What is an Annual Percentage Rate (APR)?

The annual percentage rate (APR) is an interest rate that is different from the note rate. It is commonly used to compare loan programs from different lenders. The Federal Truth in Lending law requires mortgage companies to disclose the APR when they advertise a rate. Typically the APR is found next to the rate.

Example: 30-year fixed 8% 1 point 8.107% APR

The APR does NOT affect your monthly payments. Your monthly payments are a function of the interest rate and the length of the loan.

The APR is a very confusing number! Even mortgage bankers and brokers admit it is confusing. The APR is designed to measure the "true cost of a loan." It creates a level playing field for lenders. It prevents lenders from advertising a low rate and hiding fees.

If life were easy, all you would have to do is compare APRs from the lenders/brokers you are working with, then pick the easiest one and you would have the right loan. Right? Wrong!

Unfortunately, different lenders calculate APRs differently! So a loan with a lower APR is not necessarily a better rate. The best way to compare loans in the author's opinion is to ask lenders to provide you with a good-faith estimate of their costs on the same type of program (e.g. 30-year fixed) at the same interest rate. Then delete all fees that are independent of the loan such as homeowners insurance, title fees, escrow fees, attorney fees, etc. Now add up all the loan fees. The lender that has lower loan fees has a cheaper loan than the lender with higher loan fees.

The reason why APRs are confusing is because the rules to compute APR are not clearly defined.

What fees are included in the APR?

The following fees ARE generally included in the APR:

• Points - both discount points and origination points
• Pre-paid interest. The interest paid from the date the loan closes to the end of the month. Most mortgage companies assume 15 days of interest in their calculations. However, companies may use any number between 1 and 30!
• Loan-processing fee
• Underwriting fee
• Document-preparation fee
• Private mortgage-insurance

The following fees are SOMETIMES included in the APR:

• Loan-application fee
• Credit life insurance (insurance that pays off the mortgage in the event of a borrowers death)

The following fees are normally NOT included in the APR:

• Title or abstract fee
• Escrow fee
• Attorney fee
• Notary fee
• Document preparation (charged by the closing agent)
• Home-inspection fees
• Recording fee
• Transfer taxes
• Credit report
• Appraisal fee

An APR does not tell you how long your rate is locked for. A lender who offers you a 10-day rate lock may have a lower APR than a lender who offers you a 60-day rate lock!

Calculating APRs on adjustable and balloon loans is even more complex because future rates are unknown. The result is even more confusion about how lenders calculate APRs.

Do not attempt to compare a 30-year loan with a 15-year loan using their respective APRs. A 15-year loan may have a lower interest rate, but could have a higher APR, since the loan fees are amortized over a shorter period of time.

Finally, many lenders do not even know what they include in their APR because they use software programs to compute their APRs. It is quite possible that the same lender with the same fees using two different software programs may arrive at two different APRs!

Conclusion :
Use the APR as a starting point to compare loans. The APR is a result of a complex calculation and not clearly defined. There is no substitute to getting a good-faith estimate from each lender to compare costs. Remember to exclude those costs that are independent of the loan.

Alcohol Detoxification

Alcohol dependence and withdrawal symptoms

If you are alcohol dependent you have a strong desire to drink alcohol. In addition, your body is so used to lots of alcohol that you start to develop 'withdrawal' symptoms 3-8 hours after your last drink, as the effect of the alcohol wears off. So, even if you want to stop drinking, it is difficult because of the withdrawal symptoms.

The withdrawal symptoms include: feeling sick, trembling, sweating, craving for alcohol, and just feeling awful. Convulsions occur in a small number of cases. As a result, you drink alcohol regularly and 'depend' on it to prevent these symptoms. If you do not have any more alcohol the withdrawal symptoms usually last 5-7 days, but a craving for alcohol may persist longer.

Delirium tremens ('DTs') is a more severe reaction after stopping alcohol. It occurs in about 1 in 20 people who have alcohol withdrawal symptoms about 2-3 days after their last drink. Symptoms include: marked tremor (the shakes) and delirium (agitation, confusion, and seeing and hearing things that are not there). Some people have convulsions. Complications can develop such as dehydration and other serious physical problems. It is fatal in some cases.

What is detoxification?

Detoxification or 'detox' involves taking a short course of a medicine which helps to prevent withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking alcohol. The most commonly used medicine for detox is chlordiazepoxide. This is a benzodiazepine medicine.

Detox with the help of your GP

Many GPs are happy to prescribe for detox from alcohol. A common plan is as follows.

• A GP will prescribe a high dose of medication for the first day that you stop drinking alcohol.
• You then gradually reduce the dose over the next 5-7 days. This usually prevents, or greatly reduces, the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
• You must agree not to drink any alcohol when you are going through detox. A breathalyser may be used to confirm that you are not drinking.
• Your GP or practice nurse will usually see you quite often during the time of detox.
• Also during detox, support from family or friends can be of great help. Often the responsibility for getting the prescription, and giving the detox medicine is shared with a family member or friend. For example, a partner or parent of the person going through detox.

How will I feel going through detox?
Some people manage quite easily, others find it more difficult. You can expect to:

• Feel quite nervous or anxious for a few days.
• Have some difficulty with getting off to sleep for a few nights.
• Have some mild withdrawal symptoms, but they should not be too bad, and a lot less than if you were not taking the detox medicine.

The medication used for detox does not make you stop drinking. You need determination to stop. The medication simply helps you to feel better whilst your body readjusts to not having alcohol. Even after the period of detox you may still have some craving for alcohol. So you will still need willpower and coping strategies for when you feel tempted to drink.

Vitamin supplements
You are likely to be prescribed vitamins, particularly vitamin B1 (thiamine), if you are alcohol dependent. Especially during detox. This is because many people who are dependent on alcohol do not eat properly and can lack certain vitamins. A lack of vitamin B1 is the most common. A lack of this vitamin can cause serious brain conditions.

Detox with the help of other health professionals

Some people are referred to a specialist drug and alcohol unit for detox. This is usually better for people who have other physical or mental health problems and for those who have:

• little home or social support.
• a history of severe withdrawal symptoms.
• a physical illness caused by alcohol.
• had previous attempts to stop alcohol and have failed.

The medicines used to detox in specialist units are much the same as GPs prescribe. However, these units have more staff and expertise for giving support and counselling. Some people with serious alcohol related problems are admitted to hospital to detox.

After detoxification and staying off alcohol

After a successful detox, some people go back to drinking heavily again at some point. To help to prevent a 'relapse' you may be offered medication or other help.

Medication
You may be advised to take a medicine for several months to help you keep off alcohol.

• Acamprosate is a medicine which helps to ease alcohol cravings.
• Disulfiram is another medicine which is sometimes used following a successful detox. When you take disulfiram you get very unpleasant symptoms if you drink any alcohol (such as flushing, vomiting, palpitations and headache). So, in effect, the medicine acts as a deterrent for when you are tempted to drink. It can help some people to stay off alcohol.

Alcohol Analyzers - Portable Systems

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Associate Degrees Online

What is an Associate Degree?

Associate degrees are issued by institutions of higher education and consists of a certain amount of credits that a student earns.
Associate degree programs are designed for one of two objectives, either to prepare for an occupation, or to provide a foundation for a baccalaureate degree program.

Associate Degree Standards
Associate degrees should provide evidence of competencies in communications, social sciences, humanities and fine arts, analytical and inferential reasoning, and computational skills, as well as the ability to learn on your own.

General Education
General education should be an integral part of all associate degree programs in order to develop characteristics that help define an educated person. The liberal arts and sciences

• Communication,
• Natural Sciences/Mathematics,
• Humanities, and
• Social Science

are a fundamental component of all collegiate degrees. Granting a degree implies that the student has achieved general education experiences in addition to technical preparation that may be part of a program. There are standards regarding the minimum number of general education credits required outside of technical portions of a program for each type of associate degree. In accordance with commonly held standards Colleges, Universities, Distance Learning and Trade Schools agree that the general education portion of the associate degree program should be acceptable toward baccalaureate degrees.

Minimum Standards
All associate degrees should require the equivalent of at least two years of full-time study built around a defined body of knowledge. Because full-time enrollment is becoming less common, the minimum standards have been expressed here in terms of credits. Programs that do not measure academic progress by credits will need to demonstrate through equivalent measures that these standards are met.

In accordance with commonly held standards, the minimum requirement for an associate degree is 60 semester or 90 quarter credits. It is understood that institutions may use other terms (e.g., hours, courses) to express equivalent student accomplishment.

AT&T Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

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1 Broadband service charges not included. 1st month free offer expires 6/30/06 for web orders only. Int'l calls are billed at add'l per-minute rates. $29.99 service activation fee applies. Disconnect fee and other charges may apply. DSL or cable Internet access required. Service will not function during a power or broadband service outage and is not compatible with home or office security systems. Other restrictions apply.

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