Are You a Collector Collecting Collectibles?

Anything that exists is fair game for collectors. It seems everyone collects something. For some of us that is debt. The best known items for collecting are stamps and coins. Both are interesting and readily available to all, but the really great stuff is too expensive for us worker bees.

Collecting is at least as old as mankind and probably predates us. Among collectors there is a distinction between collecting the really old (antiques) and the not so old (collectibles). While it seems to me that anything one collects would be a “collectible”, those who collect antiques feel the need to be separated from the great unwashed. That’s OK by me though I do wash regularly.

Anything that attracts your interest is a good candidate for collecting. Porcelain figurines are a very popular area of interest. Most people get very specific with their figurines. They choose all angels, or dragons, or fairies, or whatever. Unlike stamps and coins, the best collectible figurines are not confined to the most expensive. Sometimes a majority of a collection may be porcelain, but enhanced by other things. I once knew a lady who collected owls. Many of the owls were porcelain, but many others were of other materials such as wood, fabric, different metals, and some pictures. It just had to be an owl to qualify.

I have over the years collected some things other than dust and debt such as glass insulators, chess sets, and for a while, rocks. Not gemstones mind you. Rocks. These were all brief interests. I'm like an old hound. My attention is focused until the next rabbit runs.

Collectibles generally need to be either pretty, unusual, or have some historical significance. Pretty usually attracts the female collectors, historical to the males, and unusual grabs everyone, with overlaps in all categories. There of course, are other reasons for collecting and in some cases, no apparent reason at all. If asked, you may not be able to answer why you collect whatever it is that you collect. At any rate, the only criticism you have to listen to is your own.

Most people are collectors without being aware of it. If you should take note and realize that you have a lot of snuff boxes laying around that just seemed to accumulate, then you are in fact a snuff box collector whether you ever dipped snuff or not. Now you need to organize. Catalog each item and document every single fact you have, no matter how insignificant it seems. You may or may not be interested in the value of your collection, but over time, if you have really good documentation, your progeny may actually do something with your "stuff" other than dunping it.

Some people plan their collections in that they research the item before deciding to collect or not. These people are concerned with the collection as an investment. This is a risky business as collections of anything are only worth what someone is willing to pay. Beware of publications listing prices of collections. They can be disastrously misleading. Once you find yourself collecting something though, cataloging and researching each item will enhance not only the value of the collection but your pleasure as well.

Collections are not limited to tangible, inanimate objects. Many people collect fish, birds, dogs, cats, and other living things. Others collect intangibles such as travels, memories, sightings, and such. The intangibles would be hard pressed to be collections without documentation. While these collections have no monetary value, their worth cannot be measured by those doing the collecting.

There is a wealth of information on collecting on the internet. Much of it is general in nature, but with diligent searching, one can find information on collecting the specific of their choice. A starting point for your search is http://www.uniquegiftsandfigurines.com/

College Money

So you need money for college.For yourself, your spouse, or your kid who is quite content to live at home for the next 40 yrs.You have the choices of scholarships, grants, or loans from either government or private sources. Naturally the scholarships and grants are the preferred route since neither has to be repaid. Not everyone can qualify for a scolarship or grant, therefore the need for student loans.

Grants are sourced federally, state, or institutional. The federal grants are all based on financial need and tax documents are required as proof of family earnings. The most common of these is the Pell Grant which tops out at $5350. The TEACH grants max out at $4000 and the recipient is required to teach low-income students for a minimum of 4 years. Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants also max out at $4000 and are available to the neediest of the Pell Grant applicants. The Academic Competitiveness Grants only provide $750 for the first year and $1300 for the second. Finally we have the National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent is for 3rd & 4th year students with a GPA of 3 and above who are majoring in the sciences or a critical foreign language.

All states have some kind of financial aid program for college students. You can check the state you're interested in by going to http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/Public?topicID=25&operation=topic .

Scholarships are far too numerous to list here and they are available to a much more diversified group of people than grants. Many of them are keyed to those with the greatest financial need, but there are those that only require something specific, like left-handed cow milkers. It will take a lot of research and time spent filling in applications, but it is time well spent. You want to be wary of scams that promise to find you a scholarship for a fee. Most of these only provide you with a long list of scholarships and you can get those off the internet for free. Time spent building your profile will reward you many times over. Apply to all that you are elgible for and have a reasonable chance of being considered for.

Whichever financial aid you are after, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can do that online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ .
Loans can be federally funded, such as the Stafford Loan and the Perkins Loan or there are many sources in the private sector. The Government loans will always be the better deal if you qualify.

If you are saving up be aware that money in an IRA or a 401K is not counted against financial aid qualifications. Just don't cut yourself short when you take money out. Leave some for retirement.You can put up to $55,000 in a Coverdell, but if you can do that you probabnly don't need financial aid. Another thing to do is pay down debt. Credit card debt makes it appear to the decision makers that you have more money than you actually do.

How Do You Feel About Debt Settlement?

You've seen them. Hand scrawled signs claiming to legally eliminate your debt. Its spam for city street corners. The signs are so clumsily made that only the uninformed or the very desperate would consider calling about them, yet what they are advertising is actually a legitimate process. Debt settlement is the last resort before bankruptcy. At first blush it sounds like it couldn't possibly be legal or, if legal, then wrong on a thousand other levels.
Let's look a little closer. Say someone has ran up huge credit card debt in answer to the flood of no interest offers from the credit card companies. Things rock along OK until one day, for some reason, you miss a payment. Suddenly this no interest or low interest skyrockets, in some cases as high as 40%. At one time in this country we had laws protecting consumers from such shenanigans and the laws are most likely still in place. They are either being ignored or the credit card giants have found a slimy hole to crawl through to get around these laws. Now that you've missed a payment, chances are good that you won't even be able to pay the minimum on what you owe. It gets worse. Now that you've missed a payment and have a black mark on what was once a really good credit rating, all other outstanding debts are in jeopardy as well and don't even think of getting credit for a new car or any other purchase of any size. Your choices at this point are credit consolidation, which you've probably already done to get to this point, credit counseling, which will totally destroy any credit rating you still have and leave you with no wiggle room financially, or you can turn to a debt settlement company. These people will gather up a few hundred people just like you until they have a couple of million dollars worth of debt and then they will negotiate with the credit card companies on that lump of debt. They will offer the credit card company a quarter million on that two million to settle immediately. The credit card company will see this as a good deal because all those people wh owed the money stopped paying when they signed up with the debt settlement company. If these debtors should bankrupt, the credit company gets nothing, plus they will have spent a ton trying to collect. Oh, that collection company that the credit card company turned you over to? It's owned by none other than your friendly credit card company. The reduction on what you owe will be related to the percentage of the lump sum that was yours. Now you will pay the debt settlement company your part of what's left plus their fee. If you signed with "Slick Willie" and his roadside signs, you can see there is a lot of room for someone to dabble with those fees.
Debt settlement is not only legal, but considering the actions of the credit card companies, I would think there is nothing wrong with it on any personal level. It does seem to me to be a perpetual motion sort of thing in that it forces the credit card companies to keep getting worse. If you can find a reputable company, debt settlement is and will be the way to handle staggering debt.

Poecelain-From Pots to Potties

Once I started selling porcelain figurines, it became painfully obvious that I needed to learn a lot more about them than I knew at that time. It was quite a revelation to find that porcelain's roots go back tens of thousands of years. Not real porcelain; the roots of porcelain. At first it was just clay.Then clay cooked under an extremely hot fire. Then glaze was added. Millenia would pass as these developments were refined.

The addition of two elements was required before the ceramics were to become porcelain. the white clay used for the finest ceramics had to be combined with feldspar and then be subjected to even higher heat than before. Heat between 1250 degrees Celsius and 1450 degrees Celsius was required to turn ordinary ceramic into a magnificent piece of porcelain.

While it was discovered in the 6th century AD during the Tang dynasty, it was not until the 9th century during the Song dynasty that porcelain achieved the status of decorating royal habitats.
Like anything that has been coveted by the rich and powerful, porcelain spread to Korea, Japan, and eventually to Europe.

Porcelain reached its peak during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing(1644-1912) dynasties. While fine porcelain has been made in other countries, none has been able to equal the efforts of the Chinese. European porcelain or "china" made its debut in Meissen, Germany and the story behind that is worth a read of its own.

English porcelain was individualized by the addition of "bone ash" and came to be known as "bone china". This kind of porcelain is sometimes referred to as "soft-paste" porcelain.

Outside of the Orient, Italy seems to garner the most respect for their porcelain. The Capodimonte product demands attention anywhere porcelain is discussed, though there are others that are arguably equal. While there is a huge market for porcelain, the really fine pieces are in museums for everyone to enjoy. While such pieces demand prices in the many millions if at all, there are fine pieces readily available in the thousands or even the hundreds. Of course I'm speaking of the works of art by names such as Santini and Sabadin, not your dinnerware.

Unless one is educated in such matters, it is best not to speculate on the worth of porcelains. With modern technology most things can be copied to a degree of faithfulness indiscernible to even an experienced eye. If you should opt for a porcelain piece of artwork, be certain to get a certificate of authenticity from a well-known manufacturer.

One salient piece of porcelain not mentioned so far in this article is the toilet. I was not able to discover whether that vital utility was actually made from porcelain.

Anti-Aging Skin Care's Roster of Players

In a previous article I addressed the factors contributing to the aging of our skin. In this article I want to address the more popular topic of stopping and/or reversing the aging of our skin. Of course there is no such thing as the long sought-never found Fountain-of-Youth, but that doesn't stop the claims of the modern day snake doctors.

There is no lack of products available to treat our skin. Some are "clinically proven" while others that have been around for ages have been proven through repeated use over long periods of time. Among the "clinically proven" we have alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids; probably the best known of the bunch and both used as "peels". Almost all of these products are acids,but I'm not sure that is relevant. Several of these substances act as bleaches to "whiten the skin. Some act as fillers. Some such as Retinol and the vitamins C, E, and K enhance the bodies ability to produce new skin and produce collagen and elastin. All of these work and most are safe except you do need to check the allergy info on any product you use, "clinically proven" or not.

"Clinically proven" excludes some really good stuff. Most everyone has heard of the enzyme CoQ10. The absence of this enzyme is a marker for aging so it makes sense to me to supplement it as we grow older. Collagen is used extensively by those seeking their elusive youth. Estrogen makes the news weekly. DHEA is one I have heard of ,but have found no research that impresses me. There is a lot of hype about green tea, but if it was good for your skin, seems to me all orientals would have great skin since they drink so much of it. Aloe Vera is a plant whose pulp has incredible healing power, especially in the case of burns. Tamanu oil is the South Pacific's answer to Aloe Vera and the Melanesians invented pretty skin. Mexico has a tree that produces a similar product, but I would never attempt to spell it. Coconut oil is a great moisturizer and smells as good as anything out there. Try a little Melanesian skin care and and dream of sandy beaches in exotic places.

I often wonder what the ancient Egyptians did to their dead. Imagine having great skin thousands of years after you're dead and buried. All natural substances for sure. Their living had to look fabulous.

Factors in the Aging of Your Skin

Scientists have divided the aging of our skin into two parts. One, called intrinsic aging, is beyond our control at this point, because it is hereditary. As they continue to study the human genome, no doubt solutions will eventually be found. For now we will have to concentrate our efforts on the other type of aging, called extrinsic aging. This is the aging caused by external factors such as sun exposure, smoking, gravity, lack of exercise, alcohol use, stress, and sleep loss. All of these are factors under our control, though most of us will not exercise that control.

Sun exposure tops my list of the biggest danger to your skin. Results of sun exposure range from darkened freckles to melanoma with wrinkles, sagging, and dry leathery appearance falling in between. If sun exposure is one of your concerns regarding your skin health then you are already late for an appointment with your dermatologist. If you have not yet overexposed your skin to the sun, do not avoid the sun, but take a few common sense measures when enjoying the dangerous but health giving rays. Always wear sunscreen outdoors. Limit the length of time you are exposed. It has been reported that taking CoQ10 gives some protection from the suns rays.

I place cigarette smoke as culprit number two in the skin aging process. It would hold first position except people seem to be getting the word about the dangers of smoking and when they quit smoking most of the effects are self-reversing. That's assuming no smoking related cancers.Alcohol abuse dilates small blood vessels in the skin thus increasing blood flow near the surface where most of the small vessels are. These vessels become permanently damaged and cause the flushed appearance of those using alcohol in unhealthy quantities.

I lump lack of exercise, stress, and sleep loss all together for the simple reason that regular exercise will usually eliminate the other two. Exercise is also the only tool you have available to fight the effects of gravity. Lack of sleep causes far more problems than the circles around the eyes and a general droopy appearance. Lack of sleep may be a cause as well as an effect on the presence of stress. Stressed people usually wear a worried frown that becomes permanent over time. A regular exercise regimen coupled with meditation such as yoga can relieve stress and promote a healthy night of sleep.

Prevention is always far better than any cure or treatment. But if you are reading this article, odds are you have neglected prevention and are seeking a remedy for the damage already done.The beginning point for any skin treatment program is cleanliness. Wash your skin daily or in some cases twice a day with warm(not hot) water. Follow the washing with a liberal application of a good moisturizing cream or at least a moisturizing lotion. Creams are as a rule more effective than lotions, but if a lotion is your preference go for it. You are more apt to stick with a program if you use products you personally prefer. For smokers and sun-lovers, a liberal application of your favorite lotion several times during the day is the recommended course of action.

The short version:
Always wear sunscreen!
Quit smoking!
Get plenty of exercise!
Stay clean and moisturize!
For your cleansers, soaps, exfolliates, toners, and moisturizers go to http://www.melanesianskincare.com/

Chewing on Chakras With Cheese (Or Maybe Peanut Butter)

I'm going to try to put Chakras in language for Joe and Jane Blow to understand without them spending a lifetime trying to disappear through the top of their heads. Simply defined, a chakra is Sanskrit for wheel or circle. As used today, there are 7 primary chakras and 40 secondaries. They are described as circulating disks bisecting the body at 7 locations. Top of the head, Forehead, Throat, Heart, solar plexus (above the naval), Sacral (below the naval), Root (base of the spine). Some sources describe them as a flower shape protruding from the body at these locations. The locations are agreed upon, as well as the fact that the chakras are spinning, but not all in the same direction. If they are spinning one way in a man, they will spin the other way in a woman. I couldn’t find any information on whether they switch directions.

The chakras are there to receive energy or vitality from the primal source of such things which is called Prana. Prana enters the body through the Chakras and then through the Nadis or pipes. These Nadi converge toward the spine where the central Nadi rises to the Crown. The flow of vitality up, down, and around the spine gave rise to the development of the caudecous, used as a medical symbol for centuries.

As one develops his Crown chakra, at some point it reverses itself and instead of taking energy in, it radiates energy out, forming the halo of saints and other religious figures. I find it interesting that some old writings speak of 70 some thousands of Nadi while much older information puts the figure in the hundreds of thousands. In my mind that indicates a decline in the knowledge over time. Its easy for me to see how the knowledge would decline and will continue to do so as the world moves at a faster and always faster pace. No one is willing to take the time to learn this stuff, much less take the time to put it into practice. While it may not be a popular field of study, understanding the basics of it sheds some light on the way people saw their world in ages gone by.

For those who would like a little or even a lot more depth into the subject, there is a plethora of material to be accessed through Google. Much of what I have written comes from a couple of websites that I'm going to give you now. One is http://www.rickrichards.com/Chakras.htm That site contains a wealth of information on a website that has obviously taken a lot of time and effort to put together. Another very good site without quite as much depth is http://www.hehishelo.co.uk/chakra.htm.