Instead of focusing on "what to buy" or "tricks of the trade," this book takes the revolutionary approach of assisting you in understanding the type of computer user you are; what technology is currently out there; and which ones will be the best benefit to you. This book saves you from making costly mistakes when buying a computer and teaches you how to get the biggest saving while getting what you really want. Knowledge is power, and the lack of it can be expensive. That's where this book comes in. It was designed from the ground up to help save you at least $200 in costly mistakes as you look at the technological eye candy being sold today. Even if you're not looking to buy a new computer, this Computer Buyers Guide greatly help you understand the current technology.

Learn how to get control of your debt with tips from an industry insider who has worked as a debt collector for over 24 years and who has been in debt herself and had to deal with aggressive debt collectors.

Gone are the days when a person's word or handshake was all that was needed to finalize a business deal. It's human nature to trust. We learn at an early age that our best friend is someone we can count on and confide in. We want to believe that people are inherently good and have our best interests at heart. But what happens when that friend asks for a loan to start a new business then leaves town with all your money, never to be heard from again? How about the businessman with a great reputation who makes a proposal, takes a down payment, and never shows up to do any work? Consider the strange emails filling inboxes with promises of infinite wealth and the chance to connect with long-lost relatives from foreign lands. These and many other scenarios are playing out across the United States and the world at an alarming rate. History is full of dishonest dealings. In the 1980's, investment schemes dominated the news, ruining lives with lies and deceit. In the 1880's things weren't much different. Immeasurable harm and senseless deaths occurred when Native Americans were slaughtered and forced off land that was rightfully theirs, while fraudulent land scams were pushed on an unsuspecting public as pioneers moved westward in search of new lives. As Michael J. Pallamary states in his book Lay of the Land: The History of Land Surveying in San Diego County, "Within California, government officials estimate that 20 million acres of land, nearly 20 percent of the state's public land stock, are the products of fraudulent land surveys." Pallamary also describes how early residents stuck trees in the ground and hung artificial oranges on branches so that photos taken of the "orange trees" and sent back East would give the impression that the land for sale was rich and fertile. In reality the barren lots were filled with rocks and scrub-filled canyons. Scams and cons have changed through the decades, keeping up with the huge technological strides made during the last century. Information that was once transported by Pony Express is now sent via email programs like Outlook Express. Unfortunately, communication advances have inadvertently allowed cybercrimes to become more prominent in everyone's lives. Transactions that were once considered safe and protected are now breeding grounds for illegal activities. Self-preservation has taken on a whole new meaning and self-defense is no longer just physical. Thieves, con artists, and scammers come in all shapes and sizes including invisible ones living in cyberspace as so-called "friends." Countless bank and credit card accounts have been hijacked online and savings accrued over decades of hard work have been wiped out in seconds by devious cons. Boomers relying on retirement accounts and 401 k plans can kiss their futures goodbye if their funds disappear. Heartless hackers don't care. Their games are played with phones, emails, and a simple plan. Feeling stupid and used, many consumers remain silent and the rip-offs go unreported. No one is immune. It's time once again for the dreaded word "homework" to creep back into your vocabulary. Arm yourself with knowledge and learn some tricks of the scam prevention trade. If you've been scammed you are not alone. There is help available; you just need to know where to look. Scammunition is where to start.

A great book for any movie lover, A Book Full of Movies recommends films worth watching in ten categories. Read about popular movies in one of the ten genres, and then get suggestions for lesser-known films you might like. A handy rating system tells how the recommended films stack up against their popular counterparts. Every film title contains a short synopsis and review (without giving away any surprises) plus a perfect pairing for a double feature. Each chapter also contains an article about a topic related to the genre covered in that chapter. There's even a chapter of recommended resources for finding out more about films that may be of interest to you, and the comprehensive index lets you easily find movies, actors, directors, and more. Watch for volume 2, with ten more film categories, coming soon

Everything changed on June 1, 2012. Short sales dominate many residential real estate markets, and now the federal government program (HAFA) will dominate short sales at every major lender. Short Sales 2012 is the consumer's version of the federal Making Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) short sale program, and includes all revisions effective June 1, 2012. Underwater sellers and their agents must understand HAFA or risk delays, lost incentive payments, and possible foreclosure. Even buyers and their agents need to understand the specialized world of short sales. Short Sales 2012 explains how HAFA works, and how to make it work to your benefit. It translates technical guidelines written for lenders into plain English. It's a quick and easy resource, and includes a preview of all the HAFA forms. Anybody who depends on closing a short sale - underwater homeowners and landlords, buyers looking for an advantage in today's market, and real estate professionals trying to stay current - you need this book. Get a copy for yourself, your client, or your real estate agent. The author is an attorney and real estate broker, who deals everyday with loss mitigation departments of all major mortgage servicers. A graduate of Yale University, he writes with clarity, authority and insight that are rare for this kind of book.

'Kindle ME ' is the ultimate book about Amazon's Kindle '. It is FOUR BOOKS under one cover . You go to the book you need, when you need it. But, if you are a fanatic and you want to know everything under the sun about your Kindle, you are welcome to read it all Book ONE: is about the history of ebooks and ereaders . It is a journey into the past in which the vision of few individuals changed the way we impart and receive knowledge . It is a journey through the history of the ereader. Book TWO: is all about the basics . You have a Kindle and want to use it now. If you are an impatient individual and you want to start reading your first ebooks in a few minutes, this will show you how But if you want to grasp all the basics of how to use every aspect of your Kindle, you will find the answers there too . Book THREE: it is free for all Millions of free ebooks out there for you to read with your Kindle, and in this book, you will learn how to get them easily . Many ebooks on the market today have nothing else in them but the information you get from this book . This book is your complete guide on how to get to all the free ebooks available in the market today .Enjoy Book FOUR: This is a real gem The information in this book took a lot of research to find and collect from the ever expanding world wide web. This book contains some of the information no one has told you about; Like the hidden features of Amazon's Kindle, it will enrich your usage of your Kindle . It will make the Kindle more than a Kindle It includes '10 things you need to know', '10 features you don't know about', '10 more ways to use your Kindle that no one told you about ', 'how to do many things with your Kindle the easy way ', and finally an important section about how to keep up to date with the latest information about Kindle - ' The best Kindle websites and blogs ' . ' Kindle ME ' is four books in one book . It takes your hand and slowly introduces you to the unbelievable world of Kindle . It is a magical world because Kindle is a superb eReader - one of the best, if not THE best eReader on the market today. You can use your Kindle in more ways than just an eReader. It has many hidden features and ' Kindle ME ' will guide you through it.

Does the family vacation involve at least one week a year at a fabulous resort? More than a few weeks? Perhaps your family enjoys staying in luxury residences in exotic locales. For those families who want to commit to "owning" their vacations, and that is what shared ownership/use is about, there are many choices to consider. Timeshares, private residence clubs, fractionals, and destination clubs are all options-but which one is right for you? For consumers, Vacation Nation: The Complete Guide to Timeshare, Private Residence Clubs, Fractionals and Destination Clubs is a practical, easy-to-read guide to help you make an informed decision-one that can help you choose the perfect vacation ownership option for your family. For industry insiders, whether you are a timeshare sales person or a developer of a private residence club, Vacation Nation, is the perfect primer, providing a constructive new model that can be applied to any offering in the shared ownership/use industry.

Freedom through Credit shows you how to maximize your personal and business credit profiles. If you want to know how to improve the life you life by safely leveraging both your personal and business credit then this is the manual you have been in search of.

U.S. automakers are suddenly awash in profits, and South Koreans and Europeans have gained market shares, while Honda, Nissan, and Toyota have curtailed production following the 2011 tsunami in Japan. Shortages of Japanese new cars and supplier disruptions will likely push used car prices through the roof well into 2012, so what should a savvy buyer do? The all-new "Lemon-Aid Used Cars and Trucks 2012-2013" has the answers, including: More vehicles rated, with some redesigned models that don't perform as well as previous iterations downrated.More roof crash-worthiness ratings along with an expanded cross-border shopping guide.A revised summary of safety- and performance-related defects that are likely to affect rated models.More helpful websites listed in the appendix as well as an updated list of the best and worst "beaters" on the market.More "secret" warranties taken from automaker internal service bulletins and memos than ever.

Chevrolet Corvette Buyers/Owners Guide for 1997-2004 Model Years (C5).

"How Anyone Can Establish, Manage, Repair and Erase Bad Credit Without Losing $1,000's to Credit Repair Company " Do you want to know how to establish credit, maintain, manage, and fix it when it's broken? May be what you want is a better living that is free of harassing phone calls from creditors. Or do you want to know how to get out of bad credit debt, avoid overspending, clean up your credit report and establish good credit? If your answer is yes - then this will be the best message you ever read this year.

Have you got something to complain about? Have you been short changed? Have you complained and got nothing but hollow apologies? Are you due compensation? Then this book could help. Instead of writing letters using red biro and block capitals, underlining every other word, swearing at inappropriate places and writing key words twice as big, follow the 'I want to complain' philosophy and make your letters entertaining; make the person dealing with your complaint want to help you instead of shoving your letter under the pile of others they have to deal with that day and getting to it 'later'. With eight years experience in a customer management role for a multi-national retailer, Peter realised that it was the light-hearted, entertaining letters that received the most satisfactory resolutions. 'I want to complain' explains exactly what life is like on the other end of the call-centre telephone and just how to ensure your complaints are dealt with as a priority. The second section of the book contains a collection of genuine complaint letters Peter has written over the years using the philosophy laid out in the first section, along with their replies so you can see for yourself just how it works. Those companies written to include Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Asda and even Newcastle city council to get a parking ticket revoked - all with positive resolutions. 'I want to complain' hopes to put the 'fun' into refund and the 'jest' into goodwill gesture as it takes you on an entertaining and humorous journey into the world of customer services.

This book gives you the opportunity to build a museum quality art collection worth far more than its current price. The internet now makes archaic jade available to you. You buy jade directly from owners and dealers worldwide. Now you can find eBay prices at or below what art dealers once paid. But before you buy, you must know what the experts know. This is the first and only book that teaches you how to spot counterfeit jade pieces, how to judge the age of a jade carving, and which inscriptions belong to each era.
It gives you the information that you must have before buying archaic jade. It does this with over 300 color photographs, many labeled to make a point clear. The book uses a single subject and compares and contrasts its portrayal through the dynasties of China. The author uses four criteria throughout the book: crystal re-growth, color, aging and patina, and artistic style.

PRAISE FOR THE BRAND WHO CRIED "WOLF" "Powerful brands command. Read this insightful book and allowScott to share how to make your brand stand out and deliver youbuckets of money!" Mark Victor Hansen, bestselling author of the ChickenSoup for the Soul(r) series "Deming's approach to branding is not about gimmicks. It's aboutrelationships-the real formula for building and sustaining yourbrand and your business." Rieva Lesonsky, Editorial Director, Entrepreneurmagazine "It doesn't matter what you sell. We're all selling service.Deming's book shows businesses of all sizes how to createincredible brand power through innovative service levels. TheBrand Who Cried Wolf will not end up on your book shelf; itwill stay in your briefcase or on your desk as a daily referenceguide. If you want to grow your business, get this book!" John Valletta, President, Super 8 Motels "Deming's revelations on creating an emotionally engagingexperience between you and your customer are without equal!" Joel Bauer, bestselling coauthor of How to PersuadePeople Who Don't Want to Be Persuaded "The Brand Who Cried Wolf explains how every customerinteraction, large or small, impacts your brand's image andreputation. This is an easy-to-read book veryone inyour organization needs to own." Patrick Sweeney, coauthor of the New York Timesbestseller Succeed on Your Own Terms; cohost of thenationally syndicated radio show Winning in Business "Deming delivers an essential message to businesses and deliversin a way you won't forget. You know the fairy tales, just adapt itto your unique brand: you!" Wayne Kandas, CFP and host of nationally syndicatedBloomberg Radio "Stories sell, and that's what helps sell the ideas in thisbrilliant book. If you're in business-any business-you need thisbook. Get it now!" Robert G. Allen, bestselling coauthor of Cracking theMillionaire Code; CEO of The Enlightened MillionaireInstitute Chapter 8: Just Call Me Slick! People Really Hate to be "Sold" What We ve Accomplished So Far By now you know that branding is not exclusively about businessidentity in the form of a logo or advertising. You mightrecognize the Nike brand from its iconic swoosh logo. Youmight immediately think of McDonald s when you think of fastfood because McDonald s commercials are ubiquitous, but bythis point, you know that icons and awareness do not constitute abrand. You also know that big businesses are not the only brands. Your business does not have to be the size of GM, Microsoft, AOLTime Warner or Wal-Mart. Your business could be run out ofyour home with you as the sole employee. You could conductbusiness from a small office with a single assistant, or in a storewith several employees. The size, scope, and location of yourbusiness does not change the fact that it s a brand, norshould any of these factors truly impact your brand if you refocusing on one-on-one relationships. Businesses are not the only brands, either. Everyindividual is a brand, as are organizations from non-profits topolitical parties to social clubs. For example, the GatesFoundation, the Red Cross, UNICEF, Make-A-Wish Foundation, BoyScouts, Girl Scouts, Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Republican Party,and Democratic Party all are brands. The concept ofbranding I ve been articulating is personal, which meanseveryone needs to develop one. Each category from individuals to organizations tobusinesses large and small brings with it its own branddevelopment challenges. At the same time, however, thesechallenges are minimized when you understand your brandidentity. Throughout this book, I have written about creatingunique and memorable experiences for your customers. Chapter2 defined a brand in terms of establishing relationships with yourcustomers. Chapter 3 distinguished between types ofexperiences you can generate for your customers, and differentiateda brand experience from ones that are merely transactional orsimply meet customer expectations. Chapter 4 highlighted theimportance of changing your perspective to adopt yourcustomer s point of view, rather than emphasize your productor service. Chapter 5 analyzed the results of changing yourperspective. Chapter 6 admonished you to avoid overstatingyour own worth. Finally, Chapter 7 focused on the rippleeffects of your actions. Thus, most of the facets of brandingI ve been articulating since the beginning of this book haveemphasized how you affect the customer s perceptions. In other words, I ve been talking about the customer sconnection to your brand. Now I m going to talk abouthow you perceive your own brand, and about yourconnection to your own brand. Creating An Authentic Brand Identity: Sincerity Can tBe Faked! First, you must take stock of your brand identity. In theIntroduction to this book I stated that everyone is abrand. Everyone has a brand identity, but not everyoneunderstands their own brand correctly, or even knows what itis. You cannot develop an authentic, sincere brand withoutthis understanding. And you cannot create brand evangelists people who trust you and praise your brand every chancethey get without an authentic, sincere brand. Youearn someone s trust through your actions, soyou d better know how to act! Understanding your brand identity, and developing the trust thatturns your customers into evangelists, involves knowing what yourown beliefs and values are. The fact is, when you walk inyour customer s shoes, when you change your perspective todeliver the impossible, you re reflecting a core element ofyour identity, your values, and your beliefs. When you aresincere about trying to understand your customers needs,desires, and what they d truly love from you, a genuineconnection is made that is the foundation of trust between you andyour customers. Compassion and sincerity can t be faked. Branding isnot a matter of putting on a persona that others will like. It s not playing a role, putting on a mask, or pretending all that is superficial, a veneer that covers up the real you. Moreover, a veneer can be quicklyspotted. I don t think there s anyone thathasn t had the experience of being sold. It s uncomfortable precisely because it s notauthentic. The experience simply feels hollow. Thinkabout the slick car salesman who s going to do what ittakes to get you into this car! Maybe he s heavyon the hale fellow well met, demeanor, or drenchesyou with flattery. When the time comes to make an offer onthe car, he engages in an overly dramatic show of anxiety. I m gonna see my manager right now and see if I cantalk him into this one. Between you and me, he s havinga bad day, but I m really gonna work on him. Eventually, the long, drawn out ceremonial dance ends with yousigning the lease or sale papers, but you walk away knowing thewhole experience could have been different, and you dread theprospect of going through it again. Why do you dread it? What has soured you on going throughthe process again? In a word: insincerity. Insincerityis the wolf trotting around in sheep s clothing pretending tobe something he s not. When you experience a wolf insheep s clothing, you re soured on futureinteractions. It is this sort of insincerity that destroys abrand or prevents an authentic one from being established. The car salesman example is cliche, just like the salesgirl at the clothing store who tells you every single piece ofclothing you try on looks so good! Thoughthey re cliche for a reason, we tend to forget just whatthat reason is. We instantly recognize the cliche, butnot what made it true in the first place.

Read Cynthia Koelker's blogs and other content on the Penguin Community.
"Dr. Cynthia Koelker gives us the inside scoop on how to save money at the doctor's office and still get great care. Even if you have insurance, "101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care" will still help you save your hard-earned cash."
-Elizabeth Cohen, MPH, CNN senior medical correspondent, author of "The Empowered Patient"
For over twenty years, Ohio-based family physician Dr. Cynthia J. Koelker has made it her mission to help people lower their health care expenses. Now, in "101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care," Dr. Koelker shares her insider tips and information so that you too can save hundreds (even thousands ) without sacrificing your health.
"101 Ways" is loaded with simple, easy-to-understand tips on topics that everyone will find useful, including:
* How to save money on brand name drugs
* How to cut costs for chronic problems-from asthma to allergies
* How to ask for a hospital discount (it's easier than you think )
* Ways to save money on glasses and contacts
* What websites you can trust to give you the best health information
Whether you are uninsured, or just looking to save money, this invaluable guide will show you how to stay healthy and hold onto your hard-earned dollars.

Defeating Burglar Alarms explains burglar alarms in simple terms, and how thieves bypass them. First published as a military report, Defeating Burglar Alarms provides the best available explanation of the technological principles and weaknesses of all alarms in popular use. Every commonly used burglar alarm is analyzed for its detection method, and ways the alarm can be bypassed.

Contents include:

Reviews of all commonly used alarms
How they detect intruders
Causes of false alarms
Conditions that lower the accuracy of detection
Typical bypassing methods of thieves

Learn how burglar alarms work, and how burglars bypass them.

This book is a guide to finding your niche in creating books for children. It will take you from start to finish with examples of how to start a story board to how to coordinate with editors and illustrators for your final product, a children's book for all to enjoy

"An entire industry preys on parental anxiety . . . Paul tries to lead us out of the catastrophization of childhood."--"The New York Times Book Review"

Parenting coaches, ergonomic strollers, music classes, sleep consultants, luxury diaper creams, a never-ending rotation of DVDs that will make a baby smarter, socially adept, and bilingual before age three. Time-strapped, anxious parents hoping to provide the best for their baby are the perfect mark for the "parenting" industry.

In "Parenting, Inc.," Pamela Paul investigates the whirligig of marketing hype, peer pressure, and easy consumerism that spins parents into purchasing overpriced products and raising overprotected, overstimulated, and over-provided-for children. Paul shows how the parenting industry has persuaded parents that they cannot trust their children's health, happiness, and success to themselves. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at the baby business so that any parent can decode the claims--and discover shockingly unuseful products and surprisingly effective services.

Paul's book leads the way for every parent who wants to escape the spiral of fear, guilt, competition, and consumption that characterizes modern American parenthood.

The Frugal Factor - Better Living Through Rebates Discounts and Deals. It's not how much money you make; it's how much you keep! Written by a teacher, reading The Frugal Factor teaches how to have fun and involve your whole family, while saving money and getting the best deal. This is not just a storybook, The Frugal Factor provides all the information and resources you need to start keeping more of your money and improving your lifestyle. The Frugal Factors is packed with detailed information on how to save money while still buying the things you need and want. Through these pages are real life success stores. The author and his family completed all of these deals. These include FREE cell phones, FREE DVR's, making money buying FREE after rebate items and many more. In these pages you will learn how to read UPC codes, techniques for the best online deals, how to replace your cell phone at little or no cost, how to double dip on rebates, maximize online and grocery store coupons, and the secrets to winning Ebay auctions. The chapter on credit cards will show you how to make hundreds using credit card promotions, and by planning you next vacation the Frugal Factor way you will be able to spend less and do more. This book is for people who want to save money and improve their lifestyle. After reading The Frugal Factor you will be ready to "Do the Deal."