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Every January it’s the same. ‘New Year, New me’ we say, but by Valentine’s day all our best intentions have fallen by the wayside. But this year I’m going to stick to my regime by participating in team sports, as they give you a great work out, allow you to socialise, and appeal to your competitive streak.

Another motivating thing about team sports is that if you don’t go, unlike the gym, it’s not just yourself your letting down but also the team. This really makes me want to go, as although i think nothing of letting myself or my ftness down, my dedication to those around me guilts me into it!

So, now your thinking ‘hmmm, maybe team sports are for me after all’, which team sport should you do? Well here are my top 5:

Basketball: Very popular across the pond, but gaining a real following here in the UK, basketball is a fast paced game, and the time seems to fly by when ever i play. Speed and co-ordination are vital!

Netball: We all remember netball from our school days, but in recent years more and more adults are choosing to revisit it. It’s a great way to get fit with like minded women, and even make some friends along the way.

Football: The classic British team game, football is not just for watching. There are leagues everywhere, for both men and women and if you’re not keen for the full match then indoor or 5 a side is just as good for you. I’m really getting into football at the moment- something i thought I’d never say.

Ice Hockey: Not for the faint-hearted, but seriously good fun! if your balance is ok, and you’ve nerves of steel then I would definitely recommend ice hockey, for its fast pace and sheer enjoyment.

Volleyball: We’ve all played it on the beach in our time (even if its just between pina coladas), but have you ever thought of taking it up regularly. There are quite a few indoor and outdoor leagues around, but if there isn’t one near you then why not grab a few mates and set up a game.

Those are my favourite team games, but there are plenty more out there, and I’d really recommend them, so find a league or team near you and have fun.

Awards and Trophies are online suppliers of a range of trophies and medals, from football trophies to trophy cups for basketball or ice hockey. So whatever your league or event we have a trophy for you.

Preview: Boost Your Business Marketing! Speak Professionally. Inexpensively Attract New Clients/Customers. Tested And Proven System. Get repeatedly invited, acknowledged – and even paid – as an “expert-who-speaks”. Market your products, services or yourself to numerous potential individual or group clients at once. Step up to Smarter Business Marketing(TM). This article tells you how.

Preamble

The ideas I share in this article are based on personal experiences I have had as an entrepreneur, and strategies/techniques I have developed as a result, to help me achieve my goals. Basically, I use them every now and then depending on whether I assess a particular situation or opportunity to have “good business selling potential”. They are not designed to be immediately applicable to every situation, which is why I suggest you think of ways you can adapt them to suit your unique circumstances and/or needs.

How Effective Are You At Speaking Before Important Persons Or Large Audiences About Your Business?

Do you worry or become anxious when you have to speak one-on-one with an important person or before large audiences? Do you have to market products or services to NEW people daily? Do you dread having to make those cold calls to their phones, offices or homes to try making the sale? Are you looking for a proven technique to help you increase your success rate in speaking convincingly to people AT FIRST CONTACT/MEETING?

As a serious minded business owner, you will know that successfully creating (adequate and continuous) awareness about your products/services can be quite a challenging task. I have certainly found it to be so, on a number of occasions! But, I have also always been a person with a passion for problem-solving and process simplification.

To put it another way, I am perpetually on the lookout for cheaper yet more effective way(s) of doing anything I do. My “search” eventually led me to develop for myself – about 4 years ago – what I have called the “Public Speaking for Business Marketing system(PSBM)(TM)” which is designed to enable me cost-effectively boost my marketing efforts when speaking to potential (individual or group) client audiences.

This article offers street-smart, tested and proven strategies you can use to equip yourself to succeed more often in making good and lasting impressions through WHAT YOU SAY and HOW YOU SAY IT(i.e. your communication skills) – especially at formal events like interviews, presentations, business meetings etc.

Speaking Effectively Is Important For Your Business Marketing Success

In doing your business marketing, you will find that sometimes you are required at some stage to have a one-on-one meeting with a prospect, who will want to hear from you exactly how you think your product or service will benefit him/her. In some cases the individual you have to speak with could even be representing a larger group of people, and your ability to CONVINCE him/her that you have something the group or organisation needs could win you an invitation to do a presentation to the larger group of decision makers – taking you closer to making the sale you want.

In essence, when I speak here about speaking effectively in public, I refer to both situations i.e. one in which you have to speak with an individual and that in which you have to speak to a group of people, or indeed a large audience.

Without taking the pains to think carefully through and articulate the key benefits of what you have to offer, in a way that you can SAY it to those who need to hear it, you are likely to STRUGGLE to convince your individual or group audiences that they need your service or product. Potential buyers tend to develop cold feet when the seller they are considering is unable to give them CONVINCING arguments/reasons to go ahead and buy, or make enquiries about buying from him/her.

What Is The Public Speaking for Business Marketing System(PSBM)(TM) About?

What I have called the PSBM(TM) is a “customisable” combination of innovative techniques designed to enable business owners/entrepreneurs/self-employed professionals cost-effectively boost their marketing efforts by speaking professionally to potential client audiences.

There is one key objective of developing/using a PSBM(TM) system: to promote a significant increase in the level of awareness about the speaker/marketer’s products and/or services. Another is the generation of continuous streams of patronage from existing – and new clients. These and more can be achieved, using this system, typically at a fraction of conventional marketing/ advertising costs.

The system will typically have two aspects:

a. the Public Speaking aspect

b. the Street-Smart/Electronic Marketing Strategies & Techniques aspect.

Used together, practically anyone can successfully boost his/her business marketing efficiency and effectiveness.

Who Needs To Use Public Speaking For Business Marketing(PSBM)(TM)?

Virtually every business owner is likely to have need for a cost-effective, long-term and comprehensive system like this. One that enables you to keep prospects and clients “thinking” about what you can do for them for “longer” periods – thereby increasing your chances of getting contacted by them, so you can “close” the sale.

As the preview to this article proclaims, if you can find a way to repeatedly speak professionally – in your areas of PROVEN expertise – to potential client audiences, you stand a good chance of continuously generating new business for yourself. This will happen as a result of increased awareness about, and interest (in you and/or) your services/products – which would have been triggered by your speaking activities.

How Using Public Speaking For Business Marketing(PSBM)(TM) Can Help You

“Whether you’re selling (products), services or yourself, Public Speaking is a great way to market yourself to a lot of potential clients at once ..(and) drum up new business” – Robert Dickman (Highly sought after Hollywood performance consultant, who was once asked – in year 2000 – by Time Magazine to rate the public speaking abilities of America’s Presidential candidates at the time.)

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Going by what I have said so far, it becomes obvious that your ability to speak effectively can yield at least two benefits:

(1) Stimulate prospects’ interest and consequently generate sales leads.

(2) Help you win MORE (sometimes even paid) speaking opportunities & new clients.

Since the ability to speaking convincingly to your prospective buyer about what you have to offer is so important to generating sales leads or closing sales, I believe it only makes sense to LEARN how to speak MORE effectively in a way that makes the above – and more – happen on a regular basis.

How/Where Can You Find Business Marketing Speaking Opportunities?

1. During your routine business marketing visits – or meetings/appointments – with individual/groups decision makers, This would be a typical one-on-one or small group situation.

2. By writing and sending out letters(or even e-mails) to decision makers introducing yourself and stating that you offer such and such talks, keynote speeches. You would make it known that you are available to speak at conferences/events/meetings/retreats etc organised by individuals or groups fitting our target audience profile.

The second opportunity offers potentially greater rewards because YOU would have been invited by them, meaning(unlike the first opportunity which is a “cold call” situation), the audience is MORE likely to be interested in what you have to say – and sell. In addition, many individuals and groups fitting your target audience profile are likely to be LOOKING for “experts” or “specialists” to deliver “talks” or “keynote speeches” at their special outings or corporate events. Your chances of making even greater marketing impact would therefore be boosted since you get to speak to a large number of potential “buyers” all at once.

But you have to make a success of the speaking outing first – and giving a good speech is only a PART of it! Learn why I say so below.

You Don’t Just Need A Speech(es) – You Need A SYSTEM!

It’s not just knowing how to speak and then going out to do so. Having a PSBM(TM) goes beyond that. In ADDITION to being a competent and effective speaker, you will also have in your arsenal other things you will do BEFORE you speak, WHILE you speak and AFTER you have spoken, that will help you achieve the business marketing results you want. It is the combination of your speaking and associated non-speaking actions that constitutes your PSBM(TM) system.

Below, I have listed some key considerations you need to make in developing a PSBM(TM) system that works for you. It does not cover every possibility – you will have to think through what needs to be added, modified or removed completely.

1. How can I learn to (write and) deliver speeches that will help me market my products, services or myself to potential customers/clients?

2. How will I get myself repeatedly invited as an “expert-who-speaks” by my target audience?

3. Is it really possible for me to get PAID as a “speaker/educator”? – and if it is, how exactly do I go about making that happen?

Suggestions: Recognised paid speaking professionals, like Burt Dubin, offer a Speaking Success System(http://www.SpeakingBizSuccess.com) that guarantees you success in the speaking business or your money back. That is of course if you really want to make speaking another dimension to your business offering(I say why not?!). Alternatively, enroll for a Public Speaking training programme at a reputable outfit. Questions you have will be answered there.

Then there is a compulsory assignment: Get yourself a copy of Dale Carnegie’s book: How TO Develop Self-Confidence & Influence People By Public Speaking AND read it over and over again, till you can virtually recall what is written on the next line while reading the preceding one. It’s an excellent book that teaches the art of public speaking in a manner that makes it REAL for the learner.

4. How do I successfully convert enquiries generated through my public speaking activities into new business/patronage?

5. What can I do to reduce the effort it would take to do all the above, so it doesn’t tell on my ability to run my business?

Suggestions: Always use low cost business marketing techniques – both offline and especially on the Internet. Prepare Edumercials (Educational Commercials) about your products or services that will be made available as printed handouts – but preferably as downloaded documents from your website, which you can invite the audience you speak to, to visit your website to request using a contact form(to which you will link follow-up autoresponders as appropriate).

Your website can do so much work for you here. It provides a very cost-effective medium through which to capture prospects. Your speaking outings, and business cards, etc that you give out to those who ask will drive traffic to your site -since you WILL have invited the recipients/audience to visit your site and get say your free report on a useful/interesting topic.

Your free website newsletter(weekly, or periodical) would ALSO be on offer for subscription by your visiting prospects, and through it, you would stay in touch with visitors and even get them to invite friends to join too, because they’re getting useful tips from you!

Convert speeches you deliver to articles and special reports, then offer them for publication online to ezine owners and free submission websites. Make sure to indicate the article is based on a speech you delivered at so and so event, since that adds to your credibility as a recognised authority on the subject. If you have not been invited to speak before, the quality of your articles- if good – can eventually influence decision makers to invite you. Just make sure that by the time they do, you have fully prepared yourself to make a success of the opportunity. In certain cases, you may discover that your writing reputation has preceded you so well, that THEY will be the ones asking you what your speaking FEES are! So, make sure you have THAT already worked out before they ask!

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” – Unknown

What You Need To ALWAYS Remember!

PLEASE NEVER FORGET THIS: You can use your PSBM(TM) system on individuals as well as on small groups or large audiences. In short, you should use your PSBM(TM) system in EVERY business marketing situation that you find it appropriate or relevant.

Of course, since speaking to more than one person offers better potential returns, you would do well to seek opportunities to make that happen more often – hence the need to announce your availability to speak on your area of expertise in as many appropriate places as possible.

The important thing is that you make sure you deliver your intended marketing message in a way that makes those who listen to you, and who fit your your target audience profile(NOT everyone will), readily recognise a need for your products and services, and willing to take action to get it by contacting you for details etc. If you can do this, your PSBM(TM) system can be correctly judged to be working well!

Summary

Business marketing is primarily about getting yourself to the top of your target customer’s consciousness and staying there for as long as necessary to make him/her “buy”. It’s a game of percentages. You can expect maybe ZERO to say 3 of every 100 persons exposed to your marketing to give you a chance to “sell” to them. That does not mean ALL of them will buy. Which is why you need to market FREQUENTLY and to as many pre-qualified prospects as possible: which means plenty of WORK for you!

Adopting a system that takes the work out of your business marketing is sure to dramatically transform the way you do business for the better. It will forever alter, positively – and powerfully – how your existing (and prospective) clients/customers see you – including the ones that do not buy from you(at first).

Why not relieve yourself of the stress of unraveling the marketing dilemma that plagues most business owners today? Develop and start using your own Public Speaking for Business Marketing(PSBM)(TM) system. Take the decision to Step Up To Smarter Business Marketing(TM(TM) today..NOW!

Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade – works as a Multipreneur, helping individuals/businesses develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals, faster and more profitably.

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR OWN PSBM™?

A comprehensive Acrobat PDF E-book(which can be printed/bound in physical form) that details everything you need to know to successfully develop and start using your own PSBM™ system can be personalised for, and delivered to YOU. Just fill/submit the request form (stating any needs and interests) at http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/contact.htm

Pet lovers would simply love to know how to get cheap pet supplies especially nowadays when budgets are a bit strained. On top of that, people simply just want to get more value for their money. Pet supplies can sometimes be a bit too expensive and that isn’t just about the dog food. Other top of the line pet care products such as Frontline for dogs can be a little too much weight on one’s wallet.

Tips on Buying Cheap Pet Supplies

The goal in paying cheaper prices for the supplies you regularly buy is not just to simply save money but to actually save and get more value for your money. The final goal in this endeavor is not only to make your wallet happy but your pet should also be happy as well.

Timing is Essential To Get Pet Supplies Cheap

Every serious pet owner should really consider when they shop for supplies. Sometimes, it’s not a matter of where a pet owner shops for supplies but it’s actually a matter of timing. The stuff you need to keep you pets healthy and happy can be found in the local pet store.

What pet owners need to do is to find opportune times to purchase supplies. This simply boils down to purchasing your stuff during sales, most notably clearance sales. One can easily notice that pet shops will hold a clearance sale during the cold winter months. A lot of savings can be generated when purchasing stuff at this time of the year.

It doesn’t mean that the supplies you buy at clearance sales are about to go bad. The fact is that most people buy new pets during the summer thus the demand for the said supplies go down during the winter when almost no one buys new pets. When the demand for cheap pet supplies goes down, that is during winter and clearance sales then it is advisable to purchase your stuff.

Buy Supplies to Last

Now, when you purchase high end pet supplies like Frontline for dogs, be sure to buy them in order to last a while. Check the material the supplies are made of or the packaging of certain products like powders and pest control materials. Expect plastic bowls to get chewed up so pet owners should get stainless steel doggie bowls instead.

Lookout for Saving Opportunities

Sometimes pet shops will give out coupons to its customers. In case they do then be sure to grab some coupons. A store may not always have sales but if they do give out coupons then this is a clear indication that pet owners can get cheap pet supplies. Now, imagine how much you can save if you bring the coupons and buy stuff during a sale.

Check Your Options Online

Another way to save money on pet supplies is to look for suppliers on the Internet. Sometimes these suppliers sell their stuff at lower rates than the ones you can find at the store. Be sure to check out the fine print before you pay for the pet supplies you ordered.

Make Them Yourself

Another way to save money on supplies is to make them yourself or recycle items. If a neighbor or someone you know no longer uses certain materials like dog houses and other things, you might want to ask them to give it to you or purchase them for a cheaper rate compared to the ones at the store. Pet owners can also make their own dog rope, fish tanks, or chew toys.

As you can, there are many different ways to minimize the impact that pet supplies have on your wallet. There are multiple ways to get cheap pet supplies. Sometimes it just takes a little research and some creativity but when taking into account the amount you will save in the long term its definitely worth it.

Jason Aldiers is the author of this article. If you would like to buy cheap pet supplies such as Frontline for dogs or just read about various different pets, please visit Discountedpetsupplies.net.

Consider professional online auto repair help when it comes to repairing your own car. You may just avoid a disaster.

Your vehicle is a big investment and it should be treated as such. When it comes to auto repair it can go two ways.

You can be successful and fix it right the first time. Or you can make matters worse by creating additional problems. The latter will increase repair costs and down time of the vehicle.

Let me give you a real life example of this. I had a gentleman e-mail me for help with a no start condition. My first advice to him was to get some online auto repair help from a quality manual, to properly diagnose the problem.

My favorite online auto service manual has the best no start diagnostic charts in the business, because they come straight from the factory auto service manuals. Easy to follow tree charts with pictures and tech tips.

The gentleman told me he could not afford the $24.95 and he thought replacing the distributor would fix the problem. A new distributor was $650.00.

He bought and replaced the distributor but this did not fix the problem. It was also not returnable like most electrical parts. Again I said cut your loses and get any kind of auto service manual and diagnose the problem, do not through parts at it.

Well He replaced the coil, cap, rotor, wires and spark plugs. It Still would not start. Now he is a thousand dollars deep in un-needed parts. The guy who could not afford $25. Finally he towed the car to the auto repair shop and they fixed it for about $500.00 by replacing the fuel pump.

As a side note I did try to help him by explaining, in a no start condition you either have no fuel or no spark (or rarely no air). The gentleman explained he was getting plenty of fuel. But he was not.

So $1,850 later he was driving again. And to let you know step 1 on the diagnostic tree chart was an in-depth procedure with pictures for checking for fuel delivery.

Also the online repair manuals had a technical service bulletin on the fuel pump for this specific vehicle. This is why the online auto repair manual can help you. What if you had the same auto repair information that the dealership level technician has?

But in a format that provides step-by-step instructions and pictures that a person of any skill level can follow. The virtual online auto repair help system was created to bring top-level information to the do it yourself auto repair public.

Find the auto repair information you need quickly and easily with the online auto repair manuals handy search engine. Just type in the component or area of the vehicle you need assistance with and the online programs provides you with just what you’re looking for.

No more hunting through old-fashioned paper auto repair manuals filled with outdated information. You now have access to the same information professional auto repair mechanics use. Mechanics may have more hands on experience then you but they are not smarter then you, they just know how to find the required information for a specific automotive repair.

Mark Gittelman is an ASE Certified Master Technician With more than 23 years experience in the auto repair business. For more free information and stories visit his Automotive web site. Or if you would like to post a car question visit the online auto repair help page.

Anyone wanting a new kitten should be a cat lover. Let’s face it, folks, cats are just different from dogs. Cats do not usually perform any special tricks, and they certainly do not guard your possessions while you are away. In fact, the only thing you can be guaranteed of by having a cat is that a mouse won’t last long if they creep into your home.

Cats are loved by many because of their independence. Cats have a life, so to speak. Most cats do not follow you around the home with their tongues hanging out of their mouths waiting on your attention. While they do love their owners fiercely, cats will not grovel like a dog and worship and fawn over their owners. Cats are perfectly content simply being themselves–and they do not seem to need constant reassurance, unlike canines.

This does not mean cats do not need love and affection, it simply means cats are not “fragile” characters. In fact, cats exude a self assurance which can often be misunderstood as aloofness or coldness. Yet, cats are far from aloof or unfeeling. They feel deeply and love deeply. If a cat comes to sit on your lap, you know you are truly loved.

Anytime the family thinks about bringing a new pet into the home, it is exciting. Cats are a favorite of many because as kittens they are so entertaining to watch. Cats have a mind all of their own and only a true cat lover can even claim to understand the psyche of a feline. Cats are mysterious animals, which is part of the draw to them. While cats have been brought into the home, their instincts still remain. Cats adopt their owners and will even go out and provide “dinner.” Many cat owners have stepped out on the stoop to find a dead mouse, opossum, or mole waiting for them. Now, that is love and loyalty!

If you are planning to bring a cat into your home, you should look at it as a life long commitment. Cats can live fifteen years and beyond. You should also understand that as cats mature, they will often sleep and laze around the home. If you are wanting a cat to entertain you throughout her life, you should seriously think about whether a cat is the pet for you. Kittens are very entertaining and young cats are always curious and open for a challenge. However, older cats aren’t easily excitable and usually prefer to watch the antics in the home from a distance.

When you have made the decision to bring a new cat into your home, you will have to decide between a domestic or purebred cat. If you choose to go with a purebred cat, you can be guaranteed of size and appearance, and possibly temperament. There are more than 40 breeds to choose from, so do your homework. You will want to research the grooming requirements of the breed you are considering, along with the general disposition of the breed.

Domestic cats come in all colors and shapes. When you look at any cat, there are some things you should consider. For instance, while all cats are fairly in proportion to each other, there are some cats which are more lanky and lean than others. These cats will be the ones who may be more interested in running and exploration. The chunkier, heavier cat will probably be more laid back and not get into too big a hurry about anything. You have a choice between a domestic long hair or domestic short hair cat.

When picking out your kitten, you should understand that kittens should not have an odor. While puppies do tend to have a smell about them, kittens do not. You should observe the entire litter of kittens. Do any of them have crusty eyes or a runny nose? If so, you may want to reconsider choosing a kitten from that litter. You certainly shouldn’t take one home simply because you feel sorry for it, either. Especially if you have other pets in your home. All of the kittens should have bright and clear eyes and be very alert.

You should handle the kittens. Their fur should be soft and silky, and never stiff or dry. Likewise, their coat should not feel oily or greasy. When you are petting the kitten, you should run your hands along her skin to ensure she has no sores. When you are holding each kitten, place them up to your face and nuzzle them. Listen for any breathing noises. You should not hear any raspy or breathy breathing. If you do, this is possibly a signal that the kitten has a respitory infection.

After visiting with the kittens, instinct will usually dictate to you which kitten is your match. You may feel the rowdy, rambunctious kitten will fit the best into your lively home. Or, you may decide the laid back kitten is more your speed, especially if you have a quiet home. Once you have made your decision and chosen your kitten, you should have a kennel waiting for travel. You should never try to ride in a car with a cat unless they are restrained or in a kennel. While most dogs love car rides, cats tend to scare. They can cower under your feet and this can lead to a wreck.

When you bring your new kitten into your home, you should immediately show her where the litter box, food and water are located. You should also have a supply of cat toys on hand to distract the cat from missing her mom and litter mates. While this cannot entirely be avoided, lavishing attention on a new kitten will do wonders in the transition to her new family.

You should expect your new kitten to explore every nook and cranny in the home. This is a necessary part of a kitten’s disposition. (Even older cats seem to perk up when a new piece of furniture is brought into a home they have lived in for years.) You will want to kitten proof your home. You should keep the lids down on the toilet, and you may want to remove potted plants and the like until your cat learns the rules.

Cats are social creatures, and they can learn the rules of their new environment with consistency. While you may think they do not understand what you are saying, this is not true. If you have a new kitten who wants to walk across the kitchen counter or dining room table, simply rattling a newspaper at her and saying “down” will teach her to stay off. With time you will be able to put the newspaper away and simply speak the command.

Kittens can add joy to any home. Part of the fun is knowing the kitten is oblivious to the fact that she is the center of attention. She is not trying to gain your attention by performing. She is simply being a cat. You should also not be upset if your kitten is not interested in being a lap cat. While she may be content for a few moments on your lap, kittens have to roam, play and explore. As your cat matures she will be more inclined to take it easy curled up on your lap. Until then, just make her feel loved and you will have a feline that will adore you and her new home.

Author Ian White is founder of cat-breeders.biz This extensive online directory includes listings by private breeders, and occasional hobby or family breeders. Those seeking kittens can locate and match with appropriate breeders. Cat-Breeders.biz automates the matching of kittens for sale with kitten wanted entries, with daily email notifications to all parties. Cat Lovers and Breeders find more information

Direct Car Insurance is the option of buying your car insurance directly from an authorized insurance company instead of going through insurance middlemen and independent agents.

To explain let us take this example. If you are sick with pain in your joints, there are two options you can choose from. You either go to a general practitioner and he would recommend certain medicines that would ease your pain. Or, you proceed directly to an orthopedic specialist, one who specializes in illnesses related to the bones of the human body. Chances are that the bone specialist would be able to diagnose the exact nature of your ailment and prescribe maybe some medicines or exercises that will at once have better effect on your condition. The general practitioner would probably have an idea about your actual condition but may not be in a position to accurately treat it.

Something similar happens when you choose a direct car insurance policy over an indirect car insurance policy.

One may argue that it is far easier to get quotes and information on car insurance policies from multiple indirect sources, as there are plenty in the car insurance market. It may also be a better idea as these indirect car insurers offer a wide variety of services in order to keep their car insurance policies better than the rest.

This is however not without its associated costs. Remember middlemen and independent agents and such indirect car insurers are in a business and not providing you the service out of charity. They obviously are looking for their profits. While on the look of it you may be offered multiple services at some good prices, you must never forget that you are paying a higher rate for the same. The independent car insurance agents are putting in their profits into the quote. The larger these independent car insurance companies are, the higher the hidden costs.

The direct car insurance agencies, on the other hand have their benefits. If you go at first to a direct car insurance company, you will directly be in touch with the car insurance provider itself. These direct car insurance providers are usually large companies which have in house services like emergency pick up vehicles, tie ups with official car service centers, legal advisors and such important services. What happens here is that these direct car insurance providers may not have to outsource their services to other car insurance agencies? Even if they do, they have clear and set procedures that are outlined. This removes the reasons for inordinate delays in providing emergency car services, settling claims and providing interim relief through rent a car services etc.

When you buy a policy from a direct car insurance agency you also save on costs. You can get cheaper car insurance with some very good facilities. Remember it is not the amount of services that you can get but whether those services can be used when you need them.

You may even be able to work out cheaper premiums for flexible periodic payments as well when you go to direct car insurance agencies. And to top it off you may even get some free extra covers along with your standard cover as well. These come in handy and end up saving you some money at a later stage. For example you may get free extended territorial cover or the direct car insurance agency may offer extended legal liability to family members. These would be specific to the district of residence of course.

There are some direct car insurance agencies that also offer you a better premium if you insure more than one car with them. This really gets you a good reduction in your associated costs and it always helps if there is just one direct car insurance agency that has to be co-coordinated with at all times.

There are quite a few car insurance companies which provide direct car insurance and you may need to shop around a little before you actually make your decision. This will also give you adequate knowledge about what the direct car insurance agencies are offering in the car insurance market. So remember, going in for direct car insurance is in the larger picture more beneficial to your pocket!

Scott is a consultant at Direct Car Insurance [http://www.lespillets.com/Direct_Car_Insurance.html], a directory listing site with all your car insurance information needs. If you have any other car insurance questions please visit [http://www.lespillets.com/Direct_Car_Insurance.html]

To dine out and lose weight is not a trick played on you to increase business sales of whether it be fine dining restaurants or fast food joints. The concept is even a contradiction in itself because who could ever lose weight when confronted with multitudes of mouth watering choices, ridden with calories. On the other hand, it can really be done! Impossible is a word becoming less popular these days since almost anything is assumed as achievable when you know how to play by the rules.

Never eat out when you are starved. Curb your hunger with a gratifying snack such as celery stuffed with cottage cheese or you can also just down a glass of tomato juice. You can therefore moderate the amount of food you’ll be ordering since you have contained your appetite.

Try to order food that is difficult to consume quickly like lobsters and shrimps. Extra effort is given to just shelling them and remember to chew slowly. Have your food hot off the grill which allows you to concentrate on eating while waiting for the rest of it to cool down.

Portion sizes are relatively bigger when eating out. You could always give some of your food to whoever is keeping you company. You can also set aside half of the food to take home with you, so you don’t consume everything in a sitting. To dine out and lose weight doesn’t mean it has to be frustrating.

Make special requests like having salad dressings and other sauces on the side, so you have full control on how much you put in your dish. Ask for available herbs or spices instead of always gunning for the salt. They only have minimal calories that can still add flavor and appeal to your food.

You’ll have better chances of success when you just truly enjoy yourself and not really stress about dining out. You are really able to hit two birds with one stone! To dine out and lose weight is a refreshing way to battle and beat the bulge!

Food is our ally in losing weight! Why restrict yourself with the foods that you like to eat when it is possible to lose weight by eating more. To reap the benefits of this life changing program for losing weight, please visit http://bestweightlosshq.com.

When shopping for a pair of hiking boots, it is important to know how they are made. No, you don’t need to know how to make your own, but you have to understand what goes into them and how it affects the comfort and durability – the overall quality – of the hiking boots. In this article I will describe the parts of a hiking boot, what they are made of, and how they come together to form the ideal hiking boot for you.

Like any shoe, a hiking boot consists of an upper and a sole joined together by a welt and with an inlet at the front covered by a tongue, and the whole is lined with various pads and cushions. I will discuss each of those parts in detail, in terms of what they are made of and what to look for in various types of hiking boots.

Sole and Welt

Let’s start at the bottom. The soul of the hiking boot is the sole.

Soles are usually made of synthetic rubber in varying degrees of hardness. A harder sole will last longer, but generally will have poorer traction on hard surfaces (such as bare rock) and will provide less cushioning. A softer sole gives you the cushioning you need for long hikes and the traction you need on rough ground, but it will wear out faster.

Manufacturers have made their trade-offs in choosing the materials to make their boots out of. The final choice is up to you when you choose which boot to buy. If you expect to do most of your hiking on soft surfaces, such as desert sand or bare soil, you might lean more toward harder soles. But most of us hike on fairly rugged trails with a good deal of bare rock, and we need the traction of a softer sole.

Inside the sole is a shank. It is a stiffening structure, either fiberglass or steel, that prevents the sole of the boot from twisting and that provides arch support. Shanks may be only three-quarter or half-length. Hiking shoes generally have no shank at all, deriving all their stiffness from the molded rubber sole. Good day-hiking boots may have a full-length fiberglass shank. High-quality backpacking boots will give you the choice of fiberglass or steel. It will depend on how strong you need your hiking boots to be, and how heavy.

Look for deep, knobby tread. Deep cuts in the sole allow water and mud to flow out so you can get traction. “Fake” hiking boots, designed to look like hiking boots but not to perform like them, may have thinner soles and shallow tread. Working boots also may have shallow tread, and they generally have harder soles than hiking boots have.

The welt is the connection between the sole and the upper. Virtually all hiking boots these days are glued together rather than sewn. If you are buying a very expensive pair of backpacking boots, give preference to a sewn welt. Boots with a sewn welt will be easier to resole when the original sole wears out. For hiking shoes or day-hiking boots, when the sole wears out, the upper is not worth salvaging, either, so a glued welt is just fine.

Upper

The upper of the hiking boot provides warmth, protects the sides of your feet from rocks and brush, and repels water. It must also allow your feet to “breathe,” so that moisture from perspiration will not build up inside the boots and cause blisters.

Uppers of hiking boots are usually at least partially made of leather. High-quality backpacking boots are often made of full-grain leather (leather that has not been split). Lighter boots may be made of split-grain leather (leather that has been split or sueded on one side), or a combination of split-grain leather with various fabrics.

Fabrics that are combined with leather are usually some type of nylon. Heavy nylon wears nearly as well as leather, and it is much lighter and cheaper than leather.

In any hiking boot, especially those made of combinations of leather and fabric, there will be seams. Seams are bad. Seams are points of failure. Seams are points of wear, as one panel of the boot rubs against another. Seams are penetrations that are difficult to waterproof.

The uppers of backpacking boots are sometimes made of a single piece of full-grain leather with only one seam at the back. This is good, for all the reasons that seams are bad, but it is expensive.

You’re going to have to deal with seams. But as you shop for hiking boots, look for customer reviews that mention failure or undue wearing of the seams, and avoid those brands.

Inlet and Tongue

There are two things to look for in the inlet and the tongue:

1. How the laces are attached and adjusted

2. How the tongue is attached to the sides of the inlet

The inlet may be provided with eyelets, D-rings, hooks, and webbing, alone or in combination. They each have these advantages and disadvantages:

* Eyelets: Simplest and most durable way to lace a boot. Not so easily adjusted.

* D-rings: Easier to adjust than eyelets, more durable than hooks. More failure-prone than eyelets. (They can break, and they can tear out of the leather.)

* Hooks: Easiest to adjust of all lace attachments. Subject to getting hooked on brush, or bent or broken in impacts with boulders, main cause of breakage of laces.

* Webbing: Cause less chafing of laces, slightly easier to adjust than eyelets, slightly more durable than D-rings. More failure-prone than eyelets.

The most common lace attachment of any hiking boot is eyelets below ankle-level and hooks above. You may see eyelets all the way up, as in classic military-style combat boots, or a combination of either D-rings or webbing with hooks.

The attachment of the tongue is a critical factor in how waterproof the hiking boots are. Provided the leather and/or fabric and seams of the upper are waterproof, water will not get into the boots until it gets higher than the attachment point of the tongue.

Most hiking shoes and day-hiking boots have the tongue attached all the way to the top. If the tongue is not fully attached, consider carefully whether you will need that extra inch or two of waterproofing.

High-rise backpacking boots have the tongue attached only partway up, but that still reaches higher than most day-hiking boots. It’s difficult to get the boot on and off if the tongue is attached very high.

Linings and Pads

There are many pieces that go into the lining and padding of a hiking boot, but two in particular you need to pay attention to:

1. The sole lining

2. The scree collar

The sole lining must be appropriately cushioned. You want a firm, durable surface in immediate contact with your socks, but enough cushioning below that to absorb impact.

The scree collar is a cushion around the top of most hiking boots. It enables you to pull the boots tight enough to keep out loose rocks (“scree”) but without chafing against your ankle and Achilles tendon. This is the thickest and softest cushion in the whole hiking boot. It must be soft enough to conform to your ankle and Achilles tendon as they move, and still keep close enough contact with your leg to keep the rocks out.

Very high hiking boots, such as military-style combat boots, may have no scree collar at all. The height of the boot is what keeps the rocks out.

Throughout, the lining and padding of the hiking boots must be thick enough to provide warmth, durable enough to last, and smooth enough that it will not cause chafing and blisters.

Conclusion

So, these are the things you need to pay attention to when choosing a pair of hiking boots. Be prepared to compromise, and pay attention to which features are really important to the style of hiking you intend to do.

Chuck Bonner is a lifelong hiker and amateur naturalist, and webmaster of http://www.HikingWithChuck.com. For more information about hiking boots and other hiking equipment based on many years on the trail, visit [http://www.hikingwithchuck.com/Gear/HikingGear.htm].

Whether working, attending school, or simply in need of temporary childcare services, it is extremely important to find the venues and networks that can make the experience an extremely positive one for everyone involved.

Choose a Center You Can Trust

When considering a home childcare center, there will typically be one or two adults in attendance. It’s best they have a limited number of children, either their own, or those of clients so that your child or children can receive quality attention. Make sure you visibly check and approve their licensing and that home rules and regulations are in place and adhered to by everyone.

Traditional daycare centers are usually managed by multiple teachers and will take in children of all ages. These venues are registered by the state. The same level of scrutiny should apply to these venues as a home childcare business.

Make a Thorough Evaluation of Your Network

Familiarizing yourself with the center’s daily routines should always follow your choice of childcare venues. Should you bring snacks for your child or are they provided. Are there special clothes you need to bring? The childcare provider can provide you with a list of the things you should, and shouldn’t bring each day.

It’s not bad to have a back up plan for either of the childcare networks you choose. For simple things like if your get sick, a home childcare center works perfect. On the other hand, a full service center might offer more flexibility to fit your schedule and your family’s needs.

Interview Multiple Providers

Your research will no doubt reveal that childcare centers approach their rules differently. Some will have strict rules while others may not, such as flexibility in scheduling. Other childcare centers may have a more structured approach when it comes to education. So, it becomes extremely beneficial to examine as many options as possible.

Evaluate a Center with an Open Mind

Look closely at the staff and how well they treat the children. Do you observe a lot of patience and flexibility in their approach? Ask yourself if the center will be able to meet your child’s emotional and developmental needs.

Does the facility provide safe indoor and outdoor areas along with appropriate equipment? Are the bathrooms sanitary and do they provide areas for changing diapers? Are the rooms designed with bright and engaging colors?

Observe how the tables are made. Do they have rounded corners? Are first aid kits and snacks available for the children? Are cleaning material and medicines out of the reach of the children?

There are a thousand variables to consider. Knowing your child is being well taken care of by qualified professionals who have received proper early childcare training can go a long way in making sure you start and end your day with peace of mind.

Colin McLean writes about early childcare training and programs for Everest College. Find out how a quality education can help put you on the path to success.

A recent survey indicated that clean Taxi Cabs Fleets have higher tip rates and repeat customers. How do you wash a taxicab? You do them four at a time and you go up and over and up and over when you are drying them. If they have a little taxi cab sign, dry that last. But you do the rest of the car the way you do a regular car. The only difference is you are going to spray three, four, five, sometimes six cars at a time. Then another crewmember is going to follow behind you and do all the windows really well. You do a quick vacuum with a taxicab. Seriously, you do not want to be in that taxicab for more then a minute or a minute and a half. Now most taxicabs are usually scratched and they look like crap. This is something you are going to have to deal with. This is just the way they are going to look which is good for you because they are not expecting a perfect job. They just want them to look clean because they have their logo on them. Taxi companies are very low budget operations and low cost will get you the account. Some taxicabs are owned by independent contractors. You will need to charge more since the volume is not there. Staging areas at big airports are a good place to find lots of taxicabs.

Rent-A-Cars

Rent-a-cars these days are mostly small, tiny cars that get really good gas mileage. They are Toyota Tercels, Ford Contours and Dodge Neons and things like that. You can wash a Dodge Neon in your sleep in about three minutes. Really easy to clean, really, really easy and that is important. You want some accounts that are easy. Three dollars is fair for exteriors, five dollars for in and out is fine. It is important to have efficiency when washing rent-a-cars. No more than two minutes for vacuuming. You only want to clean the windows that are dirty. You do not want to clean all of the windows on a rent-a-car, just where you see fingerprints. You want to wipe off the dash really quick, wipe around the center console and use cleaner on the sticky stuff. Hit the inside windows that are dirty, wash the outside. You want to do them five, six at a time and you want to dry them off real fast, make sure the windows are clean and go to the next car. Rent-a-cars are really good money. You want to charge an extra two dollars for taking out carpet stains. Use some Folex cleaner or advanced carpet stain remover, some kind of a little carpet brush and a towel to wipe up whatever you precipitate at the top of the carpet after you have got it wet. The carpet remover should come off on the towel. There will always be trash in rent-a-cars, a lot of trash. You should have a bucket ready that you just put trash in and move it from car to car. Dump it before you leave. Usually rent-a-cars will have a Dempsey Dumpster around the back where you can dump all of your trash.

Rent-a-car companies are very careful and exacting as to what times of day they want their cars washed. They may have a whole bunch of vehicles in on Monday mornings and want you to do cars on Monday mornings. You are going to have to do the cars at that time. They are probably going to want them done before eight o’clock in the morning. So if you are doing the cars before eight o’clock in the morning and there are twenty or thirty rent-a-cars, it is quite serious that you get them all done in time. The rent-a-car company is paying you so they do not have to drive them to the car wash. It is rather important that you get them done on time. It is really easy to get them all done if you work efficiently. You are doing them six at a time. If you have twenty cars to do, you need to have them done by eight thirty to nine o’clock and you are doing them six at a time, you should have twenty-four cars done in an hour if you are really flying through them and you have the right crew. So pay attention to this. You can afford to do the cars for five dollars each because the job comes out to about one hundred dollars an hour. Think about this for a second. Think about the time and efficiency and how fast can you do them. This attitude is what will help you pick up the rent-a-car company accounts. If you can do them very, very quickly and you can do them not perfectly but good enough to make them happy, there is a lot of money in rent-a-car washing. Our crews in other towns already wash for: Budget, Avis, Dollar, Hertz, Enterprise and generally can afford to wash them and retain a profit at only $5.00 per vehicle.

Police Cars

It is time to talk about police cars. We just saw a police car go the other way with his lights on. In any case, police cars, how do you wash a police car? Well first of all, you wash it like you would wash any normal car but you want to make sure you clean the light bar really well. You do not want to spray water inside the light bar, you will screw up the electronics. You also do not want to, but some of our guys love to do it, spray water inside the PA speaker on the front of the police car that is mounted by the bumper. The reason they like to do that is because it burns them outs and gives them a short. So, you should not do that. Now under the seats of a police car you find all kinds of cool stuff. Best to hand it over to the authorities and not smoke it yourself. You will find crazy stuff under the seats of a police car where you are going to have to clean. Depending on how you feel you can either vacuum the stuff up or put it into a little bag and give it to the watch commander. You need to dust the radios inside of the police car, but you have to be careful not to turn any knobs. There are always bugs on the light bars, but you cannot blast off the bugs as much as you would like to. You really need to soap them off and not blast them off. Sometimes the light bars get real brittle on the older police cars. You can actually blast right through them. I have done it before.

For some reason police like to go 4 X 4′ ing when they are going through center dividers in order to catch a terrible criminal such as a speeder. They will go off road and do whatever; maybe they are just having fun. So you have to make sure that you clean all the mud off the police cars, they are a little bit muddier then most cars. The bottoms of the police cars are always muddy and they are going to need hand soaping. Police cars are often black and white. Usually the white part is where the door is so the policeman knows where to get in. The rest of the car is black. Now the part of the car that is black, remember it is black. If you are doing police cars in the sun and you are trying to do them three at a time, you may have a little problem getting to all of them. Some cities have police cars that are all white cars or all green cars or a mixture and that makes it a little bit easier.

There are certain additional things you have to watch for when cleaning police cars. Do not have a bunch of stuff out of your truck when you are washing a line of police cars. Someone may run out of the building and want to take their car. If you cannot move the truck in time you will really frustrate that officer. He wants to look official and squeal the tires out of the parking lot so you may as well just let him do whatever he wants to do.

Driving School Cars

Driving school cars are basically just like rent-a-car companies. The only difference is you want to spend a little more time on the dash board and a lot of time on the windows. You probably need to get five or six dollars each. This is giving them a deal because normally you charge ten dollars for in and out.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Dogs are amongst the most amazing creatures because they give unconditional love. Dogs love their masters and the masters reciprocate by providing them with all the things of comfort they can afford. Dog supplies are important and useful things for keeping your dog healthy and happy, and include items for dog grooming and maintaining good dog health. Canine or dog supplies can be classified into several sub categories, including dog training supplies, dog grooming supplies, and even more specialist items like hunting dog supplies.

Dog Grooming:

Dogs are gods of frolic. Undertaking thorough dog grooming is like having a permanent job requiring lots of patience, yet packed with exercise and the general fun of bringing up a dog and ensuring it lives a long and carefree life. Dog grooming is an important practice which should not be underestimated – a practice which ensures good dog health and hygiene and should also help to eliminate most dog health problems.

Dog grooming is in fact a somewhat intense program of dog health care that covers the entire life span a dog. Puppy care, canine health care, giving a hygiene bath, washing, combing, brushing, checking ears, paws, teeth and underside, nail trimming, removing dog fleas and insects, and fixing regular meetings with a professional veterinary are all important activities that a dog owner should undertake. A dog’s masters should follow a schedule of regular grooming sessions.

Puppy care is a very important practice that requires a lot of diligence and patience. Like children, puppies require some extra special attention. A puppy needs to be handled with extreme care, and should be groomed properly, fed carefully and well, and bedded properly.

Dog Grooming Supply:

Good dog grooming supplies are required to help undertake the important activities of dog grooming and care. A dog supply may include a dog house, dog furniture, dog carriers, dog beds (and designer dog beds), dog toys, dog collars and leashes, dog bath tub, dog soaps, dog perfumes, dog odor removers and mouth fresheners, dog clothes, designer dog clothes, dog t-shirts, dog jewelry, dog food, dog tonics & supplements and dog medication.

Dog Beds:

A dog bed is a bed designed especially for the sleeping comfort of a dog. It should be the snug retreat to where it retires to take sweet dreams at the end of a long and active day. Good dog beds play a very important part in keeping your dog in good health. An improper sleep may very much affect the health of a dog, thus dog masters should be very careful when buying dog pet beds. Dog beds and dog bedding include a dog bed mattress, dog bed sheets, dog bed cover, dog bed cushions, dog pillows, dog blankets and dog quilts or duvets.

Dog beds are available in numerous designs and sizes including luxury dog pet beds, large dog beds, wicker dog bed, leather dog beds, top quality dog beds, orthopedic dog beds etc. There are a number of designer dog pet beds available. Dog beds can also be purchased online, as there are many dog pet bed manufacturers now selling their dog beds through their websites.

“Perhaps the dog is the only animal that has seen its god, as a man is a dog’s idea of what God should be.”

Paul MacIver writes articles about Pets [http://www.information-spring.info/?cat=12] and pet health care. Visit Ultimate Dog Beds [http://www.ultimate-dog-beds.info] for further info on dog grooming, Dog Beds [http://www.dogbeds-online.info] and pet health care.

You may freely reprint this article as long as nothing is changed, this resource box is included and all links are intact.

Tennis Twist is undoubtedly the best value when looking to purchase tennis ball machines. This product is priced very reasonably at around $230, making it the most affordable tennis ball machine available by far. Despite being the lowest priced tennis machine, the Tennis Twist is also very light and battery operated, making it very transportable and it will fit in the backseat of any SUV. The Tennis Twist also supplies tennis balls at a constant rate providing great repetition that will make a practice session valuable. Whether you want to practice your backhand or just need someone to play with, this tennis machine will make you better at tennis. And because a tennis machine doesn’t screw up, you don’t have to worry about bad hits while practicing. You get to hit a consistent shot practicing your form for 28 repetitions to help structure your muscles and develop your mental discipline.

Unique Features of the Tennis Twist

Tennis Tutor wanted to design a lightweight machine and they were looking to create a cheap tennis ball machine that would provide basic features that would allow any skill level, basic to intermediate to advanced, to get a excellent and reliable experience. The distinctive spiral design automatically feeds the 28 tennis balls. The ball machine then lobs out a ball every 5 seconds giving you time to take the shot, evaluate it, and recover in time for the next ball. The best way to use the unit is to position it at various spots based on the style of shot you want. Because the tennis system doesn’t have any oscillation features, the only means of changing the shot is to change the position. You’ll also want to place the Tennis Twist on the same side of the net because it only shoots about 10 feet or so. Although if you want to practice the overhead smash you’ll need to put it on the opposite side of the net.

These are just a few examples of what makes this tennis machine different from other tennis machines. To get a better look at how the tennis machine works and some additional benefits (and even some weaknesses) you’ll want to check out a Tennis Twist review.

Comparing the Tennis Twist

The Tennis Twist is the best value for the money when it comes to tennis machines, but how does it compare to other, more expensive machines? One popular brand of tennis ball machine is the Lobster Elite line. Just looking at the cheapest lobster tennis ball machine, you would spend $850 which is nearly 4 times as much as the Tennis Twist. Is it worth four times more? The Lobster Elite Freedom, which is the cheap tennis ball machine, has adjustable speeds, a higher ball capacity, and a nice horizontal oscillation feature that will alternate the shots around the court. The speed adjust feature is helpful because it allows you to hit the ball faster;however, the key to a good practice is solid form and hitting more balls doesn’t necessarily make you better. As far as the hopper capacity goes, the unit provides a 2 minute rally and unless you are in fantastic physical shape, 2 minutes is a good workout. And with the Lobster’s oscillation feature, it can be good practice running to each side of the court, but you can effectively do the same thing with the Tennis Twist with some creativity. For an extra $630 you get some nice features, but not really necessary.

Another popular ball machine is the official Tennis Tutor model. This system costs around $950 and is practically the same as the Lobster Elite Freedom when it comes to features. So when reviewing the Tennis Twist against the Tennis Tutor ball machine, you save close to $700. Don’t get me wrong, these expensive tennis ball machines do have their place. If you are a competitive player or a coach, many of these models will have valuable features, but if you need a cheap tennis ball machine to help you get better at tennis, there is no better value.

Where to Get the Best Price on Tennis Twist Tennis Ball Machine

Whether you live in the US, UK, or anywhere else in the world, in order to get the lowest price on a Tennis Twist you’ll need to look around online. There are many physical stores that have an online website and frequently will advertise specials. A surefire idea would be to check out a Tennis Twist review as many times they’ll give you ideas on how to save money buying a tennis ball machine.

I wanted to cover safety in deep snow today because skiers die unnecessarily every year from not being able to self-rescue in deep snow.

Today I skied Mammoth Mountain Ski Area just after they got 10.5 – 15.5 feet of new snow. I skied today because it is supposed to snow this afternoon and tomorrow. I skied about 6 runs this morning in mostly knee-deep, pretty heavy snow. And just when I thought my balance was perfect, I was 10? tall and bullet-proof, I did something weird and fell in the bottomless powder in the trees. I got snow in my mouth when I fell, and that always gives me a short-of-breath/claustrophobic feeling.

I fell softly with my skis to my left, and my body fell to the right. Suddenly, I knew it would be really difficult to get up and out of this bottomless powder. So I took a moment, took a few deep breaths, and accessed my situation. I was somewhere in the trees that someone was unlikely to find me.

I needed to self-rescue. I knew from experience that I was in bottomless powder, and my poles would be of little help. Some say to make a “t” with your poles and lean on them, but no way would that have worked. The powder was too deep, and deep powder provides unique, potentially life endangering challenges. So we need to be prepared. Larger baskets on your poles are helpful for pushing yourself on powder days, but do not provide enough resistance to aid you in standing up from a fall. Since my body is heavier than by boots and skis, the more I struggle and move, the lower my body will sink putting my feet be above my head.

In this case I was able to slowly over a period of about 2 minutes shift my butt to be more over my skis by pulling my body mass over the skis by pulling on my legs below the knees. The last part was hard because I had nothing to brace against, but I knew if I could make this one last move to get my butt over the backs of my skis, I could stand up. So I pulled on my legs one more time because I knew that would give me the resistance I needed.

I managed to stand up, now about 5 minutes after I fell. Both my skis were on, and sunk deep in the snow. I slowly pulled the right one up breaking the surface of the snow to get higher footing. Then I did the same with the left ski. OK, I was finally able to glide back out onto the groomed part of the run, and complete the self-rescue from bottomless powder.

In another blog post, I have detailed how to find a ski in bottomless powder which can be challenging. Search in the search window of this blog for “Lost ski” or “finding lost ski”, and it should come up. My method has always been able to find the lost ski quickly, so you no longer need to worry about that.

But I still want to cover what happened to me at June Mt. as a kid. It was a week with 8 feet of new snow at June Mt. I skied the face successfully, but fell and made a huge hole in the flat part at the bottom. At first I kind of panicked, and struggled to get to my feet. But the more I struggled, the more I sank down in the powder making the hole deeper. It got to the point where I was 8 feet down in this hole, and still could not get to my feet.

I knew no one was skiing the face that day. If a ski patroller skied by he would not hear my cries or see me unless he saw the track to my hole. I couldn’t count on that!

I was only about 11 years old, and I needed to get resourceful to self-rescue, or I could be there all night and freeze. I decided to take a break. I took out the camera I had in my pocket, and took a photo from the bottom of my 8 foot deep hole. I tried to push my poles to hit something solid, and I sank them all the way to my shoulder. I hit nothing that could support me.

I thought some more and finally I figured that I could take 1 ski off, and use it horizontally to be a form of support. I was able to take 1 ski off and holding the side of the ski and digging it in for grip, pull myself to a standing position this way. Then I pulled my upper body up, and stepped up sideways up the side of the hole. I kept doing this until I got to where I was only knee deep again.

I put the ski back on, and was able to break trail back to the chairlift. Please remember this technique if you get stuck in a hole in deep powder. This same self-rescue strategy could work to extricate yourself from a tree well, which can be fatal if you do not know what to do. More information about what to do if you get stuck in a tree well is located at: http://www.treewelldeepsnowsafety.com. There are some really good safety tips at that site that I have not covered here.

I can tell you from experience it is easier to learn these proven self-rescue techniques from some one else than to have to make up a rescue technique when you get stuck. People die from getting stuck in deep powder. I gave you 2 self-rescue techniques here. I also recommend you always carry a whistle when you ski the trees. It might give you the capability to summon help where you can not be seen. I also recommend you carry a fully charged cell phone with Mammoth Mountain’s ski patrol phone number programmed into your phone. This way, when you get injured, you can call for help and tell them where you are. You should program under ICE for In Case of Emergency, your person to be contacted in case of injury or emergency. Emergency personnel know to look in your cell phone for this, so you need to program your emergency contact phone number in there so they can find it if they need to.

Other emergency stuff I carry because I ski the trees are:

1) Small knife – Can cut you down from a tree, or filet a fish or squirrel if you have to.

2) I told you about the whistle – Can help ski patrol hear you when they are making their last sweep of the mountain at closing.

3) Lighter – If you had to spend the night, making a fire could save you from freezing to death.

4) Your cell phone programmed as recommended above.

5) Cliff Bar – These have a lower freezing point so you won’t have to chew on a rock-solid snack bar.

6) Fleece balaclava – Can really increase heat retention in winds, and if you get stuck overnight.

7) Ski helmet – Wear a helmet every time you ski. You cannot predict when a dangerous situation will present itself. 80% of fatal ski injuries could have been prevented by simply wearing a helmet.

I photocopy my driver’s license and medical card so if I am knocked unconscious they know who I am from my driver’s license. And they know my “ICE” In Case of Emergency person to call because it is programmed into my cell phone I have on me all day.

Being prepared and informed can save your life or keep you from being stranded in the woods for hours or overnight. If you just ski the groomed runs, you only need about 1/2 this stuff. But I like to duck into my tree powder stashes, so I keep this packed in my ski jacket at all time so I will have it if I ever need it. Please teach these deep snow self-rescue techniques to your family, friends and loved ones so they will know what to do in this potentially life-threatening situation. Be Safe On the Slopes!

Larry Conn has snow skied since 1968, and loves Mammoth Mountain so much he moved there in 2005 after taking 2 years off work to “test-drive” living there. Now he is launching Mammoth Ski Club for active adults who want more fun, activities and involvement with snow skiing and other activities at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and Mammoth Lakes resort. Get your complimentary gifts, full color newsletter, and special report, “Who Else Wants Active New Affluent Friends of the Same Ski Ability Level, and a Lifetime of Great Memories?” by going to http://www.MammothSkiClub.com/

So… did you jump on that early bird special and register your child for summer camp back in January?

The economy is tough on summer camps. Not only can they be a “luxury” expense for many families, but with so many parents out of work and staying home we also know that summer camps no longer have the same role in child-care.

Since camps are in a yearly revenue cycle with huge dry spells and just a few peak sale months (March – May), it can take until June (for summer camps who are on the edge) to figure out if they can make payroll or pay for facilities through the summer. What? Really? Yep. Summer camp payroll is a huge expense for camps that do not run off volunteers, as are facility costs for any camp that doesn’t own its own site. And keep in mind, those that run off volunteers are generally non-profits relying on fundraising and donations; contributions that also dry up in slow economies.

What happens when a summer camp is in the red?

That depends on the summer camp company. Many summer camps are part of a bigger organization, and the camp can be a loss leader. To stay a float some summer camps will renegotiate terms or payment plans with venders or facilities. Some camps will turn to volunteer staff or cut staff ratios. And a few will run to the bank and hope they can get that loan to cover payroll. When those attempts are successful they squeak by. But it happens every year…. some summer camps will close mid-summer or just before they are due to run.

Will you get your money back if a summer camp closes?

That depends on the summer camp company. Most summer camps that are associated with a youth organization, to protect the reputation of the umbrella company or the facility they work for, will be covered by the latter. A summer camp run by a multi-program agency has other budget to draw on and can’t afford the legal entanglement from a Chapter 7 that leaves customer damages. But companies that only run camp… well, these are the ones that can fold up on you. (Don’t get me wrong, these are also some of the best camps because they devote full time to just running camps. But as a possible indicator of stability in tough economic times – a diversified company may be more resilient.)

Back in 2001 ACE computer camps, a nationally run chain of computer camps with over 60 locations nationwide stopped running mid-session. With estimated numbers at 10, 000 campers per summer – this was a big upset.

When campers came back from lunch some happened to search out the ACE website, they found this message: “American Computer Experience is going out of business immediately. All ACE computer camp locations are cancelled effective immediately.” So, the campers and staff went home. None of the families of that week or subsequent weeks were refunded. Camp staff who had worked at camp several weeks were not paid. The rented camp facilities also did not get paid. Lawsuits went on for years and financial restitution is still incomplete.

How can a summer camp customer protect themselves?

It can be hard to find out if a summer camp company has solid financial footing. In the 2009 camp season, you should assume all camps are struggling a bit so don’t be afraid to ask some pointed questions:

1) Assume your summer camp might have to close slow weeks and move everyone together to reduce the cost and maximize the profits. Ask your summer camp which weeks might they close if they have to consolidate?

2) If your summer camp is using a rented facility; ask if the camp has paid upfront (or are they past the point of canceling) where the camp would have really committed to the week? (In rental contracts there are dates by which payments become committed, if it’s past that point (or if they paid in full upfront), then they will run the week even if it’s lower in numbers.)

3) How many campers are registered in the summer camp? Ask for totals for each class as well as over-all camper registration numbers and ask what they had expected. Ask what happens to classes or registration numbers that are low? What is considered low? You are looking for a reasonable answer and a plan for how they will serve lower number. Do some simple math based on what you are paying for the camp and how many kids they say each staff will cover. And if you think because you pay $600 or $1000/week that they must have a ton of profit to play with… think again, summer camps just don’t operate on huge margins until they really have volume, it’s the “economy of scale” that work in this business – which is why every summer camp may be hurting right now.

4) If you hate your plans to change… avoid registering early for the first week of the camp season and the last week of summer too and the weeks on either side of the holiday. These are the most frequently closed summer camp weeks. The bookend camp weeks close to consolidate the numbers. The weeks on either side of the holiday close because families are taking more trips and enrollment is low. (If you wait and buy these weeks late you may find good deals, call the week before and make an offer … this may work especially well if you are paid in-full for weeks later in the summer as well.)

5) Know your summer camp leadership. Find out all you can about the camp owner. Are they from a summer camp back ground? Is this a passion that they will not give up on, even in bad times? Would they sell their summer camp today if they could? Also, if you have been at this summer camp for a while, do you sense any change in their approach to camp customers? Are they emailing you more or less? Are the notifications on time, is paperwork late, are they cutting back any services? In this economy, they should be making some adjustments but a “camp” committed owner will be guarding the customer experience from those cuts. Ask what adjustments they are making.

6) How long your summer camp has been around can be a good indicator, but only IF they have a great return rate. (A topic for another day… there are MANY ways that camps can compute a return rate). The summer camps with strong return rates tend to be camps that have either a strong “traditions-based” programming and/or an excellent progression for kids to follow as they age and/or develop in skills. Summer camps that offer a single topic can be fine, if they offer a strong progression. But keep in mind that trendy topics always come and go, so even in good economic years you will see ebb and flow in the numbers at any specialty summer camp. If you hear about some new cool summer camp focused on a topic that is ripped from the TV prime time… it might be fun, call early, but don’t drop your cash until just before it runs – and do your best to stop by and visit the program their first week, before you pay up in full… to avoid an unhappy camper.

7) You can check on them. If you are thinking of going to a summer camp that rents their space, call the facility and ask if the summer camp always pays on time. Verify they have been paid all appropriate fees for 2009. This can be very very informative.

8. Take “Fire Sales” as a warning sign. If your summer camp company is running “Fire Sales” (dropping prices like crazy) in the month of June, they are scrabbling for revenue. They have figured out that they have lost money and they are trying to fill all the seats as a tourniquet for the bleeding. They will likely try to up-sell to people already registered for weeks… “Since you bought early we’re offering you this amazing discount on your added weeks”. This can be a great deal… and using Fire Sales to get a great deal is wonderful… but if your week is in August, and Fire Sales start happening… it’s a warning that your camp company is already worried and is likely tightening its belt and scrabbling for last minute camp sales. This could mean reductions in staff ratio, tightening on supplies, or other cost saving measures, including cancelling weeks. It’s time to call and ask to make sure your week is still 100% a go. (Ok, in all honesty, if they are doing this at least they are doing something… some businesses can get so busy in summer they don’t even try to save themselves and end up folding post season).

9) Have key people in the camp company left? No, I’m not talking about the counselors – though they are “key” since your kids will be with them (but a % of summer staff always go before the season is out). But check into the company leadership, have they had any major turn-over, this can be a sign of financial troubles or major shifts in the company direction. Don’t just ask how long the company has been around, ask how long the main Camp Leadership has been in place.

10) Do they have a fall back position? A strong summer camp knows its numbers and knows what it will do based on those numbers along the way. If you can have a frank discussion with someone about the contingency plans you will likely get a gut feel for their business sense; of course that is if you get to speak with a leader in the company not just a sales person. Asking a sales person who is not trained handling these types of questions, may give you your first clues about how the numbers are. If you’re worried after that, as to speak to the director or business manager and go ahead and ask questions. Start form the basic assumption that sales must be low and let them know you plan to have a frank discussion.

The point is… Ask some direct questions and make yourself an insider. Your camp company should welcome your partnership!

Kat “Toes” Fitzgerald has been a leader in the summer camp industry for over 20 years. She currently is the founder of an educational summer enrichment camp at multiple locations that focuses on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math.) You can read more tips for parents, counselors, administrators and campers at http://www.campydiem.com

How a student pays for college depends on many factors. The most important question to be answered is when should a student start “saving” for college? My answer to that question is “when the student enters this world as a newborn”. The very fortunate students are those who had parents who began saving money at birth. There are many financial instruments in which parents can invest, such as 529 accounts, plus many states have their own state educational bonds.

However, for most students there will not be trust funds or yearly family income available for college costs without borrowing, receiving federal financial aid or receiving college scholarships. Paying for colleges becomes a reality to most college students when they are admitted and the real cost of college becomes apparent. This is less than ideal, and can often cause students to panic. But late starts are typical and there are many avenues available to help students.

College scholarships are the best sources for paying for college because these awards do not have to be repaid. Of course, being awarded college scholarships typically depends on academics, specific talents wanted by a college or financial need. Scholarships are awarded by universities and private organizations, each with their own criteria for applying and awarding. Unfortunately, most students do not receive enough scholarship funding to cover the entire cost of college.

So the big question becomes how to deal with a gap in funding. The most important step in paying for college is to apply for federal student aid, or FAFSA. However, many students may not be eligible for federal aid. Some students will begin by attending a community college for the first two years to be able to take the general education courses and save money. Some students will join the military and have the armed services help with their educational costs. Other students will work part time or full time while attending college.

Working and attending college at the same time requires good time management skills, and a plan on how many courses can be handled each semester while working. To receive federal financial aid students must be enrolled full time. This typically means taking a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Another strategy to finding a way to pay for college is for students to apply to colleges who will want to “buy” them and give them college scholarships. This means looking at less competitive colleges or smaller schools. Do not confuse the degree of difficulty of being admitted to school with the excellence of the education.

Remember that college admission is often based on supply and demand, and there are colleges that just receive way too many applications and can only admit a small percentage of the applicants. This does not mean that colleges who admit a larger percentage of their applicants are not as good academically. Keep the bigger picture, which is to get a college education that provides you with the skills to be successful, in mind. Take a look at where the Fortune 500 individuals attended college and you will see it is not the name of the college that moved them along to the road of success.

Colleges that are really interested in a student will provide college scholarship money. Search for those colleges. You are encouraged to be resourceful prior to going to college and use the web to search out college scholarships both offered by individual colleges or outside organizations. Believe it or not, there are some colleges that do not charge any tuition such as Berea and Cooper Union College. There are also colleges that allow students to lock in a tuition rate for the four years of college.

Finishing college in four years can help keep down costs. Campuses may provide opportunities for odd jobs or freelance work to bring in money. Do not overlook the opportunities that exist for doing community work that will provide money to pay for college. Public service jobs are well known for helping students to pay off their debt.

How can you pay for college?

• Be resourceful
• See the bigger picture
• Find colleges that fit your education and budget requirements
• Find companies that will hire you and pay for your education
• Enter fields of study where there is debt forgiveness if you work in the field
• File for Federal Financial Aid with FAFSA
• Seek out college scholarships
• Begin saving for college at a young age even if it is $5 per week
• Do not seek a college based on name recognition alone

I want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to go to college. This means getting in, finding the right college fit and paying for school. I love to share what I’ve learned and I hope you can find some useful information useful in your college search.

Fast car on open roads. It is a perfect picture for any car enthusiast. But you have to go to your work and also drop your kids to school. This is the real picture for most of us. We need to save time when we don’t have any. A typical individual has so many odd jobs to complete that a car can, without doubt, facilitate their accomplishment. Financing your car doesn’t fit your idea of the way of buying your car; then probably you are still stuck with traditional car buying methods. Shed your inhibitions with regard for car financing because it undoubtedly keeps in mind your financial caliber before furnishing you with a car finance loan.

Car financing has taken a new spin with regard to providing investment for buying a car. So, how do you finance a car? If this question leaves you baffled, then you have to go a long way in the process of buying a car. The term ‘financing’ in relation to buying a car connotes either rendering loan to buy the car or lease the car to you. You are probably concentrating on the former meaning. Many people are in favour of talking car finance from dealership for it seems like a convenient option. It seems easy; you select a car, fill out a credit application, and drive away with your car – all in a day’s work. Car finance through dealership will give you car finance on weekends and even at nights when other banks and credit unions are closed.

Seems convenient, isn’t it? But there is a catch. The dealer will be certainly charging you more for your car finance. Usually car buyers are overcharged by 3% on their car finance. A great number of complaints about car financing are related to dealers. 0% APR is not only attractive but lures the buyers to acquire up car finance not meditating if it is feasible for them. There are very few people who can actually get a 0% APR. Thus car finance deals usually fall midway thereby making car finance experience an extremely distressing one. You are buying a new car and probably for the first time, you certainly want it to compliment your enthusiasm. There are few elementary things that need to be kept in mind before taking that crucial primeval step in car buying.

First and foremost in car buying and financing is checking your credit score before you apply for a car loan. Many people are unaware of the fact that they even have a credit score. You can expediently check your credit score online. So, if you have bad credit history then probably you will be paying more interest rate for your car finance. If your credit score drops below 550, then probably apply for new car finance is not such a good idea. First repair you credit score. Repairing credit score requires little effort, helps you repay your debt and retain your credit report. Online car finance companies can get you car finance loan even if your credit score is lower than required. Your car finance loan can get approved in minutes. Online car finance companies have revolutionized car finance procedure. With lowest online car finance rates, no application fees, or down payments car finance companies provide a formidable competition to car dealers. Car finance companies have set a standard for providing car finance that is worth opting for.

70% of cars are obtained by some kind of financing. You can even finance a used car. The process is as effortless and undemanding as financing a new car. The essence to finding the right car finance is doing to research about your kind of car. Knowledge is power; you must be awake to this age old logic. When so much information frequently exists, then why not make use of it. Find out how much your car costs by comparing rates with local dealers. Very decisive, is cognizing how much, you can afford. Calculate, you monthly income and deduct your usual monthly expenditure to find out how much you can afford on a monthly basis. Compute carefully, otherwise you will find difficulty in repaying your car finance loan. And you definitely don’t want to fool around with your repayment plan because a lot is at stake. You can seek free advice for your own car finance online through credit unions and loan institutions.

You are a car enthusiast, a car consumer, a just a person who needs a car you ought to drive the best car. And why not drive the best car, when you have access to the best car finance plans. Car financing is a transparent route that leads you to become a car owner. Car finance loans are usually short term loans ranging from 36 to 72 months. Shorter loan term imply, lower interest rates and will prove to be cheaper. You have been working hard to select the car you want; there is a fairly good chance that you would not have to work so hard for car finance. So, sit back relax and enjoy the ride.

After having herself gone through the ordeal of loan borrowing, Natasha Anderson understands the need for good quality loan advice. Her articles endeavor to provide you the wise counsel in the most elementary way for the benefit of the readers. She hopes that this will help them to locate the loan that beseems their expectations. She works for the UK secured loan web site [http://www.ukfinanceworld.co.uk.To] find a Secured or unsecured loan that best suits your needs visit http://www.ukfinanceworld.co.uk