Friday, May 30, 2008

Thank You Messages To Write In Cards - Finding The Perfect Words

There are times when you need to say thanks and sometimes it can be frustrating trying to think of the right thank you messages to write in cards.

There are many websites offering standard verses and thank you messages but to save you some time I have searched around and found some of my favourite thank you messages to write in cards.

Thank you just isn't enough! You're the best!

Thank you for all you do - you are a true friend.

Thank you much more
Than a greeting can say,
Because you were thoughtful
In such a nice way!

This brings sincere thanks
for the lovely gift you sent.
We hope it helps to tell you
just how much it meant.

Heartfelt Thanks...for all that you have done.

The world's a better place
Because of folk like you
Who take the time to do nice things
The way you always do.

Even if every flower in the world had a voice I couldn't send as many as it would take to say thanks enough!

If you are a keen crafter and make handmade cards it is a good idea to make up a selection of thank you cards. Once you have found a few different thank you messages to write in cards you can then add them to your handmade cards so that you have them ready in your supplies for when you need to send one.

Thank you messages to write in cards do not have to be overly sentimental and sometimes a few lines with a more humorous feel may suit the occasion better.

It important to think about what you are thanking the person for so that you can find suitable thank you messages to write. If you are sending the card to a loved one or relative something more heartfelt may be more appreciated. If it is for a colleague or a company expressing gratitude for a service they have provided then consider something more factual and detail why you are happy with the service they have provided.

Trying to1C84 come up with your own thank you messages to write in cards may be a hard task, especially if you want a verse that rhymes or are pushed for time. It is possible to have poems written for you however this can prove costly. If you really are stuck for ideas or need some inspiration then the best solution is to visit online sites that provide free thank you messages to write in cards. Finding the right words when sending a card can make all the difference. If the words fit the occasion then it really shows you have put time and effort into finding the right message.

Vicki Churchill writes for several sites that specialize in card making ideas. Including helpful step by step guides, tips and ideas to use when card making. She is also the owner of a site that is dedicated to scrapbook page layouts.

Black Metal Sliding Utility Door

Choosing the Right Basement Waterproofing Contractor

Choosing the right basement waterproofing contractor can be difficult. There are a lot of choices out there, and sometimes it seems like it's too easy to choose the wrong man for the job. Here, we offer a few simple tips for choosing the right basement waterproofing contractor. This article can't do the job for you, but it can give you the checklist you need to make the right call.

Three Foot By One Foot Wood Colum

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Investing Secrets of the Wealthy

My favourite subject. Investment. Investing in your own ecommerce business is the best, most time efficient way to make money. But to grow real wealth you need to diversify into other investments as well. Your ecommerce business (or other business / high paying job) provides the cash for investing. It is the interest earned of those investments however that pays for your luxury lifestyle.

1. Real Estate investment.

The most important and first investment you should make is to buy your own home. Initially live off your income from your ecommerce business by paying yourself a modest wage. Save the rest for a deposit on your own home. Decide where you want to live and go house hunting there. The real estate market moves in cycles.

The top of the cycle is definately not the time to own investment residential property. If you own it, sell it, especially if you have a mortgage over it or you may end up owing more than the property is worth. Remember if your equity in a property drops below a certain level the bank can foreclose on your property even if you have never missed a payment. Many people have come undone that way.

When it does become time to invest in property again, seize the day! Investing in property can be very lucrative as you can be paid four ways -

If you buy below market value (as you always should) you make immediate equity.

If you buy a positive cashflow property you get paid weekly. A positive cashflow property is one where the money you collect in rent is more than the outgoing expenses for the property.

In many countries you can can tax advantages by owning property using depreciation.You can gain capital growth by buying a fixer upper and renovating. You also get capital growth over time if you buy at the bottom of the cycle.

Factors that affect the property cycle include -

supply and demand

interest rates

migration & population

economic growth

inflation

zoning and planning

what returns are being had in other investments

and confidence which is affected by positive or negative media reporting on property.

When buying investment property never, ever buy on emotion. Emotion IS a factor when you are buying your family home, you have to love it. But emotion has no place in investment decisions. Buying investment property is all about the figures. Never be afraid to walk away from an opportunity as there are always plenty more. Don't buy property at auction as the emotions of the participants often push the price too high. And you don't need to live in an investment property so don't impose your own personal standards on it, your tenants will accept a lower standard of living than you will.

Always do due diligence on any potential property purchase. This includes a building inspection5B4 by a qualified builder and also get a pest inspection done. When you decide to buy and you hire a conveyancer to handle the legals always make sure the contract you sign is subject to legal due diligence. That way if your conveyancer finds some legal problem you can get out of the deal.

I recommend you set the following rules for yourself when buying investment property. Buy at a minimum of 10% under market value, only buy properties that are positive cashflow and/or high capital growth, buy properties that can be value added with a cosmetic makeover and only buy houses or blocks of apartments because the land it sits on is what gains value. The buildings themselves depreciate over time.

So how do you find below market investment properties? Look for sellers who are selling because of death, divorce, bank forclosure, because they are moving and have a deadline or sellers who don't know what they are doing. I'm not suggesting you rip people off but equally you are not their mother, your responsibility is to you, they can look after themselves. If they accept your low offer price that's their business. Hot deals can often be found in the local newspapers, look for words in the ads like urgent, desperate, heavily reduced, well below valuation, transferring overseas, vendor has already bought etc.

Investment property hunting can be a long frustrating business but it's more than worth it. I follow the 100-10-3-1 r5B2ule. Look at 100 properties, put offers in on 10, have 3 accepted and buy 1. If you don't review enough properties you will not understand enough about the market values and returns in any particular area to pick a winner.

Whatever you do, be careful trusting real estate agents. Many agents will do whatever it takes to earn their commission check. They often recommend auctions as they shut out other agents, unlike general listings. Always remember agents work for themselves not for you. Be prepared to be knocked, mocked, spoken to in a condescending manner and generally treated as though what you want is unachievable. Buy privately if at all possible.

Do use agents to manage your tenants for you though. Tenants are an even bigger pain in the neck than agents. Also if a tenant does something illegal in your property you as the owner don't want to also be the manager or the police will try to implicate you in the conspiracy so they can sieze the property.

The wealthy don't follow the crowd. They buy when shares, property etc are unpopular and cheap after they have identified the future trends based on what is going on in the world around them. The wealthy sell when the crowd wakes up to late and jumps on the bandwagon. The wealthy are contrarian investors. Most investors are afraid to invest in this way because at first they appear wrong. It takes guts to invest this way but you always get the last laugh.5B6

This is why the luxury lifestyle is enjoyed by so few in society. Don't be a sheep, be the wolf. Hunt, don't follow. Seek out the best advice, ask yourself.....does this fit into my personal circumstances? If it does then act.

2. Shares

With shares, always employ risk management strategies. Always use stop losses on any investment you make. Decide in advance how much you can afford to lose on any one investment. If your investment drops in value by that amount (I recommend a 15% stop loss in general for shares) sell it. Don't hang in there hoping it will get better. Cut your losses. Not even the best investment gurus get it right everytime. Also use position sizing in your investments. Invest the same amount of money in every share investment. If you have $10,000 to invest in 10 companies, then invest $1,000 in each. Don't put more in one company because it appears to be doing better than the others. Don't put too many of your eggs in one basket. These two tips are the basics of all risk management strategies of the successful investor. You can't always win but you can control how much you lose. In the above example if you invest $10,000 in 10 companies ($1,000 in each with a 15% stop loss) and two of your stock picks turn out to be duds you limit your losses to $300.

3. Final advice

If I had to choose the 3 most important things I have learned from the wealthy they would be these.

Do59Dn't spend money on depreciating assets until you are spending your interest from your investments. Then you can live a little. Certainly never borrow money to buy depreciating assets.

Limit your losses. Ask yourself what is the worst that can happen. Manage that risk to a level you feel is acceptable then go for it. Stick to your risk management plan when you make a mistake.

Learn from your mistakes and more importantly learn from the mistakes of others.

Happy investing.

Dr Gregory Lipke is the CEO of Cyber Publishing Ltd. He has a Doctorate of Business Administration & a Bachelor of Science as well as years of experience in Private Investigation, Personal Protection & Security. He is the author of Your Luxury Guide .

Routered Stringer With Treads

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Young Brits Looking To 'Safeguard Finances Before Starting University'

Young people are taking more steps to secure their financial future, new research has indicated.

In a study carried out by NatWest, a rising proportion of school leavers considering taking a gap year before starting university are looking to use the time to work so they can save money to help alleviate the cost of further education. According to the financial services firm, more than 50,000 new students are set to take on work in the 12 months prior to beginning higher education and will earn some 212 million pounds. This in turn could well help them to manage their money better while at university and foster a better attitude towards applying for and paying back personal loans and other forms of borrowing in later life.

Mark Worthington, head of NatWest Student Banking, said: "It is easy for students to get caught up with the excitement of taking a gap year and forget about what great money-saving opportunities it can present. It is therefore encouraging that young people are thinking ahead and using their gap years as a valuable opportunity to save for their future studies."

Meanwhile, research from the firm also showed that school-leavers are more concerned about the monetary pressures of going to university than they are about getting good grades. Overall, 55 per cent of school leavers believe that they are not adequately prepared financially for higher education, while 17 per cent believe that it will take them more than ten years to pay back their student debts. Those graduating, meanwhile, believe that they will owe an average of 15,000 pounds after leaving university. The study also showed that a third of graduates claim that they would have re-considered about whether to go to university if they knew beforehand about how much debt they would be in.

"As the anticipated cost of university continues to increase and following the recent rise in tuition fees, school leavers are becoming increasingly forward thinking and enterprising during their gap years. They recognise the huge strain that university puts on their finances and are starting to take preventative action," Mr Worthington added.

Meanwhile, research carried out by Halifax earlier this month revealed that a number of parents are set to apply for a secured loan to help their child meet the costs of going to university. According to the financial services firm, just over one in ten (11 per cent) of mums and dads are considering getting such a loan to pay for tuition fees. However, parents living in Northern Ireland particularly have their hearts set on taking out a loan as 24 per cent of those in the principality are prepared to do so in a bid to financially aid their offspring.

The study also showed that one in ten mums and dads are considering remortgaging their home, while 59 per cent are set to raid their savings accounts. Neil Chandler, head of Halifax Unsecured Personal Loans, warned parents that as committing to financially supporting their children can last several years, they should take the time to consider the full impact such a move can have on their own finances.

Abbi Rouse writes for AllAboutLoans.co.uk, an online loans comparison site, visit us today for information on all loan topics including secured loans UK applications and homeowner loans from all leading UK providers.

Metal Apartment Stairs

A South Carolina Golf School Destination Most Forget

Most golfers looking at South Carolina golf school destinations and golf vacation schools in the state target the Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head locations and forget all about Charleston, South Carolina.

Who can blame them? Both Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are known world-wide for their golf courses and as popular golf vacation destinations. Charleston is mostly known for its history and polite residents.

Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head also have their own respective nicknames in the golf world. Golfers around the world call Myrtle Beach the Golf Mecca and Hilton Head the Golf Island. Charleston gets its nickname, Holy City for its quantity of church steeples painting the downtown skyline.

I have nothing against the great golf vacation schools in Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head. However, it is time I stood up for Charleston as a great golf vacation and South Carolina golf school destination.

Like its golf courses, Charleston golf schools do not match up to the other main South Carolina golf school locations in quantity. They do, however, match up in quality.

Kiawah Island Resort offers one of and possibly the most luxurious golf school destinations in the world. This Charleston golf school location has three courses ranked on Golf Digest's list of "America's Top 75 Resort Courses. Kiawah Island Resort hosted the 1990 Ryder Cup and in the future will host the 2007 Senior PGA Championship and 2012 PGA Championship.

Golf school students can enjoy luxurious accommodations at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island. Many publications and critics call this facility the finest oceanfront hotel built on the East Coast in the past twenty years.

Travel north from Kiawah just above the Charleston peninsula and you will find the Wild Dunes golf vacation school on the Isle of Palms. Wild Dunes was named Best in the State by Golf Digest. The Charleston golf school at Wild Dunes features two Tom Fazio designs that feature views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intercoastal Waterway.

Golfers can choose to stay on the resort at beach homes or condominiums. You will be just steps away from golf courses, sandy beaches and a short drive from downtown Charleston.

These are just two of the golf schools at this lesser-known South Carolina golf school destination. What really sets Charleston apart from Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head is what I like to call the Charleston experience.

After a full-day of golf school and rounds of golf on Charleston golf courses, you can find many things to keep you busy. Charleston offers golf vacationers historic tours, wonderful harbor cruises, some of the best shopping on the east coast and world-class restaurants of every variety.

The new Charleston Bridge is the largest cable-stay bridge in North America and the tallest concrete structure in South Carolina. For a different perspective of this South Carolina golf school destination, walk or bike the bridge and enjoy the view from above.

The next time you begin to research South Carolina golf school destinations. Dont forget about Charleston golf schools. Charleston golf courses, golf schools and golf resorts take a back seat to no golf vacation school destination. After all is said and done, I think Holy City makes for a great golf nickname after all.

You can find more information about Charleston golf vacation schools at our website. Enjoy your golf vacation no matter where you choose to go.

Copyright 2005 Evans Putman - http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.com All Rights Reserved. Reprints allowed see below.

Article courtesy of http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.com your source for the best golf destination information. We deliver Truth in Golf Travel. PerfectGolfVacations.com delivers the best local market information and word-of-mouth recommendations from golf destinations like Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, Ireland, Hilton Head, and more. Keep current with updates, news and specials at our blog http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.blogspot.com

This article may be reprinted with no changes, omissions, or additions. Resource box and all links must be left live and in tact.

Basement Mold Problems

New Jersey's Tax Exemption And Abatement Laws

P.L.1991, c.431 with final retroactive amendments effective August 5, 1992 consolidated, into one more flexible law, the various long term tax exemption laws under which municipalities may agree with private entities to undertake redevelopment projects in return for tax exemptions.

P.L.1991, c.441, effective for the first full tax year commencing after its January 18, 1992 enactment, consolidated the various five-year tax abatement and exemption laws into one, more standardized law to govern all tax abatements and exemption regardless of the type of structure.

Long Term Tax Exemption Law

Prior to 1993, which was the first full year of operation governed by the new Long Term Tax Exemption Law, under the provisions of N.J.S.A.40:55C-40, the "Urban Renewal Corporation and Association Law of 1961," commonly known as the Fox-Lance Act, a qualified municipality (a municipality with "areas in need of rehabilitation") could abate from 15 to 20 years the taxes on newly constructed industrial, commercial, cultural, or residential projects of a corporation, with profits in excess of the limited profits returned to the municipality, or from 30 to 35 years for condominium projects. Condominium projects were given 30 to 35 years in order to provide a realistic period for permanent financing. Also, prior to 1993 under the provisions of N.J.S.A.55:16-1 et seq., the "Limited-Dividend Nonprofit Housing Corporation or Association Law," a qualified municipality could abate for up to 50 years the taxes on newly constructed housing. Further, under N.J.S.A.55:14I-1 et seq., a qualified municipality could abate for up to 50 years the taxes on newly constructed senior housing. Lastly, prior to 1993, under the provisions of N.J.S.A.40:55C-77, the "Urban Renewal Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1965," basically the same types of properties and projects as the Fox-Lance Act could be abated for 20 to 25 years with all profits being returned to the municipality. In all cases under these property tax exemption laws in-lieu of tax payments were required.

Commencing in 1993 the provisions of N.J.S.A.40A:20-1 et seq. permitted a qualified municipality to abate the taxes on properties and projects in the same way the pre 1993 law did with the following notable exceptions:

A new, flexible in-lieu of tax formula was established with a phasing-in of payments in-lieu of taxes to occur under both the percent of gross rental formula and the percent of total project cost formula.

The formulas for computing payment in-lieu of taxes for both office projects and housing projects were changed. The minimum annual service charge for office buildings was reduced from 15 to 10 percent of the annual gross revenues of the project or units of the project. Municipalities retained the option of computing the payment in-lieu of taxes at no less than 2 percent of the total project cost or total project units cost. For housing projects the annual service charge was changed from a minimum of 15 percent to a maximum of 15 percent of annual gross revenue of the project or from a minimum 2 percent to a maximum 2 percent of the total project cost or total project unit cost.

The payment in-lieu of tax formulas remains basically unchanged for all other types of industrial, commercial or cultural projects.

Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law

Prior to 1993, which was the first full year of operation under the new Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law, there were three types of property to which a qualified municipality (a municipality with "areas in need of rehabilitation") could grant a partial exemption and abatement for a five-year period.

These property types included:

Homeowner improvements (including additions and enlargements) made to one-unit or two-unit residential dwellings that were more than 20 years old. As determined by ordinance the first $4,000, $10,000 or $15,000 of increased value due to improvement on each unit could be exempted from taxation (see N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.72 to 3.79).

Commercial and industrial improvements and construction projects (with less than a 30% increase in building volume) could have the full assessed value of the improvement exempted with payments in-lieu of taxes made at 2%of project cost or 15% of annual gross revenues or an in-lieu of tax payment phased-in. (see N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.94to 3.112).

Multiple dwelling improvements or conversion of other types of structures to multiple dwellings could have up to 30% of the full value of the improvement or conversion alteration exempted. No in-lieu of tax payment was required (see N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.121 to 3.129).

Commencing in 1993 the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:21-1 et seq., the "Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law," which consolidated all provisions of the previous five-year abatement statutes, permitted a qualified municipality to grant partial exemptions and abatements on residential dwellings, non-residential structures and multiple dwellings in the same way the pre 1993 law did, with the following notable exceptions made to the new law:

A new, single definition of "areas in need of rehabilitation" was established to govern all exemptions and abatements which, if chosen, could enable an entire municipality to be designated as an area in need of rehabilitation (thus permitting new structures to facilitate infill construction).

The new five-year law also permitted, for the first time, tax abatements and exemptions for new construction of single family and multi-family dwelling units and non-residential structures rather than just improvements or enlargements to such properties.

The new law also increased the allowable maximum tax exemptions for the value added by an improvement from $4,000, $10,000, and $15,000 to $5,000, $15,000 and $25,000, respectively, as the municipal ordinance may specify.

Biography: Gerald Jerry' Dowgin "The Property Tax Doctor" and the author of the Homeowner's Assessment Review Guide (http://www.propertytaxdoctor.com) a former tax assessor worked in the field of public finance at the State and local levels in New Jersey for more than three decades until his retirement in 2001. As a Supervising Tax Analyst in the Office of Research and Statistics in the Division of Taxation in the New Jersey Department of Treasury he worked principally on local property tax issues. Then he joined the Office of Legislative Services (OLS) in 1983 and served as the Secretary to the New Jersey Property Tax Assessment Study Commission for four years. While working in the OLS, Local Government Section he researched, drafted, and estimated the cost of the Senior Property Tax Freeze Bill which was signed onto law and worked on legislation that became law that virtually stopped the tax assessment practice of "Spot Assessments" in New Jersey that had treated many property taxpayers unfairly.

Basement Mold Problems

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

What Are The Different Types Of House Foundation Types And When To Use Each?

The foundation is the first piece of a home to be constructed and creates a base for the rest of a home's components. There are three types of foundations that are commonly used in the U.S.: slab, crawlspace, and basement.

Slab Foundation

Slab is a type of foundation consisting of a structural concrete slab poured directly on the grade. No accessible space exists in slab construction. Slab foundations are popular in areas (i.e. the Southern United States) where there is a relatively high water table. (Water table refers to the depth in the soil at which you find water).

Crawlspace Foundation

A crawlspace is an accessible space with limited headroom, typically between the soil and the bottom of the first floor of a home. Crawlspace construction is predominant in areas where there is heavy clay content in the soil.

Basement Foundation

A basement is an accessible space between the soil and the bottom of the first floor of a home. It usually has more headroom than a crawlspace. Basement foundation construction is predominant in cold climates where the foundation needs to be situated below the frost level.

All three foundation types are usually constructed out of concrete, but can also use concrete masonry units or insulated concrete forms.

Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs) are hollow, concrete blocks. To create the foundation wall, mortar is used between blocks to hold them together, forming the wall.

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) are made of rigid foam insulation forms (a system of support assemblies, including mold, hardware, and necessary bracing to hold concrete) into which concrete is poured. Once the concrete has gained its full strength, the outside forms, the inside forms, or both are left in place to insulate the wall. ICFs are common in regions in which the local building code requires the foundation to be insulated. Another benefit is that the homeowner or builder is able to finish basement immediately, without adding studs.

Choosing the Type of Foundation:

Homeowners and builders make decisions about which type of foundation to use by gauging cost, needs/desires, and soil and weather conditions. If you have high water tables then it may not be possible to have a basement. If your land has shallow bedrock or boulders then it may be more costly to dig a basement. If you have a sloping lot it may be difficult to use a slab foundation. If you have a cold climate then you may need to dig down at least four or more feet to put the home's footings below frost level. If you have to go at least four feet deep then it may be worth spending some extra money to dig a few feet deeper and have a full basement. Also, it is easier to install and maintain mechanical systems in basements (compared to a crawlspace). Your builder can help you determine what type of foundation is best suited for your area.

The choice of foundation is also affected by personal preferences and costs. Basements can add thousands of dollars to the cost of a home compared to the cost of a crawlspace. However, when you consider the extra useable space created by a basement it is some of the cheapest square footage space of a home. If you are tight on funds and can't afford the basement then it may be a good idea to find a slightly smaller plan and use the savings to create a basement. You'll end up with a lot more storage space and potential living space by doing this.

Changing the Type of Foundation on your home:

Almost any house plan can have its foundation changed. It's common for people to design a different foundation if the available foundations do not suit their needs. If you are currently working with a builder you may want to ask them if they will take care of making the foundation changes for you. Sometimes with foundation design it may be helpful for somebody who is near you to do those changes because they will have more knowledge about your local soil conditions and the slope of your lot.

When changing foundation types, pay attention to where you will put the furnace, water heater, and stairs. If you need to add basement stairs, the basement stairs can usually be put under other stairways or you may be able to replace a closet or small room with basement stairs. Another common place to put basement stairs is to replace a mechanical room with stairs and move the mechanical items (such as the furnace and water heater) to the basement. Sometimes space near the laundry room, or space near the garage can be used for a basement stairs. Larger walk-in closets are sometimes reduced in size to allow space for basement stairs. You can often add a basement stairs to a plan without increasing the size of the plan. However, sometimes space may need to be added to a plan to provide room for a basement stairs.

It should be noted that it is the owner's full responsibility to check with his/her local and state building authorities, his/her builder, and the designer of the house plan to ensure that the home meets all applicable building codes and requirements.

Kevin Carden is a publisher of several stock house plan websites and informational resources, the most famous being http://www.HousePlanCentral.com . House Plan Central has a large collection of home plans and unique house plans in different architectural styles, from the nation's top house designers.

Free Roofing Estimate
Cleaning Out Gutters

Nassau County Office Space - Nassau Long Island Office

When a business is looking to rent or locate office space on Long Island, they often look to Nassau County first. Nassau is the closest long island county to New York City - including Manhattan, but the square foot lease charges are generally more attractive than the expense of Manhattan.

There are many desirable towns in the county for prime office space, with many having direct access to a local train station or a major highway such as the long island expressway, northern state parkway or other major roads.

Garden City

One of the most attractive areas to rent prime office space is Garden City. It has the same appeal as Melville for Suffolk County companies. It is where many of the most well known companies reside. With it's close location to the city and an affluent community around it, Garden City has many Class A buildings to lease office space and has many buildings for sale. These prime rent locations include Franklin Avenue and Old Country Road. Many financial firms and businesses will lease in Garden City and the address offers some prestige to many companies.

Mineola

This town is very close to Garden City and offers many of the same advantages. The rent tends to be less expensive - generally, but the closeness that Garden City offers is the same for Mineola. Class A, B and C buildings can be leased and it is a Nassau County town that is located near major roads and highways. Mineola has it's own train station stop as well for commuting into Manhattan for meetings or other business appointments.

Uniondale

This Long Island town is in the heart of Nassau County and is home to the Nassau Coliseum. Some of the most prestigious office buildings to rent space in are located on Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale. Square feet leasing can be as small as 2000 up to 50,000 square feet and more. Being that it is in the same town as the Coliseum, a business leasing office space can use the venue for entertaining clients or employees. There are also many trade shows there, which can be attractive to a business leasing property.

Woodbury

This is town close to the border of Nassau and Suffolk which offers flexibility in location and rent. Industrial, retail and commercial office buildings are available on Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury Road and elsewhere. There are many restaurants and catering halls in Woodbury offering a business leasing space there chances to entertain and attend business functions. Many of the Long Island business associations hold meetings in Nassau County and Woodbury.

See more Nassau Office Lease Properties

Happy Lease Hunting!

Nick Hunter is the President of AIT and a real estate consultant specializing in commercial real estate. His website www.longislandofficelease.com lists FREE office space property information for Long Island office buildings and space available for lease. You can request specific office locations on the site as well.

Building A Concrete Countertop
Using Concrete In Your Home

Beyond Weight Loss: Gain Mental Clarity, Increased Energy, Emotional Stability, Improved Sleep

Imagine that there was a treatment that promised not only to help you feel better physically and emotionally, but to improve your memory and thinking ability, your energy level and your sleep quality, and as a "side effect" also helped you to lose weight and reduce your stress. Imagine that this treatment was easily available, and best of all, FREE would you want to try it?

Most of us have learned to be skeptical of claims such as the above, thinking that if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. So where is the catch? What if you found out that this treatment took approximately 20-30 minutes each day, and that it may take 2-3 weeks to notice results? Still willing to try it? What if the treatment took some effort to complete (roughly the same effort it takes to go grocery shopping)? And what if you had to keep up the treatment for the rest of your life in order to maintain the benefits? Still interested?

This miracle treatment, of course, is physical exercise. If its numerous well-documented benefits were available from taking a pill, probably everyone would take one. In fact, many food supplements, herbs and vitamins are sold making similar claims, and people are often willing to spend a lot of money on those, even though their positive effects on physical and emotional well-being are not nearly as well established as the positive effects of exercise. So why are so many of us still reluctant to make a commitment to regular physical exercise? If it is not because of physical limitations, it is often because we make excuses for why we cant find the time and the energy in our already busy lifestyles. After reading about all the benefits of exercise below, decide for yourself whether you can really afford NOT to try it. (Note: Its always a good idea to check with your health care provider before starting a physical exercise program!)

The Mental Health Benefits of Physical Exercise Many people think of exercise as having mostly physical and health benefits, such as strong muscles, a strong heart, and weight loss. But a growing body of research shows that exercise also promotes mental health and well-being.

Positive Mood. Not only does physical exercise improve mood, it can significantly reduce depression, anxiety, and anger. Research on the relationship between exercise and depression has a long history, and has consistently shown that both short-term and long-term exercise is related to a significant reduction in depression. The findings suggest that the anti-depressant effects of exercise begin as early as the first session of exercise and continue beyond the end of the exercise program. Researchers at Duke University found that 60% of depressed people overcame their depression without medication after exercising for three 30-minute sessions per week for 4 months (this is about the same success rate found among depressed people who use only medication to treat their depression).

But you dont have to spend hours at the gym to gain the benefits from exercise. Even short bursts of physical activity have been found to lift peoples mood, such as walking up several flights of stairs, or jogging to the mailbox and back. Exercise also has been found to significantly reduce anxiety. The most beneficial exercise for anxiety reduction appears to be aerobic (e.g., running, swimming, cycling) as opposed to nonaerobic (e.g., baseball, strength training). Research suggests that physical exercise promotes a sense of calmness similar to that obtained from relaxation training and meditation, with the added benefit of promoting better physical health. Yoga often has a calming effect on participants as well, along with the physical benefit of stretching and building strength.

Stress Reduction. Physically active people are better able to cope with the stress of daily life than sedentary people. Researchers are still trying to figure out exactly what happens to the brain during physical exercise and how that improves the bodys natural ability to handle stress. Studies have shown that exercise seems to have a beneficial impact on the immune system, helping people stay healthier and more resilient during stressful times.

Self-Esteem. Exercise increases confidence and can have a positive effect on self-esteem. One study found that children showed larger increases in self-esteem after engaging in aerobic activity as compared to other physical education class activities (such as learning sports skills). Another study found that senior citizens who practiced light stretching also increased their self-esteem.

Restful Sleep. Regular, quality sleep is related to better thinking ability, alertness, memory, and energy level. People who engage in rigorous exercise (walking, jogging, swimming, etc.) have been found to go to sleep more quickly, sleep longer, and have more restful sleep than people who do not exercise. Research suggests that exercise has the biggest impact on sleep when the exercise is longer in duration (30 minutes or more) and is completed earlier in the day.

Memory and Thinking Ability. There is evidence that exercise increases the blood supply to the brain. An increased blood supply means increased oxygen and energy, and thus better performance. The positive effects of aerobic exercise seem to be largest for executive functions judgment, planning, and problem solving ability.

Studies have also found that physically active elderly people perform better than sedentary people on cognitive tasks such as memory, reaction time, reasoning, and vocabulary. When sedentary people were assigned to an exercise program that included both strength training and aerobic activity, they showed substantial improvement in cognitive abilities after only 3-6 months. However, that advantage was quickly lost when people stopped exercising.

In short, physical exercise can make you feel happier, calmer, more confident, more energetic, and better able to think and solve problems. Maybe, instead of saying no to exercise, say no to something else today and go for a 5-minute walk around the office or the neighborhood. Do it especially if you feel too tired to do it remember that it will increase your energy and you will be glad you did it!

Dr. Karin Suesser, PhD, is a licensed psychologist with Aurora Medical Group in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (http://www.drsuesser.com). She provides therapy and assessment for children (ages 1-18) and their families, as well as for adults and couples. She specializes in helping individuals find effective solutions to emotional, behavioral, or life transition concerns. Her areas of expertise include anxiety issues, ADHD, aggressive and disruptive behaviors, depression, trauma and abuse issues, academic/career concerns, parenting issues, relationship and sexual issues. She also provides professional coaching to individuals to help them achieve their goals, enhance their performance, and live a more deeply meaningful life.

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Home Mold Test Kits

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Positive Self-Talk

One of the most powerful influences on your attitude and personality is what you say to yourself. It is not what happens to you, but how you respond internally to what happens to you, that determines your thoughts, feelings, and your actions. By controlling your inner dialogue, or your self talk, you can begin to assert control over every part of your life.

Your self-talk determines the majority of your emotional life. The words that you use to describe what is happening to you, and how you feel about external events, will trigger the emotions of happiness or unhappiness that you experience. When you see things positively and you look for the good in every situation and in each person, you will become a very positive and optimistic person. Since the quality of your life is determined by how you feel moment to moment, you should make it a habit to only think and talk about what you want and keep your mind off of what you dont want.

You are constantly faced with challenges, difficulties, and problems every day of your life. They are unavoidable and one of the inevitable parts of being human. But as you draw upon your resources to respond effectively to each challenge, you grow and become a stronger person. When you look back over your life, youll see that you are the kind of person that you are because of all the difficulties and problems that you have had to overcome in your life. Without those setbacks, you could not have learned what you needed to know to developed the character and strength that you have at this point in your life.

Much of your ability to succeed comes from the way you deal with life. Having a positive mental attitude is indispensable for success and happiness. It is the key to success in business, and it is vital to building strong relationships with other people. Everyone wants to be around a positive person with a cheerful attitude towards life. But no one wants to be around a negative person who is always pessimistic about everything. Your ability to develop and maintain a positive mental attitude, no matter what the situation may be, will play a critical role in any success you achieve.

One of the best ways to define a positive mental attitude is having a constructive and positive response to adversity. It is only when you are confronted with a setback or adversity that you really know if you have a positive attitude or not. Anyone can be positive when things are going well. It is only when things are going against you, that you are able to demonstrate to yourself and others, that you have a positive character and personality.

One of the common characteristics of all high achieving men and women is that they recognize the inevitability of temporary setbacks and disappointments. They accept them as a normal and natural part of their life. They do everything possible to avoid problems, but when they come up, successful people learn from them and rise above them. They continue to move forward towards their goals.

Optimistic people develop the habit of talking to themselves in constructive ways. Whenever they experience adversity of any kind, they immediately describe it to themselves in a such a way that it looses its ability to trigger negative emotions. They are able to exert a sense of control by how they describe any event or situation to themselves.

There is a natural tendency in all of us to react emotionally when our expectations are frustrated in any way. When something we wanted and hoped for fails to materialize, we feel a temporary sense of disappointment and unhappiness. We feel hurt and disillusioned. We react just as though we had been punched in the emotional solar plexus.

A person who is positive and optimistic is resilient and bounces back fast when he or she encounters a problem or setback of any kind. He or she responds quickly to an adverse event and interprets it as being temporary and only external. An optimistic person takes full control of his or her inner dialogue and counters any negative feelings by immediately reframing the event so that appears positive in some way.

Since your mind can hold only one thought at a time, either positive or negative, if you deliberately choose the positive thought to dwell upon, you keep your mind optimistic and your emotions positive. Since your thoughts and feelings determine you actions, if you keep your words and thoughts positive, you will automatically be a more positive person and move more rapidly toward your goals.

It all comes down to the way you talk to yourself on a daily basis. When a problem or difficulty comes up you must learn to change your language from negative to positive. For example, you should learn to use the word situation instead of problem. A problem is something you wrestle and struggle with. It represents a potential loss and difficultly. A situation, on the other hand, is just something that you deal with. The event is the same. But the way you interpret the event to yourself is what makes it sound and appear completely different.

An even better word to substitute for problem is the word challenge. When you are faced with a difficulty of any kind, instead of saying, I have a problem, you should say, I have an interesting challenge facing me. The word challenge is inherently positive. It is something that you rise to and that makes you stronger. It is again the same situation, only the word that you are using to describe it is different. As a result, your emotional response will be different as well.

The best of all possible words for any event or situation is the word opportunity. When you are faced with a difficulty of any kind, instead of saying, I have a problem, you should say, I am faced with an unexpected opportunity. Within ever difficulty or problem, there lies the seed of an equal or greater opportunity or benefit. If you focus your attention on finding out what the valuable lesson is, you will always find it.

You should start your day in front of a mirror saying affirmations, such as I like myself, I am the best, and I can do it. These are personal and positive affirmations that will build your levels of self confidence and self-esteem. You should say these affirmations out loud in front of a mirror at least 50 times a day. By doing this, you will be driving these new positive thoughts deep into your subconscious. At first when you do this, youll feel kind of funny doing it, only because your mind over many years has been programmed with so much negativity that it will take time to reprogram your mind with these new positive affirmations.

The hallmark of the truly successful and happy person is the ability to be objective and unemotional when caught up in the inevitable storms of daily life. The high achieving individual has the ability to continue talking to himself or herself in a positive and optimistic way no matter what the situation is. They are always calm, clear, and completely under control. As a result, they are able to exert a far greater sense of control and influence over their environment, and are less likely to be angry, upset, or distracted by problems or difficulties.

The starting point of becoming a more positive person is to monitor and control your self-talk every minute of the day. Keep your thoughts and words positive and consistent with your goals. Keep your mind focused on what you want and on becoming the person you want to be.

Remember that it is impossible to learn, grow and become successful without adversity and difficulties. You must rise above them in order to become a better person. So, welcome each difficulty as a learning experience and look into the situation to find something good or beneficial in it.

Always, keep your thoughts on your future and on your goals. Constantly think about the person you want to become. When things go wrong temporarily, respond by saying to yourself, I believe in the perfect outcome of every situation in my life. Resolve to be cheerful and pleasant in every situation. Resist every temptation to respond to a situation negatively. View disappointment as an opportunity to grow stronger, and talk to yourself and others about it in a positive and optimistic way.

When you practice positive self-talk, and keep your words and your mental pictures consistent with your goals, nothing can stop you from being the success you are meant to be.

Copyright 2005 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and achieve total success. A former ad agency executive and marketing consultant, Joes work in personal development focuses on helping his clients identify hidden marketable assets that create windfall opportunities and profits, as well as sound personal happiness and peace.

Reach Joe at: joe@jlmandassociates.com

Read more articles and newsletters at: http://www.jlmandassociates.com

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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative energy

It is essential that we find affordable and workable sources of alternative energy before the world completely consumes the already limited stock of fossil fuels. Many countries have started to introduce renewable energy schemes and more still have invested money into researching and even producing different sources of alternative energy. While it is essential that we become less reliant or not reliant at all on fossil fuels, many forms of alternative energy have their disadvantages as well as their obvious advantages. It has to be said though, that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages in many cases.

Wind energy .

Harnessing the power of the wind and using it to our ends is hardly a new idea. Windmills have been and still are used for many different purposes and have been for a great many years, but the improvement of turbines combined with the improved technology to turn the motion of turbine blades into an energy source has seen the use of turbines explode.

Wind power is very popular, but in order to provide a reasonable amount of power it may prove necessary to have large amounts of turbines. On windy days, and even not so windy days some turbines make a noise that many residents consider to be unbearable. Areas of open countryside are protected by conservation orders, which means they cant be built there either and if there is no conservation order there are still protestors willing to do almost anything to stop the turbines being built. The only viable option left is to use offshore wind farms and these are being investigated, developed and planned all around the world but it takes too many turbines to create a reasonable amount of power and eventually they will have to be built inland; a matter that will be contested wherever the wind farms are proposed to be built.

Solar energy .

Solar energy is probably the most common form of alternative powers for everyday people and you can see solar lights ad other solar accessories in many gardens. Governments are beginning to offer grants to assist in paying for photovoltaic roof tiles; these tiles are easily fitted onto your roof and collect the heat from the sun. This heat can either be used to heat water or can even be converted into electricity. The advantage for the consumer is that by including a grid tie system you can actually sell unused electricity back to the grid. Photovoltaic tiles take the place of ordinary roof tiles and can be perfectly blended to fit the look of the outside of your house. With solar energy you too can help the environment.

Biomass.

Ask most people which renewable energy source is the most widely used and they would say either wind or solar, but theyd be wrong or at least they certainly would in America. Since 2000 Biomass has been the most highly produced alternative energy in the United States. Using plant and animal material to create energy isnt without its downfalls. It would almost certainly meet with competition from residents if biomass power stations were to be created in built up areas. The decomposing plants and animal waste creates an awful smell that is incredibly difficult to mask but it is very renewable (theres always plants and animal waste).

Other renewable energy sources.

These are the main three renewable energy sources that the countries of the world are creating at the moment but there are others. Whether nuclear power is a viable alternative or not is a debate that will undoubtedly rage on forever, but it is a renewable energy and some countries already have extensive capabilities to produce it. Modern technology means that nuclear power stations are safer than theyve ever been and damage to people, animals or plantation is highly unlikely. However, it takes a long time to develop nuclear power station and even plants that are already being built may take ten years to come to fruition.

Hydropower is used in some countries and uses the motion of waves to create energy. While it is a possibility, the amount of energy produced is minimal and the outlay to set these schemes up is quite large. Without further investigation and improvement in the techniques used it is unlikely that Hydropower will become a major player in the renewable energy world.

For more more information about alternative energy please visit http://www.alternative-energy-solutions.com

Basement Mold Problems

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Building a Website for a Church? Keep These Things in Mind

Having a website is a wonderful thing for a church. By building a website for a church you are able to reach more people, keep your current members up to date with what is happening, provide information and collect donations. However, designing a website for a church is not easy since there are several challenges unique to church websites. When you build a website for a church you should keep the following things in mind.

The largest challenge of building a website for a church is that there are several different audiences that you are trying to reach with your website. Designing a site that meets everyone's needs without being overwhelming can be difficult. Normally, a church site needs to cater to its current members, people who may be interested in joining and people who already have a church but are either looking for more information or visiting your area. Let's take a closer look at each of these.

Keeping your current members up to date with the happenings at the church is an important function of a well designed church website. Many people forget to pick up a bulletin or newsletter each week or wind up losing it sometime during the week, so by providing these items on your website you can help to keep everyone in the loop. Not only that, but a website is a great place to list upcoming events, church news, audio sermons in case someone missed a service or any number of other helpful items.

Next, your website needs to provide information for people who may be considering joining. It is helpful to think of a church website as an online ministry. It is a way to reach out to people who normally would not have walked through the doors of the church and let them know all of the great things that you have going on. Creating areas on your site that cater to people who may like to join your community is a terrific way to get new members and build interest in your church.

Finally, for people who are traveling or just passing through, you should provide basic information such as direction to your church, the times and days of your services and answers to any other questions they may have. This is a great way to encourage people to visit you and can be a fun way to network with others who share your faith.

Because a website for a church contains so much information, it can be time consuming to keep it up to date. This is especially true if the person in charge of building or maintaining the website for your church has limited or no knowledge of HTML or graphic design.

If you would like to learn how to build and maintain your church's website literally in just minutes without needing to know anything about HTML or graphic design, please visit http://buildachurchwebsite.s1so.com

Sandy

Basement Mold Problems

How To Grow Your Retirement Income Even While Retired

Most retired people don't want to work full time. After all, they are "retired". But many find themselves in a situation like an acquaintance of mine, John, whom I was surprised recently to meet in the aisles of a big box home improvement store.

John was wearing an orange apron, which immediately identified him as a company employee. Now, John is a very knowledgeable guy. He is a good carpenter and has other homebuilding skills he can tap when needed. He had done an extensive remodel of his house a couple years ago, and that is where I first met him.

"John, you're working here?" I said. He smiled and asked how I was. And I queried him further.

"How do you like it here?" I asked.

"It's not bad," he said. "But pretty long hours."

We chatted a little while and then I went on my way. My first thought was that the store had a prize of an employee in John. His expertise regarding construction and his personal drive would be a great asset. But John was supposed to be retired. And here he was commuting some distance from home and working full time. Was that really what he wanted to do? Somehow I didn't think so.

I wonder - how many Americans of retirement age have left careers behind and are now forced to work at relatively low-paying jobs just to be able to survive financially? I see them all the time, and I think there MUST be a better way to make up for small Social Security pensions and inadequate retirement savings.

Here is what I want to highlight as a possible way out for many of our older senior citizens.

One thing a long working career gives someone is experience, and probably expertise to go along with it. Is there a way he or she can turn that hard-earned expert knowledge into retirement income without resuming full time work? And better yet, with an income potential that may exceed their dreams?

In fact, there is. Developing a thriving home grown business is one real option. But with a caveat.

A plethora of home-based and online business opportunities exist out there in cyberspace. How do you find a genuine, workable business idea that is a good fit for YOU?

In one sense, the answer is simple: develop your OWN business based on your personal experience and expertise. (Or maybe based on a strong interest or hobby.) The personal fit is assured; now it is only necessary to come up with the workable part.

With the internet, the world of opportunity has opened wide. It is now quite possible to take your personal expertise/passion and develop a unique and thriving online business providing an income in some cases greater than your previous career income.

But, you might say, I'm no internet or website expert. How do I do this? Where does the money come from? I really don't see how this could work for me at all.

All legitimate concerns and questions. And fortunately for us there are good workable answers. The internet is a gold mine of great information and tools that even an utter newbie (like I was) can take and use to create something to be proud of.

What you will be aiming at is to find a niche market that you can exploit with your own unique knowledge. A market waiting for the input that perhaps only you, or not too many others, could provide.

For the most part, people go online first to find information, not to buy stuff. You as an expect in your niche provide them with GOOD USEFUL CONTENT - the tips/information they are seeking. Your visitors will come to see and trust you as an expert. So when you do offer them something to buy that will take them that last mile to what they want, they are much more willing to lay down their money.

Good programs exist to teach you how to do market research, how to see if your niche idea has real monetary potential, how to build and structure a website that is attractive and welcoming to potential customers, how to drive lots of traffic to your site, how to set up ways to earn money from the site. Free courses to teach you how to write good content, how to set up profitable relationships with other online business people, and much more.

Setting up your own profitable online business is a real adventure. Many, many people - old and young - are doing this successfully. Will you be one of them?

Edwin Brown is a construction contractor moving closer toward retirement himself. He lives and works on the Pacific coast of the United States. To read more about his experience with an online business he is building based on his years in the construction trades, go to http://www.plaster-wall-ceiling-solutions.com/website-builder.html

Big Mold Problems

PopularMechanics.com - Home Journal: Home How-To Central

Informative articles on automotive technology, car parts, do it yourself repair, and used cars.

The view of Liverpools world famous waterfront was a different scene some time ago than what it is today. In 1190 the city was known was Liuerpul, which meant a pool with muddy water and another name that has been suggested is elverpool, which was a reference to the high number of eels in the Mersey.

King John granted Liverpool its charter in 1207 and advertised the establishment of a new borough at Liverpool inviting settlers to come and take holdings there. Rumour had it that the king wanted a port in the district that was free from the control of the earl of Chester and at first it served as a dispatch point for troops sent to Ireland.

Following this, the Liverpool Castle was constructed, which occupied a prominent site overlooking the Mersey and pool of Liverpool. It was described that the castle had four towers, a hall, chamber, chapel, brew-house and bake-house and was surrounded by a dry moat. Liverpool Castle was removed in 1726.

Throughout the 16th century, Liverpool only had a population of around 500 and it wasnt until the late 1600s that Liverpool was made a parish on its own by Act of Parliament. Following on from this the population and commerce increased rapidly and Liverpool became the second metropolis of Great Britain.

Liverpool was the safest landing spot for boats and the first wet dock in Britain was built in 1715. Profits increased from the slave trade, which helped the town grow and flourish.

Liverpools black community dates from this period and grew rapidly, - reaching a population of around 10,000 within five years. By the beginning of the 1800s more than 30% of the worlds trade was passing through the docks at Liverpool and during the 1840s the great famine brought many Irish to Liverpool. By the middle of the 1800s a quarter of the citys population was Irish-born.

Over the period of the 1800s to 1900s the growth of Liverpool continued to expand and the population grew. At the beginning of the 1800s the population was just 78,000 and grew to a massive 685,000 by 1901.

Albert Dock AreaIn 1888 Liverpool achieved city status and by the early 1900s it was announced the second city of empire. During this period the Albert Dock expanded and a number of major buildings were constructed such as St. Georges Hall and Lime Street Station.

As Liverpool was constantly expanding over the years, during the late 1800s and early 1900s people started emigrating from all over Europe to the city and the population continued to grow. It was said that Adolf Hitlers half brother had once stayed with his wife in Upper Stanhope Street but some believe that this is untrue.

Along with the huge Irish community in Liverpool, there were also a lot of other cultures and around the area of Scotland Road was once referred to as Little Italy. In addition to this, Liverpool was also the home to a large Welsh population and some people called it the Capital of North Wales.

Following the First World War, Liverpool experienced a massive slump to its economy, which the city council tried to resolve by making various improvements such as the construction of the East Lancashire Road and the Mersey Queensway Tunnel. When the Mersey Queensway Tunnel was first built it was the longest underwater tunnel in the world.

During World War II, Liverpool was bombed more heavily than any other city in Europe and was almost completely wiped out. At a certain time during this war the city was the headquarters of the Battle of the Atlantic from 1941.

Liverpool BombingHowever, at the beginning of the 1950s re-construction took place and Liverpool was once again the second most important port in the empire. In the late 20th century the dock was redeveloped and the Albert and Wapping Docks were restored as major visitor attractions and retail centres. The installation of new dock gates at Canning facilitated the Tall Ships and Mersey River Festival in the 1980s and 90s.

Since the middle of the 1990s some major redevelopment and reconstruction has taken place and there are many planning projects currently underway to revive economy in Liverpool. For most of this period the economy in Liverpool has grown faster than the national average and crime levels have remained lower than most other metropolitan areas in England and Wales.

Contact Me and Read More At Liverpool In A Nutshell

Monday, May 12, 2008

4 Tips To Know When You Need To Find A Plumber

Some of these plumbing problems are simply too overwhelming and difficult for us to deal with on our own. Even if you think you can do the work yourself, in the messy end that has to come, you will be glad you called a professional to get the job done properly. However, since hiring a plumber is something that a lot of us have little experience in, here are four things that might be good to know when you want to find a plumber who will get the job done right and at a fair price.

Always Ask Friends How to Find a Plumber

The first thing you should know is the extent of your particular plumbing problem. Remember, even if a problem only takes a few minutes for a plumber to fix, most of them have a minimum time fee that usually covers their visit and then some. This cost can be anywhere from a half hour charge or even a full hour base charge just for coming out to look at your problem and turning off a tap in your basement. If you have any reason to believe that, the problem is serious, get a plumber and have him or her correct the problem before any more damage can occur. Friends and family might recommend a plumber with a high reputation for service.

Find a Plumber- Licensed Plumbers are the Best

You would not want a backyard mechanic working on your prized vehicle right. Well, in that same sense why would you allow anyone not licensed to work on your home? It is always a good idea to have a licensed plumber working on your plumbing project. There is a lot to be said for experience and the proper training. Do not take any chances with your home. Therefore, we now realize a licensed plumber will provide the best service and they have the insurance required to cover any problem they might run into.

Always Ask The Right Questions

Knowing what questions to ask a plumber is almost as important as listening carefully to the answers he gives you. You need to make sure that the plumber you pick has had experience solving your particular kind of problem. Do not be afraid to ask direct questions that require a yes or no answer; this is your home you are dealing with here. A good plumber will not shy away from your questions and will often volunteer free information that may end up being useful to you.

Judging The Price

The more you learn the more you can expect when you find a plumber. Remember to always receive an estimate before work begins. Calling the plumber is easy; paying a plumber might be a problem for some if the cost exceeds their funds. Therefore, always ask for the estimate and then let the work begin when you find the lowest but best plumber for your project.

You can also find more info on Emergency Plumber and Plumber Contractor. Sressmanagementmethods.com is a comprehensive resource to known about stress management.

Basement Mold Problems

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Signs of a Cheating Spouse

One of the worst feelings is the world is suspecting that your spouse is cheating on you. If you are worried that your spouse may not be being faithful or having any sort of nagging doubts it can consume you and cause a wide variety of emotions including pain, anger, sorrow, despair, distrust, feeling like there is something wrong with you and many other different emotions. Here are some common signs of a cheating spouse that may help you to determine whether or not your fears are true. Not everyone who is cheating will display all of these signs and not everyone who exhibits these signs is actually cheating. However, these are some of the most common signs of a cheating spouse and if your partner exhibits any of them it can be a good indication that they may not be being faithful.

First, you may notice that your spouse starts spending more time away from home. It could be that they are called into the office to work more frequently or they may suddenly be making frequent trips to visit new "friends" that you have never met. It could even be something as simple as when you try to reach them during their lunch hour they are frequently unavailable when before you could get through every time. Don't make the mistake of thinking that cheating can only happen at night since many people carry on affairs during the day when it is easier to hide their activities from you.

Another sign of cheating is if your spouse suddenly registers a new email address with a different password than usual or if they get a new cell phone or pager out of the blue. The internet has made cheating easy since people can just stay in touch through email without arousing your suspicions as much as if they were trying to talk on the phone. The same goes for text messaging on cell phones. It is a way to be in touch with each other without having to talk in front of you which makes it easier for them to hide their cheating. If you notice that your spouse quickly deletes all of their text messages or closes windows on their computer when you walk into the room it could be a sign that they are cheating.

When you run into friends or acquaintances who are mutual friends with you and your partner you might notice that they act strangely toward you. This can happen if they know about the cheating but don't know whether or not to tell you or just don't want to get involved.

You may also notice that your spouse starts to pay more attention to their appearance and grooming. They may buy new clothes or start dressing up more even for regular day to day activities. Even subtle changes like suddenly starting to wear perfume or cologne when they didn't before can be a sign that they are being unfaithful. Any sudden or unusual change in habits can often signal that there is something going on and that they are dressing up to impress the person they are cheating with.

There are also more obvious physical signs of cheating that are easy to spot like the classic lipstick on the collar, coming home smelling like perfume or cologne, coming home with their shirt buttoned crooked or on inside out, etc. Also pay attention if your spouse suddenly starts doing their own laundry since it can be a sign that they are trying to hide physical signs of an affair from you.

Not knowing for sure is one of the hardest parts of suspecting that your spouse is cheating on you. Even if they are showing all the signs of cheating you still can't know for certain unless you find concrete evidence that something is going on. If you would like to learn how to find out for sure whether or not your partner is cheating and put an end to the suffering, self-doubt and lies, I would recommend checking How to Catch a Cheater for resources that can help you discover the truth. Learn more at http://catchacheater.s1so.com

Metal Apartment Stairs

A South Carolina Golf School Destination Most Forget

Most golfers looking at South Carolina golf school destinations and golf vacation schools in the state target the Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head locations and forget all about Charleston, South Carolina.

Who can blame them? Both Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are known world-wide for their golf courses and as popular golf vacation destinations. Charleston is mostly known for its history and polite residents.

Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head also have their own respective nicknames in the golf world. Golfers around the world call Myrtle Beach the Golf Mecca and Hilton Head the Golf Island. Charleston gets its nickname, Holy City for its quantity of church steeples painting the downtown skyline.

I have nothing against the great golf vacation schools in Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head. However, it is time I stood up for Charleston as a great golf vacation and South Carolina golf school destination.

Like its golf courses, Charleston golf schools do not match up to the other main South Carolina golf school locations in quantity. They do, however, match up in quality.

Kiawah Island Resort offers one of and possibly the most luxurious golf school destinations in the world. This Charleston golf school location has three courses ranked on Golf Digest's list of "America's Top 75 Resort Courses. Kiawah Island Resort hosted the 1990 Ryder Cup and in the future will host the 2007 Senior PGA Championship and 2012 PGA Championship.

Golf school students can enjoy luxurious accommodations at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island. Many publications and critics call this facility the finest oceanfront hotel built on the East Coast in the past twenty years.

Travel north from Kiawah just above the Charleston peninsula and you will find the Wild Dunes golf vacation school on the Isle of Palms. Wild Dunes was named Best in the State by Golf Digest. The Charleston golf school at Wild Dunes features two Tom Fazio designs that feature views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intercoastal Waterway.

Golfers can choose to stay on the resort at beach homes or condominiums. You will be just steps away from golf courses, sandy beaches and a short drive from downtown Charleston.

These are just two of the golf schools at this lesser-known South Carolina golf school destination. What really sets Charleston apart from Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head is what I like to call the Charleston experience.

After a full-day of golf school and rounds of golf on Charleston golf courses, you can find many things to keep you busy. Charleston offers golf vacationers historic tours, wonderful harbor cruises, some of the best shopping on the east coast and world-class restaurants of every variety.

The new Charleston Bridge is the largest cable-stay bridge in North America and the tallest concrete structure in South Carolina. For a different perspective of this South Carolina golf school destination, walk or bike the bridge and enjoy the view from above.

The next time you begin to research South Carolina golf school destinations. Dont forget about Charleston golf schools. Charleston golf courses, golf schools and golf resorts take a back seat to no golf vacation school destination. After all is said and done, I think Holy City makes for a great golf nickname after all.

You can find more information about Charleston golf vacation schools at our website. Enjoy your golf vacation no matter where you choose to go.

Copyright 2005 Evans Putman - http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.com All Rights Reserved. Reprints allowed see below.

Article courtesy of http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.com your source for the best golf destination information. We deliver Truth in Golf Travel. PerfectGolfVacations.com delivers the best local market information and word-of-mouth recommendations from golf destinations like Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, Ireland, Hilton Head, and more. Keep current with updates, news and specials at our blog http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.blogspot.com

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Basement Mold Problems

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Wood Turning Projects - Sharpen Two Ways

Wood turning projects aid in teaching a newcomer to the craft two different kinds of sharpening. One is simply the idea of sharpening wood turning skills and the other different skill needed in putting a sharp edge on the turning tools.

Like all crafts, wood turning has its own set of skills. There is a certain immediacy to wood turning skills determined by the activity itself. Fast spinning wood being cut with hand held tools regulates a speed of action needed for careful cuts or else the wood and tool together produce a "catch," as the tool gouges the wood and the wood tries to throw the tool away. Preventing the catch is a result of good technique, sharp tools and proper presentation.

Wood turning projects are generally divided by skill level into categories of beginner, intermediate and advanced, although these tend to be fairly wide open to interpretation. A project will have a well defined shape for final achievement and a hopefully clear set of instructions for getting there. While some are chosen because they look interesting, others are picked for their skill development potential. Especially in the latter case it is good if the project meets a couple of standards.

First it should be inexpensive to perform. Remembering the project is a training ground for the preferred piece, it is likely that the greater part of the wood budget will be saved for the desired turning. Plus the project should likely be duplicated a number of times so that the skills may be not only learned but learned well. Noting that every practice project is another piece of wood, it is good if the wood can be procured either as fire wood or free wood so as to keep prices down. On the other hand, the wood should have similar characteristics to the wood desired for the final piece so as to hone one's skills in the medium in which it is intended to be used. For the same reason, it is often good for the experienced turner to consider a project in the same wood he or she will use, just to become familiar once again with the characteristics of the particular species of wood.

The other side of sharpening one's skills is continuing to acquire skills in sharpening. While a user of a table saw may need to have a blade sharpened every six months or even once a month, a wood turner will need to sharpen as often as every five minutes and in some circumstances even more often. In other words, wood turners sharpen their own tools.

Much of the character of a piece is determined by the clarity of a cut and therefor by the sharpness of the tools. Wood turning projects ease anxiety in the sharpening process. A simple project of inexpensive woods means that a cut that is less than perfect from a tool that is less than sharp is not only not the end of the world, it is not even the end of a piece of wood that cost five hundred dollars. Whereas a cut that may require a lot of anxious moments sanding and scraping to repair in a piece of expensive exotic wood will cause some frantic moments, in a noncrucial wood turning project it will instead mean a return to the grinder for a new edge and then a new cut.

As wood turners progress in their craft, new challenges arise calling for new types of cuts to be learned. Sometimes new styles of tools are acquired calling for new sharpening requirements. Other times a particular cut may call for a familiar tool to be sharpened with a new and peculiar shape. Wood turning projects help us to do this with a minimum of fuss and great deal of enjoyment.

Darrell Feltmate is a juried wood turner whose web site, Around the Woods, contains detailed information about wood turning for the novice or experienced turner as well as a collection of turnings for your viewing pleasure. You too can learn to turn wood, here is the place to start. Wondering what it looks like? Follow the page links for a free video.

There are several wood turning projects fully explained on the web site. In particular, a selection of beginner's projects may be found on the Beginner's Projects page complete with explanation and step by step photos.

Propertyinspection

Smoked Chicken Recipes

These smoked chicken recipes are delicious. Just check these out and I'm sure you'll be amazingly surprised.

So here we go for some smoked chicken recipes:

>>Potato & Smoked Chicken Hash

2 tb olive oil
1 cl garlic, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 tb jalapeno tabasco sauce
2 c smoked chicken, diced
2 c cubed, cooked potatoes
2 tb milk or yogurt salt to taste
3 tb chopped fresh coriander

Heat oil in non-stick skillet. Add onion and garlic; cook gently until tender. Add potatoes; increase heat and brown lightly. Add chicken and mash together slightly with potatoes. Mash in tabasco sauce and milk or yogurt. Season with salt. Add coriander.

>>Hickory Smoked Chicken

3 c hickory wood chips
1 orange, sliced
1 ts crushed dried rosemary leaves
1 ts crushed dried rosemary leaves
1 tb chopped fresh or
1 ts poultry seasoning
1/2 c margarine or butter, melted
2 md stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 ts chopped fresh or
3 onions, cut into fourths
5 lb roasting chicken

Soak wood chips in water about 30 minutes. Rub cavity of chicken with poultry seasoning and 2 teaspoons rosemary. Fill cavity with orange slices, celery and onions. Fasten opening with skewers; lace if necessary. Tie or skewer drumsticks to tail. Fasten neck skin to back with skewer. Fold wings across back with tips touching. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh muscle or thickest part of breast meat and does not touch bone.

Arrange hot coals around edge of grill. Place foil drip pan under grilling area. Drain half of the wood chips; add to hot coals. Stir I tablespoon rosemary into melted margarine. Place chicken, breast side up, on grill over drip pan about 4 inches from medium coals. Cover and grill 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes, brushing frequently with margarine mixture, until thermometer registers 180 To 185. If necessary, add remaining drained wood chips and coals every 30 minutes to maintain smoke and even heat.

That's it for today! If you want more smoked chicken recipes just check below:

Clara McKenzie Shouts: "Oh My God! I Still Can't Believe What This Guy Is Doing! These Copycat Recipes Are Amazingly Delicious. He Must Be A Real Nut To Release These Restaurant Recipes To The Public. Hurry! Grab Your Copy Here: Secret Recipes"

Fallbrook Home Building

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Step Ladders

Stepladders are ladders with wide steps that are specifically designed to provide foot comfort while climbing or standing. Stepladders are mostly used for painting, repairs, industrial work and household jobs. They come in an A-shape model with either one side having steps or both sides having steps. They are made from steel, wood, aluminum or fiberglass. The steps are lined with corrugated rubber or have slip-resistant texture. Generally, the depth of steps ranges from 3 inches to 10 inches. If the steps fold up, it becomes compact to store the ladder. The foot of the ladder should have slip-resistant molded footpads or rubber cups for better grip. Usually step ladders range from 18 inches to 20 feet height. Stepladders can carry up to 375 lbs of weight, depending on the model.

Some stepladders have a high railing for support at the top and wheels for rolling at the bottom. A few have an adjustable height of about one foot that can be incremented or reduced per requirements. A platform on the stepladder provides an ideal working place to keep tools and materials. Most stepladders can accommodate accessories that can be used while working. The assortment of accessories consists of paint can/bucket hanger, conduit holder, tool holder and ladder caddy. A special type of stepladder that can fold up to the length of a step is known as the Telescopic stepladder. It uses a patented lock and release mechanism for opening and closing the ladder.

Even though stepladders provide a better standing space, they must be used carefully. There should not be any extra loading on the side, since they can easily overturn. Stepladders can be purchased at a hardware store or over the Internet.

Ladders provides detailed information about ladders, pool ladders, boat ladders, step ladders and more. Ladders is the sister site of School Playground Equipment.

Step Ladders

Stepladders are ladders with wide steps that are specifically designed to provide foot comfort while climbing or standing. Stepladders are mostly used for painting, repairs, industrial work and household jobs. They come in an A-shape model with either one side having steps or both sides having steps. They are made from steel, wood, aluminum or fiberglass. The steps are lined with corrugated rubber or have slip-resistant texture. Generally, the depth of steps ranges from 3 inches to 10 inches. If the steps fold up, it becomes compact to store the ladder. The foot of the ladder should have slip-resistant molded footpads or rubber cups for better grip. Usually step ladders range from 18 inches to 20 feet height. Stepladders can carry up to 375 lbs of weight, depending on the model.

Some stepladders have a high railing for support at the top and wheels for rolling at the bottom. A few have an adjustable height of about one foot that can be incremented or reduced per requirements. A platform on the stepladder provides an ideal working place to keep tools and materials. Most stepladders can accommodate accessories that can be used while working. The assortment of accessories consists of paint can/bucket hanger, conduit holder, tool holder and ladder caddy. A special type of stepladder that can fold up to the length of a step is known as the Telescopic stepladder. It uses a patented lock and release mechanism for opening and closing the ladder.

Even though stepladders provide a better standing space, they must be used carefully. There should not be any extra loading on the side, since they can easily overturn. Stepladders can be purchased at a hardware store or over the Internet.

Ladders provides detailed information about ladders, pool ladders, boat ladders, step ladders and more. Ladders is the sister site of School Playground Equipment.

Fencebuildingguide

Monday, May 5, 2008

Residential Fencing

Although there are many different types of residential fencing perhaps aluminum is the most popular. This is a galvanized steel product with a hard wearing powder coat finish. It is designed to add beauty and value to residential homeowners. There are a wide variety of styles and colors to select from and any of them will complement any color that you may have on your home. This type of fence is designed with the residential person in mind and provides a level of quality and resilience that the home owner needs. This fence is made for durability to withstand the elements and it is possible to have a special formulated powder coating made to suit your needs.

This power coated system of polyester resin prevents early rusting. This type of fencing comes in eight-foot sections to cut down on time and labor. The posts that are provided will hold the pickets firmly in place and will adapt to any contour of slopes in your landscape. The panels can be secured to the post without any welding and there are brackets provided. Most of these come with a 12 year warranty.

You can find these available from 4 foot to 6 foot high and there are many different colors to choose from. This fence carries very low-maintenance which can free up your time for other things. Whether you need a picket fence or a privacy fence, this fencing can provide what you need. If you have animals that you want to keep in or animals that you want to keep out, this is the fence that can provide the security for you. With its low maintenance, durability, and appealing look this fence will be a welcome addition to your home. No matter what your needs this fence can provide what you're looking for.

For lots of information on remodeling your home and other related topics, visit Fences Guide at www.fencesguide.com

Roof Dutch Stuccoed

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Home Improvement Loans

Home improvement loans are home loans used to finance improvements on your house or property. This can include repairs, a new kitchen, a new bathroom, an extension or general property improvements. Before considering the loan options you should have a detailed plan for the home improvement you intend to carry out. In this plan you should include both the calculated and estimated costs for the improvements, but also the value improvements you are expecting. Typically home improvement loans are given against your first mortgage by your current lender.

Improvement

Home improvement loans are usually paid out in payments in proportion to the work that is being carried out and the contractor may be paid directly from the lender. By refinancing your mortgage you may be able to lower your payments, defer payments or release some cash for home improvements. A personal loan for home improvement doesn't require you to have equity in your home or borrow against the value of your home. It is a loan disbursed by either a finance company or bank to finance your home improvement project.

Home remodeling doesn't have to be a test of will, but rather an opportunity to increase the value of your home with home improvements. Most contractors involved in home improvements are honest, reliable and skilled, but some are not. A contractor must inform you, before you enter into a home improvement contract, of all required building or construction permits. More adventurous homeowners become do it yourself home improvement masters, tackling home remodeling projects like installing hard wood floors or bathroom tile. Home improvement work includes alteration, remodeling, repair or replacement of a building or part of a building used as a residence. Landscape improvements and swimming pools can also in many cases be considered home .Others opt to leave the home improvements up to the professionals, by bringing in contractors to handle bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, building a deck and many more dream home remodeling projects.

Credit

The different banks and lenders should be approached and many different quotes and options must be researched before going in for the Bad Credit Home Improvement Loan. Generally repeat customers get nominal rates despite having bad credit. The advantage here is that the creditor arrives at the eligible loan amount based on the equity of your home. So, the more the equity the higher will be the loan that can be raised as bad credit home improvement loan with lesser rate of interest too. People looking for bad credit home improvement loan should remember that the present credit situation should not present a dismal picture to the lender.

Generally, all actions that can be considered to increase the value of the property in such a way that it increases the expected sales value of the home or the property are to be considered home improvements. Home improvement does not include work done on commonly owned areas of condominiums or buildings that contain four or more single family units.

Clarisse Brown is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.ImprovingYourHomeNow.com. She provides more information about home and home improvement issues that you can research in your pajamas on her website.

Do It Yourself Home Help

Clawfoot Bathtubs - An Elegant Touch To Any Bathroom

Clawfoot tubs are perhaps one of the most elegant accessories that you can install in a bathroom renovation and they come in many different styles to accent any style of bathroom.

Although they are usually made out of cast iron, they are also made out of other materials such as acrylic and fiberglass. All of these materials are made to last for many years.

Clawfoot tubs can be dated back to ancient Greece. Many people look for old tubs so that they can be restored, however more and more factories are producing new tubs to keep up with the demand.

A few of the styles of clawfoot tubs are;

Classic roll rim tubs are the traditional style. They are designed for maximum comfort for those days that just won't end.

Slippery tubs are a type that is raised and sloped on one end. This type of tub was created for a more lounging atmosphere.

Although pedestal tubs are considered clawfoot tubs, they do not rest on claw feet. It has a pedestal and dates back to the isle of Crete.

In the beginning, these tubs were only in the homes of royalty and guests of the court. It was not until around eighteen thirty-five that they began to be mass-produced by a man named John Kohler. He originally owned a farm equipment foundry that made horse troughs. He added enamel to the inside of the trough to make it easier to clean, and he found that when feet were added to the trough, it made a perfect bathtub. Because the back was sloped, it was perfect relaxation, and it was nicknamed the soaking tub.

Clawfoot tubs were the standard tub in homes and apartments for many decades. The standard color was white so it matched every dcor. Although the standard color was white, it was very easy to paint the outside any color.

Many home remodeling agencies choose to use them just for the elegance that it brings to the room. There is virtually nothing that you can do that will diminish a room with a clawfoot tub in it. The beauty and elegance has lasted throughout the centuries.

http://whirlpool-baths.info is a website devoted to giving you the latest information about luxury and beauty baths. Whether your looking for more information about a luxurious walk in bath tub, or looking to purchase a clawfoot bath tub, we've got you covered!

Stairwell
Stair Nosing