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January 31, 2012

ATM Machines – Does Your Business Need One?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — admin @ 11:04 pm

If youre reading this article, then the answer is probably yes, but before we get ahead of ourselves. You need to ask yourself a few questions regarding the actual location you plan on placing your new ATM machine.

1. Do you have customers asking for the location of the nearest ATM machine?
2. Do you have at least 200 people a day visiting your location?

If you answered yes to both of these ATM related questions. Then Im about to show you why you need to buy an ATM machine and how your going to make a great profit with little or no effort.

The key to being successful in the ATM business is to find ATM placement locations that will make you money. ATM sales are based on traffic count, so lets figure out how many people will use your new ATM machine on a daily basis. The formula I am about to show you is the same formula that is used by every ATM dealer and ATM distributor in the country when placing ATM machines. Trust me when I tell you this formula is tried and true.

ATM dealers and ATM distributors look at one thing when deciding weather or not to place an ATM machine at a particular location. The rule of thumb goes like this. 3% – 5% of the foot traffic that actually sees the ATM machine will use the ATM. So lets figure that you have a total of 300 people a day coming through your doors, and lets say that you are charging a $2.25 surcharge per valid withdrawal. If you take the middle road that 4% of the people that see the ATM machine will use it. Then you can count on your new automated teller machine to generate you a minimum of 360 transactions per month at $2.25 per valid withdrawal. That comes out to $810 per month or a total of $9,720 per year. All that from one ATM machine at one location.

The next question is how much will your new ATM machine cost. This question is a little harder to answer simply because there are so many ATM machines to choose from. Such as Class 1 Armored ATM machines, Indoor ATM machines like the Triton 9100 ATM machine, Through-The-Wall ATM machines, Scrip ATMS, etc. But one thing I can tell you is that 75% of the ATM machines used in non-bank locations are non-armored ATM machines. A good non-armored ATM machine is the Triton 9100 ATM machine. The Triton 9100 ATM can be purchased from either an ATM dealer or an ATM distributor servicing your area. The price for the 9100 should range between $2,950 and $3,800 depending on what options you choose.

So there you have it, if you have customers that are currently asking you for the closest ATM, or if you have a large amount of foot traffic coming in or walking by your location on a daily basis. Then you will most definitely profit from owning your very own ATM machine.

Planning For A Commercial Development

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A commercial development of any size is a serious undertaking. Get it right and you come away with a good profit and happy buyers or tenants. Get it wrong, and you could lose money and your reputation, making it difficult to obtain financing next time round.

The project

A proper project plan should take you all the way through your development. By necessity, it needs to be comprehensive, but the detailed requirements of such a project often turn the project plan into a complex document that confuses everyone who reads it. Use the following steps to help keep everything organised:

Write a clear initial plan outlining each chunk of the project:

Land purchase
Use and design
Planning requirements
Initial building requirements
Central building phase
Fitting-out
Marketing
Sale or rental

Each of these areas should be further broken down so that you know exactly what has to be accomplished and in what order to make the project successful. It is a good idea to use the available expertise of your architect, designer, construction company and other advisers to ensure that everything is covered.

The timetable

A project should always have an achievable timescale. Trying to accomplish a development too quickly could result in corners being cut and in a lower standard of build and finish. This in turn will have a negative effect on your ability to rent or sell the development on at completion. A realistic timescale is essential, and you should have an estimated time schedule against each of the items in your project plan so that you can see which items can be done simultaneously and which need to be done consecutively.

Keeping on track

A commercial development uses the talents and expertise of a large number of people and there will be an ongoing requirement to source and track contractors to make sure that everything runs smoothly. It is important that there is someone in charge of the project on a full-time basis to keep it on track. This allows contractors to have a single person to report to and shows everyone that the project is being effectively run.

Successful commercial projects are those that have been carefully planned, costed and scheduled before any work starts on the site. These projects are always fluid and you should be prepared for things to change along the way, but without a clear plan and a method of executing that plan, your commercial development could be at risk.

Thought for the Day: Why Doing a Task Twice Is Better Than Planning and Doing It Once

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Yesterday, I was repairing part of the eaves on my house. It had sustained some water damage, and I needed to add a two-by-four piece of wood for some extra support.

I had already cut another, thinner piece. But I decided a more substantial piece was needed. And making it a little longer would give a nice, tight fit.

The thought occurred to me to measure the place where I would put the two-by-four. But that meant finding my measuring tape and climbing the ladder around the corner. What a hassle.

So I lay the thinner piece along the two-by-four, added a little extra for the nice, tight fit, and ran my handsaw back and forth over the wood. Within a couple minutes I had my custom-sized support.

As you have probably already guessed, the fit was very tight — much too tight — in fact, too tight by about half an inch.

Do you know what it’s like to cut half an inch from a two-by-four — with a hand saw?

When “slicing” a piece that thin, the edge of the wood keeps breaking off. This makes it hard to keep the saw in place. This makes the cut take about 17 times as long as the original.

But this is a better way than measuring first.

It’s gotta be.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t do it so often.

Now, I have noticed that, as I’ve aged, I don’t engage in the “do it twice” game as often as I used to. More and more I find myself doing the “plan it first” game.

So I guess the advantage to the “do it twice” game is this: it proves that you’re still young.

And stupid.

At least now I know why old people are slow:

- Because they can be.
- Because they plan first.
- Because they only do things once.

So it might take them 30 minutes to do something that I can do in six. But since I have to do it 12 times, I have to rush to do 72 minutes of work. That’s 72 minutes for a task that takes old people only 30.

That leaves them 42 minutes to walk slow, enjoy their food, and take naps.

I used to think that old people had to take naps, because they were – well – old.

Now I see that old people get to take naps, because they’re — well — smart.

Unfortunately, even though I’ve just learned a valuable lesson, I’m sure of one thing. There are at least eleventeen hundred more “do it twice” game moves looming in my future.

Well … gotta get going. I’ve some more measuring to skip.

Caliper Buying Tips

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Calipers are obtainable from supply stores for most automobiles. The prices of them range depending on the type of vehicle. Some companies have repair kits that are offered for you to do it yourself, but the availability of the repair kits depends on the model of the vehicle. Most of the time, they do not have repair kits for classic models of vehicles. Moreover, it is recommended to change and replace the Calipers that determine your vehicles brake capacity. It is not a good attitude to replace or change Calipers only when you notice that here is a leak or stickyness.

1. Rear Calipers

Commonly, rear Calipers are quite costly than the front Calipers. This is because of the numerous components integrated in the hand brakes. Most of the time, newly manufactured calipers are hugely expensive. It is impractical to buy a caliper that would cost you a fortune. However, rebuilt Calipers are sold and can be bought from several suppliers and may either come with brake pads or not. Different manufacturers give diverse qualities. It is recommended that you buy Calipers with no attachments in it, like brake pads. You can try to buy them separately in order to choose from the best suppliers of Calipers as well as brake pads. Worn out components can effortlessly cause screeching because of the vibration created. So it is strongly advised that you check on your Calipers often and monitor them habitually to avoid rush or to minimize further damage to your vehicle.

2. Maximum Performance

Every caliper should be coordinated with its brake pad materials to maximize performance and stability. The caliper design must also be attuned and standardized to synchronize it with each vehicle activity. With thorough notice on the integration of the caliper and other brake systems materials, its performance and durability is prolonged and optimized. For example, the caliper width should and piston rollback should go with the attributes of the friction materials.

- Designed properly
- Lessen squeaking
- Integrated power absorption
- Helps attain or even go beyond break pad lifelines
- Various types are commercially available
- Caliper technology innovations

3. Features vs Price

Their prices, however, have a lot to say about their features. Some advancement includes fully-sealed caliper slide mechanism and pad slides that are protected from corrosion. The two-piece pins are for lessened drags. With this, the wear life is optimized and the noise is minimized. The caliper slide mechanism utilizes a guide scheme that is laden between the pads to prevent clatters. Caliper pad retraction springs detach the pads and the pistons. This scheme lessens residual drag. And stainless steel pads are lined to maintain minimal pad slide in a corrosive location. It is appropriate to buy calipers tested for aspects like noise, strength, fluid displacement, seepage and stamina. In return, this will eventually provide minimal brake pounding and optimized feel. It is necessary to determine the appropriateness for a particular need is essential to the general functioning of the brake system.

4. Calipers For Racing

First of all, it should be lightweight and resist heat efficiently over time under extreme temperatures. Most caliper manufacturers furnish their products with a protective black finish to combat corrosion as well hasten heat indulgence. Some Calipers are sheltered by a high temperature dampening product. Furthermore, some companies sell those that have features like dust-proof to prevent the accommodation of dirt. With this, the pistons and other parts are protected from breaks and corrosion. Aside from that, this would surely prolong the life and improve the durability of the other brake pad components. Some are painted and furnished by gold or black color. Sometimes, other materials are mixed and put into intended for added defense. Most hi-spec Calipers use these to attain enhanced efficiency and durability. Make sure that the type of caliper that you buy is ideally suited and matched for your automobile needs. In totality, be sure that you buy the good kind pistons, brake pads and other components to go with your Calipers.

Use Magic Words to Improve your Sales

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Copyright 2006 Peter Woodhead

This is the eigth article in a series of ten about advertising and marketing history.

1937 Another master wordsmith from yesteryear was Elmer Wheeler.

Elmer Wheeler was a marketer of pure genius and he knew that certain words produced vast increases in results over other, less effective wording.

In 1937 he wrote his: “Tested Sentences That Sell”. An almost forgotten classic but probably one of the best books ever written on the subject. And here is the story of how he did it.

Wheeler was an ad salesman for several newspapers and it all started big for him when he tried to convince retailers that an ad in his papers would drive people to their stores. This, the retailers didn’t doubt, but people just visiting their stores was not enough – they were not buying.

This still happens today. People visit stores; receive direct mail; and log on to internet sites. But very few of them actually buy anything.

Probably because in the majority of cases the prospects are not given any reason to buy.

In bricks and mortar businesses this could be due to poor salesmanship. In the case of direct mail and the internet it is more likely due to poor copy

After some careful analysis, Wheeler concluded that the reason people weren’t buying in their stores was because the salespeople were not saying the right words.

This led Wheeler to set up his famous “Word Laboratories”. You may have heard the expression: “Sell the sizzle not the steak.” Well, it was Wheeler who first coined that phrase and went on to write his first book: “Tested Sentences That Sell.”

During 10 years of research, Wheeler tested over 105,000 words and phrases on more than 19 million people. An incredible feat. The results of which you can profit from today.

This truly is an incredible resource that can be blamed for helping many people turn their business round. It belongs in anybody’s library.

Wheeler found that you need to ask a question that customers cannot say “no” to.

Wheeler also invented what he called: “Wheeler Points.” There are five of them. So offer your customers something or something. Not something or nothing.

All Wheeler’s principles and tested results are adaptable to any business.

1940 Clyde Bedell, as well as being a super salesman, was a university lecturer. He became so frustrated at not being able to find a suitable book on persuasive copy. So he decided to write his own.

How to Write Advertising That Sells became a best seller.

1940 James Webb Young published an entry every week in Advertising Age. He later crammed all of these into a book called: The Diary of an Advertising Man.

1945 The novel The Hucksters is released and is later turned into a movie. This attacked the advertising industry and had a damaging effect.

1949 Doyle Dane and Bernbach is launched

1955 Leo Burnett introduces his Marlboro Man ad. The image of a cowboy changed the fortunes of this minor cigarette brand and made it into a big seller.

He is recognized as the man behind the most successful ad campaigns.

As well as the Marlboro Man he is famous for ‘The Jolly Green Giant’ ‘The Pillsbury Doughboy’ ‘Tony the Tiger’ and many more.

He was quoted as saying:

“Make it simple Make it memorable Make it inviting to look at Make it fun to read.”

Leo Burnett “invented” a marketing concept known as “inherent drama”. He reckoned that every product or service, no matter how boring, had an inherent quality. Somebody must keep on buying them, somebody must keep on making them, and it was this “inherent drama” that makes the product stand out.

Burnett believed that people are attracted to stories, they want to experience new characters; they want to read about mystery and romance and anything different.

Perhaps that’s why he took a lot of his characters from history and folklore. He knew what triggered his prospects’ minds.

1957 Vance Packards The Hidden Persuaders becomes a best seller. It is another seething attack on the advertising industry.

1960 Doyle Dane Bernbachs creative team blends copywriting with art design (not normally common in the industry) and comes up with its think small campaign for Volkswagen. A concept still going today.

1960 Rupert, Koenig and Lois is launched and in 1962 becomes the first agency to go public.

1961 Rosser Reeves, chairman of Ted Bates and Co. advertising agency, published his book: “Reality of Advertising.”

In this book he revealed a revolutionary new concept. Almost as revolutionary as John E. Kennedy’s “Salesmanship-in-Print.”

He showed the world a new technique for which made him famous. He called it: “The Unique Selling Proposition” or USP.

Basically, your USP should clearly explain in simple language a single quality that your product, or service, has that makes it stand out against any competition.

Your USP needs to make it easier for your prospects to remember your advertising – because they only have to remember your one, strong claim.

1963 Clyde Bedell, due to popular demand wrote: “How to Convert White Space Into Advertising That Sells.”

1964 Ogilvy, Benson and Mather merge with London based Mather and Crowther to form Ogilvy and Mather.

1965 Rosser Reeves resigns from Ted Bates at the age of 55

1966 Wells, Reid and Green founded. Mary Wells becomes the first woman to be a director of a ad agency.

1970 Saatchi and Saatchi established in London

1986 Needham Harper, BBDO and Doyle Dane and Bernbach merge to create Omnicom Group and become the biggest agency in the world.

1987 Martin Sorrels WPP buys JWT in the very first hostile takeover

1988 WPP buys Ogilvy Group

1993 The Internet becomes commercially available and 5m users scramble to get online

1995 Saatchi and Saatchi is renamed Cordiant

1997 WPP merges JWT and O&M to form The Alliance to become the largest US media group with billings of $2 billion

1999 Advertising on the Internet reaches $2 billion

2003 An estimated $5 billion is spent on the Internet in advertising

Make Sachets With Potpourri And Essential Oils

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Do you have potpourri and essential oils coming out your ears? If so, you may want to consider using them to make simple sachets as gifts. Sachets are great for tucking into bureau drawers to make your clothing smell wonderful and also can be used in closets.

To make a sachet, you will need muslin, ribbon, and some potpourri. Cut a four inch by eight inch piece of muslin. Fold it in half with the right sides together so that you make a four inch by four inch piece. Sew the two side edges and turn the muslin sack right side out.

Next, fill the sack two thirds of the way with your potpourri. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Then, gather the top edges of your sack and tie them off with the ribbon. If you will be giving the sachets to people who will be hanging them in closets, make a hanging loop in the ribbon. Otherwise, make a pretty bow. Add decorative elements such as fabric flowers, buttons, or bits of lace to dress up your sachets.

If you want to make the sachets a bit fancier, you can use decorative cotton fabrics or even lace to make your sacks instead of using simple muslin.

For a fun variation on the sachet, make scented kitchen hot pads as gifts. You can use store bought hot pads or make your own. If you use store bought hot pads, open a few inches on one seam and add a few drops of essential oil or herbs and spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. Then, sew the seam back up. When a hot plate of food or a cup of tea sits on the hot pad, the warmth will release the scent.

Whether you make sachets or hot pads as gifts, you will be able to give useful presents that smell fabulous.

January 30, 2012

Identifying The Common Causes Of Back Pain

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Understanding the Causes of Back Pain

An aching back is a problem suffered by more than 50% of American adults. According to the American Chiropractic Association, it is estimated that over 80% of Americans will suffer from back pain at some time in their life. Becoming familiar with the causes of back pain and their subsequent treatment protocols can be of great help should you ever find yourself suffering from back pain. While both men and women can develop back problems, there are some causes that primarily affect women. Other groups susceptible to chronic back pain include the elderly, athletes, the overweight and people with a genetic disposition to back problems.

Typical Causes of Back Pain

The primary causes of back pain are related to muscular sprains and strains, spinal disc injuries and diseases which affect the joints, such as arthritis. Acute back pain stems from a short term injury or strain and can be treated with rest and readjustment. Chronic causes of back pain are generally more difficult to identify and treat. While many of the symptoms are similar, identifying the underlying causes is the key to finding effective treatment.

Coccydynia Considered fairly rare among the causes of back pain, Coccydynia is a localized pain that stems from the coccyx or tailbone. This condition can manifest as the result of a fall, or from giving birth. Lower back pain caused by Coccydynia is almost always aggravated by sitting. Treatment for severe cases of this condition can include a surgical removal of the coccyx.

Pregnancy-Related Back Pain It is commonly known that pregnancy is one of the main causes of back pain in women. The additional weight combined with birth related hormones can result in moderate to severe back pain in pregnant women. The best treatment for pregnancy-related back pain is exercise.

Osteoarthritis One of the most well documented, but least understood causes of back pain is degenerative arthritis of the spine. While most frequently seen in elderly patients, Osteoarthritis can affect younger patients as well. Arthritis causes the disintegration of cartilage, the cushioning material that supports spinal vertebrae. While there is no cure for Osteoarthritis, patients can receive treatments for pain management.

Muscle Strain Arguably one of the most common causes, muscle strain can be the result of stress, bad posture, repetitive activities or applying too much force to the back muscles. Muscle strain injuries are typically treated with a combination of exercise and rest.

Herniated Disc One of the most painful causes of back pain is a herniated disc. When spinal cartilage is pushed up against the sensitive nerves in your back, the result is a herniated or bulging disc. If the affected never is the Sciatic nerve that runs down your spinal column, pain can extend down into your legs and feet. Treatment for back pain stemming from spinal vertebrae issues can include medication, physical therapy, and occasionally, surgery.

Florida Gators: The New NCAA Champions

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Florida Gators received on Monday their first NCAA Championship title after a basketball game played against UCLA Bruins which final score was 73 57. UCLA has already won 11 NCAA titles.

More than 43,000 fans were at the limit of their emotions cheering at their favorite team. Florida won the first 17 games of the season and then got better.

Joakim Noah, who took care of keeping Floridas opponents away from the rim, jumped into a press table and after some Gator-like movements ran toward the crowd to hug his father and other members of his family. Noahs father is the former French Open tennis champion Yannick Noah.

Joakim Noah or the outstanding player of the Final Four, as he was named, scored 16 points, nine rebounds and six blocks. With this, Noah has set a new record of blocked shots during an NCAA title game.

Corey Brewer, Taurean Green and Humphrey were also named for the All Final Four Team, joining Noah with this distinction.

The Gators were playing its second title game. They lost the first one against Michigan State in 2000. On the other hand the Bruins were trying to achieve their 12th title and increase their record of most national championships.

Options for Cheap Health Insurance

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 10:16 am

There are many people who are looking for cheap health insurance for their family. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have health insurance cover provided by their employer and cheap health insurance is the only realistic option. This would provide the most basic cover but would at least make some provisions in the event of a medical emergency.

Cheap health insurance tends to cover a very limited amount of services but it is worth shopping around as you may find the options vary greatly between health insurance providers. If you are, or have been, a smoker I am afraid you are less likely to be able to find the really cheap health insurance policies as you are considered to be in a high risk category. Don’t be tempted to hide the fact that you smoke simply to qualify for a cheap health insurance policy as your cover may be refused should you have a smoking related illness. It is best to disclose everything and to fill in the policy application form honestly and completely.

If you indulge in so-called dangerous sports then you are also less likely to be able to find cheap health insurance easily. These sports include motor sports, snow sports and some water sports. Again, it is vital that you state your participation in any of these sports to ensure that your health insurance is valid.

On the positive side, you can narrow down the options that you require to help find a family health insurance [http://www.gateinsurance.com/family-medical-insurance.html] policy for your family. If you’re not concerned about which healthcare professionals you’re able to have treatment from then you’ll find that you have a greater choice of cheap health insurance policies. Try to be as flexible as possible and not expect too much choice and you will be surprised by just how inexpensive the cheap health insurance policies that you will be offered are.

Another area of coverage that you may not want to have is for pregnancy and childbirth. If you think that your family will not need this included in your policy you will again find that some of the insurance companies will offer you cheap health insurance without this provision. This is only one such example but it highlights the need for you to analyse all of the potentially cheap health insurance providers to determine whether you can have lower priced coverage if you remove some of the specialty areas.

The best place to start your search for cheap health insurance providers is undoubtedly the internet. However, don’t be tempted to simply perform a search for ‘cheap health insurance’ as there is a high probability that almost all health insurance providers have this statement somewhere in their site’s text. Try using some of the insurance brokers who offer free services to find you a list of cheap health insurance providers for you to compare and pursue those that you feel are appropriate and genuinely lower priced.

Mike Spencer has been helping people protect their health for many years. To find out how you can help protect your family with affordable health insurance visit Mike’s Insurance Reviews [http://www.gateinsurance.com], or read the full article about find cheap health insurance [http://www.gateinsurance.com/low-cost-family-health-insurance-quote.html] here. You can also keep up to date with the latest news at Mike’s Health Blog [http://www.articlegold.org] here.

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Spencer

Player Profile: Hoyt Corkins

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Hoyt Corkins is one of the more colorful professional Poker players, known as much for his aggressive (all-in) playing style as his signature black cowboy hat and dark glasses.

His professionalism, however, is in contrast with his Poker playing. At the table, he is soft spoken and well mannered, belying the nicknames bestowed upon him by fellow players: Mr. All-In, Nightmare and Cowboy.

Corkins take no prisoners playing style backed by skill and cunning brought Hoyt his first Poker Championship in 1992 at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament along with $96,000 and his first bracelet.

His second major Poker coup did not occur until 2003 when Corkins took home a healthy $1,089,200 winning the World Poker Tour (WPT) at Foxwoods. In 2004, Hoyt Corkins finished just behind winner Gus Hansen in the WPT at Pokerstars.com Caribbean Adventure. His consolation prize was a mere $290,065.

One of the major Poker champions, Corkins was a small town boy raised in rural Glenwood, Alabama. Although his roots are in Alabama and he still maintains a home there, Corkins also has a home in Las Vegas (where else?) so that he can be close to the action and the game that has brought him fame and monetary success.

You might say Hoyt was born go the game since his father hosted cash card games every week and seeing his sons obvious interest in the game, taught him the fundamentals of Poker. Those lessons and Hoyts natural talents have led the Alabama Boy to winnings (as of 2006) of over two million dollars in live Poker Tournaments.

It was in 2005 as well that Corkins won a second place prize of $325,000 in the WSOP Tournament of Champions Free Roll the winner being Mike The Mouth Matusow.

Corkins has been in the money in Tournament competition seven times but it looked like he had given up Poker altogether when after a successful year in 1992, he disappeared from the Poker scene for no less than eleven years due to the emotional upheaval of a divorce.

Hoyt Corkins came back with a vengeance in 2003, a new man with a new fianc (Natalie) and won what was at that time a record breaking prize of $1,089,200 at Foxwoods.

When away from the Poker tables and Tournaments, Hoyt resides in Alabama where he has a ranch with sixty head of cattle.

Lake Havasu: More Than Just A Picturesque Resort Town

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Lake Havasu is home to the London Bridge and is known, internationally, as the Personal Watercraft Capital of the World. Lovers of the outdoors will have a great time enjoying the beautiful landscapes and breathtaking 450 miles of shorelines and sparkling waters of this spectacular lake in Arizona. Even though this town is recognized as a resort area, it doesnt have the crowds and over abundance of tourists that most resorts do, which makes it especially nice to visit.

The lake community offers a huge selection of recreational activities including just about every kind of water-related activity you can think of. You can bring your own jet ski or boat or rent one of theirs. You can even take a cruise on a paddleboat around its waters. There is also camping, swimming and great trails to hike.

The 45 mile long lake is surrounded by the Parker damn at the base of the Chemehuevi Mountains and provides free, public fishing access. Lake Havasu’s deep waters offer striped bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish and trout. Additionally, there is lineside bass which can be found in schools around an area called the Parker Strip. A good tip for you fisherman is that some of the best fishing on the lake is toward the south end in the Bill Williams Arm.

If you like four-wheeling, ATV-riding, dune buggies or riding motorcycles, the Lake Havasu Bureau of Land Management (BLM) can accommodate any of your off-road recreational desires. You can really have a blast tooling around there as its terrain includes hundreds of miles of roads and trails in additional to two wide open areas.

There are two public campgrounds located on the Parker Strip area of Lake Havasu with sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can camp there along the beautiful Colorado River for up to 14 days. There is also the Empire Landing Campground which has 50 drive-in campsites in addition to 28 tent sites. This facility has outdoor showers, bathrooms and a swimming beach. Also, every campsite is equipped with its own picnic table. The Chemehuevi Indian Reservation also offers camping, boating, fishing and other facilities with a permit.

How about taking your boat camping with you? There are 125 lakeside campsites available on the Arizona side of the lake. Most of the sites at the boat-in campgrounds are equipped with a picnic table and bar-b-q grill and are also on a first-come, first-serve basis.

You can also check out the Lake Havasu State Park which is located on London Bridge Road along the beautiful shoreline of Lake Havasu. The park is open 365 days a year and has 3 boat launch ramps and 42 campsites. There is also a 1 mile Mohave Desert walking trail and the Arroyo-Camino Interpretive Garden on the grounds.

In addition to campsites, there are also charming inns, hotels and two private resorts located on Havasu Lake. With accommodations for every lifestyle and taste, you are guaranteed a wonderful experience with memories that will last a lifetime.

Wholesale Jordan Sneakers

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There is very little that people do not know about the Jordan sneakers, and based on the rush that is created everytime wholesale Jordan sneakers are available (www.urbanhotlist.com), the craze for the shoe is still on. However, do you know the basics that need to be followed when buying a shoe for getting the best fit for your feet?

Experts advise that shoes need to be bought always in the evening. Not because of any type of superstition, but because this is the time when your feet are most swollen and hence, you will know whether the shoe will be comfortable or not. Whether you are buying ordinary day-to-day wear shoes, office wear or wholesale Jordan sneakers, this is a point that you should keep in mind, if you care about your feets comfort.

Next you should ensure you always buy at reputed shops. In this way you will be least likely to be cheated or sold cheap replicas or reproductions without your knowledge. Even if you go for replicas, you still gain if you buy them from reputed shops, as they would insist on basic norms of quality, as compared to smaller and unrecognized shops, where the bottom line will be to make some profit. Wholesale Jordan sneakers (www.urbanhotlist.com) make a great bargain and many retail shops sell them at wholesale price during regular sales. All you need is to keep a watch and learn when the shop has their next sale.

There is another point that you should keep in mind when you buy your shoes, i.e. the right size. The best size of the shoe will be having a gap of at least 3/8th inch in front of the longest toe you have. Good quality sports shoes, including wholesale Jordan sneakers, will provide you perfect fit for your feet because they are constructed specifically to give the highest comfort.

Experts advise that you change your shoes, regardless whether the shoe has any notable wear or not. This is because the benefits of the shoe on the foot wears off after a certain amount of usage, even if you do not see it from the outside, and hence, without knowing you will be damaging your feet. Even when you buy a good sneaker such as wholesale Jordan sneakers, you will still need to change it after a maximum of 500 miles of walking on it. By the way, in order to accommodate the need to know how much you have walked, new shoes are coming out which will have speedometers and mileage meters inbuilt. Now, this is a innovation that would make some waves.

Drillers Hope to Strike It Rich With Old Oil Wells

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Exploration firms are finding that reopening oil wells that have long been closed may help decrease the crude oil shortages.

For example, Desdemona, Texas, which was booming with oil production in the early 1900s, once was one of the largest oil producers in the region.

Unfortunately, the town’s heyday ended almost as fast as it started due to some of the oil wells drying up. Its production of 7.3 million barrels of oil per year was rapidly depleted. Production plunged to under 2.5 million barrels within two years.

But thanks to enhanced oil recovery techniques such as waterflooding (the injection of water into an oil reservoir to recover its petroleum) old wells in Desdemona are experiencing a rebirth and will be converted into producing and injection wells.

This also is true for good producing wells that were capped in the early to mid-1990s in the Appalachian Basin region. Research by Mammoth Resource Partners, Inc., a Kentucky-based oil and gas exploration company, found that many landowners and small oil companies were unable to maintain these wells at the low oil prices they were being offered.

Given the current worldwide oil crisis, many experts agree that state-of-the-art technology is a key component for companies who want to reopen closed oil fields. Dr. Roger L. Cory, President of Mammoth Resource Partners, Inc., says that a healthy dose of optimism and expertise will help as well.

“With the dramatic increase in the price of crude oil and the cutting edge technological advancements that Mammoth Field Services (the drilling arm of Mammoth Resource Partners, Inc.) employs, many of these wells that had been capped have become outstanding producers and a profitable venture for our partners,” said Cory.

Sweet Memories

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , — admin @ 3:00 am

These days all you hear about is how to eat healthier, lose weight and get fit. Its all for the good, but sometimes its fun to go back to when you were a kid.

Remember all the games you used to play? Board games like Scrabble, Monopoly and Life. Tag, hide n seek.

Running around, riding bikes, skating, rolling down grassy hills.

Ok, Im getting a little idealized here. So lets have a little fun. Lets remember the candy!

What were your favorites? Licorice? Chocolate? Laffy Taffy?

I remember the delight of the days when I was first old enough to go to the store to buy candy on my own. No parents to tell me I couldnt have it. Lemonheads were always one of my favorites.

My sisters and I no doubt spent way too much of our allowances on candy, but it was sooo much fun! Wed hide it so that our mother wouldnt find it, but throw the wrappers straight into the trash after eating the candy. My mother laughed about that to me once a couple years ago, but I still think the logic works. The candy had been eaten after all; she couldnt undo that, so what did it matter if she knew then?

Halloween was, of course, the best. As we got older we got to be the kids that went around the neighborhood later than just about anyone else, so the people who didnt want to have leftover candy would just dump their excess on us. No worries back then about poison.

Hiding our Halloween candy was pretty much a competitive art form. We were always trying to find the best places to hide each individual piece. Of course, that meant that every here and there wed find a piece that had clearly been hidden for a year or more… yuck! But it meant that Halloween candy lasted quite a bit longer than it would have otherwise.

Despite my best resolutions these days, I still love candy. Chocolate is my main weakness now, but I know how to be pretty good about it, buying the small bars so that I get the taste without having a whole regular sized bar. But then come those days when I have to get into my old favorites. I love how Lemonheads feel on a sore throat.

Yes, it does pay to eat healthy. But everything in moderation, and that includes moderation. Sometimes you just have to enjoy a few old memories. Share them with your kids or keep them to yourself, but just enjoy.

January 29, 2012

Children’s Bank Accounts – Planning Your Family’s Future

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 7:03 pm

Everybody wants to give their children the best possible start in life, and make their future as secure as possible. Two ways of helping them, money-wise, are by encouraging them to save with their own bank account, and by making investments on their behalf.

Childrens Accounts

Most high street banks offer childrens accounts, usually a straightforward bank account with a moderate interest rate. These often come with incentives like free piggy banks that are intended to help children develop a sense of responsibility and prudence about money from an early age. You may like to give your child a financial education by opening them their own account though theres nothing to stop you using a normal adult account with better rates of interest.

National Savings

The Childrens Bonus Bonds are a tax-free savings account specifically aimed at children. You can invest between 25 and 3000 a year for five years and get guaranteed interest, plus a bonus. Many people choose to give Premium Bonds as gifts for childrens birthdays. If they win, it could give them the best present ever!

Child Trust Bonds

The government have introduced a special scheme to give children a savings account from the very beginning. Any child born after 1st September 2002 is entitled to a voucher worth 250 to be invested in a savings account. Visit www.childtrustfund.gov.uk for details.

Its a good idea to invest for your childrens education as early as possible whether that means private school fees or supporting them when they go into higher education. Long term investments, such as bonds with a ten year term, are a good choice for this purpose.

Children are taxed in the same way as adults, and have their own personal tax allowances. If you give money or assets to your own child and it produces an income of 100 or over, the income is counted as yours and taxed at your top rate. You can avoid this rule by choosing investments with tax free returns or capital gains, rather than income.

If people other than parents give gifts then the income counts as the childs own, and in this case its a good idea to ask grandparents or relatives to send a letter or card with any money gifts. That way you have proof of whom the money came from in case the tax office demands it. For a detailed explanation of childrens tax issues, look up the Inland Revenues website at www.hmrc.gov.uk

I’m Talking About Making Money Online

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 7:12 am

Are you tired of working a nine to five job? Sick of flipping burgers all day with no time to spare at the end of the day? Just plain disgusted with not making as much money as you always hoped? Well maybe the answer to all your problems is right in front of you. That’s right, I’m talking about making money online.

With the advent of the Internet came a new type of business, the E-Business. People around the world are taking their business online for one reason, Connectivity.

A woman in Paris can sell her candles to a man in Beijing in a second and have it shipped to him in a matter of weeks. It’s easy.for someone who already owns their business to incorporate the Internet in order to make more money. With a few simple clicks your products are connected to the entire world and you are making money online.

You can even start making money online by simply keeping an online journal or “Blog”. These sites simply work by advertising products on your blog that may interest your readers. It’s basically a referral program that works if you keep your Blog updated. This keeps people coming back and intermittently see the adds frequently. However, don’t think the money will come easy. You will want to keep it interesting enough so that they will keep coming back. This is a great way to earn money if you like to write.

These are not the only ways of making money online, there are many more. The key is finding one that works right for you. If the site looks too good to be true, it probably is. You may end up making more money than you ever thought possible with a tool that’s right in front of you.

A Coupon at the Pump?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — admin @ 12:16 am

Copyright 2006 Ralph Koehrer

With no end in sight for rising gas prices, fuel retail outlets are eagerly searching for new ways to attract cost-conscious consumers to their pumps this summer. For gas station operators one solution in keeping gas volumes up while gas prices increase, has been to incorporate a novel concept called Additech, which is basically a coupon at the pump. Additech pioneered the “tune-up at the pump” engine care service that dispenses and blends specialty fuel additives into gasoline while consumers pump their gas. The company operates its system at 1,500 fueling positions across 18 states at major retailer fuel centers and expects to have the systems installed at over 2,000 fueling positions in over 450 sites by year-end. The product offerings range in price from $1.98 – $13.95.

If consumers have any anticipation of saving at the pump this summer, they must be aware of the following data:
Less than 15% of the energy in gasoline is actually converted into road power; most of the fuel energy is wasted due to exhaust and friction within the engine.
In a typical gasoline vehicle, 62.4% of the energy is lost in the engine, 17.2% from standby / idling, 2.2% from accessories such as air conditioning, power steering, and windshield wipers, 5.6% from the transmission and other parts of the driveline, leaving 12.6% to move your vehicle down the road.

Improved fuel economy:
A vehicle that gets 30 MPG will cost you $750 less to fuel each year than one that gets 20 MPG (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $3.00). Over a period of 5 years, the 30 MPG vehicle will save you $3,750.

Driving more efficiently:
For each 5 mph you drive over 60 miles an hour, you are effectively paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas (cost savings based on an assumed price of $2.91 per gallon). Driving the speed limit improves your fuel economy by 7 – 23%
You can save $300 – $500 in fuel costs each year by choosing a fuel efficient vehicle.

Maintain your vehicle:
Repairing a serious engine problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your MPG by as much as 40%
Repairing a car that has failed an emissions test can improve your MPG by 4%, resulting in effective gasoline savings of $0.12 per gallon.
Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your gas mileage by up to 10%, resulting in effective gasoline savings of $0.29 per gallon.
Keeping your tires properly inflated will improve your MPG by 3.3%. Under inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4% for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Gasoline facts:

What we pay for in a gallon of regular gasoline:
In January 2006 with an average gas price of $2.32 per gallon, 20% went to taxes, 7% distribution and marketing, 13% refining costs and profits, and 60% crude oil
In 2003 with an average gas price of $1.56 per gallon, 27% went to taxes, 14% distribution and marketing, 15% refining costs and profits, and 44% crude oil
U.S. consumers purchased an average of 9.145 million barrels a day in 2005, the equivalent of about 35 million fill-ups a day.
Gasoline imports increased 20% in 2005; averaging more than 1 million barrels a day.
U.S. refinery output was down about 2% in 2005, and is expected to be about 0.3% less than 2004 levels in 2006, due to outages caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The largest U.S. refinery is ExxonMobil in Baytown, TX which produces 557,000 barrels a day.
Pipelines move about 66% of crude oil annually. There are approximately 200,000 miles of oil pipelines in the U.S.

Convenience Stores:
The three largest convenience stores in 2004, were Shell Oil Products with 15,821 locations, BP America with 14,200 locations, and Citgo Petroleum Corp. with 13,694 locations.
Gasoline and Diesel fuel sales totaled $262.6 billion in 2004, accounting for about 66.5% of total sales but only 36.6% of gross margin.
In 1974 only 15% of convenience stores sold gasoline. In 2004, 79% of convenience stores sold gasoline. Sales increased in a similar manner from 17,370 gallons in 1974 to 107,852 gallons in 2004, a 620% increase.
Sales of premium and mid grade gasoline have declined from 21.9% in 2000 to 17.4% in 2004 and is projected to continue to decrease as gasoline prices rise and more consumers purchase regular grade gasoline.

Hypermarkets:
In July 2005, 3,860 hypermarket stores sold gasoline, representing only 2 -3% of fuel retail locations but 7.7% of the gasoline sales.
Hyper market retailers sell approximately 298,000 gallons a month, more than double the 108,000 gallon monthly average at convenience stores.

January 28, 2012

Introduction to Online Nursing Schools

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 10:06 pm

Online nursing schools are available to all nurses who are looking to expand their academic horizons. These programs offer degree programs in LPN, RN, bachelor of nursing, master of nursing, and also a PhD program in nursing. Choosing a program depends on several factors. If a person wants to become a nurse, they will have to see if the program accepts those with no prior nursing experience. For those who are returning to school, they have to decide which direction they want to take their career. A nurse can obtain their RN license after going to school for two years, or they can stay and earn an RN with a four-year degree. The more education a nurse has, the more they could earn.

Online nursing schools offer many programs to those who would like to specialize in a certain area of nursing. For those who want to work in burn units, child wards, elderly care facilities, or the forensic science field, continuing ones education will help them get the jobs they are the most interested in having. Enrolling in one of these programs is similar to enrolling at a college or technical school. A nurse will have to provide transcripts from other institutions they attended and then supply a work history if applying for programs that require prior work experience. Many programs do require this, especially higher level education such as a masters degree. One or two personal references may be needed depending on the program.

Once accepted, the school will send the computer requirements needed to receive all class requirements, online videos and other correspondence an instructor might send. Online nursing schools are primarily work at ones own pace but time management is up to the student and all assignments must be completed in the time allotted. There is more time given than in a traditional class room setting, but it is still expected that people put in the work needed to complete the degree. An online nursing degree can be a wonderful asset to anyones career.

Have Fun Trading Football Cards

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: — admin @ 9:35 pm

I am one of the lucky women in life who has the privilege of living with all men. Yes, that’s right, I live in my house with my husband and four sons! I never would have imagined that my life would turn out this way, nor would I have imagined how much I love being surrounded by all of my men. There is so much to share on this subject, for I have learned a host of things from being removed from other women on a daily basis. One of the things that has fascinated me about raising boys is the hobbies they choose to spend time on. For example, for the past three years trading football cards has been the only thing talked about in our home.

I grew up with all sisters, so it was quite a new thing for me to be surrounded by litte boys. I was shocked by their need for adventure and by their desire to play things like ‘cops and robbers.’ I was also shocked that they could find such pleasure in collecting, trading, buying and selling such a thing as football cards.

Each of my four boys and my husband has a huge binder that holds their football cards. I guess my husband grew up collecting football cards and cards from other sports, so he was thrilled to have sons and get to include them in one of his favorite hobbies. They love their football card collections and they have their binders arranged just so. I cannot see a method to their madness, yet I am assured that there is one and that “I wouldn’t understand because I am a girl.” I agree totally.

Once a year my boys steal away and go to a convention whose sole purpose is for trading, buying and selling football cards. I love it when they go because I get the house to myself for a long weekend, but I also love it because my boys come home and are filled with excitement for weeks on end. We always make popcorn and drink soda when they return as they each take turns showing me every single (I’m not exagerating) card that they got at the convention. I have grown to love these times with my boys, and I’ve even learned a lot about football in the process.

So consider starting to collect and trade football cards if you don’t already. From a mom’s perspective, it is harmless and somewhat educational, and I think at this point that I cannot ask for much more.

Former PGA Champion Struggles With His “T”

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: — admin @ 7:10 pm

Most famous for his “shot heard round the world,” professional golfer Shaun Micheel catapulted his career into full swing with his victory at the 2003 PGA Championship.

Yet, after his victory, Micheel, 37, began struggling with an unusual lack of energy, fatigue and depressed mood, which not only affected his golf game, but his overall well-being. He suffered for over a year before finding out that his symptoms were the result of a serious medical condition: hypogonadism, also known as low testosterone or just “low T.”

Micheel, known for coming through with what is arguably one of the greatest pressure shots in major championship history, found he wasn’t able to handle the game.

“More than ever before, I was very tired on the golf course during competitions, and it was hard to stay motivated,” explained Micheel. “I even had difficulty dealing with the stress of the game.”

Once considered energetic and lively both on and off the course, the pro golfer of 14 years began to struggle with these symptoms at home.

“My lack of energy made it hard to share everyday jobs with my wife, such as taking turns getting up with our baby son at night. I just wasn’t myself,” he said.

Not willing to allow these physical symptoms to control his golf game and affect his family life any longer, Micheel first looked to his wife for advice. She prompted him to see a doctor.

“I explained my symptoms to my doctor,” said Micheel. “He ordered a simple blood test, which showed that I had low testosterone levels.”

Low T is a condition affecting an estimated 13 million American men age 45 and older. Symptoms of low T may include low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, depressed mood, reduced muscle mass and decreased bone density. Men with chronic conditions, such as obesity, diabetes or hypertension, are more likely to have low T compared to other men. Fortunately, low T can be treated with testosterone therapy in the form of topical gels or patches, injections, and a tablet that adheres to the upper gum area of the mouth.

Doctors note that testosterone therapy must be used with careful medical supervision. Patients should talk with a doctor about the effects of treatment and carefully weigh its benefits and risks.

“Men who have symptoms shouldn’t be embarrassed, but should make an appointment to talk with their doctor and ask for a simple blood test,” advised Micheel.

After beginning testosterone therapy treatment, with a gel called AndroGel (testosterone gel) 1% CIII, Micheel noticed a positive change in his energy level and mood.

“I’m feeling much better, and I’m able to put my all into playing golf,” Micheel added.

Note to Editors: Androgens are contraindicated in men with carcinoma of the breast or known or suspected carcinoma of the prostate. Geriatric patients treated with androgens may be at an increased risk for the development of prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic carcinoma. The most frequent adverse events reported with the consistent use of AndroGel included abnormal lab test, acne, prostate disorder and application site reaction.

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