NFL Predictions 2008 - 2009

It's easy to pick the Giants, Cowboys, Patriots, or Colts. I am sure they won't all falter this year and some upcoming teams are ready to challenge. The NFL powerhouses are due for a fall. After all, the Giants had a second place division finish and made the predictable - unpredictable again. You have to love the chances of the Vikings, Saints, Bills, Browns, Jaguars, and Raiders. They will be the most improved teams who could challenge for it all.

2008 National Football Conference

NFC EAST

Dallas - Runs away from this division. Runs all the way to the Conference final. Romo falls for Vikings cheerleader who spikes Vikes Gatorade with Ex-Lax.

NY Giants - Sometimes everything falls into place. This year they will struggle to be a Wild Card and then it's all over for repeating.

Washington - Improved team, Enough to beat the Giants in the Wild Card game.

Philadelphia - Just don't have all the pieces in place.

NFC NORTH

Minnesota - Purple offensive monsters crush Dallas in the Conference final for a Super Bowl birth. Ex Lax makes them run faster.

Green Bay - Good all around strength but not good enough this year.

Detroit - How can a team go on and on without a quality quarterback?

Chicago - How can a team go on and on without a quality quarterback?

NFC SOUTH

New Orleans - Will be more consistent this year. Brees has a great year and defense picks it up a notch.

Carolina - Too much expectation and not consistent enough.

Tampa Bay - Boring. Boring. Boring.

Atlanta - Do they send the rejects here or are they created here?

NFC WEST

Seattle - Very well-rounded team. Could go all the way.

Arizona - Please change the name of the team to the Desert Rams.

St. Louis - Please change the name of the team to the Cardinals.

San Francisco - Please change the team.

2008 American Football Conference

AFC EAST

New England - Easy schedule poor training for playoffs. Bill Belichick is hung in effigy after Pats get bumped out by Jags.

Buffalo - Young defense gets monster-like. Will lose the Conference final to the Jags breaking the hearts of Buffalo fans again.

NY Jets - Not Brets fault but Farve gets carved with hapless Jets. Fans want everyone fired or executed.

Miami - The Tuna, the Dolphins, Ricky Williams. This is a very cheap version of a junior Cowboy team. Can somebody spell
Q u a r t e r b a c k?

AFC NORTH

Cleveland - A year away from going all the way. They should watch old Browns black and white movies with Carlings Black Label commercials. Fake like they are hurt and kill guys like Jim Brown did.

Pittsburgh - Can look great - and then very average. Browns overtake them.

Cincinnati - Carson Palmer should demand a trade. Great talent on overrated team.

Baltimore - Locker room poison begins to flourish. Good team - no chemistry.

AFC SOUTH

Jacksonville - Defensive monsters go all the way to Conference Final.

Indianapolis - Not enough Marvin Harrison or Defense. Payton bring them back - next year.

Tennessee - Good team with ugly uniforms. Should watch old John Hadl Charger films. No passing - no playoffs.

Houston - Improved defense and team with very cool uniforms gets steadily better but not good enough yet.

AFC WEST

San Diego - Look for a little losing streak to start the finger pointing.

Oakland - Everyone will hate them. Except the Raider Nation. Now if they only had Lamonica.

Denver - Continues to dive. Jay Cutler would take Green Bay a long way but not this team.

Kansas City - Abner Haynes returns. These are not the Super Chiefs.

AFC - Jacksonville over Buffalo - as Bills miss controversial two point conversion to win it. Fans destroy Wilson stadium forcing the Bills to become the Toronto Maple Leafs.

NFC - Vikings over Cowboys - in a romp. Cowboys immediately trade Romo to the Dolphins for the Tuna. Jerry Jones gets face lift and now looks like Joan Rivers. Little Bum Phillips is elected coach of the year for putting up with more crap than any coach in history.

Super Bowl -Halftime show is Michael Phelps swimming 14 consecutive 200m swims across Tampa Stadium. Raiders Al Davis signs him as a tight end.
Tarvaris Jackson is injured as time winds down with the Jags up on the Vikes by 6. Gus Frerotte leads game ending drive as the Minnesota Vikings win the Super Bowl. Adrian Peterson gains 200 yds. with 3 TD's to become MVP.

The American Italian Baby Boomer

Charles Priore
Italian American Baby Boomers Club
http://IABBC.com

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Renting Your Home For the Super Bowl

If you own a property near Tampa, remember that Super Bowl XLIII happens on February 1, 2009 in Tampa Bay. This is a great opportunity for Tampa homeowners to make some extra income and vacation rental owners to book an extra week or two at a premium price. Here's what to do after a potential renter has expressed interest in your home:

So You've Got a Renter...

The first thing to do upon receiving an inquiry from a potential renter is to contact that person. It's easiest to do this by email, but it's also a good idea to do it by phone. Whichever first-contact method you choose, you'll want to speak with potential renters over the phone before sending anyone a contract.

Once you screen your prospective guest to your satisfaction, go ahead and send them a short-term rental agreement. There are many sample forms available online that you can reference. Make sure the contract includes clauses about house rules, penalties for damages to the property, and details about how guests can place and get back their security deposit.

Security deposits for vacation rentals generally run 10% of the total cost of renting the home. After the renter puts down the money, you can start collecting the actual rental payment. There are two ways to make this process easier for both you and your future guest: installments and credit cards.

Sometimes paying in installments works better with people's budgets, especially if they are paying a pretty penny to stay in your home. However, you'll want to collect the full amount before their check-in day. In fact, the safest practice is to try to have the money in your bank account at least one month in advance. Credit cards make it possible for a renter to pay you immediately without the hassle of writing and mailing a check. It also confirms the booking right away. To accept credit card payments, you may need to set up a PayPal account. PayPal is an online service that facilitates credit card transactions.

Personal checks are fine to accept as methods of payment, but keep in mind that they can be slow. Renters will need to mail the check, you will have to cash it, and then it can take a while for the check to clear. For this reason, try to give checks a couple weeks of cushion. Remember, you should not give anyone access to your home before collecting the total payment in full.

No matter how much fun your guests have at the Super Bowl, they should leave on the checkout date specified in the rental contract. After inspecting your property for damages, you can return the security deposit. If you find damages, send your former guests copies of receipts for the cost of repairs. Keep the originals in case of legal action.

How to Advertise

Arranging a guest's stay may be all well and good, but you have to get their attention and their booking first. The good news is that marketing to football fans may not be as hard as making an 80 yard run:

Online advertising can be an effective way to reach prospective renters. However, free sites are not always the best option (no matter how tempting they may be) because they sometimes lack credibility. The best bet is to stick with genuine vacation rental portal sites. Although these sites come with a fee, the income you can earn from a potential booking easily covers the fee and should leave you with a profit. Even more importantly, this type of backing boosts your credibility and gives your whole operation an air of professionalism.

On the flip side, reputable sites have lots of rental listings so your property will likely have some competition. Someone wading through a list of available homes could make their decision based wholly on how well you present your home on your listing page. Here are some tips for designing a solid vacation rental listing page:

- Make your home stand out by including phrases in the title and description advertising your home as available for Super Bowl weekend.
- Consider offering specials to potential guests as a way to catch their eye.
- Use clear, attractive photos to show your home in the best possible light. Even people looking for the best deal appreciate comfortable lodging.
- Enhance your professionalism by being upfront about your rates, fees, and property location.
- Try to respond promptly to inquiries in a polite and forthcoming manner to make a good impression. Studies show that when a vacation rental owner responds to a traveler's inquiry within three hours, they are twice as likely to seal the booking.

Additional Considerations:

You can usually get a good idea of a pricing range for your home by checking out other Tampa area short-term rentals and hotels. Try to look at places similar to your home in size, amenities, and distance to the stadium. This will give you a rough estimate of what is normal for the area and then you can adjust the rates depending on perks you offer or lack.

If you have tickets to the game or want to attend the festivities too, you may consider renting out just one room of your house. Going this route would limit the amount you could charge, but you get to stay and enjoy Super Bowl weekend. Staying in town may be a good idea anyway because either you or someone you trust should be in the area during the Super Bowl in case of emergencies. It is also important to arrange for a housekeeper to clean up before and after your guests' stay. They may also be able to serve as your emergency contact if you decide to go out of town that weekend.

You may not own a home in Tampa, but that doesn't mean you can't get a piece of the Super Bowl pie. Even short-term rentals in the surrounding areas-- like St. Petersburg or Brandon-- will likely attract football fans. A word of caution: Don't forget to verify your local short-term rental restrictions and make sure you're playing by all the rules on game day. A little time and energy will garner trustworthy renters excited about football.

Anne Frugé is a staff writer for the HomeAway.com Owner Community, a great resource for vacation rental home owners featuring educational articles, vacation rental news, owner polls, monthly newsletters, and a weekly internet radio show by bestselling author Christine Karpinski. Or if you're looking for a vacation home to rent, browse Vacation Rentals on http://www.HomeAway.com.

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Current Trends In Women's Fashion

Looking for the hottest trends in women's fashion for spring - and summer - of 2008? No one can predict the future, but knowing the fashions that are hot right now can help predict what will be hot next... and looking fashionable in the meantime is good, too.

So, what's popular now? Well, that's an easy question!

Bright Colors

The past winter has been too cold for everyone. With spring here, and summer around the corner, lots of bright colors are being introduced into our closet.

Colors that reflect spring are seen on many women, and who can blame them? It's a great look - how can you honestly be in a bad mood when you're dressed in bright, beautiful clothing?

Bold Patterns

Gone are the days of when we fashionista's were scared of patterns - now, designers are draping us in bold, bright patterns that scream 'we're here! Get used to us!', and many experts expect this trend in women's fashion to continue for a while.

When looking into some popular patterns, check out those with bright colors, bold designs, and contrasting colors. Not only will you look great, but you'll be a focal point in a room.

Ruffles

Feel like you did when you were five, and your mother stuffed you into a dress that had more ruffles than you could count? Too bad - because with trends for women's fashion this year, ruffles are back with a vengeance.

Feminine

The underlining tone of all of our fashions this year is looking feminine. You can tell in the bright colors, flowing dresses, and ruffles that women are ready to say 'we're here, we're women, and we look great'.

Spring for outfits with see through fabric, lace, ruffles, and the overall look that's delicate, feminine, and sexy. You won't be sorry!

Maxi Dresses

So many women are excited to be able to wear something that's not only fashionable, but so very comfortable. Integrating a maxi dress into your wardrobe means that you're comfortable, and looking amazing.

Because of their popularity last year, they're back - and we're loving it. You can throw on a bright maxi dress, a pair of sandals, do something light and easy with your hair, and you're out of the house. Comfortable, stylish, and very trendy.

Many people have been looking to Diane von Furstenberg for her unique and innovative maxi dresses. If you're not sure where to start the search for the perfect maxi dress, try her!

When you're buying maxi dresses, remember the keys to this spring and summer - bold, bright, flowing, and beautiful.

Basically...

For the 2008 season, go bold. Go bright. Be a little more adventurous with your fashion. The current trends in women's fashion is, after all, a little 'out there'!

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for used clothing, used watches, and vacuum food sealers. When shopping for used clothing, used watches, and vacuum food sealers, shop only at the best online stores for women's clothing, used watches, and vacuum food sealers.

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