HOME | Review Guidelines | Review TOS | Signup FREE | Submit Articles

Matthew C. Keegan's Articles Display Category|Title|Newest|Oldest Your Las Vegas Mortgage Prequalification Letter Congratulations on your decision to move to Las Vegas! Once simply a quiet casino outpost, Las Vegas has been transformed into a thriving entertainment mecca and remains one of the fastest growing cities in America. If you are planning to purchase property in Las Vegas, you can expedite the process by having your mortgage prequalification letter in hand before you begin looking for a home. Read on and we shall see why this all important step can ease your home buying experience. A Las Vegas mortgage prequalification letter is issued by a mortgage company to let you know exactly how much of a home you can purchase. It tells sellers and real estate agents the following about you: Your Flight Questions Answered Whether you are an experienced air traveler or a novice, John Cronin's book, "Your Flight Questions Answered," has a little bit of something for everyone. Written more as a reference guide, Cronin's book covers the many questions the flying public can have before, during, and after flight. Cronin divides his book into seven sections each containing several questions with detailed answers: flight cancellations and delays, baggage handling, weather, air traffic control, airports, airliners, and pilots. His questions are written in basic form, much like the questions a concerned passenger would ask who is unfamiliar with flying. For example, one question he covers: what are those tiny pieces of metal sticking straight up from the wing? He details his answer with the explanation that they are vortex generators, which create a vortex that prevents air from separating from the wing or other surface area on an aircraft. Cronin breaks down his explanations further with additional details and often includes a supporting picture or graph to visually stress the answer. You Can Tune Your Car For Maximum Performance! Are you satisfied with your performance? Your car's performance, that is? If you are not or if you have wondered how you can crank more power out of your engine, then I have some good news for you: you can do it with an engine tuning programmer. Yes, within minutes you can turn your ordinary passenger car into a road warrior without having to pop the hood or by removing the dashboard. It is a quick, easy, and awesome way to unleash more power from your car's engine. The aftermarket parts industry is constantly coming up with everything you need to enhance your vehicle’s look as well as its improve performance. On the performance side of things custom air filters, cold air intakes, and exhaust systems are much sought after options for car enthusiasts. In addition, performance chips are being installed by owners who desire to turn their ordinary cars into something extraordinary. You Can Select A Quality Car Cover Maybe the thought of owning a car cover sounds a bit ridiculous to you. After all, you typically keep your car garaged, right? Besides, who wants to have an ugly tarp draped over a car anyway? Not you! Car covers serve a purpose even for the person who keeps their vehicle sheltered most of the time. Let’s examine the benefits of owning a car cover and how you can go about selecting one that is right for your car. Keeps the bird poop at bay If you leave your car outside, there is a nemesis that takes aim at your car...birds! Yes, birds are all right, but their excrement is not. If you don’t wash it off right away, your car’s finish can be damaged. Some bird poop is so damaging that even a buff and wax job won’t completely restore the finish. A car cover will catch the poop before it does permanent damage. You Can Save Money On Car Expenses Gas prices remain at historically high levels and the long term trend is indicating that they will stay high. If you own one or more cars, you understand that saving cash somewhere, somehow is important to helping you preserve your budget. The following are some important tips to help you manage your car expenses. Look over your insurance. If your car is between two and three thousand dollars, consider canceling your collision coverage. The money you save could then be set aside by you toward a down payment on your next vehicle. You Can Replace Your Car's Egr Valve Located smack dab on your car’s intake manifold, an EGR [Exhaust Gas Recirculation] valve functions by sending exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber as “exhausted air” is much hotter than intake air. By bringing warmer gas into the combustion chamber, your engine operates much more cleanly and efficiently. Like any part, your Ford EGR valve or Toyota EGR valve is subject to getting clogged with dirt or crud. A clogged unit may cause your car to stall, hesitate, or idle roughly. Sometimes, simply cleaning the EGR valve with a product like STP carburetor cleaner will resolve the problem. Still, if you take your car in for its MV inspection and the diagnostic tests shows that your EGR valve is not working, you will fail inspection and be forced to swap out the device before bringing your car back in for a follow up inspection. What a hassle, but something you just don’t want to forget about. You Can Install Custom Tail Lights You have seen them on all kinds of cars: tail lights that are an obvious aftermarket modification that give even the most nondescript compact sedan an attention getting, stylish look. From Neons to Civics, and from Dakotas to Escalades, and for mostly any model in between, enthusiasts are changing their vehicle’s appearance with these cool looking mods. Exactly what are they? Some call them European tail lights while others call them Altezzas, after the name of a popular manufacturer of this type of tail light. No matter what you call them, you can install a pair in less than one hour on your vehicle. European tail lights are an easy to install modification of your car’s tail light assembly. Available as either “clear tail lights” or “red tail lights” your stock tail light assemblies are replaced with a custom fitted unit developed for your particular make/model. In short what you are doing is installing crystal clear or red lenses that go over bullet-style taillight and turn signal lenses. The new lenses, paired with style rings and platings, help to accentuate the light emitting from auto tail lights and turn signals for a distinctive look that is vastly superior to the original design. You Can Install A Performance Exhaust System If you are considering replacing your vehicle’s exhaust system, a performance exhaust system can be an ideal choice, offering to you many benefits over a stock exhaust system. Let’s examine the benefits of installing a performance exhaust system versus a stock exhaust system. 1. More Power – One of the obvious benefits of a performance exhaust system is more power for your car. Using catalyst back [cat-back] technology, additional horsepower is freed up, with horsepower increases of 5%, 10%, and even 15% possible. Exactly how does a cat-back system work? By keeping all the key emissions components in place, a cat-back system brings in large width exhaust pipes and low restriction performance mufflers for your car resulting in a lowering of exhaust back pressure. One nice side benefit is the deeper, throatier pitch created by the exhaust system. Since your vehicle’s engine is in essence an air pump, a cat-back system helps the engine to pump and flow air with less disruption. You Can Install A "green" Air Filter! All right now, no laughing. Probably the easiest part to swap out in a car is the air filter. A quick pop of the hood and the loosening of a couple of clamps or a wing nut and you simply reach in and pull out the old air filter. Next, open the box up containing your new air filter, pop it into place, secure everything and you are done. Five, maybe ten minutes to accomplish the easiest job going. So, why doesn't everyone change their own air filter? More importantly, why don't more people opt for environmentally friendly air filters, commonly known as "green" air filters? You can install a green air filter yourself and do much more than keep the air clean in the process. So, what is a "green" air filter? A green air filter is an environmentally friendly air filter. No, they aren't usually green as the color green is what signifies that the product works in harmony with nature. Now go hug a tree. You Can Improve Your Car’s Power! I can hear it now from the Prius loving, gas sipping, and bike riding crowds: a more powerful car is environmentally irresponsible. Balderdash! Not that anyone should care what others think of them, but this thought pattern is totally incorrect. Thanks to advances in automotive technology, virtually every performance part on the market will yield greater fuel mileage for your car as well as give you more power. A true win-win result; let’s take a look at four powerful performance enhancing parts for your vehicle. 1. Power chips and programmers. Whether your replace your car’s computer chip or enhance it with a power programmer, in either case you will achieve noticeable gains in horsepower and thrust. By overriding the factory limitations imposed on your vehicle you can get more power for a small amount of money. You Can Examine Your Shock Absorbers Bouncing down the road one day it occurs to you that things are just not what they should be. The road you are riding on is as smooth as glass, yet your car is jostling up and down like nobody’s business. You enter an upcoming curve in the road and quickly learn that the control you had over your car was lost just moments before. Suddenly, the vehicle careens off the road, goes down through a ditch and up an embankment before coming to rest against a fence adjacent to Tony’s garage. You are in luck: you aren’t dead and your car is at Tony’s, who happens to be your favorite mechanic. Yes this story is ridiculous, exceedingly so. All joking aside, your shock absorbers [or struts in the case of some cars] plays a vital part in your vehicle’s suspension system. When certain signs of wear and tear become apparent, you must replace your shocks or otherwise you can put yourself in danger and/or damage your car. You Can Examine Your Brakes Regular brake inspections are an essential part of good automotive maintenance that can save you money and keep your car from wrapping itself around the first tree out of your driveway. Make sure that your brakes and rotors are receiving the proper maintenance by following the steps outlined. Your safety as well as that of your passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers is at stake. 1. Time for a free inspection. Many local brake shops as well as national brake repair chains offer customers free brake inspections at no obligation to you. The inspection typically includes the following steps: You Can Custom Fit Your Vehicle Part of the fun of owning a car is giving it your own look. Sure, some cars come fully equipped with all the bells and whistles, but they lack one thing: your personal touch. Starting back in the 1950s when customizing cars really took off, enthusiasts have been modifying their cars to suit their own purposes. Let’s take a look at some ways you can make your car a real stand out. Under the Hood: The most obvious customizing for your engine compartment is a cold air intake, designed to increase power to the engine. A cold air intake changes the appearance of your car’s engine bay with custom colors such as rad red, silver, chrome, powder coated blue, and more. You Can Choose A Boise Realtor Before you take the important step of finding a realtor to sell your Boise home, there are some things you should consider to make certain that the realtor you choose is right for you. Keep reading and we'll find out how you can choose a Boise realtor. In order to sell home in a specific state, such as Idaho, a person must be licensed by that state to sell real estate. Licensed professionals, who must pass required state exams, are then able to sell a home to you as either a realtor, salesperson, and in some cases a broker. Realtors are held to the highest code of ethics standards in the industry, often much higher than what the state requires. This assures you the buyer or seller of a Boise home that the person who is representing you far exceeds the standards required. You Can Change Your Car's Timing Belt So, how is your car's timing belt doing? Have you changed it lately? If, ever? If not, you must make certain that the timing belt hasn’t been driven too many miles or you could be driving on borrowed time. Typically, a timing belt will last anywhere from about 60,000 miles to just over 100,000 miles; your owner's manual will spell that information out for you. A failed timing belt can occur at any time, but if you are on top of things you can avoid being left stranded. A timing belt is used to turn the camshaft at precisely half the speed as the crankshaft. The camshaft causes the intake and exhaust valves to open and shut in time with the pistons as they move up and down in the cylinders. When the timing belt breaks, you aren't going anywhere as the engine can no longer run. In some cases a timing belt failure could damage or even ruin a car's engine. Unfortunately, too many motorists do not replace their timing belt until it has broken. This can be a real problem when you are miles away from the nearest help! Yes, You Can! If you are an entrepreneur, you know that your success cannot depend on the opinions of others. Like the wind, opinions change...like the weather, opinions change frequently. To succeed at any endeavor, you must stay the course...no matter what the cost! Here are some surefire tips to help you on your journey. 1. Avoid Negativity. Negative people are all around us. They can include our loved ones as well as a dear friend. Most often, it is the opinions of total strangers that breeds the most negativity as if someone who doesn’t know or understand you is able to voice a reasonably thought out opinion about you. Writing: Getting Started Writing for web content is one of the easiest ways for writers to get their work published. If you have yet to submit articles for syndication, you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to share your knowledge as well as to promote your name. Getting started is not that difficult...you probably already have done so and you do not even know it! How do you get started? First of all, you are already a writer if you participate on message boards or send out emails. No, I do not mean those one sentence responses on forums, rather your informative, concise, and persuasive responses to interesting and engaging discussions. Typically, we do not think of message board discussions as being good writing. Some is, some isn't. However, much of the writing is at the very least a seed to something greater: by expounding on the thoughts shared, your article will germinate and take root. Writing Articles: Pinpoint Accuracy This may not be a politically correct analogy, but if you were to shoot off a cruise missile from 200 miles away you would want it to hit your target, am I correct? The same can be said for an article writer -- the substance of any article is very important, but an article misses the mark if it doesn't do what you intend it to do: that is, bring about a call to some sort of action, i.e., buy my product, sign up for my newsletter, etc. Most web based articles are very precise. They have to be. Start off with an attention grabbing opening, followed up by three or four main points, and then tightly wrapped up with a conclusion that invites the reader to take some specific sort of action is the way every successful web content article should be written. Write An Effective Job Proposal I am simply amazed at the problems some of my colleagues are experiencing regarding writing job proposals for customers. So often I hear that there has been some sort of disagreement between client and service provider, something that can and should be avoided before a project is started. Here are four tips to help you write an effective job proposal letter. Assume Nothing My junior high English teacher gave his students the real meaning of assume: if you assume something it makes an ass out of you and me: ass-u-me. Leave nothing to chance. When you speak with a client do not assume they understand much of what you have to offer. For instance, I sell website packages. I have learned to spell out everything that I will offer to my customers for a very specific price. If there are any "gray areas" I protect myself by telling customers that certain other expenses will be billed separately. Do not box yourself into a corner and do not pull surprises on your customers as they may think you are trying to cheat them. Keep the lines of communication wide open. World Auto Production Forecast Predicting the future is a risky proposition often filled with guesstimates and theories based on current events and hoped for consequences. At the same time, automakers are busy doing just that in anticipation of future consumer demands, emerging markets, fuel availability, and so much more. So, with all of that in mind and knowing that only God knows the future, here are some of my predictions concerning worldwide automotive production circa 2015. Consolidation General Motors, Toyota, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Peugeot/Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Volkswagen, and some other manufacturers are likely to snap up competitors, especially in emerging markets. Nope, I do not see the end of GM or Ford. Instead, I see both automakers concentrating on what they do best: making money overseas. The big factor in all of this will be the impact that Chinese built cars will have on local markets. If the cars are fairly well made and priced below the prevailing market rate, look for several companies to join forces in a bid simply to survive. Look for low priced Indian built cars to be sold worldwide beginning early in the next decade. Working Freelance: Not For Everyone! I recently responded to a young woman’s thread on another site regarding what it takes to enter the world of freelance writing. The questions she asked were probing — which is good — and something that everyone should do if exploring whether to jump into this dynamic field. Without going through all the 5 questions again, these were some of my responses to her: Work From Home Plans: System or Scam? More than likely you have seen them cropping up all over the internet: work from home schemes promising participants vast sums of money for selling a product, stuffing envelopments, clicking ads, making phone calls, etc. The plans are as varied as they are innovative. Unfortunately, many are scams meant to extract cash from your wallet and certain to leave you feeling miserable and stupid. So, just how can you make sure that a work from home plan is legitimate? By continuing to read on for some suggestions to help you avoid being cheated. Better Business Bureau – Check with your local Better Business Bureau {BBB} to determine whether the company has had any complaints levied against it. If it is an out of state concern, check with the BBB in the area [state] where the company is based. Wonderful Wildwood, New Jersey The Jersey Shore boasts some of the most crowded vacation destinations going. However, one popular resort, The Wildwoods, is truly a happening place and well worth the trip despite the crowds. Much of this venerable beach community took off in the 1950s with the opening up of the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway. Many of the hotels still gracing the area still reflect that fifties look: tail fins, big hair, Elvis, and more. Old hotels with a bit of tackiness to be sure, but still a fun place to check out. Wise Article Marketing Strategies If you are an article writer, you may have been submitting your articles to ezines in order to get your name out there. Ezines are wonderful in that they give the unpublished author the opportunity to market their name without the expense of advertising. At some point you may wonder if you can be compensated for your work. The answer: yes, you can. Through implementing wise marketing strategies, you can earn money for your work and receive steady income. Here's how: Your Website If you don't already have your very own website, set one up and feature some of your favorite articles. You'll create an extra set of links to articles you already submitted to the ezines. Make sure you have a contact form in place to allow interested parties a way to get in touch with you. Windex and Food: Imperfect Together! As tempting as it may be to use, Windex or any similar type product can be a hazard to use in the vicinity of food products, particularly cutting boards. If you do not have the proper sanitizer available, a certain “secret” common household item will suffice. Please read on to find out how you can keep your guests safe! Our web community for business flight attendants can be frequently found discussing proper food handling and food safety tips. One lively discussion a few years back surrounded the proper way of cleaning a cutting board. Might I add that the food preparing area of the typical business jet galley is about the size of a two-by-four? Thus, food can easily get into contact with the wrong products if extra care is not taken. Will Renault Return To The U.s.? Back during the 1980s Renault cars, in alliance with the now defunct American Motors Company [AMC], were sold at American dealers. Once Chrysler purchased AMC, Renault retreated and quit selling cars in the US. A recent announcement by Renault that the U.S. market may once again be a candidate for Renault cars has been met with only tepid enthusiasm by the automotive press. Will Renault return? More importantly: does anyone care? Renault's exit from the US during the late 1980s was hardly noticed by most consumers. As makers of the tiny LeCar, the compact Alliance, and the midsize Medallion/Eagle Premier, not much distinguished Renault from the competition. Will Delta Sell AirElite? Not many people outside of the airline industry know this, but Delta Airline owns and operates a lucrative division of private jets. Delta AirElite, as it is known, is the single bright spot in an otherwise dark business environment for this U.S. legacy carrier. Some are speculating that Delta should sell its AirElite business to raise funds and turn around the carrier, but I have another more radical take on things that I believe should be considered instead. Established in 1984, Delta AirElite has been steadily growing and making money for Delta. While the airline part of the company is rapidly and continually hemorrhaging cash, AirElite continues to make money and grow. Indeed, with a fleet of sought after business jets in its portfolio including the Challenger 300, Gulfstream IV-SP, and Learjet 31A, AirElite is an attractive company for any potential suitor. Why Not A Cold Air Intake? Squeezing more power out of your engine is not as difficult or as expensive a task as you might think. Performance chips, performance exhausts, and sport air filters are all easy to install parts that can help your car achieve greater horsepower and torque without sacrificing fuel economy. In addition, a cold air intake can go a long way toward helping your engine perform better without costing you a mint to install. Let’s examine why a cold air intake just might be the enhancement your car could use to achieve a greater level of performance. So, just how does a cold air intake work? I am glad that you asked! A cold air intake is designed to decrease the temperature of the air entering your car to take full advantage of your engine’s power. Colder, denser air acts like “food” for your engine, giving it the extra amount of power that it needs to perform optimally. When To Replace Brake Pads Worn brake pads can adversely impact your ability to bring your car to a halt. This can be especially dangerous in an emergency situation when adequately working brakes are a must to help you stop your car promptly. There are some telltale signs of pending brake problems; do you know what they are? Awareness of a problem is the key to avoiding potential harmful consequences; let’s examine some well known warning signs. Signs of pending brake trouble include the following: When Fuel Pumps Give Up The Ghost Cruising down the highway at 70mph in your ‘98 Bimmer you notice a strange sound coming from somewhere underneath your car. You proceed down the road a few more miles before exiting and making the turn into your subdivision. The sound magically disappears and you dismiss it as something that must have wedged itself underneath your car and then worked itself free. However, your car engine buckles, hesitates and then dies as you make the turn into your driveway. Fortunately, you made it home. Unfortunately, your fuel pump has gone to auto parts heaven. Sure, we can dream that your fuel pump died just as you got home. How convenient. In all likelihood the problem would have surfaced while you were on a long trip, on a Sunday afternoon, miles from no where. Fuel pump failures can happen without warning and without any engine codes signaling the problem. In other words: when it happens you are SOL. What Guys Really Want For Christmas! Okay, ladies: listen up! I am here to tell you what men want for Christmas. It isn’t cologne and it isn’t some awful looking tie. Please! It could be NFL playoff tickets, but we know that prices for them are through the roof. Instead, us guys want stuff that is both useful and practical something we won’t pretend to like and hide away in our closets, but stuff that we will use all the time. I’ve made a list to make it easy on you as I know how hard it can be for us guys to communicate to our gals. 1. NFL Tickets!!! No, wait! You can go to eBay and get “discounted” tickets for a mid-January meeting between the Giants and some other team for a lot less than what you’ll pay through a neighborhood scalper. How many fans do you think will put up with ten degree Meadowlands cold on a January day to see the Giants. Oh, yeah, I forgot: plenty. Tickets are likely to go for one or two thousand a piece! What Gramps Really Wants For Christmas! Trying to find that perfect gift for Grandpa can certainly be a difficult task. Your Gramps has seen it all, tried everything, and is long past the age of following his youthful pursuits. Still, the old man has a life and one that can certainly be enriched by one of the following gift ideas I have listed for you. Go ahead and make an old man happy. Goodness knows he has been grumpy for way too long! 1. Hearing Aid -- That’s right, Gramps hasn’t been able to hear much lately and what he does hear he changes around. Give the gift that keeps on hearing and he’ll be very grateful. Opt for the fashionable model that sticks outside of his ear canal and comes in your choice of invigorating colors: rad red, bionic blue, glittery green, or psychedelic orange. What Gals Really Want For Christmas! Okay, guys: listen up! I am here to tell you what women want for Christmas. You probably already know it, but you don’t understand it. What am I saying? Well, those little ads that have been mysteriously popping up on your dresser, on your workbench, or plastered to the windshield of your truck did not get there by accident. Somebody who wants you to pay close attention to what she really wants put it there. You don’t think the wind blew it there do you? Oh, please! Let’s go down the list and find out what your lady really wants for Christmas. I abbreviated everything for clarity and to be concise. That means the 27 items she really wants are condensed to just five. Get it? 1. Jewelry – You had to ask? What woman doesn’t want something shiny to wear on her fingers, around her neck, her wrist, her anklet, her belly button…Okay, I’m not talking custom jewelry either. I’m talking about something that will retain its shine in all weather conditions and can be counted in the number of karats it possesses. You can count on it setting you back at least through the following June, probably as late as Thanksgiving… West Nile Virus Remains A Persistent Threat West Nile Virus, the disease transported by infected mosquitos, continues to remain a threat to the American populace. Already this year, California has recorded over 200 cases resulting in the deaths of five of her residents. With August and September being peak months for this ailment, people across the country are being encouraged to take the necessary steps to protect themselves. Please read on for four helpful tips. 1. Destroy Potential Breeding Sites. Standing water is an invitation for mosquitoes to “set up home” in your yard. If you have a birdbath, bucket, or any other container in your yard make sure that it is free of water, otherwise it becomes a welcome mat for mosquitoes to hatch their larvae. You don’t want to get rid of your birdbath? Install a device to keep the water moving [such as a fountain] and the mosquitoes will not set up home. Welcome to Cyber Monday! Well, I learned something new this past weekend. Specifically, the Monday following Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest days for online retailers. Dubbed “Cyber Monday” by some, online merchants track one of the largest one day spikes in sales on this particular day much like “brick and mortar” purveyors experience with “Black Friday” the day that follows Thanksgiving. It is the Christmas shopping season…happy Cyber Monday to you! According to Shop.org, an association of online retailers, more than 75% of their members reported a significant surge in traffic on the Monday following the extended Thanksgiving weekend in 2004. Shop.org gives the following reasons for the surge: Web Advertising For The Small Business If you run a small business, advertising costs must be figured in as part of your overall expenses. If you have received quotes for phone directory ads, business association block ads, and mostly any other print media, these costs are quite high. So, what if your budget is small, perhaps negligible? Will you be left outside of the advertising arena or are there other avenues to help you get the word out? The answer in one word is: yes. Let’s explore ways you can “get the word out” through online means…yes, via the internet! The rise of the internet has spawned an entire industry with it. You may remember in the late 1990s stories of dot.com companies who made a fortune and then went bust. The “irrational exuberance” of that era has, thankfully, passed by and in its place is a much more rational, but very lively market. Weather And Car Cover Fundamentals Selecting a car cover for your truck, van, SUV, or passenger car is a matter of finding one that fits your car and going with that one, right? Well, there is a lot more to it than simply purchasing a car cover. Size does matter, but so do quality, durability, and price. Let’s examine some of the fundamentals in selecting a car cover for vehicle. Car covers -- or weather covers as some prefer to call them -- have been successfully covering vehicles for several generations now thanks to the ingenious and persistent work of designers who properly measure each new model to make sure that every cover is custom fitted. One of the first companies to get started in the business was Covercraft, founded in 1965 in Southern California. Covercraft, like so many American success stories, was a two man operation that outfitted car covers for street rods, import makes including Porsche, and for the aftermarket supply network. The company boasts of having produced 55,000 styles of car covers for just about every make and model of vehicle on the road. There are other brands on the market; however Covercraft is dominant and favored by automobile wholesalers such as the Auto Parts Warehouse. We Sell For Less And Our Stores Are A Mess! What kind of image do you present when marketing your products? Are you professional and well organized or does your store/site/whatever scream, "sloppy!," to those who matter the most: your customers? Let's see how one leading retailer is winning the sales war, but losing an important battle: store organization. WalMart is dominant in so many categories with the various products that they sell. In 50 years the company has gone from a local player to a world powerhouse and is on track to expand throughout the land of the largest consumer market in the world, China. Volkswagen, Daimlerchrysler Hook Up! Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler are getting hitched. Well, sort of. The two predominately German automakers are not merging, but are in the process of exploring building products for one another. What is coming? Who gets what vehicle? What can all this mean? Read on and I will tell you. It is official: Volkswagen has decided not to import its microbus “minivan” to the American market. Citing conversion costs and exchange rate differences, VW has elected instead to start selling its own version of Chrysler’s popular minivans in the US. Based on the Chrysler Voyager, the new VW minivan has yet to be named but it will be nothing more than a rebadged Voyager. The minivan will fill a glaring hole in the VW line up and keep current owners from departing the company in search of a larger people mover. Volkswagen Parts: Getting The Real Deal The growth of the counterfeits parts industry is causing problems for motorists, suppliers, manufacturers, and governments from around the world. Just how bad is the problem? For starters, the manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit car parts is a multi billion dollar per year business. Car owners from the Kia to the Camaro and from the Geo to the Golf, and every make and model in between are all susceptible to getting hooked with fake parts. This doesn’t have to happen and I am going to share with you how you can avoid being deceived by purveyors of bogus car parts. Read the labels. Fake parts purveyors are getting very crafty in copying logos and other important information off of product boxes. Check for typographical errors or odd sounding language on the boxes. Most counterfeiters are smart when it comes to crime, but pretty dumb when it comes to understanding the proper use of English terms, grammar, and spelling. For example, brand names spelled wrong such as Monrow for Monroe. One more point: packaging may be “correct” but sized wrong; be suspicious of any part sold to you in a package that isn’t sized according to the product it holds. Vioxx Personal Injury Lawsuits Personal injury attorneys representing clients who have allegedly been harmed by the prescription drug Vioxx are congratulating themselves over a historic judgment rendered recently. On August 19, 2005, a judge awarded the family of Bob Ernst $253.4 million due to his death from the drug. Vioxx, which had been prescribed most often for arthritis pain, was withdrawn globally by its maker, Merck, after research trials showed it increased patients' chances of a heart attack. Although Merck pulled the drug off the market in September 2004, legal action against this leading pharmaceutical giant will continue and expand. Let’s take a look at why Vioxx has become a litigation lightning rod. In 1998 as Merck was running clinical trials for Vioxx, company reports to the FDA stated that there were no cardiovascular signals apparent. This meant that there were no telltale signs that the drug could cause heart problems for users. Later, however, it was revealed that an internal study conducted by Merck around the same time – Study 090 – revealed serious cardiovascular problems as compared to patients not taking Vioxx. The study was never published by Merck as the company insisted that it was not large enough to provide definitive data. Vesting and Your 401(k) Do you have a 401(k) retirement account? Are you vested yet? Before you move on to your next job, it is critical for you to find out if you are fully vested in your retirement account before you make the move. If you are not, you could lose hundreds if not thousands of dollars in employer contributions. Vesting refers simply to the non-forfeitable percentage of your account’s assets. In other words, whatever you contribute to your 401(k) plan is always yours to keep including any rollover money. Ultra Low Priced Cars: Will You Buy One? North American motorists have gotten used to paying $20-$25,000 or more for their new vehicles. Long gone are the days when sub $10,000 cars ruled the highways, with few cars available for under $15,000 these days. All of that will be changing as the pending introduction of cheap cars from China as well as imports from Mexico and other third world nations will reshape the automotive landscape. Will you buy one of these bargain brands or will you stick with one of the trusted names? Let’s step forward a few years to look at a radically changed automotive market and just what it may have to offer to you, the value conscious consumer. If you follow automotive press reports then likely you have heard talk of cheaply priced cars from China being imported to the US and Canadian markets. At prices reported to be as low as US$ 6500, these cars have created a lot of buzz and have raised concern about the entire automotive industry, domestic and foreign. One big question asked includes this: how will domestic manufacturers be able to compete price wise? Well, prices won’t be quite as low as first reported once certain safety and anti-pollution measures are added in; instead the final starting price will likely be in the neighborhood of US$ 8500. Types Of Air Filters For Your Vehicle How often do you replace your car’s air filter? Every 10 thousand miles? 12K? 15K? During the life of your car – assuming you plan on keeping your vehicle for many years – you could easily go through 8, 10, even 15 or more air filters. Of course, that is if you choose to purchase disposable air filters every time your shop. However, did you know that you now have another choice, in a reusable air filter, which costs a bit more but will likely outlast your car? Read on for an informative comparison of the two types of air filters available for your vehicle. If you maintain your own vehicle, you probably make regular trips to your auto parts store for oil, filters, wipers, and the occasional air filter. Concerning your air filter, your choices include Fram, ACDelco, Bosch, and Purolator air filters, all very well known and trusted brands. You are not likely to pay a whole lot for one, perhaps between $6 and $15, depending on your vehicle make, model, model year, and engine. For many people purchasing an air filter once a year is a simple procedure: see which one is on sale, buy it, toss the old one, and insert the new one. Truck Covers For A Snug Fit Much like car covers, a high quality custom fitted truck cover can protect your pick up truck from a whole cluster of nasty insults to your truck’s body. Even if you park your truck in a garage and give it regular washes and polishes, your finish can soon diminish and your truck quickly show its age without the added benefit of using a truck cover. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of owning a truck cover and what you need to look for when considering purchasing a high quality product. When you choose your truck cover, you will soon discover that even just one manufacturer can make several assorted covers for the same truck model. Simple covers offer partial protection from the elements while first-rate truck covers offer far-reaching protection. Tricking Out Your Dodge Ram Srt-10 There are pick up trucks on the road and then there is the Dodge Ram SRT-10. Take one already powerful truck and add in a Viper engine and you come away with a vehicle that is truly the king of its class. DaimlerChrysler got it right when they decided to morph its popular Ram into a true road warrior able to haul people, stuff, and beat just about any car on the road. If you own a Ram SRT-10 you already know what I mean as you spend your time tricking out your truck for even more performance and enhanced looks. Before we go on, please note that there are two versions of the Ram SRT-10: one is the “standard” two door cab and the other is the quad cab. For argument’s sake, we’ll look at both Ram SRT-10 models as one. Without exception the 510 horsepower 8.3L V10 is one powerful engine. For the faint of heart, the Ram SRT-10 just isn’t for you, but for the Dodge aficionado this steroid enhanced Ram more than meets your every fantasy. Or does it? Trends V. Fads Writing for online publishing can be a tricky undertaking especially considering that what may be popular today may not be so in a month or two, thereby making what you wrote irrelevant. To overcome the possibility of your words falling to the ground instead of being received by your customers’ eyes you need to determine if the subject matter is a trend or a fad. Traveling Abroad: Heeding U.S. Travel Warnings Traveling abroad presents certain risks for Americans, especially in light of the recent bombings in London, England. For the most part, terrorists are the problem, although drug, gang, and criminal activities can also be a factor. In addition, local health conditions can be a separate problem. Thankfully, the U.S. State Department regularly issues and updates Consular Information Sheets for every country in the world. These sheets give valuable information to travelers, information you must know before you take your next trip. As mentioned, the Consular Information Sheets provide important information for travelers. You can also check the State Department's Current Travel Warning list to see which nations the U.S. government encourages Americans to avoid altogether. Currently, the following countries are listed: Toyota: The New Number One? For the past several months news reports have been focusing on the declining fortunes of the world’s largest automaker, General Motors, as well as on the rise of Toyota to pre-eminence. Many are predicting that this will be the year that Toyota overtakes General Motors in sales while others are expressing caution regarding this assessment. Does it really matter who is number one? In many ways it does. Let’s examine the fortunes of the Top Two to determine whether Toyota’s quest to overtake General Motors will happen this year. So, why does it matter who is the top selling automaker in the world? In one word: prestige. Being number one in any category tells consumers that you are at the top of your game. No, there isn’t anything wrong with being number two – just ask Avis – but saying that “we try harder” doesn’t equate into being number one no matter how cute your commercials may be. Toyota's Prius To Be Built In China The Toyota Prius, a car built on hybrid gas-electric technology, will soon receive a major production boost. Toyota and an undisclosed Chinese based manufacturing company have sealed a deal where the two companies will be working together to produce the Prius for worldwide export. This bodes well for the American consumer who has to endure long waits for an all new Prius. More importantly, the move signals a sea change in the way Japanese cars are built and marketed. Ultimately, you may be the biggest winner; please read on for all the scintillating details! If you wait nine months for a car, it means you must really want that model. This is exactly what future owners of the Prius have been doing as well as owners of other hybrid cars including some Honda models. No manufacturer has been able to keep up with the surging demand and, despite lower fuel prices, demand continues to increase. Totes Isotoner Men's Terry Slippers The names "Totes" and "Isotoner" have gained a certain exclusive ring to the products bearing these names. Umbrellas, gloves, rainwear, rubber footware, and slippers are products that are produced by the Cincinnati, Ohio based Totes Isotoner Corporation. Over the years, I have owned Totes Isotoner umbrellas, gloves, as well as a pair of Terry Men's Slippers. The latter product is the subject of this particular review. For men, slippers are not a fashion statement. There chief function is to provide for 'us guys' a way to keep our feet warm on cold days. Anything else that they do is a bonus. Toshiba Qosmio G15-av501 Notebook Computer Purchasing a notebook computer can be a mind boggling experience with all the different makes and models out there. Toshiba has a strong entry in their Toshiba Qosmio G15-AV501 notebook computer. Let's examine why this particular model is certain to be an effective competitor. Unlike most laptops the Qosmio takes computing to the next level. You can watch your favorite TV programs, play DVDs, or listen to music by way of its Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system. Sporting a 17" screen the Qosmio offers a nifty 1440 x 900 pixels resolution perfect for TV or video watching. Other key features of the Qosmio include: Toshiba Qosmio G15-av501 Notebook Computer Purchasing a notebook computer can be a mind boggling experience with all the different makes and models out there. Toshiba has a strong entry in their Toshiba Qosmio G15-AV501 notebook computer. Let's examine why this particular model is certain to be an effective competitor. Unlike most laptops the Qosmio takes computing to the next level. You can watch your favorite TV programs, play DVDs, or listen to music by way of its Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system. Sporting a 17" screen the Qosmio offers a nifty 1440 x 900 pixels resolution perfect for TV or video watching. Other key features of the Qosmio include: Top Truck And Suv Accessories If you own a pickup truck or SUV chances are your vehicle looks quite a bit different than from the day that you bought it home from the dealership. I’m not talking about wear and tear, scratches or dings, or any other thing that may have happened to it over the course of time. Rather, I am suggesting that you have customized it to look the way you want it to look. Let’s take a peek at some popular accessories on the market for pickups as well as for SUVs. There are literally hundreds of after market parts and accessories available for trucks and SUVs. The following list is an alphabetical example [well, almost] of add-ons for your consideration: Tips On Selecting Your Custom Car Cover If you take extended trips away from home, one of your concerns is the care and protection of your car while away. Unless it is garaged, it is subject to damaging rays from the sun, bug splatter, bird droppings, falling branches, nicks, scrapes, and more. Upon returning from your trip the damage is evident and not easily reversed. You can prevent problems in the first place by installing a custom fit car cover to protect your investment. Not all car covers are created equal, so here are some things you should consider before making your purchase. Car covers are basically all the same, right? Absolutely not! There are car covers which are anything from what is essentially a loose fitting tarp to those like the BMW car cover which are custom designed for the particular make and model of the car. A loose fitting car cover can actually cause more problems than it can help as unwelcome moisture, debris, and harmful UV rays will still be able to get in. Tips On Finding Employment As A Corporate Flight Attendant I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic to write about. In fact, my knowledge of how one finds work as a private flight attendant is based chiefly on what others have shared with me. You can find some useful tips within the many threads written on the Corporate Flight Attendant Community message boards at http://www.cabinmanagers.com, but to save you from culling through hundreds of threads I will highlight various standout points and include others that have been shared with me over the past several years by industry insiders: * Cold calling. Time honored and time tested this is an important method for finding work and it is also one of the hardest for the majority of people to do. If you do not have the skills to contact strangers you will find an important avenue for securing work omitted. Even the unskilled can accomplish much by attempting this step...practice, practice, practice and you will get the hang of it. You many never feel comfortable doing it, but you accomplish much by trying. Always keep this in mind: every person that you meet is a potential contact for helping you find work; conversely, you may also be able to help someone out too. The Upcoming Buick Lacrosse Super Sport Edmunds and several leading automotive blogs are theorizing that Buick will finally go ahead and build a sport version of its popular LaCrosse midsize sedan. Unlike the original model, the proposed car will be a true roadster as Buick seeks to inject some youthfulness into its aging model line. This is big news for Buick, which hasn’t built a true youth oriented car since stopping production of the hot-rod Regal Grand National during the 1980s. Will the Super Sport be enough to help Buick recapture a lost segment of the marketplace? That remains open to debate, so let’s see what Buick is planning with the Super Sport and then you can decide for yourself. For the past several years, Buick has been near the top in most customer satisfaction and quality surveys. After years of languishing much further down the list, Buick decided to truly emphasize quality and that move has paid off. However, quality cars are one thing while exciting cars are another. Quite simply, Buick hasn’t been building cars that are high on the “wow” factor list. Sales have remained flat as the age level of its buyers continued to rise. Anyone who understands the business of cars will tell you that you must continually appeal to a younger audience in order to grow and prosper. Let’s just say that even younger AARP drivers haven’t been heavily drawn to the current Buick model line up. The Toyota Fj Cruiser: Breaking The Styling Mold Toyota’s growing popularity hasn’t been without controversy. No, the automaker doesn’t have much of a quality issue to contend with and, no Toyota isn’t likely to begin losing market share anytime soon. Yet, there is one area where the Japanese automaker has a bit of a perception problem and that has to do with styling. Of course Toyota vehicles aren’t ugly but there are few models being built today that are truly exciting. All that is now beginning to change as Toyota releases several head turning models including the latest rendition of its popular Camry sedan and one of its newest models, the FJ Cruiser. Keep reading and we’ll take a glance at just how Toyota is breaking one mold by breaking new ground. Maybe it was the success of the Nissan Xterra or perhaps it was the desire to recapture past glory [or something in between] but Toyota’s decision to build the FJ Cruiser may not have been an easy one. With a line up filled with various trucks and SUVs, the proposed FJ Cruiser would not only be competing against the Jeeps and Land Rovers of the world, but with some of its own models including the car based Highlander and the versatile, truck based 4Runner. Still, the model was thought to stand a chance for two reasons: the FJ Cruiser is a retro-styled vehicle taking its design cues from the FJ40 of the 1960s/1970s and for its 5 passenger seating capacity: just the right sized vehicle that consumers would want to take off roading. The Source, Of Course Writing “net friendly” articles does not mean we can automatically leave out any mention of our sources. There is a tendency for many writers to simply write their material and not cite their sources, particularly when it is obvious that a source has been quoted somewhere within the body of the article. Generally, what I do when it comes time to mentioning sources for an internet article, I attempt to first find that information on the internet and, if it is there, I simply provide anchor links in my article back to that source. In addition, I try to link directly to the page where the information is listed instead of pointing someone to the site’s index page. Why make it difficult for your readers to find out exactly where you obtained your information? Take them directly to the source, of course! The Rise Of The Dollar Stores Sheryl Huenster is a self proclaimed dollar store junkie. The Clifton mother of four makes the trek to various fixed price stores within a ten mile radius of her white clapboard home two or three times per week. “I’m an addict. I admit it. I can’t go more than a week without visiting the stores, unless I’m on vacation. You better believe that when I go to the Jersey Shore I know where the all the stores are in the Toms River area,” she laughed. The Race Car Inspired Bmw M3 German premier automotive maker BMW continues to maintain its hold as the top selling luxury auto brand in the world. Battling with archrival Mercedes-Benz year in and year out for the highest laurels, BMW continues to constantly tweak its existing line and add new vehicles to its line in a bid to stimulate and strengthen customer interest. One area where BMW has found much of its recent success is with its race car inspired line of vehicles, the M Series. Since 1979 various Motorsports [M} tags have been affixed to vehicles that have been developed by the BMW Motorsports division, including the BMW M3 a car based on BMW’s popular 3 Series. Today, BMW engineers are hard at work on developing an all new BMW M3 and, if all of the auto buzz is correct, very few cars will be able to keep up with this 400 hp road commander. Please keep reading for a closer look at the all new, soon to be released, BMW M3. A pitched battle in autodom continues to gather force pitting German automaker against German automaker. Legendary Mercedes-Benz is taking on heralded BMW for the right to call themselves the top selling luxury brand in the world. For years, the honor belonged exclusively to Mercedes-Benz, but a recent stumble on Mercedes’ part coupled with a surge of new products from BMW has placed BMW in first place. Not far behind the two is Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, but for now the battle remains a fight between these two German automakers. The Power Of An Online Resume I just finished posting what has to be my 150th online resume for yet another happy customer. As a manager of a site for corporate flight attendants, I know that there are several things that are extremely important to consider when crafting an online resume no matter where or how it is listed. Please continue to read on as I share some valuable pointers with you. Granted, not everyone wants or should have their resume posted online for all the world to see. However, if you are seeking a very public position – and I don’t know too many more jobs that are much more public than that of a flight attendant – then having some information about you online is not only smart, but critical to your finding work. The Perfect Christmas Gift I suppose there is no such thing as the imperfect Christmas gift, but I am sure that there are some gifts that are less desirably received than others. Let's take a look at the "Personal Trimmer." Every time I hear of one of these items or see it in the store I think, "nose hair trimmer." Hey, there is no way of getting around it: if you give this gift you are telling the recipient that the strand of hair hanging out of their left nostril is unsightly. Or, since the product is also marketed for the ears, you've noticed a bit 'o fuzz on their earlobes. The Original Eight: Genesis Of The Modern Day Flight Attendant The following article serves as a tribute to eight women who were the forerunners of the modern day flight attendant now numbering nearly 250,000 women and men worldwide. In 1930, it was the dream of many a young man to marry a Boeing Skygirl. These “original eight” women were single nurses enticed from their homes with the idea of marriage to a rich-lonesome business passenger. Ultimately, however, they played a pivotal role in revolutionizing air travel by ensuring passenger comfort and through promoting the safety of air travel. The Many Benefits of Online Christmas Shopping Over the past decade consumers have grown to appreciate a new option in shopping for gifts for Christmas: the internet. Yes, online shopping is here and it is an increasingly important choice for consumers everywhere. Without even leaving your home you can compare products, make purchases, and have gifts sent to your home or directly to your recipients -- fully wrapped at that! Read on and we’ll take a complete look at the many benefits of online Christmas shopping and how you can make this choice work to your advantage. Comparison Shopping – How many times have you been to the store and wondered if the item you were purchasing was cheaper somewhere else? For low cost items this isn’t too big of a deal, but if you are buying a television, computer equipment, jewelry, or some other item costing several hundred dollars it could be a significant issue for you. Fortunately, online sites such as Price Grabber, My Simon, BizRate, and NexTag allow you to find just what you want at the lowest possible prices. New technologies that work from your cell phone, such as Frucall, can also help you find the best prices and allow you to place your order immediately. Save money, time, and gas by comparison shopping from your home: no running from store to store in pursuit of finding the best prices. The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe It has taken me decades – literally – to finally pick up another C.S. Lewis book and read it. In high school I read Lewis’ book, “That Hideous Strength” and completely missed Lewis’ message. One decade later I read Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” and fully understood what Lewis was saying. With The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, part of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series, the gospel message is clearly made evident in an allegorical/mystical style. Lewis used the Narnia series to explain Christ’s love for humankind to children, who are the series’ principal readers. This first novel in a series of seven books is currently a major motion picture now completing a successful run on theatre screens across the U.S. I have yet to see the movie, a Disney production, but I understand that it holds very true to Lewis’ storyline. I expect to see the movie before it leaves theatres later this month; it will become available on DVD this April. The Internet: Have You Cashed In Yet? The recently ended Christmas/Holiday 2005 sales season is returning some good numbers for retailers, well above figures that some thought would have been unattainable in light of the many hurricanes that wreaked disaster on parts of the U.S. this past year. With consumer sentiment good, early figures suggest that sales climbed at least 4% over last year’s figures with a number twice that amount also being mentioned. Still, the greatest increases have been in an area that has seen double digit growth for years: the internet. With sales climbing 30% over last year’s torrid rates, online shopping is here to stay…and growing bigger every year. Have you started your online site yet? If not, why not? Brick and mortar retailers are discovering that in order to remain competitive, they must have an online presence too. No longer does your customer base have to be restricted to a one or two county area where you live. The internet provides a great way to expand that base to include your entire state, your country, or the world! For example, Wal-Mart not only sells well at the store level, but their online sales do very well too. If Wal-Mart can do it, you can too. The Influenza Diet You’ve heard of “The South Beach Diet” and “The Mayo Clinic Diet” but have you ever heard of “The Influenza Diet?” If not, you are missing out on a “real treat” and a terrific opportunity to help you lose and keep off those excess holiday pounds. By the way, it isn’t a diet that you can readily plan on starting, but it is one that forces itself upon you quietly and suddenly. ‘Tis the season to put on weight! Yes, there is something about the month of December that convinces people that what they eat during that month will soon be forgotten by January. You’ve heard the joke: December calories do not get counted! Okay then, when your scale shows your weight has shot up by 13 lbs., who [or what] are you going to say counted the excessive baggage now resting around your gut? Hmmm? The Hyundai Azera Surges To The Top Hyundai’s all-new near-luxury sedan, the Azera, has been received with critical acclaim. Consumers and critics are calling the Hyundai Azera the highest quality, most luxurious Hyundai to ever appear in the highly competitive US market. A recent award from the automotive consultant group, AutoPacific has underscored what many are quickly learning: the Hyundai Azera is a car that leads in customer satisfaction. None of this is a surprise to Hyundai, but it may be as surprise for you. Read on for a look at Hyundai’s darling near-luxury sedan. Near-luxury, you say? Yes, it is a category reserved for cars that have many luxury appointments and high engineering standards without the price. Retailing at just over $27,000, the Hyundai Azera is a bargain when compared to similar cars from BMW and Lexus, but not quite the engineering and technological marvel of these two competitors, however. Yet, the Hyundai Azera is offering plenty for consumers at prices well below that of its would-be competitors. The History of Hyundai If you live in North America, you likely are now very familiar with the Hyundai line of vehicles. Back in 1986, the first Hyundai was introduced to the market – an Excel – and the company’s line up has changed dramatically since that time. Hyundai produces much more than cars; in fact, by the end of the last century Hyundai became one of the largest companies in the world. Let’s take a look at this Korean based multinational corporation and the company behind Hyundai vehicles. It was back in 1946, just one year removed from Imperial Japan’s occupation of the Korean peninsula, that a new company was birthed in what is now known as South Korea. Hyundai Motor Industrial Company was founded by Chung Ju-yung, a child of northern Korean peasant farmers, and in 1947 Ju-yung launched a second company, Hyundai Civil Industries. Self educated, Ju-yung transformed the entire Korean economy with the tight control he exerted over his Hyundai companies. The Highly Refined And Capable Bmw X5 Sav The Highly Refined And Capable Bmw X5 Sav Sport utility vehicle sales continue to plummet in the face of surging gasoline prices now topping the three dollar per gallon mark. Indeed, this segment of the vehicle market has produced some of the largest profits for automakers globally and this loss of sales is impacting manufacturer bottom lines the world over. Yet, demand hasn’t dried up altogether and a rebound is possible once gas prices stabilize. For BMW owners, a larger vehicle such as the BMW X5 SAV is almost a necessity no matter what gas prices may be. Yes, the BMW X5 SAV is big topping out at just over 5,000 lbs. Are you in the market for a luxury sport utility vehicle? If so, BMW’s largest model may just have something to offer to you. For the record, BMW calls their SUVs an SAV: a sport activity vehicle. BMW’s marketing arm felt that customers should know that beyond it’s off road prowess, the BMW X5 SAV can tow as much as 6,000 pounds; carry bicycles with an optional bike rack; hold a canoe on top of its roof; and stow camping or other activity gear in its generous sized rear quarter. The Heart Pounding, Road Ripping Dodge Magnum SRT8 Thanks to the Chrysler Group’s relationship with Mercedes – both companies are owned by DaimlerChrysler – the automaker markets a successful group of full size, rear wheel drive cars powering the Dodge and Chrysler brands. Tapping Mercedes technology in the form of their suspensions, rear differentials, and automatic transmissions three vehicles, including the Dodge Magnum, are now gracing North American highways with their “can’t miss” presence. The Dodge Magnum wagon, as the first vehicle based on the LX platform, has successfully erased most people’s concept of what a “station wagon” should be. With its menacing front end, rakish body lines, and abundant hauling capacity the Magnum is no mere “mom mobile” instead, the car is a true sport wagon. Taking that theme to the extreme is the Magnum SRT8, the ultimate fusion of sport wagon and muscle car. When it comes to engines, Magnum owners have plenty of choices. From the 2.7L V6 powering the SE, to the 3.5L V6 found underneath the hood of the SXT, to the explosive intensity generated by the 5.7L Hemi V8 that comes with the sporty R/T, Magnum owners have a variety of choices not found in many vehicle’s of its class. Thinking that some Dodge fanatics would want even something more powerful than the R/T, the brand released the SRT8 in 2005 which features a 6.1L Hemi V8 that bangs out an extraordinary 425 horses and 420 lb.-ft of torque. Add on the 20 inch aluminum wheels, firm up the suspension, and equip the model with bigger brakes and you have one untamable Magnum! The Expanding E85 Fleet Of General Motors The E85 movement, which is based on an alternate fuel consisting of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, is getting an additional boost thanks to a recent decision by General Motors to expand its existing line up from 9 models to 14. This increase will mean that General Motors, which already has nearly 2 million E85 vehicles on the road, will be able to produce as many as 400,000 E85 vehicles per year. For proponents of alternate fuel sources, the decision by General Motors is certainly a welcome one. Let’s take a look at GM’s expanding E85 fleet and what this could mean for you, the fuel conscious motorist. E85 has been around for well over a decade now, but has only recently has it been the focus of such widespread attention. Credit gas prices exceeding $3 per gallon for interest in E85 and you can see why General Motors is continuing to expand its line up to meet the demand for alternate fuel sources. The Distance Learning Explosion! A generation ago few would have given much thought to educating themselves apart from a 'brick and mortar' educational institution. Certainly, for several generations, correspondence courses allowed people to gain knowledge while studying in the comfort of their homes, but these schools pale in comparison to entire universities dedicated to instructing students remotely. Let's take a look at this growing phenomenon. Claiming to be the nation's leading online university, the University of Phoenix was among the first accredited universities to provide college degree programs via the Internet. Founded in 1976, the University of Phoenix began offering internet degree programs in 1989. The program has exploded in popularity to where nearly 150,000 students are in the process of pursuing degrees on the bachelor's, master's and doctoral level. Degreed programs in Business, Education, Management, Nursing, and Technology are available online through the university which claims to be the largest private university in the US. The Demise Of Ezboard For years, EZBoard was a community that offered relatively cheap and easy to maintain forums for managers. Virtually anyone could register, design, and layout a site and invite their friends to participate. Indeed, some of the largest forums on the internet are built upon EZBoard. Unfortunately, a recent system-wide hacking attack has destroyed the company's reputation and sent many managers packing. Let's look at the venerable community and the fatal flaw that has toppled the company from its perch. At one time EZBoard boasted over 14,000 web communities. Many were started by individuals seeking a discussion forum for their favorite topics, while others were started by business people such as myself. The reasons businesses were attracted to EZBoard were two-fold: The Benefits of Open Source If you are a building a website or a forum, chances are you are using a web editor or paying for message board services. The costs of using these "out of the box" products can add up, especially if you are trying to grow your business. Let's look at some good "open source" options for you to consider. You may be surprised at how much money open source can save you. What is open source? The webopedia describes it as follows: Generically, open source refers to a program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge, i.e., open. Open source code is typically created as a collaborative effort in which programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the community. Open source sprouted in the technological community as a response to proprietary software owned by corporations. Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus Calculator Calculators have shrunk in size and increased in price as consumers have sought out devices that do much more than simple arithmetic. Texas Instruments has their TI-83 Plus model which helps students with their Physics, Biology, Algebra, and Pre-Calculus classes. We'll examine why this model is so popular with today's classroom students. Back in the 1970s, the slide rule gave way to calculators in many classrooms across the nation. Texas Instruments led the way as almost every student owned one of their models. Today, Texas Instruments [or, TI] continues to produce calculators and their TI-83 Plus calculator leads the way. Teterboro, New Jersey: A General Aviation Town Tiny Teterboro, New Jersey is situated just south of Hackensack at the edge of the Meadowlands only twelve miles from midtown Manhattan. This Bergen County borough is mostly known for its airport, as the residential properties in the town are few. Indeed, recent census figures put the town’s population at just 18 souls! Meanwhile, business dominates the town and the airport, named for the town, is the chief job generator in the town as well as in surrounding communities. At just over one square mile, Teterboro certainly is easily missed. Bordered by state highways 46 to the north and 17 to the west, the town would certainly be overlooked unless you failed to notice the regular flow of general aviation traffic entering and leaving the airport. Indeed, Teterboro Airport {TEB} ranks as one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country serving Piper and Cessna owners all the way up to Gulfstream V charter operators. Teens: Life v. Electronics Teens today have so much more to distract them besides their homework, the opposite sex, friends, family members, and extracurricular activities. Besides learning how to drive, teenagers are occupied with playing with an assortment of electronic gizmos including cell phones, camera phones, personal computers, MP3 players, DVD players, ipods, xboxs, digital cameras, the list goes on. Wired? You betcha…and then some. Perhaps all of this electronic gadgetry has you concerned and you are wondering just how you can extract your teen and involve them in an outside activity where they can expand their minds and refresh their bodies. Are you out of ideas? Let’s look at some options that may appeal to them and remove the worry from you. Work on the Car So, you think that a car isn’t a kid magnet as much as when you first learned how to drive? Think again. Today, kids are pimping their rides and expressing themselves through their cars. Custom paint, decals, blacked out windows, even faux aircraft wings are being attached to the outside of their cars. On the inside, it can be totally surreal: rear view mirrors wrapped with a studded belts, frilly seat cover trim, pushpin art attached to the headliner, decals everywhere, etc. Let them pimp your Camry or Explorer…that’ll keep them off the computer…and get you noticed too! Teaching Student Drivers: 9 Tips To Keep Everyone Safe And Sane I have had the experience of teaching several people how to drive. Some were youngsters, but I have also taught a few adults how to drive too. Let’s just say that I am more than glad to have “retired” from this practice as teaching someone how to drive can be taxing mentally as well as physically. Still, not everyone has the funds to go to driving school or an available friend to help out. So, if you are one of the “lucky” ones playing the role of instructor, here are some tips to help keep you sane and your student listening. 1. Set A Schedule. Keeping teens on a schedule can be nearly impossible as they juggle their busy lives with after school programs, work, homework, socializing, etc., but it is something that you must do. Find a time that works for the both of you and go out no more than one hour each time for your lessons. Oh, by the way, make sure your driver in training has his or her driver’s permit on them at all times. Tax Debt Help: Where to Find It Are you in debt? Is the Internal Revenue Service breathing down your neck and threatening your livelihood? Do not be overwhelmed by tax debt as there are ways for you to solve your tax debt problems and keep the tax collector far away. Read on for some helpful advice. A Little Bit of Equity. If you own your home, you could have a significant amount of equity in it, especially if you have lived in it for more than five years. Through your bank or similar lending institution you can apply for an equity line of credit or equity loan. Just with this amount of borrowed money, you may be able to obtain enough funds to cover your tax debt and penalties. Current rates are still low – shop the internet for the plan that is right for you. Tales From the Blogosphere I entered the blogosphere fairly late in the game. More than three years after starting and managing several busy forums and web sites, I dabbled with blogging through regular entries to one of my aviation web sites. Within weeks I got tired of the discipline – not of writing – but of ftp’ing everything to the web. I gave up as I decided blogging wasn’t for me. Fortunately, I didn’t stay away as I saw a challenge, and an opportunity, in front of me. Having blogged on other people’s sites, I felt that if I could blog there, I could blog anywhere, including on my own blogs. Taking a look at my options, I decided to download WordPress and I now run two blogs from two separate web sites. Taking Care Of Your Car’s Battery Every car comes with one, but some motorists act as if this particular component is completely maintenance free. What am I talking about? Your car’s battery. Technological advances have made “maintenance free” batteries standard equipment on virtually every vehicle produced today. However, the term “maintenance free” is a misnomer, one that can leave you stranded if you do not perform proper and regular maintenance. Battery maintenance isn’t difficult to do, so let’s take a look at what you can do to keep your car running. Before discussing battery maintenance, please make sure that your battery is, in fact, the sealed type. If it isn’t, then the “maintenance free” label certainly does not apply and you will need to add water on a regular basis. Unsealed batteries are easy to spot as they have small vent caps on top of the battery which can be twisted open. You will need to periodically add distilled water to maintain water levels; more so in the summer months as water tends to evaporate quicker. Do not let your battery run low or run out of water as the battery’s cells can be ruined. Staging Your Las Vegas Home For A Sale Putting your Las Vegas home on the market is one thing, but adequately preparing it for buyers is a whole different matter. Home staging is the term used by real estate professionals to help prepare your house so that it will look its absolute best. Realtors will tell you that buyers usually make a decision about a home within the first ten seconds of their visit. Therefore, a wonderful first impression is imperative if you are to sell your home quickly. Should you stage your Las Vegas home? If so, what exactly is involved with home staging? Although your real estate agent or broker is knowledgeable and skilled on how to market your Las Vegas home, they may not be particularly adept at interior design. That is where a home staging professional comes in. If you use one, they will work toward helping you eliminate clutter, rearrange furniture, and improve your home’s curb appeal. This may involve moving a painting from one wall to another, removing a bulky chair out of a crowded room, trimming the front yard shrubbery, etc. In some cases a Las Vegas home staging professional may recommend that you bring in additional furniture, but you must realize that there is an extra cost involved if you choose that option. Spill Control: Preventing Exposure To Contaminants In today's work environment, professionals who come in contact with blood and fluid waste products run the risk of exposure to potentially infectious hazards. In my particular industry, aviation, the chance of someone coming into contact with an unknown substance can be great, particularly for in-flight crew. There are a variety of products on the market that can help prevent or limit your exposure including the two featured herein. One product to consider to help promote a safe clean up is SAFETEC’S Red-Z. Red-Z works by simply sprinkling the encapsulator on spilled blood, urine, vomit or other potentially hazardous waste and the fluid is encapsulated in seconds. Just scoop-up the granulated gel and dispose in accordance with facility policy. Sound Wealth Building Tactics Have you noticed that everyone wants to be rich, but few people seem to want to build wealth the old fashioned way: step by step? If you have tried the “lottery method” and it hasn’t worked out, read on for some tips on how you can build wealth for a better future. Save Sooner, Rather Than Later. Attention, procrastinators: listen up! One thing you don’t want to put off is saving for the future. The earlier you save in life, the more you will have later in life. Thanks to compound interest, the little bit of money you save as a 25 year old can become a lot of money by the time you are 60. Even if other responsibilities crowd out your personal saving plan [i.e., buying a house, expenses for the kids, etc.] you can step up your savings in your 40s and 50s and still come away with a decent nest egg. So Many Article Directories, So Little Time Twice today I received invitations from article directory owners to join their new sites. In many ways I am flattered, but in other ways I almost want to mention that they have their work cut out for them. As an author of several hundred articles online [I expect to add between one and two hundred per month for the foreseeable future] I have some recommendations for article directory managers. If you are interested in learning what they are, please read on. Benchmark Ezine Articles – My primary site for submitting articles is with EzineArticles.com. Why? Volume, service, article penetration, search engine optimization, blog, forum, email updates, site navigation, cutting edge technology, to name some features. This site is one that is highly active where authors know the manager, Christopher Knight, and hear from him regularly. You get the feeling that Ezine Articles is going places...and fast! Snow And Your Car Welcome to Winter! Snow, ice, and cold can be especially challenging to the body and mind, as well as to important items in your life, including your car. Is your vehicle ready for winter? If not, there are some things you can do to help ensure that your car will start on cold mornings and survive even the nastiest winter weather. Check under the hood. Make sure that your battery and all of its connections are clean and fastened; hoses and belts securely in place; your oil and oil filter changes up to date; your air filter clean; the radiator flushed and refilled; and your engine well tuned. One of the biggest contributors to a car not starting is the battery. If it is old and needs to be replaced, do it now before you take that long trip. Should You, VoIP? My friend in Florida, Samuel, called me last week and immediately I noticed a difference in the sound quality compared to our usual conversations. At first, I dismissed it, thinking he was calling me from his cell phone. Five minutes into the conversation when the call suddenly dropped off I "knew" for sure he was calling on his cell. Until he called me back from his cell that is. It turned out that Samuel was using his regular home phone, but when he told me that he had a VoIP account that was all I needed to know. What is VoIP? VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol which is a method for you to talk with someone via your broadband internet connection, cable or DSL. Your voice is translated into data and sent over the same connection used for your computer. VoIP has become popular because you can talk to people for just a few cents per minute...worldwide! In fact, in a recent ad I saw that one of the leading providers of this service is offering free calls to Canada and charging just 3 cents per minute for calls to Hong Kong and 6 cents per minute for calls to Copenhagen. People who frequently call international destinations love VoIP. Heck, at prices one-tenth the amount or less of conventional long distance rates VoIP does have a strong appeal for consumers. Should You Consolidate Your Student Loans? Spending time in college means going to classes, writing papers, studying for exams, and enjoying the college experience of fun, food, and frolic. Oh, if it only were that easy! Chances are you are racking up some serious debt in the form of students loans. If you have already graduated, then you are probably in the process of paying your loans back. Are you happy yet? Maybe not, especially if your student loans are more of a burden than you originally had expected. Read on, please, for some ways you can ease the burden and live a life that goes beyond paying off debt. For many students, it isn’t all that uncommon to graduate with a bachelor’s degree and find yourself owing 10, 30, even 60 thousand dollars or more in student loan debt. How did all of this happen? High tuition, that’s how. Likely your first job out of college isn’t paying you a mint just yet either. Car payments and credit cards bills coupled with everyday living expenses can find you digging a whole that only gets deeper. What should you do? Perhaps you should consider looking into a government student loan consolidation. Shifting Deadlines As a writer who works on multiple projects at any given time, I attempt to pin down a deadline from my clients even if one is not stated. Why? Because, the "I am in no hurry for these" statements invariably becomes, "are you done with the articles?" How embarrassing is that if I make the assumption that a project could be put off, especially if my client wants it now? I have learned to do the following: as soon as I get a project I ask for a specific timeline for when the job should be completed. If the client wants to receive proofs by a certain time, they will. I will also ask them to return to me the reworked article by a certain time too, especially if the "final copy" deadline is fast approaching. No one likes to respond to a panicked, "where is my finished copy?!" statement especially if the hang up is on their end. Regardless of the reason, the burden falls on you, the writer, if there are any snags. Setting Goals: Making Them Attainable! As a writer/author/editor/web designer, et al, I find that in order to make a “go” of my business, I must periodically refocus or reshape the direction in which my business is moving in order to remain relevant and profitable. If you, too, run your own business you probably have learned to do the same. If not, you may be missing some important trends that can impact your bottom line. Please continue to read on for some helpful advice on how you can set attainable goals for your enterprise. My business is always in a state of flux. At times, web design is the hot item while at other times article writing surges to the top of my list of tasks. Several other competing responsibilities including advertising, resume design, and special projects also weigh in. My job isn’t boring, but if I don’t keep a firm grasp on my myriad duties, I can find myself going in the wrong direction without warning. This can be both a career killer and a financial disaster. Selecting Your Tonneau Truck Cover You’ve seen them on pick up trucks everywhere: specially designed truck covers that are all the rage. In times past sporting a custom fitted cap over your truck’s bed was where it was the thing to do. Today, a truck tonneau cover is the way to go for many truck owners. The choices of covers are varied, the retailers who sell them are many. Selecting your tonneau truck cover isn’t rocket science but it pays to “go with what you know” when selecting yours. Let’s take a look at the different types of truck tonneau covers on the market. The most popular selling trucks in the USA for nearly three straight decades are Ford’s “F” series line of full size pick up trucks. Selling twice as many trucks as the nearest car, which is the Toyota Camry, this sales level clearly shows us that pick up trucks remain an important and vital part of the automotive landscape. Indeed, trucks from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and many other manufacturers have filled our roads. Unlike trucks in the past which exclusively emphasized their towing and hauling attributes, trucks of today incorporate a third factor, passenger comfort, in the mix. Still, if you ask mostly anyone exactly what they do with their truck bed you are likely to gain a variety of answers. Most truck beds are used expressly for hauling stuff and depending on what is being hauled that typically determines how the bed is protected and or covered. Securing A North Carolina Farm Loan If you live in the state of North Carolina, you know that farming plays a valuable role in the North Carolina economy. With nearly 9 million residents, the state has farms producing a wide variety of products. Indeed, North Carolina is a leader in the production of tobacco, sweet potatoes, and turkeys and the state is second in hogs and Christmas trees. Are you considering purchasing a farm? If so, please read on for suggestions on just how you can finance your proposed endeavor. Farm Associations – Your local farmers probably belong to a farm association. Visit the association and see if they offer North Carolina Farm Loan plans. Some associations may act as an agent for the U.S. federal government’s Farm Service Agency [an agency that is part of the USDA] who will direct you accordingly. Secrets That Your Credit Card Provider Is Keeping From You If you think that you know everything there is to know about your credit card, then you could be in for a rude awakening. Credit card providers make untold billions of dollars annually because of several closely guarded secrets that they won't easily share with you. By keeping you in the dark they can make money at your expense. Don't be beaten down as I am about to shine the light in the darkness to expose trade secrets that they hope you will never learn about. Congratulations, you have been approved for a new major credit card! However, do not let the headiness of having a better than average credit rating skew your judgment: now is the time to get very familiar with the credit card agreement that came along with your new card. Searching For A Home In Beautiful Boise Boise, the state capital of Idaho, is currently experiencing a population boom thanks to its temperate climate, business friendly environment, and family favorable atmosphere. Indeed, most of the dramatic growth that is happening is made evident in the city's surging population base which has pushed past the 200,000 mark. If you are a current Boise resident or you are considering searching for a home in Idaho's largest city or in its surrounding towns, you can conduct a Boise home search right from the comfort of your personal computer. Read on and we'll examine some of the ways you can tap into the rich Boise real estate market. French for "wooded area" Boise continues to exemplify its nickname as the "city of trees." This bucolic living, working, and recreational environment continues to hold visitors' attention and is one of the reasons why families are relocating to the area in large numbers. Search Engine Wars: Google Thumps Yahoo, Msn Well the score is in: Google has resoundingly thumped Yahoo and MSN in the ongoing search engine wars. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t read it myself; Google continues to grow in size and popularity while Yahoo and MSN continue to firm up their “also ran” positions. What does this mean for you? Plenty, especially if you are wasting your time with the other search engines. Yes, I am surprised. My previous statistics were evidently a bit outdated as I had the search engine war between the Big 3 Providers -- Google, Yahoo, and MSN -- running a tight 1-2-3. Indeed, it must have been early in 2005 the last time I bothered to look at the statistics, but at that time my stats showed that Google controlled 36% while Yahoo and MSN were running at 33% and 32% respectively. Yes, the statistics total to more than 100% since they include those people who use more than one search engine [in this case they are counted twice]. Saving Money, Simply We all know how to spend our money, but do we fully understand how to save it? I am not talking about setting aside a reserve for an investment or rainy day purposes – both of which are good things – rather, saving money on everyday items. Here are some simple ways you can save money: Clip Coupons. You can save on your shopping excursions by clipping coupons. Some stores will even double or triple manufacturers’ coupons up to a specified amount [typically, one dollar] as an added incentive to bring you in. Save On Gas Sensibly And Sanely If some people had their way, you’d be driving a small hybrid powered vehicle with no choice of other types of cars to own. While a gas-electric hybrid is fine for some folks, the majority of American drivers want the power and responsive of a trusty internal combustion engine and are not interested in being told which kind of car they must drive. Yet, saving on gas is a universal concern one that nearly every driver considers each time he or she stands at the gas pump. I doubt that there are many folks who give no thought to paying $3 per gallon for gasoline and fill ups costing $40, $60, even $80 or more are no fun. While you can’t control OPEC, you can squeeze more mileage out of your current vehicle thereby reducing your pain at the pump. Read on and we’ll explore several sensible and sane fuel saving options that can help you today: Easy on the Brakes. If you slam on the brakes, chances are you also press the pedal to the medal. Jackrabbit starts will get you there, but you’ll also gobble up more gasoline than you can imagine. Ease up on the gas pedal and you could see your fuel economy jump by 3 to 5%. Save Money On Auto Insurance You just received your most recent automobile insurance bill and it has gone up once again. More than 10%, in fact! A little gecko is clamoring for your business and so are a handful of other companies that you even no less about. So, what should you do? Switching insurance carriers is one option, but before go through all the hassles of making a change, let’s first take a look at five ways you can reduce insurance premiums instantly. Bump Up Your Deductible. You can gain instant savings by increasing the deductible you are willing to pay. You may find a $1000 deductible for collision to make more sense and save you a considerable amount of money in the long run. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

SIGN UP FOR FREE   Sign Up for a free account or learn more. Submit Articles Member Login Top Authors Most Popular Articles Submission Guidelines Ezine Notifications Article RSS Feeds About Us Link to Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Service   Most Recent Articles Your Las Vegas Mortgage Prequalification Letter Congratulations on your decision to move to Las Vegas! Once simply a quiet casino outpost, Las Vegas has been transformed into a thriving entertainment mecca and remains one of the fastest growing cities in America. If you are planning to purchase property in Las Vegas, you can expedite the process by having your mortgage prequalification letter in hand before you begin looking for a home. Read on and we shall see why this all important step can ease your home buying experience. A Las Vegas mortgage prequalification letter is issued by a mortgage company to let you know exactly how much of a home you can purchase. It tells sellers and real estate agents the following about you: Your Flight Questions Answered Whether you are an experienced air traveler or a novice, John Cronin's book, "Your Flight Questions Answered," has a little bit of something for everyone. Written more as a reference guide, Cronin's book covers the many questions the flying public can have before, during, and after flight. Cronin divides his book into seven sections each containing several questions with detailed answers: flight cancellations and delays, baggage handling, weather, air traffic control, airports, airliners, and pilots. His questions are written in basic form, much like the questions a concerned passenger would ask who is unfamiliar with flying. For example, one question he covers: what are those tiny pieces of metal sticking straight up from the wing? He details his answer with the explanation that they are vortex generators, which create a vortex that prevents air from separating from the wing or other surface area on an aircraft. Cronin breaks down his explanations further with additional details and often includes a supporting picture or graph to visually stress the answer. You Can Tune Your Car For Maximum Performance! Are you satisfied with your performance? Your car's performance, that is? If you are not or if you have wondered how you can crank more power out of your engine, then I have some good news for you: you can do it with an engine tuning programmer. Yes, within minutes you can turn your ordinary passenger car into a road warrior without having to pop the hood or by removing the dashboard. It is a quick, easy, and awesome way to unleash more power from your car's engine. The aftermarket parts industry is constantly coming up with everything you need to enhance your vehicle’s look as well as its improve performance. On the performance side of things custom air filters, cold air intakes, and exhaust systems are much sought after options for car enthusiasts. In addition, performance chips are being installed by owners who desire to turn their ordinary cars into something extraordinary. You Can Select A Quality Car Cover Maybe the thought of owning a car cover sounds a bit ridiculous to you. After all, you typically keep your car garaged, right? Besides, who wants to have an ugly tarp draped over a car anyway? Not you! Car covers serve a purpose even for the person who keeps their vehicle sheltered most of the time. Let’s examine the benefits of owning a car cover and how you can go about selecting one that is right for your car. Keeps the bird poop at bay If you leave your car outside, there is a nemesis that takes aim at your car...birds! Yes, birds are all right, but their excrement is not. If you don’t wash it off right away, your car’s finish can be damaged. Some bird poop is so damaging that even a buff and wax job won’t completely restore the finish. A car cover will catch the poop before it does permanent damage. You Can Save Money On Car Expenses Gas prices remain at historically high levels and the long term trend is indicating that they will stay high. If you own one or more cars, you understand that saving cash somewhere, somehow is important to helping you preserve your budget. The following are some important tips to help you manage your car expenses. Look over your insurance. If your car is between two and three thousand dollars, consider canceling your collision coverage. The money you save could then be set aside by you toward a down payment on your next vehicle. You Can Replace Your Car's Egr Valve Located smack dab on your car’s intake manifold, an EGR [Exhaust Gas Recirculation] valve functions by sending exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber as “exhausted air” is much hotter than intake air. By bringing warmer gas into the combustion chamber, your engine operates much more cleanly and efficiently. Like any part, your Ford EGR valve or Toyota EGR valve is subject to getting clogged with dirt or crud. A clogged unit may cause your car to stall, hesitate, or idle roughly. Sometimes, simply cleaning the EGR valve with a product like STP carburetor cleaner will resolve the problem. Still, if you take your car in for its MV inspection and the diagnostic tests shows that your EGR valve is not working, you will fail inspection and be forced to swap out the device before bringing your car back in for a follow up inspection. What a hassle, but something you just don’t want to forget about. You Can Install Custom Tail Lights You have seen them on all kinds of cars: tail lights that are an obvious aftermarket modification that give even the most nondescript compact sedan an attention getting, stylish look. From Neons to Civics, and from Dakotas to Escalades, and for mostly any model in between, enthusiasts are changing their vehicle’s appearance with these cool looking mods. Exactly what are they? Some call them European tail lights while others call them Altezzas, after the name of a popular manufacturer of this type of tail light. No matter what you call them, you can install a pair in less than one hour on your vehicle. European tail lights are an easy to install modification of your car’s tail light assembly. Available as either “clear tail lights” or “red tail lights” your stock tail light assemblies are replaced with a custom fitted unit developed for your particular make/model. In short what you are doing is installing crystal clear or red lenses that go over bullet-style taillight and turn signal lenses. The new lenses, paired with style rings and platings, help to accentuate the light emitting from auto tail lights and turn signals for a distinctive look that is vastly superior to the original design. You Can Install A Performance Exhaust System If you are considering replacing your vehicle’s exhaust system, a performance exhaust system can be an ideal choice, offering to you many benefits over a stock exhaust system. Let’s examine the benefits of installing a performance exhaust system versus a stock exhaust system. 1. More Power – One of the obvious benefits of a performance exhaust system is more power for your car. Using catalyst back [cat-back] technology, additional horsepower is freed up, with horsepower increases of 5%, 10%, and even 15% possible. Exactly how does a cat-back system work? By keeping all the key emissions components in place, a cat-back system brings in large width exhaust pipes and low restriction performance mufflers for your car resulting in a lowering of exhaust back pressure. One nice side benefit is the deeper, throatier pitch created by the exhaust system. Since your vehicle’s engine is in essence an air pump, a cat-back system helps the engine to pump and flow air with less disruption. You Can Install A "green" Air Filter! All right now, no laughing. Probably the easiest part to swap out in a car is the air filter. A quick pop of the hood and the loosening of a couple of clamps or a wing nut and you simply reach in and pull out the old air filter. Next, open the box up containing your new air filter, pop it into place, secure everything and you are done. Five, maybe ten minutes to accomplish the easiest job going. So, why doesn't everyone change their own air filter? More importantly, why don't more people opt for environmentally friendly air filters, commonly known as "green" air filters? You can install a green air filter yourself and do much more than keep the air clean in the process. So, what is a "green" air filter? A green air filter is an environmentally friendly air filter. No, they aren't usually green as the color green is what signifies that the product works in harmony with nature. Now go hug a tree. You Can Improve Your Car’s Power! I can hear it now from the Prius loving, gas sipping, and bike riding crowds: a more powerful car is environmentally irresponsible. Balderdash! Not that anyone should care what others think of them, but this thought pattern is totally incorrect. Thanks to advances in automotive technology, virtually every performance part on the market will yield greater fuel mileage for your car as well as give you more power. A true win-win result; let’s take a look at four powerful performance enhancing parts for your vehicle. 1. Power chips and programmers. Whether your replace your car’s computer chip or enhance it with a power programmer, in either case you will achieve noticeable gains in horsepower and thrust. By overriding the factory limitations imposed on your vehicle you can get more power for a small amount of money. You Can Examine Your Shock Absorbers Bouncing down the road one day it occurs to you that things are just not what they should be. The road you are riding on is as smooth as glass, yet your car is jostling up and down like nobody’s business. You enter an upcoming curve in the road and quickly learn that the control you had over your car was lost just moments before. Suddenly, the vehicle careens off the road, goes down through a ditch and up an embankment before coming to rest against a fence adjacent to Tony’s garage. You are in luck: you aren’t dead and your car is at Tony’s, who happens to be your favorite mechanic. Yes this story is ridiculous, exceedingly so. All joking aside, your shock absorbers [or struts in the case of some cars] plays a vital part in your vehicle’s suspension system. When certain signs of wear and tear become apparent, you must replace your shocks or otherwise you can put yourself in danger and/or damage your car. You Can Examine Your Brakes Regular brake inspections are an essential part of good automotive maintenance that can save you money and keep your car from wrapping itself around the first tree out of your driveway. Make sure that your brakes and rotors are receiving the proper maintenance by following the steps outlined. Your safety as well as that of your passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers is at stake. 1. Time for a free inspection. Many local brake shops as well as national brake repair chains offer customers free brake inspections at no obligation to you. The inspection typically includes the following steps: You Can Custom Fit Your Vehicle Part of the fun of owning a car is giving it your own look. Sure, some cars come fully equipped with all the bells and whistles, but they lack one thing: your personal touch. Starting back in the 1950s when customizing cars really took off, enthusiasts have been modifying their cars to suit their own purposes. Let’s take a look at some ways you can make your car a real stand out. Under the Hood: The most obvious customizing for your engine compartment is a cold air intake, designed to increase power to the engine. A cold air intake changes the appearance of your car’s engine bay with custom colors such as rad red, silver, chrome, powder coated blue, and more. You Can Choose A Boise Realtor Before you take the important step of finding a realtor to sell your Boise home, there are some things you should consider to make certain that the realtor you choose is right for you. Keep reading and we'll find out how you can choose a Boise realtor. In order to sell home in a specific state, such as Idaho, a person must be licensed by that state to sell real estate. Licensed professionals, who must pass required state exams, are then able to sell a home to you as either a realtor, salesperson, and in some cases a broker. Realtors are held to the highest code of ethics standards in the industry, often much higher than what the state requires. This assures you the buyer or seller of a Boise home that the person who is representing you far exceeds the standards required. You Can Change Your Car's Timing Belt So, how is your car's timing belt doing? Have you changed it lately? If, ever? If not, you must make certain that the timing belt hasn’t been driven too many miles or you could be driving on borrowed time. Typically, a timing belt will last anywhere from about 60,000 miles to just over 100,000 miles; your owner's manual will spell that information out for you. A failed timing belt can occur at any time, but if you are on top of things you can avoid being left stranded. A timing belt is used to turn the camshaft at precisely half the speed as the crankshaft. The camshaft causes the intake and exhaust valves to open and shut in time with the pistons as they move up and down in the cylinders. When the timing belt breaks, you aren't going anywhere as the engine can no longer run. In some cases a timing belt failure could damage or even ruin a car's engine. Unfortunately, too many motorists do not replace their timing belt until it has broken. This can be a real problem when you are miles away from the nearest help! Yes, You Can! If you are an entrepreneur, you know that your success cannot depend on the opinions of others. Like the wind, opinions change...like the weather, opinions change frequently. To succeed at any endeavor, you must stay the course...no matter what the cost! Here are some surefire tips to help you on your journey. 1. Avoid Negativity. Negative people are all around us. They can include our loved ones as well as a dear friend. Most often, it is the opinions of total strangers that breeds the most negativity as if someone who doesn’t know or understand you is able to voice a reasonably thought out opinion about you. Writing: Getting Started Writing for web content is one of the easiest ways for writers to get their work published. If you have yet to submit articles for syndication, you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to share your knowledge as well as to promote your name. Getting started is not that difficult...you probably already have done so and you do not even know it! How do you get started? First of all, you are already a writer if you participate on message boards or send out emails. No, I do not mean those one sentence responses on forums, rather your informative, concise, and persuasive responses to interesting and engaging discussions. Typically, we do not think of message board discussions as being good writing. Some is, some isn't. However, much of the writing is at the very least a seed to something greater: by expounding on the thoughts shared, your article will germinate and take root. Writing Articles: Pinpoint Accuracy This may not be a politically correct analogy, but if you were to shoot off a cruise missile from 200 miles away you would want it to hit your target, am I correct? The same can be said for an article writer -- the substance of any article is very important, but an article misses the mark if it doesn't do what you intend it to do: that is, bring about a call to some sort of action, i.e., buy my product, sign up for my newsletter, etc. Most web based articles are very precise. They have to be. Start off with an attention grabbing opening, followed up by three or four main points, and then tightly wrapped up with a conclusion that invites the reader to take some specific sort of action is the way every successful web content article should be written. Write An Effective Job Proposal I am simply amazed at the problems some of my colleagues are experiencing regarding writing job proposals for customers. So often I hear that there has been some sort of disagreement between client and service provider, something that can and should be avoided before a project is started. Here are four tips to help you write an effective job proposal letter. Assume Nothing My junior high English teacher gave his students the real meaning of assume: if you assume something it makes an ass out of you and me: ass-u-me. Leave nothing to chance. When you speak with a client do not assume they understand much of what you have to offer. For instance, I sell website packages. I have learned to spell out everything that I will offer to my customers for a very specific price. If there are any "gray areas" I protect myself by telling customers that certain other expenses will be billed separately. Do not box yourself into a corner and do not pull surprises on your customers as they may think you are trying to cheat them. Keep the lines of communication wide open. World Auto Production Forecast Predicting the future is a risky proposition often filled with guesstimates and theories based on current events and hoped for consequences. At the same time, automakers are busy doing just that in anticipation of future consumer demands, emerging markets, fuel availability, and so much more. So, with all of that in mind and knowing that only God knows the future, here are some of my predictions concerning worldwide automotive production circa 2015. Consolidation General Motors, Toyota, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Peugeot/Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Volkswagen, and some other manufacturers are likely to snap up competitors, especially in emerging markets. Nope, I do not see the end of GM or Ford. Instead, I see both automakers concentrating on what they do best: making money overseas. The big factor in all of this will be the impact that Chinese built cars will have on local markets. If the cars are fairly well made and priced below the prevailing market rate, look for several companies to join forces in a bid simply to survive. Look for low priced Indian built cars to be sold worldwide beginning early in the next decade. Working Freelance: Not For Everyone! I recently responded to a young woman’s thread on another site regarding what it takes to enter the world of freelance writing. The questions she asked were probing — which is good — and something that everyone should do if exploring whether to jump into this dynamic field. Without going through all the 5 questions again, these were some of my responses to her: Work From Home Plans: System or Scam? More than likely you have seen them cropping up all over the internet: work from home schemes promising participants vast sums of money for selling a product, stuffing envelopments, clicking ads, making phone calls, etc. The plans are as varied as they are innovative. Unfortunately, many are scams meant to extract cash from your wallet and certain to leave you feeling miserable and stupid. So, just how can you make sure that a work from home plan is legitimate? By continuing to read on for some suggestions to help you avoid being cheated. Better Business Bureau – Check with your local Better Business Bureau {BBB} to determine whether the company has had any complaints levied against it. If it is an out of state concern, check with the BBB in the area [state] where the company is based. Wonderful Wildwood, New Jersey The Jersey Shore boasts some of the most crowded vacation destinations going. However, one popular resort, The Wildwoods, is truly a happening place and well worth the trip despite the crowds. Much of this venerable beach community took off in the 1950s with the opening up of the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway. Many of the hotels still gracing the area still reflect that fifties look: tail fins, big hair, Elvis, and more. Old hotels with a bit of tackiness to be sure, but still a fun place to check out. Wise Article Marketing Strategies If you are an article writer, you may have been submitting your articles to ezines in order to get your name out there. Ezines are wonderful in that they give the unpublished author the opportunity to market their name without the expense of advertising. At some point you may wonder if you can be compensated for your work. The answer: yes, you can. Through implementing wise marketing strategies, you can earn money for your work and receive steady income. Here's how: Your Website If you don't already have your very own website, set one up and feature some of your favorite articles. You'll create an extra set of links to articles you already submitted to the ezines. Make sure you have a contact form in place to allow interested parties a way to get in touch with you. Windex and Food: Imperfect Together! As tempting as it may be to use, Windex or any similar type product can be a hazard to use in the vicinity of food products, particularly cutting boards. If you do not have the proper sanitizer available, a certain “secret” common household item will suffice. Please read on to find out how you can keep your guests safe! Our web community for business flight attendants can be frequently found discussing proper food handling and food safety tips. One lively discussion a few years back surrounded the proper way of cleaning a cutting board. Might I add that the food preparing area of the typical business jet galley is about the size of a two-by-four? Thus, food can easily get into contact with the wrong products if extra care is not taken. Will Renault Return To The U.s.? Back during the 1980s Renault cars, in alliance with the now defunct American Motors Company [AMC], were sold at American dealers. Once Chrysler purchased AMC, Renault retreated and quit selling cars in the US. A recent announcement by Renault that the U.S. market may once again be a candidate for Renault cars has been met with only tepid enthusiasm by the automotive press. Will Renault return? More importantly: does anyone care? Renault's exit from the US during the late 1980s was hardly noticed by most consumers. As makers of the tiny LeCar, the compact Alliance, and the midsize Medallion/Eagle Premier, not much distinguished Renault from the competition. Will Delta Sell AirElite? Not many people outside of the airline industry know this, but Delta Airline owns and operates a lucrative division of private jets. Delta AirElite, as it is known, is the single bright spot in an otherwise dark business environment for this U.S. legacy carrier. Some are speculating that Delta should sell its AirElite business to raise funds and turn around the carrier, but I have another more radical take on things that I believe should be considered instead. Established in 1984, Delta AirElite has been steadily growing and making money for Delta. While the airline part of the company is rapidly and continually hemorrhaging cash, AirElite continues to make money and grow. Indeed, with a fleet of sought after business jets in its portfolio including the Challenger 300, Gulfstream IV-SP, and Learjet 31A, AirElite is an attractive company for any potential suitor. Why Not A Cold Air Intake? Squeezing more power out of your engine is not as difficult or as expensive a task as you might think. Performance chips, performance exhausts, and sport air filters are all easy to install parts that can help your car achieve greater horsepower and torque without sacrificing fuel economy. In addition, a cold air intake can go a long way toward helping your engine perform better without costing you a mint to install. Let’s examine why a cold air intake just might be the enhancement your car could use to achieve a greater level of performance. So, just how does a cold air intake work? I am glad that you asked! A cold air intake is designed to decrease the temperature of the air entering your car to take full advantage of your engine’s power. Colder, denser air acts like “food” for your engine, giving it the extra amount of power that it needs to perform optimally. When To Replace Brake Pads Worn brake pads can adversely impact your ability to bring your car to a halt. This can be especially dangerous in an emergency situation when adequately working brakes are a must to help you stop your car promptly. There are some telltale signs of pending brake problems; do you know what they are? Awareness of a problem is the key to avoiding potential harmful consequences; let’s examine some well known warning signs. Signs of pending brake trouble include the following: When Fuel Pumps Give Up The Ghost Cruising down the highway at 70mph in your ‘98 Bimmer you notice a strange sound coming from somewhere underneath your car. You proceed down the road a few more miles before exiting and making the turn into your subdivision. The sound magically disappears and you dismiss it as something that must have wedged itself underneath your car and then worked itself free. However, your car engine buckles, hesitates and then dies as you make the turn into your driveway. Fortunately, you made it home. Unfortunately, your fuel pump has gone to auto parts heaven. Sure, we can dream that your fuel pump died just as you got home. How convenient. In all likelihood the problem would have surfaced while you were on a long trip, on a Sunday afternoon, miles from no where. Fuel pump failures can happen without warning and without any engine codes signaling the problem. In other words: when it happens you are SOL. What Guys Really Want For Christmas! Okay, ladies: listen up! I am here to tell you what men want for Christmas. It isn’t cologne and it isn’t some awful looking tie. Please! It could be NFL playoff tickets, but we know that prices for them are through the roof. Instead, us guys want stuff that is both useful and practical something we won’t pretend to like and hide away in our closets, but stuff that we will use all the time. I’ve made a list to make it easy on you as I know how hard it can be for us guys to communicate to our gals. 1. NFL Tickets!!! No, wait! You can go to eBay and get “discounted” tickets for a mid-January meeting between the Giants and some other team for a lot less than what you’ll pay through a neighborhood scalper. How many fans do you think will put up with ten degree Meadowlands cold on a January day to see the Giants. Oh, yeah, I forgot: plenty. Tickets are likely to go for one or two thousand a piece! What Gramps Really Wants For Christmas! Trying to find that perfect gift for Grandpa can certainly be a difficult task. Your Gramps has seen it all, tried everything, and is long past the age of following his youthful pursuits. Still, the old man has a life and one that can certainly be enriched by one of the following gift ideas I have listed for you. Go ahead and make an old man happy. Goodness knows he has been grumpy for way too long! 1. Hearing Aid -- That’s right, Gramps hasn’t been able to hear much lately and what he does hear he changes around. Give the gift that keeps on hearing and he’ll be very grateful. Opt for the fashionable model that sticks outside of his ear canal and comes in your choice of invigorating colors: rad red, bionic blue, glittery green, or psychedelic orange. What Gals Really Want For Christmas! Okay, guys: listen up! I am here to tell you what women want for Christmas. You probably already know it, but you don’t understand it. What am I saying? Well, those little ads that have been mysteriously popping up on your dresser, on your workbench, or plastered to the windshield of your truck did not get there by accident. Somebody who wants you to pay close attention to what she really wants put it there. You don’t think the wind blew it there do you? Oh, please! Let’s go down the list and find out what your lady really wants for Christmas. I abbreviated everything for clarity and to be concise. That means the 27 items she really wants are condensed to just five. Get it? 1. Jewelry – You had to ask? What woman doesn’t want something shiny to wear on her fingers, around her neck, her wrist, her anklet, her belly button…Okay, I’m not talking custom jewelry either. I’m talking about something that will retain its shine in all weather conditions and can be counted in the number of karats it possesses. You can count on it setting you back at least through the following June, probably as late as Thanksgiving… West Nile Virus Remains A Persistent Threat West Nile Virus, the disease transported by infected mosquitos, continues to remain a threat to the American populace. Already this year, California has recorded over 200 cases resulting in the deaths of five of her residents. With August and September being peak months for this ailment, people across the country are being encouraged to take the necessary steps to protect themselves. Please read on for four helpful tips. 1. Destroy Potential Breeding Sites. Standing water is an invitation for mosquitoes to “set up home” in your yard. If you have a birdbath, bucket, or any other container in your yard make sure that it is free of water, otherwise it becomes a welcome mat for mosquitoes to hatch their larvae. You don’t want to get rid of your birdbath? Install a device to keep the water moving [such as a fountain] and the mosquitoes will not set up home. Welcome to Cyber Monday! Well, I learned something new this past weekend. Specifically, the Monday following Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest days for online retailers. Dubbed “Cyber Monday” by some, online merchants track one of the largest one day spikes in sales on this particular day much like “brick and mortar” purveyors experience with “Black Friday” the day that follows Thanksgiving. It is the Christmas shopping season…happy Cyber Monday to you! According to Shop.org, an association of online retailers, more than 75% of their members reported a significant surge in traffic on the Monday following the extended Thanksgiving weekend in 2004. Shop.org gives the following reasons for the surge: Web Advertising For The Small Business If you run a small business, advertising costs must be figured in as part of your overall expenses. If you have received quotes for phone directory ads, business association block ads, and mostly any other print media, these costs are quite high. So, what if your budget is small, perhaps negligible? Will you be left outside of the advertising arena or are there other avenues to help you get the word out? The answer in one word is: yes. Let’s explore ways you can “get the word out” through online means…yes, via the internet! The rise of the internet has spawned an entire industry with it. You may remember in the late 1990s stories of dot.com companies who made a fortune and then went bust. The “irrational exuberance” of that era has, thankfully, passed by and in its place is a much more rational, but very lively market. Weather And Car Cover Fundamentals Selecting a car cover for your truck, van, SUV, or passenger car is a matter of finding one that fits your car and going with that one, right? Well, there is a lot more to it than simply purchasing a car cover. Size does matter, but so do quality, durability, and price. Let’s examine some of the fundamentals in selecting a car cover for vehicle. Car covers -- or weather covers as some prefer to call them -- have been successfully covering vehicles for several generations now thanks to the ingenious and persistent work of designers who properly measure each new model to make sure that every cover is custom fitted. One of the first companies to get started in the business was Covercraft, founded in 1965 in Southern California. Covercraft, like so many American success stories, was a two man operation that outfitted car covers for street rods, import makes including Porsche, and for the aftermarket supply network. The company boasts of having produced 55,000 styles of car covers for just about every make and model of vehicle on the road. There are other brands on the market; however Covercraft is dominant and favored by automobile wholesalers such as the Auto Parts Warehouse. We Sell For Less And Our Stores Are A Mess! What kind of image do you present when marketing your products? Are you professional and well organized or does your store/site/whatever scream, "sloppy!," to those who matter the most: your customers? Let's see how one leading retailer is winning the sales war, but losing an important battle: store organization. WalMart is dominant in so many categories with the various products that they sell. In 50 years the company has gone from a local player to a world powerhouse and is on track to expand throughout the land of the largest consumer market in the world, China. Volkswagen, Daimlerchrysler Hook Up! Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler are getting hitched. Well, sort of. The two predominately German automakers are not merging, but are in the process of exploring building products for one another. What is coming? Who gets what vehicle? What can all this mean? Read on and I will tell you. It is official: Volkswagen has decided not to import its microbus “minivan” to the American market. Citing conversion costs and exchange rate differences, VW has elected instead to start selling its own version of Chrysler’s popular minivans in the US. Based on the Chrysler Voyager, the new VW minivan has yet to be named but it will be nothing more than a rebadged Voyager. The minivan will fill a glaring hole in the VW line up and keep current owners from departing the company in search of a larger people mover. Volkswagen Parts: Getting The Real Deal The growth of the counterfeits parts industry is causing problems for motorists, suppliers, manufacturers, and governments from around the world. Just how bad is the problem? For starters, the manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit car parts is a multi billion dollar per year business. Car owners from the Kia to the Camaro and from the Geo to the Golf, and every make and model in between are all susceptible to getting hooked with fake parts. This doesn’t have to happen and I am going to share with you how you can avoid being deceived by purveyors of bogus car parts. Read the labels. Fake parts purveyors are getting very crafty in copying logos and other important information off of product boxes. Check for typographical errors or odd sounding language on the boxes. Most counterfeiters are smart when it comes to crime, but pretty dumb when it comes to understanding the proper use of English terms, grammar, and spelling. For example, brand names spelled wrong such as Monrow for Monroe. One more point: packaging may be “correct” but sized wrong; be suspicious of any part sold to you in a package that isn’t sized according to the product it holds. Vioxx Personal Injury Lawsuits Personal injury attorneys representing clients who have allegedly been harmed by the prescription drug Vioxx are congratulating themselves over a historic judgment rendered recently. On August 19, 2005, a judge awarded the family of Bob Ernst $253.4 million due to his death from the drug. Vioxx, which had been prescribed most often for arthritis pain, was withdrawn globally by its maker, Merck, after research trials showed it increased patients' chances of a heart attack. Although Merck pulled the drug off the market in September 2004, legal action against this leading pharmaceutical giant will continue and expand. Let’s take a look at why Vioxx has become a litigation lightning rod. In 1998 as Merck was running clinical trials for Vioxx, company reports to the FDA stated that there were no cardiovascular signals apparent. This meant that there were no telltale signs that the drug could cause heart problems for users. Later, however, it was revealed that an internal study conducted by Merck around the same time – Study 090 – revealed serious cardiovascular problems as compared to patients not taking Vioxx. The study was never published by Merck as the company insisted that it was not large enough to provide definitive data. Vesting and Your 401(k) Do you have a 401(k) retirement account? Are you vested yet? Before you move on to your next job, it is critical for you to find out if you are fully vested in your retirement account before you make the move. If you are not, you could lose hundreds if not thousands of dollars in employer contributions. Vesting refers simply to the non-forfeitable percentage of your account’s assets. In other words, whatever you contribute to your 401(k) plan is always yours to keep including any rollover money. Ultra Low Priced Cars: Will You Buy One? North American motorists have gotten used to paying $20-$25,000 or more for their new vehicles. Long gone are the days when sub $10,000 cars ruled the highways, with few cars available for under $15,000 these days. All of that will be changing as the pending introduction of cheap cars from China as well as imports from Mexico and other third world nations will reshape the automotive landscape. Will you buy one of these bargain brands or will you stick with one of the trusted names? Let’s step forward a few years to look at a radically changed automotive market and just what it may have to offer to you, the value conscious consumer. If you follow automotive press reports then likely you have heard talk of cheaply priced cars from China being imported to the US and Canadian markets. At prices reported to be as low as US$ 6500, these cars have created a lot of buzz and have raised concern about the entire automotive industry, domestic and foreign. One big question asked includes this: how will domestic manufacturers be able to compete price wise? Well, prices won’t be quite as low as first reported once certain safety and anti-pollution measures are added in; instead the final starting price will likely be in the neighborhood of US$ 8500. Types Of Air Filters For Your Vehicle How often do you replace your car’s air filter? Every 10 thousand miles? 12K? 15K? During the life of your car – assuming you plan on keeping your vehicle for many years – you could easily go through 8, 10, even 15 or more air filters. Of course, that is if you choose to purchase disposable air filters every time your shop. However, did you know that you now have another choice, in a reusable air filter, which costs a bit more but will likely outlast your car? Read on for an informative comparison of the two types of air filters available for your vehicle. If you maintain your own vehicle, you probably make regular trips to your auto parts store for oil, filters, wipers, and the occasional air filter. Concerning your air filter, your choices include Fram, ACDelco, Bosch, and Purolator air filters, all very well known and trusted brands. You are not likely to pay a whole lot for one, perhaps between $6 and $15, depending on your vehicle make, model, model year, and engine. For many people purchasing an air filter once a year is a simple procedure: see which one is on sale, buy it, toss the old one, and insert the new one. Truck Covers For A Snug Fit Much like car covers, a high quality custom fitted truck cover can protect your pick up truck from a whole cluster of nasty insults to your truck’s body. Even if you park your truck in a garage and give it regular washes and polishes, your finish can soon diminish and your truck quickly show its age without the added benefit of using a truck cover. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of owning a truck cover and what you need to look for when considering purchasing a high quality product. When you choose your truck cover, you will soon discover that even just one manufacturer can make several assorted covers for the same truck model. Simple covers offer partial protection from the elements while first-rate truck covers offer far-reaching protection. Tricking Out Your Dodge Ram Srt-10 There are pick up trucks on the road and then there is the Dodge Ram SRT-10. Take one already powerful truck and add in a Viper engine and you come away with a vehicle that is truly the king of its class. DaimlerChrysler got it right when they decided to morph its popular Ram into a true road warrior able to haul people, stuff, and beat just about any car on the road. If you own a Ram SRT-10 you already know what I mean as you spend your time tricking out your truck for even more performance and enhanced looks. Before we go on, please note that there are two versions of the Ram SRT-10: one is the “standard” two door cab and the other is the quad cab. For argument’s sake, we’ll look at both Ram SRT-10 models as one. Without exception the 510 horsepower 8.3L V10 is one powerful engine. For the faint of heart, the Ram SRT-10 just isn’t for you, but for the Dodge aficionado this steroid enhanced Ram more than meets your every fantasy. Or does it? Trends V. Fads Writing for online publishing can be a tricky undertaking especially considering that what may be popular today may not be so in a month or two, thereby making what you wrote irrelevant. To overcome the possibility of your words falling to the ground instead of being received by your customers’ eyes you need to determine if the subject matter is a trend or a fad. Traveling Abroad: Heeding U.S. Travel Warnings Traveling abroad presents certain risks for Americans, especially in light of the recent bombings in London, England. For the most part, terrorists are the problem, although drug, gang, and criminal activities can also be a factor. In addition, local health conditions can be a separate problem. Thankfully, the U.S. State Department regularly issues and updates Consular Information Sheets for every country in the world. These sheets give valuable information to travelers, information you must know before you take your next trip. As mentioned, the Consular Information Sheets provide important information for travelers. You can also check the State Department's Current Travel Warning list to see which nations the U.S. government encourages Americans to avoid altogether. Currently, the following countries are listed: Toyota: The New Number One? For the past several months news reports have been focusing on the declining fortunes of the world’s largest automaker, General Motors, as well as on the rise of Toyota to pre-eminence. Many are predicting that this will be the year that Toyota overtakes General Motors in sales while others are expressing caution regarding this assessment. Does it really matter who is number one? In many ways it does. Let’s examine the fortunes of the Top Two to determine whether Toyota’s quest to overtake General Motors will happen this year. So, why does it matter who is the top selling automaker in the world? In one word: prestige. Being number one in any category tells consumers that you are at the top of your game. No, there isn’t anything wrong with being number two – just ask Avis – but saying that “we try harder” doesn’t equate into being number one no matter how cute your commercials may be. Toyota's Prius To Be Built In China The Toyota Prius, a car built on hybrid gas-electric technology, will soon receive a major production boost. Toyota and an undisclosed Chinese based manufacturing company have sealed a deal where the two companies will be working together to produce the Prius for worldwide export. This bodes well for the American consumer who has to endure long waits for an all new Prius. More importantly, the move signals a sea change in the way Japanese cars are built and marketed. Ultimately, you may be the biggest winner; please read on for all the scintillating details! If you wait nine months for a car, it means you must really want that model. This is exactly what future owners of the Prius have been doing as well as owners of other hybrid cars including some Honda models. No manufacturer has been able to keep up with the surging demand and, despite lower fuel prices, demand continues to increase. Totes Isotoner Men's Terry Slippers The names "Totes" and "Isotoner" have gained a certain exclusive ring to the products bearing these names. Umbrellas, gloves, rainwear, rubber footware, and slippers are products that are produced by the Cincinnati, Ohio based Totes Isotoner Corporation. Over the years, I have owned Totes Isotoner umbrellas, gloves, as well as a pair of Terry Men's Slippers. The latter product is the subject of this particular review. For men, slippers are not a fashion statement. There chief function is to provide for 'us guys' a way to keep our feet warm on cold days. Anything else that they do is a bonus. Toshiba Qosmio G15-av501 Notebook Computer Purchasing a notebook computer can be a mind boggling experience with all the different makes and models out there. Toshiba has a strong entry in their Toshiba Qosmio G15-AV501 notebook computer. Let's examine why this particular model is certain to be an effective competitor. Unlike most laptops the Qosmio takes computing to the next level. You can watch your favorite TV programs, play DVDs, or listen to music by way of its Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system. Sporting a 17" screen the Qosmio offers a nifty 1440 x 900 pixels resolution perfect for TV or video watching. Other key features of the Qosmio include: Toshiba Qosmio G15-av501 Notebook Computer Purchasing a notebook computer can be a mind boggling experience with all the different makes and models out there. Toshiba has a strong entry in their Toshiba Qosmio G15-AV501 notebook computer. Let's examine why this particular model is certain to be an effective competitor. Unlike most laptops the Qosmio takes computing to the next level. You can watch your favorite TV programs, play DVDs, or listen to music by way of its Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system. Sporting a 17" screen the Qosmio offers a nifty 1440 x 900 pixels resolution perfect for TV or video watching. Other key features of the Qosmio include: Top Truck And Suv Accessories If you own a pickup truck or SUV chances are your vehicle looks quite a bit different than from the day that you bought it home from the dealership. I’m not talking about wear and tear, scratches or dings, or any other thing that may have happened to it over the course of time. Rather, I am suggesting that you have customized it to look the way you want it to look. Let’s take a peek at some popular accessories on the market for pickups as well as for SUVs. There are literally hundreds of after market parts and accessories available for trucks and SUVs. The following list is an alphabetical example [well, almost] of add-ons for your consideration: Tips On Selecting Your Custom Car Cover If you take extended trips away from home, one of your concerns is the care and protection of your car while away. Unless it is garaged, it is subject to damaging rays from the sun, bug splatter, bird droppings, falling branches, nicks, scrapes, and more. Upon returning from your trip the damage is evident and not easily reversed. You can prevent problems in the first place by installing a custom fit car cover to protect your investment. Not all car covers are created equal, so here are some things you should consider before making your purchase. Car covers are basically all the same, right? Absolutely not! There are car covers which are anything from what is essentially a loose fitting tarp to those like the BMW car cover which are custom designed for the particular make and model of the car. A loose fitting car cover can actually cause more problems than it can help as unwelcome moisture, debris, and harmful UV rays will still be able to get in. Tips On Finding Employment As A Corporate Flight Attendant I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic to write about. In fact, my knowledge of how one finds work as a private flight attendant is based chiefly on what others have shared with me. You can find some useful tips within the many threads written on the Corporate Flight Attendant Community message boards at http://www.cabinmanagers.com, but to save you from culling through hundreds of threads I will highlight various standout points and include others that have been shared with me over the past several years by industry insiders: * Cold calling. Time honored and time tested this is an important method for finding work and it is also one of the hardest for the majority of people to do. If you do not have the skills to contact strangers you will find an important avenue for securing work omitted. Even the unskilled can accomplish much by attempting this step...practice, practice, practice and you will get the hang of it. You many never feel comfortable doing it, but you accomplish much by trying. Always keep this in mind: every person that you meet is a potential contact for helping you find work; conversely, you may also be able to help someone out too. The Upcoming Buick Lacrosse Super Sport Edmunds and several leading automotive blogs are theorizing that Buick will finally go ahead and build a sport version of its popular LaCrosse midsize sedan. Unlike the original model, the proposed car will be a true roadster as Buick seeks to inject some youthfulness into its aging model line. This is big news for Buick, which hasn’t built a true youth oriented car since stopping production of the hot-rod Regal Grand National during the 1980s. Will the Super Sport be enough to help Buick recapture a lost segment of the marketplace? That remains open to debate, so let’s see what Buick is planning with the Super Sport and then you can decide for yourself. For the past several years, Buick has been near the top in most customer satisfaction and quality surveys. After years of languishing much further down the list, Buick decided to truly emphasize quality and that move has paid off. However, quality cars are one thing while exciting cars are another. Quite simply, Buick hasn’t been building cars that are high on the “wow” factor list. Sales have remained flat as the age level of its buyers continued to rise. Anyone who understands the business of cars will tell you that you must continually appeal to a younger audience in order to grow and prosper. Let’s just say that even younger AARP drivers haven’t been heavily drawn to the current Buick model line up. The Toyota Fj Cruiser: Breaking The Styling Mold Toyota’s growing popularity hasn’t been without controversy. No, the automaker doesn’t have much of a quality issue to contend with and, no Toyota isn’t likely to begin losing market share anytime soon. Yet, there is one area where the Japanese automaker has a bit of a perception problem and that has to do with styling. Of course Toyota vehicles aren’t ugly but there are few models being built today that are truly exciting. All that is now beginning to change as Toyota releases several head turning models including the latest rendition of its popular Camry sedan and one of its newest models, the FJ Cruiser. Keep reading and we’ll take a glance at just how Toyota is breaking one mold by breaking new ground. Maybe it was the success of the Nissan Xterra or perhaps it was the desire to recapture past glory [or something in between] but Toyota’s decision to build the FJ Cruiser may not have been an easy one. With a line up filled with various trucks and SUVs, the proposed FJ Cruiser would not only be competing against the Jeeps and Land Rovers of the world, but with some of its own models including the car based Highlander and the versatile, truck based 4Runner. Still, the model was thought to stand a chance for two reasons: the FJ Cruiser is a retro-styled vehicle taking its design cues from the FJ40 of the 1960s/1970s and for its 5 passenger seating capacity: just the right sized vehicle that consumers would want to take off roading. The Source, Of Course Writing “net friendly” articles does not mean we can automatically leave out any mention of our sources. There is a tendency for many writers to simply write their material and not cite their sources, particularly when it is obvious that a source has been quoted somewhere within the body of the article. Generally, what I do when it comes time to mentioning sources for an internet article, I attempt to first find that information on the internet and, if it is there, I simply provide anchor links in my article back to that source. In addition, I try to link directly to the page where the information is listed instead of pointing someone to the site’s index page. Why make it difficult for your readers to find out exactly where you obtained your information? Take them directly to the source, of course! The Rise Of The Dollar Stores Sheryl Huenster is a self proclaimed dollar store junkie. The Clifton mother of four makes the trek to various fixed price stores within a ten mile radius of her white clapboard home two or three times per week. “I’m an addict. I admit it. I can’t go more than a week without visiting the stores, unless I’m on vacation. You better believe that when I go to the Jersey Shore I know where the all the stores are in the Toms River area,” she laughed. The Race Car Inspired Bmw M3 German premier automotive maker BMW continues to maintain its hold as the top selling luxury auto brand in the world. Battling with archrival Mercedes-Benz year in and year out for the highest laurels, BMW continues to constantly tweak its existing line and add new vehicles to its line in a bid to stimulate and strengthen customer interest. One area where BMW has found much of its recent success is with its race car inspired line of vehicles, the M Series. Since 1979 various Motorsports [M} tags have been affixed to vehicles that have been developed by the BMW Motorsports division, including the BMW M3 a car based on BMW’s popular 3 Series. Today, BMW engineers are hard at work on developing an all new BMW M3 and, if all of the auto buzz is correct, very few cars will be able to keep up with this 400 hp road commander. Please keep reading for a closer look at the all new, soon to be released, BMW M3. A pitched battle in autodom continues to gather force pitting German automaker against German automaker. Legendary Mercedes-Benz is taking on heralded BMW for the right to call themselves the top selling luxury brand in the world. For years, the honor belonged exclusively to Mercedes-Benz, but a recent stumble on Mercedes’ part coupled with a surge of new products from BMW has placed BMW in first place. Not far behind the two is Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, but for now the battle remains a fight between these two German automakers. The Power Of An Online Resume I just finished posting what has to be my 150th online resume for yet another happy customer. As a manager of a site for corporate flight attendants, I know that there are several things that are extremely important to consider when crafting an online resume no matter where or how it is listed. Please continue to read on as I share some valuable pointers with you. Granted, not everyone wants or should have their resume posted online for all the world to see. However, if you are seeking a very public position – and I don’t know too many more jobs that are much more public than that of a flight attendant – then having some information about you online is not only smart, but critical to your finding work. The Perfect Christmas Gift I suppose there is no such thing as the imperfect Christmas gift, but I am sure that there are some gifts that are less desirably received than others. Let's take a look at the "Personal Trimmer." Every time I hear of one of these items or see it in the store I think, "nose hair trimmer." Hey, there is no way of getting around it: if you give this gift you are telling the recipient that the strand of hair hanging out of their left nostril is unsightly. Or, since the product is also marketed for the ears, you've noticed a bit 'o fuzz on their earlobes. The Original Eight: Genesis Of The Modern Day Flight Attendant The following article serves as a tribute to eight women who were the forerunners of the modern day flight attendant now numbering nearly 250,000 women and men worldwide. In 1930, it was the dream of many a young man to marry a Boeing Skygirl. These “original eight” women were single nurses enticed from their homes with the idea of marriage to a rich-lonesome business passenger. Ultimately, however, they played a pivotal role in revolutionizing air travel by ensuring passenger comfort and through promoting the safety of air travel. The Many Benefits of Online Christmas Shopping Over the past decade consumers have grown to appreciate a new option in shopping for gifts for Christmas: the internet. Yes, online shopping is here and it is an increasingly important choice for consumers everywhere. Without even leaving your home you can compare products, make purchases, and have gifts sent to your home or directly to your recipients -- fully wrapped at that! Read on and we’ll take a complete look at the many benefits of online Christmas shopping and how you can make this choice work to your advantage. Comparison Shopping – How many times have you been to the store and wondered if the item you were purchasing was cheaper somewhere else? For low cost items this isn’t too big of a deal, but if you are buying a television, computer equipment, jewelry, or some other item costing several hundred dollars it could be a significant issue for you. Fortunately, online sites such as Price Grabber, My Simon, BizRate, and NexTag allow you to find just what you want at the lowest possible prices. New technologies that work from your cell phone, such as Frucall, can also help you find the best prices and allow you to place your order immediately. Save money, time, and gas by comparison shopping from your home: no running from store to store in pursuit of finding the best prices. The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe It has taken me decades – literally – to finally pick up another C.S. Lewis book and read it. In high school I read Lewis’ book, “That Hideous Strength” and completely missed Lewis’ message. One decade later I read Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” and fully understood what Lewis was saying. With The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, part of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series, the gospel message is clearly made evident in an allegorical/mystical style. Lewis used the Narnia series to explain Christ’s love for humankind to children, who are the series’ principal readers. This first novel in a series of seven books is currently a major motion picture now completing a successful run on theatre screens across the U.S. I have yet to see the movie, a Disney production, but I understand that it holds very true to Lewis’ storyline. I expect to see the movie before it leaves theatres later this month; it will become available on DVD this April. The Internet: Have You Cashed In Yet? The recently ended Christmas/Holiday 2005 sales season is returning some good numbers for retailers, well above figures that some thought would have been unattainable in light of the many hurricanes that wreaked disaster on parts of the U.S. this past year. With consumer sentiment good, early figures suggest that sales climbed at least 4% over last year’s figures with a number twice that amount also being mentioned. Still, the greatest increases have been in an area that has seen double digit growth for years: the internet. With sales climbing 30% over last year’s torrid rates, online shopping is here to stay…and growing bigger every year. Have you started your online site yet? If not, why not? Brick and mortar retailers are discovering that in order to remain competitive, they must have an online presence too. No longer does your customer base have to be restricted to a one or two county area where you live. The internet provides a great way to expand that base to include your entire state, your country, or the world! For example, Wal-Mart not only sells well at the store level, but their online sales do very well too. If Wal-Mart can do it, you can too. The Influenza Diet You’ve heard of “The South Beach Diet” and “The Mayo Clinic Diet” but have you ever heard of “The Influenza Diet?” If not, you are missing out on a “real treat” and a terrific opportunity to help you lose and keep off those excess holiday pounds. By the way, it isn’t a diet that you can readily plan on starting, but it is one that forces itself upon you quietly and suddenly. ‘Tis the season to put on weight! Yes, there is something about the month of December that convinces people that what they eat during that month will soon be forgotten by January. You’ve heard the joke: December calories do not get counted! Okay then, when your scale shows your weight has shot up by 13 lbs., who [or what] are you going to say counted the excessive baggage now resting around your gut? Hmmm? The Hyundai Azera Surges To The Top Hyundai’s all-new near-luxury sedan, the Azera, has been received with critical acclaim. Consumers and critics are calling the Hyundai Azera the highest quality, most luxurious Hyundai to ever appear in the highly competitive US market. A recent award from the automotive consultant group, AutoPacific has underscored what many are quickly learning: the Hyundai Azera is a car that leads in customer satisfaction. None of this is a surprise to Hyundai, but it may be as surprise for you. Read on for a look at Hyundai’s darling near-luxury sedan. Near-luxury, you say? Yes, it is a category reserved for cars that have many luxury appointments and high engineering standards without the price. Retailing at just over $27,000, the Hyundai Azera is a bargain when compared to similar cars from BMW and Lexus, but not quite the engineering and technological marvel of these two competitors, however. Yet, the Hyundai Azera is offering plenty for consumers at prices well below that of its would-be competitors. The History of Hyundai If you live in North America, you likely are now very familiar with the Hyundai line of vehicles. Back in 1986, the first Hyundai was introduced to the market – an Excel – and the company’s line up has changed dramatically since that time. Hyundai produces much more than cars; in fact, by the end of the last century Hyundai became one of the largest companies in the world. Let’s take a look at this Korean based multinational corporation and the company behind Hyundai vehicles. It was back in 1946, just one year removed from Imperial Japan’s occupation of the Korean peninsula, that a new company was birthed in what is now known as South Korea. Hyundai Motor Industrial Company was founded by Chung Ju-yung, a child of northern Korean peasant farmers, and in 1947 Ju-yung launched a second company, Hyundai Civil Industries. Self educated, Ju-yung transformed the entire Korean economy with the tight control he exerted over his Hyundai companies. The Highly Refined And Capable Bmw X5 Sav The Highly Refined And Capable Bmw X5 Sav Sport utility vehicle sales continue to plummet in the face of surging gasoline prices now topping the three dollar per gallon mark. Indeed, this segment of the vehicle market has produced some of the largest profits for automakers globally and this loss of sales is impacting manufacturer bottom lines the world over. Yet, demand hasn’t dried up altogether and a rebound is possible once gas prices stabilize. For BMW owners, a larger vehicle such as the BMW X5 SAV is almost a necessity no matter what gas prices may be. Yes, the BMW X5 SAV is big topping out at just over 5,000 lbs. Are you in the market for a luxury sport utility vehicle? If so, BMW’s largest model may just have something to offer to you. For the record, BMW calls their SUVs an SAV: a sport activity vehicle. BMW’s marketing arm felt that customers should know that beyond it’s off road prowess, the BMW X5 SAV can tow as much as 6,000 pounds; carry bicycles with an optional bike rack; hold a canoe on top of its roof; and stow camping or other activity gear in its generous sized rear quarter. The Heart Pounding, Road Ripping Dodge Magnum SRT8 Thanks to the Chrysler Group’s relationship with Mercedes – both companies are owned by DaimlerChrysler – the automaker markets a successful group of full size, rear wheel drive cars powering the Dodge and Chrysler brands. Tapping Mercedes technology in the form of their suspensions, rear differentials, and automatic transmissions three vehicles, including the Dodge Magnum, are now gracing North American highways with their “can’t miss” presence. The Dodge Magnum wagon, as the first vehicle based on the LX platform, has successfully erased most people’s concept of what a “station wagon” should be. With its menacing front end, rakish body lines, and abundant hauling capacity the Magnum is no mere “mom mobile” instead, the car is a true sport wagon. Taking that theme to the extreme is the Magnum SRT8, the ultimate fusion of sport wagon and muscle car. When it comes to engines, Magnum owners have plenty of choices. From the 2.7L V6 powering the SE, to the 3.5L V6 found underneath the hood of the SXT, to the explosive intensity generated by the 5.7L Hemi V8 that comes with the sporty R/T, Magnum owners have a variety of choices not found in many vehicle’s of its class. Thinking that some Dodge fanatics would want even something more powerful than the R/T, the brand released the SRT8 in 2005 which features a 6.1L Hemi V8 that bangs out an extraordinary 425 horses and 420 lb.-ft of torque. Add on the 20 inch aluminum wheels, firm up the suspension, and equip the model with bigger brakes and you have one untamable Magnum! The Expanding E85 Fleet Of General Motors The E85 movement, which is based on an alternate fuel consisting of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, is getting an additional boost thanks to a recent decision by General Motors to expand its existing line up from 9 models to 14. This increase will mean that General Motors, which already has nearly 2 million E85 vehicles on the road, will be able to produce as many as 400,000 E85 vehicles per year. For proponents of alternate fuel sources, the decision by General Motors is certainly a welcome one. Let’s take a look at GM’s expanding E85 fleet and what this could mean for you, the fuel conscious motorist. E85 has been around for well over a decade now, but has only recently has it been the focus of such widespread attention. Credit gas prices exceeding $3 per gallon for interest in E85 and you can see why General Motors is continuing to expand its line up to meet the demand for alternate fuel sources. The Distance Learning Explosion! A generation ago few would have given much thought to educating themselves apart from a 'brick and mortar' educational institution. Certainly, for several generations, correspondence courses allowed people to gain knowledge while studying in the comfort of their homes, but these schools pale in comparison to entire universities dedicated to instructing students remotely. Let's take a look at this growing phenomenon. Claiming to be the nation's leading online university, the University of Phoenix was among the first accredited universities to provide college degree programs via the Internet. Founded in 1976, the University of Phoenix began offering internet degree programs in 1989. The program has exploded in popularity to where nearly 150,000 students are in the process of pursuing degrees on the bachelor's, master's and doctoral level. Degreed programs in Business, Education, Management, Nursing, and Technology are available online through the university which claims to be the largest private university in the US. The Demise Of Ezboard For years, EZBoard was a community that offered relatively cheap and easy to maintain forums for managers. Virtually anyone could register, design, and layout a site and invite their friends to participate. Indeed, some of the largest forums on the internet are built upon EZBoard. Unfortunately, a recent system-wide hacking attack has destroyed the company's reputation and sent many managers packing. Let's look at the venerable community and the fatal flaw that has toppled the company from its perch. At one time EZBoard boasted over 14,000 web communities. Many were started by individuals seeking a discussion forum for their favorite topics, while others were started by business people such as myself. The reasons businesses were attracted to EZBoard were two-fold: The Benefits of Open Source If you are a building a website or a forum, chances are you are using a web editor or paying for message board services. The costs of using these "out of the box" products can add up, especially if you are trying to grow your business. Let's look at some good "open source" options for you to consider. You may be surprised at how much money open source can save you. What is open source? The webopedia describes it as follows: Generically, open source refers to a program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge, i.e., open. Open source code is typically created as a collaborative effort in which programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the community. Open source sprouted in the technological community as a response to proprietary software owned by corporations. Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus Calculator Calculators have shrunk in size and increased in price as consumers have sought out devices that do much more than simple arithmetic. Texas Instruments has their TI-83 Plus model which helps students with their Physics, Biology, Algebra, and Pre-Calculus classes. We'll examine why this model is so popular with today's classroom students. Back in the 1970s, the slide rule gave way to calculators in many classrooms across the nation. Texas Instruments led the way as almost every student owned one of their models. Today, Texas Instruments [or, TI] continues to produce calculators and their TI-83 Plus calculator leads the way. Teterboro, New Jersey: A General Aviation Town Tiny Teterboro, New Jersey is situated just south of Hackensack at the edge of the Meadowlands only twelve miles from midtown Manhattan. This Bergen County borough is mostly known for its airport, as the residential properties in the town are few. Indeed, recent census figures put the town’s population at just 18 souls! Meanwhile, business dominates the town and the airport, named for the town, is the chief job generator in the town as well as in surrounding communities. At just over one square mile, Teterboro certainly is easily missed. Bordered by state highways 46 to the north and 17 to the west, the town would certainly be overlooked unless you failed to notice the regular flow of general aviation traffic entering and leaving the airport. Indeed, Teterboro Airport {TEB} ranks as one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country serving Piper and Cessna owners all the way up to Gulfstream V charter operators. Teens: Life v. Electronics Teens today have so much more to distract them besides their homework, the opposite sex, friends, family members, and extracurricular activities. Besides learning how to drive, teenagers are occupied with playing with an assortment of electronic gizmos including cell phones, camera phones, personal computers, MP3 players, DVD players, ipods, xboxs, digital cameras, the list goes on. Wired? You betcha…and then some. Perhaps all of this electronic gadgetry has you concerned and you are wondering just how you can extract your teen and involve them in an outside activity where they can expand their minds and refresh their bodies. Are you out of ideas? Let’s look at some options that may appeal to them and remove the worry from you. Work on the Car So, you think that a car isn’t a kid magnet as much as when you first learned how to drive? Think again. Today, kids are pimping their rides and expressing themselves through their cars. Custom paint, decals, blacked out windows, even faux aircraft wings are being attached to the outside of their cars. On the inside, it can be totally surreal: rear view mirrors wrapped with a studded belts, frilly seat cover trim, pushpin art attached to the headliner, decals everywhere, etc. Let them pimp your Camry or Explorer…that’ll keep them off the computer…and get you noticed too! Teaching Student Drivers: 9 Tips To Keep Everyone Safe And Sane I have had the experience of teaching several people how to drive. Some were youngsters, but I have also taught a few adults how to drive too. Let’s just say that I am more than glad to have “retired” from this practice as teaching someone how to drive can be taxing mentally as well as physically. Still, not everyone has the funds to go to driving school or an available friend to help out. So, if you are one of the “lucky” ones playing the role of instructor, here are some tips to help keep you sane and your student listening. 1. Set A Schedule. Keeping teens on a schedule can be nearly impossible as they juggle their busy lives with after school programs, work, homework, socializing, etc., but it is something that you must do. Find a time that works for the both of you and go out no more than one hour each time for your lessons. Oh, by the way, make sure your driver in training has his or her driver’s permit on them at all times. Tax Debt Help: Where to Find It Are you in debt? Is the Internal Revenue Service breathing down your neck and threatening your livelihood? Do not be overwhelmed by tax debt as there are ways for you to solve your tax debt problems and keep the tax collector far away. Read on for some helpful advice. A Little Bit of Equity. If you own your home, you could have a significant amount of equity in it, especially if you have lived in it for more than five years. Through your bank or similar lending institution you can apply for an equity line of credit or equity loan. Just with this amount of borrowed money, you may be able to obtain enough funds to cover your tax debt and penalties. Current rates are still low – shop the internet for the plan that is right for you. Tales From the Blogosphere I entered the blogosphere fairly late in the game. More than three years after starting and managing several busy forums and web sites, I dabbled with blogging through regular entries to one of my aviation web sites. Within weeks I got tired of the discipline – not of writing – but of ftp’ing everything to the web. I gave up as I decided blogging wasn’t for me. Fortunately, I didn’t stay away as I saw a challenge, and an opportunity, in front of me. Having blogged on other people’s sites, I felt that if I could blog there, I could blog anywhere, including on my own blogs. Taking a look at my options, I decided to download WordPress and I now run two blogs from two separate web sites. Taking Care Of Your Car’s Battery Every car comes with one, but some motorists act as if this particular component is completely maintenance free. What am I talking about? Your car’s battery. Technological advances have made “maintenance free” batteries standard equipment on virtually every vehicle produced today. However, the term “maintenance free” is a misnomer, one that can leave you stranded if you do not perform proper and regular maintenance. Battery maintenance isn’t difficult to do, so let’s take a look at what you can do to keep your car running. Before discussing battery maintenance, please make sure that your battery is, in fact, the sealed type. If it isn’t, then the “maintenance free” label certainly does not apply and you will need to add water on a regular basis. Unsealed batteries are easy to spot as they have small vent caps on top of the battery which can be twisted open. You will need to periodically add distilled water to maintain water levels; more so in the summer months as water tends to evaporate quicker. Do not let your battery run low or run out of water as the battery’s cells can be ruined. Staging Your Las Vegas Home For A Sale Putting your Las Vegas home on the market is one thing, but adequately preparing it for buyers is a whole different matter. Home staging is the term used by real estate professionals to help prepare your house so that it will look its absolute best. Realtors will tell you that buyers usually make a decision about a home within the first ten seconds of their visit. Therefore, a wonderful first impression is imperative if you are to sell your home quickly. Should you stage your Las Vegas home? If so, what exactly is involved with home staging? Although your real estate agent or broker is knowledgeable and skilled on how to market your Las Vegas home, they may not be particularly adept at interior design. That is where a home staging professional comes in. If you use one, they will work toward helping you eliminate clutter, rearrange furniture, and improve your home’s curb appeal. This may involve moving a painting from one wall to another, removing a bulky chair out of a crowded room, trimming the front yard shrubbery, etc. In some cases a Las Vegas home staging professional may recommend that you bring in additional furniture, but you must realize that there is an extra cost involved if you choose that option. Spill Control: Preventing Exposure To Contaminants In today's work environment, professionals who come in contact with blood and fluid waste products run the risk of exposure to potentially infectious hazards. In my particular industry, aviation, the chance of someone coming into contact with an unknown substance can be great, particularly for in-flight crew. There are a variety of products on the market that can help prevent or limit your exposure including the two featured herein. One product to consider to help promote a safe clean up is SAFETEC’S Red-Z. Red-Z works by simply sprinkling the encapsulator on spilled blood, urine, vomit or other potentially hazardous waste and the fluid is encapsulated in seconds. Just scoop-up the granulated gel and dispose in accordance with facility policy. Sound Wealth Building Tactics Have you noticed that everyone wants to be rich, but few people seem to want to build wealth the old fashioned way: step by step? If you have tried the “lottery method” and it hasn’t worked out, read on for some tips on how you can build wealth for a better future. Save Sooner, Rather Than Later. Attention, procrastinators: listen up! One thing you don’t want to put off is saving for the future. The earlier you save in life, the more you will have later in life. Thanks to compound interest, the little bit of money you save as a 25 year old can become a lot of money by the time you are 60. Even if other responsibilities crowd out your personal saving plan [i.e., buying a house, expenses for the kids, etc.] you can step up your savings in your 40s and 50s and still come away with a decent nest egg. So Many Article Directories, So Little Time Twice today I received invitations from article directory owners to join their new sites. In many ways I am flattered, but in other ways I almost want to mention that they have their work cut out for them. As an author of several hundred articles online [I expect to add between one and two hundred per month for the foreseeable future] I have some recommendations for article directory managers. If you are interested in learning what they are, please read on. Benchmark Ezine Articles – My primary site for submitting articles is with EzineArticles.com. Why? Volume, service, article penetration, search engine optimization, blog, forum, email updates, site navigation, cutting edge technology, to name some features. This site is one that is highly active where authors know the manager, Christopher Knight, and hear from him regularly. You get the feeling that Ezine Articles is going places...and fast! Snow And Your Car Welcome to Winter! Snow, ice, and cold can be especially challenging to the body and mind, as well as to important items in your life, including your car. Is your vehicle ready for winter? If not, there are some things you can do to help ensure that your car will start on cold mornings and survive even the nastiest winter weather. Check under the hood. Make sure that your battery and all of its connections are clean and fastened; hoses and belts securely in place; your oil and oil filter changes up to date; your air filter clean; the radiator flushed and refilled; and your engine well tuned. One of the biggest contributors to a car not starting is the battery. If it is old and needs to be replaced, do it now before you take that long trip. Should You, VoIP? My friend in Florida, Samuel, called me last week and immediately I noticed a difference in the sound quality compared to our usual conversations. At first, I dismissed it, thinking he was calling me from his cell phone. Five minutes into the conversation when the call suddenly dropped off I "knew" for sure he was calling on his cell. Until he called me back from his cell that is. It turned out that Samuel was using his regular home phone, but when he told me that he had a VoIP account that was all I needed to know. What is VoIP? VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol which is a method for you to talk with someone via your broadband internet connection, cable or DSL. Your voice is translated into data and sent over the same connection used for your computer. VoIP has become popular because you can talk to people for just a few cents per minute...worldwide! In fact, in a recent ad I saw that one of the leading providers of this service is offering free calls to Canada and charging just 3 cents per minute for calls to Hong Kong and 6 cents per minute for calls to Copenhagen. People who frequently call international destinations love VoIP. Heck, at prices one-tenth the amount or less of conventional long distance rates VoIP does have a strong appeal for consumers. Should You Consolidate Your Student Loans? Spending time in college means going to classes, writing papers, studying for exams, and enjoying the college experience of fun, food, and frolic. Oh, if it only were that easy! Chances are you are racking up some serious debt in the form of students loans. If you have already graduated, then you are probably in the process of paying your loans back. Are you happy yet? Maybe not, especially if your student loans are more of a burden than you originally had expected. Read on, please, for some ways you can ease the burden and live a life that goes beyond paying off debt. For many students, it isn’t all that uncommon to graduate with a bachelor’s degree and find yourself owing 10, 30, even 60 thousand dollars or more in student loan debt. How did all of this happen? High tuition, that’s how. Likely your first job out of college isn’t paying you a mint just yet either. Car payments and credit cards bills coupled with everyday living expenses can find you digging a whole that only gets deeper. What should you do? Perhaps you should consider looking into a government student loan consolidation. Shifting Deadlines As a writer who works on multiple projects at any given time, I attempt to pin down a deadline from my clients even if one is not stated. Why? Because, the "I am in no hurry for these" statements invariably becomes, "are you done with the articles?" How embarrassing is that if I make the assumption that a project could be put off, especially if my client wants it now? I have learned to do the following: as soon as I get a project I ask for a specific timeline for when the job should be completed. If the client wants to receive proofs by a certain time, they will. I will also ask them to return to me the reworked article by a certain time too, especially if the "final copy" deadline is fast approaching. No one likes to respond to a panicked, "where is my finished copy?!" statement especially if the hang up is on their end. Regardless of the reason, the burden falls on you, the writer, if there are any snags. Setting Goals: Making Them Attainable! As a writer/author/editor/web designer, et al, I find that in order to make a “go” of my business, I must periodically refocus or reshape the direction in which my business is moving in order to remain relevant and profitable. If you, too, run your own business you probably have learned to do the same. If not, you may be missing some important trends that can impact your bottom line. Please continue to read on for some helpful advice on how you can set attainable goals for your enterprise. My business is always in a state of flux. At times, web design is the hot item while at other times article writing surges to the top of my list of tasks. Several other competing responsibilities including advertising, resume design, and special projects also weigh in. My job isn’t boring, but if I don’t keep a firm grasp on my myriad duties, I can find myself going in the wrong direction without warning. This can be both a career killer and a financial disaster. Selecting Your Tonneau Truck Cover You’ve seen them on pick up trucks everywhere: specially designed truck covers that are all the rage. In times past sporting a custom fitted cap over your truck’s bed was where it was the thing to do. Today, a truck tonneau cover is the way to go for many truck owners. The choices of covers are varied, the retailers who sell them are many. Selecting your tonneau truck cover isn’t rocket science but it pays to “go with what you know” when selecting yours. Let’s take a look at the different types of truck tonneau covers on the market. The most popular selling trucks in the USA for nearly three straight decades are Ford’s “F” series line of full size pick up trucks. Selling twice as many trucks as the nearest car, which is the Toyota Camry, this sales level clearly shows us that pick up trucks remain an important and vital part of the automotive landscape. Indeed, trucks from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and many other manufacturers have filled our roads. Unlike trucks in the past which exclusively emphasized their towing and hauling attributes, trucks of today incorporate a third factor, passenger comfort, in the mix. Still, if you ask mostly anyone exactly what they do with their truck bed you are likely to gain a variety of answers. Most truck beds are used expressly for hauling stuff and depending on what is being hauled that typically determines how the bed is protected and or covered. Securing A North Carolina Farm Loan If you live in the state of North Carolina, you know that farming plays a valuable role in the North Carolina economy. With nearly 9 million residents, the state has farms producing a wide variety of products. Indeed, North Carolina is a leader in the production of tobacco, sweet potatoes, and turkeys and the state is second in hogs and Christmas trees. Are you considering purchasing a farm? If so, please read on for suggestions on just how you can finance your proposed endeavor. Farm Associations – Your local farmers probably belong to a farm association. Visit the association and see if they offer North Carolina Farm Loan plans. Some associations may act as an agent for the U.S. federal government’s Farm Service Agency [an agency that is part of the USDA] who will direct you accordingly. Secrets That Your Credit Card Provider Is Keeping From You If you think that you know everything there is to know about your credit card, then you could be in for a rude awakening. Credit card providers make untold billions of dollars annually because of several closely guarded secrets that they won't easily share with you. By keeping you in the dark they can make money at your expense. Don't be beaten down as I am about to shine the light in the darkness to expose trade secrets that they hope you will never learn about. Congratulations, you have been approved for a new major credit card! However, do not let the headiness of having a better than average credit rating skew your judgment: now is the time to get very familiar with the credit card agreement that came along with your new card. Searching For A Home In Beautiful Boise Boise, the state capital of Idaho, is currently experiencing a population boom thanks to its temperate climate, business friendly environment, and family favorable atmosphere. Indeed, most of the dramatic growth that is happening is made evident in the city's surging population base which has pushed past the 200,000 mark. If you are a current Boise resident or you are considering searching for a home in Idaho's largest city or in its surrounding towns, you can conduct a Boise home search right from the comfort of your personal computer. Read on and we'll examine some of the ways you can tap into the rich Boise real estate market. French for "wooded area" Boise continues to exemplify its nickname as the "city of trees." This bucolic living, working, and recreational environment continues to hold visitors' attention and is one of the reasons why families are relocating to the area in large numbers. Search Engine Wars: Google Thumps Yahoo, Msn Well the score is in: Google has resoundingly thumped Yahoo and MSN in the ongoing search engine wars. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t read it myself; Google continues to grow in size and popularity while Yahoo and MSN continue to firm up their “also ran” positions. What does this mean for you? Plenty, especially if you are wasting your time with the other search engines. Yes, I am surprised. My previous statistics were evidently a bit outdated as I had the search engine war between the Big 3 Providers -- Google, Yahoo, and MSN -- running a tight 1-2-3. Indeed, it must have been early in 2005 the last time I bothered to look at the statistics, but at that time my stats showed that Google controlled 36% while Yahoo and MSN were running at 33% and 32% respectively. Yes, the statistics total to more than 100% since they include those people who use more than one search engine [in this case they are counted twice]. Saving Money, Simply We all know how to spend our money, but do we fully understand how to save it? I am not talking about setting aside a reserve for an investment or rainy day purposes – both of which are good things – rather, saving money on everyday items. Here are some simple ways you can save money: Clip Coupons. You can save on your shopping excursions by clipping coupons. Some stores will even double or triple manufacturers’ coupons up to a specified amount [typically, one dollar] as an added incentive to bring you in. Save On Gas Sensibly And Sanely If some people had their way, you’d be driving a small hybrid powered vehicle with no choice of other types of cars to own. While a gas-electric hybrid is fine for some folks, the majority of American drivers want the power and responsive of a trusty internal combustion engine and are not interested in being told which kind of car they must drive. Yet, saving on gas is a universal concern one that nearly every driver considers each time he or she stands at the gas pump. I doubt that there are many folks who give no thought to paying $3 per gallon for gasoline and fill ups costing $40, $60, even $80 or more are no fun. While you can’t control OPEC, you can squeeze more mileage out of your current vehicle thereby reducing your pain at the pump. Read on and we’ll explore several sensible and sane fuel saving options that can help you today: Easy on the Brakes. If you slam on the brakes, chances are you also press the pedal to the medal. Jackrabbit starts will get you there, but you’ll also gobble up more gasoline than you can imagine. Ease up on the gas pedal and you could see your fuel economy jump by 3 to 5%. Save Money On Auto Insurance You just received your most recent automobile insurance bill and it has gone up once again. More than 10%, in fact! A little gecko is clamoring for your business and so are a handful of other companies that you even no less about. So, what should you do? Switching insurance carriers is one option, but before go through all the hassles of making a change, let’s first take a look at five ways you can reduce insurance premiums instantly. Bump Up Your Deductible. You can gain instant savings by increasing the deductible you are willing to pay. You may find a $1000 deductible for collision to make more sense and save you a considerable amount of money in the long run.

For Any Dispute and Copyright Click Here

100% Free source for free article

© The Article Insiders. All Rights Reserved.
Use of our service is protected by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service

Virectin | Virectin | Virectin | Virectin | Virectin | Erectile Dysfunction Pills |