For gold, high karats mean intense color but less durability.
Allergic Reactions to Metals
If the bride or groom reacts to the metals found in certain types of jewelry, a platinum wedding ring is the way to go. Over 90 percent pure, platinum is hypoallergenic to most people.
Price
If shopping by price, gold offers the best value for your money. While platinum is more durable than gold, it is also more expensive. If a couple longs for a light-colored metal but cannot afford platinum, they may consider opting for a white gold wedding ring as an affordable alternative.
Whatever your decision, gold and platinum wedding rings are a wonderful way to express your love and commitment to each other.
Nothing says forever like gold and platinum wedding rings. These precious metals mark the permanence of a lifelong commitment, and will endure beyond decades of married life.
Whereas gold is a traditional setting, platinum has taken off as the newest trend in wedding jewelry. The decision to go for the gold or opt for platinum is based on the personal style of the bride and groom. However, certain factors may contribute to the couples wedding ring selection.
Style
What does your wedding ring say about you? Platinum is geared toward a more modern look, whereas gold is traditionally beautiful. When evaluating your style, consider the future as well as the present, as you will quite possibly be wearing this ring for years to come.
Matching Existing Jewelry
Look at your (and your fiances) jewelry collection do you see gold, silver or a combination of both? If a bride typically wears only silver jewelry, she may wish for a platinum ring to accent her existing pieces; conversely, a gold jewelry fan would likely pick a gold ring. Grooms may wish to match their ring to their favorite watch or ID bracelet. If a couple has different tastes, they may choose a wedding ring that incorporates multiple colors.
Quality
While gold will stand the test of time, platinum is a stronger and more durable metal. Couples that decide on gold should select 14-18k wedding rings. For gold, high karats mean intense color but less durability.
Allergic Reactions to Metals
If the bride or groom reacts to the metals found in certain types of jewelry, a platinum wedding ring is the way to go. Over 90 percent pure, platinum is hypoallergenic to most people.
Price
If shopping by price, gold offers the best value for your money. While platinum is more durable than gold, it is also more expensive. If a couple longs for a light-colored metal but cannot afford platinum, they may consider opting for a white gold wedding ring as an affordable alternative.
Whatever your decision, gold and platinum wedding rings are a wonderful way to express your love and commitment to each other.
Stop Losing Money on Scams, Earn with Real HYIPs
If you are reading this article the chances are that you have already tried to invest in HYIPs (High Yield Investing Programs usually pay you around 1%-6% daily of your investment) and eventually lost some money. Everyone loses money when investing in HYIP for the first time, but should it be that way? Can you earn money with HYIPs?
I've been investing in HYIPs for over 2 years and at first, of course, I lost a lot of money too, but I didn't give up and started to learn HYIPs, to find out how they work. I was learning to find the Real HYIP programs, to choose the right ones, whose, which will pay me. During that time I absorbed all the information I could find on HYIPs and also my investing experience and I was a good student. In fact only few months later I was an expert in HYIP investing, now I can predict with a high degree of certainty which High Yield Investing Program will last enough to let me earn and which will not.
So, yes, I earn money by playing HYIPs! Of course, as no one is perfect, I also lose sometimes, but my gains are bigger and much more often. I split my investments between few good programs, I don't invest much in any of them, but I invest mostly in more reliable programs. I choose all programs I invest in very wisely and perform my own due diligence on each one of them.
How you can earn with HYIPs? Here are few simple, yet most valuable, guidelines for you to help make money with HYIPs:
1. First You need to understand the risks. The first gold rule of online investment is "don't invest more than you can afford to lose". Be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them.
2. Don't think HYIP investment will solve all you financial problems, pay all your debts first. Don't think of HYIP investing as a job, but merely a second income.
3. Study HYIPs. Join the 3 biggest HYIP forums: TalkGold.com, GoldenTalk.com and HYIPDiscussion.com. Forums usually are the best source of reliable information directly from other investors, like you. Pay more attention to posts made by more experienced members - they know what they are talking about. Never spam forums - don't post any referral links in your posts unless the forum rules allow that. You will only be banned for spamming.
Read HYIP articles and reviews, don't trust much to HYIP monitoring and rating sites.
Pay more attention to HYIP articles, they are written by senior investors and reflect thwir experience.
4. Always perform your own due diligence before investing in a HYIP. This game is cruel and you can't trust anybody, but yourself. To find information about HYIP program owners use whois.sc. Search in google for " scam" - look for negative posts, beacause people usually post if they get scammed.
5. Try to invest more in Real HYIPs. While over 99% of all HYIPs are ponzi schemes (don't get it wrong - you can earn with ponzies too, but the risk is much higher), there are few real trading programs. Real HYIPs invest your money in FOREX, offshore trading or commodities and their daily or monthly interest is usually low, near 1% daily or less. Real HYIPs usually have unique site design, disclosed information about authors and good payout history. Current best HYIP is FeederFund, you won't find any single post in a forum, claiming FeederFund is a scam.
6. Use smart investing strategy. Best strategy is to split your investments as much as possible. Invest most of your money in Real HYIPs with low interest and high credibility.
7. The second gold rule of HYIP investing is "If something seems to good to be true, it usually is". Don't trust to programs promising extremely high returns and referral comissions. Stick to the most reliable programs and you will succeed!
I believe in your success, now it's your time to belive in yourself and stop losing money on scams.
Learn and Earn!
If you are reading this article the chances are that you have already tried to invest in HYIPs (High Yield Investing Programs usually pay you around 1%-6% daily of your investment) and eventually lost some money. Everyone loses money when investing in HYIP for the first time, but should it be that way? Can you earn money with HYIPs?
I've been investing in HYIPs for over 2 years and at first, of course, I lost a lot of money too, but I didn't give up and started to learn HYIPs, to find out how they work. I was learning to find the Real HYIP programs, to choose the right ones, whose, which will pay me. During that time I absorbed all the information I could find on HYIPs and also my investing experience and I was a good student. In fact only few months later I was an expert in HYIP investing, now I can predict with a high degree of certainty which High Yield Investing Program will last enough to let me earn and which will not.
So, yes, I earn money by playing HYIPs! Of course, as no one is perfect, I also lose sometimes, but my gains are bigger and much more often. I split my investments between few good programs, I don't invest much in any of them, but I invest mostly in more reliable programs. I choose all programs I invest in very wisely and perform my own due diligence on each one of them.
How you can earn with HYIPs? Here are few simple, yet most valuable, guidelines for you to help make money with HYIPs:
1. First You need to understand the risks. The first gold rule of online investment is "don't invest more than you can afford to lose". Be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them.
2. Don't think HYIP investment will solve all you financial problems, pay all your debts first. Don't think of HYIP investing as a job, but merely a second income.
3. Study HYIPs. Join the 3 biggest HYIP forums: TalkGold.com, GoldenTalk.com and HYIPDiscussion.com. Forums usually are the best source of reliable information directly from other investors, like you. Pay more attention to posts made by more experienced members - they know what they are talking about. Never spam forums - don't post any referral links in your posts unless the forum rules allow that. You will only be banned for spamming.
Read HYIP articles and reviews, don't trust much to HYIP monitoring and rating sites.
Pay more attention to HYIP articles, they are written by senior investors and reflect thwir experience.
4. Always perform your own due diligence before investing in a HYIP. This game is cruel and you can't trust anybody, but yourself. To find information about HYIP program owners use whois.sc. Search in google for " scam" - look for negative posts, beacause people usually post if they get scammed.
5. Try to invest more in Real HYIPs. While over 99% of all HYIPs are ponzi schemes (don't get it wrong - you can earn with ponzies too, but the risk is much higher), there are few real trading programs. Real HYIPs invest your money in FOREX, offshore trading or commodities and their daily or monthly interest is usually low, near 1% daily or less. Real HYIPs usually have unique site design, disclosed information about authors and good payout history. Current best HYIP is FeederFund, you won't find any single post in a forum, claiming FeederFund is a scam.
6. Use smart investing strategy. Best strategy is to split your investments as much as possible. Invest most of your money in Real HYIPs with low interest and high credibility.
7. The second gold rule of HYIP investing is "If something seems to good to be true, it usually is". Don't trust to programs promising extremely high returns and referral comissions. Stick to the most reliable programs and you will succeed!
I believe in your success, now it's your time to belive in yourself and stop losing money on scams.
Learn and Earn!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Challenge Coin Display Cases And Challenge Coins Tips
I find it amazing that the interest and popularity of challenge coins and challenge coin displays keeps rising. I get many questions about military challenge coins so I have decided to gather some valuable tips for you.
The most popular challenge coins are navy challenge coins, marine corps challenge coins, army challenge coins, air force challenge coins and police challenge coins. Which one do you prefer?
Challenge coins are more precious than one can imagine they usually worth a couple of bucks, but they have a sentimental value no one can evaluate. Thats way; you must protect your military challenge coins by using a challenge coin display case.
Buy a challenge coin display that totally answers your needs:
1. One that will make you proud of your challenge coins collection Some have dozens of challenge coins from navy challenge coin, marine corps challenge coins and army challenge coin to air force challenge coins and police challenge coins. A collection like this could be really impressive.
2. One that will fully protect your challenge coins Most of the challenge coin display cases have a plastic capsule for each individual coin.
I find the military challenge coins a bit magical. Did you know that no one can point exactly when the first challenge coin was made? Some say that the first one is date to World War 1. Others say that the first military challenge coin is from the Vietnam War.
I believe that people are just starting now to understand the real value of challenge coins. A good investment would be purchasing as many different challenge coins as you can. They are going to be an expensive collectible item in a few years.
But one should remember that a challenge coin represents values before everything support to the organization minted on the coin whether it is a navy challenge coin, marine corps challenge coin or any other organization.
I find it amazing that the interest and popularity of challenge coins and challenge coin displays keeps rising. I get many questions about military challenge coins so I have decided to gather some valuable tips for you.
The most popular challenge coins are navy challenge coins, marine corps challenge coins, army challenge coins, air force challenge coins and police challenge coins. Which one do you prefer?
Challenge coins are more precious than one can imagine they usually worth a couple of bucks, but they have a sentimental value no one can evaluate. Thats way; you must protect your military challenge coins by using a challenge coin display case.
Buy a challenge coin display that totally answers your needs:
1. One that will make you proud of your challenge coins collection Some have dozens of challenge coins from navy challenge coin, marine corps challenge coins and army challenge coin to air force challenge coins and police challenge coins. A collection like this could be really impressive.
2. One that will fully protect your challenge coins Most of the challenge coin display cases have a plastic capsule for each individual coin.
I find the military challenge coins a bit magical. Did you know that no one can point exactly when the first challenge coin was made? Some say that the first one is date to World War 1. Others say that the first military challenge coin is from the Vietnam War.
I believe that people are just starting now to understand the real value of challenge coins. A good investment would be purchasing as many different challenge coins as you can. They are going to be an expensive collectible item in a few years.
But one should remember that a challenge coin represents values before everything support to the organization minted on the coin whether it is a navy challenge coin, marine corps challenge coin or any other organization.
Live Like You Were Made for Gold
I heard someone make the comment: you are settling for brass when you are made for gold. What an analogy! I began thinking of my life when do I settle for things? It may look good and be almost like the real thing, but it is not the best.
Brass is defined in the dictionary as: an alloy of copper and zinc. An alloy is a mixture or a combining of two substances where something has been added to lower the purity. Although brass can be shiny and durable, it is not gold.
On the other hand, gold is an element that is corrosion-resistant and the most malleable and ductile metal. Gold is a good thermal and electrical conductor and it is used as an international monetary standard. We use phrases like gold standard and they have a heart of gold to denote great value and purity.
In the course of living your life are you corrosion resistant? What little things have crept into your life and eaten away at your uniqueness, attitude, values, and perspective?
Oftentimes, I find that brass can be very enticing in my life. It seems good, but not great. Better but not best. Sometimes brass is quick and easy, when gold would mean waiting and struggling. When I make gold the standard, I find that I dont settle or accept the crumbs. For me, when I have gold in my life, there is a rightness that exists.
What about you, is gold your standard? In what ways do you settle in your life? Career? Relationships? How would your life be different if you lived everyday believing you were created for gold?
I heard someone make the comment: you are settling for brass when you are made for gold. What an analogy! I began thinking of my life when do I settle for things? It may look good and be almost like the real thing, but it is not the best.
Brass is defined in the dictionary as: an alloy of copper and zinc. An alloy is a mixture or a combining of two substances where something has been added to lower the purity. Although brass can be shiny and durable, it is not gold.
On the other hand, gold is an element that is corrosion-resistant and the most malleable and ductile metal. Gold is a good thermal and electrical conductor and it is used as an international monetary standard. We use phrases like gold standard and they have a heart of gold to denote great value and purity.
In the course of living your life are you corrosion resistant? What little things have crept into your life and eaten away at your uniqueness, attitude, values, and perspective?
Oftentimes, I find that brass can be very enticing in my life. It seems good, but not great. Better but not best. Sometimes brass is quick and easy, when gold would mean waiting and struggling. When I make gold the standard, I find that I dont settle or accept the crumbs. For me, when I have gold in my life, there is a rightness that exists.
What about you, is gold your standard? In what ways do you settle in your life? Career? Relationships? How would your life be different if you lived everyday believing you were created for gold?
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Gold Chains: Lingo and Facts
All that glitters are not gold chains, so spend some time doing your research when you decide to purchase a chain for yourself. Lots of chains on the market are gold plated or simply gold painted. They look good at first but later on the gold wears down and the metal (usually, copper, nickel or zinc) underneath shows through.
Real gold chains are a little pricey ranging from one hundred to one thousand dollars, but gold lasts forever and doesn't tarnish so the expense is well worth it. They can be worn by men or women and make a simple yet elegant statement.
Several types of gold chain are available to purchase. There's the bead which is made of little pieces of gold beads. The curb is the type of gold chain most often shown in ads, with a series of interlocking, oblong, beveled rings. The Figaro is like the curb except that every three links or so the ring is twice as long as the others.
Solid Cable chains look like thick twisted anchor cable, whereas the rope chain looks like well, rope. Snake chains are kind of cool because the links are stacked close together and manage to resemble snake skin. Other types of chain are Popcorn, Singapore, San Marco, Mesh, Omega, Box, Cable and Byzantine.
To reduce cost and weight in larger types of gold chains such as the Woven or Mesh styles the each of the links in the chain are hollow. When the gold chains are referred to as solid chains it simply indicates that the links aren't hollow, not that they are composed of pure gold. Nearly all gold is mixed with another metal like silver or copper because its very soft and will dent easily.
Informed jewelry shoppers feel more confident in their purchases. As a result, they make smarter buying decisions.
All that glitters are not gold chains, so spend some time doing your research when you decide to purchase a chain for yourself. Lots of chains on the market are gold plated or simply gold painted. They look good at first but later on the gold wears down and the metal (usually, copper, nickel or zinc) underneath shows through.
Real gold chains are a little pricey ranging from one hundred to one thousand dollars, but gold lasts forever and doesn't tarnish so the expense is well worth it. They can be worn by men or women and make a simple yet elegant statement.
Several types of gold chain are available to purchase. There's the bead which is made of little pieces of gold beads. The curb is the type of gold chain most often shown in ads, with a series of interlocking, oblong, beveled rings. The Figaro is like the curb except that every three links or so the ring is twice as long as the others.
Solid Cable chains look like thick twisted anchor cable, whereas the rope chain looks like well, rope. Snake chains are kind of cool because the links are stacked close together and manage to resemble snake skin. Other types of chain are Popcorn, Singapore, San Marco, Mesh, Omega, Box, Cable and Byzantine.
To reduce cost and weight in larger types of gold chains such as the Woven or Mesh styles the each of the links in the chain are hollow. When the gold chains are referred to as solid chains it simply indicates that the links aren't hollow, not that they are composed of pure gold. Nearly all gold is mixed with another metal like silver or copper because its very soft and will dent easily.
Informed jewelry shoppers feel more confident in their purchases. As a result, they make smarter buying decisions.
Rare And Beautiful World Coins
Ideas for Collecting Coins from Around the World
Collecting world coins is a fun hobby that gives you the feeling of travelling the globe vicariously through your coins. A collection of world coins offers a unique insight into the culture and history of other countries, and encourages you to learn at least a few words of a variety of different languages. World coins can also be an interesting step into the world of coin collecting, because it is a relatively inexpensive pastime. Many of the coins are still in circulation, making them easy to find and light on the pocketbook to buy. Oftentimes, children start their coin collections with world coins for this reason.
Ideas for Collections of World Coins
While some people may enjoy collecting world coins haphazardly, simply enjoying whatever coins they happen to come across, others prefer more of a challenge. While it may be impossible to collect every coin from around the world, you can create a lovely coin collection that is challenging and fun to complete by selecting a particular theme to pursue.
The most obvious theme for a collection of world coins is a concentration on a specific country. If that idea seems a little bit stale, you can also broaden your collection by concentrating on a region or aspect of a country. For example, you could start a world coins collection from South American countries, nations where English is a national language, or from island nations.
Another interesting possibility is to combine two interests by concentrating on a favorite thing or hobby outside of coin collecting. For example, a coffee lover might collect world coins from countries that produce coffee beans, or an auto enthusiast might collect coins from countries that produce his or her favorite automobiles.
You dont have to use countries as a central point of your world coins collection, however; you can also build a collection around a specific motif on the coins themselves. Some people have collections of coins featuring a particular animal, such as an eagle or a panda bear. Others concentrate on flowers, trees, or birds. Someone interested in military history might enjoy a world coins collection featuring famous fighters, for example.
Another idea for starting a collection of world coins is to concentrate your efforts on coins from a particular year. Some people really enjoy collecting world coins that were minted in their birth year, or which commemorate another date that is important to them.
If none of those ideas appeal to you, perhaps youd like to concentrate on a specific metal used to make the world coins. While precious metals like gold and platinum are obvious choices, some people enjoy putting together collections of world coins minted from common nickel or copper.
If any of these ideas have inspired you to start a collection of world coins, you might want to pause a moment before you start building a collection, and check out the prices and availability of coins matching your desired theme. It wont be much fun to start a collection of gold bullion coins, only to realize that you cant afford more than one or two pieces. A few minutes with a world coins catalog will help you decide if your ideal theme for a collection is also feasible with your budget.
Ideas for Collecting Coins from Around the World
Collecting world coins is a fun hobby that gives you the feeling of travelling the globe vicariously through your coins. A collection of world coins offers a unique insight into the culture and history of other countries, and encourages you to learn at least a few words of a variety of different languages. World coins can also be an interesting step into the world of coin collecting, because it is a relatively inexpensive pastime. Many of the coins are still in circulation, making them easy to find and light on the pocketbook to buy. Oftentimes, children start their coin collections with world coins for this reason.
Ideas for Collections of World Coins
While some people may enjoy collecting world coins haphazardly, simply enjoying whatever coins they happen to come across, others prefer more of a challenge. While it may be impossible to collect every coin from around the world, you can create a lovely coin collection that is challenging and fun to complete by selecting a particular theme to pursue.
The most obvious theme for a collection of world coins is a concentration on a specific country. If that idea seems a little bit stale, you can also broaden your collection by concentrating on a region or aspect of a country. For example, you could start a world coins collection from South American countries, nations where English is a national language, or from island nations.
Another interesting possibility is to combine two interests by concentrating on a favorite thing or hobby outside of coin collecting. For example, a coffee lover might collect world coins from countries that produce coffee beans, or an auto enthusiast might collect coins from countries that produce his or her favorite automobiles.
You dont have to use countries as a central point of your world coins collection, however; you can also build a collection around a specific motif on the coins themselves. Some people have collections of coins featuring a particular animal, such as an eagle or a panda bear. Others concentrate on flowers, trees, or birds. Someone interested in military history might enjoy a world coins collection featuring famous fighters, for example.
Another idea for starting a collection of world coins is to concentrate your efforts on coins from a particular year. Some people really enjoy collecting world coins that were minted in their birth year, or which commemorate another date that is important to them.
If none of those ideas appeal to you, perhaps youd like to concentrate on a specific metal used to make the world coins. While precious metals like gold and platinum are obvious choices, some people enjoy putting together collections of world coins minted from common nickel or copper.
If any of these ideas have inspired you to start a collection of world coins, you might want to pause a moment before you start building a collection, and check out the prices and availability of coins matching your desired theme. It wont be much fun to start a collection of gold bullion coins, only to realize that you cant afford more than one or two pieces. A few minutes with a world coins catalog will help you decide if your ideal theme for a collection is also feasible with your budget.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Playing the Stock Market with Gold and Silver
Finding the right investment opportunities can be hard with the constant fluctuations of the stock market it can leave you wondering whether any investment is likely to pay off well over a long period of time. If you've been putting off making investments because you're worried that the long-term returns might not be worth the initial investment, you might want to consider investing in precious metals such as gold and silver. These investments not only tend to perform well over time, but are also the standard that most investors fall back upon when trouble seems to be affecting every other portion of the stock market.
If you wish to know more about investing in precious metals such as gold and silver, the information below should help you with the basics and you preferred financial website or investment broker should be able to assist you with the specifics.
Investments in Gold and Silver
Many people aren't even aware that they can make investments in precious metals such as gold and silver via the stock market. These investments are often made in the form of indexes, and are traded in the same manner as if they were actual stocks. The value of these index shares will fluctuate depending upon the time of the year and other factors that can cause problems with the world economy, though precious metals such as gold and silver seem to grow in value the most during times of financial crisis when people are wanting to put their money into more secure currency standards.
Gold and silver investments also tend to increase seasonally, especially around Valentine's Day and Christmas when jewelry sales show their biggest increases.
Advantages of Gold and Silver
As mentioned above, one of the main advantages of precious metals such as gold and silver is the perceived value and stability against major fluctuations of value. Gold and silver have both served as the basis for various economies around the world, and even as other types of currency might rise and fall in value these precious metals are still as stable as ever. Factor in the value of metals such as gold and silver to the jewelry industry and you have an investment that's not likely to drop in value and fade away any time soon.
Disadvantages of Gold and Silver
Like any investment, however, investments in precious metals such as gold and silver aren't perfect. Prices can drop, especially when large amounts of new metals are being discovered in rich veins. Most drops in value are only temporary, but you should keep in mind that the same often applies to sudden increases in value as well particularly when those increases are influenced by trade issues or embargos that prevent the precious metals from one nation or another from reaching the world market.
Diversifying with Gold and Silver
Given the relative stability of investments in precious metals such as gold and silver, the index shares in these metals can be a great way to add stability when diversifying your stock portfolio. Adding shares of gold, silver, or other related indexes can not only add to the value of your portfolio but can also help add a little more security and protect against industry-wide drops in value that might otherwise drag your portfolio's value down until the affected industries can recover. This security is one that will likely last for years to come, as the value of metals such as silver and gold is not likely to drop significantly in the foreseeable future.
You may freely reprint this article provided the following author's biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:
Finding the right investment opportunities can be hard with the constant fluctuations of the stock market it can leave you wondering whether any investment is likely to pay off well over a long period of time. If you've been putting off making investments because you're worried that the long-term returns might not be worth the initial investment, you might want to consider investing in precious metals such as gold and silver. These investments not only tend to perform well over time, but are also the standard that most investors fall back upon when trouble seems to be affecting every other portion of the stock market.
If you wish to know more about investing in precious metals such as gold and silver, the information below should help you with the basics and you preferred financial website or investment broker should be able to assist you with the specifics.
Investments in Gold and Silver
Many people aren't even aware that they can make investments in precious metals such as gold and silver via the stock market. These investments are often made in the form of indexes, and are traded in the same manner as if they were actual stocks. The value of these index shares will fluctuate depending upon the time of the year and other factors that can cause problems with the world economy, though precious metals such as gold and silver seem to grow in value the most during times of financial crisis when people are wanting to put their money into more secure currency standards.
Gold and silver investments also tend to increase seasonally, especially around Valentine's Day and Christmas when jewelry sales show their biggest increases.
Advantages of Gold and Silver
As mentioned above, one of the main advantages of precious metals such as gold and silver is the perceived value and stability against major fluctuations of value. Gold and silver have both served as the basis for various economies around the world, and even as other types of currency might rise and fall in value these precious metals are still as stable as ever. Factor in the value of metals such as gold and silver to the jewelry industry and you have an investment that's not likely to drop in value and fade away any time soon.
Disadvantages of Gold and Silver
Like any investment, however, investments in precious metals such as gold and silver aren't perfect. Prices can drop, especially when large amounts of new metals are being discovered in rich veins. Most drops in value are only temporary, but you should keep in mind that the same often applies to sudden increases in value as well particularly when those increases are influenced by trade issues or embargos that prevent the precious metals from one nation or another from reaching the world market.
Diversifying with Gold and Silver
Given the relative stability of investments in precious metals such as gold and silver, the index shares in these metals can be a great way to add stability when diversifying your stock portfolio. Adding shares of gold, silver, or other related indexes can not only add to the value of your portfolio but can also help add a little more security and protect against industry-wide drops in value that might otherwise drag your portfolio's value down until the affected industries can recover. This security is one that will likely last for years to come, as the value of metals such as silver and gold is not likely to drop significantly in the foreseeable future.
You may freely reprint this article provided the following author's biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:
The Glimmering World of Gold Jewelry - Great For Gifts
Undoubtedly, gold remains as the ultimate medium of
jewelry expression. For thousands of years, gold has
beguiled man with its beauty, its warm luster and glow
and its amazing attributes. Artisans and jewelers have
crafted gold into stunning pieces of jewelry that are
priceless and eternal. Gold is one of the most precious
of earth's metals. It can be found almost anywhere but
it is very difficult to extract pure gold. Although
platinum is more expensive, gold remains unsurpassed as
the most popular jewelry metal. As it does not corrode
or rust, gold jewelry is exceptionally durable. It is
also very malleable and pliable: a single ounce of gold
can be drawn into a thin wire stretching almost 5
miles. In fact it is the most malleable and ductile
metal known to man.
Pure gold or 24-karat gold is soft and pliable. That is
why it is mixed with other metals to increase its
durability. Karat quality determines the purity of
gold. For instance, 14-karat gold is 14 parts pure gold
mixed with 10 parts of a base metal. The higher the
karat rating is, the higher the proportion of pure
gold. Most gold jewelry pieces are marked with its
karat quality. This helps you verify that the product
you are viewing are truly made of gold. Gold is crafted
into an endless myriad of jewelry pieces such as rings,
chains, bracelets, charms, pendants, brooches, earrings
and others. Moreover, because of the many amazing
qualities of gold have many other uses. It is used in
dentistry, coinage and for industrial purposes. The
value of gold forms the base of monetary standard by
many nations.
Buying gold jewelry is an excellent investment. Any
jewelry collection would not be complete without any
gold jewelry. Its radiant, sensual and warm quality
make it the preferred metal used in wedding rings and
other jewelry meant to be given to a loved one. When
buying gold jewelry there are some important things to
consider. One of these is the karat quality, as
mentioned above. The different karat qualities include
10-karat gold, 14-karat gold and 18-karat gold.
However, some gold jewelry is not necessarily purely
made of gold. Jewelry can also be plated with gold.
This means that a base metal is coated with a layer of
gold. In time, the layer of gold will wear away
depending on how often the piece is worn. Other terms
you should know about gold jewelry include gold-filled,
gold overlay, and rolled gold plate.
When choosing gold jewelry, it is important to know its
qualities and characteristics. Gold jewelry has many
finishes such as matte gold, which is achieved by using
an abrasive, resulting in a dull and non-reflective
surface. Another kind of finish is the high-polish
finish, where the jewelry is polished to an almost
mirror-like shine. Gemstones and other metals that can
be inlaid with the gold itself add another dimension of
beauty and value, although gold is simply stunning by
itself. Choose a piece of gold jewelry that matches
your personality. Whether it is a simple gold chain, a
ring engraved with your names or a chunky gold
bracelet, you will find the gold jewelry piece that
exudes your personality. Moreover, wearing it also
enhances the way you look, giving you class and style.
Without a doubt, gold continues to enamor men and
women, and continues to be the ultimate jewelry metal.
Undoubtedly, gold remains as the ultimate medium of
jewelry expression. For thousands of years, gold has
beguiled man with its beauty, its warm luster and glow
and its amazing attributes. Artisans and jewelers have
crafted gold into stunning pieces of jewelry that are
priceless and eternal. Gold is one of the most precious
of earth's metals. It can be found almost anywhere but
it is very difficult to extract pure gold. Although
platinum is more expensive, gold remains unsurpassed as
the most popular jewelry metal. As it does not corrode
or rust, gold jewelry is exceptionally durable. It is
also very malleable and pliable: a single ounce of gold
can be drawn into a thin wire stretching almost 5
miles. In fact it is the most malleable and ductile
metal known to man.
Pure gold or 24-karat gold is soft and pliable. That is
why it is mixed with other metals to increase its
durability. Karat quality determines the purity of
gold. For instance, 14-karat gold is 14 parts pure gold
mixed with 10 parts of a base metal. The higher the
karat rating is, the higher the proportion of pure
gold. Most gold jewelry pieces are marked with its
karat quality. This helps you verify that the product
you are viewing are truly made of gold. Gold is crafted
into an endless myriad of jewelry pieces such as rings,
chains, bracelets, charms, pendants, brooches, earrings
and others. Moreover, because of the many amazing
qualities of gold have many other uses. It is used in
dentistry, coinage and for industrial purposes. The
value of gold forms the base of monetary standard by
many nations.
Buying gold jewelry is an excellent investment. Any
jewelry collection would not be complete without any
gold jewelry. Its radiant, sensual and warm quality
make it the preferred metal used in wedding rings and
other jewelry meant to be given to a loved one. When
buying gold jewelry there are some important things to
consider. One of these is the karat quality, as
mentioned above. The different karat qualities include
10-karat gold, 14-karat gold and 18-karat gold.
However, some gold jewelry is not necessarily purely
made of gold. Jewelry can also be plated with gold.
This means that a base metal is coated with a layer of
gold. In time, the layer of gold will wear away
depending on how often the piece is worn. Other terms
you should know about gold jewelry include gold-filled,
gold overlay, and rolled gold plate.
When choosing gold jewelry, it is important to know its
qualities and characteristics. Gold jewelry has many
finishes such as matte gold, which is achieved by using
an abrasive, resulting in a dull and non-reflective
surface. Another kind of finish is the high-polish
finish, where the jewelry is polished to an almost
mirror-like shine. Gemstones and other metals that can
be inlaid with the gold itself add another dimension of
beauty and value, although gold is simply stunning by
itself. Choose a piece of gold jewelry that matches
your personality. Whether it is a simple gold chain, a
ring engraved with your names or a chunky gold
bracelet, you will find the gold jewelry piece that
exudes your personality. Moreover, wearing it also
enhances the way you look, giving you class and style.
Without a doubt, gold continues to enamor men and
women, and continues to be the ultimate jewelry metal.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Coin Magic
Coin magic is the universal phrase for illusions using one or more coins, which are maneuvered so as to trick and mystify the spectators. It is well received by nearly every audience and all ages, and it is highly esteemed by magicians. A great deal of inventiveness has gone into developing each effect in the great diversity of coin tricks available in books on magic, but a large amount of them can be condensed to a small number of fundamentals - for instance vanishes, productions and palms, but no self-working tricks - united in some order to create the desired result.
Coin magic is frequently perceived as a tricky branch of the art. Learners of coin magic frequently have a disappointing start, as they discover that they are "caught" performing their sleights. The routine used in coin magic is of the greatest significance. The patter narrative is tied in strongly with the routine. Make use of the magical gesture as a misdirection device.
One of the grand magical gestures to make a coin disappear is to have one positioned in your hand, then make some passes over it with your other hand, and then make it vanish. Another good magic trick is to make a coin disappear and resurface in the spectator's hand. Even simple coins can vanish, but there are also magic coins that you can pick up online to get you started.
This type of magic can be plenty of fun, even if you're just doing it to astound your family and friends. Some popular sleight of hand tricks are The Classic Palm, The Finger Palm, Classic Palm Vanish, Biting Coin, Palm Transfers, The Utility Switch, Folding Coin and Coin Switches. The best dimensions of the coin you will use while performing coin magic will be determined by the size of your hands and fingers.
Coin magic is the universal phrase for illusions using one or more coins, which are maneuvered so as to trick and mystify the spectators. It is well received by nearly every audience and all ages, and it is highly esteemed by magicians. A great deal of inventiveness has gone into developing each effect in the great diversity of coin tricks available in books on magic, but a large amount of them can be condensed to a small number of fundamentals - for instance vanishes, productions and palms, but no self-working tricks - united in some order to create the desired result.
Coin magic is frequently perceived as a tricky branch of the art. Learners of coin magic frequently have a disappointing start, as they discover that they are "caught" performing their sleights. The routine used in coin magic is of the greatest significance. The patter narrative is tied in strongly with the routine. Make use of the magical gesture as a misdirection device.
One of the grand magical gestures to make a coin disappear is to have one positioned in your hand, then make some passes over it with your other hand, and then make it vanish. Another good magic trick is to make a coin disappear and resurface in the spectator's hand. Even simple coins can vanish, but there are also magic coins that you can pick up online to get you started.
This type of magic can be plenty of fun, even if you're just doing it to astound your family and friends. Some popular sleight of hand tricks are The Classic Palm, The Finger Palm, Classic Palm Vanish, Biting Coin, Palm Transfers, The Utility Switch, Folding Coin and Coin Switches. The best dimensions of the coin you will use while performing coin magic will be determined by the size of your hands and fingers.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Coin Collecting: How To Grade And Price Coins
(NC)-As with most collectibles, rarity and condition usually determine the price of coins. An acknowledged, standardized system of determining the state of preservation, or grade, of a coin is therefore pretty important.
Early on in the game there was a time when coins were described with any old biased adjectives the seller could come up with. Eventually standard definitions and a numbering system, ranging from one to seventy were adopted.
Ever since collectors began to show a preference for well preserved, versus worn, coins, grading has been controversial. Getting the two sides in a transaction to agree on condition has always been a problem. Here is a basic breakdown of how coins are graded by the collector:
Good - 4: A worn coin with designs visible but usually no remaining detail.
Very Good - 8: Worn with few fine details remaining.
Fine - 12: Design and lettering clearly visible but showing signs of wear.
Very Fine - 20: Uniform light wear, but lettering and major elements are sharp.
Extremely Fine - 40: Very slight wear with all details sharp, some lustre may remain.
About Uncirculated - 50: Traces of wear on all surfaces, at least 50 per cent of the original lustre remains.
Mint state coins are free from any signs of wear. Their grading is based on the quality of the strike, condition of the coin, and lustre.
MS-60: Showing some bag marks and edge nicks.
MS-63: Few surface marks and most lustre remaining.
MS-65: A quality coin, appearing almost perfect, minor flaws only appearing on later examination.
Numismatists put coins into two groups. Coins in your pocket are known as "Business Strike" or circulation coins, "Numismatic" coins are minted in precious metals (silver, gold, platinum) and are not mass produced.
For more information on this exciting hobby, and ideas on what to collect, visit the Royal Canadian Mint website at www.mint.ca.
- News Canada
(NC)-As with most collectibles, rarity and condition usually determine the price of coins. An acknowledged, standardized system of determining the state of preservation, or grade, of a coin is therefore pretty important.
Early on in the game there was a time when coins were described with any old biased adjectives the seller could come up with. Eventually standard definitions and a numbering system, ranging from one to seventy were adopted.
Ever since collectors began to show a preference for well preserved, versus worn, coins, grading has been controversial. Getting the two sides in a transaction to agree on condition has always been a problem. Here is a basic breakdown of how coins are graded by the collector:
Good - 4: A worn coin with designs visible but usually no remaining detail.
Very Good - 8: Worn with few fine details remaining.
Fine - 12: Design and lettering clearly visible but showing signs of wear.
Very Fine - 20: Uniform light wear, but lettering and major elements are sharp.
Extremely Fine - 40: Very slight wear with all details sharp, some lustre may remain.
About Uncirculated - 50: Traces of wear on all surfaces, at least 50 per cent of the original lustre remains.
Mint state coins are free from any signs of wear. Their grading is based on the quality of the strike, condition of the coin, and lustre.
MS-60: Showing some bag marks and edge nicks.
MS-63: Few surface marks and most lustre remaining.
MS-65: A quality coin, appearing almost perfect, minor flaws only appearing on later examination.
Numismatists put coins into two groups. Coins in your pocket are known as "Business Strike" or circulation coins, "Numismatic" coins are minted in precious metals (silver, gold, platinum) and are not mass produced.
For more information on this exciting hobby, and ideas on what to collect, visit the Royal Canadian Mint website at www.mint.ca.
- News Canada
Coin Collecting: Coin Collecting Q&As
How do I determine if my old coins are worth anything?
Although there are exceptions, most old coins are not particularly valuable unless they are very well preserved. The best starting place for an idea of their worth is to visit the reference section of your local library. There are numerous catalogues, some for specific countries. A good general volume is the Standard Catalogue of World Coins. It offers a complete list of almost everything.
I understand older money is worth more than face value because of the silver content, is that true?
Canadian coins, from those with a face value between 10 cents and $1, and struck before 1968 are between 50 and 92 percent silver, depending on the coin and year. They are worth a bit more than face value, depending on the price of silver. If coins are in good condition, the collector's value may be even higher.
Will I ever find anything valuable in my pocket change?
Possibly. In 1991, only 459,000 25-cent coins were struck (the annual number is usually closer to 100 million). 'Mint State' versions of these coins are worth about $8. The 1973 25-cent coin and the 1969 ten-cent coin were also struck in smaller than normal numbers.
Are coins a good investment?
Yes and no. Some people have made a lot of money buying and selling coins, others have lost fortunes. If you are serious about investing in numismatics, first spend a bit of time learning. Most successful investors were knowledgeable collectors first. Good quality coins purchased at reasonable prices will appreciate, but probably no better or worse than other investments. The difference is that you'll be buying something you love, instead of things like shares in companies you know nothing about or T-Bills. Perhaps one day the coin you bought last year will have gone up in value, but the idea is to buy it so you can enjoy it now, and for as long as you own it.
For more answers to coin collecting questions, and ideas on what to collect, visit the Royal Canadian Mint website at www.mint.ca.
- News Canada
How do I determine if my old coins are worth anything?
Although there are exceptions, most old coins are not particularly valuable unless they are very well preserved. The best starting place for an idea of their worth is to visit the reference section of your local library. There are numerous catalogues, some for specific countries. A good general volume is the Standard Catalogue of World Coins. It offers a complete list of almost everything.
I understand older money is worth more than face value because of the silver content, is that true?
Canadian coins, from those with a face value between 10 cents and $1, and struck before 1968 are between 50 and 92 percent silver, depending on the coin and year. They are worth a bit more than face value, depending on the price of silver. If coins are in good condition, the collector's value may be even higher.
Will I ever find anything valuable in my pocket change?
Possibly. In 1991, only 459,000 25-cent coins were struck (the annual number is usually closer to 100 million). 'Mint State' versions of these coins are worth about $8. The 1973 25-cent coin and the 1969 ten-cent coin were also struck in smaller than normal numbers.
Are coins a good investment?
Yes and no. Some people have made a lot of money buying and selling coins, others have lost fortunes. If you are serious about investing in numismatics, first spend a bit of time learning. Most successful investors were knowledgeable collectors first. Good quality coins purchased at reasonable prices will appreciate, but probably no better or worse than other investments. The difference is that you'll be buying something you love, instead of things like shares in companies you know nothing about or T-Bills. Perhaps one day the coin you bought last year will have gone up in value, but the idea is to buy it so you can enjoy it now, and for as long as you own it.
For more answers to coin collecting questions, and ideas on what to collect, visit the Royal Canadian Mint website at www.mint.ca.
- News Canada
Friday, August 17, 2007
Favorite Gold Coins To Collect For Investment
Why Gold American Eagle Coins are Popular among Collectors
Gold coins are a favorite of coin collectors with an eye toward investment. Not only are golden coins lovely to behold, but they also have a value that is guaranteed, due to their precious metal content. The value of gold coins is usually higher than the value of their weight in gold bullion, making them a better investment than the gold market alone.
Many countries produce gold coins for collectors or for commemorative purposes. These coins oftentimes emphasize unique aspects of the countrys culture. Australia reveres its national animal with the Gold Kangaroo, for example, while China has a Gold Panda with a lovely design that changes every year. Canadas coin features a powerful national symbol with the golden Maple Leaf, and South Africa mints the Krugerrand. One of the worlds best selling coins, the Krugerrand features the South African national animal, the Springbok. Taking its place as one of the most popular gold coins among investors and collectors, however, is the American Gold Eagle. The American Gold Eagle stands out among other bullion coins because of its lovely design, and because its value is backed by the full strength of the United States government.
The Beauty of American Eagle Gold Coins
The Gold Eagle features a representation of Lady Liberty striding with torch in hand through a field of light rays on its front side. This image is inspired by a golden coin designed by Augustus Saint-Gauden and minted from 1907 to 1933. The Augustus Saint-Gauden Double Eagle is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful coins America has ever produced. On the flip side of the American Eagle gold coins is a nest full of bald eagles, the national bird of the United States. The nest represents the American dedication to unity and family. Furthermore, a special die is used when minting these coins, to bring the gold to an especially high shine and to make it easier to see small details in the design.
American Eagle Gold Coins have Guaranteed Value
American Eagle gold coins are valuable not only for their lovely appearance, but also because they are the only bullion coin whose gold content is guaranteed by the United States government. Each American Gold Eagle is stamped with its exact gold weight, as well as its face value. They are minted from 22-karat gold, which by law must be pure gold bullion mined from within the United States. This guarantee of the authenticity of the precious metals used to make American Eagle gold coins is highly valuable to investors.
Buying American Eagle Gold Coins
Golden American Eagles were first produced in 1985 and come in a variety of sizes and values, ranging from the 1/10th oz American Eagle coin with a face value of $5, all the way up to full ounce gold coins with a face value of $50. Remember that most gold coins are worth more than their legal tender amount. Although they re not available for purchase directly from the U.S. Mint, American Eagle can be commonly found for sale in coin shops, on the internet, by gold dealers, and at coin shows. There are also variations on the American Eagle that are minted from silver or platinum instead of gold.
Why Gold American Eagle Coins are Popular among Collectors
Gold coins are a favorite of coin collectors with an eye toward investment. Not only are golden coins lovely to behold, but they also have a value that is guaranteed, due to their precious metal content. The value of gold coins is usually higher than the value of their weight in gold bullion, making them a better investment than the gold market alone.
Many countries produce gold coins for collectors or for commemorative purposes. These coins oftentimes emphasize unique aspects of the countrys culture. Australia reveres its national animal with the Gold Kangaroo, for example, while China has a Gold Panda with a lovely design that changes every year. Canadas coin features a powerful national symbol with the golden Maple Leaf, and South Africa mints the Krugerrand. One of the worlds best selling coins, the Krugerrand features the South African national animal, the Springbok. Taking its place as one of the most popular gold coins among investors and collectors, however, is the American Gold Eagle. The American Gold Eagle stands out among other bullion coins because of its lovely design, and because its value is backed by the full strength of the United States government.
The Beauty of American Eagle Gold Coins
The Gold Eagle features a representation of Lady Liberty striding with torch in hand through a field of light rays on its front side. This image is inspired by a golden coin designed by Augustus Saint-Gauden and minted from 1907 to 1933. The Augustus Saint-Gauden Double Eagle is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful coins America has ever produced. On the flip side of the American Eagle gold coins is a nest full of bald eagles, the national bird of the United States. The nest represents the American dedication to unity and family. Furthermore, a special die is used when minting these coins, to bring the gold to an especially high shine and to make it easier to see small details in the design.
American Eagle Gold Coins have Guaranteed Value
American Eagle gold coins are valuable not only for their lovely appearance, but also because they are the only bullion coin whose gold content is guaranteed by the United States government. Each American Gold Eagle is stamped with its exact gold weight, as well as its face value. They are minted from 22-karat gold, which by law must be pure gold bullion mined from within the United States. This guarantee of the authenticity of the precious metals used to make American Eagle gold coins is highly valuable to investors.
Buying American Eagle Gold Coins
Golden American Eagles were first produced in 1985 and come in a variety of sizes and values, ranging from the 1/10th oz American Eagle coin with a face value of $5, all the way up to full ounce gold coins with a face value of $50. Remember that most gold coins are worth more than their legal tender amount. Although they re not available for purchase directly from the U.S. Mint, American Eagle can be commonly found for sale in coin shops, on the internet, by gold dealers, and at coin shows. There are also variations on the American Eagle that are minted from silver or platinum instead of gold.
All Coin Dealers are Not Created Equal
How to Select a Coin Dealer for Your Coin Collection
Why do I Need a Coin Dealer?
It is very difficult to build a collection of rare coins without a connection to a good coin dealer. If you are an investor hoping to make a profit with your collection of rare coins, building relationships with good coin dealers is vital to your success. If you are interested in making the highest profits possible with your coin collection, you will need to find a merchant partner who is experienced in the specific rare coins that interest you, and who will sell them to you at a good price. Most coin dealers will charge a lower premium on the sale of coins to their best customers. After all, it makes good business sense to get the most profit possible from a person who will do business with you only once. If you have a long-term relationship, however, the margin does not need to be as high for the coin dealer to make a good profit.
Because coin dealers are experts in their chosen fields, they will also have better connections than individuals who buy coins on their own will. Finding the right vendor or wholesaler can be a long and difficult task for someone new to the coin collecting trade. Coin dealers will also be more likely to recognize a counterfeit coin, have a higher chance of hearing about the sale of the specific rare coins that interest you, and will recognize an asking price that is over- or undervalued. As an investor, these are all critically important points for your success.
Building a long-term relationship with a knowledgeable coin dealer is the best way to protect the money that you invest into rare coins. All too often, new coin collectors who try to go it on their own without professional help end up being scammed out of hundreds or thousands of dollars.
What Do I Look For in a Coin Dealer?
All coin dealers are not created equal, and it is nearly impossible to specialize in every area when it comes to collecting rare coins. Therefore, it's important to know what to look for before you select a professional for your coin collecting needs.
The first vital piece of information that you'll need when considering coin dealers is his or her professional qualifications. Some important questions to ask include, does the coin dealer belong to any professional groups? How long has he or she been in business? Can the coin merchant provide references from other satisfied customers? One of the best indications that a vendor has a high level of professionalism is a membership in the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG). This group includes the most reputable coin dealers in the business thanks to an emphasis on ethics.
The second most important question to put to a prospective coin dealer is the area in which he or she specializes. There are so many different kinds of rare coins to collect, ranging from gold bullion coins to ancient Roman coins, that it is impossible to be a true expert in all of them. You'll want to find a merchant that specializes in the particular area that is of interest to you. A trader might be able to recognize every rare American coin at a glance, but that won't do you a lot of good if you really want to collect legal tender from medieval times.
Finally, you should consider the motivation of the coin dealers you are considering. A highly motivated coin merchant will go to shows and retailer auctions, keep abreast of current prices and trends, and will generally keep up-to-date with the current coin market. Any investor will recognize the impact of current information on profit levels. A coin trader who is highly motivated will also be more likely to provide you with excellent service and the best rare coins.
Once you have selected a coin dealer, it is important to reward him or her with your loyalty. You are likely to get the best prices and service from coin dealers who know that you are working exclusively with them.
How to Select a Coin Dealer for Your Coin Collection
Why do I Need a Coin Dealer?
It is very difficult to build a collection of rare coins without a connection to a good coin dealer. If you are an investor hoping to make a profit with your collection of rare coins, building relationships with good coin dealers is vital to your success. If you are interested in making the highest profits possible with your coin collection, you will need to find a merchant partner who is experienced in the specific rare coins that interest you, and who will sell them to you at a good price. Most coin dealers will charge a lower premium on the sale of coins to their best customers. After all, it makes good business sense to get the most profit possible from a person who will do business with you only once. If you have a long-term relationship, however, the margin does not need to be as high for the coin dealer to make a good profit.
Because coin dealers are experts in their chosen fields, they will also have better connections than individuals who buy coins on their own will. Finding the right vendor or wholesaler can be a long and difficult task for someone new to the coin collecting trade. Coin dealers will also be more likely to recognize a counterfeit coin, have a higher chance of hearing about the sale of the specific rare coins that interest you, and will recognize an asking price that is over- or undervalued. As an investor, these are all critically important points for your success.
Building a long-term relationship with a knowledgeable coin dealer is the best way to protect the money that you invest into rare coins. All too often, new coin collectors who try to go it on their own without professional help end up being scammed out of hundreds or thousands of dollars.
What Do I Look For in a Coin Dealer?
All coin dealers are not created equal, and it is nearly impossible to specialize in every area when it comes to collecting rare coins. Therefore, it's important to know what to look for before you select a professional for your coin collecting needs.
The first vital piece of information that you'll need when considering coin dealers is his or her professional qualifications. Some important questions to ask include, does the coin dealer belong to any professional groups? How long has he or she been in business? Can the coin merchant provide references from other satisfied customers? One of the best indications that a vendor has a high level of professionalism is a membership in the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG). This group includes the most reputable coin dealers in the business thanks to an emphasis on ethics.
The second most important question to put to a prospective coin dealer is the area in which he or she specializes. There are so many different kinds of rare coins to collect, ranging from gold bullion coins to ancient Roman coins, that it is impossible to be a true expert in all of them. You'll want to find a merchant that specializes in the particular area that is of interest to you. A trader might be able to recognize every rare American coin at a glance, but that won't do you a lot of good if you really want to collect legal tender from medieval times.
Finally, you should consider the motivation of the coin dealers you are considering. A highly motivated coin merchant will go to shows and retailer auctions, keep abreast of current prices and trends, and will generally keep up-to-date with the current coin market. Any investor will recognize the impact of current information on profit levels. A coin trader who is highly motivated will also be more likely to provide you with excellent service and the best rare coins.
Once you have selected a coin dealer, it is important to reward him or her with your loyalty. You are likely to get the best prices and service from coin dealers who know that you are working exclusively with them.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
investing in the stock market
As a financial planner, I have to dispel a lot of myths that people believe in. Everyone is looking for the best deal. Everyone wants to get rich quickly. It is not just a selfish dream, either. They want the best for themselves and for their families. When people think about investing in the stock market, they picture instant fame and fortune, or instant financial ruin. They do not realize what it is really like to invest in the stock market. These dreams of instant fame and fortune, while appealing, are ultimately self-defeating. If you want a successful stock market investment, you must proceed from a levelheaded position. You will make money, but you have to be willing to make it slowly and safely. Otherwise, you can lose it all.
My specialty is investing long term. Short term trading, it is true, can be lucrative, but it can also be dangerous. This is where most of the danger of investing in the stock market comes in. Although there is no such thing as a completely safe investment, there are some that come pretty close. Investing in mutual funds market, for example, if they are carefully chosen, is almost a sure bet.
The problem is that the more risk that you take, the bigger the payoffs. When people first start investing in the stock market, they do not want to sit on their money and watch it grow slowly. For many, this is much more agonizing than when it was in a bank account and did not move accrue any interest at all. I always advise these people to diversify their portfolios.
When you invest in the stock market, you should invest some of your money in high-yield, short term trades. Basically, you buy low and sell as soon as the stock hits a certain point. For long-term investing in the stock market, a much different approach is needed. You need to find stocks that will continue to do well for years to come. You can make a lot of interest off of investing in stocks like these. The point isn't really to sell them when they get high – although you certainly don't want to sell low! The point is to make money off of the interest that you accrue from the stocks. You can use the money that you make for further investing in the stock market, or you can put it away as profits.
As a financial planner, I have to dispel a lot of myths that people believe in. Everyone is looking for the best deal. Everyone wants to get rich quickly. It is not just a selfish dream, either. They want the best for themselves and for their families. When people think about investing in the stock market, they picture instant fame and fortune, or instant financial ruin. They do not realize what it is really like to invest in the stock market. These dreams of instant fame and fortune, while appealing, are ultimately self-defeating. If you want a successful stock market investment, you must proceed from a levelheaded position. You will make money, but you have to be willing to make it slowly and safely. Otherwise, you can lose it all.
My specialty is investing long term. Short term trading, it is true, can be lucrative, but it can also be dangerous. This is where most of the danger of investing in the stock market comes in. Although there is no such thing as a completely safe investment, there are some that come pretty close. Investing in mutual funds market, for example, if they are carefully chosen, is almost a sure bet.
The problem is that the more risk that you take, the bigger the payoffs. When people first start investing in the stock market, they do not want to sit on their money and watch it grow slowly. For many, this is much more agonizing than when it was in a bank account and did not move accrue any interest at all. I always advise these people to diversify their portfolios.
When you invest in the stock market, you should invest some of your money in high-yield, short term trades. Basically, you buy low and sell as soon as the stock hits a certain point. For long-term investing in the stock market, a much different approach is needed. You need to find stocks that will continue to do well for years to come. You can make a lot of interest off of investing in stocks like these. The point isn't really to sell them when they get high – although you certainly don't want to sell low! The point is to make money off of the interest that you accrue from the stocks. You can use the money that you make for further investing in the stock market, or you can put it away as profits.
World of Warcraft Gold Guide
Having enough Gold in World of Warcraft is one of the most important aspects of the game. Gold has a major effect on your game play. Gold of course has their common known usage in a mmorpg game which is used to buy and sell items from vendors and other players. In world of Warcraft, gold can be used for training. To learn new skills you are required to pay the trainer a fee. Alot of gold would be required to perfect your character. Here are some tips to help you farm World of Warcraft Gold.
Grabbing a profession early in the game can most definitely have its advantage. You are able to level up your profession easily and gain its benefits. 2 professions we highly suggest starting with is mining and skinning. As you kill animals and other creatures in World of Warcraft you can easily skin the animals and sell them to vendors or other players with a nice load sum of profit. You are also leveling your profession as well. While you're out leveling your character I'm sure you will kill a numerous amount of mobs that you can skin. The mining profession is another great profession. You will oftenly run into caves which may have some very prosperious mineral ores. Some minerals are very popular in the game and are highly demanded.
Questing in World of Warcraft is unlike any other MMORPG released. Quests are one of the biggest advantages you can have in the game. While you're out leveling grab a quest each time you get. Only takes a matter of seconds. Not only will you receive EXP from killing the mobs in the quest but you will also gain additional EXP from completing the quest along with some nice items and money. A great bonus added to help players level faster and get richer of course.
Gears in World of Warcraft can get quite expensive. Alot more expensive than just training. From levels 1-40 I highly suggest not investing any money on buying gears or items. Low level characters are not too gear dependent. The quests should be able to provide you just about everything you need. Save the extra gold you have for higher level gears.
Certain types of mobs tend to have better drops than others. From what we've noticed so far, humanoids tend to drop more gold and items than any other creature in the game. So while you're out leveling away, try to kill as many humanoids as you can.
Having enough Gold in World of Warcraft is one of the most important aspects of the game. Gold has a major effect on your game play. Gold of course has their common known usage in a mmorpg game which is used to buy and sell items from vendors and other players. In world of Warcraft, gold can be used for training. To learn new skills you are required to pay the trainer a fee. Alot of gold would be required to perfect your character. Here are some tips to help you farm World of Warcraft Gold.
Grabbing a profession early in the game can most definitely have its advantage. You are able to level up your profession easily and gain its benefits. 2 professions we highly suggest starting with is mining and skinning. As you kill animals and other creatures in World of Warcraft you can easily skin the animals and sell them to vendors or other players with a nice load sum of profit. You are also leveling your profession as well. While you're out leveling your character I'm sure you will kill a numerous amount of mobs that you can skin. The mining profession is another great profession. You will oftenly run into caves which may have some very prosperious mineral ores. Some minerals are very popular in the game and are highly demanded.
Questing in World of Warcraft is unlike any other MMORPG released. Quests are one of the biggest advantages you can have in the game. While you're out leveling grab a quest each time you get. Only takes a matter of seconds. Not only will you receive EXP from killing the mobs in the quest but you will also gain additional EXP from completing the quest along with some nice items and money. A great bonus added to help players level faster and get richer of course.
Gears in World of Warcraft can get quite expensive. Alot more expensive than just training. From levels 1-40 I highly suggest not investing any money on buying gears or items. Low level characters are not too gear dependent. The quests should be able to provide you just about everything you need. Save the extra gold you have for higher level gears.
Certain types of mobs tend to have better drops than others. From what we've noticed so far, humanoids tend to drop more gold and items than any other creature in the game. So while you're out leveling away, try to kill as many humanoids as you can.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
We Never Seem to Have Enough Time
Quite frankly, I don't think "time" is the problem. The real problem is the number of activities or tasks that we take on. A sign of our time is that we forget how to say "no", and take on far too many things. Oprah Winfrey said it well, I've learned that you can't have everything and do everything at the same time."
Our time is like jam, the more you try to spread it, the thinner it gets. We need to be realistic about the amount of time we have available and use our time wisely. Josh Billings once said, Time is like money, the less we have of it to spare the further we make it go."
We need to maintain a proper balance in our life by allocating the time we have. There are occasions where saying no is the best time management practice there is. To quote Carl Sandburg, Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."
We need to determine what activities best utilize our time in order to achieve the results we desire in all areas of our life!
Quite frankly, I don't think "time" is the problem. The real problem is the number of activities or tasks that we take on. A sign of our time is that we forget how to say "no", and take on far too many things. Oprah Winfrey said it well, I've learned that you can't have everything and do everything at the same time."
Our time is like jam, the more you try to spread it, the thinner it gets. We need to be realistic about the amount of time we have available and use our time wisely. Josh Billings once said, Time is like money, the less we have of it to spare the further we make it go."
We need to maintain a proper balance in our life by allocating the time we have. There are occasions where saying no is the best time management practice there is. To quote Carl Sandburg, Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."
We need to determine what activities best utilize our time in order to achieve the results we desire in all areas of our life!
Casino Games - Slots
Nothing conjures the mental image of a casino quite like the slot machine. The one-armed bandit is the first love for experienced gamblers and newcomers alike. What many experienced gambling fans already know, newcomers often learn the hard way; all slot machines are not created equal.
Nickel slots are by far the most inexpensive way for a newcomer to learn the ropes of casino slot machine gambling. Many of the features are the same, and there are tricks and techniques the seasoned gambling aficionado uses to increase fun and, yes, payoffs. Nickel slots may offer lower payouts, but there is still nothing like the thrill of hitting the jackpot, no matter what machines your casino offers.
Casinos feature just about everything; single coin machines, dollar, and progressive slots. The single coin machines are just what their name implies; you are gambling one nickel, quarter, or dollar coin. The dollar slots have a feature where you can play either one coin or more until you reach the maximum bet. (Some dollar slots take up to six quarters, sometimes even more to reach the max). These slots usually have higher payouts depending on how many coins you play. Those used to gambling that maximum amount usually get the best jackpots.
Progressive slots are another type altogether. This is a machine that increases its big jackpot depending on how much gambling money has been inserted into the machine up to that point. Some progressive slots are tied to other machines, while others are standalone. Smart players check the readouts on progressive slots until they find the machine with the highest payout. Be sure to double-check the casino guidelines on each machine, as the big money usually doesnt come unless you bet the maximum.
No matter which machines you prefer; take your time, read the instructions and stick with your spending limits. If you maintain financial control, you will have quite a bit of fun. In fact, youll have a blast!
Nothing conjures the mental image of a casino quite like the slot machine. The one-armed bandit is the first love for experienced gamblers and newcomers alike. What many experienced gambling fans already know, newcomers often learn the hard way; all slot machines are not created equal.
Nickel slots are by far the most inexpensive way for a newcomer to learn the ropes of casino slot machine gambling. Many of the features are the same, and there are tricks and techniques the seasoned gambling aficionado uses to increase fun and, yes, payoffs. Nickel slots may offer lower payouts, but there is still nothing like the thrill of hitting the jackpot, no matter what machines your casino offers.
Casinos feature just about everything; single coin machines, dollar, and progressive slots. The single coin machines are just what their name implies; you are gambling one nickel, quarter, or dollar coin. The dollar slots have a feature where you can play either one coin or more until you reach the maximum bet. (Some dollar slots take up to six quarters, sometimes even more to reach the max). These slots usually have higher payouts depending on how many coins you play. Those used to gambling that maximum amount usually get the best jackpots.
Progressive slots are another type altogether. This is a machine that increases its big jackpot depending on how much gambling money has been inserted into the machine up to that point. Some progressive slots are tied to other machines, while others are standalone. Smart players check the readouts on progressive slots until they find the machine with the highest payout. Be sure to double-check the casino guidelines on each machine, as the big money usually doesnt come unless you bet the maximum.
No matter which machines you prefer; take your time, read the instructions and stick with your spending limits. If you maintain financial control, you will have quite a bit of fun. In fact, youll have a blast!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Australia's Vacation Playground
From all over Australia people take their vacations on the Gold Coast, which has rightly earned itself the number one vacation spot in the country. With it's temperate climate the Gold Coast is an all year round vacation spot.
With a choice of accomodation that is mind boggling, catering from backpackers to 5 star luxury, motel style to apartment buildings 50 storeys high everyone is catered for.
Once your settled in it's time to play. Spend it up at Jupiters Casino with the high rollers or head of to one of the many restaurant, nightclubs or bars.
The Gold Coast is home to the theme parks. Seaworld, Dreamworld, Movieworld and Wet'n'Wild are all within reach of your accommodation. Swim with the dolphins, get up close to a Bengal Tiger or have the thrill of a lifetime on some of the awesome rides.
Down on the water catch a world class wave or a try your luck at a spot of game fishing. If your worn out from the night before you can sunbake under the sun one of the many Gold Coast beaches, just
don't forget to swim between the flags.
If you are after a vacation jam packed full of fun you can't pass up the Gold Coast.
From all over Australia people take their vacations on the Gold Coast, which has rightly earned itself the number one vacation spot in the country. With it's temperate climate the Gold Coast is an all year round vacation spot.
With a choice of accomodation that is mind boggling, catering from backpackers to 5 star luxury, motel style to apartment buildings 50 storeys high everyone is catered for.
Once your settled in it's time to play. Spend it up at Jupiters Casino with the high rollers or head of to one of the many restaurant, nightclubs or bars.
The Gold Coast is home to the theme parks. Seaworld, Dreamworld, Movieworld and Wet'n'Wild are all within reach of your accommodation. Swim with the dolphins, get up close to a Bengal Tiger or have the thrill of a lifetime on some of the awesome rides.
Down on the water catch a world class wave or a try your luck at a spot of game fishing. If your worn out from the night before you can sunbake under the sun one of the many Gold Coast beaches, just
don't forget to swim between the flags.
If you are after a vacation jam packed full of fun you can't pass up the Gold Coast.
Magnificent Kinkakuji
Last week during his tour of Kyoto Japan, President Bush visited the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) and described it as magnificent. He was probably referring to the 1398 Japanese architecture but may just as well have been referring to gold prices which are at an 18-year high. Gold has been a magnificent investment and still has considerable upside.
It is a rare portfolio that I build for a client that does not have some allocation to gold and other precious metals. There are three basic reasons why investors should still consider adding it to their portfolio.
First, gold prices are not normally correlated to other asset class prices. It therefore serves as a buffer or shock absorber to the value of a portfolio when other assets classes are out of favor.
Secondly, there are supply and demand factors. Central banks have been net sellers of gold over the past twenty years. Gold accounts for about 9% of the $4.4 trillion in world central bank foreign exchange and gold reserves, down from 15% in early 2000.
But some central banks are now going the other way. For example, the Russian central bank wants to increase golds share of its reserves from 5% to 10%.
Jewelry demand for gold is also picking up especially in China and India. Global investors are also using gold as a hedge for a global recession and potential decline in value of the U.S. dollar or the Euro.
On the supply side, production of gold has been relatively flat for the last 5-7 years and does not appear to be turning around due to maturing mines and higher extraction costs.
The third reason to have some gold exposure in your portfolio is that it serves as disaster insurance from unforeseen but potentially devastating events such as widespread terrorism or severe economic or political upheaval.
Many gold bugs insist that the only true gold exposure is through gold coins. An easier way to gain instant gold exposure is through the iShares COMEX Gold Trust ETF ( IAU) that is up 15.3% so far this year. Another option is investing through the iShares South Africa ETF (EZA) which has considerable exposure to the gold and mining industry and is up 15.9% this year.
Dont come down with gold fever. A 5-10% allocation to your core conservative portfolio should get the job done. Expect some lusterless years as well as some magnificent returns and restful nights knowing you have some gold under the pillow.
Last week during his tour of Kyoto Japan, President Bush visited the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) and described it as magnificent. He was probably referring to the 1398 Japanese architecture but may just as well have been referring to gold prices which are at an 18-year high. Gold has been a magnificent investment and still has considerable upside.
It is a rare portfolio that I build for a client that does not have some allocation to gold and other precious metals. There are three basic reasons why investors should still consider adding it to their portfolio.
First, gold prices are not normally correlated to other asset class prices. It therefore serves as a buffer or shock absorber to the value of a portfolio when other assets classes are out of favor.
Secondly, there are supply and demand factors. Central banks have been net sellers of gold over the past twenty years. Gold accounts for about 9% of the $4.4 trillion in world central bank foreign exchange and gold reserves, down from 15% in early 2000.
But some central banks are now going the other way. For example, the Russian central bank wants to increase golds share of its reserves from 5% to 10%.
Jewelry demand for gold is also picking up especially in China and India. Global investors are also using gold as a hedge for a global recession and potential decline in value of the U.S. dollar or the Euro.
On the supply side, production of gold has been relatively flat for the last 5-7 years and does not appear to be turning around due to maturing mines and higher extraction costs.
The third reason to have some gold exposure in your portfolio is that it serves as disaster insurance from unforeseen but potentially devastating events such as widespread terrorism or severe economic or political upheaval.
Many gold bugs insist that the only true gold exposure is through gold coins. An easier way to gain instant gold exposure is through the iShares COMEX Gold Trust ETF ( IAU) that is up 15.3% so far this year. Another option is investing through the iShares South Africa ETF (EZA) which has considerable exposure to the gold and mining industry and is up 15.9% this year.
Dont come down with gold fever. A 5-10% allocation to your core conservative portfolio should get the job done. Expect some lusterless years as well as some magnificent returns and restful nights knowing you have some gold under the pillow.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Casino Games - Slots
Nothing conjures the mental image of a casino quite like the slot machine. The one-armed bandit is the first love for experienced gamblers and newcomers alike. What many experienced gambling fans already know, newcomers often learn the hard way; all slot machines are not created equal.
Nickel slots are by far the most inexpensive way for a newcomer to learn the ropes of casino slot machine gambling. Many of the features are the same, and there are tricks and techniques the seasoned gambling aficionado uses to increase fun and, yes, payoffs. Nickel slots may offer lower payouts, but there is still nothing like the thrill of hitting the jackpot, no matter what machines your casino offers.
Casinos feature just about everything; single coin machines, dollar, and progressive slots. The single coin machines are just what their name implies; you are gambling one nickel, quarter, or dollar coin. The dollar slots have a feature where you can play either one coin or more until you reach the maximum bet. (Some dollar slots take up to six quarters, sometimes even more to reach the max). These slots usually have higher payouts depending on how many coins you play. Those used to gambling that maximum amount usually get the best jackpots.
Progressive slots are another type altogether. This is a machine that increases its big jackpot depending on how much gambling money has been inserted into the machine up to that point. Some progressive slots are tied to other machines, while others are standalone. Smart players check the readouts on progressive slots until they find the machine with the highest payout. Be sure to double-check the casino guidelines on each machine, as the big money usually doesnt come unless you bet the maximum.
No matter which machines you prefer; take your time, read the instructions and stick with your spending limits. If you maintain financial control, you will have quite a bit of fun. In fact, youll have a blast!
Nothing conjures the mental image of a casino quite like the slot machine. The one-armed bandit is the first love for experienced gamblers and newcomers alike. What many experienced gambling fans already know, newcomers often learn the hard way; all slot machines are not created equal.
Nickel slots are by far the most inexpensive way for a newcomer to learn the ropes of casino slot machine gambling. Many of the features are the same, and there are tricks and techniques the seasoned gambling aficionado uses to increase fun and, yes, payoffs. Nickel slots may offer lower payouts, but there is still nothing like the thrill of hitting the jackpot, no matter what machines your casino offers.
Casinos feature just about everything; single coin machines, dollar, and progressive slots. The single coin machines are just what their name implies; you are gambling one nickel, quarter, or dollar coin. The dollar slots have a feature where you can play either one coin or more until you reach the maximum bet. (Some dollar slots take up to six quarters, sometimes even more to reach the max). These slots usually have higher payouts depending on how many coins you play. Those used to gambling that maximum amount usually get the best jackpots.
Progressive slots are another type altogether. This is a machine that increases its big jackpot depending on how much gambling money has been inserted into the machine up to that point. Some progressive slots are tied to other machines, while others are standalone. Smart players check the readouts on progressive slots until they find the machine with the highest payout. Be sure to double-check the casino guidelines on each machine, as the big money usually doesnt come unless you bet the maximum.
No matter which machines you prefer; take your time, read the instructions and stick with your spending limits. If you maintain financial control, you will have quite a bit of fun. In fact, youll have a blast!
How to Invest in the Stock Market
Are you looking to invest in the stock market but arent sure where to start?
If youre like most stock market investors youve heard dozens of opinions on how to invest in stocks but it really boils down to just a few things.
You need to setup a brokerage account and then pick a strategy to use.
I use a broker called Scottrade http://www.scottrade.com/ and they seem to be fine for my purposes.
After you have setup a brokerage account you then need to pick an investing style.
The two main styles are:
Growth investing where you buy stocks whos earnings are growing faster than others.
Value investing where you buy stocks that are undervalued because they are trading at a lower price than what the company is actually worth.
Growth stocks generally are high-tech and medical companies where when I think of a value stock I think of companies like Coca-Cola or Gillette which sell more everyday type items that arent as new or exciting.
You then need to decide which method is best for you and stick with it.
After choosing your method you need to research how to invest in that particular method. This is beyond the scope of this article and I recommend you do a search for growth investing or value investing on your favorite search engine.
Then research some companies and find which ones seem to be the best and invest some money in them, but only invest money you can afford to lose. I dont want you to invest money in stocks if you might need that money to eat next week or pay the rent., stocks can go down.
Hopefully you have found that stock market investing can be a wonderful thing to learn more about and can be quite profitable.
Are you looking to invest in the stock market but arent sure where to start?
If youre like most stock market investors youve heard dozens of opinions on how to invest in stocks but it really boils down to just a few things.
You need to setup a brokerage account and then pick a strategy to use.
I use a broker called Scottrade http://www.scottrade.com/ and they seem to be fine for my purposes.
After you have setup a brokerage account you then need to pick an investing style.
The two main styles are:
Growth investing where you buy stocks whos earnings are growing faster than others.
Value investing where you buy stocks that are undervalued because they are trading at a lower price than what the company is actually worth.
Growth stocks generally are high-tech and medical companies where when I think of a value stock I think of companies like Coca-Cola or Gillette which sell more everyday type items that arent as new or exciting.
You then need to decide which method is best for you and stick with it.
After choosing your method you need to research how to invest in that particular method. This is beyond the scope of this article and I recommend you do a search for growth investing or value investing on your favorite search engine.
Then research some companies and find which ones seem to be the best and invest some money in them, but only invest money you can afford to lose. I dont want you to invest money in stocks if you might need that money to eat next week or pay the rent., stocks can go down.
Hopefully you have found that stock market investing can be a wonderful thing to learn more about and can be quite profitable.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Introduction to HYIP
HYIP stands for High Yield Investment Program. As the name implies, these kinds of investment programs usually come with high returns on investment made by investors and there is usually high risk involved.
The popularity of HYIPs came about when e-currencies like e-gold, stormpay, etc were introduced. Investors are allowed to invest in small amounts which made the programs very popular and easy to follow.
Over 94% of HYIP sites are SCAM and these scam sites use the ponzi scheme or pyramid scheme in which new investors' money is being used to pay existing investors. This process will be continued as long as new investors are found, which explains why even fraudulent funds are able to provide the promised payouts initially and once there are no more new investors, these programs disappear. This is the reason why most people refer to HYIPs as SCAM and as a result they are afraid to invest, afraid to take calculated risks and afraid to loose money.
People are afraid to take risks not because the investment is risky but because they themselves are risky.
Why do I say this?.......
The problem always is that while more people are investing, very few of them are enlightened and well educated investors. When you fail to get the facts about investing and refuse to learn/study all you can about how to go about HYIP investing, then you are willingly putting yourself at very high risk. However this site is determined to provide lots and lots of the information you'll need to invest wisely and intelligibly. Feel free to post your comments and questions.
By now you should be asking,..... So which HYIPs are worth investing in and which ones are SCAM/PONZI?
Before answering that question, one thing you should note is that if there was no money to be made in HYIPs, then they'll not be so many scam sites trying to copy the already existing reliable and stable HYIP investment programs. The scammers know the potentials in HYIP investment are very real and high and they utilize the human factor of greed for making quick, immediate and fast cash to tactically dupe people of their hard earned money.
Now that you also know that you can make money from HYIP investment the next is to know which ones are for real and which ones to avoid. The answer to these questions cannot be completely answered in this article but it is a learning process that will continue as long as we still breath, since on a daily basis new improvements are made. This site will therefore provide you with answers on a daily basis to the happenings, news, DOs and DON'Ts of HYIP investment programs.
When investing with HYIPs, note these;
1. Never every dream or plan to get rich withing a short period of time.
2. Be prepared to loose money.
3. Don't quit.
4. Diversify.
5. Get back capital ASAP.
6. Research and research again.
7. Be Skeptical.
8. Be alert for warning signs.
9. Don't be greedy.
10. Visit this blog daily. (lol)
To begin opening any HYIP investment account, you'll first of all need to get an e-gold account. It is FREE. After which you'll need to also open an e-currency exchange account (also FREE) to enable you exchange money in US Dollars for gold either using a credit card, wire transfer, Direct debit, Bank account, etc.
More about e-gold account and e-currency exchangers tommorow. Happy Investing. Learn more about it on my blog
http://richesurinternet.blogspot.com
HYIP stands for High Yield Investment Program. As the name implies, these kinds of investment programs usually come with high returns on investment made by investors and there is usually high risk involved.
The popularity of HYIPs came about when e-currencies like e-gold, stormpay, etc were introduced. Investors are allowed to invest in small amounts which made the programs very popular and easy to follow.
Over 94% of HYIP sites are SCAM and these scam sites use the ponzi scheme or pyramid scheme in which new investors' money is being used to pay existing investors. This process will be continued as long as new investors are found, which explains why even fraudulent funds are able to provide the promised payouts initially and once there are no more new investors, these programs disappear. This is the reason why most people refer to HYIPs as SCAM and as a result they are afraid to invest, afraid to take calculated risks and afraid to loose money.
People are afraid to take risks not because the investment is risky but because they themselves are risky.
Why do I say this?.......
The problem always is that while more people are investing, very few of them are enlightened and well educated investors. When you fail to get the facts about investing and refuse to learn/study all you can about how to go about HYIP investing, then you are willingly putting yourself at very high risk. However this site is determined to provide lots and lots of the information you'll need to invest wisely and intelligibly. Feel free to post your comments and questions.
By now you should be asking,..... So which HYIPs are worth investing in and which ones are SCAM/PONZI?
Before answering that question, one thing you should note is that if there was no money to be made in HYIPs, then they'll not be so many scam sites trying to copy the already existing reliable and stable HYIP investment programs. The scammers know the potentials in HYIP investment are very real and high and they utilize the human factor of greed for making quick, immediate and fast cash to tactically dupe people of their hard earned money.
Now that you also know that you can make money from HYIP investment the next is to know which ones are for real and which ones to avoid. The answer to these questions cannot be completely answered in this article but it is a learning process that will continue as long as we still breath, since on a daily basis new improvements are made. This site will therefore provide you with answers on a daily basis to the happenings, news, DOs and DON'Ts of HYIP investment programs.
When investing with HYIPs, note these;
1. Never every dream or plan to get rich withing a short period of time.
2. Be prepared to loose money.
3. Don't quit.
4. Diversify.
5. Get back capital ASAP.
6. Research and research again.
7. Be Skeptical.
8. Be alert for warning signs.
9. Don't be greedy.
10. Visit this blog daily. (lol)
To begin opening any HYIP investment account, you'll first of all need to get an e-gold account. It is FREE. After which you'll need to also open an e-currency exchange account (also FREE) to enable you exchange money in US Dollars for gold either using a credit card, wire transfer, Direct debit, Bank account, etc.
More about e-gold account and e-currency exchangers tommorow. Happy Investing. Learn more about it on my blog
http://richesurinternet.blogspot.com
Saturday, August 11, 2007
5 Tricks To Make It Big With Real Estate Investing
Real estate investing is one of the most attractive ways of making good money (that is if you do it correct). Moreover, real estate investing is also a lot of fun. A lot of people practice real estate investing as their core profession and, in fact, make a lot of money that way.
Real estate investing is really an art and, like any art, it takes time to master the art of real estate investing. The key, of course, is to buy at a lower price and sell at higher price and make a profit even after paying all the costs involved in the two (buy/sell) transactions.
Generally, people are of the opinion that real estate investing makes sense only when the rates are on the rise. However, real estate investing for profits is possible just about any time (and as I just said, real estate investing is an art). Here is a list of tricks that can make real estate investing profitable for you:
1) Look for public auctions, divorce settlements and foreclosures (bank/FHA/VA): Since quick settlement is the preference here (and not price), you might get a property at a price that is much lower than the prevailing market rate. You can then make arrangements to sell it at the market rate over a short period of time. However, make sure that the property is worth the price you are paying.
2) Looking for old listings: The old listings that are still unsold may provide you with good real estate investing opportunities. Just get hold of an old newspaper and call up the sellers. They might have given up hope of selling that property at all and with a bit of negotiation you can get the property for a real low price.
3) The hidden treasure: A really old (and dirty) looking house may scare off buyers. But this might be your chance for real estate investing that can yield good profits. So, explore such properties and check if spending a bit on them can make them shine. You can get these at very low prices and make a big profit in a short time.
4) Team up with attorneys: There are a number of attorneys who handle property sales on behalf of sellers or in special circumstances (like the death of the property owner). They might sometimes be looking to dispose off the property rather quickly and hence at a low price. Be the first one to grab such real estate investing opportunities and enjoy the profits.
5) Keep tab on the newspaper announcements: Property sell offs due to deaths, divorce settlements, immediate cash requirements and other reason are frequently announced in local papers. Keep track of such real estate investing avenues.
Real estate investing is one of the most attractive ways of making good money (that is if you do it correct). Moreover, real estate investing is also a lot of fun. A lot of people practice real estate investing as their core profession and, in fact, make a lot of money that way.
Real estate investing is really an art and, like any art, it takes time to master the art of real estate investing. The key, of course, is to buy at a lower price and sell at higher price and make a profit even after paying all the costs involved in the two (buy/sell) transactions.
Generally, people are of the opinion that real estate investing makes sense only when the rates are on the rise. However, real estate investing for profits is possible just about any time (and as I just said, real estate investing is an art). Here is a list of tricks that can make real estate investing profitable for you:
1) Look for public auctions, divorce settlements and foreclosures (bank/FHA/VA): Since quick settlement is the preference here (and not price), you might get a property at a price that is much lower than the prevailing market rate. You can then make arrangements to sell it at the market rate over a short period of time. However, make sure that the property is worth the price you are paying.
2) Looking for old listings: The old listings that are still unsold may provide you with good real estate investing opportunities. Just get hold of an old newspaper and call up the sellers. They might have given up hope of selling that property at all and with a bit of negotiation you can get the property for a real low price.
3) The hidden treasure: A really old (and dirty) looking house may scare off buyers. But this might be your chance for real estate investing that can yield good profits. So, explore such properties and check if spending a bit on them can make them shine. You can get these at very low prices and make a big profit in a short time.
4) Team up with attorneys: There are a number of attorneys who handle property sales on behalf of sellers or in special circumstances (like the death of the property owner). They might sometimes be looking to dispose off the property rather quickly and hence at a low price. Be the first one to grab such real estate investing opportunities and enjoy the profits.
5) Keep tab on the newspaper announcements: Property sell offs due to deaths, divorce settlements, immediate cash requirements and other reason are frequently announced in local papers. Keep track of such real estate investing avenues.
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