Avoid wedding rip-offs

Planning a wedding can be a stressful event. The last thing you need is to be ripped-off by an unscrupulous wedding vendor or planner. Here are a few tips to help avoid this problem.

Make Your Wedding Arrangements and Bookings As Far In Advance As Possible

Most facilities, vendors, and planners can be booked more than a year in advance. If possible, take advantage of this window of opportunity. Should something go wrong, it will provide you with more time to make alternate arrangements. Also, be aware that some vendors will actually charge you more if you order or book things at the last minute.

Shop Around and Deal With Trustworthy People

Before booking anything you should shop around and get an idea of current prices for each category of your wedding. Don't just hire the first caterer you meet with. Ask around with family, friends, co-workers, etc. and get their recommendations about services they may have used. If you want to be extra safe in this regard, you could also call your local Better Business Bureau. They can provide you with any problem information they may have received regarding a particular company.

Get Everything in Writing

It would seem obvious to do this, but a lot of couples tend to go on "faith" of what a vendor says, then are shocked with the vendor doesn't follow through. Get everything, down to the smallest detail, in writing and be sure both you and the vendor agree on all points before signing any contract. Include exact descriptions, such as if you are ordering flowers: how may bouquets, the exact type and color of the flowers, etc.

Be Aware of The Fine Print

Read any contracts over very carefully. Pay particular attention to their cancellation policy. You want to make sure it includes a provision for a refund of the deposit if you cancel or change your wedding date by a certain time period before your wedding. Of course, reasonably, you would not get a deposit back if you cancelled two days before the wedding. Be sure to also include a written statement on the contract that you will not pay for services and will expect a complete refund on any deposits if the company does not deliver exactly as specified in the contract. A reputable company will respect this clause.

Regarding Photographers and DJ's

When booking these services with a company, often you may wish to have a particular photographer/videographer and DJ for your wedding because you have seen their work or heard their play style and really like it. Make sure this is detailed on the contract with the person's name. Again, also include the clause that if that particular person is substituted, you will not pay for the service and will receive a refund on all deposits.

This happened at our wedding with the DJ. The one we were told was coming and who knew how our ceremony music was laid out did not show up, and the substitute DJ that showed had no idea how the wedding service was to proceed with the music. There was a mess up with some songs during the ceremony and we had no recourse, as we didn't include that provision in the contract. So be aware of this. Don't pay for a last minute substitute (unless you were thoroughly happy with their service).

Golf handicap systems help even out scorecards for competitive golf play

The golf handicap system is implemented at golf courses, for golf tournament play. Trophies and prizes are awarded at the end of golf tournaments, based on golf scores. In order to make the golf game fair play, the handicap system is based on the ten lowest differentials of the last twenty games on an eighteen-hole course in one season. Some golf associations will accept fewer golf games. It can also be used for fair play outside of golf tournaments. The following is a short guide on how the golf handicap system works.

Handicap numbers are recorded for golf players numbered one through thirty-six, the number one being the lowest handicap, and the number thirty-six being the highest handicap. A scratch golfer has no handicap, better known as a scratch player.

Now lets take a look at how these numbers come into affect. If a player’s handicap is ten, and another player’s handicap are twenty. The difference between the two players is ten golf strokes. Therefore, to even up the match, the player with the lower handicap, which this case is the ten-handicap golf player, has to give out ten golf strokes to his opponent on eighteen holes, to make the golf game fair play. How do you identify on which golf holes they are going to be given out?

Typically on most, if not all golf scorecards, you will find numbers 1 through 18 near the bottom of the scorecard beside Men’s HCP and Ladies HCP. The numbers 1 through 18, you will also find out of order. The reason for the disorder of numbers is, the number 1 being the hardest golf hole, and the number 18 being the easiest golf hole. The golf course, or architect of the golf course, determines the order of numbers on any given golf hole, by the yardage and slope rating, and or other difficulty of the golf hole.

Now that we have determined how many golf strokes are to be given out, and where they are to be taken. The higher handicap in this case, which is the twenty handicap golf player, gets ten golf strokes for eighteen holes, on holes numbered 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, and 10. This should make the match a lot closer, if both players are playing within their game. It typically works out to one golf stroke on every other golf hole in this example, depending on how the golf course is laid out. Another example would be a scratch player and a thirty-six-handicap player, the scratch player having to give out two golf strokes on every hole.

Keeping track of your handicap, and using a handicap system, will help make the game fair play in a lot of golf matches, when playing against other opponents.

Check with your local golf pro, or golf association, on an official guide for the golf handicap system, and for maintaining a legitimate handicap. If you belong to a golf course, they should have a system in place to use for tournament play, which is recognized by most golf courses and golf associations. You can also find golf handicap software on keeping track of a golf handicap.

Improve your credit score by correcting your credit report

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), both the consumer reporting company and the information provider (the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to a consumer reporting company) are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To take advantage of all your rights under the FCRA, contact the consumer reporting company and the information provider if you see inaccurate or incomplete information.

1. Tell the consumer reporting company, in writing, what information you think is inaccurate. Include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position. In addition to providing your complete name and address, your letter should clearly identify each item in your report that you dispute, state the facts and explain why you dispute the information, and request that the information be deleted or corrected. You may want to enclose a copy of your report with the items in question circled. Send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the consumer reporting company received. Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures.

Consumer reporting companies must investigate the items in question — usually within 30 days — unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They also must forward all the relevant data you provide about the inaccuracy to the organization that provided the information. After the information provider receives notice of a dispute from the consumer reporting company, it must investigate, review the relevant information, and report the results back to the consumer reporting company. If the information provider finds the disputed information is inaccurate, it must notify all three nationwide consumer reporting companies so they can correct the information in your file.

When the investigation is complete, the consumer reporting company must give you the written results and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. (This free report does not count as your annual free report under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT) Act.) If an item is changed or deleted, the consumer reporting company cannot put the disputed information back in your file unless the information provider verifies that the information is, indeed, accurate and complete. The consumer reporting company also must send you written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the information provider.

If you request, the consumer reporting company must send notices of any correction to anyone who received your report in the past six months. A corrected copy of your report can be sent to anyone who received a copy during the past two years for employment purposes.

If an investigation doesn't resolve your dispute with the consumer reporting company, you can ask that a statement of the dispute be included in your file and in future reports. You also can ask the consumer reporting company to provide your statement to anyone who received a copy of your report in the recent past. Expect to pay a fee for this service.

2. Tell the creditor or other information provider, in writing, that you dispute an item. Be sure to include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position. Many providers specify an address for disputes. If the provider reports the item to a consumer reporting company, it must include a notice of your dispute. And if you are correct - that is, if the information is found to be inaccurate - the information provider may not report it again.

3. It is imperative that you keep an eagle eye on your credit reports so that you can dispute erroneous transactions in a timely manner. You can easily request a free copy of your credit report online to see if there are any bogus transactions, inaccuracies, or outright mistakes.

4. Your good credit and identity can be compromised without your knowledge, so it is in your best interest to check your free credit report regularly. Don’t lose your identity and good reputation because of mistakes on your credit report or corrected errors that still show up during a credit check. You need to look out for yourself and take action.

No more financial distress foreclosure assistance provided

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Being in a difficult financial situation is no picnic and most people have a hard time trying to cope with the possibility of losing their homes. Everyone dreads foreclosure and unfortunately, a large percent of those who are in debt see no other way around. In an effort to prevent such drastic measures from being taken, Arizona foreclosure prevention companies have started to present their solutions online hoping that more homeowners would seek assistance in order to stop foreclosure. They service the ones with multiple financial debts, bad credit and also those who are late on payments. The many years of experience can be noticed in the quality of services provided and they are especially to be prized when it comes to the foreclosure assistance provided.

Aside from credit repair, Phoenix foreclosure prevention consists of repayment plans and refinancing options. By resorting to experts in the field, homeowners are not forced anymore to accept the foreclosure of their properties and they can benefit from some of the most ingenious strategies. If you are late on payments and creditors have threatened you with foreclosure, you have to find someone to provide the help you so much need. If you do nothing, you will end up losing your home and regretting it all your life. With the aid of a specialized company in Arizona foreclosure, you will be provided with more than one option and you will definitely feel glad that you have taken such a decision.

Let’s talk about the possibility of refinancing and how you can use that solution in order to stop foreclosure. If you have a home loan and you are finding difficult to pay the monthly rates, then you can resort to the services of experts in the field in order to discuss the possibility of refinancing. The general amount of the loan will be raised of course but you will be able to pay your debts and escape the dreadful foreclosure. You have to pay increased attention when it comes to refinancing as the terms of the loans will change and you will have to pay an interest rate that is greater than usual. Make sure that this is the decision you want to take and that you are able to meet up to the demands of the new situation.

No matter if you go for credit repair, refinancing or actual selling of the property, the important thing is to ask for help. Listen carefully to what the specialists in foreclosure have to say and research information about the Arizona foreclosure law. Be realistic and don’t expect miracles to happen. Find a company that is dedicated to your goals and that wants to help you stay in your home. Foreclosure help is available for all those out there in financial distress and these services are invaluable when it comes to avoiding foreclosure. A true professional is not concerned with the reasons that got you into debt in the first place and is occupied with finding solutions that will best correspond to your case. State foreclosure assistance is available and these specialists will come up with intelligent plans that will allow you to manage your financial obligations much better in the future. It is very easy to go online and ask for foreclosure assistance, so don’t hesitate too much and ask for help.

Coaching an attitude

Do you find yourself in a difficult work environment with no immediate view of a change in occupation? Do you labor on wondering if your work matters or if the future will ever be bright enough to wear shades?

If so, you can endure the difficulties and in the end you may be better equipped to manage future assignments in either your present job or any new employment you may pursue.

How can such a miracle take place?

Attitude. Your attitude about even the hardest of assignments can help you in the future. The truth is the only person you can control in this life is yourself. You can decide how you will respond. If you decide you are angry with your boss and that the demands placed on you are unreasonable your actions will demonstrate the perspective you have adopted. You will not be a pleasant employee, coworker, parent or spouse.

There is a story of a business owner that hired a temporary employee. The first day the business owner told the man that he needed a pile of bricks moved from one location on the property to another and then the bricks were to be carefully restacked. The man complied with the request easily enough and at the end of the day a beautiful stack of bricks were the representation of his attention to detail.

The second day the business owner pointed to the pile of bricks that were moved the day before and told the man that he wanted the bricks moved back to their original location and restacked. Without complaint the man happily complied with the same careful attention.

This happened for three more days and each day the temporary worker complied with what seemed to be an insane request and the boss was well pleased.

The story concludes with the temporary worker being selected as a supervisor in the company because he knew that value of following directions without complaint – even when the requests made no sense.

As an employee you may not have the ability to alter the direction your boss has determined for you. You might think it unfair, but your most important job is determining how you respond to the demands placed on you. A positive attitude could change how your boss perceives you and your abilities.

Another story is told of an elderly woman moved from her long-term home to a nursing care center. Even before she saw the room she exclaimed, “I love the room.”

A nurse said, “You haven’t even seen the room yet. How can you say you love it?”

“Because I’ve already made up my mind that I will, and that’s enough,” the older woman replied with a smile.

Our attitude can radically change our perspective and the way others perceive us. Stress levels decrease when we refuse to hold onto the stress that causes physical problems like ulcers and headaches.

You can actually be empowered by knowing that when it comes to how you respond YOU are the one in charge.

Freelance services and outsource

The Software Development, programming or complete IT world is set to change. Big companies are getting bigger and small companies are either getting smaller or getting out of the IT business. Now a days small and medium level buyers have started looking for cheaper options for outsource work like outsourcing Pakistan and others for offshore web development or freelance graphic designer etc. and so the life of employees working in Software Services companies is gradually going towards instability.

The availability of freelancing jobs are also on the rise in the world market. If a programmer or any software expert, is ready to put in some extra hours to use his/her skills and experience, as a freelance graphic designer, freelance flash work, offshore web development or having any kind of specialty then the chances of survival in the industry becomes much bigger. Freelancing is becoming a potential option, too good to be ignored, helping freelancers to earn money and buyers a value for their money as well, ewises. com is planning to outsource work in some ways, which can help programmers to reap the benefits to outsource projects as a freelancer.

ewises. com has allowed freelance programmer, developers and designers to focus on offshore web development or outsource to Pakistan. Instead of going out looking for jobs and clients who have projects in hand and ready to hear what freelancer can do for them. Freelancers are ready to outsource projects. The Web Agent ewises. com mostly Outsource to Pakistan and the services are cheap and best.

The type of jobs could be different every time. Some of them could be Development of a new project or testing an existing project or enhancing an already available proprietary or open source code or writing content etc. If any buyer required a freelance graphic Designer, freelance flash work, offshore web development, all services available and outsource to Pakistan,

Of course the first medium of choice for programmers is freelancing through the web. Because offline marketing is so tedious and will also need a lot of resources. So the obvious choice will be freelancing web Agent with the following qualities.

1. Freelancer has a lot of projects to choose from.

2. Web Agent pays the programmers regularly and sincerely after completion of a project.

3. Web Agent charges nominal commissions.

4. Web Agent resolves disputes (if any) by interfacing between the freelancer and buyers.

5. Web Agent has secure payment facilities

ewises. com is also offering opportunities for programmers. This could be in the form of compensation for writing content /article/sample projects etc. Outsource your freelance projects to a freelance programmer and designers at the prices you want to pay. ewises. com offers, freelance programmers and graphic designers, jobs that they can choose to work from. Contact us for your freelance projects or freelance websites and find the freelance programmers, graphic designers, web designers, and web developers.

Freelancers outsourcing Pakistan search and choose the right project, which matches their skill sets, for this they write a neat and complete introduction about what they or their group of people can offer. This intro could include the freelancer’s past experience, any excellence records/rewards, qualifications which buyers think makes them the right person for the job etc. during all activities any freelancer shouldn’t try to by-pass the site's rules as the buyer could develop distrust on the provider. One has to be prompt in replying to the queries raised by the buyer with clear answers. Though the messages can bounce back and forth for a while, this approach can really develop confidence with the buyer to choose the provider.

Freelancing Responsibilities:

After winning the project, it is essential to complete the project on time. If there is any delay or the project is planned to be for longer duration, the buyer should be kept updated with regular status reports. After completion of the project it is vital to request the buyer to give feedback about the work. These references will help freelancers in getting more projects easily.

Contact us for outsource work, outsourcing Pakistan freelancers, or required a freelance graphic Designer for your freelance projects or freelance websites and find the freelance programmers, graphic designers, web designers, and web developers.

ewises. com/

A fiji vacation package to the matangi island resort

A Fiji Vacation package to a Fijian island sounds like a dream, but the island you select is vitally important. The Matangi Island resort is the perfect solution and in fact is also an ideal place for a Fiji honeymoon. Matangi is like having your own private Fijian Island, and it is a very exclusive small resort, combining privacy, lovely beaches, great staff to guest ratio, good snorkeling, scuba diving, and superb food.

Matangi is a 240 acre island which is privately owned in Fiji’s northern group of islands. It has 11 beachfront bures, and 3 tree house suites; all built traditionally, and each with superb views. The beachfront bures are under the palm trees, and well spaced out for privacy. Each bure has king sized beds in the very spacious sleeping area. There is a good size living area, good en-suite facilities and a verandah. In fact exactly the facilities you would expect to find in a first class luxury hotel, except it looks like a traditional Fijian village where you don’t have to wear shoes!!

It is all to easy to take a Fijian vacation Package and never quite see the real Fiji, the kind of Fiji island vacation where you abandon your watch, your laptop, your television viewing schedule and get the chance to see life Fiji style.

You can do this at Matangi, where meals are announced by the traditional Fijian Lali Drum, and you very quickly begin to live your life not by the clock but by the drum.

Meals are served in the Dining Bure or on the Deck which sits out over the water with wonderful views over the neighboring islands. All three meals plus snacks are included in the daily rate.

The food here is excellent. For breakfast there is a hot menu and a fruit and cereal buffet style selection.

Lunch and Dinner has the choice of salad or soup, a main course and sweet. Add to this afternoon tea and cakes and evening appetizers.

The only things you have to pay for are alcohol, because water, tea, coffee and breakfast juices are included in the daily rate. The menu changes every day and the service is excellent.

One of the best opportunities given whilst staying on Matangi is to be around the local islanders, and the resort ensures you have the chance of doing just this.

There are weekly trips to a traditional Fijian village on the neighboring island of Qama, and if you possibly can then ask to go to the Fijian mass at the Catholic church on Taveuni. Take a picnic on honeymoon cove, and go to the waterfalls.

It is very true to say that Matangi isn’t just for a vacation. Many visitors come to get married, and many many more for the perfect Fiji honeymoon vacation, resort or package. This is a truly romantic spot in a very romantic part of the world. It is the perfect place to relax after all the excitement of organizing and actually getting married!!

A few final points to make. Remoteness has its slight drawbacks, and one of them is the price of alcoholic drinks which have to be imported.

Also you need to be prepared for the flight from Nadi/Suva to Taveuni, as the aircraft is only a fifteen seater.

This is small, so if you don’t enjoy flying, it will be an experience worth relating when you get home.

Matangi doesn’t take credit cards, but again you’ll only need to worry about your drinks bill because you’ll have paid the rest up front. In addition there seems to be no tipping, although you can make a contribution to the staff fund

Matangi is worth it, and finally the cream on the cake is the exquisite snorkeling on unspoilt reefs. Just go, and enjoy your own best Fiji resort.

If you are interested in other Pacific Ocean Hideaways then look up worldwidevacationspots. com/categories/Pacific-Ocean-Hideways/

The first pair of baby shoes

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NEVER JUDGE A BABY UNTIL YOU’VE WOBBLED A MILE IN HER WEEBOK’S

Any parent will tell you that there is nothing quite like watching as your child takes her first steps. When little Tom or Katie start to teeter around upright for the first time there are a few messages that should flash through your mind in order of importance. Somewhere after “please don’t fall, oh please don’t fall” and “hmmm… the ‘out of baby reach’ shelves need to be a bit higher now” should be “time to get the little one some shoes.” And so the hunt for baby shoes begins.

WHEN IS IT TIME TO BUY BABY SHOES?

Once your baby starts taking those first steps, it is definitely shoe time. While it is perfectly acceptable (and actually quite helpful) to allow a new walker to go barefoot while learning to balance and totter around effectively, there are situations where shoes are a must due to hazardous or unsanitary conditions. A good rule of thumb is “in the house and on the carpet barefoot is ok - on tiled floors and out of doors shoes are the way.” Walking barefoot helps babies learn to use their little feet and toes effectively to balance and “get their sea legs” so to speak, so it’s a good idea to allow them to be sans footwear whenever feasible. On surfaces that may contain hazards, however, shoes are a must.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A BABY SHOE

Baby shoes should be comfortable and flexible so that the child is encouraged to walk in them. Look for shoes that are made of breathable material so the baby’s feet don’t get too hot or sweaty. There’s nothing sadder than a toddler with a case of athlete’s foot that reaches “William Perry” on the severity scale. The soles should offer some traction but not be so thick that the baby can’t feel the floor beneath her feet. Nothing will make your baby take a header more quickly than a pair of shoes with thick, heavy soles.

Remember that baby shoes are not the same as those for adults and older children. They should not need to be “broken in” by the child because that simply isn’t going to happen. Baby shoes aren’t worn long enough to be worn out or broken in. When fitting the shoe, make sure that it doesn’t rub the little one’s feet the wrong way and that there’s plenty of room to grow. Now that you’re buying baby shoes you should be prepared to buy them often. Babies grow faster than you may realize and you’ll probably be looking for new baby shoes about once a month.

For your baby’s first few pairs of shoes you may want a pair with Velcro fasteners rather than laces. It’s easy for babies to untie shoelaces, which will have you either retying them repeatedly or constantly worrying that little Dave or Carmen is going to trip over a loose shoelace. As the child ages, however, find some point to switch to laces. Just because Velcro shoes are available into adult sizes doesn’t mean you want your son to be unable to tie his shoes until he’s thirty-seven.

Relax and unwind

It seems that our busy lifestyles have got more Brits than ever looking for weekend retreats.

At the end of a long week of stress and anxiety what could be better than heading of in the direction of one of the UK’s many luxury health farms or spas to indulge in body envelopment treatments, relaxing massages and whirlpools?

You will be spoilt for choice as the ever growing demand for spa breaks has meant that it’s not just your luxury health farms that are in on the act. Generally hotels across the UK are adding on fantastic spa’s to their existing leisure facilities. These hotels are rivalling the big UK spa’s by offering the same relaxing environment. You don’t have to even stay over night as many hotels are opening their doors to day spa guests.

This array of choice means that there are some bargains out there to be had due to the increasing competition.

A new trend in online specialist weekend break agents is occurring. These agents will secure spa breaks and spa day packages at hugely discounted prices. Up to 70% off in some instances.

When booking a spa break it is likely to include accommodation, dinner from a Table D’hote or A la Carte menu, full English breakfast, one or two treatments such as a back, neck & shoulder massage or a soothing facial and use of the venues leisure facilities. Don’t be fooled by thinking that there is nothing for the male of the species either. Most hotels have a specific treatment programme dedicated to men. An option to add on extra spa treatments is usually available so you can leave feeling totally and utterly relaxed.

Agencies usually have an array of weekend break, not just spa breaks. They may offer romantic breaks where you’ll get dinner and breakfast included plus extra little treats such as champagne and flowers in your room on arrival. Alternatively if you fancy a weekend of working on your handicap then golf breaks are available too.

Ceramic tile underlayments - the basics

Ceramic tile material is rigid and relatively brittle, so a sturdy base is the most critical part of installing this type of tile. Unless you want to see cracked tiles, loose tiles, or loose grout, you need to select the proper underlayment. Underlayment being what the construction trade calls the layer that goes between your wood subfloor and your tiles.

You have several alternate ways to accomplish the strong underlayment required for ceramic tile installation.

Plywood - just a single layer of plywood isn't rigid enough to stop floor deflection. It needs to be covered over with an additional layer of exterior-grade plywood to achieve a total thickness of at least 1 1/8 inch. You can either (A)- Cover the plywood with a cement backer board (more on these below) or (B) Cover the existing plywood with a second layer of exterior grade plywood. Under either of these, a thin-set mortar is applied to eliminate air gaps. Additionally, in bathrooms, it's recommended to lay a "shower pan" over your wood subfloor. This refers to thin rubberized materials that protect the tile from floor expansion and contraction due to moisture, temperature and humidity.

Cement Backer Board - These are prefabricated, lightweight concrete sheets used to cover wood subfloors. It has a dense Portland concrete core and fiberglass surfaces both sides and is able to withstand prolonged exposure to moisture. Brand names include DUROCK, UTILICRETE, WONDERBOARD and GLASCRETE. Joints of the backer board sheets should be staggered such that they don't fall directly over the wood subfloor joints.

Mortar Bed - Mud beds, or mortar beds, are used by professional tile contractors mostly. They're composed of a layer of thick roofing felt, then wire mesh, followed by a layer of mortar. The reason it is used mostly by the specialists is that it takes a high level of skill and practice to ensure the mortar bed produces a sufficiently level surface. The other reason is that it is the best foundation possible for a ceramic tile floor. Okay, but why? Because the mortar bed has a built-in reinforcement against floor deflections in the form of the wire mesh. Translation - less cracked tiles and loose grout, and longer-life flooring.

Concrete Slab -

You can lay your ceramic tile directly on concrete slab, but all cracks and holes need to be refurbished prior before the installation of a tile when it's directly bonded to the concrete. Some concrete slab has been coated with curing compound to help the slab set without cracks. This compound should be removed before tile installation to ensure a long-lasting mortar bond, since the compound helps the concrete retain moisture and in some cases affects adhesiveness. It is also important that the slab be as level as possible, especially with the larger tile sizes in use today. Cleaning the concrete completely of debris and dust will also contribute to a higher quality installation. In short, preparation of the surface is key.

One other possibility is laying the tile over existing flooring. There are a few things to consider. Is your existing floor solid, flat and in good shape? Is it stuck well enough to the subfloor under it to provide support? Good. Is the existing floor linoleum or vinyl? Not so good. You need to strip it out or put a good subflooring on top of it. (And watch out for older vinyl flooring, which may contain asbestos fibers. You don't want to strip this stuff out yourself. Instead, either cover it up with some plywood subfloor or have a contractor remove it. If you aren't sure if your flooring has asbestos, call in a trained asbestos inspector.) If you have ceramic tile on the floor you can lay newer tile on top of it as long as it's surface is level and not too smooth. You might need to sand the surface to let your bonding have a better chance.

In conclusion, a little planning and thought will go a long way toward making your tile installation project a long-lasting addition to your home, so take the time before you go in with "both guns blazing".

Buying birth control products

A lot of studies have shown that most accidental and unwanted pregnancies belong to adolescents between the ages of fifteen and nineteen. The United States holds the highest teen pregnancy rate among the different developed countries. A recent study showed that approximately thirty-one percent of American women get pregnant before reaching the age of twenty, and roughly thirteen percent of all American males between the ages of fifteen and nineteen have admitted to have fathered a pregnancy.

But why do we have a high percentage of surprise pregnancies? We cannot blame it on a lack of contraceptive measures because there are a lot of different birth control products available in the market. Whether the youth understand the idea of using contraceptives is out of the question, it is whether or not they know where and how to get birth control products that is the problem.

How can I get birth control products?

A lot of different birth control products require prescription from doctors. Barrier contraceptive products like the cervical cap and the diaphragm need to be prescribed because you have to be sized by a health care professional to be able to get a good fit. A properly fitted cervical cap or diaphragm ensures efficacy and more protection from unwanted pregnancies. Hormonal contraceptives like oral contraceptive pills, hormonal patches, and vaginal rings deal with altering a woman’s hormone levels by means of synthetic hormones. Because these products use man-made chemicals to induce such alterations, it may have serious side effects or cause undesirable drug interactions, and therefore it requires a prescription. Contraceptive methods like the birth control shot and the intra-uterine device (IUD) are doctor administered and are therefore considered prescribed.

There are over-the-counter birth control products available as well. Contraceptive products such as: male and female condoms, birth control sponges, and vaginal spermicides are readily available without the need for a prescription note.

Where can we buy contraceptive products?

Birth control products that require a valid prescription note like oral contraceptive pills and hormonal patches can be bought only from pharmacies, either local or on the Internet. Generic, over-the-counter contraceptive methods can be bought from pharmacies, supermarkets and grocery stores as they do not require a prescription note. IUDs and birth control shots are available only through sexual health clinics as it requires the assistance of a doctor to properly insert or administer it.

It is important to emphasize, though, that over-the counter products are only sold to people eighteen years old and above. Younger adolescents can still buy these products, however they would first need a prescription before they can be sold these contraceptives.

How do I know which birth control product to use?

You can ask the people you trust for suggestions. They may be able to share a bit of insight on the different contraceptives they’ve tried and which ones they found effective. You can go to a sexual health clinic and attend a quick seminar on the different birth control methods to find out its pros and cons. The most important thing is to consult your physician so that you’ll have an idea of what kind of protection you need and which birth control method would work best for you.

New alert system announces school closings delays

Severe weather, natural disasters, outbreaks of contagious illnesses, power failures or other unforeseen circumstances can cause a school to close for the day, open late or close early.

For parents rushing to get up and out in the morning, it becomes a hassle to have to wait by the TV or radio to see if reporters announce a delay or closing at their children's school.

Those days may be coming to an end, thanks to an innovative new emergency alert system that quickly informs parents of school schedule changes.

School systems across the U. S. are adopting the Immediate Response Information System, or IRIS. Developed by TechRadium Inc., IRIS is a high-speed notification system that sends messages electronically to thousands of people at a time.

To operate IRIS, a designated staff member uses an Internet-connected computer or a phone to send the message, which is then transmitted to phones, e-mail accounts, pagers, PDAs and fax machines.

To ensure that the message was received, IRIS confirms completion and redials all missed contacts. Messages can be sent in one of 10 languages.

IRIS is valuable in sending emergency messages as well as routine school announcements. It requires no hardware, software or system installation for setup, making it a cost-effective way for parents and other community members to stay connected with their local schools.

Do-it-yourself online logo creation

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Anyone who owns a business or who is starting a new business can attest to the value of owning a powerful and effective logo. Logos communicate who you are and allow you to connect with your customers with an easily recognizable symbol that is truly yours. But for most people, turning design ideas into a reality can be both difficult and expensive.

Do-it-yourself logo design customers are looking for a fast and easy way to create a big business logo on a small business budget. Industry leading do-it-yourself applications allow you to design and download the right logo right away.

Your logo is only as good as the image or icon you start with. When choosing a logo design service, look for a service that provides logos designed specifically with logo creation in mind. Logos designed by professional designers will give you multiple choices in style, colors and layouts. High quality logos that have been designed by professional designers are also more easily recognizable and give you a more professional look to your logo.

Do-it-yourself logo creation tools should be easy to use, and thus, save you valuable time when you need a logo. Look for a service that allows you to create a custom logo in minutes and download your new logo immediately. Do-it-yourself logo creation is as easy as choosing an icon based on your industry, a letter, or an abstract image, adding personalized type and making the logo layout yours.

Typical do-it-yourself logo creation tools allow you to search for logos in easy and intuitive ways. Industry leading do-it-yourself applications divide the icons into three categories; symbol based, categorized by industry (such as a tree or a house), alphanumeric (A-Z and 1-9), or shape-based/abstracts (pyramids, swooshes, globes, etc.). Finding the right image should not be a long laborious process, if the application you are using is designed properly.

Some of the best applications on the web today incorporate an “Ask a Friend” option that allow you to receive feedback on your logo from your friends. Your friends simply open a URL included with an email, vote on the best logo design, and then you access their responses through the application’s feedback tool.

Once your logo has been created, you will need several different file formats in order to take full advantage of your logo. Make sure the do-it-yourself logo service you choose provides you the following file formats of your logo:

• EPS, or vector image files, are essential for printing quality business cards and stationary.


• JPEG, or compressed image files, are meant to be displayed on the web and are NOT meant for printing.


• GIF, or Bitmap image files, are images with a transparent background. GIF files are perfect for use on websites with background colors other than white.

Whatever service you choose, your ultimate goal should be to create a professional looking logo that communicates the right message about your business.

Green air filters for your car

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Alright, all you soy sipping, yogurt eating, diet doing, hybrid driving, environmentally eccentric folks from Vancouver: listen up. You may be causing more damage to the environment than you already know. How so? Your Audi’s air filter, that’s how. Yes, it is true: if you keep your car long enough you will be performing under-the-hood maintenance which will include changing your air filter at least once a year. Keep that same car for ten years and that is ten years of stuff clogging North America’s landfills. And you call yourself earth friendly? Tsk, tsk!

All kidding aside, there is an environmentally friendly way whereby if you follow just one small, but important step you can achieve oneness with nature, if not with your wallet: replace your car’s disposable air filter one final time with a reusable air filter.

Reusable air filters, or performance air filters as some like to call them, are a true “green” item. No, the air filter isn’t green itself, but the result is the same effect: you can replace your car’s air filter one final time with a reusable air filter that should outlast your car. Environmentally friendly air filters are on the market and they have several key benefits to them, including:

You replace your car’s disposable air filter once and for all with a reusable air filter.

Environmentally sensitive landfills are permanently rid of an extra ten or more disposable air filters that you would have used.

Your reusable air filter will cost approximately 2 or 3 times the price of a disposable filter, however you will get that money back and ultimately save in the long run.

Your car will actually perform better as reusable air filters help your engine breathe better. Better breathing for your engine means better performance.

You may realize a slight increase in fuel mileage as a better performing engine means a more efficient engine.

All in all, you can show yourself to be environmentally responsible and save yourself some many in the process of doing the right thing. Reusable air filters are truly a green friendly product and are worth being placed in your car the next time you change your air filter.

On the brink of a world war

Just when you think it can't get any worse, it has gotten worse. Since George W. Bush decided (illegally) to launch a war against a country and its civilians, under the guise of fighting terrorists, the American people have learned one thing: Might makes right. Our children are taught to reason and compromise rather than fight. Now, they are being taught that if you want your way all you have to do is lie, mislead, and fight for it if you must. What a terrible lesson. And how much more violence will it bring to America, where we already lead the world by a hundredfold in murders and violent crimes?

Look what our American government has created. After the horrific bombings of 9/11, America waited and did not retaliate for a year and a half. But then, Bush decided he wanted to rid terrorism from the world. France, Germany, and Russia knew it was impossible. They knew that going into Iraq and Afghanistan was a mistake that would lead to even more terrorism.

The Bush administration is sending thousands of our children to their deaths, even though they know that hate begets more hate, retaliation begets more retaliation. The escalation of our vengeance, of our president's decision to make the world live our way of life, has spread throughout the globe. Chaos and fear and the death of innocents has been the result. As leader of the free world, America should have responded to 9/11 by being diplomatic, not dishonest. Rather than fighting these wars, weakening us financially at home, we would instead have the respect and assistance of our allies if we had led through example.

George Bush's determination to turn the world into a democracy is anything but democratic. Live and let live is the American way of life. The Muslim world, of which 99.9% are law-abiding, loving people, have only known one way of living for thousands of years. America does not have the right to try to enforce our modern, political way of life on them. They are a religious government. We are not. Our different ideologies will never mesh and terrorism will never cease until we understand this reality and accept it.

Now, we are losing more and more young men and women in an unwinnable war. We are killing tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands according to some sources, of innocent civilians in a country that should be fighting its own civil war.

The United States is now one of the most feared and hated countries in the world. We have lost our credibility, respect, and trust. But, worst of all, we have set the stage for more problems. Since America is spread so thin militarily and cannot help Israel, Hezbollah has attacked Israel and killed and kidnapped Israeli soldiers. Israel retaliated and now we have another war in the region. The Palestinian people elected Hamas as their government. Both organizations refuse to recognize Israel as a country, the main thing Israel demands, and the main reason why Israel is still in the occupied territories. Iran has nuclear capability, and wants to destroy Israel, too. As does Syria.

There is a brewing war between India and Pakistan where the Muslim population wants control. Before we know it, the Muslim world (1.2 billion strong - 22%) will have enough terrorists in every country to destroy the Jewish people. There are already terrorist cells in every state in the continental U. S. Of course the rest of the world will try to stop that genocide, and they will join together and wage war. All of this because America approached the terrorism problem like school kids determined to fight to get what they want. Now everyone is following suit, which is creating more terrorism throughout the world than ever before.

As I ask in my novel, THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY ( thetwentyfirstcentury. com), where is all this hatred coming from. And, worse, where is it all leading?

It is leading to World War III? And don't be surprised if it is fought overseas AND at home. And then watch your taxes rise, and gasoline prices rise, and interest rates rise, and prices on everything rise to pay for this our defense, now that we squandered all our money trying to fight a people we can't even find.

The wonders and blessings of apple cider vinegar

“Let your food be your remedy.” - Hippocrates, The Father of Medicine

Apple cider has been known to bring many health benefits. The natural array of acids and minerals present in it maintains the body's acid balance and mineral metabolism. This type of vinegar includes proportions of 19 minerals, containing potassium, choline, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, and 93 other components essential to the body. Apple cider vinegar helps restrain appetite, detoxifies, blocks fat formation, aids in metabolism, boosts the immune system, and supplies vitamins minerals, and amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are essential components of human development. Studies show that pectin, one of the primary compounds in apple cider vinegar, is a nutrient that can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. For many years, people have recognized apple cider as an alternative additive to fight infection, promote weight loss, and even fight osteoporosis and arthritis. The right diet, exercise, and apple cider in one's diet may lead to happy and healthy lives.

Infection

Apple cider vinegar is probably the simplest antidote for fungus infections caused by insufficient air circulation and moisture. These impurities are developed in places in the body which are usually covered by clothes, socks, and other coverings that tend to perspire. This perspiration leads to a pH imbalance in that particular area and cause fungal contamination. There are times that these impurities are misinterpreted as yeast intolerance and are treated with costly prescriptions when a pinch of apple cider vinegar would have done the trick. Any vinegar will change the pH balance, but uncooked apple cider vinegar has the benefit of live enzymes which help eliminate harmful organisms. Because of the process it has undergone, fermented, filtered, or pasteurized vinegar have damaged vitamins, minerals, nutrients and other components necessary to attain good health.

Weight-loss

It has been reported that apple cider vinegar breaks down fat and is widely used as an alternative to lose weight. Recent studies show that one of the reason why many people struggle with keeping the correct weight is because parasites can cause the lining of the intestines to become inflamed. Inflammation of the intestinal linings inhibit the consumption necessary vitamins, nutrients, and minerals that aid in the regulation of hormones, metabolism, and blood sugar levels. Parasites consume the food and deprive the body of the nutrients and leave it with empty calories. This impels individuals to crave more food and further contribute to weight gain.

Parasitic infections in the body are worsened by too much alkaline. Keeping the intestines slightly acidic by consuming two tablespoons of apple cider diluted in eight ounces of water daily may help prevent and treat this kind of contamination. Cleansing the body of parasites can lead to normal metabolism and weight loss. In addition to its cleansing effect, daily doses of this vinegar in water has been proven to control high blood pressure after weeks of use.

The powerful healing and health properties of apple cider vinegar have been known since ancient times. Many health experts encourage individuals to try this kind of vinegar before taking expensive over the counter medicines.

The death of the muscle car my first case

It happened back in the 70’s, but the evidence was still there. It was the case of the disappearing horsepower and this is what happened.

In the era of the muscle car power was everything. It didn’t matter what it was, sports car, family car, pickup; it had the biggest V-8 possible stuffed under the hood. Cubic inches were king and advertised power was astronomical. These cars could kick sand in the windscreens of anything else on the road.

But then horsepower seemed to disappear overnight!

Take my favourite muscle car, the Ford Mustang. The macho models had V-8s, though meeker models came with an inline six. The biggest six had 200 cubic inches and 155 hp in 1969/70.

What did the V-8s punch out? The most powerful 351 gave 300 hp in 1970 and the 427 gave a massive 390 hp in 1968. But by 1973 the most powerful Mustang had a 351 V-8 with just 156 hp. Almost half what it had in 1970, and only one horsepower more than the 200 cu in six of 1970! As for the Mustang II of 1974, we won’t even go there.

The story was similar with the other manufacturers. What was going on? It just didn’t add up. Could I trust the figures?

My detective mentor, Agatha Christie, taught me that when you’re solving a case you can’t trust anyone. Murderers do lie. In this case it wasn’t murder though it was the death of the muscle car, and it wasn’t so much of an outright lie as not telling the whole truth. And outside forces were at play.

I had to dig deeper. I had to find the facts. Why would horsepower virtually halve?

It turned out there were a few reasons. Salesmanship was one. Horsepower was everything so why not measure it in a salesman friendly way? Gross SAE horsepower was used. Power was measured at the flywheel with no power-hungry accessories attached. Only the bare essentials were used.

In 1972 SAE Net measurements were phased in. Power was still measured at the flywheel but all the accessories were installed including the full exhaust system, emission controls, all pumps and the alternator. SAE Net can’t be compared exactly to SAE Gross because there are just too many variations in measuring, but it is down around 80%. So power ratings dropped. In 1973 horsepower ratings went down again as power sapping emission controls were tightened.

Gross SAE horsepower had pushed the listed power up. So did the advertised horsepower some car companies used. What’s wrong with a little rounding up of the numbers for the brochure? Surely that would help sales too.

All this horsepower galloping around got noticed and not just by young guys.

Safety legislators noticed, and so did insurance companies who started charging more for insurance. The word on the street is that in 1967 a young guy under 25 with a clean driving record would have paid $700 a year for GTO coverage. Ouch! Some car companies lowered their advertised horsepower ratings.

Muscles peaked in 1970, and by 1971 they were starting to get flabbier. Engines were being detuned and within another year bigger engines were being dropped.

In 1973 many muscle cars were a shadow of their former selves. And they were finished off by the oil crisis of late ’73. Long lines at gas stations and soaring prices were a real shock, and so was a 55 mph national speed limit. Gas guzzlers were irresponsible, expensive and unwanted, it didn’t matter how much fun they were.

So there you have it. I now knew what had happened to all that brute power. Some exaggeration had pushed listed horsepower up. A fairer, more accurate measuring system brought it down. Emission controls brought it down more, and soaring insurance costs made ground-thumping power too expensive to own. The oil crisis finished the muscle car off. This case was solved.

Forget hotels-a new twist on an old city-barcelona

If you always find it a chore to find a hotel when you travel, especially to a large city such as Barcelona, this article will be of great interest to you. There is a great solution to finding flights, transportation, hotels and even a stay in a wonderful theme park, from the moment you arrive in Barcelona, if you read on.

Barcelona, Spain has a wide variety of lodging options to offer the traveler. These can range from top five star hotels to camp sites, and everything in between, such as less expensive hotels, hostels and apartments. If you have decided on Barcelona for your holiday destination, here is an itinerary that will introduce you to this beautiful city and all of culture, art and architecture it has. This is an interesting trip that you are sure to enjoy.

Upon arrival at "El Prat", Barcelona's main airport, obtain a special transfer to a wonderful theme park called "Port Aventura". There you can stay in a beautiful four star hotel. If you want to travel outside of Barcelona, you can rent a car right at Port Aventura at special rates that Europcar offers to visitors to the theme park. Each hotel offers packages that include breakfast, admission to Port Aventura and the Carribean themed water park, Caribe Aquatic Park. Each hotel has its own unique theme: Portaventura Hotel is decorated in Mediterranean colonial style, El Paso Hotel is done in Mexican pre-Colombian motif and the Caribe Port hotel offers the largest white sand surrounded swimming pool in the world. Each of these hotels offers an experience you will not even find at the top waterfront hotels in the city. The prices for the Port Aventura hotels are competitive: during category "A", the high season, two days at the theme parks and one night at the hotel is EU218 for a single, EU136 each for a double and EU68 extra for a child. There are offers available for four in a room, and longer stay discounts. In the low season, which is still very pleasant in Barcelona, a double can be obtained for EU84 with EU 42 for a child. A beautiful hotel in the heart of Barcelona at these prices! You can enjoy relaxing at the hotel, visit the theme parks and tour the city from this convenient location.

If you want to enjoy the most extravagent hotel the city of Barcelona has to offer, and don't mind breaking the bank to do so, try the Art Hotel. In any one of the sumptuous rooms in this hotel, you will have a splendid view of the marina and port area, whether you opt for a suite, double room, or luxurious duplex apartment. If you want to be spoiled and catered to, you cannot find a better place. The staff is professional and friendly, and the amenities are unbelievable. For added decadence, treat yourself to dinner at the hotel's Goyescas restaurant. There you will be tempted by gourmet house specialities and the wine steward is sure to recommend a splendid bottle of wine to complement your dinner.

Barcelona is a world renowned city for fine lodging and gastronomy. So much so, that the city of Barcelona declared the tourist year March 2005 to March 2006 as the year of Catalunya and its food products. A number of very good restaurants and gourmet shops specialize in these products and are located near the hotels we have just discussed. Be sure to try Can Ravell, a very special delicatessen, and Club del Gourmet, which specializes in coffee, tea and sweets.

Marketing in social networks

One of the most important rules in marketing your business is that you go where your target market is. With the growing popularity of online social networking websites, it’s a little wonder that more and more businesses are looking for ways to take advantage of the millions of members of these sites. With the use of several widely available tools and networking tactics, you will find that marketing your products or services through this medium is not that hard to do.

Make Friends before Making Money

One of the most common misconceptions of businessmen in marketing their products and services through this medium is considering social networks as just place to post their advertisements on. Contrary to popular belief, posting advertisements that look too much like advertisements are not very effective in this medium. As these social networking sites serve as friend-finder platforms, it is often better to maximize its intended function in order to successfully market your products.

Because of this, you have to start from scratch and collect friends as you go along. This may sound a bit hard to do at first but keep in mind that having a great number of friends in your network is the best way for your offers to be noticed. This doesn’t mean, however, that you are going to flood the bulletin boards with your products ads right after collecting your friends. Instead, it is advisable to develop real relationships and friendships with those who have become your friends by helping them with their concerns, posting your blogs, sending your testimonials, etc. This way, you can be sure that when you offer your product and services to them, they will be interested and you will have more chances of getting sales.

Thankfully, these social networking platforms offer a way to make your task easier by giving you search options in which to limit your potential friends to those who might be interested in your particular product or service. If you have a pet shop for example, you might want to limit your members search to those people who love pets. Similarly, if you are a car salesman, you might like to look for those people who are of working age rather than those still in college. In social networking sites, you can search by limiting your search criteria to members’ hobbies, interests, location, organizations and more. This will help you limit and focus your marketing efforts towards people who are in your target market.

Share Information

Blogging is a great way to reach out to people who might be interested in your service. Remember though that members of social networking websites are not actively looking for products and services so your advertisements would probably be not as effective as you might think.

Instead, try to post blogs that are informative and interesting. These blogs may not convince them outright to buy your products, but you will definitely stand out as someone who knows about this particular product. Thus, you will be one of the persons he or she will approach when considering a purchase in this product category.

Internet Surfers’ Choice

This factor may be more important than you think as more and more search engines are integrating the voice of the internet users in how it ranks the websites. Today, you can see this through social bookmarking wherein internet users can bookmark their favorite sites through an online bookmark website, social search engines and social driven content wherein the users’ preferences and outlooks are given importance in ranking the websites. Users of social networking sites are given the right to vote on how relevant websites or articles are in their search. All these sites are easily accessible and membership is usually free.

With these new set of tools, you can effectively market your products and services to the millions of social networking users.

Discount wedding accessories what you need to know

Wedding accessories are an important part of every wedding and care should be taken to make the right choices when it comes to them. Here is a brief guide that will give you some things to consider.

Wedding veils

Would a wedding be complete without a wedding veil? Of course you’ve probably seen weddings where brides where gowns without veils but it sure don’t look much like a wedding. A wedding veil, along with the ring and cord, is one wedding accessory that symbolizes the wedding itself. In picking out a wedding veil make sure that it will suit your wedding gown and the theme of your wedding. Traditional veils are very formal and usually measure around three and a half yards long. Veils nowadays come in various lengths. There is even a shoulder length flyaway type that is preferred by many modern brides.

Shoes & stockings

Shoes and stockings are a crucial element to your overall look on your wedding day. All girls know how difficult it is to find a shoe that will complement attire. What more if you are trying to look for a pair that would match your wedding gown. Try to look for shoes made of velvet, satin and silk as these materials provide a formal and delicate touch to any event. You can also choose shoes with embellishment like beads, sequins, pearls or crystals. Just make sure that the shoes you will buy is comfortable on your feet because you will ear them on probably the most important event of your life.

Jewelry

Aside from the wedding band and wedding ring, you should also take time to consider the other jewelry you will ear like necklace, earrings and bracelet. Jewelry should always compliment a dress and not be the star of the evening. So make sure that the jewelry you will wear would be noticeable enough to get attention but not too loud as to over shadow your wedding gown. Consider wearing family heirlooms because they are proven to be an ideal wedding accessory. Of course, diamonds and pearls would also be very nice.

Headpieces

Headpieces such as combs, headbands, back pieces and Juliet caps are generally used to hold the wedding veil in place. Often, headpieces are decorated with beads, pearls, crystals or flowers to make them look attractive. It seems like a small detail but a headpiece can spell the difference between a boring wedding attire and an exciting one. Actually, a beautiful headpiece can even replace a veil altogether. Examples of headpieces that can stand alone are tiaras, crowns, half-crowns, wreaths and bun wraps.

Gloves

Gloves make great accessories especially if you are wearing a strapless or sleeveless gown. The general rule is that the shorter the sleeve the longer the glove should be. Gloves simply provide an air of sophistication to any outfit.

Handbags

Of course you shouldn’t be carrying a bag with you during the wedding ceremony or even during the reception. But still it would be nice to have a small purse where all the things you will need, particularly make up for touch ups, would be contained. It doesn’t have to be a big shoulder bag. Clutches will work just fine.

As they say, God is in the details. And in wedding the little details provided by wedding accessories can make all the difference. That’s is why it is very important to give as much attention to the wedding accessories you will wear or carry on your wedding day as you would to your wedding gown.

Understanding electric motors and their uses

The world of electric motors is quite fascinating. For many making and collecting various types of electric motors is a hobby and for others making them to power various devices is a profession. Whatever the approach is, but these devices offer innumerable possibilities for improvisation.

Working with them and understanding them is a rewarding and learning experience. Let us find out more about these in general. Usually, they can be classified into two main types. They are direct current or DC and alternating current or AC motors. DC or AC is very common terms and they refer to how the electrical current is transferred through and from the motor. Both types of motors have different utilities and uses.

DC motors are usually available in two general types. Alike, AC motors also come in two different types. They can be two phase or three phase AC motors. Although on technical front, the differences in DC and AC motors are sometimes marginal, but some of these differences make one types better than the other for a certain use.

In general, the DC electric motors work for conditions controlling the speed is essential. It is due to the factor that DC motors have a steady and constant current. DC motors are also the first and earliest motors used. But these good factors are also accompanied with some limitations; for instance, the DC electric motors are incapable of producing power over long period of time.

Most of the electric companies are aware of the limitation of the DC motor and have found that the power was lost as the electric current was transmitted. One of the variant, the Brush DC motors, uses certain rings that conduct the current and form the magnetic drive that runs the rotor. On the other hand, the brush-less DC electric motors bring forth a switch to generate the magnetic drive that powers the rotor. Direct current motors commonly used in most of the electric appliances in your home.

Now coming back to the AC motors we find that these kinds of motors are commonly used on the basis of their type. For instance, the single phase AC motors are used for general purpose. This type of motors will work efficiently in different conditions. AC motors are effective for systems that are hard to start because they need a lot of power for this purpose.

The three phase AC motors, also called polyphase, are commonly found in industrial sector. The AC motors have a high starting power built to transmit lower levels of overall power. As it alternated the power, so it gets its name AC. The amount of power specified by an AC motor is determined by the amount of power needed to operate the system.

Generally, the DC and AC motors are easily come across everywhere from the home to the car to industrial uses. The introduction of DC motors is still considered no less than a revolution and when AC motors were available in the market the way motors were looked at changed because of their amazing starting power potential. DC motors and AC motors are different in many ways, but they still both are used to power the world of electric appliances.

Caring for laminate flooring

Laminate flooring gives your floor that overall look of wood that can be enjoyed for years to come. The best thing about laminate flooring is the ease in care that you have when you have it in your home. Laminate flooring is one that will look like wood, and that will feel like wood but often times is a bi product of wood. Real wood will require waxing and cleaning every year to keep the floor shiny. Real wood flooring is going to be sanded down and varnished again as the shine is worn off the flooring. Laminate flooring is going to require no waxing, no sanding and the wear and tear on the flooring is something that is not going to happen in the manner that the coating on other wood flooring will have.

Laminate flooring can be cared for by using a dry dust mop on the floor for every day cleaning. During those times when you feel that you need a good deeper clean, you can use a wet mop, one that is not really all that wet, to clean up sticky messes or to clean up mud from the floor. You don’t want to use that much water on the floor so you don’t have the water seeping down into the laminate flooring and then the laminate flooring is going to warp over time.

Laminate floor care is going to be similar to wood or any other type of flooring when it comes to moving furniture across the flooring. Laminate flooring can be scratched, dented and can be marked up when you are not careful in moving those heaviest of furniture pieces in your home. To prevent and care for your flooring, you want to pick up the furniture and move it from location to location.

Don’t drag the furniture across the flooring. Your laminate flooring that has marks and cuts in it will need a little extra care to get that mark out, and sometimes if the cut is all that deep you can’t get it out no matter how much buffing you were to do on this area. The same goes for wood flooring, if the cut is too deep or the scratch is too deep, you are not going to be able to cover it up.

Laminate flooring is easy to care for because the seams in the flooring are actually very tight. You won’t find all types of cracks in the flooring for food, for water, or for dirt to get trapped in. Laminate flooring is a type that will not allow things down between the rows, when you care for it daily. Sweeping and dusting your flooring with a broom, a swiffer or a vacuum that is not hard on the floor is what you need to care for the laminate flooring. You only want to mop your flooring when it is really sticky, when you spill something on the floor, but you don’t even need to wax laminate flooring which is what makes it so popular!

All about credit card balance transfer

In our daily lives, we often encounter problems which concern the family, work, business, and many other things. The most commonly encountered quandary is financial problems.

Most working professionals have credit cards, and sometimes these gives way to debt problems. The best possible solution for most of them is to jump at an offer which promises a lower APR, but you should be extra cautious in dealing with such offers.

A balance transfer simply means moving the balance from your existing credit card to another credit card. This is usually taken advantage by most people because of its very low rate of interest compared to the old card issuer.

There are companies which make credit card their business, and competition among them is becoming more intense. The need to stay in the market and stay competitive as ever, has brought about the introduction of balance transfer among credit cards.

You have to be cautious in any decision that you will make. A good choice is one that offers zero percent APR, but this is just an introductory offer. After a specified period, the interest rate charged changes. So before making an abrupt decision, be sure that you have read all the terms and conditions of the card issuer.

There are certain things to consider for a balance transfer with 0% rate:

- the interest rate after the 0% introductory rate expires

- understand the fees, terms, and conditions

- don't forget the 'fine print'; most people skip that part, but it is equally important to read that part unless you want to pay unexpected fees in the future

- simple reading is not enough, you must 'understand' all the terms, rates, conditions, and other important matters

- take note of the day when the introductory rate will end

Applying for a balance transfer can also save you money. All you have to do is to move all your card balances to the new credit card bearing low rate of interest to achieve utmost savings. Some credit cards offer cash back, points or rewards when you make purchases using your new credit card.

You can make a balance transfer with your bank cards, personal loans, gasoline cards, charge cards, and department store cards.

You also need to close your old credit card. Once you sign up for a balance transfer, you should continue paying your debt while the balance is still pending. Call your old credit card issuer once the balance transfer is confirmed, and make sure that you get a 0 balance from your old company. And finally, you need to close your account.

Once you have your new credit card, don't just make minimum payments. Pay more money each month until your balance reaches zero. You can also make extra payments, and remember to never be late in making any payments. Above all, use your card intelligently.

You should also be aware of the fees being charged for late payments, cash advance fees, flat fees, and fees for balance transfer, and fees charged if you exceed the credit limit.

Keep track of your expenditures so that you can minimize your bill. If you constantly make unnecessary purchases, your debt is sure to grow rapidly. Be responsible in any action that you undertake, and think of its consequences.

Man builds inventing machine

John Koza has made a serious breakthrough when it comes to the computing power of today and our hopes for it in the future. Studying computers since his high school tutelage in the 1950s, Koza was a man who yearned to make advancements in the world around him. As a clear example of his ingenuity, he was unable to afford a computer while in high school, since the mainframes of the time took up entire rooms and cost far more than the modern day computer. To that end, John assembled bits and pieces from the gadgets around him, and with parts from old pinball machines and jukeboxes, he found himself with a computer that could accurately compute what day of the week a certain date would fall on.

John's latest invention far surpasses his date-decoding computer of the fifties. Utilizing 1,000 networked computers operating in tandem, his new device uses genetic programming to solve problems. Essentially, what the machine does is follow Darwin's laws of survival of the fittest - it compiles code, tests it against other code, and thereby determines the most accurate usage of code. And the machine wasn't built with one purpose in mind; instead, it utilizes it's ‘thinking' process to solve complex engineering problems of manufacturing and production of whatever you can think of. And it does it arguably more efficiently than a human. The machine is well within operating conditions, as Koza has already made an engineering breakthrough with it. Most recently, the machine has come up with a type of lens system that can be used in telescopes and binoculars that offers a better field of vision than any type of lens created before then, and it does not infringe on any patent. To perform this feat, the program generated 75,000 random types of lenses. From there, it ‘mated' the designs, taking the features that were helpful in one and placing them with features that were necessary in another. From there, generation after generation is created until every part of the design specifications is met. For the lens, the machine processed 295 generations before reaching a final solution. The machine has been proved useful in other inventions, as well. This heralds a scientific breakthrough in which computers may soon be doing much of our thinking for us. The machine has already received the first patent given to a non-human entity, and the sky is the limit.

The abundance of home-saving mortgages for people with poor credit history

Did you know that every day the Citizen Advice Bureau deals with over 5000 new debt problem enquiries? And with interest rates rising, the chances are that more people will face problems with their debt - in fact there is likely to be a ten-year high for county court judgements in 2007 with around 1 million CCJs in total.

Getting a mortgage with poor credit can be a nightmare – High St lenders will usually refuse your application if you have a default or a CCJ on your record. So what can you do about it?

There are two main credit reference companies in the UK – contacting either one will enable you to find out what your credit rating is. However, if you have a County Court Judgement or a default then it is highly likely that your credit rating has been compromised.

A mortgage default is any violation of the credit agreement you have with your mortgage lender and could be issued even if you have only missed one payment. A default is registered on your credit file showing the date you broke your credit agreement, the amount you owed when the agreement was broken and the amount still owed.

A CCJ is issued by a judge at your local country court and follows a formal demand for payment from your creditor (which you have ignored) and then a “Claim Form” which demands payment in 14 days or a written defence of your position. If you ignore this claim form your creditor will ask the court to send you a CCJ, which gives you 28 days to pay.

The main difference between a default and a CCJ, is that the latter can be withdrawn from your file if cleared within one month (28 days) whereas the former is there for six years.

So the good news is that if you have received a CCJ, a poor credit rating is not necessarily inevitable. In fact, by arranging a quick remortgage with a specialist lender you can pay off the debt and have the CCJ removed from your credit record.

The bad news is that both a default and an unpaid CCJ are on your credit record for six years – that means any application for credit of any kind including a first-time mortgage or a remortgage will be assessed according to these negative credit score. And that means it’s unlikely any High St lender will accept your application whether it’s for a mortgage, credit card, overdraft or personal loan.

However, that’s not the whole story. There is a growing number of mortgage lenders specialising in people with a poor credit history. By arranging to remortgage with these lenders you can begin to repair the damage done to your credit rating by making regular payments with terms that suit your circumstances.

A quick remortgage can also help ease your debt problems by freeing up equity from home that you can use to pay off your debts, or by solving mortgage arrears or repossession issues with your previous lender.

Proper tire care means safety fuel savings

Before hitting the road, take a few minutes to check the condition of your tires. Well-maintained tires keep your car safer, help it last longer and save you money at the gas pump, too.

These tips from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) will help to keep your tires in good shape and your travels safe all year long:

• Choose your tires carefully. Tire selection should be based on the correct size recommended for the vehicle and its loading recommendations. Consult with a knowledgeable tire or automobile dealer about selecting the proper tire for your typical driving patterns.

• Buy a tire gauge and keep it handy in your car at all times. It will inform you if you need to add more air to your tires.

• Check your tire pressure at least once per month, and especially before a long trip. Underinflation can cause damage that may lead to tire failure. And overinflation can cause uneven wear plus handling and stopping problems. Use the manufacturer's recommended air pressure as a guide.

• During wet weather, slow down. As your speed decreases, the tire footprint (the amount of the tire's tread contacting the road surface) increases, providing better traction.

• Rotate your tires every 6,000 miles. If your tires show uneven wear, ask your automotive service professional to check for and correct any misalignment, imbalance or other mechanical problem involved before rotation.

• Check your vehicle alignment periodically. Have an automotive professional check your alignment if you notice your vehicle is pulling to one side.

• Inspect and measure your tire tread. You can do this yourself by placing a penny in the tread groove and if you can see the top of Lincoln's head, then it is time to replace your tires.

• Check the tire sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges or other irregularities.

• Don't overload your vehicle as it can create excessive heat inside your tires.

• Have your tire balance checked periodically. An unbalanced tire and wheel assembly may result in irregular wear.

Remember, by checking your tires regularly, you can keep your vacation drives safe, enjoyable and affordable.

Believing in the after life has many benefits

This article looks at peoples belief in the after life and how it can help them to live their daily lives. My nan was one of these people who felt certain that there was a life beyond this one. I will explain why she had this belief. She was a remarkable character who was seemingly not afraid of anything.

I have to say that I have never really had any clear idea of whether to believe or not to believe, in the after life. I certainly believe that there is a God and that there is only one God. Whether this is correct, I will no doubt find out at a later date.

One day, I had a strange experience. I went to visit my nan who lived in a flat on her own. Her husband (my grandad) had died around fifteen years before from a heart attack. I would ensure that I would go to visit my nan at least once a week. It was not exactly a chore as she was a very funny and interesting person.

On this particular day she started to talk about her health and explained to me that she was sure that she did not have long to live. She had a number of health problems as I am sure many people in their eighties do. These issues were gradually becoming worse and made her believe that the end was near. As it happens she was correct.

I tried to convince her that she was wrong and that in fact she would live until she was a hundred. I advised her that I felt she should be more positive and to keep her chin up. She noticed that I was a little worried and told me not to panic and that she knew that she was heading for a better place.

What are you on about? I asked. She continued that she knew for a fact that there was an after life and that she was actually looking forward to going there. She was not afraid of dying and had basically had enough of life, as she was always tired and had very little to look forward to.

How do you know that there is an after life? Do not be alarmed, Steve, she said. Your grandad comes and visits me every week and has told me all about it. I know it is hard for you to believe but it is true. When I die Steve, do not be too upset for too long. Be happy for me and be safe in the knowledge that we will meet up again in the future.

My nan died around six months later and I really hope that she has been able to once again meet up with my grandad and other people like her parents of course.

Having a belief in the after life gave my nan a piece of mind and something to look forward to. It also made her not have a fear of death.

I have to admit that I know also believe in the after life, however I am in no rush to go there as yet. I have many more articles to write first!

Pour on the bbq sauce

When I was growing up, I loved the flavor of bbq sauce. I ate it on everything from hamburgers to onion rings. Much to my mother’s disappointment, bbq sauce graced our dinner table every night. She didn’t really like the fact that I slathered all of her good cooking with bbq sauce, but I guess she figured it was good that I was cleaning my plate even if I soaked my dinner in sauce to do it.

As I entered into adulthood, I became a little more discriminating when it came to bbq sauce. I still loved the flavor and bbq sauce was my favorite dip of choice for French fries, but my taste buds became more conventional when it came to my use of bbq sauce. I liked to dip my steak in it or make oven baked chicken basted in a nice hickory bbq sauce.

With my love of any meat cooked with bbq sauce, it was inevitable that I eventually visit the south. The south is the bbq capital of the world. I had heard about the world famous bbq’s in the Deep South and my mouth watered in anticipation as I packed my bags. I tried to do a little research to find out where the best bbq sauce was served. Everyone told me that I had to try a pulled pork sandwich and wash it down with sweat tea if I wanted to experience true Southern bbq.

The day I arrived in the state of Alabama, I bundled to the closest bbq joint. You could smell the meat cooking a mile away and as I pulled into the parking lot, I breathed deeply of the exciting scent. I had my moist towelettes. I had a spare shirt. I was ready for the sauciest bbq sauce and a pile of pulled pork. I placed my order and waited impatiently for my dinner to arrive. When the waitress placed it in front of me, I took one look at it and told her she had made a mistake.

‘There isn’t any bbq sauce on my pork.’ I explained.

The waitress just laughed as she poured me a glass of sugary iced tea. ‘Darlin’ that is real Southern bbq. We don’t use bbq sauce. The secret is in how we cook the meat, we don’t want to ruin it by drowning it.’ She saw my disappointment and brought me some bottled bbq sauce on the side. I did try her traditional pulled pork minus the bbq sauce and it was good, but for me, it tasted so much more familiar when I slathered it with my favorite sauce.

The easy way to make sure you never overpay on ebay

Buying in any auction either on or offline can be an exciting experience. You see an item that you are interested in and you make a bid. But then someone else bids and you are no longer the high bid. Well, your bid was a bit low anyway so you might as well raise it a little and get control because there are only a few minutes to the end of the auction.

And so up and up go the bids until the end of the auction arrives. One of two things will have happened, you will either have won the item and paid way over the odds or you will breath a sigh of relief as someone else has the winning bid.

As sellers we love two or three people to be interested in our item and bid against each other. That is how items reach two or three times the amount we expected but as a buyer it can leave us a bit flat and not a little poorer.

There is absolutely no reason why this should happen to you. Bidding in the last few minutes of an auction can become frenzied and it is not the place for value for money seekers like us to be. And the good news is that we do not have to be.

These days I make all my bids by Proxy. It is very simple and straightforward and you will often pick up a bargain. What you do is decide what is the maximum price you are prepared to pay for any item. And this is a decision you make ideally a few hours before the end of the auction although you can bid as soon as the item is listed if you wish. Personally I do not like to attract too much attention to an auction by bidding early if I can avoid it. But sometimes it can be necessary if I am going to be away from a computer for a while.

Once you have decided on the amount you are prepared to pay enter that as your bid.

Now do not worry all that will happen is that your bid will be recorded at the level of the next bid increment. For example if the current bid was 99c and you were prepared to pay Ј3 the actual bid would be for just $1.04 a 5c increase on the previous bid. If someone else then bid yours would increase until someone bids more than your maximum bid.

In my experience I find that by using proxy bids I get about 50% of the items I bid on and often for much less than my maximum amount. One useful tip that I can give you is to never make your maximum bid a round number. For instance if you think $10 is about right bid $10.11 or even $10.51 because a lot of people will quit bidding when the item reaches a significant amount such as $10, $50 or $100 and those few extra can swing the auction in your favour.

Once you have placed your proxy bid you can just forget about it until the auction is over and then just check your e-mail for the congratulations or “the you have been outbid” message. Either way you can be sure that you have not paid over the odds for an eBay purchase.

Lower the cost of your car insurance

Buying auto insurance is an important part of your overall financial planning. The auto insurance premium rate varies depending on the company and the type of policy coverage you choose to have. Here are some guidelines to lower the cost.

Shop Around - Compare the costs by shopping around at least four to five insurance companies and comparing the quotes. Take the help of your friends, relatives and yellow pages. Your insurance company should offer fair price and posses excellent service records. Check the financial ratings of the company as it indicates the strength and stability of the company.

Ask for higher deductibles - Deductible is the amount of money that you pay before making any claim for an accident. The collision and comprehensive coverage are sold with the deductibles. Higher the deductibles lower will be the premium rate. Increasing the deductible from $200 to $500 may reduce the cost by 15 to 30 percent.

Drop collision and comprehensive Coverage on older cars - If your car is worth less than 10 times your premium inthe current market, consider dropping the collision and comprehensive coverage.

Buy auto coverage from your existing insurer - Buy insurance coverage from your existing carrier. This may help you to reduce the cost. Sometimes low rates are available for the longtime customers.

Avoid double health coverage - If you think that you have enough health insurance, and then avoid health coverage with your auto policy. This will help you to reduce the cost.

Maintain a good credit record - Insurers are using the credit history while determining the price of insurance. Statistically, the lower your credit score, the more you are likely to file claims. A person with a good credit score is more likely to settle the accident without the support of the company. Try to maintain a good credit record.

Discounts with low profile car - Cars that are expensive to repair or attractive to thieves will have a higher rate. Consider buying a low profile or average car as it your insurer might come up with discounts for such a car.

Take advantage of the low mileage discount: Obtain some discount on premiums by driving less than the national average mileage recorded per year.

Consult about group discount - Sometimes you can get some discounts on group plans provided by your employer, or a business groups, or other associations. Find out whether such a plan is available.

Seek Car Safety discount - Some insurers offer discount if you keep your car equipped with air bag, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft devices, automatic seat belts. Take advantage of this.

Imperfect presidents

More important than proving perfection on your parties side, is a willingness to seek out the mistakes and correct them; to improve; to monitor your integrity. In the face of the opposition bashing away and looking for any sign of weakness it is tempting to deny any fault at all, but it is still weak to ignore potential improvement. For a leader to inspire confidence, he must maintain a balance between claimed efficacy and a willingness to examine and adapt when changes will make a real impact; Not because the opposition is demanding apologies for not adhering to their views, when their only cause is your destruction, and only when reason makes a strong case.

There are those so hungry for a disaster to blame on a president, nothing will prevent their finding fault with the opposition while their party's errors are given a pass.

I've been reading 1776 by David McCullough. George Washington was a confident optimistic leader in public while in his personal conversations and correspondence he admitted great concern for the Patriot Army's success. He made several bad decisions in the defense of New York City; splitting his army against a superior force; picking the wrong leader for a post and then switching midstream. The changes which confused soldiers prior to battle. Washington also overlooked a lesser used Long Island road which allowed the British to flank and surround his troops.

Fortunately for Washington he didn't have a post battle press conference with reporters loyal to the enemy demanding he admit he was a failure. No, he had done his honest best and he and his troops learned and grew better eventually defeating Britain, which was considered the period's military superpower. Though he made mistakes, he was still the best man available for the job. Though he did modestly tell congress he felt inadequate to the job, he put all into it's success. The enemy made many errors as well, but if Washington had been dismissed for his lack of perfection, our history would be much different. Congress knew of his error's but saw past them to his leadership and intelligence, rather than using every opportunity to improve their political positions.

Politicians today tend to look for anything that can tarnish the opponent, with no regard first for the facts, and no regard for damage to the country. The media plays along amplifying the agenda, to the detriment of the business at hand. More and more of us see through the shrill deceits of the knee jerk politicians. We see who is working for our safety and who is busy spouting whatever sounds good to their political circles. If they only knew how nutty, how empty their words are, how devoid of purpose and integrity they appear to the discerning public.