Super Ping

Martin Henderson is in a fix these days. Because of his failure to repay a loan he had taken a few years back, he has been adjudged as a bad credit case. And, in spite of much effort, he has not been able to get a loan or a mortgage. Lenders do not want to take risk by offering loans to him, and he is severely in need of money.

This is not a single case. There are many who are facing bad credit and the problems resulting from it is making their lives difficult.

Failure to pay the debts in most cases is unintentional. Most people are mainly concerned with the immediate relief that the loan or credit will offer. They do not want to mar the immediate relief by thinking of the repayment in future. They feel that their present income is enough to meet these extra expenditures. It surely is sufficient to meet the cost of repayments, until the financial condition changes for worse, and it becomes difficult to make the repayments on time.

Some creditors make the payment terms flexible for borrowers who are going through financial depression. Others will wait to see that the customer mends his ways. If not, then they report the matter to the credit reference agencies. Credit reference agencies monitor all actions of the borrower on his debts in their respective credit file. The main credit reference agencies are Experian and Equifax. These agencies record information about the defaults on loan or mortgage.

The defaults being registered in the credit file has serious repercussions for the borrower. This will impede the borrower from getting loans in the future. County Court Judgement registered by the County Courts keep the record of bad credit for a period of six years. This can be reviewed if the customer pays off the debts within a month of the judgement. A further delay can make the judgement irrevocable.

Individual voluntary arrangements are another form of bad credit that disqualifies customers from getting good deals in loans and mortgages. Individual voluntary arrangements or IVAs for short is a step that saves individuals the brunt of bankruptcy. The individual or the official receiver, trustee or bankruptcy courts can request the creditor for IVAs. Through this arrangement, the debtor can sort out an arrangement for the payment of the debt through a well-defined plan within a period normally extending to 5 years. Since this is a legal arrangement, both the debtors and the creditors are bound by it. The failure by the debtor at any point of time gives right to the creditor to take action against the other party. Even though IVAs lead to the repayment of the debt, it tarnishes the credit of the borrower.

However, IVAs are suitable only for those who believe that they can pay the debt in full by making small monthly repayments. If not, or if the debt contracted is a sizeable figure, then bankruptcy will be the only solution. Though more painful as the borrower will have to lose most of his belongings, this will free the customer of the debts in the least time (two to three years is the normal time of repayment). The bankruptcy courts negotiate the settlement of the debts with the creditors, and make the payments after liquidating the assets. The credit file shall however include the name of the borrower among the bad credit cases for about 6 years.

So just as we plan our work schedule, it is vital to plan the repayment of the loan or mortgage. A certain amount of insurance paid along with the loan repayments, will assure that the loan is paid in full. This is known as loan protection. Mortgage protection is available similarly to ensure that the mortgage is paid in full. These will add to the monthly cost but will offer peace of mind.

Debt consolidation loans can help curb the menace of debts. Though many lenders reject the loan application, some are ready to take up the risk. These settle all debts incurred by the individual through a single loan. However, one must avoid the bait of taking debt consolidation loans at high rates of interest. This will only save you from one danger, only to push you into other.

Last but not the least comes the debt management options undertaken by the individuals themselves. One must learn to live by the limits. Taking too many loans or mortgages will only worsen the finances.

So, the next time you plan a loan or mortgage, think twice. Taking advice from independent advisors about the amount and type of loan or mortgage will go a long way in improving your financial health.

James Taylor holds a Master’s degree in Commerce from JNU and he is working as financial consultant for chanceforloans.co.uk
To find a Personal
Loans, bad credit loans, Debt Consolidationthat best suits your needs visit
http://www.chanceforloans.co.uk

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In theory, online poker is one of the few places where players of all skill levels can mingle together and learn from each other. This is where the fish are supposed to sit and obverse the habits of the masters so that they can incorporate them into their play. On the same token, the fish constantly educate the sharks by showing them the newest ideas and common mistakes.

Before you get caught up in the supposed egalitarianism in the world of online poker, remember that everything is not always as it seems. Online poker is no more egalitarian than the casino floor where skill levels tend to group together based on blinds.

The average online poker player has between two and three years of experience playing poker before they begin to play online poker seriously. This means that the large majority of players will end up playing with medium to high skill levels somewhere in the middle blind ranges.

For beginning players, who have less than average experience, you need to know what you are facing in online poker. Sure, you can learn from your mistakes if you want, but there are less costly ways to acquire a poker education. Seriously consider online poker sites that allow observing how players interact at the table without having to actually engage in play. You can save some money this way, while still learning from the experience levels of other online players.

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Before Ennis and Jack got together at Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming, Mark and George met in a small coastal town in North Carolina. Mark is a soft-spoken drifter hoping to save endangered Loggerhead turtles and George is a lonely motel owner. Writer-director Tim Kirkman says the gay romance is only part of the story, however. The themes of adoption rights and repressed emotions also are interwoven throughout the independent film.

Released on DVD in March 2006, “Loggerheads” enjoyed a limited theatrical release in 2005 preceded by film festival screenings across the country.

Kirkman says the film was inspired by the true story of what happened to his friend when she gave up her baby for adoption. She later contacted the same agency in an effort to locate the child, but in accordance with North Carolina’s laws was denied any information about his whereabouts. Eventually she hired a private investigator to help her.

Each of the three interconnected stories takes place in a different year over Mother’s Day weekend. “I chose Mother’s Day because it’s a volatile emotional moment for adopted kids, birth parents, and all parents really, and the events in the story are rooted in Mother’s Day,” Kirkman says. “I think it’s an interesting narrative devise to have the stories take place at the same time, three years apart. Each character comes to a decision because of someone else, so it logically can’t take place at the same time.”

Shot entirely in North Carolina, “Loggerheads” is set in three different geographic areas of the state so that the locations — Asheville, Kurie Beach, and Eden — actually become characters within the story. The cast includes Bonnie Hunt, Kip Pardue, Tess Harper, Chris Sarandon, Michael Kelly, and Michael Learned.

Although getting top-notch actors to clear their schedules presented a challenge, Kirkman says he’s the luckiest guy in the world for getting such a wonderful cast.

“We finally got the perfect cast because they all responded to the script,” he says. “I love that these Academy Award-nominated actors came to do my little movie. Independent directors rely on these seasoned veterans to support us and tell the stories that Hollywood doesn’t want to tell.”

Originally “Loggerheads” contained only two stories: A middle-aged woman searches for the son she gave up for adoption; and an HIV-positive drifter arrives in a small coastal town to save endangered loggerhead turtles that nest there.

The film now provides three points of view for the same event. “Originally I just used two viewpoints, but felt like something was missing,” Kirkman says. “I later added the third prong of the triad and included the story of the adoptive parents. It’s a dramatic point in all of their lives.”

To help him develop the story, he relied on his friend’s version of events and her son’s journal entries. “The story of the adoptive parents is important and had to be added,” he says. “My brother and sister are both adopted, so I was looking at something right in my own backyard, but it wasn’t exactly in my own backyard.”

Beautifully shot and sensitively portrayed, “Loggerheads” is part love story, part family drama, and part tragedy. Watch it with an open mind…and a box of tissues.

Copyright 2006 Leslie Halpern

Leslie Halpern is the author of “Reel Romance. The Lovers’ Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies” (Taylor Trade Publishing), a book that reviews date movies for couples and suggests romantic ideas inspired by these films. A Central Florida-based entertainment writer, Leslie also wrote “Dreams on Film. The Cinematic Struggle Between Art and Science” (McFarland & Co.) and more than a thousand articles in trade and consumer magazines. Visit her website at http://home.cfl.rr.com/lesliehalpern/leslie_halpern.htm

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Don’t let them fool you. All those solicitations you receive in the mail for credit card applications are meant to reel you in and hook you. Big time. In addition, new bankruptcy laws in the US and higher monthly minimum payment requirements are in place to help stem defaults on loans and to force consumers to pay down debt quicker. All of this sounds great, but credit card companies want to keep you in debt as long as possible. Please read on for all the stimulating details.

If you have had problems in the past paying down debt, do not think for a moment that you will have it any easier in the future. Thanks to legislation introduced by Congress and signed by the president earlier in 2005, filing for bankruptcy to escape debt has become more difficult. Much more so. In addition, credit card companies have raised your monthly minimum payment levels, in some cases doubling the minimum amount you must pay. Consider this last step a side issue related to the new bankruptcy legislation; the credit card companies are not legally obligated to raise minimums but they were pressured into doing so in exchange for passage of the new bankruptcy law.

Do not even think for a moment that credit card companies want you to get out of debt.

For starters, credit card rates have been rising steadily for over two years. As the prime rate goes up, your credit card interest rate goes up. Unless, of course, you have a fixed rate and you have been paying your bills on time. However, one late payment and, uh oh, you are in big trouble.

If you are late making a payment, even just once, you will likely be hit with a one time late fee charge of $29 or $39. In addition, that “sweet rate” you negotiated last year may automatically disappear. Zero percent financing can quickly turn into an 18.9% interest rate in no time and enforced retroactively too. Even “lower rate” cards with annual percentage rates of 10%, 12%, or more, can suddenly reflect rates of 24.9%, 29%, 35%, or even higher!

This is all perfectly legal too!

Read your credit card disclosure agreement - as if anyone even bothers to do so - for all the boring details. Exceptions and rules are the name of the game; there is a trap laying wide open for you to step on.

The next area of socking it to you is an old one: annual fees. Yes, they are back; for years, credit card companies — in order to remain competitive — waived annual fees. Originally, it was one small way for them to extract some cash from you: you paid them something every year even if you paid off your card monthly.

If you are like me, the whole concept of charging someone to access credit is absurd. Companies make a mint off of high interest rates as it is; throwing another fee on top of things is both apparent and transparent! Now, annual fees are back. Oh, sure, credit card companies must notify you in writing of these changes before they are put in place, but they certainly hope you won’t cancel your account in response to the “new” fee or that you will forget the notice completely and simply pay the fee. Do they think that we are stupid? I believe so!

There are two other areas where credit card companies attempt to pull a fast one on consumers: your payment due date and payment mailing address.

Your payment due date, which may have been “static” for years, could suddenly have been moved up. This means that if you are used to paying off your Visa card on the 24th of the month, it may suddenly have been moved to the 16th the following month. Without notifying you of the change either!

The address where you send your money may have changed too. Is this a big deal? It certainly is if you mail your payments in. Let’s say that you live in New Jersey and your XYZ Bank card payment goes to a South Hackensack post office. If you mail your payment in five days before the due date, you probably allowed enough time for your payment to get to the bank. Warning: Watch out that their payment address hasn’t suddenly been moved to Ohio. Your next payment will likely end up being late.

Oh, so you pay online? Don’t think that the bank credits your money immediately either. I have seen it take five days for money to electronically leave my checking account and be wired to another bank’s account. The post office moves a live check faster than that!

A moved payment due date and a changed payment address are designed to make your payments late so that the credit card company can charge you a late fee and raise your rates.

This is perfectly legal as well. Is it ethical? Hey, we’re talking about the financial services industry. What else do you expect?

Financial institutions make money off of consumers through interest rates and fee services. Please do not think for a moment that any credit card company has your best interests at heart. They don’t; they are in business to please their shareholders. Get informed and take action when one of these “perfectly legal” practices is pulled on you. You can get fees canceled and have your credit card rate lowered if you complain; back it all up in writing in order to preserve your rights.

A savvy consumer is an informed consumer; learn what tricks credit card companies use and fight back. Annually order free credit reports from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax to make sure that unfavorable reports from creditors have not been unfairly tagged to your record. Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s site at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/freereports.htm for the best way to obtain credit reports.

Copyright 2005 — Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Samples from his portfolio are available right online.

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It’s never easy to talk about credit. Not with friends, not with family, not online, and, most of all, not with myself. Yes, I let a monthly payment go by here and there. I’ve maxed out my share of credit cards. I’ve bought cars that I really couldn’t afford. I ate out. A lot. At expensive restaurants. And I always ordered the lobster. I always knew, in the back of my head, that I was teetering on the brink of credit destruction. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to admit that my credit was going downhill. I continued applying for credit cards anyway. I didn’t want to run them up, honestly. It just happened.

One day, reality gave me a swift kick in the rear. I grew weary of renting, so I decided to pursue the proverbial American Dream and purchase a home. I sort of knew that my credit was troubled, but I kidded myself into thinking that it couldn’t be that bad. I went to a mortgage company to finance my dream. When I got there, I filled out an application, and they pulled my credit report. I truly was not prepared for what the loan officer said to me next. “I’m sorry, sir,” he said, “your application has been declined.” I was absolutely stunned and numb. I could not believe my ears. My dreams were decimated in mere seconds. I left the office so dumbfounded that I didn’t even remember the drive home. I got back to the apartment and I torched every Homes For Sale magazine in the fireplace.

From that very moment, I resolved to clean up my act. Not knowing much about credit, I had to swallow the last ounce of pride I had and called up the loan officer I met with. They have general guidelines for approving mortgage loans, he explained. One of the major factors that go into an approval is your credit score. Quite simply, the higher your credit scores, the better your chances of being approved. What’s more, the higher your score, the better the terms of your mortgage; that is, better interest rates, better payments, and lower down payments to name but a few. In my particular case, my score was low. Their minimum requirement is a score of 620. My score was 604.

The only way that I could get an approval for a home loan, he said, was to raise my credit scores. The good news, he said, was that he could refer me to their sister company. They specialized in approving mortgages for people with challenged credit. In fact, they have been known to approve loans for people with scores as low as 500!

With a glimmer of hope, I contacted the company he spoke of, known as a “subprime lender.” Sure enough, they had good news for me. “We received your application from our sister company, and I’m happy to tell you that we are able to approve you for a mortgage!”

Something didn’t feel quite right, though, so I asked about the terms of the mortgage he approved. It turned out that their loan was going to cost me a whopping $7896.00 in additional interest for the first year, which amounted to roughly an extra $666.00 per month! That was about twice what I used to pay on my car. Think about that…because my scores were so low, I had to pay the equivalent of two car payments in order to purchase a house. Heck, I could’ve bought a Mercedes with that kind of money, although I probably wouldn’t have been approved for a car loan anyway. Not only would the extra interest have a disastrous impact on my bank account, it would price me completely out of my dream home - a terrifying thought indeed.

While I celebrated the approval, I shuddered at the terms. I begrudgingly went forward with the lending process. Although I loathed that extra interest, I hated the thought of not owning a home even more. In the meantime, I resolved to find another way. Either I could sign their loan and pay almost $8000 extra just in interest, or I could try again with the first company after raising my score. To me, the choice was clear. At the time, there wasn’t much I could afford anyway, let alone two cars’ worth of payments. I resolved not to pay any more than was absolutely necessary to purchase the house. I had to repair my credit! With no money in the bank and no room on my credit cards, I simply could not fathom spending $400-$500 on a credit repair agency. My creativity had to exceed my financial means for me to get the results I needed.

I was able to obtain a “tri-merge” credit report and found my aggregate scores were 604, 576, and 606. A tri-merge refers to a single credit report that contains information, including scores, from the three major credit reporting bureaus; namely, Experian (formerly TRW), Equifax, and TransUnion. Each has a unique formula for scoring your credit. Many mortgage companies will use a tri-merge report to determine whether your creditworthiness deserves an approval. Depending on the mortgage company, they will consider one of your three scores and go from there. In my case, the loan officer advised that I needed to get one of the numbers up to at least 620.

Throughout the course of my research, I found a lot of resources that explained the credit repair process. One of the most common methods is to write letters to the credit bureaus, disputing the erroneous information on my credit report that caused my scores to decline. In fact, the credit bureaus themselves explain this process. Basically, you scour your report and locate invalid entries, such as an incorrect credit limit, or even an entry that’s not yours. Then, you write a letter to the credit bureau explaining that the information is wrong and ask for it to be removed. If they manage to confirm that the entries are correct, then it stays on the report. If they can’t confirm it, off it goes. Make no mistake; this technique is quite effective if done correctly. The problem is credit bureaus, by law, have thirty days to investigate the information. That doesn’t even include the time it takes to mail my dispute, and for them to mail an answer back letting me know what happened. At best, it would take about 40 days before I knew anything. I simply could not wait that long. Plus, there was no guarantee that they would remove the information anyway.

Undaunted, I continued my quest to boost my credit scores quickly and inexpensively. Time was running out, however. The closing for the subprime mortgage was only days away. My persistence was rewarded when I managed to discover little-known methods that I utilized to increase my score. As a matter of fact, my Equifax score went from 604 to 644 in only 24 hours! Like a thermometer next to a blue-hot flame, my score shot up 40 points, literally, overnight. I went back to my loan officer, and he was flabbergasted. Never had he seen anyone raise their credit scores so quickly and dramatically. He put my application back through. Miraculously, I was approved!

I saved myself hundreds of dollars a month, and thousands of dollars a year by being able to raise my credit scores. The best part is that, because of the techniques I used, it only took a matter of days and not months like the credit bureaus would have you believe. There’s an adage that says “Cash is king.” These days, it’s more accurate to say that “Credit is king.” Your credit scores have so much impact on your life that it would be catastrophic to take them lightly. By raising your credit score, you can experience the same kinds of savings that I achieved. You’ll be able to better afford that dream home or dream car, and you’ll realize the benefits for years and years to come.

Frank Bruno has spent the last 3 years assisting hundreds of clients in saving thousands of dollars in Interest rates by teaching them unique techniques on how to quickly and dramatically raise their credit scores. For more information please visit his website - www.CreditScoreBooster.com

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Chances are you have received your share of “pre-approved” credit card offers in the mail, some with low introductory rates and other perks. Many of these solicitations urge you to accept “before the offer expires.” Before you accept, shop around to get the best deal.

Credit Card Terms:

A credit card is a form of borrowing that often involves charges. Credit terms and conditions affect your overall cost. So it’s wise to compare terms and fees before you agree to open a credit or charge card account. The following are some important terms to consider that generally must be disclosed in credit card applications or in solicitations that require no application.

Annual Percentage Rate: The APR is a measure of the cost of credit, expressed as a yearly rate. It also must be disclosed before you become obligated on the account and on your account statements. Some credit card plans allow the issuer to change your APR when interest rates or other economic indicators - called indexes - change. Because the rate change is linked to the index’s performance, these plans are called “variable rate” programs.

Free Period: Also called a “grace period,” a free period lets you avoid finance charges by paying your balance in full before the due date. Knowing whether a card gives you a free period is especially important if you plan to pay your account in full each month. Without a free period, the card issuer may impose a finance charge from the date you use your card or from the date each transaction is posted to your account. If your card includes a free period, the issuer must mail your bill at least 14 days before the due date so you’ll have enough time to pay.

Annual Fees: Most issuers charge annual membership or participation fees.
Transaction Fees and Other Charges: A card may include other costs. Some issuers charge a fee if you use the card to get a cash advance, make a late payment, or exceed your credit limit. Some charge a monthly fee whether or not you use the card.

Other Costs and Features:

Credit terms vary among issuers. When shopping for a card, think about how you plan to use it. If you expect to pay your bills in full each month, the annual fee and other charges may be more important than the periodic rate and the APR, if there is a grace period for purchases. However, if you use the cash advance feature, many cards do not permit a grace period for the amounts due - even if they have a grace period for purchases. So, it may still be wise to consider the APR and balance computation method. Also, if you plan to pay for purchases over time, the APR and the balance computation method are definitely major considerations.

You’ll probably also want to consider if the credit limit is high enough, how widely the card is accepted, and the plan’s services and features.

Useful Tips:

Keep these tips in mind when looking for or using a credit or charge card.

• Shop around for the plan that best fits your needs.

• Make sure you understand a plan’s terms before you accept the card.

• Hold on to receipts to reconcile charges when your bill arrives.

• Protect your cards and account numbers to prevent unauthorized use.

• Draw a line through blank spaces on charge slips so the amount can’t be changed.

• Keep a record - in a safe place separate from your cards - of your account numbers, expiration dates and the phone numbers of each issuer to report a loss quickly.

• Carry only the cards you think you’ll use.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author’s biography remains intact:

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

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As parents we often wonder why there is not better programming on TV for our kids. We see so much sex and violence and wonder why it is in such abundance. If we could design our own programming for our kids and all their TV shows; what might the look like?

How would your program be any different or make a difference in the future? How would you promote it? Would you use celebrities? And if you did get some good PR and your program did catch some synergy from the Famous Actors, Movie Stars, Rock Stars and Artists for public relations then what? What if it became as popular and widely used as you would like thru such promotions? And are artists themselves any more moral than us parents who would be buying the product for our kids? What if it were on TV free would you want those famous people to be your kids roll models, as aren’t they a little hypocritical as well in their own flamboyant lifestyles?

What I find interesting is that, I myself never once did any drugs, did everything right and was attacked along the way and learned that all the myth of what we stood for was a lie. Now I see artists like “Bono” telling the world and others how to live their lives? Well, gee whiz, isn’t it interesting that this gentleman of less moral fiber than us, is telling you and I how to live, what to think, who to vote for, how to feel and now asking us to re-live the lie again thru our children?

So then with your new TV program, how are you going to make it, promote it and get it on the air? How will you make it popular to coax the kids into watching it and after it is all said and done, will it actually be any better than the crap we are complaining about right now? Think on this in 2006, as there has to be a better way.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

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Whether you are a college student or the parent of a college student, you may have started looking at various types of credit cards for college students. Having a credit card while in college is almost a necessity. Generally, college students do not have much money to spare since they are attending school. Therefore, they need to rely on their parent’s financial support or they have to borrow money from a credit card while in school and then pay the borrowed money back later. To choose the right student credit card, however, it is important to understand the differences between different credit cards and the benefits and drawbacks to both.

Unsecured Student Credit Cards

Unsecured student credit cards are those that extend a line of credit to the cardholder. Therefore, you can spend money with the card as a loan and pay the money back later. Since college students tend to have very little credit history, it can be difficult to get a credit card. Obviously, most credit card companies prefer to extend a line of credit to someone with a proven history of paying back loans.

Fortunately, there are a number of credit cards that cater specifically to college students. These companies understand that a person attending college will not have a great deal of established credit history, yet need the help of a credit card to get through college. In addition, the fact that you are attending college gives the companies a reason to believe that you will be responsible about paying back your debt.

The greatest benefit to an unsecured student credit card is that you don’t have to have money to use it. Therefore, college students that don’t have the cash up front can take advantage of the borrowed money to by books, school supplies, and to help pay for living expenses. This can be a lifesaver to someone who is scraping by while in college. In addition, there are a number of unsecured student credit cards available that do not have annual fees or any other types of fees.

The biggest drawback to an unsecured student credit card is that it is possible to spend beyond your means and acquire a debt that you are unable to overcome. If this happens, or if you are unable to keep up with your payments, your credit can be destroyed. For someone who is working on just getting started in life as an adult, it is not good to get started with a major debt or a big black mark on your credit record. In addition, student credit cards tend to have a higher interest rate than traditional credit cards. Therefore, you may pay a great deal of money in finance charges when borrowing money in this way.

Secured Student Credit Cards

Secured student credit cards are cards that money is deposited onto ahead of time. In other words, if you don’t put your own money on the card before spending the money, you can’t use the card. Therefore, secured student credit cards are like a debit card. Secured student credit cards do not look any different from unsecured student credit cards.

The benefits of secured student credit cards are that you can still have the flexibility offered by carrying a credit card, but you don’t have to worry about burying yourself in debt. For parents that are helping their college-age child through college, secured student credit cards are a great way to provide the student with an allowance to help pay for college expenses.

The major drawback to secured student credit cards is that these cards usually have a large number of fees. Often, there is a fee to set up the account in the first place. Then, there are usually annual fees and maybe even monthly fees. There are also fees associated with depositing, or “loading,” money to the card. These fees can be quite expensive.

For more information on how to differentiate between credit cards for college students, Kim Stevens recommends that you visit http://www.CreditCardAssist.com

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Based on the bestselling novel by Candace Bushnell, the HBO original series Sex And The City took the television world by storm following its release in the summer of 1998. Following the exploits of four young and educated female friends living and working in New York City, the show revolves around the various relationships and life problems experienced by each member of the group. Sporting an experienced and talented cast, the show has developed a strong, borderline fanatic following…

Sarah Jessica Parker (the de facto lead character of the show) stars as Carrie Bradshaw, a popular sex columnist for a local newspaper who travels in numerous Manhattan social circles. Carrie is engaged in a tempestuous on-again, off-again relationship with a mystery man always referred to as “Mr. Big”. The young urban professional shares her life with three best friends who have similarly interesting jobs - Miranda Hobbs (Cynthia Nixon), a lawyer tired of being single given the societal ramifications; Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), a promiscuous publicist who enjoys non-exclusive relationships; and Charlotte McDougal (Kristin Davis), an art museum curator who is relatively less open about her sexuality… Together, the women seek each other’s advice on the ever-present and varying predicaments in which they find their romantic relationships…

The Sex And The City (Season 6) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “To Market, To Market” in which Carrie is of the opinion that her personal stock has skyrocketed due to her recent date with Jack Berger, and Samantha is brought to ecstasy by a stockbroker neighbor. Meanwhile, Miranda and Charlotte experience frustrations in their respective relationships… Other notable episodes from Season 6 include “The Perfect Present” in which Carrie discovers Berger’s “ex-file,” and “One” in which Carrie begins dating internationally renowned artist, Alexander Petrovsky…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Sex And The City (Season 6) DVDs:

Season 6, Part 1

Episode 75 (To Market, To Market) Air Date: 06-22-2003
Episode 76 (Great Sexpectations) Air Date: 06-29-2003
Episode 77 (The Perfect Present) Air Date: 07-06-2003
Episode 78 (Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little) Air Date: 07-13-2003
Episode 79 (Lights, Camera, Relationship) Air Date: 07-20-2003
Episode 80 (Hop, Skip, and a Week) Air Date: 07-27-2003
Episode 81 (The Post-It Always Sticks Twice) Air Date: 08-03-2003
Episode 82 (The Catch) Air Date: 08-10-2003
Episode 83 (A Woman’s Right to Shoes) Air Date: 08-17-2003
Episode 84 (Boy, Interrupted) Air Date: 08-24-2003
Episode 85 (The Domino Effect) Air Date: 09-07-2003
Episode 86 (One) Air Date: 09-14-2003

Season 6, Part 2

Episode 87 (Let There Be Light) Air Date: 01-04-2004
Episode 88 (The Ick Factor) Air Date: 01-11-2004
Episode 89 (Catch-38) Air Date: 01-18-2004
Episode 90 (Out of the Frying Pan) Air Date: 01-25-2004
Episode 91 (The Cold War) Air Date: 02-01-2004
Episode 92 (Splat!) Air Date: 02-08-2004
Episode 93 (An American Girl in Paris: Part 1) Air Date: 02-15-2004
Episode 94 (An American Girl in Paris: Part 2) Air Date: 02-22-2004

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Sex And The City (Season 6) DVD.

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One of the worst parts about pregnancy is the dreaded morning sickness. Of course, “morning” is just a misnomer - the sickness can occur at any point of the day! Most women experience this part of pregnancy to some degree during their first trimester. Some women, however, seem blessed not to have it at all! However, if you’re like most and the nausea just seems overwhelming, there are ways to help calm the feeling!

One of the most common theories about morning sickness being worse in the morning is that when you wake up, you have low blood sugar. For some women, going eight hours without food is just a bad idea. You might find that it’s helpful to eat a high protein snack before bed. If you get up in the night for frequent bathroom breaks, you might eat a bite each time you get up. Some women have to eat something while still lying down. Putting a plate of something beside your bed makes this easier. And don’t just jump out of bed! Eat your snack slowly, then lie still for a few minutes. Slowly get up and immediately go to the kitchen and eat another bite. Protein should be emphasized.

Any food that causes rapid blood sugar shifts, such as fruit juice, sugary snacks, and processed cereal, should be avoided, as they cause your blood sugar to rapidly rise, then come crashing down. Meat, cheese, eggs, nuts and nut butters, veggies, and whole grains should be your staples during this time.

You may feel as though eating just is not appealing. Try to coax yourself to eat a little every two hours. Don’t leave the house without carrying snacks with you!

If drinking water makes you feel sick, try alternatives like smoothies or citrus fruits. Very ice cold water with a bit of lemon or lime, or a weakly brewed tea with lemon can also help.

Smells that make you sick should be avoided. Have someone else take out the trash. Don’t be shy about telling someone who has bad breath or a horrible perfume about your condition and need for fresh air. If it’s cooking smells that make you sick, cut out onion and garlic recipes, and make meals that won’t fill the kitchen with a strong odor. Main dish salads and sandwiches are a good idea.

We always hear about aromatherapy in just about everything we do - but this stuff works! Put a couple of drops of lavender, mint, or lemon essential oil on cotton balls and keep them in locations you visit often. Take a whiff whenever you start to feel sick.

Surprisingly, exercise can help. If you’re pregnant, this is the last thing you want to think about when you can barely make it to the toilet, but if you force yourself to take even something as short as a ten minute walk, it will help.

Take it easy! Try to avoid stress as much as possible and rest as much as you can. When you feel a bout of nausea coming on, try to lay down for a few minutes in a dark room with your eyes closed. Sometimes, this will help the episode to pass.

Try eating candied ginger or sipping on a ginger tea. Ginger capsules tends to be a little bit harsh on your sensitive stomach and hurts terribly if it does come back up. Brewer’s yeast capsules are said to work for some moms. Sipping mint tea or chewing a mint gum will help calm nausea. Another neat trick is to try sucking on lemon slices when you feel that wave of nausea coming on.

Avoid getting overheated or chilled. Extreme changes in temperature can trigger nausea. Tried everything and can ease your sickness? Try motion sickness wrist bands! They work!

No matter what, you should always go with your cravings. They don’t steer you wrong. Every pregnancy is different and tips that work for you for one pregnancy might not work for another. The only real way to know for sure is through trial and error, but it won’t take you long at all to find out what you need to help calm your nausea! And remember - this will pass!

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