Mariner

Not all banks who offer secured credit cards advertise the fact. Because of this, you may find yourself applying for numerous unsecured credit cards before you come across a secured credit card application.

This can result in numerous inquiries on your credit report and a decrease in your credit rating (which is part of what got you here in the first place)!

If you want to find the banks who offer secured credit cards without going through all of the hassle normally associated with doing so, follow these seven tips:

1. Be Realistic

The first thing you need to do when looking for banks who offer secured credit cards is be realistic about what you're going to qualify for.

Don't apply for an American Express or a Diner's Club card thinking they'll offer you a secured credit card if you don't qualify. As a rule, upper-crust credit card companies do not offer secured credit cards.

2. Utilize the Web

When it comes to searching for banks who offer secured credit cards, the Web is your very best friend. There are informational websites that offer a wealth of knowledge on secured credit cards and they can even direct you to sites that allow you to apply for secured credit cards online.

3. Target Your Search

Rather than haphazardly filling out credit card applications hoping to run into a secured credit card opportunity, look specifically for secured credit card applications to fill out.

The banks who offer secured credit cards do want your business and they aren't really hiding from you. Search for secured credit card applications and you're likely to find just that.

4. If It Sounds Too Good To Be True...

As with any credit card offer, if you run into a secured credit card offer that sounds too good to be true, proceed with caution.

Some of the banks who offer secured credit cards really don't have your best interests in mind. That is why it is important to deal only with reputable credit card companies.

5. Understand the Differences

When looking for banks who offer secured credit cards, make sure you understand that not all of them are created equal. Some will charge higher fees, while others will charge higher interest rates.

Before applying for any single secured credit card, evaluate the costs of that card and make sure it's the card that will best meet your personal needs.

6. Don't Pay Anything Up Front

Never, ever deal with the credit card companies that ask you to send them cash up front. Nine and a half times out of ten they are a scam.

A legitimate secured credit card company will charge any applicable fees to your new credit card account, allowing you to pay them off after the card is in your hands -- not before.

7. Easy Does It

Keep in mind the golden rule -- less is definitely more. Too many credit card applications equals too many credit inquires. Just because you find ten banks who offer secured credit cards, it doesn't mean you have to apply for all ten of them.

By following these seven steps, not only will you be able to find the banks who offer secured credit cards, but you'll be able to tell the good from the bad in seconds flat.

Marvel comic books contain some of the most iconic fictional characters today. With the recent surge in the number of superhero movies, Marvel characters have dominated the big screen, prompting many people to look into the story behind Marvel.

Marvel comics' first incarnation, Timely comics, published Marvel comics #1 in October of 1939. This issue covered the first appearance of Namor the sub-mariner and an android known as the human torch (different from the human torch of the fantastic four). Today, this issue is valued at $330,000 - a definite nod towards its significance in comic-book culture today. The founder of Marvel comics was Martin Goodman.

In 1941, Goodman's relative, Stanley Lieber, was hired as the interim editor of the company. You might not recognize his name, but during that time, Lieber was already writing under the pseudonym "Stan Lee". Stan Lee is a major force behind Marvel comic books, creating some of the brands best-known characters to date.

Sales declined suring the post- World War 2 years. This was a result of superhero comics going out of fashion. Because fo this, Marvel (then Atlas Comics) shifted to different genres and storylines which appealed to the public. Genres included horror, action, adventure, romance, comedy, etc.

However, the 1960's showed a huge revival in the popularity of superheroes, started by DC's Justice League of America. Marvel comic books followed this success with Stan Lee's creation, The Fantastic Four.

Soon, Marvel comics gave birth to all new heroes, such as Spider-man, The Hulk, Iron man, Daredevil, and the X-men. Despite the competition, Marvel was able to establish itself as one of the largest comic book companies in the world -a position it still holds today.

What made Marvel comic books so distinctive is the fact that they devoted a lot more effort to developing the characters. Readers are able to see flaws in the characters and are able to enjoy the storyline much better because of those flaws.

This method of storytelling has caused marvel comic books to revolutionize the industry and capture the imaginations of millions worldwide. Truly, the way Marvel comic books have evolved is awe-inspiring.

RCCL - Freedom of the Seas Review

Itinerary - comments:

Day 1. After arriving at Port Canaveral we parked in the parking lot adjacent to the cruise terminal. It's easy to find parking so don't be concerned about that. We arrived to be greeted with a sizeable slow moving line. This was not Royal Caribbean's fault, but that of disorganized port security people. The port security lady was very impolite when she found out that I didn't have all of my set sail paperwork. Ooops! Make sure that you have your set sail pass paperwork and passport ready to go!

Day 2. Cocoa Cay. - There were plenty of chairs. I was warned to get off the ship early to get a chair. We'll I had about 1000 to choose from. If another ship is docked I can see how this would be a problem, but not if you are the only boat there. I liked all of the beaches especially Barefoot beach where you can walk far out into the water. Bring your license if you and your kids want to do a jet ski. The snorkeling was very good. I saw a barracuda, sting ray, gar fish, blow fish, and yellow fish (?). The slide was fun for the kids and you can book that there on the island, just like the water park offshore. I would also suggest taking bottled water or a snack as there isn't really a place to buy many things. I liked Cocoa Cay a lot. I very nice stop.

Day 3. Sea day

Day 4. St. Thomas - We took an excursion to St. John to Trunk Bay to snorkel. The snorkeling is excellent and so is the scenery. It seemed as though the trip goes too fast as only 1 ½ hours is spent at trunk bay. Apparently there are two tours booked at Trunk bay. We had an excursion in the afternoon and met the Carnival people heading back. IF you get the afternoon excursion beware that they close the snack shop early - like at 3 pm in the afternoon. I'm not sure why, it's not like it was getting dark.

I also have been to Megan's bay on a previous trip. Megan's bay has a beautiful beach also, but with not much in the way of snorkeling. Regardless if you go to Trunk bay or Megan's bay or a different venue, This is an excellent good port with lots to do and see.

Day 5. St. Martin - St. Maarten / St. Martin is one island divided into two countries - Dutch and French. You can take a water taxi just off of the boat at Phillipsburg for $6 all day. It will take you for a 5 minute ride to the shops and beach in town. There will be people trying to sell you things but they don't badger you if you say no thanks. We rented the jet skis. That were $55 for 35 minutes. We starting walking by and got them for $50 and two"free" chairs. Don't agree to the first price and see what you can bargain for.

I didn't go to Oriental Beach as many do. There is the possibility of seeing nudity from where RCCL goes to the beach, but I don't think it's common. I just didn't hear many people talking about it. I liked St. Martin a lot too. I didn't care for the people trying to see you stuff as soon as I got off of the water taxi, but it was definitely not as bad as what you would encounter in Jamaica.

Day 6. Sea day

Day 7. Sea day

Day 8 Disembarking.

Review Comments:

My overall experience was very good. I was surprised that the Freedom didn't seem too much bigger than the Mariner of the Seas. The staff was excellent. We were taken well care of by the dining staff and room staff. I also felt that the entertainers on the ship also were quite talented. The shows seemed slow and were not generally memorable though. I would like to see shows with more pep. I would also like to see shows changed more often. I have actually sailed on the Mariner of the Seas where the shows were the same a year apart. Cruise lines need to pay attention to the return customer!

The putt - putt golf course was pretty, but built with little imagination. There is almost no way to get a hole in one. The flow rider was a hit. Time was divided up between surfing and knee boarding. There were a few experts, but most had fun while learning. There was also time for private lessons; in my opinion too much time. Up to 5-6 hours a day was devoted to those who would pay extra for lessons.

Cruising is great fun. There are a lot of hidden costs though. Be careful, Royal Caribbean adds in tips automatically for everything..... even drinks. If you're not careful you can easily double tip. Even on the islands tip boxes are everywhere.. Take a handful of ones and some fives explicitly for this purpose. When you take a cruise it WILL cost more than you planned, especially if you drink alcohol!

I would also recommend not booking a flight too close to disembarking time. My cruise was diverted because someone was ill. It put the Freedom back in port about six hours late. Not only did it create a log jam on disembarking, it created a bunch on angry folks who missed flights. Word to the wise, get travel insurance.

Another suggestion to Royal Caribbean: the pictures are expensive. I would suggest somehow being able to put the pictures in a digital format so that people can touch up a few blemishes. There were several pictures that I would have purchased it one or two blemishes could have been touched up on my computer at home. I also belive that more pictures would be sold too.

I noticed that the same movies were played over which could have been easily varied. Also, the ice cream dispenser on pool deck created log jams every day. Couldn't there be a better place for it? Why was it shut down at I believe 8 pm? It should be one of the "open late" venues.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience very much. I believe that RCCL and other cruise lines need to work harder to please the repeat cruiser. I would also suggest shaking up the itineraries a little. How about changing one of the stops instead of the same stops?

Happy Sailing!

While well known as the ultimate gadget for browsing, email, and even movies from almost anywhere, the iPad is collecting reputation as a great device for business and especially sales. The applications it provides combined with the "Apple Cool Factor" and the ability to connect from anywhere help the sales person access their business files and documents or make business presentations quickly and easily while traveling. Here are some Top 10 Best Business iPad Apps for Sales:

Go to meeting- This free application for the iPad by which one can attend online meeting easily. The high quality camera of iPad helps you to have video chat. By this application user can see presentation, reports, slideshows etc. whatever presenter wants to see or share. It's really a great application for the traveling sales team.
Billing with time master- time management and tracking, especially billable hours is critical. This app will help in both respects. The quick "punch in and punch out" feature can be a huge time saver and can lead to some eye-opening stats after just a week of consistent use.
WSJ- it is really a pain to carry newspapers or journals on the go. For the person whose job depends on a daily dose of the WSJ, this is a must have iPad application.
Files2HD- This file viewer app allows the download files, like presentations to the iPad for review on the go. The file formats supported like Microsoft office, safari archives, pdf files, Google and plain text documents, pictures of all formats and even movies are supported by Files2 HD. At $3.99, how can you go wrong?
Pages- This favorite Apple word processing app is the answer for people who want to use the iPad to create and edit documents using the iPad and its onboard keypad in landscape or portrait mode.
Keynote- This is the application you will want to create detailed presentations on iPad for business slideshows, sales presentations, real-estate brochures, etc. You can add pictures, text, charts, tables, photos, videos and more to make a comprehensive presentation which will give a wow effect to your audience.
Mariner calc - This is the answer for spreadsheets on the iPad. The app has been around for some twenty years in the Mac world and was released on the iPhone in 2009 (which is nice if you have both units). There are 140+ built in functions; 24 math, 18 finance, 13 statistics and all that you would expect from a spreadsheet application.
Print central- You can print out the file that you have created in iPad by using print central which which will handle nearly any type of document to any Wi-Fi printer. It also works as a mini office center where you can store email, document file, etc. for later review and printing.
Bento- Project Management comes to the iPad with Bento. You can track projects, plan meetings and much more by this application. It has 25 inbuilt templates like customers, billing, Inventory, digital media and much to organize them well. Current price is about $4.99.
Sugar Sync- this app helps keep files and documents in sync across multiple computers and devices.

So these are the Top 10 Best Business iPad Apps for Sales which can be very useful for business. New update and brand new application are brought to market at an alarming rate. One way to check for new or competing products is to Google the ones above. For example "better than Sugar Sync" or "compare to Sugar Sync".

There are many key reasons to buy a hybrid instead of a traditional car. But first lets take a look at how long the hybrid car has been on the drawing board.

Although car-buying trends did not appeal for further research until the 1970s, the concept of hybrid cars goes back to the invention of the automobile.

Imagine having a discussion with Henry Ford regarding the hybrid cars of today. Do you think he knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that a hybrid would be possible some day? Henry understood that you had to crank up your car to start it in his day. Do you think maybe he wondered what it would be like if you could just simply plug your car into the wall socket?

Gone are the days of having to crank up your car...now you can plug it in.

Today the newest automotive demands are for a vehicle that combines electric and gasoline to motor a fuel-efficient car relying on advanced technology that can take you where ever you want to go.

Almost every major player in the auto industry is working to deliver its own version of the hybrid car that can get anywhere from 40-60 miles per gallon.

Manufacturers are working diligently to develop more make and models that fit our lifestyles. They have already released a SUV style, mini-van, and soon there will even be a luxury hybrid sports car.

Some key reasons to buy a hybrid:

Efficiency

If you buy a hybrid car you eliminate the need for lead based batteries. A hybrids battery will charge as the fuel is being used to power the car. This creates a decreased need for time to charge the battery. If you buy a hybrid you will find it is more efficient in city traffic. Some models completely eliminate the need for the fuel engine while driving in the city. Soon, you will only need to use the gas engine during long road trips.

Environment

Hybrid cars decrease emissions that harm the Ozone by 25-35%, so much easier on the environment. Hybrid cars lesson the Co2 greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, hybrid cars decrease the petroleum usage, leaving less smog in heavily populated areas.

Convenience

A hybrid battery works better in extreme climates, both hot and cold, and in fact is comparable to conventional vehicles. Most hybrids will charge in 3 hours if you use a 120v outlet, 1.5 hours if you use a 240v outlet. A money-saving reason to buy a hybrid is that it gets much better gas mileage than a fuel combustion engine. These cars are easier to park, and in fact some major cities give a parking discount if you drive a hybrid. The IRS gives a tax incentive for buying a hybrid that can reduce the cost by as much as $3,400.00.

Maintenance

Basically, the only maintenance expenses will be tires, shocks and windshield wiper blades. There are far less moving parts than in a gas-powered car. There is no air filter, oil filter, mufflers or spark plugs in a hybrid car. Less maintenance means less money from your wallet.

Buy a hybrid car and save money on gas and repairs, make your life easier and the environment cleaner for all generations to come.

When you think of fondue you probably think about dunking crispy bread in a pot of hot cheese but did you know that fondue is also great for dessert? So start thinking about dunking fruit or cake or even pretzels into a pot of melted chocolate. Doesn't that sound delicious? In this article, I'm going to explain how to make a dessert fondue.

The most common dessert fondue is made by melting chocolate and a dairy product (usually half and half or heavy cream) in a fondue pot. The dairy mades the chocolate more smooth and thus better able to coat whatever you dunk into it. Some recipes call for whipping cream or heavy cream but you'll be just fine with some regular milk too. Even soy milk will smooth out your chocolate nicely for anyone with dairy allergies.

Now that you have a basic chocolate fondue, it's time to add some extra flavors to the fondue pot. A splash of liquor is a popular addition. Try Grand Mariner or a blackberry brandy but remember only to add a splash so that you don't overpower the vodka. Also please be careful if you're handling alcohol near an open flame. My recommendation is to use an electric fondue pot with a temperature control. They are much easier and safer to use.

Other popular ingredients to add to a dessert fondue would be vanilla or cinnamon. They will really bring enhance the taste of your chocolate. A spoonful of peanut butter will also go a long way to jazzing up your dessert fondue. You'll have to stir it into the hot chocolate to avoid a big lump of peanut butter in your pot but it's worth it. Chocolate and peanut butter are great partners in any dessert.

Some people will even melt Toblerone or other candy bars in their fondue pots and why not? If you enjoy the candy bar, you'll also enjoy it melted. Just remember to add some liquid to smooth out the candy bar.

Think about what your or your guests are fond of and then add those flavors to melted chocolate and give it a try. When you start with an ingredient as tasty as melted chocolate it's hard to make a bad dessert fondue.