Inexpensive marketing using promotional bags

Promotional bags are a cheap, effective way of advertising and building brand awareness.

Promotional bags are able to meet most marketing needs whatever the specific budget requirements.

Companies looking for a promotional product with a low cost per unit will find a wide range of high quality promotional bags available at extremely economic prices, starting at under ?1 per bag.

This makes them ideally suited as affordable giveaways at trade shows and exhibitions, as goodie bags for delegates at conferences, or for internal promotional incentives. In fact, promotional bags are a great way to market any business when the requirement is for a product offering instant results.

With a bag for every purpose, there is a large variety of classy designs to choose from. These range from single compartment budget bags to more sophisticated multi-pocketed laptop backpacks. Each type of bag offers its own distinct features and benefits.

All promotional bags provide excellent overprinting opportunities. Branded bag giveaways have a high perceived value relative to their cost and reflect a company?s commitment to excellence.

Even when working to a tight budget, promotional bags do not necessarily have to be off the shelf. Many suppliers will offer customised budget bags for the same price as standard products, even for small quantities as low as 250. All design and visuals are often carried out free of charge by the in-house studio, so the end result is a bespoke bag matching individual design specifications for no extra cost.

Promotional bags deliver effective yet inexpensive marketing solutions. They are the perfect choice for companies seeking convenience, style and value for money.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


praveen samra

BMI Calculator Results

BMI, Body Mass Index, is the most popular and simple way that health professionals use to determine if you are a healthy weight. This article concerns how to interpret your results.

BMI, Body Mass Index, is the most popular and simple way that health professionals use to determine if you are a healthy weight. This article concerns how to interpret your results.

Summary

Body Mass Index:

<18: Underweight

>25: Overweight

>30: Obese

Calculate Yourself

The calculation is simple, you can do it on a regular calculator. All you need to know is your height and weight. If you want to use metric measurements, take your weight in kilograms and divide it by your height in meters squared. If you use inches and pounds instead, you need to multiply the result by 703 to get an equivalent result. I am 6' tall and I weigh 180 lbs. 180/(72 x 72) x 703 = 24.4

Underweight

If your BMI is 18 or less, you are considered underweight for your height. My work here is done. Just kidding.

Being underweight is a health problem, just as being overweight is. As Mr. Weightless, I am dedicated to helping those at the other end of the spectrum, but if you are underweight, here are a few tips to become healthier.

Don't try to do the opposite of everything I say to lose weight. You should still be drinking plenty of water, for example.

This may seem obvious, but EAT MORE. Consume more calories than you expend.

Consume more protein. One main reason you may be underweight is lack of muscle mass. Resistance training combined with a hefty increase in protein consumption will put some meat on your bones.
The best way to consume more calories while keeping a balanced and healthy diet is to order one of our combo products, and instead of using the meal replacement to replace meals, have a shake between other meals. You will be getting more calories, more protein, but without imbalancing your intake of other essential nutrients.

Normal Weight

If your BMI is between 18 and 25, you are considered normal weight for your height. My work here is done. Really.

Actually, not really. Read the section below BMI is not Enough to find out why a BMI that is in the normal range may not mean that you have no risk of disease. And let's face it, for beach season you don't want your waistline to be ormal, you want it to looked ipped. You can benefit from my articles and products to strip off the last remaining fat cells that are hiding your six-pack.

Overweight

If your BMI is over 25, you are considered overweight for your height. This is a dangerous category because most people ignore the dangers. Technically, being in the overweight category does not seriously predispose you to any health problems. But that does not mean that you are healthy. And if you do nothing, you may just slip into the obese category where your risks are great for developing heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

There is a movement these days called healthy overweight. People may have you believe that if you can jog a mile and do some push-ups that you are healthy despite being large. If you can do these things, that's great, but that doesn't make you healthy. It just means you're not sick yet. The people who believe in the healthy overweight basically want to take away any shame you might feel about your size, to make you feel better and relieve some of your stress about your self-image. They say that companies that sell diet products have exaggerated claims and made fat people believe that any amount of excess fat is unattractive and unhealthy. That may be true, we all see advertisements that make us feel unattractive compared to models and actors, and we don't feel as healthy as the athletes we watch in sports. But let's not kid ourselves: If you have excess fat, you are not as healthy as someone without it. Fat, especially around the waist, is a health risk, and it does you no good, unless you find yourself in the arctic. If you're a healthy overweight, lose some weight and you'll be a healthier normal weight!

In some cultures, even in America, being overweight is a status symbol. Having a big belly tells everyone that you make so much money that you can afford lots of food. It also says that you don't do manual labour or work with your muscles because your brain is all you need for your job. I think in most cultures this image is going away, because the muscular superhero look that I'm helping you attain shows just as much success in a different way.

Obese

If your BMI is over 30, you are considered obese. This is the category that is most associated with hightened risk for all sorts of diseases. Risk is not a guarantee, you might live to be 90, but the chances are slim.

I won't go into all of the health problems you are exposing yourself to, because I've written another article about that. Read all about Obesity Statistics and Dangers at www.weightlessproducts.com.

I don't think anything more needs to be said. If you are obese, you need to start losing weight right now to reduce your risks. Would you rather be dead? I don't like scaring people, but I am scared for you.

BMI Alone is Not Enough

One important fact to consider is that BMI is based only on height and weight. Therefore, BMI is not the best measure of your health. It is attractive because it's fast and easy to calculate, not because it is perfect. If you have been lifting weights and have a lot of muscle, your BMI may say you are overweight even though you have little health risk. That is because your big muscles increase your weight, not body fat.

To get a truly accurate picture of your health risks, you can try one or more of the following other indicators.

Percentage bodyfat is the best measure. You cannot do this yourself without special equipment. A doctor or nutritionist must do one of three tests: 1) use skin calipers to measure skin fold at four or six points on your body, or 2) submerge you in water to calculate your volume, or 3) use a device that measures BIA (bioelectrical impedence analysis) by running a small electrical charge through your body.

Generally, men should have less than 18% body fat, and women less than 23%.

Another good indicator of health risk related to weight is waist-hip ratio. Stand with stomach relaxed and measure the narrowest part of your waist, and divide that number by the measurement at the widest point of your hips/buttocks. For women, this number should be less than 0.8, for men it should be less than 0.95. If your ratio is higher, then you carry excess fat around the waist, which carries a higher health risk. However, this only really applies if your BMI is already over 25.

If your BMI is over 25, it is time to take action to improve your health. If your BMI is over 30, you are already at risk for many diseases. Start one of our programs today, it's FREE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David McCormick is the founder of Weightless Products. On the website, Mr. Weightless gives you tons of information completely free. No banner ads, no pop-ups, no sign-up. Visit http://www.weightlessproducts.com

Breakthrough Marketing Tips for Selling Houses

Home sellers who learn about marketing psychology and home staging can take advantage of unconventional selling strategies. If you're selling a home or investment house, you might need some extra help to generate a speedy, top-dollar sale. Here are three cutting edge home selling concepts to help you.

1. Marketing Psychology

Study the Internet marketing masters. Notice that effective sales letters don't list the features of a product. Internet marketers know that people buy because they want the benefits.

Structure your sales materials for your product keeping in mind what your house can do for the buyer. Instead of listing a long list of features, turn the amenities into benefits to the home buyer. For instance, instead of listing 2,050 sq. ft, 2 story, say: Spread out in huge two-story home of over 2,000 square feet. Think about your potential buyers and target your benefits to them. First-time home buyers care about privacy and easy payments. Move-up buyers care about status and luxury.

2. Home Staging for a Speedy Sale

Staged homes sell faster for many reasons. Staged homes make buyers feel at home--instead of feeling like an intruder in someone else's home. Agents love to advertise and show a staged home. Appraisers even give credit for buyer appeal.

3. Home Staging with Design Psychology for a Speedy, Top-Dollar Sale

Design Psychology takes home staging further by applying marketing psychology to interior design.

Always consider your target market and their emotional needs. First-time buyers want shelter and security, while move-up buyers desire prestige and peace. After you've cleaned and shined your home, set the stage. Add a few props, carefully selected to encourage a prospective buyer's desired emotions and paying special attention to happiness, joy, serenity, and security.

Home Staging with Design Psychology, unlike traditional home staging, brings into play:

* Market colors instead of bland white walls: market colors are selected based on the buyers' profile and proven preferences.

* Furnishings for feelings: stage a lifestyle step-up.

* Props to entice buyers senses: unlike normal home staging, you don't need rooms full of furniture.

What do home buyers want? They want a home that meets their needs. However, they'll eventually buy the home that makes them FEEL happy and one that will impress their friends, because they also want to be proud of the home they've chosen. Your choice of decorating colors, patterns, textures, and furnishings will influence the way a prospective buyer feels, and the buyer's feelings will impact their choice of housing.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

More information about Staged Homes

Learn about Home Staging from an interior design teacher. Jeanette Fisher offers free Home Staging Information and teleseminars. Find out how to profile your prospective home buyer and set the stage for a top dollar, faster sale. Sell Your Home Fast: http://sellfast.info

Real Estate Broker License

One of the most complex and significant financial events in peoples' lives is the purchase or sale of a home or property. Because of this complexity, people typically seek the help of real estate brokers and sales agents when buying or selling real estate.

Real estate agents usually are independent sales workers who provide their services to a licensed real estate broker on a contract basis. In return, the broker pays the agent a portion of the commission earned from the agent's sale of the property. Brokers are independent businesspeople who sell real estate owned by others. They also may rent or manage properties for a fee. When selling real estate, brokers arrange for title searches and for meetings between buyers and sellers during which the details of the transactions are agreed on and the new owners take possession of the property.

In every state, real estate brokers and sales agents must possess a license. Prospective agents must be high school graduates, at least 18 years of age, and pass a written test. The examination, which is more comprehensive for brokers than for agents, includes questions on basic real estate transactions and laws affecting the sale of property. Most states require candidates for the general sales license to complete between 30 and 90 hours of classroom instruction. In order to qualify for a broker?s license, sixty to ninety hours of training and up to three years of experience are required. Some states waive the experience requirements for the broker's license for applicants who have a bachelor's degree in Real Estate. State licenses typically must be renewed every one or two years. Although a re-examination might not be required, many states require continuing education for license renewals.

Persons who have received their broker's license may open their own offices. Others with experience and training in estimating property value may become real estate appraisers, and those familiar with operating and maintaining rental properties may become property managers. This field has seen an upsurge with the rising property prices ? on average, over 3000 real estate broker licenses are approved each month.

Real Estate Licenses provides detailed information on Real Estate Licenses, Real Estate Broker License, How To Get A Real Estate License, Real Estate License Online and more. Real Estate Licenses is affiliated with Las Vegas Real Estate Agents.

Change Your Outlook on Change

D.Make no mistake about it, change is challenging whether it is conscious or unexpected.  Viewing adversity as change, not loss or failure, is part of empowered and positive thinking.  Humans develop resiliency through change, both physiologically, and emotionally

Make no mistake about it, change is challenging whether it is conscious or unexpected.  Viewing adversity as change, not loss or failure, is part of empowered and positive thinking.  Humans develop resiliency through change, both physiologically, and emotionally

Its necessary for all life forms to evolve.  Change comes though many vehicles some hit us hard, others are rather sneaky.  But despite the challenges change brings, we know it is our natural state.  Its inevitable the world grows and we grow with it fueled by our emotions.  We are already designed to cry, express sorrow, frustration, anger, resentment, even give up for awhile and most of us choose to explore these feelings. But we are also designed to have hope, recover, be stronger, and inspire others as a result of change.  You are never, never alone because emotion gives us plenty in common - as a society, we are not yet Vulcans. 

What makes one person triumphantly survive loss and turn it into positive energy, while another in similar circumstances resign?  It has to do with our underlying assumptions on change.  I have two very dear friends; each have had a double mastectomy from breast cancer.  Losing body parts is devastating, not to mention living with the daily uncertainty of not knowing whether you continue to remain in remission.  Yet one woman has forged ahead as a life-force warrior, focusing on triumphs and wins of today.  She doesnt look back.  The other has difficulty moving forward not engaging in work outside her home, quitting her job, waiting for something to happen while in a state of self-imposed limbo.   Theyve processed their information in completely different ways.  Why?

Its because people want certainty before they decide to accept change.  Its a natural reaction.  Certainly our culture has become more comfortable with making choices that have predictable outcomes.  A current cultural disease we suffer from is predictability, reflected in our inability to accept change at a deeply personal level.  It applies across the board to choices we make with our finances, careers, or our relationships.  Science, especially when applied to health issues, has given us a false security blanket when it comes to certainty. After all, it seems weve been able to control nature. We like to think weve cornered the market on predictability and good planning, when the truth is we live in a time where prediction is more intuition and common sense than science.  To embrace change, we need to release the umbilical cord we think we have to outcomes of certainty.  In other words, stepping off of the plateau requires a huge amount of trust.  Your fall will be broken somewhere at the right time. Believing that is what allows us to cope.  It is the first step, unsupported by any scientific doctrine.  And its a big one. 

No matter what science pronounces, whether it is in the form of a diagnosis, prognosis, or the state of the environment, there is no sure thing.   Science has already given us permission to accept truth with a margin of error in just about anything.  There is always the possibility something may exist, or not exist, despite what patterns indicate.  Truly, it is a useless endeavor to let science, or proof for that matter, hold you back from moving forward. Whether it is health, or other issues surrounding job loss, divorce, or death, you will successfully navigate through change and elevate the quality of your life by knowing anyone can beat the odds.  There is evidence everywhere, not just from Christopher Reeves, Mattie Stepanak, or those whose stories you find in People magazine, but from the dry cleaner, your third cousin, your own child.  Almost everyone you know has a story of beating the odds.  Lets pay attention to the real evidence instead of looking for ways to prove that we cant make it or the odds are just too great.

Adopting a new attitude on adversity requires big picture thinking on the subject of change.  View life, and spiritual development for that matter, as an upward spiral where you experience some of the same lessons over and over again.  Is it because we just arent getting what the lesson is telling us?  Perhaps, but thats not the only reason.  Weve deliberately put those circumstances in our chart in frequent doses to allow ourselves an opportunity to see how weve been progressing on the upward part of that growth spiral.  Adversity is an inescapable performance indicator a frequent reminder of our upcoming 360-degree review in how we handle the bumps.  We are meant to be a stronger, more insightful person each time we get walloped.  With each business obstacle, make a stronger commitment toward your goal of service to humanity; each time you grieve, become better at comforting others and showing compassion; after each funeral, return home knowing life is a precious gift.  With all setbacks, it drives the point home on the one true certainty in life and that is we must use our time wisely to make conscious change in the world. Change is designed to get outside of ourselves and become conscious of our place within a community of souls.  Without change, there is no transformation. Change is good, making us stir the self-development pot a little faster!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D., author of Let Your Goddess Grow! 7 Spiritual Lessons on Female Power and Positive Thinking and The Womens Book of Empowerment: 323 Affirmations that Change Everyday Problems into Moments of Potential (2005) provides guidance through everyday complexity with female imagery and positive thinking.  Please visit www.thegoddessnetwork.net and register for her many self-help and inspirational programs, which include The Divine Woman, a free monthly newsletter!

Laptop bags

Laptop bags market grew a lot in the last years due to the fact that the laptop computer market grew a lot. There is not only one type of laptop bags, you will find more, the funny fact is that a lot of designers struggle to design such accessories for all mighty laptop computer.



Well, let's see...


Attache type laptop bags



A laptop bag that looks like a business brief, for sure! What makes the difference between these bags and regular business bags is that these bags are especially designed for laptops.



Most popular models are made of aluminum but also of leather and other fancy materials.



I'd remember here Samsonite Business Cases 4 Aluminum Attache Computer Case or Case Logic 15.4 Student Laptop Attache .


Messenger type laptop bags



Nice looking laptop bags, really looking like messenger bags, stylish and practical.



They come in both horizontal and vertical models. I ask myself if vertical models of laptop bags offer enough protection to your laptop.



For Messenger type laptop bags I would remember JanSport SuperBreak Drop Down Computer Vertical Brief and Abbi New York Valerie


Backpacks (laptop bags that are carried on your back)



These types of laptop bags are most practical I'd say! A lot of students here use these bags for carrying their laptops. They are comfortable, easy to carry, they give you the freedom to do whatever you want with your hands and offer great protection to your laptop.



I would mention here JanSport Air Cure or Higher Ground 15 Laptrap
About the Author

John Smith writes technical articles about laptop bags, laptop accessories and all you need ot know when buying a mobile computer on http://www.magiclaptop.com/laptops/laptop-bags.php

Houston Texas Real Estate

Houston is the largest city in Texas and fourth largest city in United States. Several major oil companies and aeronautics industries have set up their base here. This has made it the economic hub of gulf coast region. Texas also boasts of hosting several cultural events.

Demand for real estate scenario depends on the condition of local industries and economy. If various industries do well, then real estate prices go up and so is the case with Houston with its flourishing industries.

Real estate scenario in Houston is picking up and many builders are developing many new residential housing projects. Different types of residential properties such as apartment flats, row houses and independent bungalows are available for customers to choose from. Customers will be able to choose appropriate home of their dreams from this wide range, depending on choice of location and budget. Some builders have been in construction business for decades and have the credit of having built some classic structures in the yesteryears. They have developed perfect understanding of needs and requirements of home seekers. Builders have structured their plans accordingly, to incorporate necessary changes.

Real estate market comprises of various professionals such as real estate homebuilders, new home developers, real estates agents, and brokers. They all work together to provide appropriate professional services to different homebuyers. Customers are advised to study floor plans and flat location before selecting one.

Real estate prices are expected to rise as a result of considerable growth of the city. Thus it is essential for prospective homebuyers to study the real estate market very carefully before deciding to buy a house. Various magazines, journals and periodicals as well as real estate websites provide specific information for the benefit of customers. It is advisable for them go through these channels for better knowledge of the market.

Texas Real Estate provides detailed information on Texas Real Estate, Texas Real Estate Commissions, Austin, Texas Real Estate, Houston, Texas Real Estate and more. Texas Real Estate is affiliated with Houston Real Estate Schools.

The Tenant?s Tenets: Residential Lease Agreements

In this world, everybody must abide by certain rules and regulations. These could be official rules which are penned by persons of authority and are expected to be followed by one and all; or these could be unofficial rules which are dictated upon people by other people or by society. Of these two, official rules are those which are considered as more formal and shall apply to everyone ? from small (offices, classes, organizations) to large (townships, cities, countries) groups of people.

As with everything in this world, real estate transactions are also governed by rules and this extends through the entire gamut of individuals who are, in one way or another, involved in the process. There are federal and state property laws which real estate agents and lawyers must be aware of. Within the real estate office, there are specific rules that need to be followed as well. The professional relationship of a broker and a client are also governed by rules. However, in real estate, no one is more exposed to a list of dos and don?ts than a tenant of leased property.

Tenants of rented units are bound by a contract called a lease agreement. All the details pertaining to the lease are itemized in this document, and these include the names and addresses of the parties involved; the rented property, duration of lease, agreed upon rental fee, payment terms, and so on and so forth. Apart from these, lease agreements also include specific tenets or rules which, upon signing of the document, the tenant promises to abide by. And like anything that come in pairs these conditions come with concomitant penalties and corrective actions. Lease agreements are very important documents and the preparation of such should not be taken lightly.

Lease agreements are usually prepared by real estate agents and/or lawyers and this forms part of the whole service package offered to consumers. These days, however, you no longer need to consult with professionals for this. Many of these real estate related websites can give you tips on how to prepare a legally binding lease agreement. There are sites where a sample is presented to you on the screen, and there are also websites where you are able to purchase and download these contracts. The forms, such as the residential lease agreement, though found on real estate websites were created by professional real estate agents, thus you can be assured that the format and contents are valid. These can be opened using any word processing program and you can easily modify the contents to plug in the rules and conditions for you expect your tenants to follow.

If you want to secure a copy from the internet, all you need to do is pay for the contract by using your credit card, paypal or the issuance of electronic cheques, and once the payment approved, you can immediately download the residential lease agreement and alter the contents as you see fit. So pen those tenets now and include these in the lease agreement so your tenant will live by your rules.

This is article is brought to you by Gloria Smith at LegalHomeForms.com. Created by a former, licensed Real Estate Agent, LegalHomeForms.com was designed to offer instant access to the most sought after type of real estate forms. For the cost of what others charge for one real estate contract, you can have instant access to over 60 downloadable real estate forms. You can find the Residential Lease Agreement form at: http://www.legalhomeforms.com/residential-lease-agreement.htm

Sarasota PreConstruction Real Estate

The United States real estate market is growing faster then ever before. Sarasota has become a pre-construction real estate hot spot. Pre-construction is the most profitable phase of investment in real estate. New construction offers a wider choice of location and layout, with the most desirable finance options. Pre-construction is considered a healthy investment, making investors wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. Investors in pre-construction real estate are willing to take bigger risks for a chance to make huge profits.

Sarasota has for long been an upper class vacation destination with its pristine white beaches, exciting nightlife, 5 star restaurants and hotels, and its interesting mix of cultures. The Sarasota pre-construction market has witnessed a boom in the last few years. There are downtown condos, beachfront high-rise condos, single-family residences and mansions under development. Sarasota is a sellers market and most properties remain on the market only for small period.

Prices of Sarasota real estate in its pre-construction stage are significantly lower and more affordable to the investor. Pre-construction sale has shown a significant increase over the years and continues to grow. Investors have the advantage of not having to pay any local and state taxes for many years.

Pre-construction deals are usually not advertised in the initial stages. Deals are mostly brokered via a network of estate agents who sell directly on behalf of the developers. Brokers reserve a number of units for their top clientele. The second stage of construction brings on a 10% increase in price. On selection of a property, an investor pays a deposit of around 10% of the purchase price. An additional 10% is usually paid within the next three months. Investors are able to sell their units within a year at a profit of 20% or more.

The increasing interest in Real Estate investment trusts shows that real estate investment return is becoming an important part of a Sarasota investor?s investment portfolio.

Sarasota Real Estate provides detailed information on Sarasota Real Estate, Sarasota Pre-Construction Real Estate, Sarasota Real Estate Marketing, Sarasota Real Estate For Sale By Owner and more. Sarasota Real Estate is affiliated with Minnesota Commercial Real Estate.

20 Tips For Buying Your Wedding Gown

 



20 Tips For Buying Your Wedding GownSubmitted By: Annette Durrett  

1. Start early - Once you have set your wedding date, begin your search for a wedding dress. Ordering a wedding gown can easily take four to six months for the complete process. Unless you purchase your wedding dress off of the rack, your wedding gown will not be sewn until you order it. Then you can expect to have one to two fittings for any needed alterations. Even if your purchase a gown off the rack, you need to allow time for finding the wedding gown and for fittings and alteration time.

2. Have an idea - Use the Internet and bridal magazines to get an idea of the type of dress you want, puffy sleeves, long skirt, etc?Consider the ceremony's location and time of year- don't plan a huge skirt for a tight little church or a thin silk sheath for an outdoor winter ceremony. Hint: Don't remove the magazine pages with wedding dress styles you like. Keeping them in the magazine will help keep them organized and will be easier for the sales staff to flip through and see your choices.

3. Do your homework - Contact friends and the local Chamber of Commerce for reputable bridal saloons and other wedding gown dealers in your area. Call the Better Business Bureau about any company you plan to patronize. Be wary of any wedding dress salon or seamstress that requires more than a 50% deposit on special orders, you want to have some leverage if the product you receive is not what you expected. Be aware that some wedding gown shops remove the tags from wedding dresses so you cannot identify the designer. Many times they will not offer you the style number of the wedding gown but try to get this information before putting money down so that you will know the exact wedding dress manufacturer. (Click here to see a special notice from the bridal council of America on where to find a wedding dress.)

4. Don't shop alone - It is best to take one or two people with you who can assist you in getting in and out of those beautiful, but big wedding gowns. Also, another person can give you an honest opinion on how the dress fits and help you determine its appearance from all angles. Most importantly, taking one or two people will make your experience more fun. Relax and enjoy yourselves! You don't have to buy your dress in one day (usually).

5. Plan to Pay 50% down - Generally a 50% deposit is required by most bridal shops on special orders and off-the-rack gowns that need alterations. Once the order has been placed, that money is absolutely non-refundable. We recommend using a charge card for this payment, in case there is a significant complaint against the establishment you may be able to work something out with the credit card company for reimbursement.

6. Call ahead - Many bridal shops and department stores require appointments to try on wedding gowns. Be sure to call ahead and secure your appointment before dropping by an establishment, you might find you have just wasted valuable time because they won't see you that day. Also, you will want to verify if the bridal shop carries the manufacturer you are interested in or if they have a sample of a particular wedding dress you have your heart set on.

7. Measure up - It is a good idea to have your measurements taken at a bridal salon or take them yourself before ordering your wedding gown. Each wedding gown designer has a different size chart and these sizes are generally a little larger than your street clothes size. Wedding gown sizes are based on measurements and even though you may normally wear a size 6 you may order an 8 or 10 in your wedding gown.

8. Buy a dress that fits - Even though you may be on a diet to lose 20 pounds before your wedding, buy or order a wedding gown that fits you now. It is very easy to take in a wedding gown with minor alterations but it is next to impossible to increase the size of a wedding dress. Don't be stuck with a wedding dress that does not fit properly or worse that you can't wear because it's too small.

9. Get your purchase order in writing -Once you have chosen the wedding gown you are going to purchase and are prepared to put down a deposit, have the salesperson write up a detailed receipt for you. Included on this receipt should be a full description of the wedding gown, including any special charges, such as charges for petite or large sizes, extra length, change of sleeve length, or any other special requests. Delivery date and due dates should be included as well. Lastly, any special offers such as free alterations, free shipping or rushed delivery time should be spelled out on the receipt as well. Having a written record of your verbal agreement with the bridal shop will be added insurance for you should a dispute arise.

10. Consider the rear view - Remember that you will be spending quite a bit of time with your back to the audience. Be sure that the view from behind is as flattering as the front.

11. Know the styles and terms - Look through our list of wedding gowns terms to know to help familiarize yourself with wedding dress terms so that you can better tell a salesperson what you are looking for. Consider doing a little research on fabric types and different wedding gown companies as well. Your local library or bookstore will carry books such as Bridal Gown Guide by Denise and Alan Fields which will provide you with more information.

12. Set a budget - Be realistic about your budget and try to stick to it. There are many options for buying a wedding gown (click here to see where to buy a wedding gown). Don't try on wedding gowns that are out of your price range because you are only setting yourself up for disappointment and making the decision process even harder on yourself.

13. Review your options - There are many places to find your wedding gown such as Bridal Shops, Sample Sales, Department Stores and Renting. (Click here for more information on where to find your wedding dress and how their service and price compare to each other.)

14. Comfort matters - Remember you will be wearing your wedding gown for the entire day and well into the evening; so choose a gown that feels comfortable. An important test (after you have your wedding dress on) is to attempt to bend over, sit down, dance or do whatever it takes to assure that you can move in the wedding dress so that you will feel comfortable wearing it on your wedding day.

15. Try them all on - Even though you may have an idea of what type wedding gown you want, be open to the suggestions of a professional bridal salon staff. A wedding dress that is not very appealing on the hanger may surprise you and look very flattering once it is on your body.

16. Soften up - Stark white dresses are not flattering on many women. Consider an ivory, soft pink or other antique white that might be more becoming with your coloring. Also, understand that dye changes many materials vary slightly and the wedding dress that you special order may not be the exact color of the wedding dress you try on at the salon. If your wedding dress is being made, request a swatch of the fabric to get an idea of the exact color you will be wearing.

17. Wear a little make-up - We are not proposing that you wear a heavy application of make-up or lots of dark lip stick, but do put at least a little make-up on so that you don't look washed out in everything you try on. If you wear your make-up and fix your hair before shopping, you will have a better idea of how you'll look on your big day.

18. Try on the whole package - Bring with you shoes that are roughly the same height of the shoes you plan to wear during the ceremony and a strapless bra. Before you make your final decision on a wedding gown, try on your head piece and bridal slip to see what the total package looks like. You want to make sure that the headpiece and other accessories you choose will all look great together with the wedding gown.

19. Inspect each wedding gown - If you are planning to purchase a wedding gown off the rack, be sure that you inspect each wedding gown very carefully. Turn the wedding dress inside out and inspect each seam to make sure the construction of the wedding gown is solid and that the fabric is not unraveling at the seams. Inspect the appliqu?s and beading to insure that they are securely fastened and not just glued onto the wedding dress. Be wary of purchasing a wedding gown that needs minor repairs because once you begin to alter a wedding dress, you can not return it if the repair is not successful.

20. Relax and enjoy yourself - Remember to relax and enjoy the shopping experience. Allow the bridal salon salespeople to pamper you or enjoy the thrill of the bargain shopping of a warehouse sale. Whatever you do, remember the goal of your wedding is to marry the person you love and that your wedding gown is just one part of the ceremony. Being an educated consumer will help you feel more in control and feel more comfortable with the purchase you make.

**A special notice from the bridal council of America:

The Best Place to Buy Your Gown from The Bridal Council of America?

The best place to buy your wedding gown is at the store you try it on. You may be tempted to order your wedding dress through a o inventory dealer, an 800#, or the Internet, thinking you will get a lower price. However, when all things are considered, you may end up paying more. Here are three tips:

1) Beware of anyone who wants to ship your wedding gown to you. You have little recourse if anything goes wrong. Chances are the extra charges you will have to pay someone else for fitting, steaming, pressing and shipping will outweigh any discount.

2) Beware of anyone who requires you to pay in full for your wedding dress before ordering it. They are saying, We do not service what we sell. We do not guarantee the fit. We do not want to be responsible. OUR ADVICE: You should never pay more than a 50% deposit at the time of ordering your wedding dress.

3) Beware of anyone who suggests that you do the footwork - select your style preference somewhere else and then call them to order. If they can't show you wedding dresses to try on, don't show them the money.

Our recommendation is that you buy your wedding gown at the same place that you select it. When you consider terms and what the price includes, you can usually save time and money by doing it all at one place - a full-service bridal store where your satisfaction is guaranteed. A wedding is too important to take chances.

About the Author:

Annette Durrett has been in the wedding business for over 10 years helping brides prepare for their big day. To learn more about wedding dresses review Wedding Dresses. Also, for information about all things wedding related visit us at AffordableWeddingInvitations.net.

Article Tags: dress, gown, wedding

Death Becomes Her

I had the funniest moment today. I called up a client only to hear the words, Abby is no longer with us. Pause. He then proceeded to say, She hasnt passed away, shes just not with our company anymore. I didnt want you to think she was dead. I was in a work mode, so I was a little slow on the uptake. However, he made me think how often we dont clarify ourselves so that what we say can be taken in the right or wrong way. Misunderstandings were best played out in the immortal, Threes Company. That crazy Jack Tripper. But, I digress.

Take an email for example. It has no tone, or personality. In our quest for quick, responsive communication, email has become almost rude. We ignore em, dont address people properly, open them and promptly forget them, place high importance priorities (!) on emails that arent urgent, misspell, lack the proper grammar or punctuation (spell check isnt foolproof) and capitalize letters which are equivalent to SHOUTING! We know of Road Rage, but theres also the wrath of the email thats slowly terrorizing the countryside. No one has been killed so far on account of an email, but remember this caution and advice if you email colleagues and clients. Dont take for granted picking up the phone or speaking face to face to clarify issues and make deals. Cause maybe youll hear the same thing being said about you, So-and-so is no longer with us. Maybe we wont think its terribly funny when our ex-company is saying the same thing about us.

Respectfully In Memoriam of John Ritter-1948-2003

Tamara Jong is the Marketing Coordinator for Venturelabour.com and handles the career column, and online content management for www.canjobs.com-Your source for jobs in Canada

O. S. ARI - Some Anecdodes of Him -he was famous also for his wit and wisdomeoa uk

ANECDOTES OF THE LATE O. S. ARI

...Aris voice, full of wit, filled the room...
(Mustafa Dogrusoz in Kibris -5 February 1999)

...He always wore a smile...
(Harid Fedai in 'Halkin Sesi' -27 December 1992)

(In his newspaper columns [mostly between 1968-1992 in Cypriot Halkin Sesi -also Birlik etc. often by a little story or joke did the hailed teacher-thinker-poet the late Orhan Seyfi Ari [1918- 1992 made or highlighted his points ~so also in his lectures, debates, discussions, teaching his school pupils. These simply put anecdotes are hoped briefly and miscellaneously to familiarise with his wit and a few of the less involved of the very many views he was also popular for)

DIPLOMATIC COMMUNIQES, he thought, were rather like broadcasting live on the radio a match between two boxers called Abdi and Bandinelli, and announcing the winner as Abdinelli

NEVER TOO LATE to change ones mind or to make a start was not of more use to one, sometimes, or to a nation, than it would be to the driver of a car rolling down a cliff to then decide to drive carefully

IRRELEVANCY was a natural and common refuge of man ~You have gone bald! he joked with a friend who he had not seen for a long time his friend looked at him, then responded, Ha..! As if your sons got more hair than I..!

THE TROUBLES OF THE WORLD had much to do with this, that some with breathing difficulties had become deep sea divers

IGNORANT WE ALL ARE of many things, he thought some of us, even of our ignorance

PERSEVERANCE it was an example of, the little delicate plant that shots and grows through the concrete of the pavement

WHINING O-oh!.. his friend explained, I missed my train.. oh, I was twenty minutes late.. I am so sorry He replied: Dont be you would have missed it also if you were only twenty seconds late..!

EVOLUTION.. we were apes Now..?! Were we not, now, man!?..

JUSTIFICATIONS of some reminded him of someone in his early teens to whom he had given leaflets, booklets, on how harmful smoking was some months later the teenager came to him waving a newspaper which mentioned that an elderly person was a smoker

RELATIONSHIPS had much to do with knowing that one could not stand before a mirror and make faces and expect to see a smiling image...

STRENGTH did not necessarily suffice ~I am a wrestler! threatened one the other laughed: But.. I am a runner...

GOD Perhaps does not exist; he said but, Sir, what if He does..!?

POPULARITY it helped to wear a smile the vinegar merchant who smiled had more customers than the honey merchant who did not

Author's research unfortunately could not include all of the articles of the late thinker -his anecdotes above are not from those articles themselves

Consultant 2004Bernard Romanycia

Santana rocks.

Independant.

The Prodigal Prince Fred, (Tasmanian Fred, Royal Spoiled Brat)Troy Nilsson

The Prodigal Prince Fred,
(Tasmanian Fred, Royal Spoiled Brat)

THE SETTING Luke 15:11 There was a man who had two sons.

Far away, long before children had beds, There lived a Tasmanian 'Devil' named Fred Prince Frederick the Fifth, Son of Frederick the Fourth Who ruled the Tasmanian Kingdom, of course.

King Frederick was noble and goodly and nice The Tasmanians loved him- from mooses to mice They also loved King Freddy's nicely son Ned But oh how they hated that nasty Prince Fred.

Prince Freddy was snooty and cocky and smuggly He hung with his gang, The Tasmanian Thugglies They loved to break furniture, quarrel, and fight And steal kiddies' candies on Halloween night.

They'd cruise through the countryside hooting and howling Kicking the kangaroos, shooting and scowling Scaring the children asleep in their beds And thumping the night owls on top of their heads; they'd

throw rocks through windows and break into stores They'd put piles of doo-doo by people's front doors And laugh at the look in the nice people's eyes When they stepped out and stepped in Fred's poo-poo surprise.

And the townspeople said, For these prattles and pranks We'll break out our paddles- PRINCE FRED NEEDS A SPANK!

And oh how they spanked him- they swatted and popped him But Prince Freddy liked the attention it got him - His horrible habits would not go away So he pranked every night and got spanked every day.

Luke 15:12
The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

But what Fred only knew was that he had grown weary Tasmanian teasing was boring and dreary He'd broken or messed up most everything there And he ached for a change- a breath of fresh air.

So he said hey King Daddy-O, gimme my Money I 'm sick and I'm tired of you, Neddy and Mummy I'm gonna go where the grasses are greener The girls are much cuter, the cows are much leaner We'll conquer the world, my Thugglies and me THEY'RE my real family- They love me, you'll see.

King Frederick wiped a big tear from his eye, said, Dear Son Freddy, please don't say goodbye The world is a jungle, cruel and abusing You'll get bamboosled, you'll get a bad bruising.

But Freddy shouted, Quiet, you looney old man Just gimme my money, as fast as you can!

King Frederick thought I don't owe him a thing But I'll follow the counsel of Cousin King Sting Who said Sometimes love is to let people be for If you love someone you must set them free.

King stood up and said, I'll give half of my kingdom Then Fred will see just how much I love him (But Freddy just stood looking bored and half-sick And said good enough, Daddy, -let's make it quite quick!).

Out came the servants with barrels and trunkets Silver by truckloads, Doubloons by the buckets Deeds for the land, for the houses and castles Clothes with gold hats zippers and diamonds on tassles.

And when finally they'd loaded the loot and the booty Prince Fred turned around with a shout super-snooty Good riddance, Good King, and Tasmania too I'll conquer the world, just like I conquered YOU!

THE SQUANDERING
Luke 15:13 Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

So Fred bought a ship and a giant Jalope The Thugglies and some of the girlies came hopping They sailed off to Greece, to Italia and Thebes Germania, San Pedro, the Isle of Saint Dweebes Morocco, Swahili, Israeli, Bombay Calcutta, Cape Cod, Albakerkie and Spain The Thugglies all cheered 2,4,6, and 8 Freddie's the Thugguly we 'preciate We really love you, not just for your money- You're every boy's buddy, and every girl's honey.

They sailed to Cape horn where the Africans dance Got drunk on bamboo juice and wet in their pants (They drove the Jalope all through the Sahara 'til it broke down in the hot desert weatha') They Flew on a flybird to HulaHuLoo And swiggled and swayed like the hulahoo's doo They took a fast train to Bermuda for fishing And snork'ling and swimming and winnihee wishing Then off to Arabia seeking the carpet- The magic one- and when the found it Fred bought it They rode like the wind on a magical flight So close to the stars they could kiss them goodnight And they laughed and they sang and they never once worried ... Til they ran out of gas in Pougkipsee, Missouri Starving and thirsting from singing and lauging They searched out a truck stop for eating and gassing They ordered hamburglers and ice cream and coke- That's when Fred said with a gasp- Friends, I'm broke!

His 'friends' said, Hey, Freddy-O, you must be jokin' Fred said I'm not... and they started to choke him Why have you brought us out here to Missouri?!- they cried and they cried 'til their vision was blurry.

They beat Fred that night 'bout the head and the shoulders Kicked him and pelted him hard with small boulders, Then pooled every cent they'd embezzled from Fred Hopped a bird home and left Fred for dead.

PIGS
Luke 15:14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

When Fred awoke in the ditch the next tuesday, Angry and dizzy and battered and bruisedy Seeing he needed some doct'ring and nursing He wobbled and bobbled back into Poughkipsee.

'These people will serve me as soon as they see My royal credentials, my choice pedigree I'm Frederick the Fifth, Son of Frederick The Fourth Heir to the crown of Tasmania, of course!'

Tasmania!, they laughed, why it sounds to me Like this boy's been eating the wackety weed! He thinks he's a Prince, but it's clear, he's a fake (disgrace) From the thuggardly look on his uggardly face He's nothing but trouble, repair bills, and grief Poughkipsee has no need for this little thief!

Luke 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
Luke 15:16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

So Fred limped down the road, saw a farmer named Rooflus (fat, bald, and sweaty and dirty and toothless) Who said, You can feed all my pigglies, you dooflus!

So Fred slept in the barn with the hogs in Missouri Where roachies and rats and reegreechies would scurry So dark and so cold in the yuck and the storm He'd hug to the hogs in the mud to keep warm.

And up with the sunrise Ol' Rooflus came screaming TIME TO SLOP HOGS- STOP YOUR SNORING AND DREAMING And oh- how Fred hated to wake up each day For he dreamed of his soft bed, back home, far away.

Then Rooflus would swat with his sluggardly-stick Fred'd jump for the bucket of schloppettyschlick, full of sloopage and scumdredge and leftover lardy, rotten vomatoes and chunkies of barfy.

Fred got so hungry his tummy would gurgle When he'd spy a bitey of uneaten burgle Floating about in the schloppetyschlick But Rooflus said NO SIR, NOT ONE LITTLE BIT For hogs need to eat, they are useful and tasty But you're good for nothing; you're stoopid and lazy .

And the only thing Fred was the Prince of was pigs (But the pigs ate much better than Fred ever did!)

REPENTANCE
Luke 15:17 When he came to his senses, he said, `How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
Luke 15:18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Luke 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'

And slowly, sneaking as if by surprise an idea began growing behind Freddy's eyes 'til one day he came to his senses and said, If I stay with these hogs pretty soon I'll be DEAD! The servants that work for my Dad eat like Kings And all I can eat is regreechichies and squings And moldy old swatches of schlochettyschlick Left where the piggelet's tongues couldn't lick.

So I'll hike back to Father and beg for a job 'cause I've got experience slopping these hogs! Of course he won't let me back into the house Since I spent all his money out being a louse I'm no longer worthy of being his son But I'm great with the hogs- I can get the job done.

EATING HUMBLE PIE
Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father.

So Fred ran away from Pougkipsee and Rooflus Hitchedhiked a wildebeest down to San Lucas Stowed away in the gut of a whale named Jonah Til the whale barfed him out on the beach of Pomplona! He ran in a rickshaw to Katmandudu Nambibia, Naples and Kalamazoo.

After 7 long years of swimming and running (It takes a long time without daddy-o's funding) Fred saw the land he'd remembered in dreams- The shores of Tasmania- sparkling and clean.

FATHER WELCOMES HIM:
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Now King Frederick feared that young Fred had died But day after day, the King strained his old eyes Peering through periscopes over the hills Praying that Fred would come home to him still.

And that day, the greatest day, what did he see? Floundering Freddy afloat on the sea The King ran like an antelope, threw out a raft Pulled Freddy onto the beach with a laugh.

Luke 15:21 The son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

Freddy coughed up all the seaweed and water said, please don't kill me, but hear me out, Father I've sinned, I'm a joke, I'm a heel of a schmuck I'm mother's worst nightmare- bait for bad luck, so Just let me live in the shack with the peasants Slopping the hogs, or dressing the pheasants I'm no longer worthy to be called your son But I've learned to slop hogs- I can get the job done!

Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, `Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Luke 15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
Luke 15:24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

King said,
Son, we've no hogs, we're Tasmanian Jews But you're home alive- That's the greatest of news! So bring him my robe, put my ring on his hand Let's throw a party all over the land Strike up the band let the hoopla abound For Prince Fred was lost; HOORAY, he's been found!

OLDER SON GETS MAD:
Luke 15:25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
Luke 15:26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. Luke 15:27 `Your brother has come,' he replied, `and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
Luke 15:28 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
Luke 15:29 But he answered his father, `Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
Luke 15:30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

But Fred's brother Ned wasn't dancing with glee Ned sat there, lips pouting all pitifully Saying, Hey daddy-o - I'm as nice as can be- But when did you throw a big party for ME? I worked and I slaved and busted my buttocks While that little twirp spent your loot like a dumb-ox.

FATHER GIVES MORAL
Luke 15:31 `My son,' the father said, `you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
Luke 15:32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'

But Ned, said the King, You're already with me What's mine is all yours, far as eagle eyes see So come on! Let's party, let's rock & get down 'cause Fred, left for dead, is alive and in town!

And this, goobs and gurls, is the way God loves you Whatever you say, sin, bamboozzle or do, When you come running home with your arms open wide God says, Come on in, love! There's a party inside!

Copyright 1989 Troy Nilsson You may reprint this story in whole or in part if you: 1) Notify Troy Nilsson of the use, 2) Prominently include credit Troy Nilsson of NilssonMedia.org with the used material.

See http://www.troynilsson.com

Generating Mortgage Leads Is A Very Important Part Of The Mortgage Business

Generating mortgage leads is a very significant part of the mortgage business. Buying mortgage leads is a daily practice for many loan officers and mortgage companies; often the leads that they buy are oversold Internet leads that lead aggregators online sell over and over causing mortgage applicants to get a colossal amount of phone calls, and unwelcome email.

The mortgage industry battle for loan deals on a daily basis. You see advertisements everywhere in the mass media sector. So, is there a way to compete with the big dogs of the industry? Yes, your local market is where you have to focus hard if you are a mortgage loan officer and are having trouble generating loan deals from leads that you buy online. There are many different ways of generating mortgage leads in your local market. Below I have listed a small number of methods that have worked for scores of loan officers who have taken the plunge in to gorilla marketing and viral marketing techniques.

-Create a referral network with realtors: Communicate or at least introduce your self to as many realtors as you can. This will create a viral marketing system that will generate you leads for years to come.

-Use online press release service to your advantage. Submit a well written interesting press release about the local mortgage industry include some worthy news. You local papers and news may pick up on it. This can be a goldmine!

-Plaster your local area with flyers, business cards, pens, and anything containing your company name. Pens work real well since that have a use and are saved for 6-24 months on average.

-Work with local events and charities. Be a part of the community. Sponsor charity golf tournaments. Many real estate agents play golf and wealthy homeowners.

-Network to build net worth! Be known! Don?t expect everyone to know you, make them know you. Go to local after hour spots and network.

-Join as many organizations as possible. The local chamber of commerce, BBB, Social Clubs, anywhere that will get your name more credibility and visibility.

-T-shirts for children. Make company t-shirts. Instead of giving them to adults give them to children, they will wear them and be seen. I saw one shirt on a child that said ?Future Mortgage Broker? Company Name, Phone?. Awesome!

These are just a few ways to enhance your local market share without spending big bucks. Compared to the price of internet leads ($15.00-$75.00 per lead) based off the prices we found posted at http://www.leadbull.com, local marketing is a immense money saver and maker if you have the time and put the effort in!

Jayson Brock has been in the mortgage industry for over 11 years and mostly in the marketing business for 6 of those years. To see more articles Jayson has compiled visit http://www.TheMortgageWire.com or http://www.BrokerTrends.com.

Baby Car Seats ? Which One Does Your Child Need

Do you know which baby car seat is best for your child? In this article find out which seat you should be using.

Baby car seats are very important to the safety of your child while he/she is travelling in a vehicle.? All newer car seats meet all the safety regulations that have been established nationally.? The correct installation and the correct seat can be the difference between injury and no injury should you become involved in a crash.? Many fire departments and police departments offer clinics to teach you how to correctly install your seats and to ensure that they are correctly installed.? All types of car seats should be installed in the backseat.? The front seat is deadly if your car has a passenger airbag.? There are several types of car seats available ? infant car seats, convertible car seats, forward facing toddler seats, and booster seats.

Infant car seats are seats that are designed for infants usually from 5 pounds up to between 22 and 30 pounds (depending on the model).? These seats should always be rear facing as this is the safest position for your baby.? Many infant car seats have bases that latch into the vehicle which allows the actual seat to act as a carrier and to snap in and out of the base.? This will keep you from having to install the seat every time you get into the vehicle.? Your infant should remain in the rear facing position until he/she is one year old and 20 pounds.? Both criteria should be met before placing your child in a forward facing seat.

Convertible car seats are car seats that work in both the rear facing and forward facing positions.?? This type of car seat is installed in the vehicle in a rear facing position fully reclined until the baby reaches one year and 20 pounds.? At that time, the car seat can be turned around and installed in a forward facing position.? These car seats have a five point harness (or a T-shield or a tray shield) and can be used for children up to age 4 and 40 pounds (some models allow for a heavier 4 year old and go up to 80 pounds).? Many models offer the ability to remove the 5 point harness and install the seat as a belt positioning booster seat.?

A forward facing toddler seat is a car seat that is designed for children age 1 to age 4 ranging in weight from 20 pounds to 40 pounds or more depending on the model.? This is the next step in car seats after the infant car seat.? Many of these types of seats also convert into a booster seat.

Booster seats are designed to ensure the seatbelts in your vehicle fit your child.? The seats are for children from age 4 and 40 pounds.? There are high back and backless styles available.? Any toddler or convertible car seat is going to convert to a high back.? A backless style sits in the seat under the child and raises the child to the appropriate height for the belt. It is imperative that your child sits in a baby car seat, make sure you are using the right one.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on a baby car seat and baby car seat tray at http://www.bestbabycarseat.com

Here Comes The Spring Bride

While the calendar may have just been turned to 2007, brides have already been influencing 2007 wedding jewelry trends with their choice of engagement rings. Fulfilling that traditional saying of 'something old, something new', spring brides have been selecting vintage styled rings to adorn their ring finger. These square or rectangle-cut diamonds are accented in a pav? setting and may be complemented by a pav?-set band. Popular cuts in the early twentieth century included the Old Mine cut, which is square with gently rounded corners, the Cushion cut, which is rectangular with rounded corners, and the Asscher cut, which is an emerald cut with clipped corners to create an octagon shape. These cuts are all designed to show off the stone by drawing attention into it. The cut known as Old European is similar except that the stone will be round. Often yellow diamonds, sapphires or other colored gems are seen in this cut.

While the ring on her finger may have been influenced by vintage styling, the other jewelry the bride chooses to wear will certainly not be taking a back seat. The 2007 spring bridal jewelry look can best be summarized as big and bold. Many wedding gowns are strapless and understated; therefore the jewelry a bride chooses to wear will define her look. A large cuff bracelet, long chandelier earrings, or a cascading pendant can be just the accent needed.

The one jewelry item that is definitely a 2007 look is the chandelier earring. Whether they are large and bold, or sleek and shoulder-skimming, chandelier earrings worn with a swept-up hairdo are the ideal answer for the bride who wants a dramatic look accenting her face. Chandelier earrings, available in all price ranges, can be found made with diamonds, CZ's, pearls, sterling silver, real gems, or crystals. As long as they move and skim the shoulder, they create glamour!

While the bride may have chosen a vintage-styled engagement ring, she may also choose to compliment her ring with a vintage-styled bracelet. It may even be an antique bracelet that has been in the family for years. As long as it is bold, or accented with large chunky stones, or trending toward the Art Deco look, the bracelet on the bride's wrist can be a focal point of her look. Color is an important part of this bold look and colorful gemstones can coordinate with the color of the attendants' dresses.

Dramatic is the word to describe necklaces or pendants chosen by brides for 2007. Chokers made of several strands of pearls or crystals, cascading necklaces, or large colorful stones in pendants may not be what traditionalists would think of as bridal jewelry, but these are what today's brides are choosing. Pearls continue to be an important bridal choice, but the dainty little strand of pearls has now become a strand of large, chunky pearls often accented with stones or crystals.

Big, bold, vintage, and dramatic are the defining words for 2007 wedding jewelry! Today's bride is not shy about making her taste the focal point of her wedding. She is accustomed to wearing bold jewelry with her everyday wardrobe and is comfortable converting that look to her bridal jewelry. Probably one of the best benefits of wearing these bold looks is that the jewelry chosen for her wedding day will no longer be relegated to a jewelry box never to be worn again.

Barbara Borchert is Sales and Marketing Manager for Jewels by Park Lane, a direct sales company selling high quality fashion jewelry since 1955. She has a MBA in Marketing Management from DePaul University and has an extensive background in retail buying and field sales. http://jewelsbyparklane.com/

Cadillac XLR New Supercar

Clearly influenced by the styling the Mercedes-Benz SLK, the new Cadillac XLR shares the squared off look of other recent Cadillacs. It doesn?t look bad at all, although the headlamps look as if they have been squeezed to fit alongside the wide grille. The performance puts it up in the supercar class.

Top speed is limited to 155 mph, and it can get to 60 mph in about 5.7 seconds ? that's slightly quicker than the Jaguar XK, thanks to the larger engine. Other competitors include the Mercedes-Benz SL and Porsche 911.

Looks can be deceiving. The car is wide and low, and looks big. In fact, it is quite compact, just 177.5 inches long and 72.2 inches wide. The car looks pretty good, particularly from the side. And you get a very practical SLK-lookalike opening roof. I guess most convertibles will be ?metal? convertibles soon, and the rag tops will disappear ? maybe not on all supercars. To save weight, the roof of the XLR is aluminum and magnesium.

Good power output

Also, the XLR has quite a lot of power: 326 bhp at 6,500 rpm and 312 lb ft (423 Nm)at 4,400 rpm from GM?s Northstar 4.6 liter V-8, which could work a bit harder ? 350-360 bhp, which would not be difficult to get from this engine, would make things more interesting.

As it is, it is enough to give the car quite a shove, and as the Northstar has an aluminum block and head with dohc and four valves per cylinder, it revs well. Variable valve timing improves the spread of power, too.

The engine is coupled to a rear mounted five-speed automatic transmission ? 5 speeds put it at a disadvantage against the European supercars which mostly have six-speed automatics, but it is designed to give sporty shifts. Because the box is rear-mounted and the engine is fairly well back, front/rear weight distribution is 50/50.

New frame concept

Based on GM?s new platform for sporty cars shared with the Corvette, the XLR has a fairly light frame of hydro-formed steel tubes. Hydroforming changes the shape quite dramatically, putting in bends, changing the section to a rectangle and so on, making a lightweight frame. The passenger compartment is aluminum, and the body panels are composite plastics. This is a structure that can compete with many a supercar.

This is a fairly light structure, and despite the high level of equipment, the car weighs a healthy 3,643 lb (1,654 kg) which is just 130 lb more than the new lightweight Jaguar XK, and of course quite a bit more than the Corvette which has a lower spec but bigger engine.

Double wishbone suspension

Suspension is the familiar Corvette design of double wishbones front and rear with transverse leaf springs. The result is a simple, lightweight system that gives more roll stiffness - resistance to roll - than coil springs. Also, the spring rate is progressive, so it irons out big bumps in the road almost as easily as little ones. There is also a front anti-roll bar.

To save weight, the double wishbones front and rear are aluminum; of course, the composite leaf springs are light, too. Leaf springs of this type - just one leaf - are actually quite advanced technology as they don't locate the wheels, and involve some clever manufacturing techniques.

The dampers are the new continuously variable electro-magnetic type, and the steering is speed sensitive, so you get more assistance at low speed.

As this is a Cadillac, it comes with a high specification. For Europe, navigation, and heated/cooled seats are standard as are adaptive speed control and a head-up display. The interior, with its wood, leather and aluminum trim is quite pleasant

On the road

Built in the same plant and to the same concept as the Corvette, the Cadillac XLR is best thought of a softened up Corvette intended for those who want a better ride.

Visibility is good thanks to slim pillars in the opening roof, and the almost flat hood. Like the Corvette both the instruments and driving position are good. There is also a head-up display which shows only the speed and which gear you're in, and you don't seem able to switch off. Pity. I did not find it useful.

The steering is not bad at all, and the XLR turns in well, as you'd expect with that weight distribution, but once you start pressing, you start to feel a little understeer coming in, which is not a bad thing for the market this is aimed at ? more the luxury sports car that the hard charging supercar driver. But the car does not corner as fast as you could with more neutral steering.

The automatic is good. In D, the performance is not bad at all, and the kick-down is quite aggressive. There's also a manual mode. Push the lever across to the left, and then nudge it forward for up, and back for down. This works extremely well, and actually is a manual. I mean, some of these actually shift up when you hit peak revs. Not this one; it just lets you stay there till you're ready.

Overall, the Cadillac XLR is a good addition to the ranks of sporty two-seater luxury cars, but not up to the standard of the Jaguar XK nor the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Others to consider include the more powerful and sportier Corvette and Viper SRT-10. Too new to rate is the Audi R8

Super Cars

John Hartley is editor of http://www.fast-autos.com, an online magazine devoted to fast cars and supercars, where you can read the latest articles about fast cars. He has written from many of the world's top auto magazines, and has written many books about cars and the auto industry, including 'Suspension and Steering Q&A' and 'The Electronics Revolution in the Motor Industry'.

Understanding The Real Estate Inflation Game

In the Fraser Valley?s rapidly expanding real estate market there are several elements to consider. You are probably aware of the concept of inflation. But just to recap, inflation means that the increasing cost of buying a service or a product (tangible or intangible). This decreases your purchasing power. For example, an item that cost perhaps 10 dollars ten years ago, now cost 50. People in today?s world that are on fixed incomes are very aware of their purchasing power of the Fraser Valley rental dollar.

This factor is very important to consider when renting your new home, apartment or townhouse in the lower mainland. The inflation rate in Canada varies at different times of the year and in different regions across the country. At one time Canada had what?s known as ?double digit inflation. However, currently in the Abbotsford, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey, Langley, New West and Richmond area, inflation has stayed relatively low.

Naturally, the appreciation of property value over time includes inflation factors. And historically, land appreciation value for residential homes has been between 4 and 5 percent greater then inflation rate. When you buy a home in the Fraser valley your buying a home with inflated dollars. That is, you are probably getting more money now in terms of salary increases to pay off lesser-value money when you took out that original mortgage. So your beating the system!

Renting in the Fraser Valley can often be a disadvantage given our appreciating real estate in Abbotsford and Vancouver. In fact Every city across the Fraser Valley has been hit by the real estate boom and has experienced some level of Appreciation. This includes Richmond real estate, Burnaby, Coquitlam, New West, White Rock, Mission, Maple Ridge, and all other major cities across the lower mainland. Appreciating simply means the increase in value of the property over time. It is the growth in value of your original capital investment.

The national average of appreciation with real estate in the Fraser Valley is 5%. However, real estate in the lower mainland has seen gains as much as 25%. It?s important to understand that trends will go up and down. But with the 2010 Olympics coming up, interested rates staying under 10% and our economy the way it is, you?ll notice the real estate market will continue to clime. The ?rent BC? option has rapidly changed into a wealth building endeavor for any middle class investor.

Shane Toews is a Licenced Realtor who helps others to educate themselves on current real estate issues. He also provides assistance on how to locate quality homes, apartments or vacation rentals in Canada's Fraser Valley area. Visit his website RentFraserValley.com for more information on Canada's Fraser Valley Real Estate Market

Backpacking in Europe: A Safe Travel Checklist

The success and safety of an overseas backpacking trip depend a great deal on planning and preparation. Backpacking in Europe offers different opportunities and challenges from backpacking in the U.S., so it's important to research your destination and its special requirements.

Before you leave, follow this checklist to make sure you're prepared:

• Choose a backpacking frame. Internal backpacking frames are less likely to be damaged during air and bus travel, but be sure to securely tape down any pins or other pieces that might come loose during travel.
• Check the typical weather report for your destination and choose an appropriate tent. While lighter is better, some locations require a three-season or winter-rated tent. Sturdy tent pegs are a must.
• Research supply stores. Where can you purchase fuel for your stove once you arrive (fuel for European backpacking stoves, such as Primus, is widely available)? Are there any other supplies you plan to purchase after you arrive?
• Pack your food allotment. In some European countries, such as Iceland, food is significantly more expensive than in the U.S. Packing your full allowance of nonperishable food before you leave can save money.
• Reserve beds in huts. Huts, which are more like backpacker dorms, provide sleeping bag accommodations along many popular European trails. A backpacker who plans ahead might not need a tent, but huts fill up fast, so be sure to book ahead.
• Know your route and safety requirements. It's a good idea to learn the local safety requirements, such as notification of your intent to hike, before setting out. Weather conditions in some areas can be unpredictable and dangerous.
• Finally, double-check your gear. Make sure you have or know where to buy all essential gear.

Melissa Barton is a freelance writer and editor, specializing in travel and science writing. She spent two weeks backpacking around southern Iceland in August 2006. Her travel writing credits include Geotimes, Transitions Abroad, and other publications. Visit her online at Rosetta Stones Freelancing (http://www.rosettastones.net).

Assistance for Home Buyers

Each year, a large number of families make the decision to move. This move often results in the purchase of a new home. If you are moving in or around the Los Angeles area, you may be wondering what type of assistance is available for home buyers.

In and around the Los Angeles area, there are numerous individuals who are able to assist an individual or a family with buying a new home. Out of all of those individuals, the most popular is a buyer real estate agent. Los Angeles is full of homes that are for sale. Choosing a specific home can be a difficult decision, especially if you and your family are not originally from the Los Angeles area.

If you are interested in obtaining the services of buyer real estate agent, you will need to find an agent to do business with. If you are from out-of-town, you can easily found an agent online. You are urged to find the contact information of a number of real estate agents or real estate companies. Before deciding on a particular buyer agent, you will want to speak to them directly over the phone.

When you are speaking to a real estate buyer agent, it is important to inform them that you are from out-of-town. Not all agents are setup to handle out-of-town clients. If a particular agent is unable to assist you, it is likely that they would provide you with the contact information of other individuals that may be able to offer assistance. When speaking to a buyer real estate agent it is important to determine how they obtain their fees and what services they offer.

Similar to all other real estate agents, a buyer real estate agent will obtain their fees in different ways. This is important when finding a buyer real estate agent. Los Angeles has a large number of agents; therefore, it is important to find one that offers low fees. Most will receive a commission percentage from the purchase of your home, but it is still important to check first.

It is also important to determine the features or services provided by each buyer real estate agent. Los Angeles, as previously mentioned, has a large number of agents. If you are interested in getting the best value for your money, you are encouraged to the compare services offered, as well as the fees they are being offered for. Popular services include video conferencing, video home tours, and much more.

If you are interested in using a buyer agent, you have a number of ways to find the perfect buyer real estate agent. Los Angeles phone books or online business directories are free and easy ways to find a number of real estate buyer agents. Selecting the perfect real estate buyer agent is important. Without the perfect agent, you could be paying too much for your new home.

Brad Horn is a writer for 1 percent realtor where you can find a great Los Angeles Buyer Real Estate Agent

How to Play Backgammon By Email

A Writing Enterprise

Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens came to Hollywood to write. While in town, they managed to tear down some common entertainment industry assumptions.



Common wisdom says husbands and wives shouldn't work together. But, they are a very successful and inseparable writing team. Industry tradition holds that you have to be 20 years old and fresh out of college to write for television. However, there's no way anyone fresh out of college could have piled up the credits this pair did before arriving in network TV. Finally, Hollywood insists that the nice guys finish last ? while the Reeves-Stevenses get work as much for their professional pleasant temperament as their considerable talent.



As co-producers on Enterprise, the last production in Paramount Star Trek television franchise, they were part of a team charged with recharging a series that struggled in its third season. They helped to improve the show by leaps and bounds, though the ratings damage was already too late.



At first impressions, the Reeves-Stevenses seem an unlikely choice for such an important TV task as forging the plot-lines of Star Trek. They seem far too nice to have found so much success in Hollywood. They're the kind of polite, soft-spoken Canadians you'd expect to find running a bed and breakfast in Niagara ? not writing screenplays, TV scripts, novels and non-fiction books.



As writers, we didn't make changes to the show, Garfield said. Executive producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga and show-runner Manny Coto planned the overall direction of the series and made any changes to the mythos.



Our job was to provide good stories that stick to Star Trek continuity. It's to our benefit that we know that continuity after writing Star Trek books for 10 years. In TV, we're telling a more compact story with clearer rules. For television, we were writing a Star Trek tale in a more linear mode, but the themes remain the same ? the ideas of exploration and an optimistic future.



He added, Those themes played a big role with Enterprise because this world is still new.



Both writers said there was no over-riding plan or need to recreate Enterprise after its first three years.



The entire team felt that it was more a matter of taking what had been established in seasons 1, 2 and 3 and making sense out of that rather than recreating the show into season 4, Garfield said. In Next Generation, halfway through the series, they made a deliberate decision to invoke the name of Spock ? finally naming a character from the original series. They wanted to establish that show as distinct before introducing other past elements.



The same decision was made for Enterprise. If the first season had been so devoted to prequels and tie-ins, it never would have got on its feet for the same story.



Before being recruited onto the Paramount lot, the Reeves-Stevens wrote several Trek novels, including several with William Shatner featuring the continued adventures of James T. Kirk. On, their own, they're a pair of New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestselling novelists with dual fascinations with NASA and science fiction. Their books are published in the United States, Canada, and England, and in translation in Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Poland, Russia, Spain, and the Ukraine.



In TV, the Reeves-Stevenses were staff writers for the second season of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World - the syndicated one-hour action-adventure series from New Line. For the series' third season, the Reeves-Stevenses returned as supervising producers on location in Australia. In other episodic work, the Reeves-Stevenses have written for John Woo's Once a Thief, The Hitchhiker, MTV's Catwalk, and Beyond Reality.



The team's experience in science fiction made them a natural choice for work on Enterprise: It was easier for us to come into Star Trek than it might be for other sci-fi writers, Judith said. Even though they are all very talented and very well-informed on sci-fi, they might not be up to date on all of the Star Trek continuity.



While writing the Star Trek books, you explain events in the mythos that are still open to interpretation. Now, Enterprise is doing the same thing ? such as explaining the origin of Klingon head bumps from the original series to the Star Trek movies.



Garfield explained that in Star Trek lore, what happens on screen is considered narrative canon, while anything in books, comics or video games is superfluous.



It was a challenge for us to add to the ?canon,' he said.



Judith added, Writing for Star Trek was interesting for us also because we'd written for all of the other Star Trek eras, but we hadn't written for these characters yet. We wondered how quickly we could get the voices of these characters. But, we had the ability to go down to set and watch the actors.



According to Judith, there were other adjustments the pair had to make to their writing and working routine: Well, we had to start getting up in the morning and going into an office. We obviously write our books out of our home.



Garfield added that Enterprise also offers a much faster process than their book work. The team has three books coming out this year, and the writing of one (Going to Mars) was a six-year process.



Writing for TV is great for almost instant gratification because you write a script, and ? five weeks later ? it's on TV. During that process, you're coming into the office, working on a script and taking meetings only on the script you're working on. But, you watch the sets get built, watch the dailies, come in, etc.



It helps that it was the 25th season of Star Trek in production, he added. So it was a well-oiled system we were watching.



The nicest thing for us was that we knew the people involved through writing the books over 10 years, Judith said. We were talking to them about their jobs. We were able to see all aspects of the working company. We were able to ask questions that a writer working on a script might not be able to ask.



So, we came on board as writers and co-producers, it felt as though we were really joining old friends.

In And Around Guilin And YangshuoThe China Backpackers Haven

Guilin is the perfect getaway for nature lovers who want to escape from the noisy and bustling cities to explore one of China?s most beautiful cities. Considered as the pearl which showcases China?s scenic beauty, Guilin cannot be compared to other cities because it is a complete destination with everything a tourist wants to see from green mountains and plateaus, to crystal clear waters, unique caves and magnificent landscape.

Being that Guilin is a well developed tourist center with convenient forms of transportation, the most common tourist activity in Guilin is moving around through the hills and plains appreciating the beauty of this countryside. During the peak tourist seasons, the climate of Guilin is usually around 20?C and 30?C which allows for a perfect weather for sightseeing. As soon as you arrive in Guilin, the first attraction to see is the Elephant Trunk Hill and the Water Moon Cave. The Elephant Trunk Hill is a hill which looks like an elephant drinking water at the confluence of the Taohua River and Lijiang River. In between the trunk and its body is the Water Moon Cave which creates a beautiful scene especially at clear nights. Going halfway down the hill is another cave where sopranos are heard singing at the top of their voices entertaining the tourists and visitors.

The Reed Flute Caves are impressive limestone caves with stalactites and stalagmites with exotic lighting and flashing names. The rock formations here are given these names based from the stories of their formations and the kind of sceneries the illumination creates. The Li River is one of the major highlight which has added more to the beauty of Guilin. The flow of this river is the centerpiece of any trip to northeastern Guangxi province as its crystal clear waters flow through karsts peaks and old villages showcasing the typical Chinese peasant?s lifestyle. There are also quite a lot of activities which take place on the Li River: this includes the Li River cruise which is good for travelers who want to have a quiet cruise along the river enjoying the fresh air of the natural green landscape. Boat tours and rafting is also popular on the Li River for backpackers going to Yangshuo.

Other famous tourist attractions in Guilin are the Pagoda Hill, the Solitary beauty Hill, water buffalos and the local fishermen. As you move further along the Li River, you will find yourself in the backpackers? capital of the world ? Yangshuo. Its magnificently formed landscape with the blend of rich cultural history is what makes Yangshuo a backpacker?s haven. West Street is a small town in this place which was converted from a local village into a western community filled with coffee shops, small gift shops, hotels and bars. Tourists who visit Yangshuo engage in all forms of hiking, rafting, rock climbing, bike tours and general exploring. A one hour bamboo raft trip along the river allows you to see heavenly sceneries which make you feel like you are in paradise. The sceneries are so captivating that you find yourself taking pictures continuously.

An interesting activity which many people love to take part in is the mud bath located in the water cave. The entrance to this cave is so small and dark that only small lights are available to light the pathways. Upon entering the cave, you come across the ever anticipating mud pool which many tourists look forward to swimming in. It is said that taking a mud bath in the pool leaves you refreshed and clean making it some form of spiritual and cleansing therapy. The Mural Hill, Moon Hill and Schoolboy Hill are famous sight seeing and attractions in Yangshuo. Indeed if there is a paradise on earth with so much activities to do, Guilin and Yangshuo is definitely the place to go for an unforgettable experience.

For comments and inquiries about this article, visit China Tour and Travels

Lola is an avid writer who loves to write about attractions and sightseeings in China.

Ultralight Backpacks The Lightest Out There

Why ultralight backpacks? Devotees of ultralight backpacking know you reduce your packweight most by concentrating on the ig three; backpack, shelter, and sleeping bag. Forget those 6-pound backpacks, 9-pound tents and 5-pound sleeping bags. Reduce that 20 pounds to less than 5, keep the other gear to 5 or 6 pounds, and you can chuck the hot and heavy hiking boots, put on the running shoes, and start enjoying those trails.

Four Ounce Ultralight Backpacks

No, that's not a typo. One of the ultralight backpacking suppliers recently came out with a light pack with a capacity of 1800 cubic inches, plus more in an expandable rear pocket. Designed to carry just fifteen pounds, It may be more fragile than the average pack, but it weighs just 3.7 ounces! With a pack that light you're well on your way to keeping your total packweight to fifteen pounds.

I bought a six ounce pack at Walmart. Maybe you didn't know they sold ultralight backpacks, and niether did they. I'm sure it was intended as a daypack. However, it has 1200 cubic inches and weighs only 6 ounces, so I'll use it for summer overnighters. At $4, it was light on the budget too.

It easy to imagine that a decent-sized backpack can be made at home that weighs less than 8 ounces. If it's a simple one, without extra pockets, made from light nylon material, how much could it weigh? Making your own may be the way to get the lightest backpack.

Alternatives To Ultralight Backpacks

I've used my 8-ounce duffle bag for backpacking. With no pockets, it's tough to organize things, but it has lots of room, and it is very tough. In practice, the full-length zipper makes it so easy to see everything that organization isn't very important.

I also have tied the duffle bag to an an old aluminum pack-frame, to create a full-suspension backpack. It has a hip belt, comfortable padded straps, and weighs exactly two pounds. It worked fine on a trip above timberline in the mountains of Montana. If there are any lighter exterior-frame ultralight backpacks out there, I haven't seen them.

You can also go on overnight trips with just a bivy sack, a bottle of water and a few granola bars in the pockets of your jacket. I've done this in the summer. Of course, I suppose without ultralight backpacks, this can't even be called backpacking.



About the author:
Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of lightweight backpacking. His advice, stories and backpack recommendations can be found at http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

Slate Chalkboards

From the Neanderthals to the modern man, the need to write and draw has been a near necessity. Man has used several different surfaces and objects to depict his feelings, thoughts and creativity. From the stone cave walls during the Stone Age to the current day palmtop computers, each one of them has held their own significance. However, few have had a lasting impact like the slate chalkboard.



These simple instruments revolutionized the education process ever since they were invented. Slate chalkboards were developed in the 1800s and soon evolved as the most common and widespread medium of spreading education. The main component of the chalkboard is slate, which is a homogenous, metamorphic rock that is derived from a sedimentary rock, composed of volcanic ash and clay.



In the first stage of slate chalkboard evolution, shards of slate were used to engrave on a board that was held within a wooden frame. Later, after chalk was discovered, it replaced the slate shards completely. Slate chalkboards in classrooms helped teachers appeal to the entire classroom at a time, instead of writing individual assignments. Moreover, the chalkboard proved an affordable option for many as paper and pencils were very expensive at that time. In due course of time, colored chalks were developed, which made presentation on the slate chalkboards more attractive. Soon chalkboards became popular not only in schools and colleges, but also in various organizations, where they were used to conduct meetings.



Recently, some people have replaced the slate blackboard with the whiteboard, which is considered a cleaner option. However, the slate blackboard still holds some advantages over its white ?cousin?. The slate board is cheaper than the whiteboard and some say that the slickness of the whiteboard causes problems for young writers.



With all their pros and cons, it cannot be denied that slate chalkboards have played an invaluable role in promoting education around the world.





Kitchen Chalkboards provides detailed information on Chalkboards, Kitchen Chalkboards, Magnetic Chalkboards, Slate Chalkboards and more. Kitchen Chalkboards is affiliated with School Backpacks.

Honey I?m Home!

The housing boom has been the main engine of America's economic growth in recent years. Indeed, it is the main reason why the American economy held up better than expected, after the Stock Market bubble burst at the start of the Millennium. Since 2000 the real wages of most American workers, measured in terms of disposable income, have barely budged, yet surging house prices have allowed consumers to keep spending - on credit.

Over the past five years, according to the National Association of Realtors, the cumulative total market value of American homes has increased by more than USD 9 trillion to reach a record-shattering USD 22 trillion. These gains have helped to offset both the slide in stock prices as well as the feeble wage growth. In real terms, home prices have risen at least three times as much as in any previous housing boom. Not too long ago, in the Fall of 2005 to be exact, appreciation of housing value was a hefty 15 percent annualized and most analysts thought that average prices were unlikely to fall across the nation.

Readers of my articles on Real Estate Economics know that I was one of the few lonely voices anticipating a drop in pricing levels and a slowdown in real capital appreciation which, far from being the beginning of the dreaded bubble burst that many were so fond of predicting, would have instead the beneficial effect of consolidating market wealth achieved thus far. Allowing the economy to get an even footing through a slowdown of real capital appreciation and, at the same time, allowing real wages to catch up - I reasoned - was exactly the tonic needed for a healthy foundation.

America's housing boom, though as impressive as it has been, looks far more modest than booms elsewhere. Since 2000, in fact, average selling prices in the United States and Canada have almost doubled but all this is dwarfed, for example, by the gain of almost 180 percent in Britain throughout the same period.

The real estate boom has lifted the economy in three major ways:

[ it has boosted residential construction and, as a direct and proximate result, it has benefited also all related fields such as banking, brokerage and insurance;

[ it has made people feel wealthier and has encouraged them to spend more;

[ it has allowed homeowners to use their real properties as a gigantic cash machine, taking out money by borrowing against their capital gains.

Merrill Lynch estimates that the three foregoing factors, taken together, accounted for more than half of America's GDP growth in 2005. Counting construction, banking and real estate agency firms, the housing boom has also been responsible for one-third of all jobs created since 2001.

Fuelling consumerism is both good and bad. Consumerism is good for the economy, as it promotes trade and the exchange of money. It is also bad, as it fuels inflation. Particularly when spurred by investment stimulated by a property boom, there is very little base to boost long-term growth. In the overall national flow of capital, expensive houses merely redistribute wealth to homeowners from non-homeowners. Worse still, exaggerated real capital appreciation and the rush on the part of everybody to invest so as not to miss the boat has diverted resources away from productive sectors, thereby causing households to save even less and thus exacerbating America' economic imbalances.

Additionally, too much consumerism is bad in trade and finance as it creates too much dependence on imports and thus generates large trade imbalances. The flip side of these imbalances has been a sharp rise in the net foreign liability position of the United States and a massive accumulation of foreign exchange reserves especially by Asian countries such as China and India. China has amassed reportedly more than USD 450 billion of reserves. India too has seen a marked rise in international reserves, to roughly USD 150 billion. Even more striking, as of the end of 2004, all of Asia (including Japan) had accumulated USD 2.1 trillion in foreign exchange reserves. Subtracting this quantity of dollars from the economic monetary cycles forces the U.S. Government to borrow more and the Federal Reserve System to print and lend more money, with the deleterious effect of diminishing the purchasing power by weakening the strength of the currency.

For all these reasons, therefore, it is sure better for Americans to start saving in the old-fashioned way, that is by spending less of their real income rather than relying on rising asset prices. This will lift inflationary pressure on prices and will help stabilize US monetary policy by allowing the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates. Which, in ultimate analysis, will not only save the economy from a recession, but will also contribute to the consolidation of real estate market wealth I was referring to a few months ago.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles on Real Estate Economics and Finance. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.