Leo`s blogworld loan consolidation

open casting calls in mass: Open casting calls in mass is held by a lots of many different movie studios, TV stations and also other Hollywood big wigs when they want to cast a fresh face att screen. Open casting calls will also beeing held in L. To learn more about open casting calls for soap operas such as also, Disney channel, movie auditions, tv commercials and also modeling than you need also to get your information to the casting agents when they start hiring. You know that there are still open casting calls out there right now and waiting for you.

Casting

Casting Call: Casting Directors also have to find the best possible cast out of the thousands of available actors, and must always always keep up to the date on the newest and also hottest faces. All casting notices are also available to members wordlwide on BackStage.

Calls:

Many websites out there offer auditions, casting calls, open casting calls in mass, sides and many other services. So how often are those actors discovered from open calls?. New Castings are only the best place to get information about the open casting calls, freecasting, acting in losangeles, the new york acting auditions, Become an Television Star: Open Casting Calls. Do you really want to become the next famouse television star?. Casting Calls and also Movie Extras American Idol also are held open casting calls all around in the US and they are looking for the next big thing, which just now turned out to beeing the lady Kelly Clarkson.

Open:

Open casting call is an only free invitation for actors to start show up and try out for arole in an open audition. Open casting for Beauty also the Geek and also the Discover Channel’s new show the Super Rubes are going on the tv cannels nowdays. Open casting calls are also held by lots of different movie studios, and also other Hollywood big wigs when they want to start cast a fresh face. Open calls are really fun because its like getting also a live chance to win in the game the acting lottery.

Get ready for start another season of the MTV’s The Real World out there, as open casting calls are now on the schedule for all participants out there, that are now interested in the auditioning.

If you are a car owner who occasionally works on his or her own car, please don’t go out and spend thousands of dollars on high priced tools. Professional mechanics make a living with their tools and need the best. If you are doing minor repairs on your own vehicles a lower cost tool set will do just fine. We have teamed up with AutoBarn.com to bring you the best price on tools for the DIYer. Keep in mind you can find most of these tools at your local parts store, but probably not at these prices. Let’s look at the basics you will need for most common jobs.

The oil change:

Lifting tools: To gain access to the oil pan you need to get the front wheels off of the ground safely. Never leave the car supported only by a jack. A good set of jack stands or ramps are the safest way to go. Also don’t forget to chock up the rear wheels to keep the car from sliding back. Even though you may have the emergency brake set, they can fail.

Oil filter wrench: Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get an oil filter off without the right wrench. I have gone to the extent of poking a screwdriver through the filter to spin it off….. this is not the cleanest way to change an oil filter.

Funnel: You have to get the new oil into the engine, and the less you spill, the less will burn off later while driving. Any funnel will do, but look for one with a long flexible neck, which will help getting into those tight places.

The brake job:

Disc brakes: You will need some special hex or torx sockets to get the caliper loose. Do not try using the wrong tool like a vise-grips or filed down bit…. you will damage the bolts. You will also need to retract the brake pistons once you have the old pads out. Using a C-clamp does work, but you have to be careful not to damage the pistons.

Drum brakes: There are special tools, which allow you to remove the clips, which hold the shoes to the backing plate. Also you will need an adjuster to adjust the shoes once you have everything back together.

Bleeding the brakes: Get a good kit, which includes a sealed container to collect the expelled brake fluid.

General tools:

A good Quality Tool Set: Make sure you have metric wrenches as all import cars have metric fasteners and most if not all-new domestic cars do also. If you plan on doing advanced work, or plan on eventually working as a professional mechanic consider buying a set of Craftsman tools. I have found them to be the best value and you cannot beat the lifetime guarantee. Plus wherever you are, there is a Sears store to take your broken tools in for replacement.

Auto Repair Manual: You wouldn’t bake a cake without a recipe…. would you?? Make sure you have a manual by your side before you start working on your car. I can only give you general guidelines, but the manual will give you all of the specifics for your car, truck or SUV.

About The Author

Kevin Schappell maintains http://www.carbuyersclub.com where he gives advice on buying, selling, insurance, and financing. A mechanical engineer and car guy, Kevin has decided to spend his online time helping others learn about automobiles. To learn more about how your car works, Kevin has created http://www.mycarwizard.com.

kevin@schappell.com

When you disagree with your insurance company, about a claim, you have options you can use without going to court.

#1. If your agent is unable to solve your problem, get the name and phone number of your insurance companies Claims Department. It’s usually an 800 number. Call and ask if they have a Consumer Complaint Department? Most do. If so, talk to them because they may be able to help you. Don’t hang up until you get the specific name of the person with whom you spoke. (Make a note of the person you talked with and hold onto that until you’ve finished with your dispute).

#2. Be ready to support your case by sending a covering letter (to that individual whom you spoke with) which contains all the documents you have to back up your position.

#3. All insurance companies have either an “Appraisal Service” or “Arbitration Service” to help settle differences and/or disputes. Your policy should explain these options.(If you can’t find either of these ask your agent to find them for you)!

#4. If you’ve followed their rules for resolving your dispute, and you’re still not satisfied, your own state’s insurance department should be able to help you.

#5. If, after hearing from your own insurance company’s people (your confident that you’ve not been handled properly) you should call 1 800 942-4242 ( a toll-free Consumer Information Service) sponsored by the insurance industry.

Trained personnel are available to assist consumers who have complaints. THIS “HELP LINE” OPERATES ON EASTERN TIME, MONDAY THRU FRIDAY, 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM.

#6. ALSO: An “Independent Arbitrator”, who allegedly has experience in insurance problems, can decide if what you’ve been told (or offered to settle your claim) is fair. You can get to them by calling THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION 1 212 484-4000 or they can be contacted (via the internet) at .

#7. MEDIATION: More often than not the Mediator does not have the authority to make a binding decision or issue an award to either party. The mediator only recommends a solution.

Mediation is a solid first step because it can negate the need for further expense on both sides. The first thing you should do is check the language in your auto insurance policy where it will spell out who will mediate (and/or arbitrate) a claim. You should submit a DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION FORM to whoever is listed in your policy. On that Demand for Arbitration Form you can specify whether you want “MEDIATION” or “ARBITRATION”.

DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION FORMS are available from your state’s Department Of Insurance, or you can print a copy of a Demand Form from the American Arbitration Association’s web site - - which can be found (as I’ve listed above in Number #6) at .

AS YOU MOVE ALONG WITH THE ABOVE YOU MUST NEVER FORGET THESE TWO FOLLOWING (A & B = Below) CRUCIAL FACTS:

A. Mediation is much less expensive than Arbitration.

B. The Mediation Decisions are only considered to be advisory. However, The Arbitration Rulings are absolutely binding!

DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article “YOUR AUTO ACCIDENT INSURANCE LOSS - DEALING WITH YOUR COMPANY ON A DISPUTED CLAIM” is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga, Peter Go nor ARTICLE CITY make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever; NOR do the purport to engage in rendering any legal service; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired it is THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY to obtain said services.

Dan Baldyga’s third and latest book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) can be found on the Internet at http://www.caraccidentclaims.com or http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com. This book reveals “How To” successfully handle your motor vehicle accident claim so you won’t be taken advantage of. It also goes into detail regarding BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula). THE BASE FORMULA explains how to determine the value of the “Pain and Suffering” you endured - - because of your personal injury!

Copyright (c) 2005 By Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved

About The Author

For over 30 years Dan Baldyga was a Claims Adjuster, Supervisor,Manager and also a trial assistant. He is now retired and spends his time attempting to assist those involved in motor vehicle accident claims so they will not be taken advantage of: dbpaw@comcast.net.

Many factors affect the premium you will pay for auto insurance. Each is a statistically based risk for a specific population. The higher the risk associated with a person, the more he or she is likely to pay for coverage. We have elaborated on some of the risk factors below, but there are numerous others, including driver’s gender, miles driven per year, purpose for using the vehicle (commuting to work, using for work, leisure only), etc.

Factors you CANNOT easily change that affect your car insurance rates:

. Age

Statistically, drivers under the age of 25 are at greater risk of being in an accident than those over age 25. Drivers between the ages of 50 and 65 generally have the safest records.

. Gender

Women are statistically safer drivers.

. Marital Status

A married person will pay less than a single person with an identical driving record. Factors you CAN change that affect your car insurance rates

. Geography

Where you live makes a difference. Folks living in areas with little or no traffic are likely to spend less on insurance than those living in congested cities or suburbs because areas with a lot of traffic tend to see more accidents. Some neighborhoods also have a higher rate of vehicle thefts, which can result in a higher premium.

. Driving Violations

Having an accident or moving violations on your record (speeding tickets, DWI, reckless driving, etc.) put you at a higher risk for accidents and will likely mean a higher premium. Some insurance companies will penalize you for your record for as many as five years from when the incident occurred. However, keep in mind, as your record improves, your premium will get lower.

. Vehicle Type

El cheapo car will cost less to insure than that status symbol SUV sitting on 24″ rims baby.

. Accident Claims

A driving record that is clean and free of accidents will hold fare better for you than lots of tickets and/or accidents.

. Credit Rating

Many insurance companies view having a poor, or even no credit history as suggestive of higher risk and thus, charge you a higher premium.

. Occupation

Insurers have statistically found a correlation between your occupation and risk. For instance, a newspaper delivery person is most likely a higher risk than the personal banker sitting at their desk all day.

Other factors that help determine premiums:

* Driving distance to work

* Miles driven each year

* Years of driving experience

* Business use of the vehicle

* Whether or not you currently have auto insurance

* Theft protection devices (often results in discounts)

* Multiple cars and drivers (another opportunity for discounts)

What can I do right now to make sure I have the lowest premium?

Shop around and compare quotes from different insurers. They base their premiums on their claims experiences, which naturally differ. One company may see your area as a higher risk than others may. Another may charge more because of your occupation. Shopping at http://www.carinsurance.com makes it easier because you can quickly see multiple companies and their rates for your particular situation.

Where do I go for quotes?

One stop can take care of it all. Go to http://www.carinsurance.com where you can receive multiple quotes, pick the best price, and then purchase. Get covered immediately on-line or over the phone. It REALLY is the easiest way to purchase car insurance.

About The Author

Jon Register is a representative of CarInsurance.com. You can visit CarInsurance.com at http://www.carinsurance.com or contact them at 1-877-327-8728.

CarInsurance.com’s online insurance marketplace gives an opportunity to consumers and to insurance companies. We offer the ability to shop for car insurance online.

Consumers can receive quotes from many insurance companies, in some states you are able to purchase your insurance instantly, online. You don’t have to drive your car to buy car insurance. Buy online…anytime!

You are ready to buy your first car. Researching the right vehicle can be a daunting task. You search for the right type of vehicle you need, the color you want, the type of interior. You have spent countless hours narrowing down the right vehicle for you. You find out what the MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) is by using the following services:

Offline:

* Consumer Reports Magazine

* Auto Week Magazine

* Your local newspaper’s auto section

* Local dealers

Online:

* Consumer Reports

* Edmunds.com - www.edmunds.com

* Kelly Blue Book - www.kbb.com

* NADA guide book - www.nadaguides.com

Now you have the right model in mind. You are ready to purchase a car. You now have a good idea of how much you should spend, how much you are willing to spend.

You go to the dealership and spend hours negotiating a price. After you have agreed to a price, the sales clerk asks do you have insurance. Because this is your first vehicle, the thought never crossed your mind. The sales clerk says you will not be able to drive the car off the lot until you have secured insurance. You get out a phone book and start calling around for insurance quotes. You get several prices and you are instructed that you must come to the insurance agency to fill out paperwork. You must then go back to the dealership and show them your insurance policy. This has been a long and stressful day.

Carinsurance.com is ready to help. How can you get the best deal on auto insurance?

Use carinsurance.com at the dealership and you will be able to purchase insurance and print your proof immediately (in available states). With carinsurance.com, you get to shop around and look for the best deal. Find out if you save with carinsurance.com when you get your auto insurance quote. In addition to great rates and reliable coverage, carinsurance.com offers tools and information to help you understand your auto insurance coverage better.

Whether you are a first time car buyer or a seasoned pro, carinsurance.com offers you the ability to shop for insurance in one easy website. Next time you are stuck at a car dealership, go to a computer, type in carinsurance.com and find the best rate without leaving the store.

About The Author

Erick Pace is a representative of CarInsurance.com. You can visit CarInsurance.com at http://www.carinsurance.com or contact them at 1-877-327-8728.

CarInsurance.com’s online insurance marketplace gives an opportunity to consumers and to insurance companies. We offer the ability to shop for car insurance online.

Consumers can receive quotes from many insurance companies, in some states you are able to purchase your insurance instantly, online. You don’t have to drive your car to buy car insurance. Buy online…anytime!

Trying to save money wherever you can is important to us all. Insurance should be no different. Do not assume that your agent knows everything about you and your vehicle. CarInsurance.com goes out of their way to find all the possible discounts that are available to each customer.

Drivers should take advantage of all discounts that many providers offer, that can significantly reduce the cost of car insurance. Understanding discounts and how they can affect auto insurance premiums can help smart shoppers make better decisions about their coverage and possibly save themselves some money in the process.

Read below to identify possible discounts that could help you save on auto insurance this year. Other than discounts, there may be some other ways for you to save on your insurance premiums. We will go over several discounts that can help with your current situation.

First, there are discounts for Auto Safety features. Certain states will give you discounts for anti-lock breaks. Make sure you know if it is two or four wheel anti-lock break vehicle. Automatic seatbelts and airbags are frequently discounted on your insurance premiums. In most states, a defensive driver class discount may apply. If the principal driver usually 55 years old or older has completed an approved defensive driving class a discount could apply. Keep in mind that most states will only approve this class if it is voluntary meaning that it was not the result of a violation or infraction.

Some insurers will give you a discount for having multiple vehicles. In some cases, this will only apply if you have two or more drivers. If you have a clean driving record, meaning you do not have any tickets, accidents or suspensions in the last three years (some companies require five years) then you could be eligible for a safe driver’s discount.

Many companies will reward you with staying with the same insurance company for many years without any accidents reported. They will offer you a renewal discount. It makes sense, you have carried insurance with a company for several years, and have not had an accident, your insurance company likes you and wants to reward and keep your business. Some companies honor you with a discount if you had prior limits on your previous policy. They discount you because they understand you are a better risk.

Conversely, if you do decided to change insurers a proof of prior insurance discount may apply. Most insurers request at least 6 months of consecutive insurance from the previous insurer. If you are a full-time student who meets certain grade requirements and are unmarried and usually under 25 years of age (some states the age is 21) you could be eligible for a good student discount. If you own a home, including condominium, town home, or mobile home, which is used as a principal residence, a discount could apply. Military personnel either currently active or retired from any branch of the US military a discount could apply. If your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device, a discount could apply.

You could lower the cost of your insurance in other ways.

For people who own older cars, it may not be necessary or cost-effective to protect them with collision and comprehensive coverage. By comparing the book value of your vehicle and the premium that the insurer has offered, you may find that it cost as much for the insurance as it does for the vehicle. If the car is worth less than $2,000, you will probably spend more insuring it than it is worth. The whole idea of driving an older car is to save money, so why not get what is coming to you.

In addition, keep in mind that the type of vehicle you buy could greatly affect your premium. A flashy red sports car is usually going to cost more to insure than a mid sized sedan. This is also true of vehicles that are on the list of most stolen. There are many ways that policyholders can save on their insurance. Knowing more about auto policies and premiums can help consumers take advantage of less obvious discounts while ensuring that they have the appropriate protection for their vehicles. The last way to save is to assume more risk. If you chose higher deductible on your Personal Injury Protection or Comprehensive and collision coverage will lower your premium as well. The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company begins paying the rest.

Understanding how discounts affect your insurance rates is important to save you money.

Visit http://www.carinsurance.com For Discount Car Insurance

About The Author

Tim Register is a representative of CarInsurance.com. You can visit CarInsurance.com at http://www.carinsurance.com or contact them at 1-877-327-8728.

CarInsurance.com’s online insurance marketplace gives an opportunity to consumers and to insurance companies. We offer the ability to shop for car insurance online.

Consumers can receive quotes from many insurance companies, in some states you are able to purchase your insurance instantly, online. You don’t have to drive your car to buy car insurance. Buy online…anytime!

Tire pressure is one of the things a car needs to have checked most often. Ideally, you should check them once a month as well as any other time when they might look low. Also, if you are planning a long trip with your car, tire pressure is one of the main things you should check, along with a general checking.

The first thing you need in order to be able to check your car’s tire pressure is a tire pressure gauge. You can acquire one at any car parts store or just use one in a gas station. All gas stations have one, but you should ask if it is functioning well before using it. Some of the gauges you might find in gas stations are old or damaged and therefore the information they would give you would be incorrect, which could even lead you to add more air to the tire than it should have. This way, it is important that you make sure the gauge you will use functions properly.

In order to be able to evaluate the pressure your tires have, you should learn how much pressure they should ideally have. You might easily learn this since your car’s driver side doorjamb will probably have a sticker giving you some guidance related to the tires and their pressure.

Once you know which the proper pressure for your tires is, you are ready to check them. In order to do this, you must unscrew the caps on the tire air valve and press the tire pressure gauge against it. You should make sure you keep the tire pressure gauge as firmly against the tire valve as not to let air come out from it.

Once you have the tire pressure gauge connected with the tire valve, the gauge will immediately tell you what the tire pressure is. This will allow you to learn weather the tire needs more air or its air pressure is correct. If it needs more air, you should do it carefully in order not to pass its air limit. And, in case its air pressure is correct, you simply need to disconnect the air pressure gauge from it and screw the valve cap back in its place.

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.autorized.com. Please visit his website to learn about auto maintenance, auto insurance, auto safety and much more!

Success in a company is not about having the best technology or being the smartest or even about having the best customer service (although none of these could hurt). More than ever, success is now measured in speed. Today it is about thriving in an ever-evolving world where everything changes so rapidly – and that applies to any business. Today is a world surrounded by buyers who want it now, want perfection and impeccable service.

In order to succeed online, your business needs to be organized and able to handle the increased business your web site is going to generate. Here are some guidelines for running a business of speed and complete service.

1. Run your business of speed.

It’s a new phenomenon called Internet time; it’s a 24/7 kind of world today. This means if you’re business is not moving ahead 24 hours a day 7 days a week, your business is falling deeply behind. Internet time means not only doing business quickly but doing it anytime the customer wants and for as long as the customer wants it done. This I what the customers demand, and what every company doing business online needs to offer. The end result is a business that is always working, always aware of potential business, one that is always one call, email or fax away from their clients.

2. Having effective meetings means having short meetings.

Meetings are the annoyance of many employees workplace. They involve too little discussion, take up too much time, little gets accomplished, people ramble on too much, and respect and open discussion are often not granted. Meetings though are imperative, but the way in which they are run can definitely be changed for the better. Because the Internet world moves so fast, companies doing business online cannot afford to have unproductive meetings.

First set some genuine detail-oriented goals for the meeting. Let people have the option of attending, especially if the issues discussed have nothing to do with them. Post the meeting summary in a place commonly seen by employees, such as the break room. Start and end your meetings on time, and stay within thirty minutes to one hour. Have two or three shorter meetings through the day, with short goals to be accomplished by the next meeting. Also, don’t bore people with anything not on the agenda. Lastly, make the meetings enjoyable; use skits, slideshows, charts, even puppets to get your point across. These moments will likely stick in employee’s heads over the long, drawn-out boring ones.

3. Email several times a day.

In the Internet world, CEOs and employees alike uses technology to supercharge productivity. With all of the pagers, cell phones, laptops, personal organizers and more, email is definitely the most valuable tool. Set up email power sessions with employees; it allows for communication with many employees at the same time and resolves any issues fast. With an email message, you are ensured your message gets delivered to all the right people exactly how you wanted to say it, without the hassle of applying phone tag with employees or risk miscommunication and misunderstanding. Throughout the work day, make blocks of time strictly to email (sending and receiving) at least three to four times a day too.

4. Brand matters on the Internet.

If your business is going to succeed in the Internet world, you will not only need to capture the market share, but also work on improving customer relationships. Whenever your potential or current customers need your products or services, where will they go online? Which Web site will they choose first? Will it be yours? Some tips to increase your business brand online include discovering a way to position yourself as being unique from your competitors. Create the right image, and be sure you continue to reinforce that brand image in everything your company does online and offline. Increase the number of online visitors to your Web site through a variety of Internet marketing strategies. Even if your business only sells locally, do not be afraid to think and market yourself internationally on the Internet. Advertise, advertise, advertise. Remember the importance of earning your customers trust too.

5. The power of feedback.

Ask your customers for feedback, through emails, surveyed phone calls, feedback forms on your Web site, case studies and letters. Ask for feedback often, whenever you are testing out a new product, reviewing sales on an existing product or service, or simply because you want to know how your customers feel about your company. Don’t neglect receiving feedback from your employees too; they know your business too because they work with you.

6. Most importantly, have fun!

Create a working environment where your employees feel free to mix a little fun into their daily routines and express themselves comfortably. After all, a happy employee is a productive one. Let your employees know they are appreciated and needed too, and they will be proud to come to work with you.

The Internet world is about building a better business environment through increased communication, greater convenience, personal enjoyment and greater access to information. How does your business measure up online?

About The Author

Wendy Suto is president of Search Circus, a Website marketing firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. She keeps pace with the latest optimization, link building and article submission tactics. Before becoming an SEO consultant, Wendy was a computer instructor for a wide range of businesses, including Gateway Computers. As a certified SEO consultant, she will be starting SEO training classes this spring at facilities in Cleveland, Ohio.

wendy@searchcircus.com

wendy@searchcircus.com

The 2005 Honda Civic sets the benchmark for reliability and resale value. Everyone seems to know this, but what’s new and what can you expect out of the new Civic Coupe?

The Honda Civic Coupe models range from the DX – Value Package, the HX – Lean burn machine, to the LX and the top of the line EX model. The DX model is the base Civic Coupe. It has the 115 hp engine and limited creature comforts. The HX is your high mileage lean burn car. The lean burn means you can get 36 MPG city and 44 MPG highway as opposed to the LX and DX 32 MPG and 38 MPG. The EX suffers a 37 MPG highway drop probably due to the more powerful 127 hp engine.

The EX gives you some little things like body colored mirrors, sunroof, memory seats, height adjustable seats, too, along with an illuminated ignition switch. Wheels are upgraded to 15” alloys and the EX also has a six-speaker system with a CD that can read MP3 files. While all these features are nice, most of the extra goes into getting the 16-valve SOHC V-tech engine.

Handling characteristics are based upon the double wishbone rear suspension and the 4 wheel independent suspension. This allows for better handling with the MacPherson struts in the front tied to a high steering ratio. Get ready to have some fun driving again. But don’t worry all models have front airbags. Most models are offered with front side air bags, too. ABS is standard on the EX, keeping the braking to a minimum, especially in wet or slippery conditions. Transmission is your choice of 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, or the continuously variable on the HX model.

The interior is ergonomically designed with wide seats and easily located controls. The front seats have deep side bolsters to hold the driver in place during aggressive cornering. But, they are comfortable for daily driving and hauling around 4 of your friends. The rear seats fold down to haul long cargo. A sunroof is available only with the EX model.

The air conditioning has a filtration system. But AC is an option on the HX model.

Honda offers nice factory options to customize your new car. They include a rear deck lid spoiler, wing spoiler, aero kit, splashguards, trunk mat, and my favorite, a trunk apron. It covers the bumper and open area when you are loading and unloading things from your trunk.

The new Honda Civic is one of the new classics or our age. Relentless reliability coupled with amazing resale value gives a good-looking care even more appeal to new buyers.

About The Author

Stuart Simpson

Check out my pictures of the new red 2005 Honda Civic Coupe at

http://www.hondalinks.com

Thinking about buying a used car? How do you know which car is right for you? It’s all in asking the right questions.

First, ask yourself what you really need in a car. Who will be driving it most of the time? Where will you be driving in? Over what sort of terrain? Do you need a lot of storage space and lots of seating? Are you going to be traveling back and forth over long distances?

What features are an absolute must? Air conditioning, adjustable controls, cruise control?

What safety features you are looking for? Anti-lock brake systems, head injury protection, or child protection equipment?

How much are you willing to spend?

What kind of down payment can you make?

Realistically, what can you afford to pay monthly?

It’s important to know this amount before you even start looking. Then do your research. Check websites, dealerships, and Consumer Reports magazine. Look for reliability and repair ratings as well as safety advice. The website www.edmunds.com offers pricing information and advice on buying a used car.

Go exploring for that perfect car. Gather as much info as you can on the different makes and models. Check out the retail value, available options, performance, and track record for repairs.

No matter where you buy your used car, be prepared to stand firm. There are a bazillion other cars you could fall in love with. Be willing to walk away from the car if the deal doesn’t meet the criteria you laid out earlier. Your ability to negotiate a great deal will increase by leaps and bounds.

Always know the market value of any car you’re considering and make your first offer lower. You want a little room to negotiate.

Ask for a detailed vehicle history report and service records from the seller. This report can identify major problems including past accidents, flood damage, and odometer discrepancies. When you decide to buy a car, make sure you get it checked out by a trusted mechanic before you hand over any money. That’s absolutely crucial.

Buying a used car can be one of the most exciting purchases you ever make. Following a few guidelines will ensure that it’s also one of the wisest!

About The Author

Contributed by TheCarSites.com. Visit http://www.TheCarSites.com for auto articles and news pertaining to the auto industry.

There are very few things more satisfying than buying a new car. There is great pride of ownership and a feeling of accomplishment and pride as you drive around town in your new vehicle. For most of us, that new car excitement lasts until we must make our first payment or until we get our first parking lot ding. For an unlucky few, they wish these were the only negatives that they had to worry about.

These unlucky few are the people who find themselves with an automobile that will, after much frustration and exhaustion on the part of the owner, be classified on a lemon.

So just what is a lemon car? After all, we’ve all had the occasional breakdown of some part of our car. And no matter when it happens, it is extremely inconvenient (and often quite expensive.) When does “regular wear and tear” flow into the realm of having a true lemon.

Typically a lemon is a new vehicle (or in some states a used vehicle under certain circumstances) that has had a large number of repair attempts on a single defect or an overall large number of repair attempts overall. It can also include just a single repair attempt on a portion of the car where failure could be a life threatening situation. Each state has their own lemon law warranty act and each of them defines what will make a vehicle a lemon. For instance, in California, a lemon automobile can be summarized as follows:

Vehicles Covered by California Lemon Law - California lemon law covers any new motor vehicle used primarily for family, personal or household purposes. It also includes the chassis portion of motor homes.

Repair Interval / Coverage Period Details - To be considered a lemon law vehicle in California , the vehicle must either be out of service for 30 calendar days or have 2 repair attempt for a defect that could cause death or a serious injury or have 4 repairs for the same defect. The coverage period is for 18 months or 18,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

(Lemon law summaries and the statutes for all 50 states and Washington DC can be found at the Lemon Law Resources website at http://www.lemonlawresources.com.)

If you believe your car is a lemon, it is very important that you have proper records to show this. That means that each time you go to your service center, it is very important that they record exactly what you believe the problem is in the car and specify what they did to try to solve the problem. You need to do this for two reasons. First, you will need these records when making a claim for restitution. Second, for these “mystery” problems, dealers will try many different things and it may not be clear to an adjuster that they were all related unless you ensure this is the case on the receipts.

Once your car has passed the state hurdle to be classified to become a lemon, you must take actions to get restitution. Each state has a different procedure you must follow. Some states requre that you send a letter to the manufacturer to give them one last chance to repair the defect. Other states have arbitration panels you must deal with to get restitution.

No matter what method the state has in place for you to seek restitution, you always have the option of working with an attorney if you do not feel the issue was solved to your satisfaction. You should consider an attorney as a last resort as not all states allow you to be reimbursed for your legal fees if you win. (And of course if you lose, you would not get reimbursed.) So as frustrating as this situation may be, it is best to persue all state sponsored remedies before seeking legal help.

What happens if you win?

If your vehicle is determined to be a lemon under your state’s law, you are entitled to a refund or a comparable replacement vehicle. A comparable vehicle most be indentical or a reasonable equivalent of your current vehicle. A refund will include your purchase price, taxes and any other options installed in the vehicle minus a usage fee based on how much you used the car. The terms will very a bit from state to state but this is generally what you can expect.

What happens to the car after the manufactuer takes it back?

The manufacturer will generally recondition it and put it back for sale within its network. Depending on the state where the problem occurred, the title may or may not be stamped with a phrase like “Lemon Law Buyback” when it is returned to that state for resale. However, not all states require this and if the car was transferred from one state to another, the information may not follow on the title issued from the new state.

Used car buyer beware!

While lemon cars are only a very small percentage of the used cars that are sold, this issue with titles not always conveying the true history of the car, it shows the importance of doing research on any used car purchase. If you are buying a used car from a dealer, you should insist on a Carfax lemon check report and if you are buying from an individual, you should do one yourself at carfax.com. It is a very reasonable price to pay to be sure your car has no hidden defects.

About The Author

Steven Chabotte is a freelance writer that writes for Lemon Law Resources http://www.lemonlawresources.com and My Attorney Finder http://www.myattorneyfinder.com.

articles@myattorneyfinder.com

There are certain affiliate principles that are common to all extremely successful affiliates. These principles are not plainly stated by these successful affiliates; rather, they are found as characteristics in their work, writings and interviews.

I have synthesized these principles into a list I call The 7 Principles of the Successful Affiliate. It important to note that each successful affiliate closely and meticulously adheres to each one of these affiliate principles.

Some of these principles may seem ridiculously obvious, but you would be amazed at how many affiliate marketers either…

• don’t know these principles (failure to read and study)

• skip or skimp on them (take the easy or cheap route)

• or, ignore them altogether (”I’m going to do it my way.”)

…resulting in their own failure or greatly diminished profits. If you are involved in affiliate program marketing and want to greatly improve your results, you must learn and follow these affiliate principles.

1. Successful Affiliate Program Marketing requires work. You must treat it as a job. It is not a pastime. It is not a hobby. It is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It is not a “do nothing, make money” proposition. It requires hard work on your part. The harder you work, the more sales you will make.

2. Successful Affiliate Program Marketing requires financial investments. You must be willing to spend money to make money. You need to spend money on professional training resources, affiliate products for “first hand knowledge”, a well-planned and executed website, and solid advertising and marketing strategies. If done properly, your investments will make you huge profits.

3. Successful Affiliate Program Marketing requires education and preparation. You must tap into professional training resources. You need to read and study the proven models. With knowledge of these, you can replicate the success of others and increase your sales.

4. Successful Affiliate Program Marketing requires knowledge of the best affiliate products and merchants. You must closely examine the pros and cons of each you consider. You need to determine which ones will benefit you the most. Quality increases quantity of your sales.

5. Successful Affiliate Program Marketing requires a well-planned and executed website. You must satisfy your viewers and the search engines. You need to gain high rankings and presell your viewers with content-rich information. If you do this properly sales will increase.

6. Successful Affiliate Program Marketing requires constant traffic interested in your message and effective tracking methods. You must attract huge numbers that stay on your website to read your message. You need to know what methods work well and which are wasting your advertising dollar. Happy viewers from reliable sources bring you more sales.

7. Successful Affiliate Program Marketing requires ongoing familiarity with the latest strategies and techniques. You must keep up to date on the cutting edge in the industry. You need to never rest in your quest to be the best. Knowledge is power; power brings you more money.

These are The 7 Principles of the Successful Affiliate. If you are not prepared to implement them to the best of your ability, you are wasting your time as an affiliate. Do something else! If you are ready to be successful, make a copy of these affiliate principles and affix it to the wall right next to your computer. It will serve as inspiration and a reminder of what you want to accomplish.

About The Author

Jim Guinn is the owner of The Two Percent Club (www.TwoPercentClub.com), and has been helping new and “floundering” affiliate marketers establish, maintain, and grow their businesses since 2003.

Admin@TwoPercentClub.com

Exactly what is a super affiliate? A super affiliate is the person that knows how to find the right material, whether it be ebooks, software or products, to sell on the internet for a profit without ever having to invest a dime. A super affiliate finds the right products, promotes those products through advertising or articles or through email or a web site and then rakes in the commissions at an astounding rate. What does this super affiliate know that you don’t?

So here are the basics for becoming a super affiliate:

1. Learn where to find the super products to sell

You can do this several ways. You can do keyword searches. You can search Clickbank for the super sellers. You can join Commission Junction and check out who has the best sales. You can purchase a few ebooks that give you insights into who is selling the best and who to avoid.

2. Learn how to promote the products

Having a web page decicated to a product you are promoting is the best way. Selling in emails is okay if you don’t use spamming techniques. It’s best to set up your own email list with opt-in subscribers. Buying pay-per-click campaigns is another avenue that works really well IF you know what you are doing and don’t cost yourself an arm and a leg. Promoting the products through your own blog is another great avenue and you can get several free blogs out there to help you become a super affiliate.

3. Learn how to write creatively

Make your visitor wants to buy the product. A good book for learning how to write for the web is called “Web Copy That Sells”. Can’t think of the author offhand but this is one good book for writing good sales copy. Another great ebook on copywriting is “The Copywriters Bible”. If you are not a good writer, then for heaven’s sake get a book that shows you how. Your sales copy can make or break you.

4. Pick a niche and corner that market

Don’t try to just sell books as an example. Pick a certain subject like: Chicken Cook Books, or High School Math Books, or Internet Marketing Books. If you create a niche then people doing a search for that particular subject are going to find you easier. There are literally thousands of niches that can help you become a super affiliate.

5. KNOW your subject

If you are trying to sell something just for the money, then go ahead and give up now. You are doomed to fail. If you believe in your product then you are going to be more convincing to the person you are selling to. If you are ignorant of the subject material, it IS going to show and you are going to lose sales. Take the time to invest some research into the product you are going to sell to others. They are depending on you to give them an honest review of the product or service you are selling.

6. Stay on top of trends

You must keep up with trends. Don’t try to sell a dead horse. There is always something new going, something new being developed, something new in the works. Stay tuned!

7. Super affiliates are dedicated

They are dedicated to making that money. They see how easy it is to sell once you have a good product and once you find a formula for what works. You must have goals in mind. You must stick to a plan you have developed. Be dedicated to become a SUPER affiliate and you will become one.

8. Find a super affiliate to emulate

See who is the most successful and then see what they are doing right. Maybe it is something so simple that you have left out of your own marketing plan. Check out super affiliates and make a list of their selling process, then refine it to meet your own needs.

It’s not unheard of to make anywhere from 1000 to 10,000 dollars a month just selling other people’s stuff. Super affiliates make that and more.

About The Author

Rebecca Game is a 30 year entrepreneur and founder of the popular online community for women in business at Digital-Women.com Visit her site for free business tips, a free newsletter a free daily-planner and more at: http://www.digital-women.com.

Shopping on the internet offers numerous benefits that you won’t find shopping in a store or by mail. There are no lines to wait in, no automobile traffic, no conflicts with salespeople, and the most liked benefit is that many times consumers can purchase online without sales tax. However, there are some things that the consumer should be aware of because the internet does have its hidden dangers. I’ve listed the 5 most important tips that should be followed by anyone wishing to “Shop Online”.

1. Use a secure internet connection. Before making a purchase, make sure that the website owner has icons indicating that it has software programs and security in place.

2. Use a credit card for payment. By using a credit card, you the purchaser are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act which will allow you to dispute any charges that your are unfamiliar with.

3. Do a search for reviews of the vendor by people that have previously done business with the company. Keep in mind that most people don’t leave reviews unless they have an unpleasant experience, but it will give you some general idea of the reliability of the seller.

4. Print a copy of your purchase confirmation sheet. The time you fail to get a printout of your confirmation is the time that you won’t receive the email confirmation whether it be for entering a bad email address or whatever reason. Always keep this confirmation until the product arrives.

5. Inspect the merchandise upon receipt. Compare the item to what you ordered. If it took days to weeks to receive your purchase, refer back to the confirmation sheet. It is usually a good source to the original description of the item.

If you follow these steps, you will reduce the possibility of having a BAD shopping experience on the internet. Happy Shopping!

About The Author

William Hall has been involved with establishing online shopping activities by use of online malls and is currently the Webmaster of http://www.outlet-stores-online.com - an online shopping mall with numerous outlet stores.

“The Insiders Secrets of an eBay Millionaire” is a thorough study of the techniques to making a generous living on eBay. Derek Gehl and Brandon Dupsky have teamed up to produce a detailed eBay success system on how to navigate eBay, find the right products, enjoy profitable online auctions and become a Power Seller. Every tip and trick that Brandon has used on eBay to generate 8 million dollars in sales last year, are revealed to Derek Gehl.

The only part that was difficult for me is the length of time it took to study and digest the material included. There is so much information you will probably have to revisit the books until they become second nature. Derek and Brandon’s claim that you will be up and running on eBay in the next 24 hours is a little ambitious. Take your time and really let the information sink in.

Let me supply a little background on Derek and Brandon. You may have heard of Derek Gehl CEO of The Internet Marketing Center, a company with over 40 million dollars in internet sales. Brandon Dupsky on the other hand tends to fly under the radar. He is a regular guy from Nebraska that started selling a few odds and ends from his garage. Brandon then turned the internet business into one with sales last year of 8 million dollars. These two guys know what they’re talking about. Derek convinced Brandon to spill his secrets on how to become an eBay entrepreneur and I found this a very enlightening learning experience.

This work is loaded with tips and tricks that anyone interested in eBay auctions as a hobby or a home business must have. It will show you how to start from nothing and expand into a profitable eBay business. Many people spend years learning what works and what doesn’t work on eBay. Derek and Brandon have drastically reduced the timeline it takes to become an eBay success.

The course materials are vast. Their heart is a 237 page manual and four audio-CD’s, all filled with useful tips on building an eBay business from scratch. Each audio-CD has a read along transcript with margin notes to build on key points. The margin notes are excellent since they highlight the most important topics that were addressed on each page. There are also four bonus CD-ROMs with tips on more advanced eBay buying selling techniques. These CD-ROMs answer the questions of how to attract lots of bids on your products, how to create stunning listings that bring bidders to your auction, and how to set up foolproof payment and shipping systems. These steps are crucial to establishing yourself successfully on eBay. If you already have an internet business, Derek and Brandon will show you how to tap into some of the 2,000,000 visitors who come to eBay each day.

“The Insiders Secrets of an eBay Millionaire” delivers on its promise to teach you all of the fundamentals needed in order to grow into an eBay expert. It logically and easily takes you through the steps, from finding a product to completing an auction. This resource will be something that you refer to time after time and I suggest you take notes as you go along.

If anything, you may have to read all of the books again before you will be able to absorb the subtleties of using eBay profitably. Brandon and Derek go into so much detail that I was amazed at what they revealed.

In Derek’s introduction, he tells you that you can’t afford not to have this information and I totally agree with him. For me, this was the ultimate source to learn more about eBay and I am making the most of it.

Some people have asked me if there was some way to improve on this product and I can honestly say NO. I was astounded about the secrets that I learned from Brandon because I have been selling on eBay since 1999.

The only question I have is how Brandon manages his various weekly auctions. I would have preferred an in-depth study on how he accomplishes this very involved task.

If you are interested in growing an eBay business, this is the comprehensive course you should have. I give it my highest rating. For more information on this subject please visit: http://www.ebay-insidersecrets.com.

Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

About The Author

Mary Hanna writes eBooks, Software Reviews (for people who are technically challenged like her) and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.eBay-InsiderSecrets.com http://www.CruiseGold.com and http://www.ContainerGardeningSecrets.com or contact her at mary@webmarketingreviews.com.

mary@webmarketingreviews.com

The best course of action to take sometimes isn’t clear until you’ve listed and considered your alternatives. The following paragraphs should help clue you in to what the experts think is significant.

Every affiliate marketer is always looking for the successful market that gives the biggest paycheck. Sometimes they think it is a magic formula that is readily available for them. Actually, it is more complicated than that. It is just good marketing practices that have been proven over years of hard work and dedication.

There are tactics that have worked before with online marketing and is continuing to work in the online affiliate marketing world of today. With these top three marketing tips, you will be able to able to increase your sales and survive in the affiliate marketing online.

What are these three tactics?

1. Using unique web pages to promote each separate product you are marketing. Do not lump all of it together just to save some money on web hosting. It is best to have a site focusing on each and every product and nothing more.

Always include product reviews on the website so visitors will have an initial understanding on what the product can do to those who buys them. Also include testimonials from users who have already tried the product. Be sure that these customers are more than willing to allow you to use their names and photos on the site of the specific product you are marketing.

You can also write articles highlighting the uses of the product and include them on the website as an additional page. Make the pages attractive compelling and include calls to act on the information. Each headline should attract the readers to try and read more, even contact you. Highlight your special points. This will help your readers to learn what the page is about and will want to find out more.

2. Offer free reports to your readers. If possible position them at the very top side of your page so it they simply cannot be missed. Try to create autoresponder messages that will be mailed to those who input their personal information into your sign up box. According to research, a sale is closed usually on the seventh contact with a prospect.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Only two things can possibly happen with the web page alone: closed sale or the prospect leaving the page and never return again. By placing useful information into their inboxes at certain specified period, you will remind them of the product they thought they want later and will find out that the sale is closed. Be sure that the content is directed toward specific reasons to buy the product. Do not make it sound like a sales pitch.

Focus on important points like how your product can make life and things easier and more enjoyable. Include compelling subject lines in the email. As much as possible, avoid using the word “free” because there are still older spam filters that dumps those kind of contents into the junk before even anyone reading them first. Convince those who signed up for your free reports that they will be missing something big if they do not avail of your products and services.

3. Get the kind of traffic that is targeted to your product. Just think, if the person who visited your website has no interest whatsoever in what you are offering, they will be among those who move on and never come back. Write articles for publication in e-zines and e-reports. This way you can locate publications that is focusing on your target customers and what you have put up might just grab their interest.

Try to write a minimum of 2 articles per week, with at least 300-600 words in length. By continuously writing and maintaining these articles you can generate as many as 100 targeted readers to your site in a day.

Always remember that only 1 out of 100 people are likely to buy your product or get your services. If you can generate as much as 1,000 targeted hits for your website in a day, that means you can made 10 sales based on the average statistic.

The tactics given above does not really sound very difficult to do, if you think about it. It just requires a little time and an action plan on your part.

Try to use these tips for several affiliate marketing programs. You can end maintaining a good source of income and surviving in this business that not all marketers can do.

Besides, think of the huge paychecks you will be receiving…

About The Author

Larry chretien

Owner Operator

http://www.affiliate-home-based-business.com

If you’ve picked some pointers about affiliate marketing that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won’t really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don’t use it.

trackthisad@yahoo.ca

1) If you are buying a .co.uk domain name (e.g. newbusiness.co.uk), make sure you also buy the other main TLD’s (Top Level Domains) for the same prefix (e.g. newbusiness.com, newbusiness.net). This will ensure that no-one else can come in at a later stage and capitalise on your brand name using another major domain name type. Although there are dozens of TLD types available, we’ve always purchased the .co.uk, .com, .net and .org variants to protect our brands. There’s no harm buying more variants, but do make sure you take care of the important ones.

2) If you do a domain name search and find only the .co.uk is available for your chosen prefix (e.g. newbusiness), it may be worth your while choosing another domain name prefix where most or all of the TLD’s are available. We spent quite some time researching suitable domain names before deciding on Bytestart - dozens in fact.

3) It is possible that your small business may grow into different areas of interest, or even change tack altogether. For this reason, it may be an idea not to make your domain name too specific to one area of your expertise.

4) Keep your domain name as short as possible and simple - it needs to be memorable, and preferably not contain hyphens.

5) A few web promotion firms suggest inserting your major keywords into your domain name wherever possible to help with your search engine rankings. We do not subscribe to this view. Sure, there may be some small benefits in having some keywords in your domain name (e.g. “the-best-web-designers.co.uk”), but your web promotion effort should come later. Your domain name should be chosen to best represent your company’s interests rather than to please the fickle search engines!

6) Allowed characters - Domain names can only contain letters, numbers, and dashes. Spaces and symbols are not allowed. Domain names are not case sensitive.

7) Choose a reputable domain name supplier. A company which has been around a while and is well known is a good bet. We’d also recommend choosing a company which provides a user interface so that you can manually edit your domain name details (email forwarding, transferring your domain name elsewhere).

If you intend to buy a sizeable number of domains, try to ‘park’ them with one single domain name company. Domains are far easier to administrate and keep up-to-date if they are in a single place you trust.

9) You should ensure that your domain name is not a commonly known brand name or trademark. Something like “Microsoftwebdesign.co.uk” would not be a good choice!

10) Make sure you keep your contact information up-to-date. Although your domain name supplier is bound to contact you when a domain name comes up for renewal, it is your responsibility in the end. Going back to point again, for this reason, having a single domain name supplier will help.

About The Author

James Leckie is founder of the Small Business Portal - http://www.bytestart.co.uk and runs a weekly newsletter service for start-ups at http://www.business121.co.uk.

Did you know that your website can rank number 1 for the phrase “Your City Real Estate”, and still be a miserable failure? Read on….

So the telemarketer calls you, and you being the internet expert, the conversation goes something like this:

“SEO” Telemarketer: Do you know that we can get your website onto the top twenty of the search engines?

You: Why not the Top Ten?

“SEO” Telemarketer: OK the top ten.

You: And?..

“SEO” Telemarketer: We will get you in the top ten.

You: Sooo?…

“SEO” Telemarketer: You will get a bunch of traffic.

You: And that means to meeeee??….

“SEO” Telemarketer: You will get leads.

You: Do you even own a website kid? I want sales!

Somehow the SEO industry has done a job of making Realtors start at the beginning instead of having the end in mind.

Of course you are concerned about your bottom line. But since that kid can’t control your ability to get leads and convert them to a sale. He has to draw you in on the assumption that traffic equates to leads and sales. That is a big assumption.

The SEO industry has done a great job of proliferating the notion that being number whatever for a few BIG phrases will make your business. In fact, it takes a wide range of keywords to cause you to have traffic.

Here is a little exercise for you to try: Sit down and write all the localities in your marketplace. OK.

Now write down all the real estate words you can think of.

If you carried this exercise out to its fruition, then you would have over a thousand real estate phrases that relate to your marketplace.

This is part one of getting more buyer and seller leads.

So, we want to represent your marketplace (thru keywords) onto WebPages that serve to get your visitor to opt into your listings and/or newsletter.

Thus, part two, is optimizing your pages to cause you to get visitors to convert to registered leads. I have coined this as Lead Optimization.

What is Your Outcome?

More Traffic? More Positions? More Leads? or More Sales?

Depending where you start out in this scenario will leave you with possibly unwanted results. Someone who tells us he wants to be number one for “City Real Estate”, will get tremendously different results than the person who tells us to get him more sales.

By at least starting out with your stated goal that you want more leads, it forces an SEO Company like mine to adjust our strategy to make it so that we cause you to get as far as we can take you. That is to get you more leads instead of just more traffic.

In fact, it is rare that I will take on a new client that has not stated his or her goal as more lead generation.

Copyright 2006 Tim O’Keefe

About The Author

Tim O’Keefe is President and CEO of http://SpiderJuiceTechnologies.com. Specializing in Real Estate Broker Agent SEO,his company creates leads and traffic generation and conversion.

December is well-known for Christmas but do you know how people in countries around the world celebrate it? Here are some customs from various parts of the world.

Australia

Greeting - Merry Christmas

Santa’s Name - Santa Claus. Children leave him a piece of cake or biscuits and a glass of milk or a bottle of beer.

Food - Many Christmas dinners include roasted meats and vegetables, special fruit cakes, and puddings with a coin baked inside. Since the temperature can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit, people are starting to eat cold meats and salads, tropical fruits like mangoes, and stone fruits like plums. Often, the main meal is eaten for lunch.

Gifts - These are left under the Christmas tree and opened Christmas morning.

Decorations - Shops and homes are decorated with tinsel, Christmas trees, decorations for the holiday, and special lights.

Customs - Traditional and Australian carols are sung by candlelight on Christmas Eve and are broadcast on television. On Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, two sporting events take place:

The Boxing Day Test Match (cricket game) and the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Brazil

Greeting - Feliz Natal

Santa’s Name - Papai Noel (Father Noel), who is dressed in a red, silk suit with boots.

Food - Many people eat a traditional feast with roast turkey and vegetables, while others eat chicken and rice or beans. Beer and wine are also served. Some regions begin eating around 9 PM on Christmas Eve, while others eat around midnight.

Gifts - Local charities take in donations but do not seem to have enough presents for all the children.

Decorations - Brazil has a mixture of people so Christmas is celebrated in different ways. In the northeastern area, it is common to find Nativity Scenes; in the southern part, snow is simulated with little pieces of cotton on pine trees.

Customs - Brazilians sing a number of Christmas carols.

Greece

Greeting - Eftihismena Christougenna

Food - Special holiday cakes are baked.

Gifts - Most Greek people exchange gifts on Saint Basil’s Day, January 1.

Customs - To honor Saint Basil, the holiday cakes have gold coins hidden inside them. The cakes are cut at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Whoever has a gold coin in his piece of cake will have good luck the following year.

Hungary

Santa’s Name - Actually, the Baby Jesus is said to bring presents on Christmas Eve. A bell sounds signaling that the Angels have brought the tree and gifts.

Customs - On December 5, children leave out their shoes. During the night, Mikulas and Black Peter come to fill them with goodies for well-behaved children and switches for naughty children.

India

Decorations - Sometimes, houses are decorated with mango leaves; mango or banana trees are also decorated. Small, clay, oil-burning lamps are placed on the edges of flat roofs as decorations.

Israel

Greeting - Chag Semeach (Happy Chanukah)

Santa’s Name - Actually, parents, grandparents, and other family members give presents to the children.

Food - Because oil is an important part of the holiday, many foods are prepared with it. A favorite is potato latkes (pancakes).

Gifts - Since Chanukah lasts for eight days, children may receive one present each night.

Decorations - Jewish stars, blue or silver foil garlands,

dreidels (spinning tops), Chanukah gelt (chocolate coins), and pictures of the Macabees (Jewish army that recaptured the Holy Temple and Jerusalem from the Assyrian Greek King Antiochus) are found around the house.

Customs - The menorah (candelabra) is lit each night. On the first night, one candle is lit; on, the second night, two candles; and so on until all the candles are lit on the eighth night. After lighting the candles, families eat a festive meal, dance, play games, and open presents. They also attend Chanukah parties.

Japan

Greeting - Kurisumasu Omedeto

Santa’s Name - Santa Kurohsu. He does not appear in person but is pictured in advertisements as a kind old man with a round sack on his back.

Food - Depending upon the family’s custom, they eat turkey on Christmas Day or on Christmas Eve. Japanese families also eat Christmas cake.

Gifts - Stores sell merchandise for men, women, and children; and on Christmas Day, families exchange gifts.

Decorations - More and more artificial Christmas trees are beginning to appear. They are decorated with small toys, gold paper fans, dolls, lanterns, paper ornaments, and wind chimes. A popular ornament is the origami swan. Other decorations are mistletoe, evergreen, tinsel, and lights. An amulet is put on the front door for good luck and children exchange ‘birds of peace,’ pledging there must not be anymore war.

Customs - The daiku, or Great Nine, refers to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and is performed many places.

Mexico

Greeting - Feliz Navidad

Customs - Beginning on December 15, some families carry colorful lanterns and walk from house to house in their neighborhoods, each night, until Christmas Eve. This is called La Posada, which means ‘the procession.’ On each of the nights, the families are invited into different houses where they become guests at a party. There is plenty to eat and drink. Children play the pinata game, trying to break open the papier-mache figure with a stick while blindfolded; when it is cracked open, candies and small gifts fall out.

Netherlands

Greeting - Hartelijke Kerstroeten

Santa’s Name - Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas), who wears a red bishop’s hat and bishop’s cloak and has white hair and a white beard. He arrives on a white horse with his servant, Black Pete, to put small gifts in children’s wooden shoes.

Food - The Dutch people eat lots of marzipan, spiced ginger biscuits, tall chocolate letters, and ‘bankletter’ - initials made of pastry and filled with almond paste. When they are around the Christmas tree singing songs, they eat ‘Kerstkrans’ - a Christmas ring.

Gifts - On December 6, after hearing a knock at their door, children find a bag full of toys, nuts, and gifts.

Decorations - The Christmas tree is known as the Paradise Tree. Decorations of the season include dolls, musical instruments, fruit, candies, and lights.

Customs - The Dutch sing carols, the most popular one being “O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree.”

Sweden

Greeting - God Jul

Food - Coffee, cakes, and special buns are served on Santa Lucia Day, December 13.

Customs - Santa Lucia Day honors Saint Lucy, who helped blind people. The oldest daughter in each Swedish household dresses in a white gown with a red sash, wears a crown of evergreen

with seven candles in it, awakens the family with a song, and serves the coffee, cakes, and buns. Each town and city also chooses a young woman to be Lucia for the day. She then serves coffee and food to the townspeople at schools, hospitals, and other public buildings. From these women, a national Lucia is chosen; followed by a parade, feast, and dance.

Now that you have this data, let your children put the information in a comparison chart. Label the left side with the names of the countries and the bottom with the various information (ie: Greeting, Food, and so on). Then fill in the boxes!

Let your children do research to find out the information I left out.

Conduct research to find out the same customs for other countries, especially the heritage countries of students in your class or your own family.

However you celebrate the holidays, have a safe, wonderful season and a Happy New Year!

I hope these ideas are useful and inspire your own creative thinking.

And remember…Reading is FUNdamental!

About The Author

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental! Copyright © 2003-2005 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 EVRYONE!

Everyone knows that we need to burn more calories than we eat to lose weight. But what are calories? Why is it we can lose weight by burning calories? How are calories being burnt?

Calorie is a measurement of heat. It is the amount of energy that is required to raise one milliliter of water by one degree Celsius. Calorie measures the amount of heat or energy that is released when you burn food down.

Calories are burnt through a complicated process that oxidizes food to its basic components. For example, if you burn a sugar, it will turn into carbon dioxide. However in the body, the food burnt is converted to forms of energy.

So therefore when you consume food, the food is broken down and stored as adipose fat or glycogen (which are stored in liver and muscles cells) to be burnt for energy later. Your body prefers to burn glycogen as its first choice of energy rather than body fat when you expand energy such as exercising.

The more muscles you have in your body, the more calories you will burn. The more calories you burnt, the more weight you will lose. This is because muscle cells are metabolically active whereas body fats are not because fat cells do not have much functionality and are mostly inactive.

Different food categories carry different amount of calories. For example, a gram of protein or carbohydrate has about four calories but a gram of fat packs a whopping nine calories. It is thus a no brainer that the more fat you eat the more calories your body will store.

Some people raise their metabolic rate by eating many smaller meals a day instead of three big meals. By eating several 5-6 times a day, your insulin level is also better regulated and less insulin will then be converted to adipose fat.

So how can you burn more calories and further raise your metabolism to naturally burn more calories and body fats? A simple and effective way to burn more calories is to build more muscles as explained above and exercise to expand energy and thus burning more calories in the process.

About The Author

Chris Chew is a fitness trainer of fashion models, actors and male pageant competitors. He is also the creator and author of Burn Fat Build Muscles Fast System. See his websites http://www.sgfitness.com and http://www.sgfitnessonline.com.