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Split the 3D view by middle mouse clicking between the two windows.

Change the new window into a UVImage Editor.

Load your image by clicking Image->Open

Switch into edit mode on your object.

With all the vertices selected type U and choose project from view. You much be looking strait at you object from the view.

Scale your UV mesh to fit the picture.

Switch into Textured draw mode to see the results.

Click on the Shading button and Add New.

Switch to the texture buttons and Add New.

Choose Image from the list.

Switch back to the materials button and in the Map Input tab click on UV.

Your image should render now with the texture on your object.