The Content Hoarder

All those years of tea, smoking, red wine and raspberries will come back to bite you. Teeth have a nasty habit of discoloring at a rate proportional to your age. Now we’re not talking “I discovered my toothbrush at 11″ here. Discovering the science of tooth whitening after you’ve lost them is sad. All those with dentures- stop reading. No, we’re talking the average, two kids, one dog and one cat people here. Regular, over-the-counter tooth whitening candidates.

Its not pearly grays or the mellow yellow that make the flash on the camera go off - it’s the pearly whites. If your smile makes your shirt look bright, consider a tooth whitening kit.

So, how do you really know if you need kit? Don’t rely on relatives - they lie. “It’s nothing darling, just a mild discoloration. You’re beautiful just as you are.” (Permission to retch here.)

There are various independent tests that you can perform to assess your tooth color situation:

* The organic test: first catch your chameleon. Place firmly against the teeth (no biting). Smile and hold for approximately three minutes. Remove chameleon and check color. Discard (gently) after use.

* DIY doesn’t work. The stuff you use to streak your hair - hydrogen peroxide - may be an ingredient of your tooth-whitening kit but the term “bottle blond” refers strictly to hair. Don’t use it on your teeth! You may learn the meaning of the phrase “your teeth are OK but the gums will have to come out.”

* Or… dramatic pause… you can buy a tooth whitening kit.

If you believe advertising, you absolutely need, must have, and can’t live without a whitening kit. You’ll get that promotion, seduce the prom queen, catch Mr. Right, etc, etc.

These ubiquitous kits come, broadly speaking, in two forms: whitening strips and help-me-get-it-in-my-mouth gel holders.

Being inherently irresponsible, you can’t buy the super-saturated with active ingredients kit such as your dentist is licensed to use on your teeth. If you want the full Monty you have to have the in-office treatment at your dental surgery. Depending on your financial and/or tooth color status, you may even be advised to go for the caps, crowns, laser treatment or veneer bonding options. All this information is available from you friendly dentist so we won’t repeat it here, except to point out that the cost of chair-side whitening may leave you with little to smile about.

The real tooth-whitening bazaar happens at home. The home kits are where it’s at, financially speaking that is. Clutching your $xx.99, you casually stroll into the drugstore and browse until you build up the courage to ask about the tooth-whitening kits. No really, it’s OK - nothing to be embarrassed about - we’ve seen worse.

Questions rattle around in your head. Will the assistant recognize me again? Do I really need this? Is it safe? Will it work? Definitely, yes, maybe and maybe.

Teeth are not what they may seem to the unaided eye. A healthy enamel covering is porous with microscopic holes that trap material that can become, with optional extra staining, discolored. The active ingredients in over-the-counter kits contain active ingredients with fancy names such as hydrogen peroxide in buffer gel solution and carbamide peroxide. These are the chemicals that bleach the non-enamel substances trapped in the pores of enamel.

If your tooth discoloration is caused by yucky stuff trapped in your enamel pores, whitening kits can help.

If however your discoloration stems from the enamel itself being discoloured, whitening may not work. So-called intrinsic stains caused by OD’ing on antibiotics or fluoride as a child are largely impervious to whiteners, as are dead teeth from which the nerve has been removed.

Other conditions that are contra-indicated for tooth whitening kits are cavities or caries and fillings in the front teeth. The first condition may cause mega-pain and the latter may leave the filling material a totally different color in your whitened smile.

Assuming that you don’t have the suggested contra-indicators, you are still in the running to buy a kit and now a perplexing array of brands lies at your disposal. Choices, choices.

Teeth come in a variety of off-white shades and we quote from a well-known color chart: “A (reddish brown); B (reddish yellow); C (gray); and D (reddish gray)”

Things to look for in a kit are: the duration of the treatment - some of them go on for days with a two hour interval between treatments - a real test of how serious you are about getting two shades whiter. Some require you to sleep with a bite plate and gel so hold off on the romantic evening. Bottom line… read the instruction and make sure you can live with the treatment before selecting a kit. Read the fine print. These things are not guaranteed to work under all circumstances. Some people have minimal results, (probably the reddish gray types); others come away smiling.

One contra-indication for using a tooth-whitening kit is pregnancy. The prospect of having a baby may make you beam but stick with the horsy yellow until confinement is over. Whitening your choppers may make junior a bit slow.

Another no-no is when you’re the sensitive type that can’t bite robustly into an apple without wincing, check with your dentist first. In fact, check with your dentist anyway. Whitening kits have come a long way in buffering the active ingredients to lessen sensitivity but some people are naturally prone to the condition. Try brushing with toothpaste that contains potassium nitrate to help soothe tooth nerve ending.

If you do find a tooth-whitening kit that that does it for you, don’t forget to take some “before” photos. The manufacturers will take the after ones and make you smile… all the way to the bank.

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Laser teeth whitening is becoming an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure. Learn more about the various tooth whitening products, systems and more at Lustrous Teeth.com.

Here is a make money fast business opportunity model that can produce amazing results for you. It emphasizes the World Wide Web’s role as the ultimate information tool with the sale of information.

Despite the fact that there is plenty of free information widely available on the net, there is still a huge demand for good information which has resulted in this excellent make money fast business opportunity of being an infopreneur.

The whole idea behind this make money fast business opportunity is that you create a vehicle for selling some of your best information and then you simply provide teaser incomplete information free through blogs, web sites and even free ezines. The free information is supposed to play an important role in this make money fast business opportunity because it is a powerful way to advertise anything. The free information actually plays the role of being a free sample of the real thing distributed to those who are interested.

In this make money fast business opportunity your information product can be in the form of an email newsletter or ezine that you charge a subscription rate for. Alternatively it can be in the form of an intensive online e-course.

Once you have decided on what format to sell your main information product in, this make money fast business opportunity calls for you to focus everything on selling your infoproduct in as large numbers as possible.

Learn more about the best home business opportunity from a blogger who rakes in thousands of dollars… and growing from their home business.

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: PEIX) that is engaged in the development, production and marketing of renewable fuels in the United States. The company has five ethanol plans under construction on the West Coast with expected capacity of 200 million gallons. In addition, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary is one of the largest marketers of ethanol and generated in excess of $82 million in sales last year.

Since January, the stock of Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) has increased almost 400% and currently trades at a market valuation in excess of $1 billion. Why all the investor excitement?

Pacific Ethanol may be in the right place and at the right time for the following reasons:

a) Ethanol is a commercially viable fuel additive that is rapidly taking the place of a fuel additive which has been banned in many states.

b) Ethanol additives results in less pollution than existing gasoline.

c) Demand for ethanol has far exceeded the industries production capacity.

d) The production of ethanol has been highly profitable.

e) Federal and State governments are rapidly moving towards the use of alternative fuels to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

f) They have one of the strongest management teams and board of directors.

g) The company has attracted significant funding, including approximately $84 million in preferred stock from Cascade Investment, LLC, which is owned by Bill Gates.

Historically, companies with strong management, access to necessary investment capital and with critical mass in a rapidly growing industry - are companies to watch very closely. We believe that the Pacific Ethanol is well positioned to capitalize from the production and marketing of ethanol and should be watched closely.

Joel Arberman is the Managing Member of Stock Aware, LLC. We publish a free investment research and analysis newsletter and offer investor awareness services. Learn more at
StockAware.com

More and more unmarried couples are living together and merging their finances.

Since 1985, the number of unmarried couples living together in the US has more than doubled. The merging of finances between unmarried parties offers unique money situations. And many are less likely to plan for the future as married couples do.

Recently, a client came to me asking for suggestions on merging finances before marriage. She was worried that the finances merged now would not be split equally in the case of a separation. I suggested, as she is getting married next month, that she not co-sign anything before marriage. I also suggested she consider a pre-nuptial agreement. These agreements aren’t only for the wealthy, they are for anyone marrying someone with debt.

In the early stages of a relationship, it is best to keep assets separate. Don’t add each other to credit cards, co-sign for loans or share property of any sort. This will save you from small claims court if you break up. If you make a loan to the other person, make sure they sign a promissory note acknowledging the loan. Many judges will otherwise see the loan as a gift in a relationship situation.

You should also maintain separate checking accounts. Don’t contribute money to the purchase of any asset that is only in your partner’s name. If you are far enough in your relationship to buy, for example, a house together, you should have it in both of your names.

You should each contribute money proportionately to a shared checking for common expenses such as groceries and lawn care. The amount you give to this account depends on your respective salaries. If I make 60% of the total household income and my partner makes 40%, we each put that percent of our salary in the joint account.

You might want to consider having a lawyer draw up an agreement that addresses what will happen to your assets if the relationship ends. This is a good thing to do well before you ever have any troubles. Consider it a pre-nup without the nup.

If you decide to buy a house together, make sure that it is titled correctly. You will either have to title it “joint ownership with rights of survivorship” or “tenants in common.” Check with a lawyer as to which titleship of the property is best for your situation.

Don’t become financially dependent on your partner. If you break up, what will you do? If your partner asks you to quit your job and stay home, make sure you get it in writing, legally and enforceably, that you will be taken care of.

When you decide to live together out of marriage, there are a lot of legal and financial issues to consider. Most of us don’t even think of them when we decide to move in with someone — we are too in love. But we often think about them when the relationship turns sour. And then its often too late. Do things wisely and sit and discuss your finances with your partner. Let your partner know that you aren’t just looking out for yourself, you are looking out for your future together.

Martin Lukac (http://www.MartinLukac.com), represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate/mortgage market. We specialize in daily updates, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

Planning a dinner party but worried what your guests will think about your tired looking furniture? Stop worrying, because dining chair slipcovers offer a simple and effective solution. Rather than going to the hassle and expense of getting all your chairs reupholstered or buying brand new ones, why not just buy some inexpensive slipcovers? You’ll be amazed at the difference a new slipcover set can make to the look and feel of your room.

Fitting new dining room chair slipcovers can instantly improve the appearance of your room, creating a welcoming atmosphere for your friends and family. Ready made slipcovers are designed to be easy to fit. At the same time, they can be easily removed and washed in the machine when the need arises. As well as adding a touch of color and style to mealtimes, dining chair covers have a practical function as well. They can protect your existing upholstery from food and drink spills. So, if you’re concerned about young children or boisterous adults dropping their dinner on your prize chairs, then cheap slipcovers could be the answer!

When choosing the color and design for your chairs’ new look you can be as creative as you like and let your personal tastes shine through. Furniture slipcovers come in a wide range of patterns and fabrics, including cotton, suede and velvet. Think about what would compliment your existing décor and furnishings. If you like the idea of changing your dining room’s style according to the occasion, you may like to buy a few different discounted slipcovers. This offers a relatively inexpensive way to redefine your dining chairs’ character depending on whether it’s a family mealtime or a special gathering.

So, if you’re looking for a way to transform your dining room without spending a lot of money, consider buying some chair slipcovers. Your friends and family are sure to be impressed with the new look!

Caroline Smith is a successful freelance writer who has written many articles for http://www.best-slipcovers.com, your one stop source for finding the best deals on chair slipcovers, furniture slipcovers, sofa slipcovers and more. Shop online and save!

Everyone wants a career that not only pays great but also makes he or she happy to get up out of bed every morning. Even if one finds their vocation brings immense satisfaction, an individual is in a constant state of development. This means it can be very easy to find oneself needing more from a career over time. It is a return to school that often helps an individual enhance their skills or take a career in a whole new direction. With a proper outlet for one’s abilities, fulfillment can come not only professionally but in all other aspects of one’s life as well.

Developing and enhancing a career with education can take time and an investment of money; however, many find the investment often pays for itself in more ways than one. An individual who fully enjoys his or her line of work is often more productive and able to accomplish goals easier. Employers often seek out those with higher degrees as a way to help push their company in the right direction. Not only will the prospective employee have advanced knowledge of their position and line of work, an advanced degree shows tenacity and a strong dedication to one’s field.

The online game of Texas Hold’em is very much a poker game where position is everything. A lot of online players, especially novices, do not know this, so you can use this small piece of knowledge to your advantage!

Strong starting hands such as an A-A or K-K can usually be played effectively from any position at the table. You can comfortably raise and even re-raise with these stronger hands from any position on the table, whether you first to play or immediately to the dealer’s right.

A good position on the table will enable you to eliminate as many players as you can before the flop. The reason that you want to do this is a no-brainer. After the three cards have been revealed, there is a greater chance that one of your opponents will flop something that beats your hand.

If you aren’t familiar with position at the table, here are a few basics:

1. The later you get to play, the better. Last action is the preferred action.

2. The early bird is not the desired position after the big blind. The earlier the position, the worse it is. You have to make a decision before seeing how anyone else is playing their hand.

3. If you are at the small or big blind position, you don’t have position after the flop. In other words, now you are in a less desirable position.

These three tips are so basic, but might help you as you begin to explore the game of Texas Hold’em and give you food for thought before you move on the next hand.

If you are dealt a strong hand and are also fortunate enough to be in good position on the table, then is the time to take your opponents to the cleaners!

David Walker runs free bets and UK poker websites. A free email course: “Seven Days to Better Betting” is available at both of these websites.

Top 7 Small Business Sites for 2005 Copyright 2005 Jinger Jarrett

If you want to start a business in 2005, and start making money
almost immediately, the sites listed below are some of the best
I have found. I’ve chosen each site because it is absolutely
outstanding in providing the tools you need to get started, as
well as taking you through the steps you need to get started
immediately.

My1stBusiness.com - http://www.my1stbusiness.com - This site is
owned by Ben Botes, who is currently working on a doctoral
degree in business. Ben will take you through every phase of
creating your business, and it doesn’t matter how large or small
it is. You’ll find all of the information you need right here.

Teleclasses are currently free, and you’ll find a wide variety
of top notch business coaches to help you build your business.

This site is scheduled to go to a paid model soon, but it will
definitely be worth the price tag. If you’re looking for a one
stop solution to constantly update your business knowledge, and
stay ahead of your competition, this is it.

Ron Olinger - http://ronolinger.ws - Everyone needs a little
motivation, and Ron is the guy to help you with that.

He offers a newsletter called “Winning Attitudes” that is
absolutely dynamite. You’ll find lots of quality tips and
information. Definitely a must read if you are struggling to get
started.

Not your run of the mill newsletter, it will help you achieve
what you want to achieve in both your persona and professional
life.

Ultimate Marketing Center -
http://www.ultimatemarketingcenter.com - Hands down, this is the
best web host on the Internet.

However, the reason I selected this site as a business site is
this: it is a complete and total solution for starting your
business.

You’ll get a complete web hosting account with all of the bells
and whistles, as well as 1000s of dollars in software and ebooks
to teach you everything you need to know about building a
business.

What makes this site better than any other online is that it’s a
complete solution. It includes affiliate program management
software, unlimited autoresponders, custom made scripts the
owner sells for $35 each on his other sites, unlimited email
accounts, and a generous sized web hosting account.

There’s nothing else like it on the Internet, and it’s the only
place where you can run your entire business for only $19.95 per
month. The support is excellent.

Website.ws - http://www.website.ws - For the newcomer to the
Internet, this is the site you need to start your business.

You’ll get a domain name, a generous mult-tier affiliate program
to help you build a backend income, and a website builder that
is so easy to use, a child can build a web site.

There are also videos to teach you web site building, as well as
a nice 20 page ebook to show you how to market this opportunity
and make money from it.

It’s the easiest solution I know of to starting a business on
the Internet, and you don’t need to know HTML. You can also use
your web site account to build your primary business and
generate another source of income.

Coachville.com - http://www.coachville.com - Thinking of
starting a service business?

Even if you aren’t interested in starting any type of coaching
business, this site is definitely for you.

They offer a wide variety of free and paid courses, and you can
even earn your certification as a coach. This site will cut your
learning curve dramatically, and you’ll be up and running in no
time.

Alexa - http://www.alexa.com - When it comes to smoking the
competition, this is the site you want to use.

You’ll get detailed stats, contact information, site rankings,
sites that are linked to a particular web site, and a whole lot
more.

No other site will offer you more comprehensive information on
what’s hot and what’s not on the Internet. They also offer a
toolbar, and it’s free to use the site.

Automate Internet Marketing -
http://www.automateinternetmarketing.com/ - Internet marketer
Patric Chan offers you a free marketing membership with plenty
of excellent information. What blew my mind when I saw this is
that Patric is giving it away.

If you’re new to the Internet, and new to Internet marketing,
start here. Patric knows how to explain marketing in a way that
is easy to understand.

Whether you’ve started a business and want to increase your
profits, or you want to start a business, now is the time. These
seven resources are not to be overlooked.

Mold has taken hold! Not that the microbes have reached out and
grabbed us, but rather they have captured our attention. A rash
of recent high profile media stories have petrified many people
with concerns for both their health and finances. While it is
true in some situations that variations and concentrations of
mold can kill us both physically and financially, in the vast
majority of cases mold problems can be remedied simply and
economically.

Molds exist naturally all around us. Molds play a vital role in
the decomposition of organic waste such as in a compost pile.
Other molds are essential in the creation of some of our finest
foods, such as wine and cheese. But, when mold growth occurs in
an inappropriate place or in extreme concentration, the health
of our home and family can be at risk.

All molds need two basic ingredients to grow, food and water.
The favorite food of mold is cellulose. In our home, cellulose
is a common constituent. Wood, paper, cotton, and drywall are
plentiful in construction and are great sources of cellulose.
Water is everywhere in our homes, both on the surfaces and in
the air.

As the tightness of our homes has increased in response to a
desire to conserve energy, the unintended consequence has been
the trapping of moisture. The increase in moisture in our homes
has in some cases resulted in a relative humidity above the 60%
level needed to sustain mold growth in interior spaces. In some
cases, the moisture level of the interior spaces is below the
mold growth threshold, but the exterior wall cavities retain the
required moisture level for rapid mold growth within the walls.
To make matters worse, this condition is also perfect for
accelerated wood rot and termite infestation.

So what is a reasonable person to do? Much like a physical exam
is the first step in a plan for personal health, a home
inspection is the first step in a mold survey. The intent of the
inspection is to seek out all sources of moisture that may
contribute to an environment that is attractive to mold and to
visually identify any existing mold colonies. Roof leaks,
plumbing leaks, and improper sprinkler positioning are among the
more common sources of mold-causing moisture problems. After
identification of the moisture source, a reasonable and
practical remedy can be prescribed.

Areas with visible mold colonies can be thoroughly cleaned with
detergent, followed by wiping with a bleach and water solution.
Porous materials such as ceiling tiles and carpet are difficult
to clean and often require removal and replacement in all but
the most minor of outbreaks.

In most cases, testing to determine mold species is not
necessary to solve the problem. If an individual has an extreme
or specific health risk factor, testing may be of value in
assisting the medical professional in addressing the specific
health situation. If the outbreak of mold is extreme, testing
maybe wise in ensuring safety during remediation. The choice to
test or not should always rest with the homeowner or potential
homebuyer, but the decision should be an informed one made with
the assistance of an ASHI certified home inspector who has
received additional training specific to mold management.

With a basic understanding of the management of moisture,
household mold maintenance is simple. Molds have been around
forever and will never be gone, and it is good that they are
here. But like so many things, too much of a good thing can be a
bad thing. Stay informed, but don’t get caught up in the hype.
Remember, it’s about knowing!

Copyright © Florida HomePro, Inc. and Wallace J. Conway. All
rights in all media reserved.

Many pontoons boats are equipped with mood lightning that can enhance your overall experience while riding on a pontoon boat. In some cases the mood lighting in concealed within the boat, in other cases not, but mood lighting can always add a special flair to nighttime pontoon boating.

Mood lighting can help transform your pontoon boat party in a charmingly wonderful affair. Mood lighting provides a minimal amount of lighting so that you can still get the feeling of being out underneath the stars without accidentally tripping over your neighbor and falling into the water.

In some pontoon boat models the mood lighting is attached underneath the seats on the pontoon boat. This concealed form of lighting makes the lights unobtrusive during the day, and makes it so unsightly lights do not compromise the overall aesthetics of your pontoon boat. The lights hidden under the seats are also less susceptible to accidental breakages.

Other pontoon boat models will hide their mood lights in other locations. In some cases mood lighting is located on the stairs of the vessel, or some other similar location.

For the most part mood lighting is put into pontoon boats as a safety feature to ensure that passengers are always able to see what’s going on around them on the pontoon boat. Mood lighting decreases unnecessary injuries, and overall pontoon owner satisfaction. There could be nothing worse than cutting off your pontoon boat late at night and not being able to locate your keys or the ignition to be able to turn the boat back on. Pontoon boat mood lighting provides an always-helpful minimal amount of light.

Pontoon boat mood lighting can also be a wonderful way to set a romantic mood while out on the water during a late night pontoon ride. Just like dimly lit candles, pontoon boat mood lighting can help provide just enough light to make your late night romantic rendezvous memorable.

No matter whether you are using mood lighting as a safety feature, or you are using mood lighting to literally set the mood, pontoon boat mood lighting is always a wonderful feature to have in any pontoon boat. Pontoon boat mood lighting is a feature that you won’t realize how much you need it until you don’t have it and are stuck in the dark wanting a very small amount of light to keep your pontoon boat ride going.

About the Author

Thomas Holley is owner of Pontoon-Boat-Products.com where you can find all your pontoon boat products and accessories. Pontoon-Boat-Products.com, because we know where you’d rather be. Also, be sure and sign up for our free newsletter, “The Pontoon Boating Life.”