Buku Gratis Tentang Cara Berhenti Merokok

Berhenti merokok memang tidak mudah. Apalagi jika kita sudah lama kecanduan merokok. Namun bukan berarti kita tidak bisa melepaskan diri dari asap rokok. Yang kita perlukan adalah komitmen, kesungguhan, dukungan dari orang terdekat dan harus mengetahui cara yang tepat untuk berhenti merokok.

Pengetahuan yang cukup tentang cara berhenti merokok juga sangat terbatas. Kita perlu petunjuk praktis atau juklak yang bias langsung kita gunakan sebagai acuan. Memang sulit dan akan memakan waktu lama untuk berhenti merokok, bila informasi yang kita terima kurang memadai.

Nah, di bawah ini ada beberapa buku yang dapat kita peroleh secara gratis alias cuma-Cuma. Buku-buku ini berisikan informasi yang cukup memadai tentang bagaimana cara berhenti merokok.

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Berhenti Merokok

Khasiat Air

Mandi dua kali sehari dan cuci rambut paling telat tiga hari sekali sangat dianjurkan pakar kesehatan dan kebugaran. Alasannya, sentuhan air bersih dengan tubuh membuat badan terasa segar dan bugar kembali. Untuk menjaga kecantikan pun, kebersihan tubuh harus benar-benar diperhatikan; ditambah lagi minum air putih 8 - 10 gelas sehari. Bahkan air juga banyak dimanfaatkan oleh para pemeluk agama dan aliran kepercayaan, misalnya untuk air wudhu, air baptis, sarana mengusir roh jahat, dll.

Sejak ratusan tahun sebelum Masehi bangsa Rowawi sudah mengenal khasiat mandi, entah mandi susu atau berendam di kolam air bersih yang dilengkapi pancuran dan wewangian. Tujuannya agar tubuh bersih, sehat, dan wangi.

Spa yang kita kenal sekarang tak cuma dihubungkan dengan air, melainkan juga dengan perawatan kecantikan, kesehatan jiwa-badan, serta kebugaran, yang menyertakan bahan-bahan atau cara alami seperti perawatan wajah dan tubuh dengan aromaterapi, mandi rempah, body scrub, body wrap, pengaturan gizi, yoga, meditasi. Namun konsep Spa itu sendiri asal-muasalnya hanya berkaitan dengan air. Istilah "spa" diambil dari bahasa Yunani sante par aqua, artinya kesehatan melalui terapi air.

Di Eropa budaya spa sudah berkembang pada abad XVII. Pada masa itu sudah banyak orang berlibur untuk mencari sumber air mineral guna menanggulangi gangguan kesehatan. Tak usah jauh-jauh, di daerah Kesultanan Yogyakarta juga masih terlihat peninggalan permandian Taman Sari tempat para putri Keraton mandi untuk membersihkan diri agar terlihat lebih cantik.

Air untuk kesuburan

Menurut para peneliti sebuah lembaga riset trombosis di London, Inggris, jika orang selalu mandi dengan air dingin, peredaran darahnya akan membaik sehingga tubuh terasa lebih bugar. Ditambahkan lagi bahwa mandi dengan air dingin akan meningkatkan produksi sel darah putih dalam tubuh serta meningkatkan kemampuan seseorang terhadap serangan virus. Bahkan, mandi dengan air dingin di waktu pagi dapat meningkatkan produksi hormon testosteron pada pria serta hormon estrogen pada wanita. Dengan demikian kesuburan serta kegairahan seksual pun akan meningkat. Selain itu jaringan kulit membaik, kuku lebih sehat dan kuat, tak mudah retak.

Air juga diyakini dapat ikut menyembuhkan penyakit jantung, rematik, kerusakan kulit, penyakit saluran napas, usus, penyakit kewanitaan, dll.

Kini malah pelbagai macam pengobatan alternatif ditawarkan dengan cara kungkum (berendam) di dalam air mengandung magnet, kadar garam tinggi, belerang atau zat kimia lain yang bisa meningkatkan kesehatan.

Katakanlah Ciater, sekitar 32 km utara Bandung, sudah lama dikenal masyarakat sebagai daerah wisata sejuk dengan daya tarik tambahan, air panas alami. Mereka meyakini, air panas alami di sana dapat membantu mengobati penyakit. Memang, berdasarkan penelitian, air panas Ciater mengandung bahan mineral aluminium cukup tinggi. Menurut klasifikasi balneologi (ilmu yang mempelajari khasiat terapi mandi), air panas Ciater termasuk dalam kategori calcium magnesium chloride sulfate thermomineral hypertherma dengan kandungan aluminium tinggi(38,5%) serta pH sangat asam (2,45).

Selain untuk pengobatan kulit, air Ciater efektif untuk pengobatan kelumpuhan, misalnya karena stroke. Pasalnya, bisa membantu memperkuat kembali otot-otot dan ligamen serta memperlancar sistem peredaran darah dan sistem pernapasan. Efek hidrostatik dan hidrodinamik air Ciater membantu menopang berat badan saat latihan berjalan. Sedangkan efek panas menyebabkan pelebaran pembuluh darah, meningkatkan sirkulasi darah dan oksigenisasi jaringan, sehingga mencegah kekakuan otot, menghilangkan rasa nyeri serta menenangkan pikiran.

Kandungan ion-ion terutama khlor, magnesium, hidrogen karbonat dan sulfat dalam air Ciater, membantu pelebaran pembuluh darah sehingga meningkatkan sirkulasi darah. Selain itu pH airnya mampu mensterilkan kulit. Maklum saja, karena lingkungan yang sangat asam kuman-kuman akan mati.

Di Laut Mati, yang kadar garamnya paling tinggi sedunia, wisatawan pun dianjurkan berendam untuk menyembuhkan pelbagai macam penyakit. Entah sampai di mana khasiatnya belum diteliti dengan jelas.

Cipratan air mancur pada tubuh pun akan terasa seperti pijatan, sehingga tubuh akan merasa lebih relaks. Para pakar pengobatan alternatif bahkan menyatakan, bersentuhan dengan air mancur, berjalan-jalan di sekitar air terjun, atau sungai dan taman dengan banyak pancuran, akan memperoleh khasiat ion-ion negatif. Ion-ion negatif yang timbul karena butiran-butiran air yang berbenturan itu bisa meredakan rasa sakit, menetralkan racun, memerangi penyakit, serta membantu menyerap dan memanfaatkan oksigen. Ion negatif dalam aliran darah akan mempercepat pengiriman paket oksigen ke dalam sel dan jaringan. Mandi menggunakan shower di rumah pun mempunyai efek menghasilkan ion negatif.

Di negara maju terapi air juga sudah banyak dilakukan. Dua pakar asal Jerman, Vincenz Priesnitz dan Pastor Sebastian Kneipp, memanfaatkan air hangat dan dingin. Semula pasien dimasukkan ke dalam bak air hangat agar berkeringat, kemudian dipindah ke bak air dingin, lalu diminta pula untuk berjalan-jalan sebentar agar berkeringat lagi. Terakhir, pasien mandi lagi dengan air dingin. Pertukaran suhu dari panas ke dingin inilah yang menjadi kunci rahasia pengobatan ini. Manfaatnya untuk menstabilkan kerja jantung dan peredaran darah.

Cara serupa sebenarnya juga sudah banyak dianjurkan oleh ahli pengobatan alternatif di Indonesia. Caranya, mandi atau menyiram tubuh dengan air hangat, kemudian berendam sebentar dalam air dingin (bersuhu 18^oC). Bahkan konon terapi ini bisa meningkatkan kesuburan pria maupun wanita.

Ketegangan otot pun bisa dijinakkan dengan mandi air hangat bersuhu sekitar 37^oC. Selagi kaki terasa pegal kita sering dianjurkan untuk merendam kaki dengan air hangat dicampur sedikit garam, maka pegal pun sirna.

Ada lagi terapi unik, gabungan antara terapi air dan bunyi. Liquid sound, dipraktikkan di Klinik Bad Sulza, Rhuringen, Jerman. Caranya, dengan kedua tangan disilangkan di belakang, tubuh pasien diapungkan di permukaan air kolam dalam posisi telentang. Tubuhnya bisa terapung seperti di Laut Mati karena air kolam tersebut mengandung garam 3%.

Dalam posisi seperti itu telinga pasien yang terendam di dalam air bisa mendengar dengan jelas alunan musik yang mengalun lewat beberapa pengeras suara, yang dipasang di dasar kolam. Jenis musiknya atas pilihan pasien, kebanyakan yang lembut sehingga bisa menenangkan. Konon sehabis berendam, badan terasa enteng dan segar. Pikiran pun bertambah terang.

Banyak minum, tubuh bugar

Khasiat air tak berhenti pada soal mandi atau berendam saja. Tidak kalah penting khasiat air putih bila diminum. Selain makanan, air sangat diperlukan oleh tubuh kita. Seseorang yang kekurangan makan masih dapat bertahan sampai beberapa hari, tapi kekurangan air bisa berakibat fatal, karena air merupakan bagian terbesar dari komposisi tubuh manusia.

Dalam tubuh seorang pria dengan berat rata-rata 70 kg, menurut Dr. Elvina Karyadi, MSc, ahli gizi, kandungan air di dalam tubuhnya kira-kira 45 l. (Pada wanita, kandungan airnya sedikit lebih rendah sebab komposisi lemak tubuhnya lebih besar.) Dari total kandungan air 45 l di atas, sekitar 30 l terdapat dalam sel tubuh kita (intraseluler) sedangkan 15 l berada di luar sel (ektraseluler). Yang termasuk air di luar sel adalah air dalam cairan otak, cairan mata dan hidung, termasuk juga cairan pada saluran pencernaan.

Menurut sumber lain, kandungan air dalam otak 83%, ginjal 82%, jantung 79%, paru-paru 80%, tulang 22%, dan darah 90%. Bila kandungan air dalam masing-masing organ tersebut tetap dipertahankan sesuai kebutuhan, maka organ tersebut akan tetap sehat. Sebaliknya bila menurun, fungsinya juga akan menurun dan lebih mudah terganggu oleh bakteri, virus, dll. Maka bisa dibayangkan betapa besar peran air dalam tubuh kita.

Untunglah tubuh manusia mempunyai mekanisme dalam mempertahankan keseimbangan asupan air yang masuk dan yang dikeluarkan. Rasa haus pada setiap orang merupakan mekanisme normal dalam mempertahankan asupan air dalam tubuh. Air yang dibutuhkan tubuh kira-kira 2 - 2,5 l (8 - 10 gelas) per hari. Jumlah kebutuhan air ini sudah termasuk asupan air dari makanan (seperti dari kuah sup, soto, dll), minuman seperti susu, teh, kopi, sirup dll. Selain itu, asupan air juga diperoleh dari hasil metabolisme makanan yang dikonsumsi dan metabolisme jaringan di dalam tubuh.

Betapa penting asupan air setiap hari, juga bisa dilihat dari banyaknya air yang pasti dikeluarkan dari tubuh setiap hari melalui beberapa mekanisme. Ada yang melalui air seni, tinja, keringat, dan juga melalui saluran pernapasan.

Jumlah air yang dikeluarkan tubuh melalui air seni sekitar 1 l/hari. Kalau jumlah tinja yang dikeluarkan pada orang sehat sekitar 50 - 400 g/hari, kandungan airnya sekitar 60 - 90% bobot tinja atau sekitar 50 - 60 ml air sehari.

Sedangkan, air yang terbuang melalui keringat dan saluran napas dalam sehari maksimum 1 l, tergantung suhu udara sekitar. Belum lagi faktor pengeluaran air melalui pernapasan. Seseorang yang mengalami demam, kandungan air dalam napasnya akan meningkat. Sebaliknya, jumlah air yang dihirup melalui napas berkurang akibat rendahnya kelembapan udara sekitarnya.

Tubuh kita akan menurun kondisinya bila kadar air menurun dan pengisian kurang cepat dilaksanakan. Jelas, karena ada hubungan yang sangat erat antara kualitas dan kandungan air dalam tubuh dengan respons tubuh kita.

Dr. James M. Rippe, kardiolog dari AS menyarankan untuk minum paling sedikit 1 l lebih banyak dari apa yang dibutuhkan rasa haus kita. Pasalnya, kehilangan 4% cairan saja akan mengakibatkan penurunan kinerja kita sebanyak 22%! Bisa dimengerti bila kehilangan 7%, kita akan mulai merasa lemah dan lesu.

Semakin banyak kita melakukan aktivitas, air akan lebih banyak terkuras dari tubuh. Apalagi orang yang tinggal di negara tropis di mana energi yang dikeluarkan lebih banyak. Sebab itu, para pakar kesehatan mengingatkan agar jangan hanya minum bila terasa haus. Kebiasaan banyak minum, apakah sedang haus atau tidak, merupakan kebiasaan sehat!

Itu artinya, bekerja di ruang ber-AC pun menuntut kita untuk minum lebih banyak, sekalipun tidak merasa haus. Sebab, di ruangan ber-AC kita akan lebih cepat mengalami dehidrasi. Bahwa banyak minum akan membantu kulit tidak cepat kering penting diperhatikan tak hanya oleh mereka yang sehari-hari bekerja di ruang ber-AC, namun juga oleh mereka yang bekerja dalam ruangan yang suhunya tidak tetap. Suhu naik turun menyebabkan kelembapan ruangan juga tidak menentu. Dengan minum air akan membantu menetralisasikan pengaruh perubahan tersebut.

Air putih juga bersifat "menghanyutkan" kotoran-kotoran dalam tubuh yang akan lebih cepat keluar lewat urine. Bagi yang ingin menguruskan badan pun, minum air hangat sebelum makan (sehingga merasa agak kenyang) merupakan satu cara untuk mengurangi jumlah makanan yang masuk. Apalagi air tidak mengandung kalori, gula, ataupun lemak. Namun yang terbaik adalah minum air putih pada suhu sedang; tidak terlalu panas, dan tidak terlalu dingin.

Menyadari betapa air amat menunjang kebugaran, kesehatan dan kecantikan tubuh, tak ada salahnya kita memelihara persahabatan dengan sobat lama kita ini. Selama kita masih dapat menikmati khasiatnya, mari manfaatkan sebaik-baiknya. (Nanny Selamihardja)

Need A Solution For Costly Automotive Repairs?

Depending on the model and year of your vehicle, repair expenses will vary. Current emission standards and advanced technology is an integral part of the automotive world. With advanced technology comes higher costs, especially if you rely on someone else to do the work for you.

There are solutions that will save you some headaches and put cash back in your pocket. If you had the same insider information as your dealership or private garage the ball would be in your court when checking over a repair bill and the honesty of your mechanic.

If you are a weekend mechanic or just a concerned car owner, the value of knowing insider information about your vehicle is extremely valuable. This will give you the ammunition you need to dispute a repair bill and keep an eye on particulars such as the cost of parts and labor.

Once you gain this knowledge your confidence level will grow along with your automotive language that will put any service department advisor on guard. He or she will realize that you are not a pushover and they will tend to be more efficient when it comes to quotes and final costs on your vehicle.

Not to say that every repair shop or mechanic is trying to rip you off, there are times when honest mistakes are made. Any shop worth a grain of salt will have qualified technicians, free estimates and should always show you the old parts that came from your vehicle.

Factory recall notices which can be general or safety related are sent out to original vehicle owners. If you buy a car or truck second hand the only way to check for a recall is to ask a dealership to check your vehicle serial number.

There are however, resources online that can give you all the recall history for your vehicle. Some recalls are extended, years after the manuacturer date.

Another resource you can access online are technical service bulletins which flag a particular vehicle that has a recurring problem. They also inform, sharing new procedures or maintenance tips.

The technical service bulletin supplies the repair instructions and parts required to fix the faulty condition.

If for instance you had a problem with intermittent starting there may be a technical service bulletin available. It will supply you with all the information needed to prevent unnecessary repairs and headaches.

With the right information in your hands you will become a smart do it yourselfer and a savvy vehicle owner. This will allow you to control the amount of money you spend and keep your vehicle on the road where it belongs.

The Contribution of the Euro-dollar Market to the Modern Financial World

The Euro-dollar market* had caused many changes to the modern financial world in which, the open competitive effect of the international money market caused the liberalization by almost all industrialized countries of domestic money and banking markets. The market acted as a fully international mechanism for attracting deposits and offering loans, over a broad range of maturities and at highly competitive rates. The first important development of Euro-dollar business came after the Second World War, when Soviet bloc holders of dollar balances wanted to keep them in a form not subject to control by the US authorities. They kept them with London banks. However, the development of the market as a large-scale international structure really dates from 1957. It was given its impetus then by a rise in UK Bank rate to 7% and the imposition of restrictions on sterling credits to finance trade between non-sterling countries. At that time, banks in the US were limited (by Regulation Q) as to the amount of interest they might pay on deposits. Banks outside the US were able to offer a higher rate for dollar deposits, and yet, by operating on finer margins, to offer competitive terms for dollar loans. Many banks were well placed to take advantage of this situation. This was because of their wide overseas connections, long experience of international business and variety of outlets for making international loans. The first substantial development of the market took place in London, and London conducted much of the largest share of the business, which contributed considerable invisible earnings to the UK balance of payments.

The role of sterling has been a central point to the development of the Euro-dollar market. To the sense that, the control of sterling has not only been a central preoccupation of British governments, but largely determined Britain’s strategy towards the international financial market. Since 1958, governments have found themselves in a “dilemma” by the pressures of which the international use of sterling had placed on the British economy where “depleted” reserves of the entire sterling area constituted the most significant constraint on achieving economic growth. The management of sterling was the heart of governing Britain until conditions allowed the convertibility of the currency in the late 1950s. The central point that, throughout the postwar period, the British government sought agreements that enabled US dollars to flow to Britain whilst restricting the convertibility of sterling in domestic and foreign hands, (the Washington Loan Agreement, the Marshall Plan, and military assistance programmes encouraged a flow of dollars to Britain).

The UK government placed particular emphasis on exports to the dollar area (dollar-earning exports), with sterling area exports deemed next in importance. As early as the 1950s, Conservative governments, set about reasserting the international status of sterling and the importance of the City of London as the world’s premier financial centre. In 1953, commodity markets and exchanges for raw materials were re-opened in London. March 1954 saw the long awaited return of London Gold Market (open to all non-residents of the sterling area). Changes were made in currency regulations in 1955, which allowed the partial convertability of the pound for non-sterling area residents and non-dollar area residents. This was followed finally by the full convertability of sterling in December 1958, and by the Bank of England’s decision in 1962 to provide cheap foreign exchange cover and allow non-residents to hold dollar balances with the Bank of England (thus signalling the beginning of the Euro-dollar market). Dollars could now be deposited with the Bank of England in an external account, thereby escaping US exchange regulations and earning a higher rate of interest than obtainable in the US. The aim here was well calculated. London’s position as the main financial centre would be re-established and the City would quickly become the world’s leading Euro-dollar market.

However, the real significance of the Euro-dollar market lay in the fact that it originally drew its funds from non-bank suppliers and ultimately lent them to non-bank users, in which the established market was not dependent upon the existence on the USA remaining in deficit. As, the market soon become an integrated international money market providing its own specialised service which had shown considerable powers of survival. Merchant banks simply turned to the expatriate dollars, and used them in the way they have used sterling, operating freely on a global scale in the financing of international trade and the arrangement of longer term loans. American and other foreign banks wanting to take advantage of the paucity of financial controls in the UK soon joined this new market that was dominated by the merchant banks. Hence, between 1967-1978 the representation of foreign banks in London grew from 113 to 395. As, for the City’s banks, the establishment of sterling convertability in 1958 “was arguably the most important event of this century”, for it heralded the rise of the London Euro-dollar market. The table below shows how dramatic the Euro-dollar market had indeed become. A total of 91 international Euro-currency issues totalling the equivalent of $1,884m took place in 1967. The firms shown below are ranked in order of the aggregate amount of issues for which they acted either as managers or as co-managers. Apart from those listed, there were 45 firms active in such management .

Euro-dollar Bond League

Firm - Total Dollar Equivalents (000)- Number of Issues:

Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas - 490,000 - 21

Banca Commerciale Italiana - 445,000 - 19

S.G. Warburg & Co - 385,700 - 21

Deutsche Bank A.G. - 367,500 - 17

Kuhn, Loeb & Co - 295,000 - 15

White Weld &Co - 285,200 - 14

Lazard Freres & Co - 265,000 - 14

N.M. Rothschild & Sons - 260,000 - 11

Morgan & Cie International S.A. - 260,000 - 8

Lehman Brothers - 250,000 - 9

Banca Nazionale del Lavoro - 194,000 - 9

First Boston Corporation - 168,000 - 8

Banque Nationale de Paris - 152,500 - 6

Societe Generale de Banque - 135,000 - 7

Amsterdam-Rotterdam Bank N.V. - 135,000 - 6

Credit Commercial de France - 131,200 - 7

Kredietbank - 130,200 - 9

Smith, Barney & Co Inc. - 130,000 - 8

Societe Generale - 125,000 - 5

Credit Lyonnais - 122,200 - 5

(Source: The Times, the Euro-dollar bond league 29 December 1967)

The City of London proved to be a highly successful international commercial banking and financial centre, despite growing fears of competition from other centres. It presented strength, derived largely from the generalised “trust” with which the world views the City. The survival and revival of London as an international financial centre after the disruptions of the Second World War and the weakness of sterling as an international reserve currency had been largely based upon the development of the Euro-currency markets. In specific the growth of new or “parallel” markets alongside the old “classic” discount market, which with the relative decline of sterling as an international currency, had become a domestic concern. These new markets had revitalised the foreign exchange markets in response to the emergence of barriers of various kinds between ultimate borrowers and lenders. On the one hand, the domestic parallel money market in sterling evolved out of responses which were intended to evade the credit restrictions which successive British governments had attempted to impose during the 1960s through their participation in the old discount market. On the other hand, the decline of sterling and the difficulties associated with the US governments’ restrictions on the use of the dollar as an international currency gave rise to new markets in Euro-dollars and other Euro-currencies. New money markets where money is lent and borrowed between banks, companies and other organisations without the control of the monetary authorities (governments and central banks). It was a measure of the City’s autonomy that such developments took place.

The development of the Euro-dollar Market can be described by using a Marxist analysis of capitalism, in particular, the workings of the capitalist economy and its political and social implications. In specific, to the theory of the state in advanced capitalism, and on the basis of the materialist conception of history and Marx’s general theory of capitalist production. As any attempt to develop a theory of the state, must deal with a Marx’s works on the state. In the sense that, capitalism is analysed predominantly as “civil society”, as a more or less self-contained sphere in which all citizens, including capitalists and workers, confront each other as competing individuals on the market. Using this conception, the state occupies another sphere standing outside civil society, which purports to represent universality or the community between people, but is constantly undermined by the antagonistic individualism of its basis, namely civil society.

Karl Marx claimed that, “the abstraction of the state as such belongs only to modern times. The abstraction of the political state is a modern product” . The Euro-dollar market inherently being a new phenomenon proved some uncertainty to the British Labour government during the mid-1960s, which had to approach the new market through an analysis of the world in which the Labour Party sought to govern. Such an analysis posed a variety of questions. Firstly, why particular institutions and processes posed such a set of problems for the individual Labour governments? Secondly, why particular issues come to preoccupy political debate in one period only for it to dwindle in importance in the next? Finally, why particular patterns of political and social cleavage prove so tenacious? With such questions, and a new market developing, the British Labour Government had to respond with a set agenda in order to control specified targets including the sequence of booms and slumps, the differing strengths of the national economy, the rise and significance of multinational corporations, the role of international financial agencies, and the changing role of the government in economic and social life. Such a task seems a formidable one, but one that was not considered impossible. As what holds the analysis together is the recognition that the world during the 1960s was capitalist to the sense that Marx used the term. The law of value still operated throughout the major economic and social processes. Due to this reason, the preceding outline of Marx’s analysis remains relevant, as it provides the means by which the true nature of the British government’s dilemmas can be explained and understood.

To Marx, the executive of the modern state is portrayed as “a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie”. However, there is a problem, which must confront any contemporary theory of Marxism, namely the relation between appearance and reality. The state appears as independent from the sphere of market exchange, but in reality it is a different matter. The Euro-dollar is an example of such a case, in essence a phenomenon of the 1960s, an international money market where commercial banks undertook wholesale transactions involving foreign currencies. It had been a growing market, which has often involved conflicts with the state. As governments change, the market had been growing at a rapid pace, which had proved to be difficult to regulate. It seems that the Euro-dollar market was one of the initiating processes, which led to what is known today as globalization. To the sense that, the market had caused many changes to the modern financial world which, evolved on a global scale. The open competitive effect of the international money market had caused the liberalization by almost all industrialized countries of domestic money and banking markets. Where, successful participants in the money market of today, have a far more sophisticated understanding of financial risk, and the tools to manage them. As the changes in the markets have required many banking institutions to change in the way of financial regulation.

However, when examining the Euro-dollar market, one has to turn to the 1960s which witnessed the focus of the changing relationship between the national state and the global financial markets, where the policies of Keynesian sought to bring “economic forces” under control. The idea was that the state should assume responsibility for the economy, intervening where the market fails to stimulate economic growth. In times of a recession, the state should stimulate demand through deficit financing (such as, state expenditure based on credit). The state was thus charged with creating demand through an increase of the money supply. Keynesian raised these means to the principle of capitalist reproduction. Governments used these methods in a form of expansionary policies. Keynesianism depended upon the use of money for expansive industrial development and the management of “sound” finance.

One major question arose, throughout the paper: what are the risks and problems of the Euro-dollar market, and is the growth of this market a “welcome tonic or a slow poison” to the international financial system (with particular emphasis to the United Kingdom)?

There was no doubt that the growth of the Euro-dollar market had contributed spectacularly to the easing of the world liquidity problem. In less than a decade, the market grew from nothing to $13,000 million compared with an increase in official world reserves of only $21,000 million from 1951 to 1965. However, the growth of this market merely “put-off” the evil day when the reserve currency countries, and in particular the United States, had to adjust their payment situations to the facts of life. On the technical level the growth in the Euro-dollar market exposed the world in general and Britain in particular to every similar dangers to those experienced in the early thirties. Of its nature it was a market notable for its lack of regulation and control. No one country could exercise control over it. Euro-dollar deposits were no longer used solely for trade finance, and hence were not self-cancelling. Although individual banks observed limits to the amount of dollars they were to lend to individual “names”, countries or areas, deposits passed through many hands before they had reached the final user. It was almost impossible to tell the extent to which any country or individuals were committed to repaying Euro-dollars. If a serious breakdown occurred anywhere in the system, the strain would be transmitted to the centre. Britain’s involvement in this market was so extensive with £2,773 million liabilities and £2,487 million credits, by 1968, that a breakdown would inevitably throw doubt on Sterling .

The risks and problems associated with the Euro-dollar market made themselves felt at three levels: the individual bank, the individual country, and at the level of the international financial system as a whole. For an individual bank the main risk was the possibility that a borrower may not repay his Euro-dollar loan. The borrower for any number of purposes – over which because of their unsecured nature, the lending bank had very little control, may use Euro-dollar funds. For an individual country, the problems created by the Euro-dollar market were two-fold: Firstly, the danger that the domestic banks involved in the market may over-extend themselves and thereby place demands on the official foreign exchange reserve. Secondly, the fact that the existence of the Euro-dollar market had provided another channel through which short-term capital can flow internationally and, hence, had tended to increase the volume of short-term capital moving into or out of any particular country”.

There were difficulties in establishing a mechanism that could bring about the necessary degree of international control over the Euro-dollar market. The most important was the fact that there was no single institution, either national or international, that could control the market, and act as an international lender of last resort in the same way that a national central bank can in the case of a national money market. There seemed to be a system of informal understanding among the central banks, developing probably as part of their co-operation in fighting exchange crisis, under which substantial volumes of US dollars could be mobilised quickly to meet any serious destabilising forces in the Euro-dollar market. In circumstances where the needs of the Euro-dollar market did conflict with other policy objectives, however, it was doubtful the national central banks would give priority to the Euro-dollar market. This was the basic weakness. As, in order to avoid this situation, the US dollar funds needed to stabilise the Euro-dollar market would have had to be made available on a more formal basis – such as by means of pre-arranged swap and stand by arrangements between the national central banks and the BIS. In this situation the BIS would be free to call on these swap funds in accordance with the needs of the Euro-dollar market. In addition, to meet these requirements during a period of crisis the volume of US funds at the disposal of the BIS would have had to be substantial. Undoubtedly, the major portion of these swap funds had to originate from the Federal Reserve System.

Generally, however as far as the international financial system was concerned, one heard nothing but good of the Euro-dollar market and of its rapid expansion. Whitehall had generally welcomed it as a means of financing the UK’s overseas mandate (investments) without putting undue strain on sterling. The City of London virtually created the market and had made a good deal of business out of it. The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated way back on the 8th December 1960, of using US dollars to improve the UK balance of payments, and to improve the UK dollar indebtedness. Throughout the end of the 1960s, it was apparent that the Euro-dollar market not only financed the UK economy, but assisted in the UK’s balance of payment’s problems. The British government foresaw the Euro-dollar Market as a way for advancing its own interests and concerns. The role of the public authorities and the nationalised industries proved to be very crucial to the UK government. These industries became a way for the UK government to raise foreign currency on a medium and long-term basis in order to finance its repayments of shorter-term debt and to improve the UK reserves. Both the Inland Revenue and the Treasury agreed on one thing that, something had to be done to “helping local authorities to obtain access to the Euro-dollar market” . To the sense that, both parties considered it desirable to include a provision in the Finance Bill of 1970 to the effect that “the interest on securities issued by a local authority in the currency of a country outside the scheduled territories shall be payable in full without deduction of tax at source, and be exempt from income tax where the beneficial owner of the securities is not resident in the UK”. This was the combined view of the Treasury and the Inland Revenue as a “means of removing an impediment to foreign currency borrowing by UK authorities in the Eurobond market” . The reason for this was that, “it was in the public interest for nationalised industries and large local authorities to borrow on the Euro-dollar market” .

Controls in the UK had been designed to protect the reserves by restricting access to the market by UK residents and restricting of “switching” out of sterling by banks in the UK. UK residents who were able to show a need were allowed to maintain foreign currency deposits (which earned Euro-dollar rates) with UK banks. These deposits soon accrued dramatically. Also control was permitting UK residents (especially the local authorities) to borrow foreign currencies in this market, or overseas where this allowed beneficial transactions to take place without recourse to the reserves (e.g. for foreign investment). Banks in the UK were allowed to maintain an excess of foreign currency claims over liabilities (i.e. to switch out of sterling) only to the extent necessary for them to maintain working balances.

This would accommodate a significant and useful benefit to the UK balance of payments. The idea was considered to be of such importance that large steps were taken to encourage UK borrowers to “tap” into the foreign currency sources of finance. The UK government passed powerful legislation through parliament, which involved serious sensitive issues such as tax measures encouraging foreign currency borrowing (i.e. tax allowances, tax evasion, and payment of gross interest), and double taxation agreements.

However, certain issues arose which showed the sensitivity of the situation of whether the UK government were favouring business interests, when pursuing its policies, and whether HM government would relieve these industries of the loss should-ever there be a change in the exchange rates (in a form of a Government Exchange Guarantee). The argument being that the government could not allow a nationalised industry to default and by encouraging the nationalised industries to borrow for the sole purpose of easing the balance of payments, the interest rates would be more than counter-balanced by the increased production that would be made possible. Given successful management of demand, such production would either find its way into exports or into the satisfaction of needs, which would otherwise be placed into imports. This meant that external sources of capital financed a large part of the UK’s portfolio and direct investment abroad, and UK borrowers were allowed under exchange control to raise foreign currency loans to finance domestic investment. This was implemented by providing an “off-shore” regulation-free environment devised to trade financial assets denominated in foreign currencies.

One situation concerned the Ford Motor Company in the USA. The company had entered into a contract to purchase for dollars, the sterling required to enable the company to undertake their offer to buy 45% shareholdings in the Ford Motor Company of the UK, which they did not already own. The UK Government on the 13th December 1960, received $370 million for value for this offer . Secondly, it was a market that even interested the IBRD. On 18th August 1960 Mr Miller of the IBRD’s Paris Office wrote to the UK Treasury, to discuss with the Bank of England, the question of whether the International bank could follow the example that was apparent, with many other institutions investing dollars in the UK at short term, and to place these into what was identified as the “Euro-Dollar Market”. At the end, the IBRD eventually dropped the idea of placing certain liquid dollar assets in London, because of the unfavourable attitude of the US Treasury. Although the IBRD decided not to process this further, it nevertheless resembled the importance and relevance of the Euro-dollar market, and of the City of London itself .

In 1968, the progress in reducing the UK balance of payments deficit was much slower than the UK Government had either anticipated or desired. As, the third quarter figures of 1968 experienced an unprecedented net inflow of nearly £200m on long-term capital account and a further reduction in the current account deficit. On the combined current and long-term capital accounts there was an identified surplus of around £105m: the best quarterly result since the fourth quarter of 1966, and following deficits of about £310m and £170m in the first and second quarters. Official long-term capital transactions benefited in the third quarter. There was a very large net inward movement of private long-term capital amounting to around £175m . However in 1969, there was a considerable turnaround between the first and second halves of the year, when the current and long-term capital deficit fell from £427m to £31m. Apart from the substantial progress in cutting the trade deficit, a significant part of the improvement resulted from changes on the capital account. The outflow on official capital (in the capital account) inevitably rose. Bond issues overseas by UK public corporations provided a counterbalance to the increase. Tighter credit in the UK tended to check outward movements and encouraged inward movements of long and short-term capital. As investment of this kind involved no call on the UK reserves, in the standard form of the balance of payments, the investment was recorded as a debit, but the Euro-dollars which financed it were recorded not as a credit, but as a monetary inflow. In general, it seemed that there had been an encouraging start towards the UK achieving its immediate objective for 1969-70, and that the outlook for achieving a larger continuing surplus thereafter was good .

However even though it is easy to view these events by their own logic, in order to understand their real significance, they must be set in the context of the negotiations which took place between Britain and Europe in the mid-1950s. In the summer and autumn of 1955, Britain was invited to discussions on closer European economic integration by the six nations, which eventually signed the Treaties of Rome in March 1957. After a flurry of activity in Whitehall, the Cabinet Office circulated the Trend Report, which pointed out to four decisive considerations against membership . Firstly, the Cabinet Office and the Treasury had concluded that membership would weaken the UK’s economic and consequently its political relationship with the Commonwealth and the colonies. Secondly, it was judged that the UK’s economic and political interests were worldwide and that a European common market would be contrary to the approach of freer trade and payments. Thirdly, it was thought that participation would gradually lead to political federation, which was unacceptable to Britain. Finally, the Cabinet Office concluded that membership would be detrimental to the British economy since it would involve the removal of protection for British industry against European competition. When placed alongside the earlier considerations relating to sterling, the Trend Report convinced the Eden government that Britain should withdraw from the Messina Talks. Instead of negotiating with the Six, Thornecroft at the Board of Trade convinced the Cabinet to launch an alternative non-discriminatory scheme aiming to “disunite” the Six away from the idea of the common market. This scheme, labelled Plan G, later developed into Britain’s free trade proposals, which became the basis of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) established after the Stockholm Conference in 1959 . Whilst, Plan G proposed a free trade area designed to eliminate industrial tariffs, it carried no further implications regarding wider economic integration. Within a free trade area, Britain could retain its traditional trading structure, and as Board of Trade concluded, this would be entirely different from a European discriminatory bloc in which Britain came under domination of Germany.

The successful conclusion of the Treaty of Rome in March 1957, came as a major surprise to the British state. It was fundamental to British thinking that the Six would not go ahead without the participation of the UK. In a frank memorandum titled “What went wrong?”, the Treasury surveyed the scene in July 1959, and concluded that the government had made a number of serious errors . Britain had misunderstood the US position, not realising that the US State department would always back the Community given its political and defence implications. It had made a number of tactical errors, in trying to divide the Six, in believing that the UK would be allowed to join at any stage once the Community was formed and in failing to establish a “negotiating machinery” to match that of the French. Finally the British government had continued to pursue the half-hearted 17 nation EFTA strategy when it was clear that neither the French nor the Germans were attracted to the idea, which in any case the Treasury concluded “does not bear examination for five minutes”. The next 14 years would be spent struggling with the legacy of the British state’s failed attempt to prevent the creation of the Community.

A further examination must make reference to the form of Britain’s postwar integration into international trade and money markets. Although a number of events began to weaken Britain’s position in the global political economy (Suez and the relentless process of decolonisation), access to privileged markets had enabled the economy to reconstruct and prosper in the early 1950s. Moreover, the British governments could utilise the international prestige of sterling and the City of London to counter, (at least in theory), the effects of balance of payments deficits. Once it became clear that, de Gaulle would not sanction UK entry to the Community, Britain was caught in a bind and was forced to pin its economic hopes on the revival of the City of London.

In the 19th century, it was the competitiveness of “British industry” which led to the international use of sterling. However, by the late 1950s, the lack of competitiveness of Britain’s industrial base (particularly “via” Europe) now meant that the international use of sterling could quickly turn from an asset to a liability. As sterling was made convertible, short-term capital inflows and outflows increased in volatility. In these circumstances, the Bank of England found it increasingly difficult to defend the exchange rate – where the slightest “rumour” could lead to a massive speculation against the pound, destabilising the domestic economy. Although these pressures were seen to exist even as early as 1956 (when sterling was only partially convertible) over the first two days of Britain’s invasion of Egypt there was a massive outflow of $50 million – (they became more acute over the next 20 years). From the early 1960s, the “British economy” was dominated by a pattern which saw rising levels of imports, falling exports, and when the balance of payments surplus diminished the introduction of high interest rates to attract short-term capital (hot money) to London.

On entering office in 1964, Wilson found that convertibility and the establishment of the Euro-dollar markets had produced a situation whereby financial markets could validate or disapprove of policy measures within hours. In many ways, the story of the Wilson’s government is one of speculative action against the pound followed by international rescue operations to shore up the sterling exchange rate. Deflationary measures pursued throughout 1965, and 1966 failed to stem the tide of speculation, forcing the government to devalue in November 1967 and to negotiate a $1,5 billion standby credit from the IMF. Wilson agreed with the Bank of England and the Treasury that devaluation was a strategy to be avoided unless the Labour Government was willing to destroy confidence in sterling and the City as the premier financial centre.

So relatively, the development of the Euro-dollar market coincided with the recoveries of the capitalist economies and the growing pressure of the US economy. The shortage of dollars gradually changed into dollar saturation. This market took over aspects of a developed domestic credit system, which was operating globally and independently from the central banks. Speculative capital assumed the function of national and international institutions, financing budget and balance of payments deficits. Such “money” existed as a claim on central bank money in national states on unregulated financial markets. The global role of the City foresaw the result as the dominance of financial over industrial capital. To the sense that although Britain was a low-wage and low-productivity country, it was a centre of global finance (due to the contribution of the Euro-dollar market). However, this did not mean that British industry had been undermined as a consequence of financial interests and policies favouring the concerns of financial markets, although the global role of the City “has had” a detrimental effect on British industrial development. Rather, the development of London as the centre for the global circulation of capital expressed the organisation of “British” capital at the most developed level of global capitalist relations. However, this development of the dominance of financial capital over productive capital must be treated with caution, since it was high interest rates that attracted money capital to London and the fact that the UK is one of the main countries attracting productive investment (particularly from US-based multinationals).

So what can we learn from the British experience? The British case illustrates that there is nothing simple about the choice between government and the market: both are flawed mechanisms in terms of maximising efficiency and both require a deeply rooted underlying consent about their manner of operation and acceptance of their distributional outcomes. Lever later acknowledged in 1974/75 that, “modern governments, overestimated their ability to shape and manage the complex drives of a mature economy. They wrongly assumed that they understood all the reasons for its shortcomings and so, not surprisingly, were all too ready to lay hands on superficial remedies for overcoming them. And all this without any attempt to understand the economies of an increasingly interdependent world” .

It remains to be said that that the nation-state provides the domestic political underpinning for the stability of global capitalist relations. Therefore in order to maintain the position of a nation state’s integration into the “world market” nation states are under constant pressure to make more efficient use of available resources. Failure to achieve this will result in a loss of reserves, precipitated by balance of payments difficulties, and inflationary pressure, provoking global exchange instability and financial crisis.

ENDNOTE

* Here are two very similar definitions of the term Euro-dollars:

Robert Gilpin, (The Political Economy of International Relations, Princetown University Press, 1987, p. 314-315), states that: The Euro-dollar market received its name from American dollars on deposit in European (especially in London) banks yet remaining outside the domestic monetary system, and the stringent control of national monetary authorities.

Enzig and Quinn (The Euro-dollar System: practice and theory of international interest rates, MacMillan Press, 6th edition, 1977, p. 1) state that: the Euro-dollar system is a term used to describe the market in dollar deposits and credits which exists outside the United States of America.

FCO 59/212: Economie Affairs (External), International Monetary Matters, Euro-dollar Market, (1/11/1967-8 /5/1968) (Foreign Office – Economic Relations Department), File Number: UE 4/44

Marx Karl, Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Law, in Marx/Engels 1975, vol: 3, p32.

E. Wayne Clendenning, Euro-dollars: The problem of control, The Banker, April 1968

PRO file FCO 59/212: Economie Affairs (External), International Monetary Matters, Euro-dollar Market (Jan 1967- December 1967)

PRO File IR/40/17474: Memo from J.G. Littler to Mr. Andren on foreign currency Borrowing by local authorities, 31 March 1969.

PRO File IR/40/17474: Confidential letter, from Mr. J.G. Littler to Mr. Andren titled foreign currency borrowing by local authorities, 14 March 1969.

PRO File IR/40/17474: Confidential letter from G.B.N. Hartog to Mr Elliston, titled Finance Bill: Eurobond issues by local authorities, 31 March 1969.

T 308/11: Use of “Windfall” Dollars To (A) Improve UK Balance of Payments Position (B) Reduce UK Dollar Indebtedness, (December 1960)

T 236/6260: IBRD- Placing of Dollars Funds in London, 18th August 1960

PRO File T 230/1056: UK submission to working party No. 3 of OECD Economic Policy Committee 1969 (28/01/69 – 11/11/69). File Number: 2EAS 549/188/02

PRO File T 230/1056: UK submission to working party No. 3 of OECD Economic Policy Committee 1969 (28/01/69 – 11/11/69). File Number: 2EAS 549/188/02

Burgess S and Edwards G, The Six plus One, International Affairs, no: 64, 1988, p407.

Camps M, Britain and the European Community 1955-63, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1964.

PRO file T234/720, Memorandum titled, What went Wrong? Was prepared by the Treasury, July 1959

Harold Lever, The cabinets of 1964-70 had highly gifted individuals. Why then was so little achieved?, The Listener, 22 November 1984, p24-25.

Money for Small Business From the Sba

While poor management is often cited most frequently as the reason businesses fail, inadequate financing is a close second. Whether you're starting a business or expanding one, sufficient capital is essential. But you must also have the knowledge and planning required to manage the financing correctly. Some of the commons mistakes to avoid include: securing the wrong type of financing, miscalculating the amount required, or underestimating the cost of borrowing money.

If you work through your local Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), the advisers there help you in your SBA loan application as well as help you avoid some of those mistakes. The SBA loan programs are operated through private-sector lenders that provide loans which are, in turn, guaranteed by the SBA. Most private lenders (banks, credit unions, etc.) are familiar with SBA loan programs. Working with the SBCD can help facilitate your applications because they are a government agency that have experience helping to get money for small business and they have existing relationships with local banks.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE POSSIBLE LOANS AVAILABLE FROM SBA

The loan guaranty which SBA provides transfers the risk of borrower non-payment, up to the amount of the guaranty, from the lender to SBA. Therefore, when a business applies for an SBA Loan, they are actually applying for a commercial loan, structured according to SBA requirements, which receives an SBA guaranty.

7(a) Loan Guaranty Program - One of the SBA's primary loan programs is called 7(a) and offers loans of up to $1,000,000. (the maximum dollar amount the SBA will guaranty is generally $1 million.)

Certified Development Company (CDC), a 504 Loan Program - Provides long-term, fixed-rate financing to small businesses to acquire real estate or machinery or equipment for expansion or modernization. Typically a 504 project includes a loan secured from a private-sector lender (local bank) with a senior lien, a loan secured from a CDC (funded by a 100 percent SBA-guaranteed debenture) with a junior lien covering up to 40 percent of the total cost, and a contribution of at least 10 percent equity from the borrower.

SBA loan financing is provided for a wide range of businesses. Some examples of the types of businesses that can apply for a small business loan through the SBA include: Assisted living facilities, Auto businesses, Business supplies, Chiropractors, Construction loans, Convenience stores, Day care centers, Franchises, Funeral homes, Gas stations, Hotels/motels, Nursing homes, Restaurants, and Women-owned businesses. SBA loans are also available for professional service businesses like Doctors, Dentists and Veterinarians.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF SBA LOANS

Less Money Down - You can leverage your personal or investment capital harder with an SBA-guaranteed loan, which means you can get more done with less up-front investment.

Longer Payback Terms - You can improve your cash flow with lower monthly payments. And where possible, you can fix a better match between loan terms and the longer-term rates of depreciation for capitalized equipment or real estate.

Lower Interest Rates -Because the SBA absorbs a significant percentage of the lending bank's loan risk, the bank can lend at a lower interest rate

No Balloon Payment Required -You can establish terms that minimize your monthly payment without attaching a large pay out at the end of the loan.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO SECURE AN SBA LOAN ?

• Business Plan - you must not only know how to make a business plan, but make sure it includes some of the following essentials: The unique marketing strategy and advantage of the product or service you are offering; the strength and experience of the small business management team; and the purpose of the loan

• Cash Flow Statement - this cash flow statement must show the revenue stream and income available to pay back the loan in 5-7 years time.

• Credit History - to have both acceptable personal and business credit history

• Personal Equity Investment - the SBA and lenders want to know that you have personally invested money in your small business – which is usually between 10-20% of what is needed.

• Security and Guarantee for Loan - the SBA will require you to pledge available business assets, and in some cases, personal assets to secure your loan.

Whether you are a start up or if you have a successful small business and need money for expansion and growth, the SBA is a very reasonable and easy way to get the business financing you need.

How To Get A Small Business Loan

To get a small business loan, a firm requires submitting an appropriate application form. There are different types of application forms for different categories of loans. The information furnished in the application covers, inter alia, the following: the name and address of the borrower and his establishment; the details of the borrowers business; and the nature and amount of security offered.

The application form has to be supported by various ancillary statements like the financial statements and financial projections of the firm. The application is then processed. This primarily involves an examination of the factors like ability, integrity and experience of the borrower in the particular business. General prospects of the borrower’s business, purpose of grant, requirement of the borrower and its reasonableness are also taken into perspective when granting loan.

Once the application is duly processed, it is put up for sanction to the appropriate authority. If the sanction is given by the appropriate authority along with the sanction of loan, the bank specifies the terms and conditions applicable to the loan. These usually cover the amount of loan or the maximum limit of the grant, the nature of the grant, the period for which the grant will be valid, the rate of interest applicable to the grant, the primary security to be charged, the insurance of the security, the details of collateral security, if any, to be provided, and the margin to be maintained.

Working capital advances are provided by commercial banks in three primary ways: cash credits/overdrafts, loans, and purchase/discount of bills. In addition to these forms of direct finance, commercial banks help their customers in obtaining credit from other sources through the letter of credit arrangement. Under a cash credit arrangement, a predetermined limit for borrowing is specified by the bank. The borrower can draw as often as required provided the outstandings do not exceed the cash credit limit.

Some Great Tips To Help Sports Car Owners Save On Car Insurance

Getting insurance on a sports car can be more expensive than what you are looking to spend. Sports cars usually require a higher rate every month than most other cars. At most all sports car owners want full coverage on their prize winning jewels. Even though getting insurance on your 350z will never compare to getting insurance on your family mini van, there are however a few things that a sports car owner can do to get lower rates. Going by these four tips, can help a sports car owner keep there rates lower than any before.

First, an owner should check to see if any memberships will give any discounts on rates. At times a membership can greatly reduce your rates. Teachers and government workers usually get these discounts but rarely see them. Always ask your agent if there are any clubs you can join to lower your rates. Generally, a club membership can get you lower rates than if you hadn't joined one.

Next, you should always compare the prices of rates from different companies. It does not take a long time for you to call around and compare the rates for your car. You might find a really low price from an agency you may have never though of. There are aids available to help you compare these rates; these can be the best place to find your really low rates. Although, you may get better offers it will pay off to call around. Most always an agent with the knowledge of the info you need may be able to save you hundreds of dollars by switching to there company.

After that, you may get even more by bringing multiple policies to your agent. A lot of insurance companies can help you with lower rates if you use them to insure everything you have and own. You can save a lot by having all your vehicles insured by the same agency. You can most likely save more by making these deals under the table. The savings may not be pointed at your sports car. Instead you may find cost savings just from having all your cars insured with them.

At last, ask your agent if there are any special programs that you can get into that can lower your rates every month. Some agencies may lower your rates if you take a course online for defensive driving. If a kid is driving a car, there may be lower rates for good grades. Most agencies will offer to lower your rates if you remain accident free for a period of time.

It is of great interest to get good insurance for your sports car. Getting cheaper coverage can lower your rates, but more than likely can leave you unprotected.
If you remember to ask about memberships, compare, and take all your business to one agent they will most likely save you a whole lot on your rates, you can more than likely get the lowest rates around..

Horse Racing Odds and Racebooks

Horse racing is a sport that is gaining wide popularity in all of the four corners of the world. It is also considered to be one of the most popular wagering games ever made. Usually, the horses that are used in the race are the so-called thoroughbred horses. This sport is characterized as a race where two or more horses ridden by jockeys compete on who’s going to be on the first place in the race track. The people who watch the contest lay a wager on which horse will finish first. The betting maybe in the form of betting for the first, second or third place. In the horse race term this pertains to laying a bet on to win, to place and to show.

Now horse race is not easy to understand if you’re not familiar with the terms used in this exciting sport. What you will usually hear in this wagering game is the term “horse racing odds.” What do horse racing odds mean? Is it something of high importance?

Horse racing odds specifically refer to the probability that is displayed on a tote board. The tote board is a huge board where you can see the odds based on how much money you will receive in relation to the amount that you will gamble.

How are these odds determined? The odds of horse racing are determined by deducting the amount of bet and its percentage in the total amount of money that was bet on the horses less a portion of the tracks take which is estimated to be between 10-20 percent of the sum total.

Now if you have some difficulty in reading a tote board, you can follow this simple procedure in computing for the odds on a horse. To have an accurate calculation, you need to draw on some of the other figures in the tote board. This refers to the overall amount of the win pool and the sum of money bet on that horse. You must understand that the total pool is the money bet on all the horses in the first. It does not pertain to the amount that will be pay up the ones holding the winning tickets. The take that is from the winning ticket holder is deducted between 14-20 percent. This may vary depending on the state where you are in. All those money that is derived from the “take” goes to the local taxes, the horsemen, track expenses and the horse racing earnings. The payoffs employ the actual figures which are usually reduced to the nearest dime. This may vary depending on the rules that were talked about at the race track.

If you still don’t get the picture of what odds for horse racing are all about, you can check out the Internet for some resources. An array of resources about horse racing is found in the World Wide Web. It is important to find the right online resource that will give you the detailed information on odds for horse racing along with some horse racing tips and strategies.

Choose the online resource that will best meet your requirements. Consider some of the most important elements you need to know such as the basics of horse race betting – how the whole wagering games goes and how you will pick the winning horse in the race track.

Substance Abuse Rehabilitation - Psychological and Therapeutic Treatment

Substance abuse rehabilitation, also known as drug rehabilitation, is the common term used for the medical, psychological and therapeutic treatment for drug dependency. Substance abuse rehabilitation can be used to combat and cure almost any type of dependency, chief among them being alcohol, controlled drugs, nicotine and other prescription drugs. Controlled substances, alcohol and drugs dependency can be visible in almost any person, however there are some strata of society in which drugs dependency is more evident.

Perhaps the most common type of substance abuse is nicotine and alcohol. However, not many people dependent on alcohol or nicotine accept their dependency, and take a lot of time to actually go into rehabilitation for the same.

There are various ways in which substance abuse and drug rehabilitation can be conducted. Some of the most common of these ways are:-

- Residential Treatment: Also known as in-house patient treatment, the person admits him- or herself into an institution where they are taken care of by other qualified medical professionals, mainly a hospital.

- Out-patient rehabilitation: This is a non-residential therapy which also provides counseling, relevant education and other restorative services.

- Support Groups: Like the Alcoholics Anonymous, these support groups are groups of people who are victims of common dependency. These groups can provide all the help and support that an addict needs.

- Sober Houses: Sober houses are generally drug and alcohol free institutions where an alcohol addict would spend time with others to overcome their dependency. Many sober houses are comfortable resorts or apartments where the dependent can reside with their entire families.

Substance abuse rehabilitation is most commonly seen in the case of celebrities and famous people. In fact, actors and celebrities go into rehabilitation according to their own free well off and on. Very few people, celebrities or otherwise, are sometimes ordered into rehabilitation by the law. Commonly, Driving Under Influence convicts are ordered to go into rehab with the Alcoholics Anonymous. In some cases, celebrities have accepted rehab instead of jail time.

However, substance abuse rehabilitation centers are not just for the rich and the famous. There are many such centers in all parts of the country, where people who are hooked on to a particular addictive substance can spend their time till the addiction wears off. The main assets of the addict towards this end are the people at the rehabilitation centers. In many cases, there are medical professionals and nurses looking into the health aspects of their residents. Nurses could be employed to look after these people. But, the most significant aspects for the person to come out of the addiction are the company of people sailing in the same boat (i.e. trying to give up their individual addictions) and the improvement in the lifestyle.

Pet Training Troubles with Multiple Pets

Training your pet is by far one of the best things you can do to keep your pets happy, healthy, and out of trouble. Training takes consistent amounts of time, effort and patience on your part. Because of these requirements, one of the most frustrating issues for many people, is how to train multiple pets in the same household.

When you have more then one pet in your house, especially dogs, they often have a desire to play with each other. This is quite naturally common in dogs as they like to play for several reasons, including establishing dominance. This will cause problems for the beginning trainer or the earlier stages of the dogs training, such as a puppy. Let's take a look at some things you can do to ease the stress of training when you have more then one pet.

The one aspect of pet training that is the same, is that pets will do the behavior they find the most rewarding. And they find playtime to be very rewarding. The trick here is not to eliminate playtime, but to establish playtime and training time as separate and distinct experiences for your dog.

In the beginning it will be necessary to separate the dogs during their training sessions. This is not a matter of simply placing one in the other room. You need to work with only one dog at a time. This gives the one dog your undivided attention. If you have to stop training to corral or control the other dog you will lose much of the benefit of that training session.

When you separate your pets, they most likely will whine a bit at first. It may be a good idea to take your pet for a walk to another field for that training session. Try to go at least far enough away to not here the other pets, as the whining will be a distraction for both you and your pet. You will not want to hear it, and the other pet will want to investigate. This also will cause a loss of benefit.

If you cannot go away from the house, then try to enlist a friend or family member to play or watch the other pet. This comforts the other pet and will decrease the chance of whining, and actually has the benefit of distracting the pet so they do not consider the missing co-pet as a bad thing.

As your pets get to more advanced training techniques, where distractions a re actually needed, then you can bring them both with you. Have one sit, practice their staying power, and train them one after the other.

Once you get them accustomed to some alone time with the trainer, you should see a remarkable increase in their training success. The one on one time will always progress better then trying to control a mob of pets.

Jaguar X-Type 3.0L

2008 Jaguar X-Type 3.0L Sedan

Early in the 21st century, Jaguar and parent company Ford decided to expand the reach of this historically upper-crust British automotive marque. On the surface, the Jaguar X-Type sedan represented a revolutionary step for the brand when it debuted for the 2001 model year: Not only was it compact in size and comparatively affordable, it wasn't even rear-wheel drive. Drawing upon Ford-derived mechanicals, the X-Type stood apart from German and Japanese competitors in the entry-level luxury sedan segment with its standard all-wheel-drive layout. Even when it was fresh on the market, though, the compact Jag was hard-pressed to compete with most rivals, as its driving dynamics and cabin furnishings never met the standards of the class. Now more than five years on, the Jaguar X-Type has been relegated to bottom-feeder status in a highly competitive segment full of younger, quicker cars.

Available as a sedan or wagon (known as the Sportwagon), the X-Type features Jaguar's classic exterior styling cues, with flowing lines, hooded oval headlights, a rectangular grille and elegantly arched roof; all are meant to recall the original and elegant XJ-series sedans.

Alas, the Jaguar X-Type's engineering underneath isn't so prestigious. The basic steel structure of the car and many of its drivetrain and suspension components are shared with the previous-generation Ford Mondeo, a regular family sedan sold in Europe. Though car companies with regular and upscale brands frequently cross-pollinate hardware, the X-Type's plebian roots have always been too apparent.

If you want a new Jaguar on the cheap, the X-Type is the way to get into one. And it feels like it. Although a pleasant enough daily companion for those fixated on "leaping" hood ornaments, entry-luxury car shoppers with an eye for detail will be put off by its overall lack of refinement. The bottom line is that newer, better engineered competitors offer more value for the money. We recommend you check them out first.

Current Jaguar X-Type

Jaguar's current entry-lux X-Type lineup consists of two models: the 3.0 Sedan and 3.0 Sportwagon. Standard equipment highlights include leather seating, wood trim, automatic climate control, a power driver seat and a moonroof. Stability control, front side airbags and full-length side-curtain airbags are also included.

A luxury package for the 3.0 Sedan adds a few extra convenience features, contrasting piping to the upholstery and burl walnut veneers. (Many of these optional features for the sedan come standard on the wagon.) Other popular options include 18-inch wheels, a navigation system, a premium Alpine audio system and satellite radio.

The sole engine offered is an adequate-but-uninspiring 227-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 working through a five-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive, which helps to improve traction in wet or snowy conditions, is standard.

In reviews and road tests, our editors have generally been put off by the X-Type's interior, which has an unfortunate blend of traditional Jaguar elements -- wood veneers, supple leather upholstery and a restrained use of chrome trim -- and mundane plastic parts more appropriate for a Ford rental.

Like most small luxury cars, the Jaguar X-Type is comfortable for up to four passengers but cramped for five. Buyers should also note that the car's dramatic roof line makes for tighter headroom than in some other entry-luxury compacts. The Sportwagon at least provides a bit more rear headroom than the sedan, and up to 50 cubic feet of storage space out back when the split rear seat is folded down. On both the sedan and wagon, the rear door openings are on the small side, making ingress and egress difficult.

On the road, the Jaguar X-Type offers a comfortable ride for the most part, but the suspension transmits too much harshness over bumps. Handling is tepid as entry-level luxury sedans and wagons go, and the all-wheel-drive system is slow to transfer power when wheel slip occurs. Acceleration is passable, but hardly thrilling on a car with a mid-$30Ks price tag.

Ultimately, the slow-selling X-Type is proof that distinctive Jaguar styling isn't enough to keep a nameplate afloat in a market segment that includes brilliant competition from German and Japanese automakers. In terms of acceleration, handling, prestige and even resale value, most other entry-level luxury sedans or wagons will serve you better.

Past Jaguar X-Type models

Jaguar expanded its lineup and joined the entry-luxury market with the 2002 X-Type sedan, a petite new breed of cat featuring standard traction-maximizing all-wheel drive and the availability of a manual transmission. Originally, Jaguar offered X-Type buyers the choice of a 194-hp 2.5-liter V6 or a 3.0-liter V6 (then rated at 231 hp). The manual gearbox was offered only with the smaller V6. Most buyers still ordered an automatic transmission on the X-Type 2.5, however, so manual-shift models aren't easy to find on the used car market. Note that Jaguar dropped the 2.5 model altogether after the 2005 model year.

Despite the hype of being billed as an alternative to the status quo -- especially Sport Package-equipped models and their more athletic and desirable ride and handling qualities -- our editors noted numerous build quality problems and subpar interior materials in early models.

By 2004, X-Type prices were down and quality was somewhat improved. In addition, the car was freshened with new wheels, revised front bumper/foglights and a reshaped trunk lid and release. If a used X-Type is on your list, the '04 and up models are your best bet. The Sportwagon model joined the lineup in 2005, and in 2006 the X-Type went high-tech with satellite radio and Bluetooth wireless technology.

Overall reliability has not been impressive on the Jaguar X-Type. If you're shopping for a used entry-luxury sedan or wagon, there are many better choices in this price range.