by: Robert Panosetti


Buying a used car seems like a risky proposition. If you are not prepared, you can drive away with a vehicle that is going to be nothing but headaches for you. A shiny coat of paint is not the best way to judge the condition of a used car. Here are a few tips that can help protect you when buying a used car.

It is always better to go to a car dealership when looking for a used car. Individuals selling cars may offer great prices, but it’s a lot harder to get back to them if something is seriously wrong with the vehicle. They are more likely to try to cover up major problems with the vehicle as well. Usually, those situations end up in court. A dealership depends on its reputation, and will do everything it can to make sure its vehicles are as advertised.

If you are going to an auto dealer, or to look at a privately owned vehicle, be sure to make a checklist before leaving home. The checklist should include all the parts of the vehicle you need to check to make sure they are in working order. Without a list, it is too easy to overlook some of the more important elements on the vehicle. When you are looking at that shiny roadster, it’s easy to forget about checking the windshield wipers, or the door handles. It’s best to ask a mechanic for a thorough list of inspection points.

Don’t even think about purchasing a vehicle without being able to take it for a test drive. Make sure you are the one driving, as well. Be sure to ask the last time the vehicle was serviced, and ask for a maintenance record if they have one. See if the seller/dealer will be checking the fluid levels and filter conditions before purchase, as well.

Before signing any papers, make sure you are familiar with state laws regarding vehicles in poor conditions. The “lemon” laws will protect you in some cases, but you have to be aware of their specific conditions. Ask about refund policies, and be sure to read the sales documents carefully. If you are buying from an individual, make sure you get a receipt, and that you have some form of contract to sign.

These are a few tips to help you when shopping for a used car. Your biggest allies are common sense and preparation. Never be afraid to think about an offer if you are not sure. Better to miss out on a car than to get stuck with a pile of junk.


About The Author
Robert Panosetti is a professional auto trainer and co-owner of http://www.bushkillautosales.com, a Lehigh Valley auto dealer.

by: Mayflor de Guzman



Having your broken auto glass replaced by the average auto shop will require you to spend more than required but purchasing new auto glass wholesale can save you a chunk of money. Motorists dread auto glass repairs in Maryland as these are undeniably costly but one shouldn’t discount a glass windshield repair in MD for it comes in many beneficial options. Remember, an auto glass repair need not be expensive if you only know how to research for the company that offers first-rate service at an affordable price.

Here are important steps that lead to proper windshield protection:

Always examine your car – beware of cracks and chips; some are more serious than others. If the crack or chip on your windshield is in a cone shape, a circle deep in the glass or a small star with points spreading out, make sure to get it fixed immediately. These tiny cracks can lead to serious damage and gradually evolve into larger cracks which could result in replacing your entire windshield.

Ask the professionals – if the crack is bigger than a chip or equal to the size of a quarter; or if it is cone shaped or appears to be a bulls-eye, it is best to take your car to the professionals in the nearest auto glass repair shop in DC. Performing the task yourself could only worsen its condition.

Windshield first aid treatment – if you notice a crack or chip in your window, immediately cover it with a piece of packaging tape to prevent it from getting any bigger. Unwanted chemicals, dirt and moisture that leak through the outer layer of the broken windshield can damage its plastic interior and glass exterior. Taping it will help keep those substances from seeping through the crack until you have time and money to bring your vehicle to a service center.

Avoid car wash this time – Like dust and moisture, you should avoid a car wash because once soap and high pressure water enters the crack on your windshield, it can trigger major damage.

Close the door gently – negligence can worsen cracks in your windshield. When you slam the doors of your car, the cracks and chips may get larger due to the vibration coming from excessive force.

Waiting leads to danger – The longer that you wait for your windshield to be repaired, the harder will it be to deal with its cracks and chips. The longer you wait, the more dirt and humidity will dwell in the chipped area. These elements, if not dealt with early on, can make repairs unreasonably expensive or even unattainable. Visit an auto glass repair specialist in VA if you’re in the area and end your windshield dilemma in a jiffy.


About The Author
Mayflor de Guzman is affiliated with, http://www.proviewglass.com, a company offering auto glass services.

Visit their site, http://www.proviewglass.com, for inquiries and additional information about their auto glass and windshield services.

by: Paul Burke




Security is something that is present in every aspect of our daily life, from locking our front door to being searched at an airport check in, and it is not always a precise science. If you build a large wall around your house you may be able to keep out the opportunist intruder, however to the professional thief you are advertising that there may be something of value behind the wall and this itself may draw unwelcome attention. If you install an intruder alarm in your home are you going to deflect an attack or make a burglar think there are valuables being protected? The situation in every case has to be assessed and the appropriate security deployed. Where asset tracking is required, it is always advisable that the tracking units are concealed to prevent them from being disabled or draw unwanted attention. It is extremely important that a container with a tracking system installed should look no different from the container that has a low value cargo such as waste paper. Security products that are overtly fitted to the container doors (or any external surface) unfortunately make it easy for criminals to identify the containers that have a valuable cargo.

Theft and Fraud from shipping containers was estimated to be in excess of $185 billion USD in 2007, and with some consignments having a value of over $20 million USD this figure is quite believable. There is also concern that terrorists have used shipping containers in the past and will no doubt use them in the future to move weapons and explosives around the globe.

Pear Track Systems Ltd manufactures a covert container tracking system with a 10 year battery life, specifically designed for shipping containers. This system uses The Global Positioning System GPS to locate the container and then transmits the location information using the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM). Battery life of the PT-1000 has been optimised for the normal service life of a typical shipping container (10 years) and is able to send multiple position reports every day for the entire life cycle. The unit can also be fitted with a movement sensor so if the container is place on trailer or moved to another part of the port the device will wake up and give alert information and more frequent position reports. The system also has a capability to send an alert message when the container doors are opened, providing geocoded proof of delivery information to the consignee, along with the comfort of knowing that the shipment has reached its destination, and that there has been no unauthorised opening of the container doors.

The alerts can be sent by the web-based system via e-mail and Short Messaging Service (SMS) to the user's mobile phone. The user can then view the position of the container and the nature of the alert. The system allows users to find the position of the Pear Track tracking devices to within a few meters anywhere in the world by using a multiple mapping solutions via our web-based tracking portal. The each user has unique user name and password to access the advanced tracking system; this allows you to find both real-time and historic locations of the unit.

In as little as 30 minutes, the container tacking system can be covertly fitted inside the shipping container, with the GPS and GSM antenna's fitted covertly to the outside of the container, protecting it from damage and prying eyes. If a container does not need to be permanently tracked, we have a magnetically mounted self contained container GPS tracking system, ideal for a temporary asset tracking solution. The GPS/GSM device is covertly fitted on the outside of the container in a few seconds and has a 90 day rechargeable battery, there is an anti tamper facility that will alert the user if the unit is removed. The device can be attached to the container upon dispatch and then retrieved when it reaches its destination. The same unit can then be sent back to the originator to be recharged and reattached to another consignment. The PT-030C is ideal where random containers are used by the shipping agent.

Pear Track is working closely with a company that provides high security containers. The system is capable detecting a hole of only a few millimetre's being made in the wall or roof of the container, this advanced intrusion detection system uses the Pear Track device to signal an alarm and position. The secure container system is capable of detecting both physical breaches and the presence of nuclear material within the container. Many leading industry experts believe nuclear material detection will become mandatory for all shipments entering a USA port.

Pear Track is also working with a manufacture of light weight pallets to develop a secure Unit Load Device (ULD) for air cargo. This will utilise the Pear Track range providing tracking for very high value air cargo such as diamond shipments. The airline industry's definition of high value cargo is a shipment in excess of $15 million dollars. The new ULD will not only be extremely light which is critical for air cargo, it will have a facility for authorised personnel to temporarily deactivate the tracking unit before loading the ULD into the hold of an aircraft.

Another version of the 10 year tracking product is the Pear Track trailer tracking system for use on road trailers and rail rolling stock. This unit uses the same long life battery technology and can send an alert if the trailer or rail wagon / van (box car) is hitched or moved. All permanently fitted units report the ambient temperature inside the container or trailer and actively monitor the battery condition. An imaginary perimeter called a geo-fence can be set from 100 meters to 1km around the units via the Pear Track web portal; this will send an alert if the unit travels outside the selected geofence. The reporting intervals can also be remotely configured from the Pear Track web portal and an activity report can either be viewed on maps or downloaded in text form giving time, date, location, and temperature of the asset along with any alerts that were active at that time.

Pear Track offers a complete range of battery powered GPS tracking products, from the 10 year PT-1000 to a small personal match box size product called the MiniTrack. The MiniTrack has a 30 day rechargeable battery and can be carried by lone workers or security personnel; it can even be fitted to search and rescue dogs. The Pear Track range also included compact pallet tracking devices with a 1 to 2 year battery life and both 5 and 7 year products that are typically used for tracking a variety of non-powered and powered assets, including trailers, portable buildings and plant.

Although Pear Track Systems Ltd is a new company it has a long history in GPS tracking and communication systems. Pear Track was formed by Paul Burke and John Macey the originators of Minorplanet Ltd that went on to become one of the principle GPS tracking companies in the World, and to this day is regarded by many as the market leader in Vehicle tracking systems with many thousands of units operating globally. The GPS vehicle tracking industry grew rapidly in the early nineties and the Pear Track team was indeed pioneers, being instrumental in the development of the techniques and systems from which many modern GPS tracking systems are still based.

The Pear Track products are designed and manufactured in the UK to exacting standards using state of the art production and quality control facilities. Pear Track products are rigorously tested before leaving the factory, ensuring the highest quality and trouble free service 'out of the box'. As a world leader in long-life battery powered GPS and GSM tracking products, we are continually developing our product base, our R & D team have been developing and producing 'best of class' GPS, communication and security products for over 20 years.


About The Author
Paul has been involved with the GPS tracking industry for over 15 years and was one of the founders of Minorplanet PLC.

by: Rob Laird - RPL Driving



With time being important to everyone, more and more driving schools are offering intensive driving lessons for learner drivers, some of them spread over just one week.

Unfortunately, they don't suit everyone. The skills needed to drive safely take time to learn, and although you may learn enough to pass the driving test, I've found that the quicker you learn, the quicker you forget things.

If you have had previous experience on other vehicles, or other driving lessons before, intensive lessons can be useful. As you're not starting from scratch things will be a little easier.

If you have had no experience, the best way to learn quickly would be to have 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. On that time scale, you might expect to be ready for your test after 4-5 weeks. But like most things, it depends on the person.

If you have had experience before, the amount of lessons, and therefore the time it will take will vary a lot. The best course of action would be to book an assessment driving lesson with a driving instructor, who should be able to give you a better idea of what you will need.

If you would like any more information on driving lessons, either have a look at my driving school website, or contact me, and I'll do my best to help you.


About The Author
Rob Laird has been teaching people to drive since he set up his driver training business, RPL Driving, in 2006. As well as learner drivers, he teaches full licence holders, and will soon be helping the IAM with their training for the advanced driving test. For more information, and to book driving lessons in essex have a look at the RPL Driving School - Romford website

by: Ron Walker


Restoration of any kind is an exceptionally difficult and time consuming job. It certainly does have benefits though. The restoration of a vintage car demands plenty of commitment and perseverance. It is a long task that could take years to complete so you certainly must have a lot of staying power.

This is the type of job that is perfect for a small group or a pair of friends to do together. Having more hands could help the job significantly as it will achieve more in far less time. There is a lot involved in the restoration of vintage cars but it is not without rewards.

If you are on the search to replace or repair different parts of your vintage car, then you will want to make sure you are getting the best deal. There are a range of different shops specializing in the collection of cars which have the necessary tools and parts you will need. If you are looking at the different parts, then you will be at an advantage when you are looking for them in these types of stores.

Looking on the Internet and completing a search on Google will allow you to see the different ones in your area. Then, you should visit the different stores to see if they have any parts that match the make and model of your classic car. You will also find that many of the stores will offer free shipping for items that are not in the local area and need to be brought in.

If you are very new to car restoration then perhaps you would be interested in having a professional restoration company do it for you or help you out with certain tasks or repairs. This type of service can become quite costly so shop around for the best price possible. Some of them will only agree if they are taking on the whole job, not just part of it, so keep this in mind.

Do not make the mistake of cutting corners when restoring a vintage car. Doing everything the cheapest way may not be the best idea. Not only do you want the car to look great when it's finished, you also want it to work properly.

Use quality parts that are designed for use in that type of vehicle. It could save you a lot of trouble and repair costs later. It also does not hurt to look up some helpful tips online for dealing with things like rust removal. You can discover plenty of ways to save time while working faster with an online search.

You should aim to keep everything as original as possible. You may find that there are some used parts on the car that are not as old as the original car, but when it comes down to it you will need to match the era the car was bought in as some parts and types of paint won't be produced anymore. Also, if you use a new paint that is only found on models of the current age, then you will be robbing your vintage car of the effect you want it to have on people.

You should also look in restoration magazines and online sites when you are looking at the restoration process. These types of information sources will assist you a lot. Also, when you are restoring your vintage car you will need to make sure that you do everything correctly as you will want to keep the value of the car.


About The Author
Ron is a vintage car enthusiast who runs his own club on vintage car restoration tips, and educates people what they need to do to effectively complete vintage car restorer tips so they can work on their cars.

by: Thomas Ajava



It is amazing how things have changed in these modern times. It wasn't that long ago that when you had problems with your car, you had to hike up and down the road trying to find somebody to help you. Well those days are long gone. Now there is something known as road service. It is truly one of the great inventions of these modern times!

What is road service? It is exactly what the name suggests. If you have a problem, you simply contact the phone number provided. A service professional will be sent out to your location to assist you. The service professional is usually a local provider who will take a look at the car and make any simple repairs on the spot. If the car can't be repaired quickly and easily, they will then arrange for the car to be towed to a facility. You'll then be given a ride home or transportation will be arranged. It is a wonderful service!

If you purchased a new car in the last five years, you're probably already well aware of what road service is. It did not originate as an insurance product. Instead, car manufacturers started offering it as an enticement to buy their cars. Manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes were some of the first to do this. As is often the case in industry, the other manufacturers started offering it once they saw how successful it was for the original manufacturers.

If you have a new car, there's no reason to buy road service as part of your car insurance. The manufacturer will cover it for an initial period that can be anywhere between three and five years depending on the program their offering. But what if that time is past? Should you buy roadside service as part of your car insurance? The answer is that you probably should not. There are a couple of reasons.

The first reason you should not buy road service as part of your car insurance has to do with the quality of the service. Simply put, other groups like AAA are far better at handling it. They've been doing it forever and they have the service down to a fine art. When you have a problem, you just call and AAA takes care of everything. As an additional benefit, you do not have to file a claim or anything of that sort. Everything is simply handled by AAA as part of the flat fee you pay for membership.

There's an additional reason why you should not buy road service as part of your car insurance that is little more subtle. Some car insurance companies consider calls for road service to constitute a claim. The premiums you pay for your insurance are determined by a number of different factors. One of the factors is the number of claims you make on your policy. You can probably see where I'm going with this. Let's assume you have three problems with cars on the road in the next five years and call for road service each time. If your insurance company considers each of those problems to be a claim, your premiums are going to skyrocket! That will be a disaster.

Road service is a great thing and you should definitely arrange to have it. That being said, including as part of your car insurance is probably not the best idea. There are other options that are better from both an economic and strategic perspective.


About The Author
Thomas Ajava is with http://www.autoownersinsurancecompanies.com - find auto insurance companies near you for personalized service.

by: Dr. Tom Pousti



With massive weight loss, in a short period of time, patients are often left with a significant amount of excess skin. Because of the rapid weight loss, the patient’s skin doesn’t “bounce back” adequately, resulting in a multitude of problems including problems with moisture, skin break down, hygiene and body image problems (aesthetic concerns). This excess skin remains a reminder of the person’s past problem with obesity and limits the patient’s satisfaction with the weight loss he/she has achieved. Although patients are often very pleased with the improvement in their medical issues (such as diabetes and high blood pressure) achieved after weight loss, they are still not happy when they look in the mirror. Plastic surgical procedures after weight loss may help the patient achieve their goals and significantly improve their self-image. It is important to work with a plastic surgeon with extensive experience due to the fact that treatment of the post-bariatric surgery patient is unique in that the patient’s skin elasticity has been permanently decreased, potentially resulting in faster recurrence of some of the patient’s presenting complaints. Dr. Pousti has helped many patient’s in this situation.

As patients lose weight, their face and neck skin often show signs of weight loss often associated with aging. They may notice loose skin of the eyelids, lower face (jowl) or neck area. Face and neck lifting surgery help eliminate loose skin and the underlying muscle and fatty tissue. The re-suspension of the tissues helps rejuvenate the face and neck area.

Many patients complain of “empty, droopy, saggy” breasts after weight loss – in fact, patients often say that they were happier with their breasts before weight loss than after (just like some patients are happier with their breast during pregnancy than after). Most patients after massive weight loss, benefit from breast augmentation (saline or silicone gel breast implants) along with breast lifting (mastopexy) surgery. The mastopexy operation serves to raise the nipple-areola complexes higher on the chest wall (by removing redundant or loose skin) while the breast augmentation serves to increase fullness of the breasts especially along the superior pole of the breasts. Usually, after significant weight loss, both breast implants and breast lifting are required for optimal results.

Saline Implants

Saline implants have a silicone rubber shell that is inflated to the desired size with sterile saline. The implants are placed under the pectoralis muscle deflated and therefore, the incision used for this type of implant is minimal. These implants can be overfilled to achieve a more rounded appearance.

Saline implants have some advantages over silicone implants. Silicone implant ruptures are harder to detect. When saline implants rupture, they deflate and the results are seen almost immediately. When silicone implants rupture, the breast often looks and feels the same because the silicone gel may leak into surrounding areas of the breast without a visible difference. Patients may need an MRI to diagnose a silicone gel rupture. Saline implants are also less expensive than the silicone gel implants.

Silicone Implants

Silicone implants have a silicone rubber shell that is filled with a fixed amount of silicone gel. Most silicone gel-filled implants are not adjustable and therefore, the incision used to place the silicone gel implant is larger than the incision needed for saline implants. The silicone gel implant cannot be overfilled – it comes in an exact size that cannot be manipulated.

Silicone implants vary in shell surface (smooth/textured), shape, profile, volume, shell thickness, and number of shell lumens.

Some surgeons feel that silicone implants have a more natural look and feel than saline implants because silicone gel has a texture that is similar to breast tissue. Each patient differs in the amount of breast tissue that they have. If a patient has enough breast tissue to cover the implant, the final result will be similar when comparing saline implants versus silicone gel implants. If a patient has very low body fat and/or very little breast tissue, the silicone gel implants may provide a more natural result.

As of 2006, the FDA has approved the use of silicone gel implants manufactured by the Mentor Corporation and Allergan (formerly McGhan) for breast augmentation surgery.

Plastic Surgery Societies Applaud the FDA’s Decision to Approve Silicone Breast Implants

For Immediate Release: November 17, 2006

Arlington Heights, Ill. (November 17, 2006) – The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the two largest plastic surgery membership organizations, applaud the FDA’s decision today to approve (manufacturer’s) silicone breast implants and return these devices to the U.S. market. This decision comes 14 years after the FDA restricted access to the silicone implants because of safety concerns. “This is a great day for American women and the plastic surgeons who care for them,” said Roxanne Guy, MD, ASPS president. “Silicone breast implants have been scrutinized more than any medical device, and we applaud the FDA for making its well thought-out decision and allowing American women to make informed choices about their health care.”

Patients will also often complain of loose skin of the abdomen and/or back areas. The redundant folds of skin may be “depressing” to patients who have worked hard to drop their weight (and maintain it) only to be left with even looser skin. Unfortunately, like the issues described above, these areas of excess skin do not improve despite the most rigorous diet and exercise schedule. Ironically, the redundancy of skin may worsen despite patients’ best efforts. Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery serve to remove the excess skin of the abdomen while tightening up the abdominal wall muscles. This operation serves to improve the contour of the abdominal wall while the patient is standing, leaning over and sitting down. At the same time, the pubic area (which is often of concern to patients after weight loss) may be reduced and “lifted”. If the pubic area is not addressed during the abdominoplasty procedure, the patient often will be dissatisfied with the end result of surgery.

Often patients will complain of excess skin circumferentially at the level of the abdomen and lower back. Lower body lifting and belt lipectomy procedures serve to remove redundant skin of the abdomen and back circumferentially – this operation serves to improve the contour of the buttocks, hips, thighs and abdomen.

Weight loss can leave loose or “hanging” skin of the upper arm, between the elbow and shoulder. This area is addressed using the brachioplasty or arm lifting surgery. One of the keys of this operation is to plan the resulting scar to fall at the lower edge of the arm so that the scar is not visible from the front or back view. This operation may be extended to address the excess skin of the upper chest as well (upper body lift).

Patient often complain of extra skin of the thighs as well. This area can be treated using the thigh lifting techniques. A medial thigh lift will address the inner thighs while the lower body lift addresses the outer part of the thighs.

When considering any type of plastic surgery, choosing your surgeon is one the most important decisions a patient makes. An astute patient will evaluate the doctor’s credentials, training, specific board certification and experience. Before and after procedures, meeting with previous patients and reading patient testimonials may be useful. Connection with the plastic surgeon is critical to individualize each patient’s case. Safety is of primary concern and factors such as medical problems, age, exercise tolerance and length of surgery are some of the factors considered during the consultation. Care must be taken not to attempt too much surgery simultaneously as this may result in complications. During the office visits, the surgeon will get to know more about the patient’s health history as well as expectations and goals. Patients are educated regarding the procedure, post-operative care and especially potential limitations and/or possible risks and complications of any planned procedure.

Dr. Pousti is well qualified to assist patients after massive weight loss. He is board certified in General Surgery as well as Plastic Surgery and has been trained at some of the finest institutions in the United States. He has been in private practice for over 12 years and has had the privilege of helping thousands of patients reaching their goals after significant weight loss.


About The Author
Dr. Tom Pousti is a La Jolla / San Diego Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon specializing in Reconstructive and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery and is dedicated to restoring appearance, self-esteem, function, and quality of life to his patients. After 17 years of extensive medical and surgical training, Dr. Tom Pousti is double board certified in General Surgery as well as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

by: Mumtaz Pachisa



Motorcycling, sky diving and scuba diving are a few activities that Jill Misangyi, a registered nurse from Canada, never imagined she would be able to do until her spinal decompression surgery with fusion and instrumentation recently in India through Healthbase . Jill had been suffering from chronic back pain for 16 years.

Back pains are as common as headaches. Most back pains disappear on their own with some rest and / or medication. Some may stay longer but can still be managed with conventional treatments of medication, therapy and back building exercises. But, there are a few types of back pain that are so chronic that they render the person disabled. Such chronic conditions necessitate surgery so as to improve the person’s condition.

There are different reasons that cause backaches. In this article we take a look into conditions caused by compression of the structures that form the spinal column, and the surgical solutions to these spine problems .

Conditions associated with spinal compression are: disc herniation, sciatica, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. To relieve pressure on one or many pinched nerves of the spinal column caused by the compression, spinal decompression surgery in its different forms - discectomy, laminectomy and foraminotomy - is employed. Let us start with a description of each of these conditions followed by an understanding of the surgical options.

CONDITIONS

1. Disc herniation: Discs or disks are pads of cartilage between two adjacent vertebrae (i.e. spinal bones) that separate the vertebrae and provide cushioning to them. When the disc herniates (moves out of place), the soft gel inside pushes through the wall of the disc putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that are coming out of the spinal column thereby resulting in a severely painful condition. Disc herniation can occur in any disc in the spine - cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back) or lumbar (lower back) region. Disc herniations occur especially in jobs that require lifting, but can also occur from jobs that require constant sitting.

2. Sciatica: Sciatica refers to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg caused by injury to or compression of the sciatic nerve located in the back of the leg. Sciatica is a symptom of another medical problem, not a medical condition on its own. The sciatic nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg and the sole of the foot. Sciatica may be caused by degenerative disc disease (DDD), pelvic injury or fracture, piriformis syndrome (a pain disorder involving the narrow piriformis muscle in the buttocks), slipped disk, spinal stenosis, tumors, etc.

3. Spinal stenosis: Affecting mainly middle-aged or elderly people, spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lumbar (lower back) or cervical (neck) region that results in compression of the nerve roots. It may be caused by osteoarthritis or Paget’s disease or by an injury that causes pressure on the nerve roots or the spinal cord itself.

4. Spondylolisthesis: Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a vertebra in the lower back slips forward and onto a vertebra below it. The slip usually occurs between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. In adults, it is most commonly caused by a degenerative disease such as osteoarthritis. Other causes are stress fractures (caused during gymnastics), traumatic fractures, and bone diseases.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Depending upon the underlying reason behind the above conditions, surgical decompression might be used to help relieve the pain. Surgical spinal decompression can take the form of a diskectomy, a laminectomy, or a foraminotomy.

1. Spinal discectomy: Diskectomy or discectomy is the removal of all or part of the affected disc. Spinal discectomy can be done in a few different ways:

a. Microdiscectomy or microdiskectomy: This is a minimally invasive way of carrying out the discectomy procedure so that the bones, joints, ligaments or muscles of your spine are not touched resulting in faster healing and recovery.

b. Lumbar diskectomy: Lumbar discectomy, as the name implies, is performed to address conditions of the lumbar spine or lower part of the back. It may also be part of a larger surgery that also includes a laminectomy, foraminotomy, or spinal fusion (fusing the vertebrae together to stop motion at the painful joint).

c. Cervical diskectomy: Cervical discectomy is performed to treat conditions of the cervical spine or the neck region of the spine. It is most often done with laminectomy, foraminotomy, or fusion.

2. Spinal laminectomy: A laminectomy is the removal of a small portion of the arch of the vertebra to increase the size of the spinal canal to alleviate the pressure on the spinal cord and the pinched nerve. Laminectomy is most commonly performed to treat spinal stenosis. It is usually done along with a diskectomy, foraminotomy, and spinal fusion. Laminectomy can be done either using the conventional open method or using the minimally invasive method.

3. Spinal foraminotomy: A foraminotomy is the removal of bone and other tissue to expand the openings for the nerve roots to exit the spinal cord. Foraminotomy, which be performed on any level (region) of the spine, takes pressure off of a nerve in the spinal column and allows it to move more easily. The procedure is commonly performed as a minimally invasive procedure.

Spinal decompression surgery is successful in relieving pressure and pain in 80% to 90% of patients. When your back pain is getting the better of you, a decompression surgery can greatly help improve your quality of life.

As for Jill Misangyi, she feels her life after surgery has taken a total turn around for the good. She is off all pain medication and is back exercising building muscle. Her 16 years of painful prolonged waiting for surgery at an NHS hospital in Canada are wasted but she considers herself lucky to have found out about Healthbase and affordable medical tourism in India. She now has a second chance at life.


About The Author
The author works for Healthbase (www.healthbase.com), a medical tourism facilitator that connects patients to high quality healthcare in USA and abroad for a fraction of the typical cost of care in US, Canada and UK.

by: Greg Frost




First, we need to look at the science of pain. What is pain? Pain is actually a defence mechanism in the body to alert you that there is something wrong with the body, internal or external, that is beyond the normal functions of the body to actually overcome and heal. The body itself is an efficient machine and it has the ability to self heal almost anything at all, but as you age and progress in life, these mechanisms are not able to function just as well. These are natural effects of growing old.

Of course, if the trauma and the wound is too deep or has plenty of internal damage, then pain would come in at higher levels to warn you that there is something wrong. As a defence mechanism, pain also tells you that the limb or part of the body cannot be used anymore in normal limitations. If you injured a ligament in the ankle, you should not use it in normal limitations, where you can further damage the ankle and make the problem much, much worse.

But then, there is another function of the pain receptors in the body, which is to tell you that there is a part of the body that has been compromised, even after initial treatment. Sometimes, there are parts of the body that cannot be repaired fully, no matter how much science and technology is applied to it. When this happens, the body becomes confused somewhat, as it detect that the there is something wrong with that body part. When it comes to the back, this is more tangible.

The body will continue to warn you that there is a problem with your back and the way that it does this is to initiate the pain receptors in the body. The pain is usually a numbing and sometimes elongated pain that affects a large part of the back. The pain is actually within the mind, because it recognises, within the matrix of the body, it recognises a flaw in the system and the alarm bells start to ring. This is where the efficiency of the body can actually be your downfall, as you will be in constant pain.

What you need to do is to erase the pain function in the back, and doing this means that you need to delve deep into the mind, where the subconscious mind has maintained this pain and remove it. You also need to start and accelerate the healing process as well, and the brain has all the functions necessary to do so. Using hypnosis is one of the methods that have been used by mind practitioners to actually smooth out the brain and make it stop the pain. The results have been successful to a certain degree, but there has been emerging technologies in the market that has allowed for faster application and better, measurable results. One of the technologies is called brainwave entrainment, using the frequencies of the brain to full effect to achieve this.


About The Author
Click Here to get your Free "Success Accelerator" Brainwave Cd today!
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Unleash your Mind Power potential to attain the lifestyle that you want. Go claim your Free Cd today!

by: Roger Guzman, M.D.




College financial planning should start early. In fact, do it as soon as the child is born. There are benefits to doing this. For one thing the longer time frame will allow some flexibility. You can be more aggressive in pursuing the best return for your money.

The question that begs to be answered is this. How much should one save for college? The College Board says the cost is more than $32000 annually to attend a private university and college. The annual cost in public universities and colleges is much less, around $13,000.00 per year. And it is rising every year at more than the inflation rate.

Everybody in the family should get involved in college financial planning. The kids who are college-bound should think of their educational goals. Answer questions like what do they want to study? Where do they plan to go to university, public or private? In which state do they want to go for this?

After getting the answers, then the kids should investigate the prices at every school they are planning to go. Have more than two colleges in mind for one never knows where he can be accepted. For example I'll laugh if President Obama's safety school is Harvard. Once you have the college cost at each school, it will be easier to see how much money to set aside.

The college-bound kid can also help check out the opportunities in terms of financial aid that is available to them. Have a meeting with the librarian or the guidance counselor in their high school to find out how to access funds for college.

What you will find out is that saving more will be quite necessary So how do we do that? Well, save more and spend less, that's what. The whole family can help. Eating out once a month instead of every week will obviously help save hundreds of dollars very month.

Buying a second-hand car instead of a shiny new one will save thousands of dollars that you can set aside for college. Stop maxing out your credit cards for the interest rate will be horrendous. In fact, transfer the balance to a low-interest card, and stick to the payment plan.

Where do you park all the money you are saving for college? By this time, you are richer than what you think but you will be richer still if you put it in the right place. The government is on your side here. Believe it or not, the government wants to help you save.

Skeptical? Don't be because the government has set up two ways to help you save in a tax-advantaged manner. One is the Coverdell Education Savings Accounts where you can park the money that will earn interest that will not be taxed. It will allow one to withdraw funds for any educational expenses tax free.

The second one set up is the Section 529 College Savings Plans. You can lock in the college cost at today's rate. Let's say college cost is $13,000 annually. Well if the baby is new born you can save $10,000.00 every year at the $13,000 tuition rate even if the college cost when the baby is ready to go to college has gone up to $50,000.00 a year. Cool, huh?

The only trouble with the 529 plan is that only some schools allow this. So, are there other ways to pay for college? Of course, there are other ways; we just have to dig deeper. So bring your spade and let's do some digging, shall we?

There is a law called College Cost Reduction and Access signed where a new repayment plan will be based on one's income, thus making it easier to afford the federal loans. And listen to this, those who consolidate there loan can do it at an interest rate of 2%.

So remember, sign up for IBR (income-based repayment) plan, consolidate loans at 2%, and sign up for a tuition payment plan where you can split the annual cost into 12 equal monthly payments. All are worth investigating for they are part of college financial planning.

Abstract: College financial planning will help ease the burden of the educational cost facing families today but there are solutions to the challenges. Credit woes may hold back the college-bound but careful research and work around all angles will offset the cost of higher education to make college a reality. Start as soon as you can so that if there are unexpected gaps, they can be easily filled in with time and effort on your side. It goes to show that while we cannot lower the cost we surely can reduce its impact.

Keywords:
college financial planning, financial aid, 529 College Savings Plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, income-based repayment, low interest rates

Please visit these sites for more help where you can sign up for free to receive alerts and tips delivered right to your email inbox:

http://www.debtchallenges.com/collegefinancialplanning.html

http://www.debtchallenges.com/index.html


About The Author
Dr. Guzman worked for the Atlantic Health Corporation and was consultant to St. Joseph's Hospital, Sussex Mental Health Clinic, and St. Stephen Mental Health Clinic for many years. He was Director of Forensic Psychiatry at Centracare for ten years and published numerous articles, including financial ones in the Journal of the American College of Forensic Psychiatry and other medical magazines.

by: Shelley Phelps




What is E-Verify?

E-Verify was originally introduced to employers as the Basic Pilot Program. The program was developed to provide employers with a free internet-based system where they could determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. The system is operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) partnered with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Employers are able to verify the employment eligibility of their employees, regardless of citizenship. Based on information provided by the employee on his or her Form I-9, E-Verify confirms this information electronically against records contained by DHS and SSA databases.

E-Verify Registration

Currently, E-Verify offers employers the best option to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. You can register online for E-Verify (https://www.vis-dhs.com/EmployerRegistration). Upon completion of the registration process, you will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that supplies the terms and agreement between you the employer, the SSA and DHS. The MOU must be signed by an employee with the proper authority to do so.

After you register for the automated system, The MOU, User Manual and Tutorial contain instructions and other related materials on E-Verify procedures. You must complete the tutorial before using the system.

Do I Still Need Form I-9?

The use of E-Verify does not replace the requirement that all employers in the U.S. and all post-November 6, 1986 hires complete Form I-9. E-Verify is processed in addition to the mandatory completion of Form I-9. Currently, USCIS does not offer the use of the electronic Form I-9.

After hiring a new employee and completing the Form I-9, you will be required to submit the following information:

-Employee/s name and date of birth

-Social Security Number

-Citizenship status

-An A number or I-94 number, if applicable

-Type of document provided on the Form I-9 to establish work authorization status

-Proof of identity, and expiration date when applicable

The response to your initial query is sent within seconds of submitting the information. Please note that documents provided from “List B” for the Form I-9 must have a photograph.

When Can I Run an E-Verify Query?

An employer may not initiate a query until an individual accepts an offer of employment and after the employee and employer complete the Form I-9. This query must be initiated by the employer within 3 business days after the new hire’s actual start date.

Employers participating in E-Verify must verify all newly hired employees, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens. Employers are not to use the program to prescreen applicants for employment, confirm current employees hired before the MOU was signed or re-verify any employee who with temporary work authorization.

E-Verify cannot be used to verify immigration status, only a new hire’s employment eligibility.

Additionally, E-Verify cannot be used for employees who do not yet have a Social Security Number. If you have an employee with this issue, you should complete the Form I-9 process with him or her and wait to process the E-Verify. Make sure you note on the Form I-9 why you have not yet run an E-Verify query. In the meantime, you will have completed the Employment

Eligibility process with your employee and verified his/her work authorization so that your employee is permitted to work temporarily without a Social Security Number. Once the employee has received his/her Social Security Number you may run the E-Verify query.

Is E-Verify Mandatory?

Participation in E-Verify is voluntary for most employers with some limited exceptions. Many states have begun making E-Verify mandatory for their public contractors and the federal government enacted its own amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”) mandating E-Verify for many of its contractors and some of their sub-contractors.

Employers that enter into a contract with the federal government and are required to enroll in E-Verify must register with E-Verify when the provision takes effect. After enrolling in E-Verify, the employer is responsible for reporting to the DHS if it continues to employ an individual after receipt of a final nonconfirmation notice. Continuing to employ the individual exposes the employer to a fine in addition to civil monetary or criminal sanctions that may be placed against the employer.

Under the existing E-Verify program, employers are only permitted to verify the employment eligibility of new hires – current employees cannot be processed in E-Verify. However, large contractors feel that it would be too big a task administratively to monitor their E-Verify obligations with respect to employees assigned to the contract and new hires where numerous federal contracts are in place and the workforce varies. This has resulted in the Department of Defense and DHS creating a provision under the Federal Contractor E-Verify Rule whereby an employer may choose to query all of its existing employees hired after November 6, 1986, rather than just those assigned to the contract.

It should be noted that the proposed mandate for federal contractors to be processed through the E-Verify program has been delayed until September 8, 2009. The postponement of the mandate for federal contractors came as a result of a federal lawsuit filed by business members against the DHS. The main concern being raised is the accuracy of the E-Verify data. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the DHS E-Verify system incorrectly lists some legal citizens as ineligible to work in the U.S., and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce feels that the system has not been tested enough.

E-Verify: Pros and Cons

E-Verify may or may not make sense for some employers depending on the particular circumstances of the employer. Prior to enrolling in E-Verify, employers should give thought to conducting an internal I-9 audit and consulting with counsel. An employer may also want to consider the states in which it conducts business, review its current procedure for employment verification and weigh the pros and cons of E-Verify.

The Pros:

-E-Verify quickly verifies employment eligibility and almost eliminates Social Security mismatch letters.

-Employers utilizing E-Verify may presume that they did not knowingly hire an unauthorized worker.

-Employers in some states may be able to pursue certain types of business (state contracts).

-Protects jobs for authorized U.S. workers.

The Cons:

-Participating employers allow the SSA and DHS to perform periodic audits.

-E-Verify has been known to have mismatch problems, carrying a risk of false nonconfirmations that expose an employer to legal action.

-Employers must make an administrative commitment to the program to include training and timely management of the program.

-Improper use of the E-Verify program for pre-employment screening or to re-verify current employees exposes employers to liability.

-There is uncertainty regarding the technical capacity of E-Verify to handle a heavy load and the ability of the SSA to quickly resolve numerous confirmation issues.

Visit the USCIS E-Verify page (http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify) for the most up to date information.


About The Author
Shelley Phelps is a Background Screening Specialist with Corporate Investigations, Inc. (http://ciilink.com), a national provider of background check services headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

by: Wayne Wu



If a business cannot survive without good cash flow management, then a business will not thrive without good communications.

There are two parts to network marketing...

1. NETWORK and
2. MARKETING

Both parts are of equal importance in building a highly profitable network marketing business.

Your network is your relationship with the people in your business: your downline, your customers and clients and your prospects. Building a strong relationship with these people is critical to your business success. Maintaining these relationships ensures continued profitability because people only buy from those they know and trust.

Most network marketers have problems in developing these relationships to begin with, let alone maintaining them.

Developing relationships has all to do with the second part: marketing.

Most network marketers have never had prior business experience, and therefore have no idea how to market or promote their business opportunity or products.

Ironically, distributors who have no idea on how to promote, tell their downline members to go out and build themselves a business.

"Just write a list of 100 warm market contacts, hold a house party and show them the plan, tell them why you have such a great opportunity, sign them up and tell your new recruits to duplicate your efforts..."

That quoted passage is an overly simplified version of the methods most networkers use to build their downlines.

Does it work? Yeah sure, for a small number of people, but it doesn't work for everybody. And it's getting harder to build a business this way today, as there are so many competing business opportunities around trying to grab the attention of your prospects.

To me, marketing is very much like fishing. There are basically two ways you can catch fish...1) go for a swim in the ocean and try to catch as many fish as you can with your bare hands or 2) get out in a boat to where there are plenty of fish, cast the bait that'll attract the fish you want to catch and wait for them to take the bait.

I don't know about you, but method number 1 sounds like a lot of hard work and the probabilities of success are not very high. This was done in pre-historic days when people didn't have the tools they do now. You'd probably have to be a pretty good swimmer, with lightning reflexes. Method number 2 makes a lot more sense today doesn't it?

Put it this way: People have a natural tendency to run away from others that chase after them. Isn't it a lot easier to sell someone on something they already wanted in the first place?

The vast majority of network marketers do not achieve financial independence. Of those who really try, but do not succeed, their primary challenge is they don't communicate their network marketing business opportunity to enough of the right prospects. That's not an easy thing to do when you don't know how...

So what do you do when you've burned through your warm market and achieved little success through that avenue? It's time to learn marketing.

Do not be intimated by marketing - it is not a hard skill to learn, but if you master it, can provide you with incredible leverage. Leverage comes from the fact that marketing is done through a system. You write your message once, but it can be published over and over again to hundreds of thousands of people in your target market.

A common myth is that marketing is risky and expensive. Yes, it is possible to spend a lot money and not get any results with marketing if you don't know what you're doing. But thanks to the internet, it is possible to build an effective marketing system for very little cost - even no cost at all.

I learned from Eben Pagan that there are basically 3 streams of marketing...

1. Branding. This is the realm of big business and it works best for long established businesses. It's mainly used to protect a brand identity, so it hardly works for new businesses for whom the general public has never heard of. Brand advertising is what big companies such as Red Bull and Coca Cola spend hundreds of millions of dollars doing each year. It is the least measurable form of marketing - it's very hard to tell if some one buys a Coke as a direct result of him or her seeing a Coca Cola ad.

2. Retail. This is where manufacturers of consumer products partner up with major chain stores. The manufacturer can get its products across millions of people that way, some of whom will buy the product. This can be done online as well, through major websites like Amazon.

3. Direct Response. This is the most targeted marketing strategy and also the most technical and cost effective form of marketing. This is where a business generates its own leads using direct mail or the internet and converts those leads into paying customers.

Direct response marketing is the most effective marketing strategy for small-time network marketers like you and I. Top internet marketers such as Eben Pagan, Alex Mandossian and Mike Filsaime have used direct response marketing to build themselves multi-million dollar online businesses in less than 3 years.

Mike Dillard and Ann Sieg are two of the most prominent network marketers who have used internet direct response marketing strategies to build their multi-million dollar MLM businesses in recent times.

Direct response marketing is an art and science that will take some time to learn, but one that's well worth learning. Once you learn enough of this skill to get going, you can forget about prospecting your friends and family because you'll be able to attract an abundance genuine business builders who are already looking for your business opportunity.


About The Author
After 12 months of struggle with no results, no downline and no income, Wayne discovered the Complete Business Model, modeled after the world's most successful entrepreneurs. His aim is to help network marketers understand the principles of success in business, and build themselves a brand that attracts the right prospects.

For a FREE report on how a Complete Business Model can work for you, please visit my website.

by: Jo Alelsto




International standards for manufacturing practices are very stringent to ensure the safety and the best quality products and practices for the consumers. This is especially true for water. Water is essential to many medical, manufacturing, food processing, and other industrial applications.

Why is there a need for deionized water?

Water which undergoes the deionization process is regarded as almost “pure water” and therefore it is vital to many industrial processes which needed high quality, uncontaminated water.

Deionized water follows this process of purification:

1. Organic trap – Water is passed through an organic trap to remove organic compounds in the water. Organic traps are ion exchange resins with a strong base anion resin. Most organic compounds are slightly negative (cationic) and the organic traps absorb these compounds.

2. Twin-bed Deionizers – After removing the organic compounds, water is passed through a twin-bed deionizer which has two separate chambers for cationic and anionic processes using acid and caustic solutions.

These two processes result in deionized water meaning water with no organic and ionic impurities. However, there are other impurities present in water and further purification is needed to produce high quality, pure water for many industries.

3. Mixed Bed Resin – This filter has a pore size of greater than 0.05 micrometer which retains impurities larger than the pore size.

4. Ultra Violet Treatment – There are microorganisms in water, bacteria as well as unicellular organisms such as amoeba. A strong Ultra Violet Treatment kills these microorganisms.

5. Filtration – The last phase of the water purification involves the water passing through a 0.02 micrometer filter. This further sifts any remaining impurities left by the preceding phases.

The result of this long but meticulous process is an ultrapure type of deionized water. This type of water is very valuable in many industries.

It is used in dialysis centers as well as other laboratory applications. It is used in the laboratory as a reagent. Ultrapure deionized water is essential to make accurate measurements for biological samples which use a very small amount like serum and plasma. It is also an indispensable item in a microbiology laboratory where glasswares and other instruments are rinsed with deionized water before sterilization. Preparations of media also need deionized water to ensure that the media is sterile for biological inculation of biological samples.

Deionized water is also used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. It is mainly used for water-based solutions. Since deionized water is free from impurities, it makes the perfect choice for use as a reagent and solvent because it is unlikely to produce undesirable side effects due to impurities.

In electronics production, deionized water is used extensively for processing and cleaning silicon wafers. It is also used to clean optic fibers when these are needed to be scrubbed thoroughly before coating.

Deionized water is also effective in an automotive battery where is it used to top up lead acid batteries of many cars, trucks, and other vehicles. It is also used as a cooling agent in automotives as well as in airplanes, but due to its cost impracticality, this is not practiced today.

Believe it or not, deionized water has even found its use in your local carwash. It is used as a final rinse and since it has no dissolved solutes, there are no spots left after the car has dried.

However, deionized water is not advisable for home use except in small to average amounts. Although it is a good thing that all the impurities are gone and filtered out, some of these impurities are essential for the body. Some salts found in tap water are needed as electrolytes.

And, as a final note, deionized water has no taste at all, not that tap water can really be said as tasty, but you know what I mean.


About The Author
Jo is a writer for ‘The-Water-Company.com’ (http://www.the-water-company.com), an established UK stationed high quality water supplier for more than thirty years, supplying products such as deionized water and demineralized water to a an extensive variety of customers in UK, Europe and the rest of the world. If your corporation has a pure water source needs or if you would like to acquire more details on any qualifications and standard analysis results for the different water products then have a look at The-Water-Company.com.

by: Karla Jo Helms



One Community Bank’s 3-Step System for Wiping out Credit Card Debt

Now more than ever, the news about banks lending money is doom and gloom. From the president’s sobering speeches about this country’s financial crisis to the headlines to the 24-hour financial news segments, the message is clear: “Banks aren’t lending money anymore…”

But not all banks are created equal. In particular, community banks that make their own decisions, have their own boards and manage their own funds are operating business as usual; that means they’re lending money as they’ve always been; but that doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all, either.

Every bank wants to make good decisions, and lending money is serious business. Banks want to make sure they are lending to people not just who can pay them back but who can afford the loan in the first place.

Looking at someone’s credit card debt can be the first step in determining whether the money the bank does have to lend will be a good investment. Unfortunately, many people fall short when it comes to managing this very specific kind of debt.

According to Robert Sumner, CEO of First National Bank of Pasco (FNB Pasco) near Tampa, Florida, “Credit card debt seems to be the biggest problem our clients have when getting themselves in trouble.”

Sumner adds, “Everybody complains about their mortgage payments, their car loan, but they get surprised when we show them that, once you add up all their credit card debt, it can sometimes equal or even surpass what they pay out in home AND car loans each month!”

In an effort to inform his current, and potential, clients on the dangers of credit card debt, Sumner and the folks at FNB Pasco have come up with the following 3-Step Debt Solution Plan:

• Step 1 – Admit Things Are Out of Control: The first step in solving your own financial crisis is to admit there is a crisis in the first place. This can be as simple as taking five minutes to gather ALL of your credit card bills together (no hiding any) and adding up the monthly payments. If your blood pressure is rising halfway through the stack, you’ll know things are nearing crisis point.

• Step 2 – Get Things Under Control: If it’s clear that your debt load is becoming insufferable, take steps to get them under control. This could mean a system of paying off one credit card at a time. In other words, if you have six credit cards, pay the minimum on five and the maximum possible on the sixth until it’s paid off. Once you’re down to five credit cards, pay the fifth off before focusing on the fourth, and so on. Of course, if your debt load is crippling you may want to consider a debt consolidation service. (Your local community bank can often recommend several credible candidates.)

• Step 3 – Keep Things Under Control: Once you begin to get your debt under control, keep it there. Says Sumner, “We see people all the time who have worked so hard to get their debt under control, only to sully their ‘clean slate’ with even more debt so that they wind up, months later, in the same boat.” Having a budget and sticking to it is a great way to begin keeping your debt under control. So is limiting yourself to one or two credit cards and always keeping both under half of the credit limit.

We all have debt; debt is a basic fact of modern American life. The goal is to have good debt; debt that allows you the freedom to pursue certain financial goals without limiting others. Using this simple 3-step plan you can always be sure you’re striving for good debt over bad.


About The Author
After handling the PR for an Inc 500 company for several years Karla Jo Helms was ready to launch out on her own allowing her to bring her unique take on the world of PR to businesses both large and small. “Public Relations is a powerful tool that can garner wide acceptance and delve into arenas that marketing cannot touch,” says Karla Jo, PR Strategist and Published Author. Helms got her start creating and implementing PR Strategies for entrepreneurs, which helped her develop a keen eye for how to hone in on the best use of PR and technology to increase the Return On Investment of one’s marketing dollars. Her theory on how attaining critical mass by utilizing all areas of PR and Marketing in today's world allows her to put together complete strategies for clients that attain measurable results. A background in sales, business management and media relations has given her the well-rounded understanding of how to harness the power of PR to communicate to diverse groups of people...the end result being a wider sphere of influence and the invaluable commodity of goodwill garnered on a broad basis for her clients.

by: Leon Edward



One of the most common problems made by those who are new to affiliate marketing, is that many of them tend to focus on niche products, rather than those products with a proven track record. What you need to realize is; if you want to make the big money that you see the big dogs making, you need to follow in their footsteps. Essentially, if you want to make big money you need to source products that sell themselves. In other words you need to pay less attention to your own preferences and pay more interest to the desires of your customers.

Another crucial point to consider is that whichever product or service you choose to promote, you need to ensure a certain level of sustainability. Ideally you need to choose a product or service which enjoys a continuous high level of demand and one which can be recycled over and over again. Furthermore one should choose a product which can be up-sold alongside other products. Of course it goes without saying that one should never concentrate entirely on what you sell, but instead, you should pay particular attention to the manner in which you sell. Providing you do this you will be in a position to enjoy commission for many years to come.

If by any chance you're starting to feel a little concerned regarding what product or service you should promote, don't worry because it's perfectly understandable. Perhaps you thought you had it all worked out and now you're drowning in a sea of uncertainty instead. However the purpose of this book is to retrain you and to teach you the correct way to make a noticeable amount of money just as the big dogs do. After all, why would anyone in their right mind want to see a trickle of money rather than a fountain of wealth? Additionally, we will go as far as to show you how one can determine which products sell and which products don't. However, before we go there, let's first get rid of one more fear.

I'm not a professional!

Right, now that we've managed to change your views regarding selling niche products, and also that feeling of comfort you were experiencing regarding the product you had in mind, let's talk about how this problem can be resolved.

Let's face it; it is obviously a lot easier trying to sell a product or service that you're comfortable with, particularly in the beginning when you're still attempting to develop your marketing and pre-sales strategy. What I'm trying to say is, if you're an expert on a certain topic or on a certain product then you could probably have a complete website setup within a day, including tons of content. On the other hand, if you chose to market a product which you know nothing about, you could well find yourself spending months doing research before you yourself can sit down and produce relevant content.

Good, now you have the answer. Does it make sense to you that you should sell a product with which you are comfortable, or do you think you should choose a product that you know nothing about? Remember, if you opt for the latter, you will need to become an expert first. Of course, when you were born you weren't an expert at anything but through hard work and dedication, you have acquired a vast amount of knowledge. These same principles apply it to Internet marketing.

Contrary to what you may believe, it is possible to become an expert simply by doing research regarding the product or service you wish to promote. Above all else there can be no doubt in your mind that it is in your own best interest that you become an expert, with firsthand knowledge of the products you intend promoting.

Having said that; there is still something else which needs to be considered and that is that one can still be a successful affiliate even if you're not an expert. The reasons for this being; that given enough time you will more than likely become an expert anyway. Until such time however, you can simply allow your parent affiliate program to do all the heavy work. In fact, providing you choose a reputable company all the tools you need are already waiting for you. Essentially, all you need to do is drive customers to their website. Trust me, if you choose the right products and you target the right markets, they will never be any shortage of information.


About The Author
Leon Edward is the owner and webmaster of http://www.homebusinessit.com

He started making money online using the Plugin Profit Site where you can earn 6 streams of affiliate income getting paid monthly. You can get your own Plugin Profit Site set up and ready to make money for you within 24 hours at http://www.cashmonthlylifetime.com

by: Michael Challiner



Homebuyers with spotless credit records are being warned that they could find it difficult to take out a new mortgage as banks continue to tighten their lending criteria. Banks and building societies are rejecting loan applications at short notice as house prices continue to fall and they become increasingly jittery about the growing threat of unemployment.

Even borrowers with deals that have several years to run are not safe. Banks have been writing to homeowners to demand that loans are repaid in full within 30 days, long before the end of the mortgage term. Most mortgage contracts contain a clause that allows the lender to pull the plug on the agreement, even if the borrower is not in arrears.

In fact, legal experts say that the latest mortgage contracts are littered with vague and open-ended terms and conditions that allow lenders to do almost anything. For example, the conditions attached to a mortgage can be changed "for any valid reason", according to a contract from one leading lender.

One solicitor said: "Homeowners need to read the terms and conditions more carefully than ever before. It could be argued that a clause allowing lenders to withdraw credit with 30 days' notice is unreasonable, but this has yet to be tested in a Court of Law."

The Prime Minister has been putting pressure on lenders to boost mortgage lending and reduce rates in line with the Bank of England base rate, but even state-owned lenders have refused. Last week Northern Rock said that it was passing on only half of the latest base-rate cut to its variable-rate mortgage customers - 0.25 per cent rather than the full half a percentage point.

Banks are struggling to source funding to offer new mortgages. Most banks now use retail deposits to fund lending, but low interest rates do not help banks and building societies to attract savers. This is the biggest problem facing lenders and the only thing they can do is to pick customers who pose the safest risk.

Against this difficult backdrop, experts say that banks are using any excuse to reject customers. If a lender suspects that a borrower has submitted an application with information that is not 100 per cent accurate, it is likely to be refused. A change in circumstances can also worry lenders. Banks are also examining the credit histories of new customers more closely than ever. Lenders have been known to reject applications because of missed mobile phone payments or because a borrower has been overdrawn on his or her bank account too frequently.

Lenders have also tightened the rules on income multiples. Many banks are unwilling to offer loans worth five or six times a borrower's salary, which was common during the boom times. Performance-related income, such as bonuses, is also now routinely excluded from affordability assessments. If a borrower secured a previous deal with high income multiples, banks will be wary of extending the same level of credit again.

There has also been no let-up for first-time buyers. One mortgage deal in four now requires a deposit or equity stake of 40 per cent, as lenders seek protection against falling house prices and the risk of negative equity.

Mortgages aimed at borrowers with smaller deposits are limited and considerably more expensive. The emphasis on low LTV lending means that falling house prices are also a headache for homeowners who need to remortgage.

A 150,000 pound mortgage on a home worth 200,000 pounds has an LTV ratio of 75 per cent, which is the maximum available now from a number of leading lenders. But if that home falls in price by 15 per cent, the same mortgage has an LTV ratio of 88 per cent.

There are ways to make yourself more attractive to lenders. Borrowers who do not need to remortgage or move house in the next year should pay off both capital and interest each month and overpay whenever possible. This will ensure that they have the maximum amount of equity possible when the time comes to take out a new deal. Some mortgage providers will charge a penalty for this, but most will allow borrowers to overpay by up to 10 per cent a year. This puts homeowners in a much stronger position.

You should order a copy of your credit record to check that all the information about you is correct. You can apply directly to the credit-reference agencies - Experian, Equifax and Callcredit - for your file.

After all it makes sense for borrowers to resolve any problems that would show up on a credit report by contacting the lender and clearing the debt.


About The Author
Visit Brokers Online to get a ( http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/mortgages/ ) Mortgage. Brokers Online is a fantastic financial web site offering Debt Advice ( http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/debt/ ), Debt Management, IVA and Debt Plans.

by: Rocco Beatrice


Buy Real Estate in your IRA – Expand your Investment Horizons

Typically, people sock away things into their traditional IRA accounts including stocks, mutual funds and bonds. If you have the urge to save something other than these things and you are self directing your IRA investments consider real estate. Using your IRA retirement account to broaden your portfolio is possible with the purchase of raw land, condos, houses, commercial properties and mortgage notes.

An insurance company office manager in California, Ruby Barnett, has always wanted to invest in various properties. Barnett says, "I read a book a few years ago, and it mentioned you could self direct IRA in real estate investments. My goal was to buy properties and flip them – rehab and sell them. But I ended up buying income property, so I have tenants. The rent goes into the IRA."

It is possible to use a traditional IRA account, or a Roth IRA, for investing in IRA real estate. It doesn't matter if you are a hands-on person like Barnett, or if you are an investor who would rather rely on another person's expertise. Most people who do invest in real estate through their IRA are very willing to learn. They prefer to be in the driver's seat.

Simple IRA Rules with Investing in IRA Real Estate

To invest in real estate through your IRA, you must be aware of the simple IRA rules. You cannot buy real estate using your basic IRA. You must open a self-directed IRA. If you want to invest and need to open one of these IRA accounts, banks, brokerage firms and insurance companies will assist you with opening the IRA. Generally, they will limit your options to the specific products they sell. In order to buy real estate, you may have to seek out an independent administrator that will serve as a trustee. There are companies that will help you find the right administrator for the self-directed IRA.

Administrators of Self-Directed IRA Accounts

Administrators, who work fee-based, will charge each and every time they do something. For example, if they have to make weekly payments to your account, the administrator may charge $10 per payment.

An asset-based administrator would charge a percentage of the annual total asset value. For example, if you have a portfolio of $40,000, you may pay anywhere between 1 to 1.5 percent in fees. However, if you have a million dollar portfolio, the fee may be only .03%.

Most administrators seem to be going a different route, however. They are hybrid-based administrators, who will charge a little of both.

If you decide to find an administrator on your own, make sure you take the time to talk to several different administrators. As with any service you buy, the most expensive does not always mean it is the best, and the cheapest is not always the bargain you think it is. It is advised that you try to avoid administrators who are new to the business.

The act of avoiding new administrators is not to disqualify them. Many administrators come and go in the business. This doesn't mean the client will lose their money, but it may get tied up until things are settled. This is the concern when dealing with new administrators. It is important to know their asset base, how much is under their control, and how much experience they have.

Make sure you talk to reps and ensure they understand what you are trying to do. Make note of their flexibility. Many administrators will not take real estate because they do not completely understand it. Be sure to ask questions and request an annual statement. Also inquire about all applicable fees.

When you finally choose an administrator, they will walk you through all the steps needed to open a self-directed IRA. It is possible to set up an account with new money, but you would only be able to fund it with the allowed maximum IRA annual contribution. However, you could transfer some, or all, of your assets from your traditional IRA account.

According to Hugh Bromma of Entrust Administration, a self-directed IRA is often the best option for those looking to invest in real estate. This type of IRA has the best advantages, especially for those who make a lot of money in their existing portfolio. Unlike a traditional IRA, the earnings are tax-free upon distribution. This is a great benefit. To exemplify the advantage, consider a traditional IRA that begins with $10,000 that parlays into a million dollars. With the traditional IRA account, you would be taxed on the million dollars.


About The Author
Best IRA Rescue provides services on your IRA investments and traditional IRA and will help you reduce your inherited and beneficiary independent retirement account taxes in your estate assets. Roth on ROIDS is your advanced Roth IRA retirement planning strategy and one of the best IRA tax-savings strategies with benefits of a guaranteed death benefit, guaranteed principal, tax-free growth, and tax-free distributions from policy loans.

Contact us if you have any questions on your IRA retirement planning. http://bestirarescue.com. Read the second part of this two-part series on IRA real estate investments, IRS' rules on real estate IRA investments, Options in real estate investments and using an Investment-Locator Company: http://bestirarescue.com/irs-rules-self-directed-ira-real-estate.html

Boston, MA: 71 Commercial Street #150 Boston, MA 02109
California: 543 Victoria Ste. J, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
toll-free: 888-93ULTRA (888-938-5872)
tel: (508) 429-0011
fax: (508) 429-3034

by: Sean Spurr

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With consumer debt in the UK at historically high levels, there are greater and greater numbers of us getting into debt, and trying to escape it. While the recession is hurting our pockets – wage freezes, redundencies and no available overtime make it hard to earn that little extra we need to pay off our debts – we can at least try to reduce or even remove our interest payments until we are in a better position to pay off our debts.

Many of the solutions we list below will depend on your credit rating. A good credit rating will enable you to reduce greatly the interest you are paying on most small and medium sized debts. However even if you’re credit rating isn’t in the best shape you could still potentially reduce your APR and thus reduce your total outgoings on your debt, and have a little extra in your bank account to pay off the ‘base’ sum of the debt or get back a few luxuries you’ve had to sacrifice. Many of the typical APRs we mention below and you will see when looking are offered at what is called “Price for Risk” where your circumstances will affect the APR that is offered. This is not the case for all offers however, and someone with a mid-ranking credit rating perhaps would be better applying for those that don’t differentiate, while those with a low credit rating are less likely to be accepted by those who do not have variable APR offers.

Perhaps the best form of interest free borrowing if you plan well is interest-free credit cards. Several of the major credit card companies offer these, some for balance transfer and others for new payments. At the time we write this article at the start of Summer 2009, Virgin Money, Nat West, Barclaycard and MBMA are all offering interest free balance transfer which last over a year, each with fees of between 2.5% and 3%. If you are unlikely to be able to pay off your initial debt for a long time, the longest interest free duration is offered by Virgin at 16 months followed closely by NatWest at 15 months. Further to this, Halifax and Sainsburys are both offering cards with a 3% balance transfer fee which are interest free for at least nine months. All of these cards have a Typical APR of less than 17%, the Barclaycard being the lowest at just 12.4%. Balance transfer could be your best option if your current card has an unacceptably high interest rate or you don’t and can’t make a lot of purchases using your credit card.

The other option with interest free credit cards is interest free purchases. This method has the advantage of not requiring the fee. If you’re debt is reasonably low this could be your best option. Work our how much extra you could have a month to pay your debt off with if you don’t pay for your retail, supermarket and similar expenses immediately but using your interest free credit card and if this amount adds up over one or two months to more than your total debt amount then this is the ideal way to go. You can therefore pay off your debt and end your interest payments while getting a similar amount of debt on your essential purchases which you will have at least nine months to pay off before you have any interest to pay. Many of the credit cards available allow you to combine purchases and balance transfers, and paying everything on your card could be a good idea if you wish to accumulate cash in order to pay off a loan which requires the full amount to be paid back in order not to continue with the regular monthly payments.

Perhaps the best way for a low credit rating which prevents you from getting a credit card would be free overdraft offers from high street banks. Most high street banks have bank accounts which allow interest free overdrafts. Alliance and Leicester’s Premier current account has an interest free overdraft without fees for the first year, which follows by an amount up to £5 a month. If you are borrowing £1000 then this will add up to £60 over the second year, being equivalent an interest rate of 6%, much better than most other debts, and with no fee for the first year this is a great way of reducing your debt. Barclays also offers a year without interest on overdrafts, but their interest rate after this is 17.9% which is higher than a lot of credit cards. However Barclays, and many other banks, offer premium accounts that include interest free overdrafts. The cost of these varies, but you’re best option is to make an appointment with your existing bank to see what interest free overdraft you could get with what account, asking them to work out an equivalent APR for you. Most banks like to keep your custom, so will be able to offer you something in order to avoid you switching banks.


About The Author
Sean Spurr is the author of Debt Management Guide, a popular website offering free debt help advice to people in the United Kingdom. The site has articles on all aspects of debt management, from credit card debt transfer to bankruptcy.

by: Victor Kimura

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Avoiding Common IRA & Retirement Plan Investing Mistakes

It is common for IRA retirement account owners to feel that they are in over their heads. Simple IRA limits and rules can be complex and intimidating. The rules regarding the contribution limits, when and how distributions are made, and who is allowed to be a beneficiary of the account are all things that can confuse people. The following article will help identify and avoid the common mistakes many IRA account owners have.

Stretching IRA the Incorrect Way

To provide an example, let's say you have been making contributions to your IRA for several years and have been consistently earning between 6% and 8% per year in mutual funds. When you reach 70 ½ years of age, you decide to take the IRS-required Minimum Required Distributions at about 4% per year. Even while receiving distributions, the account is still invested and will continue to grow.

Upon your death, you leave the remaining amount in the account; say $250,000, to your child, who is 42 years of age. With your IRA account earning 6% each year, the account will generate approximately $1,250,000 during the remainder of your child's life. If the amount in the IRA were $500,000, IRA & retirement plan investing would generate $2,500,000, depending on current IRA CD rates of return, IRA interest rates, and other investment compounding. This all sounds great, right?

Unfortunately, many heirs that inherit an IRA retirement account become greedy and can be short-sighted. They choose, not fully realizing the implications, to close out the account and pay a lot of money in taxes, which could have been avoided. They have chosen to take the money and purchase a new car, boat, house, or other irrational item because they feel the money came out of nowhere – like winning the lottery - and it is their right to spend it, instead of realizing that it represents a lifelong reserve that you worked hard to attain over 40-50 years, letting the money in the account continue to grow and work for them.

Yet another risk is that of your child's spouse. Do you really want to risk your in-law getting the money you worked hard to save and put away through good times and bad for the last 50 years? If your child gets a divorce, the outcome is even worse – they will get half of everything you saved.

Using an Ultra Trust™ can help avoid these unnecessary scenarios from ever happening. With this trust, you will be able to specify exactly how and when your heirs will receive payment. You will also be able to protect the money in the account from bad choices made by your beneficiary.

Tax Consequences of IRA Retirement Account Left to Spouse

Often times, an IRA retirement account is left to the surviving spouse. This is a common event and it does provide that spouse with some financial stability later in life. However, most people do not consider the tax consequences involved.

Despite the current unlimited marital deduction for saving estate taxes now, if your spouse dies, there are considerable taxes imposed. If you and your spouse combine to have a taxable estate of over one million dollars after the year 2011, your beneficiaries will be looking at a huge tax liability.

Also, if the surviving spouse decides to leave the IRA and the remaining money to your children or other family members, there can be many tax liabilities involved. If the beneficiaries opt to withdraw the funds, they will then have to pay the taxes and place the money into another account, usually a joint account with their current spouse. The entire inheritance very well could be taken in the event of a divorce or lawsuit.

All of these mistakes that are made regarding IRA retirement accounts can be avoided by using an Ultra Trust™.


About The Author
Best IRA Rescue provides services on your IRA investments and traditional IRA and will help you reduce your inherited and beneficiary independent retirement account taxes in your estate assets. Roth on ROIDS is your advanced Roth IRA retirement planning strategy and one of the best IRA tax-savings strategies with benefits of a guaranteed death benefit, guaranteed principal, tax-free growth, and tax-free distributions from policy loans.

Contact us if you have any questions on your IRA retirement planning. http://bestirarescue.com. Original article: http://bestirarescue.com/common-ira-retirement-plan-investing-mistakes.html

Boston, MA: 71 Commercial Street #150 Boston, MA 02109
California: 543 Victoria Ste. J, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
toll-free: 888-93ULTRA (888-938-5872)
tel: (508) 429-0011
fax: (508) 429-3034

by: Rachel Kadin



Jeep is a versatile vehicle. These are used in varieties of activities. Because of this jeeps are vulnerable to wide range of abuses and hazards. The open body that the jeeps come with is the principal reason behind dirt/dust accumulation and UV color fading. If you are keen to prevent such abuses and hazards that cause severe damage to your original upholstery, you have to get effective jeep seat covers such as Neoprene, Ballistic or Tweed seat covers.

While Ballistic seat covers are very tough seat covers, Neoprene seat covers are also very effective. Made of high density 1680 denier fabric, the custom fit Ballistic seat covers have high tenacity as well.

The custom-tailored seat covers are made keeping all the specifications of your vehicle, the quality products fit nicely on your original upholstery. In order to protect original upholstery against dirt/dust, water and beverages, moisture, UV rays and many other factors; it’s necessary that the seat covers you get must cover every part of your original upholstery.

There are custom seat covers for your jeep. While Ballistic seat covers are tough and long lasting, Velour seat covers are elegant and attractive. The effective auto accessories provide desired protection against friction etc as well.

Available in wide range of vibrant and youthful colors, the custom fit jeep seat covers are very effective and user friendly. You can select the best color scheme that matches with the color scheme inside your vehicle.

Apart from strength and color options, custom tailored jeep seat covers are available with varieties of exciting options as well. These features include UV resistance, breathability, waterproof, soft, easy to install and wash.

Nowadays, custom jeep seat covers are available online as well. There are some reputed online stores available that offer best quality jeep seat covers from the leading brands. So, find the reliable online store and get the best quality jeep seat covers from the comforts of your home.


About The Author
Rachel Kadin is passionate about jeeps. Whether it is Neoprene seat covers, Ballistic seat covers, Tweed seat covers or Poly Cotton seat covers, he writes extensively on Jeep seat covers and other auto accessories.

by: Rob Laird

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If you are a learner driver and either have a car, or know someone who's willing to let you use theirs, it could be useful to practice with between your driving lessons.

First of all the rules:

1. You must display L-Plates clearly front and back.

2. You must have a valid signed provisional licence.

3. The car must be roadworthy, legal and current car insurance for you to drive.

4. You must be supervised. This person must be over 21 and have held a licence for at least 3 years, and sit in a position where they could control the car if needed (front passenger seat is the sensible choice)

So, now you're out on the road, you need to remember a few things. The person sat next to you has very little control over the car, which means you've got to be confident that you can stop the car in an emergency. Also, you supervising driver is not a driving instructor, so be careful if they are telling you to do things that go against what you have been taught.

This can be the tricky part, but a bit of diplomacy can help here. Best to choose the person carefully. They need to be fairly relaxed. What you don't want is them grabbing for the wheel every time you go round a parked car. If you don't feel comfortable with the person who's supervising you, either ask someone else, or best not to go out at all.

Private practice can help many people with learning to drive, but it can also get you into bad habits, and make you less confident if something happens that you can't deal with.

If your not sure, get some advice from your driving instructor, or contact me through http://www.rpldriving.co.uk


About The Author
Rob Laird has been running RPL Driving for over 3 years, and trains all types of people, including learners, and those taking advanced driving tests. For more information, have a look at http://www.rpldriving.co.uk