Every now and then I like to frequent our local liquor store to stock my bar. Our neighborhood store is nothing special, but has what I need when I need it. I have never paid a whole lot of attention to the sign as I entered the establishment. The sign clearly states that not only do they sell beer and wine, they also sell party supplies. Great. You never know when a party may break out and having a store with party supplies at your disposal is nothing but a posititve thing.
I walked into our neighborhood establishment and strolled through the isles. My bar was already stocked sufficiently, so alcohol was not on the list for this trip. Today's trip was for nothing but party supplies.
I greeted the man behind the counter with a smile. "Hello" to him must mean,"please tell me every insignificant detail of yourself" as he proceeded to tell me about his day up to that point. Thanks. I care. This man was nothing but a distraction in my procurement of party supplies. I strolled through the isles, acknowledged the offer to help me find anything. I knew what I was looking for, I don't want Mr. Annoying's help. The store isn't that big, and I think I can find the party supplies I was looking for.
A little time passed, and I continued my search for party supplies. Up and down every isle i looked for things that were necessary for a party (hence the name party supplies.) After thorough examination of the store three times over, I came to a startling conclusion. My idea of party supplies may be a little different than theirs. Here are the "party supplies" i found at the store.
Ice. Yup, ice is needed for parties. Afterall, its what keeps the beverages cold. A great party supply indeed. Unfortunately, this was the only thing we agreed on.
Porn. Racks and racks of all varieties of porn magazines lined one whole wall. I know some party people will tell you that a party isn't a party without the latest issue of Greasy Babes. I tend to disagree. In my experience, nothing breaks up a party like that one crazy guy with his pants down screamin, "wooooo, I got the latest issue of Swank...its PARTY TIME!!!"
Lighters. Again, not my idea of a party supply. I gave up the lets burn things party a long time ago and I have think most normal adults have too. But what I seem to be learning here is that most normal adults are not buying their party supplies from a liquor store.
Beef Jerky. Okay, I don't think I have to really expand on this. Anyone that EVER brings beef jerky to a party should be lit on fire with the lighter they most likely bought as well. If you must make a reference to beef jerky being the ultimate compliment to porn, you may do so. I'm not touching that one.
That's it. That was all I could find that would even come close to being party supplies, no little parasols for drinks, not even a SOLO cup to be found.
Needless to say, I was a little disappointed, educated and a little weirded out at the same time. I like to think of it as the trifecta of human experience.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Dodge: Awesome and Invigorated!
If you are a car fan you know that part of the fun of following the market is examining new models as they enter the showroom. There is just something special about a new car: the smell, the look, the price tag! For some 17 million American drivers a new car is in their future, while many others opt for the used car market. Some of the cars on the market today are hot, hot, hot! Let’s take a look at several new and future offerings from Dodge.
Thanks in part to new ownership [Daimler Benz purchased the Chrysler Corporation in 1998] a fresh infusion of great looking Dodge models have hit a showroom near you. Additional models are soon to appear and the makeover that Dodge has been receiving is nothing less than astounding. Here are some of my favorites:
Magnum - Who said that a station wagon should resemble a family hauler? The Magnum sure doesn’t. With an intimidating grille and a rakish exterior, the Magnum is a true man pleaser while also giving women a bit extra room in the back to haul stuff. Throw in a Hemi and the Magnum truly rocks!
Charger – Okay, so the new Charger has four doors. Well, you can’t have everything. You can have macho looks, a powerful engine, and a car that is certain to compete with anything that Japan or Germany throws its way. Word has it that DaimlerChrysler is considering a coupe version. Now, wouldn’t that be cool!
Caliber - Bye, bye Neon. The Neon served Dodge well, but it isn’t in the same caliber as the Caliber. Pun intended. To be introduced in Spring 2006 as a 2007 model, the Caliber will have three engine choices: 1.8, 2.0, and 2.4 I4s, a continuously available transaxle, and all wheel drive. In addition, 2.0L diesel engines will be available outside of the North American market – why not here? – as DaimlerChrysler sets to introduce the Dodge name into new markets.
Other Dodge vehicles that are getting noticed include the Ram and Dakota pick up trucks, the Durango SUV and the soon to be introduced Dodge Nitro, the division’s version of the compact Jeep Liberty. Oh, yeah, who could forget the 510-hp V10 Viper? Can you say, Corvette beater?
One word you can’t associate with Dodge anymore is the word, “boring.” Exciting cars, trucks, and SUVs for a market craving these types of hot vehicles. I guess the “ram” insignia really does befit the name.
Thanks in part to new ownership [Daimler Benz purchased the Chrysler Corporation in 1998] a fresh infusion of great looking Dodge models have hit a showroom near you. Additional models are soon to appear and the makeover that Dodge has been receiving is nothing less than astounding. Here are some of my favorites:
Magnum - Who said that a station wagon should resemble a family hauler? The Magnum sure doesn’t. With an intimidating grille and a rakish exterior, the Magnum is a true man pleaser while also giving women a bit extra room in the back to haul stuff. Throw in a Hemi and the Magnum truly rocks!
Charger – Okay, so the new Charger has four doors. Well, you can’t have everything. You can have macho looks, a powerful engine, and a car that is certain to compete with anything that Japan or Germany throws its way. Word has it that DaimlerChrysler is considering a coupe version. Now, wouldn’t that be cool!
Caliber - Bye, bye Neon. The Neon served Dodge well, but it isn’t in the same caliber as the Caliber. Pun intended. To be introduced in Spring 2006 as a 2007 model, the Caliber will have three engine choices: 1.8, 2.0, and 2.4 I4s, a continuously available transaxle, and all wheel drive. In addition, 2.0L diesel engines will be available outside of the North American market – why not here? – as DaimlerChrysler sets to introduce the Dodge name into new markets.
Other Dodge vehicles that are getting noticed include the Ram and Dakota pick up trucks, the Durango SUV and the soon to be introduced Dodge Nitro, the division’s version of the compact Jeep Liberty. Oh, yeah, who could forget the 510-hp V10 Viper? Can you say, Corvette beater?
One word you can’t associate with Dodge anymore is the word, “boring.” Exciting cars, trucks, and SUVs for a market craving these types of hot vehicles. I guess the “ram” insignia really does befit the name.
The Origins Of Spring-Cleaning, Or Along Came Eve
I always know when April makes its yearly debut without consulting the calendar because my wife usually says, “Let’s clean out the garage today.” Trust me on this one, it is no April fool’s joke, but someone gets fooled. And believe me, I’m just not anybody’s fool. I’m my wife’s fool.
Somehow, her “let’s” has a funny singular ring to it and we had, if I remember correctly, a double ring wedding ceremony. Hers is on her left ring finger while mine somehow ended up in my nose.
For some reason spring brings to women, wives in particular, an uncontrollable urge to clean something. It doesn’t matter what that something is, it has to be cleaned. Moreover, it does not matter how clean or dirty that something is or when it was last cleaned, it must be cleaned again.
This represents a basic philosophical difference between men and women. In the beginning, man was perfectly at home with dirt, then along came Eve and introduced spring-cleaning.
We have no idea how long it was between Adam and the time Eve came onto the scene, but it was long enough to get the entire Garden of Eden dirty, necessitating a thorough cleaning.
Thus began the yearly ritual known as spring-cleaning. This tradition has been handed down from mother to daughter since the beginning of time. As far as I can ascertain, no father on record has handed down to his son any way of putting a stop to this nonsense. And don’t think I’m not just a little upset about that.
I think our forefathers could have found a fifth father to help come up with a workable plan to get rid of this yearly onus.
But, it is spring and the time-honored ritual has come to our domestic den. Spring is in the air and spring-cleaning is on the agenda. I, on the other hand, had other plans, which did not include soap and water. So much for my plans. A husband’s plan is always subject to his wife’s rescheduling.
Every year I asked the same question. How in the world does spring get so dirty? And, more important, why do I have to clean it? I didn’t mess it up.
I believe Mother Nature ought to clean her own spring and not push this responsibility onto husbands like me who have better things to do with their time.
One year I got confused and cleaned my spring in the fall, which screwed up my whole winter wondering what I would do when spring actually arrived and it was already cleaned.
Spring-cleaning would not be so bad if I could use my definition of clean rather than my wife’s. One man’s clean is his wife’s “when are you going to clean that?”
At the least, it would be helpful if spring-cleaning only came on leap year, which would give me an opportunity to hop out of the way before my good wife could spring into action.
In our house, the annual spring cleaning focuses on the garage. When my wife gets it into her head to clean the garage, I get it into my head to get clean out of her way. In the scheme of things, how important is a clean garage anyway? It’s not as if Martha Stewart is going to make a surprise visit.
As a veteran husband (with the scars to prove it), I have discovered one thing in my house. Behold, a greater than Martha Stewart lives at my lodgings.
My philosophy is simply, a dirty garage is a happy garage. It just doesn’t make my wife happy and when she’s not happy neither am I — so I am willing to live with an unhappy garage. These are the compromises enabling husbands to survive generation after generation. At least, enabling this husband to survive spring-cleaning one more year.
I have no idea what my garage does during the winter to get so dirty, but I wish it would stop it, or at least clean up after itself and not cause me so much grief.
When the idea of spring-cleaning comes up, I take one gander at the object of the endeavor and try to duck out as quickly as possible. I usually run into my wife standing at the door and realize my goose is cooked, usually to a nice golden burnt.
My idea of cleaning the garage is opening the garage door and the back door and let nature take its course. However, when I suggest this, an ill wind blows my way, if you know what I mean.
Garage cleaning invariably leads to garage sales. Garage sales are amazing.
Instead of donating my worthless junk to the neighborhood dump, I sell it to my neighbors, who will put it in their garage sale next year. This keeps neighborhood junk in circulation for years, and then some antique dealer buys it and starts the whole cycle again in New York City.
One man’s junk is another man’s antique.
My wife insists cleanliness is next to godliness. If that is so, why did God create so much dirt?
God is also in the cleaning business and you can be sure His is the ultimate leaving nothing unclean.
The Apostle Paul explains, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:5 KJV.)
When God says, “Let’s clean out your life today,” trust Him to do a thorough job.
Somehow, her “let’s” has a funny singular ring to it and we had, if I remember correctly, a double ring wedding ceremony. Hers is on her left ring finger while mine somehow ended up in my nose.
For some reason spring brings to women, wives in particular, an uncontrollable urge to clean something. It doesn’t matter what that something is, it has to be cleaned. Moreover, it does not matter how clean or dirty that something is or when it was last cleaned, it must be cleaned again.
This represents a basic philosophical difference between men and women. In the beginning, man was perfectly at home with dirt, then along came Eve and introduced spring-cleaning.
We have no idea how long it was between Adam and the time Eve came onto the scene, but it was long enough to get the entire Garden of Eden dirty, necessitating a thorough cleaning.
Thus began the yearly ritual known as spring-cleaning. This tradition has been handed down from mother to daughter since the beginning of time. As far as I can ascertain, no father on record has handed down to his son any way of putting a stop to this nonsense. And don’t think I’m not just a little upset about that.
I think our forefathers could have found a fifth father to help come up with a workable plan to get rid of this yearly onus.
But, it is spring and the time-honored ritual has come to our domestic den. Spring is in the air and spring-cleaning is on the agenda. I, on the other hand, had other plans, which did not include soap and water. So much for my plans. A husband’s plan is always subject to his wife’s rescheduling.
Every year I asked the same question. How in the world does spring get so dirty? And, more important, why do I have to clean it? I didn’t mess it up.
I believe Mother Nature ought to clean her own spring and not push this responsibility onto husbands like me who have better things to do with their time.
One year I got confused and cleaned my spring in the fall, which screwed up my whole winter wondering what I would do when spring actually arrived and it was already cleaned.
Spring-cleaning would not be so bad if I could use my definition of clean rather than my wife’s. One man’s clean is his wife’s “when are you going to clean that?”
At the least, it would be helpful if spring-cleaning only came on leap year, which would give me an opportunity to hop out of the way before my good wife could spring into action.
In our house, the annual spring cleaning focuses on the garage. When my wife gets it into her head to clean the garage, I get it into my head to get clean out of her way. In the scheme of things, how important is a clean garage anyway? It’s not as if Martha Stewart is going to make a surprise visit.
As a veteran husband (with the scars to prove it), I have discovered one thing in my house. Behold, a greater than Martha Stewart lives at my lodgings.
My philosophy is simply, a dirty garage is a happy garage. It just doesn’t make my wife happy and when she’s not happy neither am I — so I am willing to live with an unhappy garage. These are the compromises enabling husbands to survive generation after generation. At least, enabling this husband to survive spring-cleaning one more year.
I have no idea what my garage does during the winter to get so dirty, but I wish it would stop it, or at least clean up after itself and not cause me so much grief.
When the idea of spring-cleaning comes up, I take one gander at the object of the endeavor and try to duck out as quickly as possible. I usually run into my wife standing at the door and realize my goose is cooked, usually to a nice golden burnt.
My idea of cleaning the garage is opening the garage door and the back door and let nature take its course. However, when I suggest this, an ill wind blows my way, if you know what I mean.
Garage cleaning invariably leads to garage sales. Garage sales are amazing.
Instead of donating my worthless junk to the neighborhood dump, I sell it to my neighbors, who will put it in their garage sale next year. This keeps neighborhood junk in circulation for years, and then some antique dealer buys it and starts the whole cycle again in New York City.
One man’s junk is another man’s antique.
My wife insists cleanliness is next to godliness. If that is so, why did God create so much dirt?
God is also in the cleaning business and you can be sure His is the ultimate leaving nothing unclean.
The Apostle Paul explains, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:5 KJV.)
When God says, “Let’s clean out your life today,” trust Him to do a thorough job.
Doctor Let's the Cat Out of the Bag on Buying Cars 60% Off
World famous Dr Suzanne Gudakunst has just released her biggest "shocker!" ever ...
--> Her Secret to buying expensive cars for as
little as $300 a month!
Dr Suzanne made it big on both TV and now the Web - but what most people don't know is that she routinely buys exotic and luxury cars for as little as 50% of what car dealers force everyone else to pay.
She is able to do this because she discovered something NO car salesman ever wants you to find out about!
This Secret is so powerful, yet involves doing just 1-3 things (usually) that will allow you to get ANY CAR you want (including normal day-to-day average cars you see on the highway, to even the most expensive exotic cars such as Lamborghinis and Rolls-Royces!)
Most recently Dr Suzanne herself used her own secret to buy over $1 million worth of cars, but where she saved $700,000 using her amazing new breakthrough secret (so she paid just $300,000 and got 6 very pricey cars worth $1 million - and each one was brand new and this year's model!)
But you DON'T have to be looking to buy these top and most expensive cars - but can use her secret to buy any car - even a middle-class Sudan or family vehicle.
So, at this point it's only fair to ask:
"How did Dr Suzanne discover this?"
Simple really ...
Although very rich (Dr Suzanne makes over $45,000 a day online alone) Dr Suzanne is the kind of gal who doesn't believe in paying "extra" if you don't have to.
One day while shopping around for her first Bentley Rolls-Royce, she got "mixed feelings" from the car salesman trying to sell her the car.
She felt that he wasn't telling her the truth (a kind of "sixth-sense" sort of thing).
So she began compulsively investigating all the deals she could possibly find elsewhere and online, and in the process she started to see a clear pattern:
--> People are being lied to and cheated out of
$10,000's each and every time they buy even
a single car!
Dr Suzanne then got really "ticked off" and this drove her to an even DEEPER investigation far, far further until she had a stack of facts, figures and even methods that allowed her to get one over on the car dealerships (for a well-deserved change!)
Being a doctor and scientist, naturally Dr Suzanne wanted to put her "New Discovery" to the ultimate test:
* * * A real "live" case! * * *
So she went out and applied her new found "Secret" only to discover that she could get a Rolls-Royce for as little as $600 a month, and a Lamborghini for as little as $1,160 a month!
She also found that she could get the prices on these same kinds of cars reduced by as much as 30%, 50% or even by as much as 90% (or even more!)
Then she decided to see if this same "Secret" could work for what most people considered "normal cars."
And guess what: * * * The SAME Secret held TRUE! * * *
Dr Suzanne was now armed with what is now considered by experts at below wholesale buying to be the "Greatest Car Buying Secret" ever discovered!
So powerful and amazing it PROVED in her own life that she decided to share it with several close friends to see if they too could apply it successfully.
And the SAME THING resulted!
One good and close personal friend of Dr Suzanne's is another Internet Multi-Millionaire (name withheld for privacy reasons) and who wanted to buy a brand new Lamborghini Murcielago which usually costs $412,700* (*this year's model).
After applying Dr Suzanne's secret he was able to get it for:
o NO Money down!
o and just $1,300/month!
Yeah, yeah & I know, I know & these people are already rich & so why should they get to use the advantages of her secret, right?
The fact is: Regardless of how much you make (or like most of us, how little!) it doesn't matter.
As they say "a penny saved is a penny earned," so imagine saving $250,000 on a super exotic car (which means $250,000 earned!)
Or, for the rest of us, what if you saved:
o $15,000 on your next car purchase, Or &
o $400 a month on payments
These savings quickly add up (and again, BLANK amount saved means BLANK amount earned, regardless of what you put in the BLANKS, right?)
So, if after reading this email you STILL insist on being an "idiot" and paying FULL Price when you no longer ever have to, then fine, leave all the biggest savings to the few of us who are smart enough to grab up Dr Suzanne's "Top Secret Car Secret!"
Oh, and by the way, with the few of us doing so, the car salesmen will have to screw someone else out of all the money that they are losing to us, so that means "YOU" will be their next victim.
... Unless of course you happen to have a COPY of Dr Suzanne's "Top Secret Car Secret" like we do!
--> Her Secret to buying expensive cars for as
little as $300 a month!
Dr Suzanne made it big on both TV and now the Web - but what most people don't know is that she routinely buys exotic and luxury cars for as little as 50% of what car dealers force everyone else to pay.
She is able to do this because she discovered something NO car salesman ever wants you to find out about!
This Secret is so powerful, yet involves doing just 1-3 things (usually) that will allow you to get ANY CAR you want (including normal day-to-day average cars you see on the highway, to even the most expensive exotic cars such as Lamborghinis and Rolls-Royces!)
Most recently Dr Suzanne herself used her own secret to buy over $1 million worth of cars, but where she saved $700,000 using her amazing new breakthrough secret (so she paid just $300,000 and got 6 very pricey cars worth $1 million - and each one was brand new and this year's model!)
But you DON'T have to be looking to buy these top and most expensive cars - but can use her secret to buy any car - even a middle-class Sudan or family vehicle.
So, at this point it's only fair to ask:
"How did Dr Suzanne discover this?"
Simple really ...
Although very rich (Dr Suzanne makes over $45,000 a day online alone) Dr Suzanne is the kind of gal who doesn't believe in paying "extra" if you don't have to.
One day while shopping around for her first Bentley Rolls-Royce, she got "mixed feelings" from the car salesman trying to sell her the car.
She felt that he wasn't telling her the truth (a kind of "sixth-sense" sort of thing).
So she began compulsively investigating all the deals she could possibly find elsewhere and online, and in the process she started to see a clear pattern:
--> People are being lied to and cheated out of
$10,000's each and every time they buy even
a single car!
Dr Suzanne then got really "ticked off" and this drove her to an even DEEPER investigation far, far further until she had a stack of facts, figures and even methods that allowed her to get one over on the car dealerships (for a well-deserved change!)
Being a doctor and scientist, naturally Dr Suzanne wanted to put her "New Discovery" to the ultimate test:
* * * A real "live" case! * * *
So she went out and applied her new found "Secret" only to discover that she could get a Rolls-Royce for as little as $600 a month, and a Lamborghini for as little as $1,160 a month!
She also found that she could get the prices on these same kinds of cars reduced by as much as 30%, 50% or even by as much as 90% (or even more!)
Then she decided to see if this same "Secret" could work for what most people considered "normal cars."
And guess what: * * * The SAME Secret held TRUE! * * *
Dr Suzanne was now armed with what is now considered by experts at below wholesale buying to be the "Greatest Car Buying Secret" ever discovered!
So powerful and amazing it PROVED in her own life that she decided to share it with several close friends to see if they too could apply it successfully.
And the SAME THING resulted!
One good and close personal friend of Dr Suzanne's is another Internet Multi-Millionaire (name withheld for privacy reasons) and who wanted to buy a brand new Lamborghini Murcielago which usually costs $412,700* (*this year's model).
After applying Dr Suzanne's secret he was able to get it for:
o NO Money down!
o and just $1,300/month!
Yeah, yeah & I know, I know & these people are already rich & so why should they get to use the advantages of her secret, right?
The fact is: Regardless of how much you make (or like most of us, how little!) it doesn't matter.
As they say "a penny saved is a penny earned," so imagine saving $250,000 on a super exotic car (which means $250,000 earned!)
Or, for the rest of us, what if you saved:
o $15,000 on your next car purchase, Or &
o $400 a month on payments
These savings quickly add up (and again, BLANK amount saved means BLANK amount earned, regardless of what you put in the BLANKS, right?)
So, if after reading this email you STILL insist on being an "idiot" and paying FULL Price when you no longer ever have to, then fine, leave all the biggest savings to the few of us who are smart enough to grab up Dr Suzanne's "Top Secret Car Secret!"
Oh, and by the way, with the few of us doing so, the car salesmen will have to screw someone else out of all the money that they are losing to us, so that means "YOU" will be their next victim.
... Unless of course you happen to have a COPY of Dr Suzanne's "Top Secret Car Secret" like we do!
The Finer Points of Poverty
I'm poor. And I'm not ashamed of it. Actually, I'm kind of proud of myself for being poor. It's an accomplishment that many people will never attain. Some people will go through their whole life and never know what it's like to experience some of the finer points of poverty like eating ramon noodles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner 5 days a week. My heart goes out to these types of people. The Fourtunate Ones. People who've always had electricity, nice cars, and proper clothing.
I wasn't always poor. I had to work hard at it. I had to quit several jobs without finding new ones. I had to spend 75% of my paycheck at the bar when I knew my bills would have easily taken 90%. I had to max out credit cards and never pay on them. I had to give money to females that I knew would never pay it back. And most importantly I had to move to a small town where $6.00 and hour is considered 'good money'.
I didn't know that I was putting myself in line for poverty while I was doing all these things. I just woke up one day and realized that I couldn't pay my car note because I only had 11 cents in the bank. And that's when it hit me: I'm POOR! It took me 25 long years but I finally nose-dived below the poverty line. I was now in the same category as the homeless and welfare recipients. No more was I hindered by riches. I had shed that lifestyle. I got up and fixed myself a mayonaisse sandwich to celebrate. Delicious!
As a poor person I am entitled to certain privledges to which the well-to-do won't every be privy. I decide haved to list a few:
- Instead of lugging around a wallet full of heavy dollar bills I now pay for important purchases like gasoline and food with spare change that I scavenge up around the
house.
- I get to shop at stores with improperly spelled titles like Sav-A-Lot, Thrif-Ti-Mart, and DisKount King. These stores offer a wide variety of out-dated, slightly damaged merchandise that Wal-Mart shoppers can only dream of.
- I get to drool at resturant commercials on TV because I know I will never be able to afford meals like that again unless a rich relative dies
- I get to wear my friend's hand-me-down clothes and shoes. This means that I rarely match and my feet ache constantly from wearing shoes that are three sizes too small.
- I get to freely engage in the offical sports of the National Poor People's Association: begging and borrowing.
- I get to go to bed every night with the comforting thought that if I ever do meet Ms.Right I can't afford to date her.
I'll stop there because I see the envy rising to dangerous levels in a few reader's eyes. These readers probably have steady jobs and nice homes or apartments. Their bills are probably caught up. They probably have an immense wardrobe with properly sized shoes. Their bank account probably never drops below $5,000. I apologize to these readers if my boasting about my impoverished condition has made them feel inferior and totally removed any self-esteem they may have had left. All I can say is that I never meant to be poor. I was just in the right places at the right times. Maybe one day all of you will find yourselves on the Road to Rags as well. Until then you can check in with me if you want to know what it's like. I'll be the guy on the side of the interstate off-ramp with the 'Will Work For Food' sign. Pull your Mercedes right up and ask me anything. I promise I won't laugh.
[ Submitted with ArticleSubmitter Pro - http://www.articlesubmitterpro.com]
I wasn't always poor. I had to work hard at it. I had to quit several jobs without finding new ones. I had to spend 75% of my paycheck at the bar when I knew my bills would have easily taken 90%. I had to max out credit cards and never pay on them. I had to give money to females that I knew would never pay it back. And most importantly I had to move to a small town where $6.00 and hour is considered 'good money'.
I didn't know that I was putting myself in line for poverty while I was doing all these things. I just woke up one day and realized that I couldn't pay my car note because I only had 11 cents in the bank. And that's when it hit me: I'm POOR! It took me 25 long years but I finally nose-dived below the poverty line. I was now in the same category as the homeless and welfare recipients. No more was I hindered by riches. I had shed that lifestyle. I got up and fixed myself a mayonaisse sandwich to celebrate. Delicious!
As a poor person I am entitled to certain privledges to which the well-to-do won't every be privy. I decide haved to list a few:
- Instead of lugging around a wallet full of heavy dollar bills I now pay for important purchases like gasoline and food with spare change that I scavenge up around the
house.
- I get to shop at stores with improperly spelled titles like Sav-A-Lot, Thrif-Ti-Mart, and DisKount King. These stores offer a wide variety of out-dated, slightly damaged merchandise that Wal-Mart shoppers can only dream of.
- I get to drool at resturant commercials on TV because I know I will never be able to afford meals like that again unless a rich relative dies
- I get to wear my friend's hand-me-down clothes and shoes. This means that I rarely match and my feet ache constantly from wearing shoes that are three sizes too small.
- I get to freely engage in the offical sports of the National Poor People's Association: begging and borrowing.
- I get to go to bed every night with the comforting thought that if I ever do meet Ms.Right I can't afford to date her.
I'll stop there because I see the envy rising to dangerous levels in a few reader's eyes. These readers probably have steady jobs and nice homes or apartments. Their bills are probably caught up. They probably have an immense wardrobe with properly sized shoes. Their bank account probably never drops below $5,000. I apologize to these readers if my boasting about my impoverished condition has made them feel inferior and totally removed any self-esteem they may have had left. All I can say is that I never meant to be poor. I was just in the right places at the right times. Maybe one day all of you will find yourselves on the Road to Rags as well. Until then you can check in with me if you want to know what it's like. I'll be the guy on the side of the interstate off-ramp with the 'Will Work For Food' sign. Pull your Mercedes right up and ask me anything. I promise I won't laugh.
[ Submitted with ArticleSubmitter Pro - http://www.articlesubmitterpro.com]
Do Your Car’s Carpets Need Cleaning?
You may not notice it but the carpets in your car’s interior seem to be one of the dirtiest parts of your vehicle. Just imagine how many pairs of feet trudge on it everyday. Just count how many times they did become the location of food bits and food wrappers. Also keep in mind how many times did these carpets become the target of spilled drinks.
It is not surprising if you would find your carpet all dirty. Dirty is not quite an issue. The difficult thing to attend to would be if your car’s carpets have become stained because of everything that has come in contact with it. If you consider this to be quite a difficult task, remember that the more you keep the task of cleaning them aside, the more difficult it would be to take the stains out. All it takes are a couple of easy steps to clean your carpets and make them stain-free.
You should first remove the floor mat of your vehicle. Sometimes, stains also dwell here. Blot and scrape away any residue of whatever is staining your carpet. You can use a hard plastic spatula or plastic knife to remove any residue still left hanging on the carpet and on the floor mat.
The rule of the thumb is to try the most gentle of all solutions first in cleaning these mats and carpets. If you can do away with warm water, then go ahead. However, if this does not do the trick, you can try using mild soap. Just let your solutions sit on the stain first for a couple of minutes to let the stain soften up and then wipe it away after.
Keep in mind though that there still are stains that are hard to remove. If after trying everything out and the stain still remains, it is not wrong to
It is not surprising if you would find your carpet all dirty. Dirty is not quite an issue. The difficult thing to attend to would be if your car’s carpets have become stained because of everything that has come in contact with it. If you consider this to be quite a difficult task, remember that the more you keep the task of cleaning them aside, the more difficult it would be to take the stains out. All it takes are a couple of easy steps to clean your carpets and make them stain-free.
You should first remove the floor mat of your vehicle. Sometimes, stains also dwell here. Blot and scrape away any residue of whatever is staining your carpet. You can use a hard plastic spatula or plastic knife to remove any residue still left hanging on the carpet and on the floor mat.
The rule of the thumb is to try the most gentle of all solutions first in cleaning these mats and carpets. If you can do away with warm water, then go ahead. However, if this does not do the trick, you can try using mild soap. Just let your solutions sit on the stain first for a couple of minutes to let the stain soften up and then wipe it away after.
Keep in mind though that there still are stains that are hard to remove. If after trying everything out and the stain still remains, it is not wrong to
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Do More Than Just Cover Your Honda Wheels
Out in the market today are many types of wheel covers specifically made for your beloved Honda. Honda wheel covers actually do more for your Honda than just cover your wheels.
Wheel covers are commonly mixed up with hubcaps. However, looking more closely at these two, wheel covers cover the entire wheel of your vehicle, while, on the other hand, hubcaps, cover only the hub, or the center of your wheel. These wheel covers are made from tough material – they are created and manufactured using plastic or metal retainers, so as to facilitate better and easier fastening to your Honda wheels. They are clipped on your vehicle’s wheel to accentuate your wheels and, at the same time, protect it from mud, grime, snow, dirt, water, and other elements that could prove to be damaging or corrosive to your wheels.
Honda wheel covers are not necessarily considered a requirement for your car, however, they can actually improve your wheels’ appearance greatly. You see, wheel covers have been created to cover your entire wheel and conceal from view the ugly bolts that attach your wheel to its axle. And along that line, it adds distinction and uniqueness to your Honda wheels to your Honda’s overall appearance.
In choosing your wheel covers, you may opt for those that have been especially manufactured and created to be durable, lightweight, able to withstand really extreme and excessive temperatures, and also created to be resistant to corrosion. Wheel covers that had been made just merely for decorative purposes may actually damage easily and damage your wheels as well.
Wheel covers are commonly mixed up with hubcaps. However, looking more closely at these two, wheel covers cover the entire wheel of your vehicle, while, on the other hand, hubcaps, cover only the hub, or the center of your wheel. These wheel covers are made from tough material – they are created and manufactured using plastic or metal retainers, so as to facilitate better and easier fastening to your Honda wheels. They are clipped on your vehicle’s wheel to accentuate your wheels and, at the same time, protect it from mud, grime, snow, dirt, water, and other elements that could prove to be damaging or corrosive to your wheels.
Honda wheel covers are not necessarily considered a requirement for your car, however, they can actually improve your wheels’ appearance greatly. You see, wheel covers have been created to cover your entire wheel and conceal from view the ugly bolts that attach your wheel to its axle. And along that line, it adds distinction and uniqueness to your Honda wheels to your Honda’s overall appearance.
In choosing your wheel covers, you may opt for those that have been especially manufactured and created to be durable, lightweight, able to withstand really extreme and excessive temperatures, and also created to be resistant to corrosion. Wheel covers that had been made just merely for decorative purposes may actually damage easily and damage your wheels as well.
Supreme Court Rules On Where Fish Can Swim
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of two Michigan land owners who maintained that fish had no right to swim in the water on their property and, as a result, the developers should be able to grace the wetlands with a shopping mall and a condominium.
Until now, the courts had generally maintained that fish have certain inalienable rights and that among them is the right to swim in and out of any waterway they can navigate.
The ruling was, however, not the resounding victory the land owners had hoped for, because it only applied to newly arriving fish; the ones already located in the wetlands could continue to swim there.
The splintered outcome opened the dam to more litigation in the lower courts, and attorneys for the ACLU vowed to defend the rights of all fish to enter and exit any wetland at will.
The ruling also muddies the Clean Water Act and may spur debate on whether or not fish should be permitted to swim in water at all, since their presence may shock people who look into a glass of water before they drink it.
Coming down solidly against the fish, Justice Scalia maintained that fish rights had gone "beyond parody," because they now seemed to cover even "man-made drainage ditches and dry arroyos in the middle of the desert."
Justice Stevens, however, wrote that the wetlands "had surface connections to tributaries of traditionally navigable waters" and so the fish should be able to swim there without undue hindrance.
Justice Souter wondered why Congress would permit fish in rivers but rule them out of waterways and wetlands that feed them, maintaining, "All you've got to do is let a fish swim into a tributary before you can arrest it for trespassing."
But Justice Scalia shot back that such logic would grant fish the right to swim in "a storm drain, because during heavy rains it could be considered navigable." He went on to say, "I suggest it's absurd to call storm drains 'waters of the United States.' They're drainage ditches. When it comes to waters of such magnitude, we should confine the swimming rights of fish to goldfish bowls."
Until now, the courts had generally maintained that fish have certain inalienable rights and that among them is the right to swim in and out of any waterway they can navigate.
The ruling was, however, not the resounding victory the land owners had hoped for, because it only applied to newly arriving fish; the ones already located in the wetlands could continue to swim there.
The splintered outcome opened the dam to more litigation in the lower courts, and attorneys for the ACLU vowed to defend the rights of all fish to enter and exit any wetland at will.
The ruling also muddies the Clean Water Act and may spur debate on whether or not fish should be permitted to swim in water at all, since their presence may shock people who look into a glass of water before they drink it.
Coming down solidly against the fish, Justice Scalia maintained that fish rights had gone "beyond parody," because they now seemed to cover even "man-made drainage ditches and dry arroyos in the middle of the desert."
Justice Stevens, however, wrote that the wetlands "had surface connections to tributaries of traditionally navigable waters" and so the fish should be able to swim there without undue hindrance.
Justice Souter wondered why Congress would permit fish in rivers but rule them out of waterways and wetlands that feed them, maintaining, "All you've got to do is let a fish swim into a tributary before you can arrest it for trespassing."
But Justice Scalia shot back that such logic would grant fish the right to swim in "a storm drain, because during heavy rains it could be considered navigable." He went on to say, "I suggest it's absurd to call storm drains 'waters of the United States.' They're drainage ditches. When it comes to waters of such magnitude, we should confine the swimming rights of fish to goldfish bowls."
Diminished Value - Get the Compensation You Deserve After an Auto Accident
The squeal of tires. The sickening sound of metal grinding against metal as you lurch forward in the driver's seat. As you climb out of the car, you're shaken - but thankfully you and the driver who hit you are not injured. Unfortunately, the same isn't true for your car. Even after you endure the hassle of dealing with insurance companies and the inconvenience of taking your car in for repair, the bottom line is that your car simply isn't worth as much. "The resale value of a vehicle with an accident history is considerably less than a comparable vehicle that's never been in an accident," says Omar Quddus, President and Co-Founder of Advocate Auto Claims LLC (www.advocateautoclaims.com).
This phenomenon is called "diminished value," and the at-fault or third party's insurance company has an obligation to compensate the driver who was not at fault for this difference in market price. "Insurance companies are required to restore a vehicle to its pre-loss condition and value," says Quddus. "Unfortunately, most consumers aren't aware that they are entitled to diminished value compensation - and insurance companies don't volunteer that information."
That's the reason Quddus is on a mission to educate consumers about their rights, and why Advocate Auto Claims pursues diminished value claims on behalf of drivers who weren't at fault in accidents. "Even when consumers are aware of the diminished value issue, they're often ill-equipped to handle the roadblocks that an insurance company will throw at them," he says. "Each insurance company has its own internal procedures, but those procedures can vary from region to region." Similarly, the laws and regulations governing diminished value differ greatly from state to state.
The maze of regulations and loopholes, as well as the harsh stance taken by auto insurance companies against diminished value claims leaves consumers with few options. "Consumers may be involved in an accident once or twice in a lifetime; they simply don't have the resources and knowledge to get the compensation they deserve," says Quddus.
This is precisely why the owners of Advocate Auto Claims, who have more than 10 years of experience working with diminished value claims on behalf of fleet owners and rental car agencies, have opened their doors to consumers. While drivers can pay out of pocket for a vehicle inspection or a report to substantiate their claim, and an attorney may pursue such a claim in conjunction with a personal injury case, Quddus' company handles every aspect of diminished value claims - and does so on a contingency basis. "The process of establishing diminished value and then negotiating the proper compensation is both an art and a science," Quddus says. "We pride ourselves on our ability to get results, and don't expect to be paid until you do."
This phenomenon is called "diminished value," and the at-fault or third party's insurance company has an obligation to compensate the driver who was not at fault for this difference in market price. "Insurance companies are required to restore a vehicle to its pre-loss condition and value," says Quddus. "Unfortunately, most consumers aren't aware that they are entitled to diminished value compensation - and insurance companies don't volunteer that information."
That's the reason Quddus is on a mission to educate consumers about their rights, and why Advocate Auto Claims pursues diminished value claims on behalf of drivers who weren't at fault in accidents. "Even when consumers are aware of the diminished value issue, they're often ill-equipped to handle the roadblocks that an insurance company will throw at them," he says. "Each insurance company has its own internal procedures, but those procedures can vary from region to region." Similarly, the laws and regulations governing diminished value differ greatly from state to state.
The maze of regulations and loopholes, as well as the harsh stance taken by auto insurance companies against diminished value claims leaves consumers with few options. "Consumers may be involved in an accident once or twice in a lifetime; they simply don't have the resources and knowledge to get the compensation they deserve," says Quddus.
This is precisely why the owners of Advocate Auto Claims, who have more than 10 years of experience working with diminished value claims on behalf of fleet owners and rental car agencies, have opened their doors to consumers. While drivers can pay out of pocket for a vehicle inspection or a report to substantiate their claim, and an attorney may pursue such a claim in conjunction with a personal injury case, Quddus' company handles every aspect of diminished value claims - and does so on a contingency basis. "The process of establishing diminished value and then negotiating the proper compensation is both an art and a science," Quddus says. "We pride ourselves on our ability to get results, and don't expect to be paid until you do."
Sun Will Only Burn For 5 Billion More Years; Humans Express Concern
We are often reminded that the sun will only shine in a way that can support life way out here on the earth for only about another five billion years. Sensing the eventuality of the cataclysm, we’re easily inclined to express our concern, along with our sympathetic distress for those far-off folks who will be standing on the earth when old Father Sol begins to turn down the heat.
It seems to us, however, that we have far more immediate concerns, for example, if we can last, in the event of a surprise nuclear war, maybe another billionth of a second.
Of course, there’s also the everyday proclivity of the human race to end concerns about the longevity of the sun for tens of thousands of fellow star gazers by having conventional wars and various murderous sectarian tumults.
But, since we’re all overly familiar with the inconvenient threats we might enumerate that may significantly compromise our longevity, the last more immediate concern we’ll mention is global warming, which could, within a hundred years or so, move the world’s beach resorts up somewhere near the peak of Mt. Everest.
Now, having dilated plenteously on impending challenges to the continuance of ourselves and our posterity, let’s move on to what seems to us the much more logical challenge that the hot news science has revealed about the sun’s capacity for combustion presents us with. As the hoary advisement goes, we should only live so long.
So let’s ask the question that, as far as we know, has yet to be considered. How might we band of explosive rabble rousers last for another five billion years, rather than self-destructing any time sooner?
Or, given our knowledge of other possible abbreviations of our continuance that might discomfort us – such as the chilling fact that we’re currently enjoying just another relatively balmy interglacial period that may only continue for another 10,000 years or so and that an asteroid or meteor may slam into the earth at some as yet unpredictable moment – how might we continue to frolic on the earth for at least as long as it might provide a hospitable abode for us?
First, of course, we should consider dealing with the biggest tomahawks that are in the air, primarily, the three B’s, by which we don’t mean the names of three eternal classical composers but pollution, population, and pop goes the A-Bomb.
Meanwhile, what invitingly positive items might we busy ourselves with during the next five billion years or so? After all, our unrealistic and yet, we suspect, achievable goal is more than just hanging on for the essentially eternal ride; it’s enjoying the wondrous flight through space and time.
So we suggest that, besides obsessing about the well-barnacled threats that have accreted in our minds and burden our otherwise eager capacity for joyful employment and lassitude, we absolutely insist on reserving ample time to contemplate the invitations to delight, large or small, that our everyday lives might provide during the razor-thin mark on the tape measure of time that represents our individual stays on the still acceptably fulgent earth.
For example, if you have something to do today that you know would be a remarkable or, at least, modestly praiseworthy achievement, we suggest you think about getting it done.
If you love somebody, we recommend you consider how fortunate you are, particularly if you’re relatively confident that the recipient of your invocations to mutual affection also loves you.
And so we go, from our grandest considerations right on down to even the most inconsequential massages of our pleasure principle, say, for example, checkers. If you somehow have time to play the game, we suggest you concentrate on your next deft moves. You’ll have a jolly time and, as you know, you as an individual gamester don’t have anywhere near five billion more years to make your triumphant jumps.
We conclude by saying that, rather than being exclusively concerned about whatever we’re to do when the sun flares out, we might more wisely consider occupying ourselves with the view through the other end of the telescope, that is, with the smaller delights and damnations that make up our daily lives.
Actually, when you consider how remote or beyond our influence most of the enormities we’re supposed to be properly troubled by are, you realize, with enormous relief, that the little things which effervesce in our daily lives are really, as bubbles to the tang of champagne, the biggest things.
In fact, it can be very credibly said that the more we discover just how astronomically big things are, like the incomprehensibly lengthy life expectancy of the sun, the more important the little things become. Imagine, then, the true cosmic significance of a ready smile or, even more deliciously, a tender kiss. After all, even the robustly effusive sun can’t do those things, even given five billion years to make the attempt.
We conclude by advising you to recall, as the welter of negative news that is the daily lot of all of us affronts your conning brow, what your grandmother often advised: count your blessings.
As a final service to those who have been gracious enough to accompany us on our wanderings about eternity and immediacy, we herewith present a list of blessings to count as we attempt to make our stay on the earth consonant with the eons Oh, Solo Mio is likely to shine out in a temperate manner.
They are taken from the daringly innovative piece of popular philosophizing by Charles Blaise, called Life Itself As A Modern Religion. If you enjoy this brief sampler, you might like to know that the entire book is a free read at www.toreasonpublishing.com.
We consider it a surprisingly informed and sanely serious approach to our condition, as we hope to be a winningly informed and sanely funny rendition of it.
TEN BLESSINGS*
1. Bless life. It is Creation’s highest gift and the supreme natural form of matter and energy.
2. Bless Creation. It has given us life, in all its forms and with all its possibilities.
3. Bless our bodies, Creation’s handiwork. They are the temples of our lives and the basic source of all our joy.
4. Bless our brains. They enable consciousness and all of our thoughts, talents, and feelings. They let us experience self-awareness and sensations, make right decisions, contribute achievements, and enjoy life, while they coordinate our physical movements and conduct the multitudinous involuntary processes that sustain our lives.
5. Bless our spirits. They constitute our communicative feelings and thoughts and help us have good relationships with ourselves, others, other animals, plants, our inanimate environment, and all of Creation.
6. Bless our love makers, by which I mean our genitals. They let us enjoy sex life, renewing our union in Creation’s most physical way, helping us relax, and, most vital of all, letting us create new life.
7. Bless the other animals and the plants. They’re our animate partners in Paradise.
8. Bless the land, air, water, and all other things. They’re our inanimate partners.
9. Bless our peacekeepers. They help preserve life and our natural Paradise.
10. Bless our natural Paradise. It’s our basic home in the universe and the planet on which Creation has evolved us.
*© 2006 Charles Blaise. Reprinted with permission.
It seems to us, however, that we have far more immediate concerns, for example, if we can last, in the event of a surprise nuclear war, maybe another billionth of a second.
Of course, there’s also the everyday proclivity of the human race to end concerns about the longevity of the sun for tens of thousands of fellow star gazers by having conventional wars and various murderous sectarian tumults.
But, since we’re all overly familiar with the inconvenient threats we might enumerate that may significantly compromise our longevity, the last more immediate concern we’ll mention is global warming, which could, within a hundred years or so, move the world’s beach resorts up somewhere near the peak of Mt. Everest.
Now, having dilated plenteously on impending challenges to the continuance of ourselves and our posterity, let’s move on to what seems to us the much more logical challenge that the hot news science has revealed about the sun’s capacity for combustion presents us with. As the hoary advisement goes, we should only live so long.
So let’s ask the question that, as far as we know, has yet to be considered. How might we band of explosive rabble rousers last for another five billion years, rather than self-destructing any time sooner?
Or, given our knowledge of other possible abbreviations of our continuance that might discomfort us – such as the chilling fact that we’re currently enjoying just another relatively balmy interglacial period that may only continue for another 10,000 years or so and that an asteroid or meteor may slam into the earth at some as yet unpredictable moment – how might we continue to frolic on the earth for at least as long as it might provide a hospitable abode for us?
First, of course, we should consider dealing with the biggest tomahawks that are in the air, primarily, the three B’s, by which we don’t mean the names of three eternal classical composers but pollution, population, and pop goes the A-Bomb.
Meanwhile, what invitingly positive items might we busy ourselves with during the next five billion years or so? After all, our unrealistic and yet, we suspect, achievable goal is more than just hanging on for the essentially eternal ride; it’s enjoying the wondrous flight through space and time.
So we suggest that, besides obsessing about the well-barnacled threats that have accreted in our minds and burden our otherwise eager capacity for joyful employment and lassitude, we absolutely insist on reserving ample time to contemplate the invitations to delight, large or small, that our everyday lives might provide during the razor-thin mark on the tape measure of time that represents our individual stays on the still acceptably fulgent earth.
For example, if you have something to do today that you know would be a remarkable or, at least, modestly praiseworthy achievement, we suggest you think about getting it done.
If you love somebody, we recommend you consider how fortunate you are, particularly if you’re relatively confident that the recipient of your invocations to mutual affection also loves you.
And so we go, from our grandest considerations right on down to even the most inconsequential massages of our pleasure principle, say, for example, checkers. If you somehow have time to play the game, we suggest you concentrate on your next deft moves. You’ll have a jolly time and, as you know, you as an individual gamester don’t have anywhere near five billion more years to make your triumphant jumps.
We conclude by saying that, rather than being exclusively concerned about whatever we’re to do when the sun flares out, we might more wisely consider occupying ourselves with the view through the other end of the telescope, that is, with the smaller delights and damnations that make up our daily lives.
Actually, when you consider how remote or beyond our influence most of the enormities we’re supposed to be properly troubled by are, you realize, with enormous relief, that the little things which effervesce in our daily lives are really, as bubbles to the tang of champagne, the biggest things.
In fact, it can be very credibly said that the more we discover just how astronomically big things are, like the incomprehensibly lengthy life expectancy of the sun, the more important the little things become. Imagine, then, the true cosmic significance of a ready smile or, even more deliciously, a tender kiss. After all, even the robustly effusive sun can’t do those things, even given five billion years to make the attempt.
We conclude by advising you to recall, as the welter of negative news that is the daily lot of all of us affronts your conning brow, what your grandmother often advised: count your blessings.
As a final service to those who have been gracious enough to accompany us on our wanderings about eternity and immediacy, we herewith present a list of blessings to count as we attempt to make our stay on the earth consonant with the eons Oh, Solo Mio is likely to shine out in a temperate manner.
They are taken from the daringly innovative piece of popular philosophizing by Charles Blaise, called Life Itself As A Modern Religion. If you enjoy this brief sampler, you might like to know that the entire book is a free read at www.toreasonpublishing.com.
We consider it a surprisingly informed and sanely serious approach to our condition, as we hope to be a winningly informed and sanely funny rendition of it.
TEN BLESSINGS*
1. Bless life. It is Creation’s highest gift and the supreme natural form of matter and energy.
2. Bless Creation. It has given us life, in all its forms and with all its possibilities.
3. Bless our bodies, Creation’s handiwork. They are the temples of our lives and the basic source of all our joy.
4. Bless our brains. They enable consciousness and all of our thoughts, talents, and feelings. They let us experience self-awareness and sensations, make right decisions, contribute achievements, and enjoy life, while they coordinate our physical movements and conduct the multitudinous involuntary processes that sustain our lives.
5. Bless our spirits. They constitute our communicative feelings and thoughts and help us have good relationships with ourselves, others, other animals, plants, our inanimate environment, and all of Creation.
6. Bless our love makers, by which I mean our genitals. They let us enjoy sex life, renewing our union in Creation’s most physical way, helping us relax, and, most vital of all, letting us create new life.
7. Bless the other animals and the plants. They’re our animate partners in Paradise.
8. Bless the land, air, water, and all other things. They’re our inanimate partners.
9. Bless our peacekeepers. They help preserve life and our natural Paradise.
10. Bless our natural Paradise. It’s our basic home in the universe and the planet on which Creation has evolved us.
*© 2006 Charles Blaise. Reprinted with permission.
Stop Needling Me!
Sometimes it's possible to accomplish something important by doing nothing at all. Well, actually, I did do something. I resisted. I think that counts. Here's my story.
Many of my friends have been getting pierced and tattooed for years. It's huge. Every neighborhood has at least one bodypiercing/bodyart place. Seems like they outnumber taverns these days. Naturally, they want me in on it.
"C'mon Mike," they say. "It's fun! It's addictive! What? Are you afraid of needles? The pain feels good! And when it's over, you have something to show for it!"
I find myself looking less and less like my friends because I'm not a human signboard for little animals, death, and calligraphic text. To compound the situation, I don't pick up the light in every room, reflecting off little pieces of metal everywhere. (And I do mean everywhere!) But I have a secret to share. I'll get to that shortly.
While they've been spending their paychecks on this hoopla, I've been quietly satisfied with myself, exactly as I am. I'm not suggesting my friends do it out of insecurity. Some do, obviously, but many got started because their parents told them not to. I'm no momma's boy, but I'd like to know what kind of a reason is that?
People are not packrats. OK, that's not true. I am a packrat. I keep way too much stuff. But that's not really what I mean. I'm talking about the fact that packrats are known to trade an item in their pack for ever-shinier objects. I do it too, but the one that kicks me is how my friends trade fifty dollar bills for yet another shiny piece of metal, or yet another patch of scribbled skin.
Now, before anyone thinks I'm complaining, let me point out that I believe in freedom to choose, and if that makes them happy, I'm not going to stop them. What? Like they'd listen to me? I'm the prude with no tattoo, remember? How would I know what it's like?
From my point of view, I don't need to find out. I don't think it's necessary to be a slave to the idea of trying everything once. Some things I don't feel the need to try.
Lately, some of my friends have found that their obsession is working against them. I'm still single with no kids, but many of my friends are either married or are single parents. And that's where the difficulty comes in.
Some of my friends have kids that are between six and nine years old. About that age, kids start noticing their parents a little more as people. They look at them differently than they did when they were infants. Mostly, because kids grow up incredibly fast today. Much faster than when we were kids, so they notice things quicker too. Lately what they've been noticing is mom and dad's tattoos and piercings.
A woman at work told me just last week that she has no idea how to convince her nine-year-old daughter why she won't take her to the parlor and get her tongue pierced, "just like mommy."
So here's my secret. I have resisted tattoos and piercing because I believe in being a natural person. I think the metal and the ink only serve to detract from the outer beauty of my friends and it does nothing to enhance their inner person. So I see no reason to use my body for someone's canvas.
Friends can be so myopic. They don't want to see their kids all boogered up because they see their kids as beautiful exactly as they are, but they hold themselves to a double standard. They continue to encourage me to get some bodyart and I continue to resist.
Why am I such a holdout? Do I really fear the needle? No, of course not. I'm the one who used to play with clothing pins and sewing needles, pushing them through the tops of my knuckles like a juvenile Freddy Krueger. I also used to do the infamous sewing-needle-shoved-through-the-flexed-arm trick. The difference is, it was just play to me, and I wasn't trying to make a fashion statement.
I simply have a philosophy that says a person needs to stick to their values and not give in to peer pressure. Piercing and tattoos have led my friends to nothing but empty pocketbooks and hard questions from their kids.
Maybe I'll go to work one day with needles through all my fingers like I did in school. That'll show 'em!
Many of my friends have been getting pierced and tattooed for years. It's huge. Every neighborhood has at least one bodypiercing/bodyart place. Seems like they outnumber taverns these days. Naturally, they want me in on it.
"C'mon Mike," they say. "It's fun! It's addictive! What? Are you afraid of needles? The pain feels good! And when it's over, you have something to show for it!"
I find myself looking less and less like my friends because I'm not a human signboard for little animals, death, and calligraphic text. To compound the situation, I don't pick up the light in every room, reflecting off little pieces of metal everywhere. (And I do mean everywhere!) But I have a secret to share. I'll get to that shortly.
While they've been spending their paychecks on this hoopla, I've been quietly satisfied with myself, exactly as I am. I'm not suggesting my friends do it out of insecurity. Some do, obviously, but many got started because their parents told them not to. I'm no momma's boy, but I'd like to know what kind of a reason is that?
People are not packrats. OK, that's not true. I am a packrat. I keep way too much stuff. But that's not really what I mean. I'm talking about the fact that packrats are known to trade an item in their pack for ever-shinier objects. I do it too, but the one that kicks me is how my friends trade fifty dollar bills for yet another shiny piece of metal, or yet another patch of scribbled skin.
Now, before anyone thinks I'm complaining, let me point out that I believe in freedom to choose, and if that makes them happy, I'm not going to stop them. What? Like they'd listen to me? I'm the prude with no tattoo, remember? How would I know what it's like?
From my point of view, I don't need to find out. I don't think it's necessary to be a slave to the idea of trying everything once. Some things I don't feel the need to try.
Lately, some of my friends have found that their obsession is working against them. I'm still single with no kids, but many of my friends are either married or are single parents. And that's where the difficulty comes in.
Some of my friends have kids that are between six and nine years old. About that age, kids start noticing their parents a little more as people. They look at them differently than they did when they were infants. Mostly, because kids grow up incredibly fast today. Much faster than when we were kids, so they notice things quicker too. Lately what they've been noticing is mom and dad's tattoos and piercings.
A woman at work told me just last week that she has no idea how to convince her nine-year-old daughter why she won't take her to the parlor and get her tongue pierced, "just like mommy."
So here's my secret. I have resisted tattoos and piercing because I believe in being a natural person. I think the metal and the ink only serve to detract from the outer beauty of my friends and it does nothing to enhance their inner person. So I see no reason to use my body for someone's canvas.
Friends can be so myopic. They don't want to see their kids all boogered up because they see their kids as beautiful exactly as they are, but they hold themselves to a double standard. They continue to encourage me to get some bodyart and I continue to resist.
Why am I such a holdout? Do I really fear the needle? No, of course not. I'm the one who used to play with clothing pins and sewing needles, pushing them through the tops of my knuckles like a juvenile Freddy Krueger. I also used to do the infamous sewing-needle-shoved-through-the-flexed-arm trick. The difference is, it was just play to me, and I wasn't trying to make a fashion statement.
I simply have a philosophy that says a person needs to stick to their values and not give in to peer pressure. Piercing and tattoos have led my friends to nothing but empty pocketbooks and hard questions from their kids.
Maybe I'll go to work one day with needles through all my fingers like I did in school. That'll show 'em!
Differentiating the Mazda Tribute From the Rest
One of the crossover sport utility vehicles in the market, the Mazda Tribute is considered to be one of the smallest in this segment. This vehicle is actually based on the platform of the Mazda 626 which is a front wheel drive vehicle. The Mazda Tribute is also the basis for the Ford Escape sport utility vehicle. In fact, this vehicle is very similar to the Mazda Tribute. Both the Mazda Tribute and the Ford Escape made its way to public knowledge in the year 2001. Both offered a front wheel drive and an all wheel drive. Also, as per the engine, interested parties were given the choice of either a 2.0 L Mazda engine with four cylinders or a 3.0 L Ford Duratec V6 engine.
The Mazda Tribute was actually sold in Europe as the Ford Maverick. This time, it held a Ford 2.0 L Zetec engine. To assist it in its performance and delivery, installed in the vehicle is a manual transmission system. Given as an option is the 3.0 L Duratec engine that was assisted by an automatic transmission system. The Mazda Tribute has a suspension is that is very tuned finely so much so that it gives and provides a firmer ride compared to the Ford Escape. This is because the Mazda Tribute has been specially designed so as to be a sporty vehicle.
If you are interested in purchasing a Mazda Tribute, you would be actually given a couple of choices when it comes to its seats and its exterior colors. The seats could be actually covered in either cloth of leather. The color choices are either Dark Flint or Medium Pebble. As per the colors of the exterior, one is given a list of colors that includes Blazing Copper, Stormfront Gray, Classic White, Dark Titanium, Mystic Black, Pebble Ash, Platinum, Red Fire, and Lapis Blue. This gives interested parties the opportunity to customize and choose a vehicle color that would suit their own fashion tastes and sense as well as their preferences. The Mazda Tribute is said to be directly competing with the Jeep Liberty, the Toyota RAV4, the Hyundai Tucson, and the Honda CR-V.
The Mazda Tribute was actually sold in Europe as the Ford Maverick. This time, it held a Ford 2.0 L Zetec engine. To assist it in its performance and delivery, installed in the vehicle is a manual transmission system. Given as an option is the 3.0 L Duratec engine that was assisted by an automatic transmission system. The Mazda Tribute has a suspension is that is very tuned finely so much so that it gives and provides a firmer ride compared to the Ford Escape. This is because the Mazda Tribute has been specially designed so as to be a sporty vehicle.
If you are interested in purchasing a Mazda Tribute, you would be actually given a couple of choices when it comes to its seats and its exterior colors. The seats could be actually covered in either cloth of leather. The color choices are either Dark Flint or Medium Pebble. As per the colors of the exterior, one is given a list of colors that includes Blazing Copper, Stormfront Gray, Classic White, Dark Titanium, Mystic Black, Pebble Ash, Platinum, Red Fire, and Lapis Blue. This gives interested parties the opportunity to customize and choose a vehicle color that would suit their own fashion tastes and sense as well as their preferences. The Mazda Tribute is said to be directly competing with the Jeep Liberty, the Toyota RAV4, the Hyundai Tucson, and the Honda CR-V.
Stand Up Comedienne - Gagging For A Joke
What type of person sees the funny side of a joke or gag told by a stand up comedienne, what type of person doubles over with laughter after the punch line of a joke has been delivered?
What kind of person is more prone to giggle when watching someone play the fool? Well the answer to that is simple? A person one who wants to laugh. Laughter represents happiness.
Celebration parties will always include some form of entertainment - whether it is in the form of a musical band - solo singer or magician etc. But the most popular performer of all invited along to entertain is a stand up comedienne and the reason for that is because they can accommodate their act to suit the mood.
Stand up comics have a mission to accomplish each time they perform their act and that is to make people laugh with their funny jokes - some funny folk amuse party guests in other ways with hilarious foolish antics or silly mime games.
Depending on the event or occasion the comedy performance may be structured around the parties theme e.g. a child`s party may have characters like a clown or if it is an all male wild stag night gathering - then expect the stand up comedienne to deliver the goods in the way of naughty blue jokes. Jokes and gags come clean or dirty - this is your party therefore the choice of entertainment is entirely up to you.
The best thing for you to do if you are to host an event which involves a stand up comedienne - is to do a little research, check out what you feel will go down well with your party guests. An atmosphere where laughter holds a strong presence tells you that the party is definitely a success.
Sometimes it is the host that takes on the role as the funny performer (stand up comedienne) if this is your intention then ask a few close friends for help in rounding up a few party gags - by doing this you have guaranteed laughs because those who shared their jokes with you will always find them funny. Stand up comedienne jokes and gag material can be found online. If you are finding it a struggle to get your act together then why not listen to or watch a video on stand up comediennes to gather tips. Online entertainment sites provide all you need to know on funny folk, so if you are gagging for a good joke then go online.
Another good idea is to practice acting out your stage show in the mirror - this is a great way to make sure you look the part and that part is the star attraction at the event.
What kind of person is more prone to giggle when watching someone play the fool? Well the answer to that is simple? A person one who wants to laugh. Laughter represents happiness.
Celebration parties will always include some form of entertainment - whether it is in the form of a musical band - solo singer or magician etc. But the most popular performer of all invited along to entertain is a stand up comedienne and the reason for that is because they can accommodate their act to suit the mood.
Stand up comics have a mission to accomplish each time they perform their act and that is to make people laugh with their funny jokes - some funny folk amuse party guests in other ways with hilarious foolish antics or silly mime games.
Depending on the event or occasion the comedy performance may be structured around the parties theme e.g. a child`s party may have characters like a clown or if it is an all male wild stag night gathering - then expect the stand up comedienne to deliver the goods in the way of naughty blue jokes. Jokes and gags come clean or dirty - this is your party therefore the choice of entertainment is entirely up to you.
The best thing for you to do if you are to host an event which involves a stand up comedienne - is to do a little research, check out what you feel will go down well with your party guests. An atmosphere where laughter holds a strong presence tells you that the party is definitely a success.
Sometimes it is the host that takes on the role as the funny performer (stand up comedienne) if this is your intention then ask a few close friends for help in rounding up a few party gags - by doing this you have guaranteed laughs because those who shared their jokes with you will always find them funny. Stand up comedienne jokes and gag material can be found online. If you are finding it a struggle to get your act together then why not listen to or watch a video on stand up comediennes to gather tips. Online entertainment sites provide all you need to know on funny folk, so if you are gagging for a good joke then go online.
Another good idea is to practice acting out your stage show in the mirror - this is a great way to make sure you look the part and that part is the star attraction at the event.
Different ways to sell your used car
Selling a used car can be as irksome as buying one. You have many options to sell our used car. , you have to be very clear in your mind that which mode is more comfortable for you to get more profit on your sell of used car. Let us see the different ways to sell your used car.
Sell it yourself
If you have decided to sell your used car by yourself then the usual route is to place an ad in news paper in classified section, put for a sale, sing in the car and both. The ad should be placed and runs when it is most likely to be read by the people, mostly on weekend s when all prefer to read it. The ad should be more attractive so that one should feel that they are going to get a very good deal.
Try keeping a standard price for sale of your used car most of the times in such type of selling the buyer ask you to reduce the price and start barging on it that’s leave you wiggle room. Decide ahead how much you will reduce and then stick to your gun.
Take some time to take a decision don’t accept the first cash just wait for few days and see you may get the better offer than the first one.
Trade It In
Trade-ins are easier and best way to get your used car sell because the dealer handles all the paperwork and the credit can provide a down payment on a new model. However, you will probably get less for your vehicle what deal you have been made with the dealer, whether it’s a lower trade-in quote or a higher final price on the replacement car.
Until and unless you have agreed on the purchasing price for the replacement car its best not to bring up the trade-in. This will help you to keep your transaction separate so that the trade-in doesn’t go in the hands of car dealers.
Use a Consignment Lot
For a percentage of the sale price -- which you, not they, determine -- a consignment service will display your vehicle and handle all the paperwork. Using a consignment lot lets you get a better price than a trade-in, yet allows you to avoid the hassle of selling the vehicle yourself
Anna Josephs is a freelance journalist having experience of many years writing articles and news releases on various topics such as pet health, automobile and social issues. She also has great interest in poetry and paintings, hence she likes to write on these subjects as well. Currently writing for this website Best Cheap Used Car . For more details please contact at annajosephs@gmail.com
Sell it yourself
If you have decided to sell your used car by yourself then the usual route is to place an ad in news paper in classified section, put for a sale, sing in the car and both. The ad should be placed and runs when it is most likely to be read by the people, mostly on weekend s when all prefer to read it. The ad should be more attractive so that one should feel that they are going to get a very good deal.
Try keeping a standard price for sale of your used car most of the times in such type of selling the buyer ask you to reduce the price and start barging on it that’s leave you wiggle room. Decide ahead how much you will reduce and then stick to your gun.
Take some time to take a decision don’t accept the first cash just wait for few days and see you may get the better offer than the first one.
Trade It In
Trade-ins are easier and best way to get your used car sell because the dealer handles all the paperwork and the credit can provide a down payment on a new model. However, you will probably get less for your vehicle what deal you have been made with the dealer, whether it’s a lower trade-in quote or a higher final price on the replacement car.
Until and unless you have agreed on the purchasing price for the replacement car its best not to bring up the trade-in. This will help you to keep your transaction separate so that the trade-in doesn’t go in the hands of car dealers.
Use a Consignment Lot
For a percentage of the sale price -- which you, not they, determine -- a consignment service will display your vehicle and handle all the paperwork. Using a consignment lot lets you get a better price than a trade-in, yet allows you to avoid the hassle of selling the vehicle yourself
Anna Josephs is a freelance journalist having experience of many years writing articles and news releases on various topics such as pet health, automobile and social issues. She also has great interest in poetry and paintings, hence she likes to write on these subjects as well. Currently writing for this website Best Cheap Used Car . For more details please contact at annajosephs@gmail.com
Songwriter Confessions #1
Looking up this week from getting a reggae backing to sound like St Ann rather than St Felicity, I spotted the small dark mist in the usual corner behind the left monitor speaker. I have sometimes believed absolutely that this is my best muse, back from a pizza run to the outer starbelt. Or maybe just the golden ring around Uranus. Anyhoo...It seems to bring inspiration in a dark way: more Keith Richards than Cliff Richard, and I feel the urge to write something that involves leather, whips and a snare drum that sounds like Pavarotti hitting the water from the top board. I dig out my file called Heavy Riffs That AC/DC Lost Under The Driver's Seat. It would help if the word MURDER appeared in the first lyric line: that always gets the bowie knives out. As Sam Goldwyn said: Start with an exploding volcano and build up from there to a climax.
I can't emphasise how important the first two lines of the first verse are, in any song.This is where you the artist set the hook in their miniscule attention spans or not. If you simper your way into a song, as per a style I like to call Captain Cliche, you've probably lost them before the second guitar comes in. Please avoid a first verse that goes like this: ooh I love you, yes it's true, what am I supposed to do, baby I know without you, all my dreams are down the loo...blah blah...
Anybody still awake? The only thing that might just save that song would be a beat strong enough to flip Lazarus out of the grave and over the horizon. I never thought that the years I spent writing ad copy for various ad agencies would be worth so much to me now. The rule in advertising is: when you've written the headline, you've spent 80c of your dollar. It's got to hook them. It's gotta say something different about a subject you've heard a million times. Take the neverending subject of LOVE ( also known as LURV...the NASTY...and BUMPING UGLIES) If I taught songwriting, one of the first projects I would set would have to be: write a song about LOVE, but make it interesting.Make it different. Make the listener say: I never thought of it that way before. Now Paul McCartney, being famous, doesn't have to work as hard as the rest of us. So he calls it: Another Silly Love Song. With a chorus that goes: iloveyouiloveyouiloveyou. Phew, Macca...time to open the window!
Here's how I do it: my song is called: If You Were Icecream... and the first verse is: If you were icecream, I would eat you, with a very small spoon... if you were starlight, I'd go to meet you, halfway to the moon... I think that's a lot more interesting than Paulie's but hey, he's famous, and I've just started kicking at the door. For more examples of how I approach first verses and songs in general, scoot along to my new site or click on the link below.
Must get into town for some new acoustic guitar strings. Haven't changed them for a year, and No..there's no direct link between underwear rotation and guitar strings. And-a one...two...three...
I can't emphasise how important the first two lines of the first verse are, in any song.This is where you the artist set the hook in their miniscule attention spans or not. If you simper your way into a song, as per a style I like to call Captain Cliche, you've probably lost them before the second guitar comes in. Please avoid a first verse that goes like this: ooh I love you, yes it's true, what am I supposed to do, baby I know without you, all my dreams are down the loo...blah blah...
Anybody still awake? The only thing that might just save that song would be a beat strong enough to flip Lazarus out of the grave and over the horizon. I never thought that the years I spent writing ad copy for various ad agencies would be worth so much to me now. The rule in advertising is: when you've written the headline, you've spent 80c of your dollar. It's got to hook them. It's gotta say something different about a subject you've heard a million times. Take the neverending subject of LOVE ( also known as LURV...the NASTY...and BUMPING UGLIES) If I taught songwriting, one of the first projects I would set would have to be: write a song about LOVE, but make it interesting.Make it different. Make the listener say: I never thought of it that way before. Now Paul McCartney, being famous, doesn't have to work as hard as the rest of us. So he calls it: Another Silly Love Song. With a chorus that goes: iloveyouiloveyouiloveyou. Phew, Macca...time to open the window!
Here's how I do it: my song is called: If You Were Icecream... and the first verse is: If you were icecream, I would eat you, with a very small spoon... if you were starlight, I'd go to meet you, halfway to the moon... I think that's a lot more interesting than Paulie's but hey, he's famous, and I've just started kicking at the door. For more examples of how I approach first verses and songs in general, scoot along to my new site or click on the link below.
Must get into town for some new acoustic guitar strings. Haven't changed them for a year, and No..there's no direct link between underwear rotation and guitar strings. And-a one...two...three...
Diesel Powered Cars: Coming At You!
The number of diesel powered cars on North American highways has been dropping steadily ever since their peak in the mid 1980s. For many motorists, diesel engines conjure up images of pollution, poor power, and unreliability. However, one generation later and all that is about to change. New diesel powered vehicles will soon be arriving, in fact one is already here and receiving critical acclaim from auto enthusiasts.
Who can forget those diesel powered Chevrolet Caprices and Oldsmobile 98s that suddenly became very popular 25 years ago? If you are like many car owners, you want to forget those cars. What GM did back then was to take existing gasoline engines and convert them to diesel engines. These converted engines were loud, smoky, and very unreliable. They were unreliable to the point where GM had to pay tens of millions of dollars to replace failed engines with gasoline engines.
The memory of GM’s diesel fiasco was never lost on drivers who have spurned diesels to the point where many automakers are no longer producing diesel engines. Mercedes, a strong seller of diesel powered cars in Europe, no longer sells a diesel powered car in North America. VW is the lone importer of diesel engines while the U.S. manufacturers only place high performance diesel engines in their larger vehicles such as pick up trucks.
Another area that has stopped diesel engines cold is air pollution. Very stringent emission regulations have all but wiped out the possibility that many of the smaller diesel engines could be sold in the U.S. However, a change is in the wind as new technology is now in place that will make diesel powered cars cleaner. In addition, with the high cost of gasoline now prevailing, a diesel powered car has much more of an appeal to it especially since fuel savings of 20-30% are possible.
DaimlerChrysler recently introduced a Jeep Liberty with an optionally equipped diesel engine and this compact SUV is selling well with the optional engine. Its new 2.8L diesel delivers fuel improvements as high as 32% over a comparable gas 4x4 model and pollution is kept to a minimum. In addition, the added torque is a favorite with some, especially those who need to pull a boat or a camper with the Jeep.
Volkswagen will be bringing additional diesel powered cars to the North American market over the next few years. Diesel powered Golfs, Jettas, and possibly several larger model VWs will soon be traversing the highways and byways of Canada and the U.S.
BMW and Mercedes are both likely to be importing diesel cars over the next few years. Both automakers are studying the market to see if compact models could sell in North America. Each proposed model line is currently sold in Europe and diesel engines are a popular option with these cars.
GM is also considering tapping its relationship with Isuzu to import engines to be placed in several compact models. Long a producer of diesel powered vehicles, Isuzu has pretty much exited the North American market, but could return in the form of Isuzu powered cars sold by GM.
Chrysler will likely take its favorable experience with its Jeep division and begin to offer diesel engines on other trucks and SUVs. At the same time the all new Dodge Caliber, a replacement for the Neon, may eventually offer a diesel engine too.
Ford seems to be content with expanding its hybrid offerings and no other Japanese or Korean manufacturers appear ready to jump into the diesel movement…yet. Regardless, within five years the number of diesel cars on American and Canadian roads will likely triple. This can be a good thing for people wanting better fuel mileage, more torque, and a highly reliable engine.
For older diesel powered cars, they will continue to serve their purpose as owners discover how to extend their lives through useful aftermarket parts such as Bully Dog and competing products. With their rugged durability and well known reliability, a diesel powered car can easily reach a half of million miles or more before quitting.
Who can forget those diesel powered Chevrolet Caprices and Oldsmobile 98s that suddenly became very popular 25 years ago? If you are like many car owners, you want to forget those cars. What GM did back then was to take existing gasoline engines and convert them to diesel engines. These converted engines were loud, smoky, and very unreliable. They were unreliable to the point where GM had to pay tens of millions of dollars to replace failed engines with gasoline engines.
The memory of GM’s diesel fiasco was never lost on drivers who have spurned diesels to the point where many automakers are no longer producing diesel engines. Mercedes, a strong seller of diesel powered cars in Europe, no longer sells a diesel powered car in North America. VW is the lone importer of diesel engines while the U.S. manufacturers only place high performance diesel engines in their larger vehicles such as pick up trucks.
Another area that has stopped diesel engines cold is air pollution. Very stringent emission regulations have all but wiped out the possibility that many of the smaller diesel engines could be sold in the U.S. However, a change is in the wind as new technology is now in place that will make diesel powered cars cleaner. In addition, with the high cost of gasoline now prevailing, a diesel powered car has much more of an appeal to it especially since fuel savings of 20-30% are possible.
DaimlerChrysler recently introduced a Jeep Liberty with an optionally equipped diesel engine and this compact SUV is selling well with the optional engine. Its new 2.8L diesel delivers fuel improvements as high as 32% over a comparable gas 4x4 model and pollution is kept to a minimum. In addition, the added torque is a favorite with some, especially those who need to pull a boat or a camper with the Jeep.
Volkswagen will be bringing additional diesel powered cars to the North American market over the next few years. Diesel powered Golfs, Jettas, and possibly several larger model VWs will soon be traversing the highways and byways of Canada and the U.S.
BMW and Mercedes are both likely to be importing diesel cars over the next few years. Both automakers are studying the market to see if compact models could sell in North America. Each proposed model line is currently sold in Europe and diesel engines are a popular option with these cars.
GM is also considering tapping its relationship with Isuzu to import engines to be placed in several compact models. Long a producer of diesel powered vehicles, Isuzu has pretty much exited the North American market, but could return in the form of Isuzu powered cars sold by GM.
Chrysler will likely take its favorable experience with its Jeep division and begin to offer diesel engines on other trucks and SUVs. At the same time the all new Dodge Caliber, a replacement for the Neon, may eventually offer a diesel engine too.
Ford seems to be content with expanding its hybrid offerings and no other Japanese or Korean manufacturers appear ready to jump into the diesel movement…yet. Regardless, within five years the number of diesel cars on American and Canadian roads will likely triple. This can be a good thing for people wanting better fuel mileage, more torque, and a highly reliable engine.
For older diesel powered cars, they will continue to serve their purpose as owners discover how to extend their lives through useful aftermarket parts such as Bully Dog and competing products. With their rugged durability and well known reliability, a diesel powered car can easily reach a half of million miles or more before quitting.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Diesel and Hybrid Vehicles Gaining Market Share
According to the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) first quarter report for 2007, a recent J.D. Power and Associates report has concluded that while gas-powered engines remain dominant in the U.S. market, hybrids and diesels are steadily gaining market share. It is no secret that rising gas prices and environmental concerns are the two main catalysts pushing consumers toward alternative-fuel vehicles.
As gas prices rise, diesels seem a natural solution for the United States, especially for manufacturers with large operations in Europe, where diesel cars are already in large demand, said J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Forecasting Manager Kevin Riddell.
A vehicle with a modern diesel engine will have 30 percent better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine. Plus, advances have made modern diesel engines perform similar to gasoline engines in terms of noise, filtration systems and drive quality, said Riddell. While hybrids still only share a relatively small part of the market, they are enjoying phenomenal annual sales growth. Consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental benefits and fuel-savings recognized by driving a hybrid vehicle. Rental fleets, delivery fleets and taxi companies are adding thousands of hybrids to their vehicle pools. AMSOIL provides superior synthetic lubricants for nearly all applications, including hybrid and diesel-powered vehicles. Not only that, but AMSOIL synthetics improve fuel economy and reduce our impact on the environment by extending drain intervals.
As gas prices rise, diesels seem a natural solution for the United States, especially for manufacturers with large operations in Europe, where diesel cars are already in large demand, said J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Forecasting Manager Kevin Riddell.
A vehicle with a modern diesel engine will have 30 percent better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine. Plus, advances have made modern diesel engines perform similar to gasoline engines in terms of noise, filtration systems and drive quality, said Riddell. While hybrids still only share a relatively small part of the market, they are enjoying phenomenal annual sales growth. Consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental benefits and fuel-savings recognized by driving a hybrid vehicle. Rental fleets, delivery fleets and taxi companies are adding thousands of hybrids to their vehicle pools. AMSOIL provides superior synthetic lubricants for nearly all applications, including hybrid and diesel-powered vehicles. Not only that, but AMSOIL synthetics improve fuel economy and reduce our impact on the environment by extending drain intervals.
DFW limo | Dallas car | Dallas limousine| Dallas car service
There would be hardly any person who does not enjoy being pampered or special. Luxury and royal treatment can melt even the most hard-hearted persons. Limousines are therefore an ultimate way to express your love and affection for the special people in your life. Mainly hired for special occasions like wedding, birthdays, and prom nights, a Dallas limousine adds grace and charm to the entire occasion. Apart from this, it can also be used for commercial purposes. It can be used to make an impression on any VIP client on his/her visit to the town. You can avail airport limo service in Dallas to take them from the airport.
Limousine service in Dallas is an excellent replacement for the gifts that were earlier presented to the loved ones. There is nothing that can be gifted better than some precious moments of opulence and classy treatment with each other that are to be cherished in nostalgia forever. There is a wide variety of Dallas limo models that can be chosen, such as passenger coaches, mini buses, big passenger vehicles, luxury sedans and SUVs. Most of the limousine service Dallas can be booked for from all over the world. Another option that is made available to the customers of Dallas limos is that, if they are not sure about the places they will be visiting in their hired limousine; there is a limo service in Dallas that can be availed for hourly basis. This type of hourly service can also be termed as ‘customer directed’ car service. The chauffeurs that accompany you along the way are people with lots of etiquettes that are well-trained in exclusive customer service. You can also take them with you if you are willing to attend any all-day conference or night-out within the town.
There is cost-effective limousine service Dallas that is made available. However, there is no compromise that is made on the quality of services that are provided. For knowing the exact pricing quotes, there is DFW limo providers whose websites has an option to search the price quotes by simply submitting the area codes that you would like to visit in Dallas limousine and the model of Dallas Car in which you would like to visit and you have the available pricing quotes. Once you know the prices, you can then make a call at their customer care or simply make a booking online. The quicker it is, the better it is for you as it may be difficult to find Dallas limos in the holiday or marriage season.
Though it may not be difficult to find cars on hire that may also be very comfortable and cheaper than hiring Dallas limos, but the awe and the air of fashion and magnificence that a limo bestows is not second to any other car. Last but certainly not least, if you are willing to go for a team outing, limo buses are a great option that can easily accommodate around 16 people. Hence, your requirements may be commercial or personal; limo service in Dallas can provide you sophistication at your doorsteps whenever you want. For any further information, you can log on to http://www.dfwtransit.com.
Limousine service in Dallas is an excellent replacement for the gifts that were earlier presented to the loved ones. There is nothing that can be gifted better than some precious moments of opulence and classy treatment with each other that are to be cherished in nostalgia forever. There is a wide variety of Dallas limo models that can be chosen, such as passenger coaches, mini buses, big passenger vehicles, luxury sedans and SUVs. Most of the limousine service Dallas can be booked for from all over the world. Another option that is made available to the customers of Dallas limos is that, if they are not sure about the places they will be visiting in their hired limousine; there is a limo service in Dallas that can be availed for hourly basis. This type of hourly service can also be termed as ‘customer directed’ car service. The chauffeurs that accompany you along the way are people with lots of etiquettes that are well-trained in exclusive customer service. You can also take them with you if you are willing to attend any all-day conference or night-out within the town.
There is cost-effective limousine service Dallas that is made available. However, there is no compromise that is made on the quality of services that are provided. For knowing the exact pricing quotes, there is DFW limo providers whose websites has an option to search the price quotes by simply submitting the area codes that you would like to visit in Dallas limousine and the model of Dallas Car in which you would like to visit and you have the available pricing quotes. Once you know the prices, you can then make a call at their customer care or simply make a booking online. The quicker it is, the better it is for you as it may be difficult to find Dallas limos in the holiday or marriage season.
Though it may not be difficult to find cars on hire that may also be very comfortable and cheaper than hiring Dallas limos, but the awe and the air of fashion and magnificence that a limo bestows is not second to any other car. Last but certainly not least, if you are willing to go for a team outing, limo buses are a great option that can easily accommodate around 16 people. Hence, your requirements may be commercial or personal; limo service in Dallas can provide you sophistication at your doorsteps whenever you want. For any further information, you can log on to http://www.dfwtransit.com.
Smoking Gun In Cancer Revealed; It's The Smoking Throat
OK, smoke fans, the facts are out once again. According to the new and pretty inarguable Cancer Atlas and the updated Tobacco Atlas, which were published by The American Cancer Society, if "Smoky, The Scare" gets his way, tobacco use is projected to kill a billion people in this century. (By the way, wouldn't it be more reassuring if the word “Prevention” was in the Society's name?)
Now, that’s what we call recreational population control. The figure amounts to ten times as many folks as smoking sent choking to the grave in the 20th century.
And ready for this? Tobacco use causes one in five cancer deaths, or a total of 1.4 million graveward bound souls a year.
Now, here’s the good and much underappreciated news: Dr. Judity Mackay, a senior policy adviser of the World Health Organization, tells us, "We know with cancer, if we take action now, we can save 2 million lives a year by 2020 and 6.5 million by 2040."
So here’s our bit to stop cancer in its tracks. And we’re not going to pull any punches, because, if you still smoke, you obviously haven’t listened to anybody yet, and we care about you too much not to give you our best shot.
Here goes all the ways we know to annoy our friends who smoke with advice that is invariably resented but not always dismissed. In fact, we actually have two friends who stopped smoking after we had at them.
So let's light up with logic:
1. If you can’t quit smoking, pursue your fetish when you're not around us.
2. We don’t date people who smoke, because we don’t want to die in their arms. It’s not death we’re afraid of; it’s their breath and the way their clothes smell. We find both spiritually wilting, not to mention sexually.
3. Everybody loves you, but somebody you know is following you, everywhere you go, and this person wants to kill you, and do you know who this person is? The person in you who wants to smoke. The person in you who doesn’t want you to smoke, while weaker right now, can be made strong enough to toss the sneak thief of your life out for good.
4. Do you know what people think every time you light up? Wow, what a dummy. Provoking this response is particularly incriminating if you think you’re a genius.
5. Don’t tell me you’re so desperate for pleasure that just for the little buzz you can get from dragging all those carcinogens into your fragile body you’re ready to die? How much do you like Lorillard and the other ciggy makers? So much you need to die for them?
6. Do you know that smoking is like rat poison? You ingest a little every day. You think you’re fine. But actually your entire body is being poisoned. That’s why you look yellow and your skin wrinkles prematurely. Actually, if you could do an autopsy on yourself while you’re still alive, you’d find that all the organs in your body are shriveled up from the poisons. For instance, pathologists tell us that your organs, instead of being smooth and healthy, look more like prunes. But you keep dragging the junk in, because you think you’re fine. Well, you’re not. You’re deadly ill. And then one day it happens. You go from being ill to being landfill.
7. Last, do you know that all the blood in your body races through your lungs every minute? That’s right. It all keeps racing there to give off carbon dioxide and grab fresh oxygen. Then it races to the far corners of your body with the breath of life. Unfortunately, it also drags the carcinogens along for the ride. That’s why, for instance, women who smoke often get breast cancer; breasts are very vascular and so they’re a frequent drop-off point for the poison.
Worst of all, if you die, you can’t read NewsLaugh anymore. Talk about sad. So stop it already.
Now, that’s what we call recreational population control. The figure amounts to ten times as many folks as smoking sent choking to the grave in the 20th century.
And ready for this? Tobacco use causes one in five cancer deaths, or a total of 1.4 million graveward bound souls a year.
Now, here’s the good and much underappreciated news: Dr. Judity Mackay, a senior policy adviser of the World Health Organization, tells us, "We know with cancer, if we take action now, we can save 2 million lives a year by 2020 and 6.5 million by 2040."
So here’s our bit to stop cancer in its tracks. And we’re not going to pull any punches, because, if you still smoke, you obviously haven’t listened to anybody yet, and we care about you too much not to give you our best shot.
Here goes all the ways we know to annoy our friends who smoke with advice that is invariably resented but not always dismissed. In fact, we actually have two friends who stopped smoking after we had at them.
So let's light up with logic:
1. If you can’t quit smoking, pursue your fetish when you're not around us.
2. We don’t date people who smoke, because we don’t want to die in their arms. It’s not death we’re afraid of; it’s their breath and the way their clothes smell. We find both spiritually wilting, not to mention sexually.
3. Everybody loves you, but somebody you know is following you, everywhere you go, and this person wants to kill you, and do you know who this person is? The person in you who wants to smoke. The person in you who doesn’t want you to smoke, while weaker right now, can be made strong enough to toss the sneak thief of your life out for good.
4. Do you know what people think every time you light up? Wow, what a dummy. Provoking this response is particularly incriminating if you think you’re a genius.
5. Don’t tell me you’re so desperate for pleasure that just for the little buzz you can get from dragging all those carcinogens into your fragile body you’re ready to die? How much do you like Lorillard and the other ciggy makers? So much you need to die for them?
6. Do you know that smoking is like rat poison? You ingest a little every day. You think you’re fine. But actually your entire body is being poisoned. That’s why you look yellow and your skin wrinkles prematurely. Actually, if you could do an autopsy on yourself while you’re still alive, you’d find that all the organs in your body are shriveled up from the poisons. For instance, pathologists tell us that your organs, instead of being smooth and healthy, look more like prunes. But you keep dragging the junk in, because you think you’re fine. Well, you’re not. You’re deadly ill. And then one day it happens. You go from being ill to being landfill.
7. Last, do you know that all the blood in your body races through your lungs every minute? That’s right. It all keeps racing there to give off carbon dioxide and grab fresh oxygen. Then it races to the far corners of your body with the breath of life. Unfortunately, it also drags the carcinogens along for the ride. That’s why, for instance, women who smoke often get breast cancer; breasts are very vascular and so they’re a frequent drop-off point for the poison.
Worst of all, if you die, you can’t read NewsLaugh anymore. Talk about sad. So stop it already.
Determining Cars Value
When shopping for cars, it is important to understand the cars value before deciding whether or not to make the purchase. One way to determine a cars value is through Kelly Blue Book (kbb.com) and their extensive pricing system. By entering select data about either new or used cars, consumers will receive instant value estimates. In order to get an accurate cars value, consumers must know the make and model of the automobile, current mileage, additional features and overall condition.
Selecting from a variety of different cars is what the purchasing process is all about. By having so many automobiles to choose from, shopping around is the best way to find the car that you want at a pricetag that you can afford. No matter whether new or used, a cars value should be a large deciding factor in the final purchase price. A knowledgeable customer will be informed about the cars value and will be able to make a good decision as to whether the sale price is fair or not.
When shopping for either new or used cars, consumers should always take a test drive and also request to take the automobile to a trusted mechanic for further inspection. Under no circumstances should a consumer accept the word of the individual, or company, selling the automobile. One of the best ways to determine the cars value is to have a trusted mechanic assess the condition of the automobile. In addition, this is the only real way to make sure that the automobile is in the condition as stated. The majority of cars are exactly as stated by the seller but, when auto safety and a large amount of money is involved, there is no room for error in judgment.
Some things to keep in mind is whether or not the purchase price includes a warranty. If not, the final loan amount may be higher than the cars value if the customer purchases a warranty and has it financed in with the loan. Many automobile dealers have the ability to do this, but is primarily for the purchase of a used car. The reason is because new automobiles are generally covered with an automatic warranty from the manufacturer, which is included in the purchase price.
Automobiles can be found at a variety of places, including a local dealership, the classifieds section of a local newspaper, the bulletin board at a local retail or grocery store, word of mouth or even online. In many instances, a licensed dealer can order cars from another automobile dealer. For example, if a customer wants a specific model and color of a car and knows which out-of-state dealer has that car for sale, they may request that a local dealer obtain the car so that they have the convenience of purchasing locally. This is not at all uncommon and is actually a standard practice among many dealerships offering both new and used cars. Before agreeing to this type of arrangement, customers should make sure they have assessed the cars value before signing on the dotted line.
Selecting from a variety of different cars is what the purchasing process is all about. By having so many automobiles to choose from, shopping around is the best way to find the car that you want at a pricetag that you can afford. No matter whether new or used, a cars value should be a large deciding factor in the final purchase price. A knowledgeable customer will be informed about the cars value and will be able to make a good decision as to whether the sale price is fair or not.
When shopping for either new or used cars, consumers should always take a test drive and also request to take the automobile to a trusted mechanic for further inspection. Under no circumstances should a consumer accept the word of the individual, or company, selling the automobile. One of the best ways to determine the cars value is to have a trusted mechanic assess the condition of the automobile. In addition, this is the only real way to make sure that the automobile is in the condition as stated. The majority of cars are exactly as stated by the seller but, when auto safety and a large amount of money is involved, there is no room for error in judgment.
Some things to keep in mind is whether or not the purchase price includes a warranty. If not, the final loan amount may be higher than the cars value if the customer purchases a warranty and has it financed in with the loan. Many automobile dealers have the ability to do this, but is primarily for the purchase of a used car. The reason is because new automobiles are generally covered with an automatic warranty from the manufacturer, which is included in the purchase price.
Automobiles can be found at a variety of places, including a local dealership, the classifieds section of a local newspaper, the bulletin board at a local retail or grocery store, word of mouth or even online. In many instances, a licensed dealer can order cars from another automobile dealer. For example, if a customer wants a specific model and color of a car and knows which out-of-state dealer has that car for sale, they may request that a local dealer obtain the car so that they have the convenience of purchasing locally. This is not at all uncommon and is actually a standard practice among many dealerships offering both new and used cars. Before agreeing to this type of arrangement, customers should make sure they have assessed the cars value before signing on the dotted line.
Defense Driving Tips From A Parked Position For The Novice Driver
Leaving a parked position can be quite the hazard, if your not sure of the proper procedure.
You are about to move forward from a parked position. Position you’re hands at ten o’clock and two o’clock on the steering wheel. If you let go of the steering wheel, you’re hands should continue to rest on the wheel. Some drivers prefer the 3 o’clock and the 9 o’clock position. If your driving an automatic, the right hand should not have to go too far to change gears, placing it back to the 2 position. The left hand should slide down the steering wheel without leaving the steering wheel to signal. Place your hand back to the ten position when you finished signaling. One hand on the wheel is not the safe way to drive a vehicle.
Now your ready to drive forward and you have done all the safety checks before you roll forward and signaled out of you’re parked position. Safety checks include checking your mirrors and shoulder depending on the direction your pulling out of. If you do not pull out right away after your checks, you will have to recheck again. Keep in mind that you are leaving a parked position and you are hardly moving. Traffic behind you can be moving fast. Check you're shoulder just before you think you are going to accelerate and glance a second time, after you have looked forward to check you're path ahead. Checking a second time gives you that option to go back to the brake, in case a vehicle comes around some corner and surprises you. Use you’re review mirror as much as possible to avoid this situation.
When you’re parked between two vehicles. Position you’re vehicle so you are clear of the vehicle in front of you, by inching back far enough. Position the nose of your vehicle forward, in a clearance position ahead of you. When you are on a wide roadway, you typically have a couple of feet without obstructing traffic and cyclists. Make sure you are not entering the nose of your vehicle into a potential hazard! Keep in mind the amount you turned the wheel. If you have cranked the wheel quite a bit. Make sure you do not end up on the other side of the road. To avoid this potential hazard, ease off the gas pedal when out of the parked position and gain control of direction by correcting the steering wheel position.
Reviewing the proper procedure of leaving a parked position from a curb.
(1) Path ahead
(2) Mirrors
(3) Signal
(4) Shoulder check
(5) Path ahead
(6) Recheck shoulder
(7) Proceed when all is clear
The first thing you check is your path ahead to make sure it’s clear.
Check your mirrors to see if it’s safe behind you.
Signal to traffic behind to let them know your intentions. (Hand signal if you think other drivers can’t see you’re signal. Also bring you’re hand back in before you start to maneuver the vehicle out of the parked position.)
Glance over to your blind spot just in case another vehicle pulls out from across the road, just before you make the maneuver.
Recheck your path ahead and proceed forward with one more glance over you’re shoulder. Do not release the brake pedal until after you have looked forward. A pedestrian may have approached you’re vehicle while you were looking the other way.
I hope these defensive driving tips will help you in you’re goal in becoming a defensive driver. Have an expierenced driver, or a recognized defensive driving school help you for further instruction on this topic.
You are about to move forward from a parked position. Position you’re hands at ten o’clock and two o’clock on the steering wheel. If you let go of the steering wheel, you’re hands should continue to rest on the wheel. Some drivers prefer the 3 o’clock and the 9 o’clock position. If your driving an automatic, the right hand should not have to go too far to change gears, placing it back to the 2 position. The left hand should slide down the steering wheel without leaving the steering wheel to signal. Place your hand back to the ten position when you finished signaling. One hand on the wheel is not the safe way to drive a vehicle.
Now your ready to drive forward and you have done all the safety checks before you roll forward and signaled out of you’re parked position. Safety checks include checking your mirrors and shoulder depending on the direction your pulling out of. If you do not pull out right away after your checks, you will have to recheck again. Keep in mind that you are leaving a parked position and you are hardly moving. Traffic behind you can be moving fast. Check you're shoulder just before you think you are going to accelerate and glance a second time, after you have looked forward to check you're path ahead. Checking a second time gives you that option to go back to the brake, in case a vehicle comes around some corner and surprises you. Use you’re review mirror as much as possible to avoid this situation.
When you’re parked between two vehicles. Position you’re vehicle so you are clear of the vehicle in front of you, by inching back far enough. Position the nose of your vehicle forward, in a clearance position ahead of you. When you are on a wide roadway, you typically have a couple of feet without obstructing traffic and cyclists. Make sure you are not entering the nose of your vehicle into a potential hazard! Keep in mind the amount you turned the wheel. If you have cranked the wheel quite a bit. Make sure you do not end up on the other side of the road. To avoid this potential hazard, ease off the gas pedal when out of the parked position and gain control of direction by correcting the steering wheel position.
Reviewing the proper procedure of leaving a parked position from a curb.
(1) Path ahead
(2) Mirrors
(3) Signal
(4) Shoulder check
(5) Path ahead
(6) Recheck shoulder
(7) Proceed when all is clear
The first thing you check is your path ahead to make sure it’s clear.
Check your mirrors to see if it’s safe behind you.
Signal to traffic behind to let them know your intentions. (Hand signal if you think other drivers can’t see you’re signal. Also bring you’re hand back in before you start to maneuver the vehicle out of the parked position.)
Glance over to your blind spot just in case another vehicle pulls out from across the road, just before you make the maneuver.
Recheck your path ahead and proceed forward with one more glance over you’re shoulder. Do not release the brake pedal until after you have looked forward. A pedestrian may have approached you’re vehicle while you were looking the other way.
I hope these defensive driving tips will help you in you’re goal in becoming a defensive driver. Have an expierenced driver, or a recognized defensive driving school help you for further instruction on this topic.
Sit Back And Remember
Why is it, that any holiday, time off, or event, someone is sick? Do they plan it that way? I was sitting today, pondering, reminissing, and it came to my attention that every function I have ever attended had at least one of my family members sitting with the sniffles.
I was 7 years old. It was christmas time, and I was sick with my appendix. That was a good one. Is it coincidence? Or is there some greater evil out there that enjoys watching suffering in times of joy. We should find him, and tell him we are NOT impressed.
Timing is everything. There is a point, in every persons life, where everything seems to go wrong, and all you can do is sit there and watch it happen. But maybe it's a good thing. In fact, if nothing goes wrong, we won't know what's right. Perhaps what we need to do is change those tears of helplessness into tears of joy. That would be weird. "I love it when i get scarlet fever" Woops.
Here is a good one. This time, evil chose to be more mean than ever. I will tell you the holiday AFTER I tell you what happened. I had the chicken pox, my youngest sister had the chicken pox, my other sister had scarlet fever, and my parents were sharing the flu. Get this.... Thanksgiving. Thats right. Usually at thanksgiving time we go around the table, taking turns saying thanks for whatever you are thankful for. What a task. I was thankful for oatmeal baths!
It's funny how we are tested in such ironic ways. The outcome of our battles with nature shows what kind of person we can become, but what happens during the battle defines what kind of person we really are.
I was 7 years old. It was christmas time, and I was sick with my appendix. That was a good one. Is it coincidence? Or is there some greater evil out there that enjoys watching suffering in times of joy. We should find him, and tell him we are NOT impressed.
Timing is everything. There is a point, in every persons life, where everything seems to go wrong, and all you can do is sit there and watch it happen. But maybe it's a good thing. In fact, if nothing goes wrong, we won't know what's right. Perhaps what we need to do is change those tears of helplessness into tears of joy. That would be weird. "I love it when i get scarlet fever" Woops.
Here is a good one. This time, evil chose to be more mean than ever. I will tell you the holiday AFTER I tell you what happened. I had the chicken pox, my youngest sister had the chicken pox, my other sister had scarlet fever, and my parents were sharing the flu. Get this.... Thanksgiving. Thats right. Usually at thanksgiving time we go around the table, taking turns saying thanks for whatever you are thankful for. What a task. I was thankful for oatmeal baths!
It's funny how we are tested in such ironic ways. The outcome of our battles with nature shows what kind of person we can become, but what happens during the battle defines what kind of person we really are.
Definition of a Sports Car
A simple definition of a sports car is “a small low car with a high-powered engine, and generally seats two people”. This is more or less a “textbook” definition but gives us an idea of what the public perceives to be a sports car.
The Houghton Mifflin dictionary defines a sports car as: “An automobile equipped for racing, especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds.” This dictionary definition does not seem to capture the general perception of what the public sees as a sports car.
The Houghton Mifflin definition of the “two seat rule” seems out-of-date. Many sports cars today offer small back seats (sometimes referred to as 2+2 seating) and there is a current movement underway to increase the seating room in models long considered sports cars by most automotive experts.
Insurance companies use their own formula in classifying automobiles and often the presence of two doors automatically makes any car a “sports car” in their eyes. This perspective, of course, is as overly simplistic as the standard dictionary approach to defining a sports car. One can certainly think of any number of two door vehicles that fall far short of being an actual sports car. Economy cars and even larger two-door vehicles that are not built with power and performance in mind should not qualify as true sports cars.
Some car buffs will refer to high-performance muscle cars and other larger vehicles as sports cars. Others, however, draw a distinction between these vehicles and “true” sports cars. These individuals will claim that a car can be a “sporting car” or simply “sporty” but still fall short of being a true sports car. Thus, “regular” cars may be outfitted with a “sports package” and/or accessories to make the car sportier, but may not fit a strict definition of a sports car.
Not all automotive enthusiasts, however, embrace this restrictive view of sports cars. In many circles, a sports car is any car offering greater performance or power than more standard offerings. This school of thought will consider muscle cars and other larger vehicles designed with performance in mind as sports cars.
Others will maintain that the distinction between a sports car and any other type of car lies in how the car's suspension and handling are addressed. Technical debates rage over whether various suspension packages qualify as belonging to true “sports cars.”
Some will argue that a sports car can be defined by its intentions. If the car is designed for performance more so than for utility, they say, it is a sports car. This intent-based definition, however, provides little guidance in determining whether a car is a sports car or not. Particularly in the modern era, the notion of designing a car of any sort without significant consideration of its feasibility and utility seems unlikely. Any commercially viable vehicle, regardless of its performance, must retain significant utility.
Road and Track, a leading automotive publication, summarizes the sports card definition debate with a simple observation: “Ask five people the exact definition of a sports car, and you'll likely get five different answers.”
There is no clear-cut definition of what really is a sports car. The restrictive definitions of the past seem ill suited to categorize today's' diverse automotive offerings and common usage of the term runs contrary to most long-held definitions.
There is, however, a common thought that seems to run through almost all of the outlooks on the meaning of “sports car.” If a car is designed with high performance or race-like capabilities in mind, it can probably be safely termed a sports car. Some purists may balk at such a liberal perspective, but alternative definitions fall far short of accurately distinguishing sports cars form regular production models.
The Houghton Mifflin dictionary defines a sports car as: “An automobile equipped for racing, especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds.” This dictionary definition does not seem to capture the general perception of what the public sees as a sports car.
The Houghton Mifflin definition of the “two seat rule” seems out-of-date. Many sports cars today offer small back seats (sometimes referred to as 2+2 seating) and there is a current movement underway to increase the seating room in models long considered sports cars by most automotive experts.
Insurance companies use their own formula in classifying automobiles and often the presence of two doors automatically makes any car a “sports car” in their eyes. This perspective, of course, is as overly simplistic as the standard dictionary approach to defining a sports car. One can certainly think of any number of two door vehicles that fall far short of being an actual sports car. Economy cars and even larger two-door vehicles that are not built with power and performance in mind should not qualify as true sports cars.
Some car buffs will refer to high-performance muscle cars and other larger vehicles as sports cars. Others, however, draw a distinction between these vehicles and “true” sports cars. These individuals will claim that a car can be a “sporting car” or simply “sporty” but still fall short of being a true sports car. Thus, “regular” cars may be outfitted with a “sports package” and/or accessories to make the car sportier, but may not fit a strict definition of a sports car.
Not all automotive enthusiasts, however, embrace this restrictive view of sports cars. In many circles, a sports car is any car offering greater performance or power than more standard offerings. This school of thought will consider muscle cars and other larger vehicles designed with performance in mind as sports cars.
Others will maintain that the distinction between a sports car and any other type of car lies in how the car's suspension and handling are addressed. Technical debates rage over whether various suspension packages qualify as belonging to true “sports cars.”
Some will argue that a sports car can be defined by its intentions. If the car is designed for performance more so than for utility, they say, it is a sports car. This intent-based definition, however, provides little guidance in determining whether a car is a sports car or not. Particularly in the modern era, the notion of designing a car of any sort without significant consideration of its feasibility and utility seems unlikely. Any commercially viable vehicle, regardless of its performance, must retain significant utility.
Road and Track, a leading automotive publication, summarizes the sports card definition debate with a simple observation: “Ask five people the exact definition of a sports car, and you'll likely get five different answers.”
There is no clear-cut definition of what really is a sports car. The restrictive definitions of the past seem ill suited to categorize today's' diverse automotive offerings and common usage of the term runs contrary to most long-held definitions.
There is, however, a common thought that seems to run through almost all of the outlooks on the meaning of “sports car.” If a car is designed with high performance or race-like capabilities in mind, it can probably be safely termed a sports car. Some purists may balk at such a liberal perspective, but alternative definitions fall far short of accurately distinguishing sports cars form regular production models.
Sex Change Procedure Creates New Species, Neither All Male Nor All Female
Due to a revolutionary procedure, an entirely new species of human is now afoot on the earth – neither all male nor all female. And people who have undergone the procedure seem delighted.
A mostly female member of the species confided, “When you become a new species, it changes your whole outlook. I’m no longer really flamingly female or, for that matter, flamingly male. It makes me really happy. ”
“I’m an early adapter,” a mostly male person who had undergone the procedure told us. “As a result, I often feel ahead of my time, but, wow, when I come across another person who has gone through it, we really hit it off.”
Another primarily female incarnation of the remarkable development confided, “When you become a third species, it changes your whole outlook. I’m no longer really agressively female and certainly not rabidly male.”
What exactly is this revolutionary procedure?
We spoke with Dr. Emil Changemaker, the founder of the technique, and asked, “We understand you’ve created a new species of human being. Can you please elaborate?”
“Happy to oblige. First, this sex change operation requires no surgery.”
“It doesn’t?” we asked, surprised.
“No, the change occurs, not between the legs, but between the ears.”
“Oh, between the ears?”
“Exactly,” he confirmed.
“Please, go on.”
“Well, you see, until now, we had human types that are pretty much all male and all female. Of course, there have been a few exceptions, but not enough for most people to notice.”
“And now?” we inquired.
“Oh, thanks to the technique, there are quite a few more.”
“I see. As the world’s leading expert on the subject, how did you manage to create a new species?”
“Me? I didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“You didn’t?” we asked, a bit taken back. “Excuse me, if you didn’t have anything to do with it, why are you the founder of the technique? You see, we never heard of a founder who didn’t have anything to do with what he founded.”
“Oh, I founded it just because I saw it happening and I brought it to people’s attention, first to my family, then to some friends. Next, I wrote an article. Then a book. Now, I’m working on a video.”
“Well, it sounds as if you’re doing the usual things a founder does. What did you see happening?”
“Well, I saw this third species evolving.”
“The one that’s neither 100% male or 100% female?”
“Exactamundo!” he exclaimed.
“Why is it evolving?”
“Primarily, because it’s time, actually way past time, I think, for the new species to make its appearance.”
“Why is that?”
“Well, when you just had the overly male types or the overly female types, you had one side being really macho and the other side tipping toward being ultra feminist. So they had a hard time inhabiting the earth together, let alone the same bedroom. And happily married? Tough hoe to row, I mean, a tough row to hoe. I’ve been through it and just the thought discombobulates me.”
“What about the new species?”
“The most welcome development you can imagine.”
“Why is that?” we asked.
“Because when this species evolves, you no longer have the snarling pro macho type or the rabid feminist type.”
“What do you have?”
“Well, basically, you have a person.”
“A person? That’s the third type?”
“Please, don’t underestimate what I’m saying. This is a real big deal, the most welcome development you can imagine.”
“What is so special about this new species of person?” we wanted to know, determined to corner him.
“Well, it’s a person who advocates people’s rights.”
“People’s rights?”
“Right! It’s an evolution that leaves the purebred brute or feminist back at the orifice of the allegorical cave. You don’t advocate the superiority of men or the superiority of women. You don’t even advocate equal rights for either.”
“Not even equal rights?”
“Certainly not, because the very act of advocating equal rights assumes there’s an inequality. It’s a self-propagating prejudice. Nobody advocates equality when it exists, do they?”
“Well, that’s interesting. So when you advocate people’s rights, there’s no inherent or implied prejudice?”
“Correct! I’m talking about a species that’s comfortable just being human – not as an overheated new advocacy but just as an easygoing assumption. Of course, the species is still very much aware that there are two halves of the human race.”
“That hasn’t changed?”
“No, just the way they think of each other – in the whole rigmarole together, peaceful partners, except for a little of the inevitable pot throwing that even equals can’t always avoid, especially men and women. It solves a lot of problems, in the outside world and in the home, downstairs and upstairs.”
“Hmm, I imagine it would. What do you think the future holds for this new species?”
“Well, it’s like all evolutionary developments. You never know if the new excrescence of the gene pool will flourish, or perish because of the pressures exerted by the more established species. My hope is that it will enlarge its presence and, perhaps over time, entirely replace the previous incarnations.”
“Wow, when this interview began, I never would’ve suspected.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I’m actually a member of the new species.”
“You are?”
“Well, at least, I like to think so. And I bet a lot of people who are fans of NewsLaugh didn't realize they’re part of a new species until they read this interview.”
“How long have you been a member?” he asked.
“Oh, I went beyond advocating one side or the other a long time ago. I think of myself as just a happy-go-lucky, ducky and whatever person.”
“Good for you,” he said, and took out a notepad.
“What are you doing?” I asked. “I’m the one who’s supposed to take notes.”
“Just adding you to my list of humans who have evolved to my favorite species. I like to keep track. The trend is my friend – and yours!”
A mostly female member of the species confided, “When you become a new species, it changes your whole outlook. I’m no longer really flamingly female or, for that matter, flamingly male. It makes me really happy. ”
“I’m an early adapter,” a mostly male person who had undergone the procedure told us. “As a result, I often feel ahead of my time, but, wow, when I come across another person who has gone through it, we really hit it off.”
Another primarily female incarnation of the remarkable development confided, “When you become a third species, it changes your whole outlook. I’m no longer really agressively female and certainly not rabidly male.”
What exactly is this revolutionary procedure?
We spoke with Dr. Emil Changemaker, the founder of the technique, and asked, “We understand you’ve created a new species of human being. Can you please elaborate?”
“Happy to oblige. First, this sex change operation requires no surgery.”
“It doesn’t?” we asked, surprised.
“No, the change occurs, not between the legs, but between the ears.”
“Oh, between the ears?”
“Exactly,” he confirmed.
“Please, go on.”
“Well, you see, until now, we had human types that are pretty much all male and all female. Of course, there have been a few exceptions, but not enough for most people to notice.”
“And now?” we inquired.
“Oh, thanks to the technique, there are quite a few more.”
“I see. As the world’s leading expert on the subject, how did you manage to create a new species?”
“Me? I didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“You didn’t?” we asked, a bit taken back. “Excuse me, if you didn’t have anything to do with it, why are you the founder of the technique? You see, we never heard of a founder who didn’t have anything to do with what he founded.”
“Oh, I founded it just because I saw it happening and I brought it to people’s attention, first to my family, then to some friends. Next, I wrote an article. Then a book. Now, I’m working on a video.”
“Well, it sounds as if you’re doing the usual things a founder does. What did you see happening?”
“Well, I saw this third species evolving.”
“The one that’s neither 100% male or 100% female?”
“Exactamundo!” he exclaimed.
“Why is it evolving?”
“Primarily, because it’s time, actually way past time, I think, for the new species to make its appearance.”
“Why is that?”
“Well, when you just had the overly male types or the overly female types, you had one side being really macho and the other side tipping toward being ultra feminist. So they had a hard time inhabiting the earth together, let alone the same bedroom. And happily married? Tough hoe to row, I mean, a tough row to hoe. I’ve been through it and just the thought discombobulates me.”
“What about the new species?”
“The most welcome development you can imagine.”
“Why is that?” we asked.
“Because when this species evolves, you no longer have the snarling pro macho type or the rabid feminist type.”
“What do you have?”
“Well, basically, you have a person.”
“A person? That’s the third type?”
“Please, don’t underestimate what I’m saying. This is a real big deal, the most welcome development you can imagine.”
“What is so special about this new species of person?” we wanted to know, determined to corner him.
“Well, it’s a person who advocates people’s rights.”
“People’s rights?”
“Right! It’s an evolution that leaves the purebred brute or feminist back at the orifice of the allegorical cave. You don’t advocate the superiority of men or the superiority of women. You don’t even advocate equal rights for either.”
“Not even equal rights?”
“Certainly not, because the very act of advocating equal rights assumes there’s an inequality. It’s a self-propagating prejudice. Nobody advocates equality when it exists, do they?”
“Well, that’s interesting. So when you advocate people’s rights, there’s no inherent or implied prejudice?”
“Correct! I’m talking about a species that’s comfortable just being human – not as an overheated new advocacy but just as an easygoing assumption. Of course, the species is still very much aware that there are two halves of the human race.”
“That hasn’t changed?”
“No, just the way they think of each other – in the whole rigmarole together, peaceful partners, except for a little of the inevitable pot throwing that even equals can’t always avoid, especially men and women. It solves a lot of problems, in the outside world and in the home, downstairs and upstairs.”
“Hmm, I imagine it would. What do you think the future holds for this new species?”
“Well, it’s like all evolutionary developments. You never know if the new excrescence of the gene pool will flourish, or perish because of the pressures exerted by the more established species. My hope is that it will enlarge its presence and, perhaps over time, entirely replace the previous incarnations.”
“Wow, when this interview began, I never would’ve suspected.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I’m actually a member of the new species.”
“You are?”
“Well, at least, I like to think so. And I bet a lot of people who are fans of NewsLaugh didn't realize they’re part of a new species until they read this interview.”
“How long have you been a member?” he asked.
“Oh, I went beyond advocating one side or the other a long time ago. I think of myself as just a happy-go-lucky, ducky and whatever person.”
“Good for you,” he said, and took out a notepad.
“What are you doing?” I asked. “I’m the one who’s supposed to take notes.”
“Just adding you to my list of humans who have evolved to my favorite species. I like to keep track. The trend is my friend – and yours!”
Define Lincoln Luxury: Challenge Given By Lincoln And Magic Johnson To Aspiring Filmmakers
Calling all of the best and the brightest aspiring filmmakers. The Ford Motor Company’s luxury brand, Lincoln, and the NBA legend, Earvin “Magic” Johnson” are calling you. All you need to do is “Define Lincoln Luxury” and you will be winning a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr.
This challenge is in part of Lincoln’s presenting the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) for the seventh year in a row. The American Black Film Festival is held annually. It serves as a channel for film aficionados to show off their stuff, gather together, and be amazed at the various pieces of creativity. Oftentimes, this festival is held for five days. There are premieres, networking, panel discussions, workshops, and competitive film showcase.
Lincoln is sponsoring this year’s American Black Film Festival. As part of that, the brand is introducing its “Define Lincoln Luxury” contest. Aside from the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, the prize also includes a whopping $10,000 prize money.
Tom Grill, the brand manager for Lincoln, states, “We are proud of our long history with the American Black Film Festival and Film Life which reinforces our support of the independent filmmaking community as it reaches higher to bring its unique voice to a wider audience. ABFF provides an outstanding platform to showcase the many innovative and original perspectives of the Black experience.”
Since 2003, Lincoln and Earvin “Magic” Johnson have both been working together as partners. They have collaborated in various activities in events. There have been television commercials, charity events, and other sports appearances. The most recent is the world debut of the brand new 2007 Lincoln Navigator and Navigator L at the Chicago Auto Show. And at present, they are going to embark on the “Define Lincoln Luxury” competition together. Again.
To win the prize, aspiring filmmakers must have created an original commercial that articulates their own interpretation of Lincoln luxury. This commercial should be around 30 seconds to a minute long. And of course, there must be a feature of at least one shot of a Lincoln vehicle.
Lincoln luxury could also be seen through the various Lincoln Versailles parts and other Lincoln parts that Lincoln Parts and Car Parts offer. The parts are absolutely the lowest prices and yet they assist in keeping Lincoln vehicles maintain their claim to luxury.
This challenge is in part of Lincoln’s presenting the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) for the seventh year in a row. The American Black Film Festival is held annually. It serves as a channel for film aficionados to show off their stuff, gather together, and be amazed at the various pieces of creativity. Oftentimes, this festival is held for five days. There are premieres, networking, panel discussions, workshops, and competitive film showcase.
Lincoln is sponsoring this year’s American Black Film Festival. As part of that, the brand is introducing its “Define Lincoln Luxury” contest. Aside from the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, the prize also includes a whopping $10,000 prize money.
Tom Grill, the brand manager for Lincoln, states, “We are proud of our long history with the American Black Film Festival and Film Life which reinforces our support of the independent filmmaking community as it reaches higher to bring its unique voice to a wider audience. ABFF provides an outstanding platform to showcase the many innovative and original perspectives of the Black experience.”
Since 2003, Lincoln and Earvin “Magic” Johnson have both been working together as partners. They have collaborated in various activities in events. There have been television commercials, charity events, and other sports appearances. The most recent is the world debut of the brand new 2007 Lincoln Navigator and Navigator L at the Chicago Auto Show. And at present, they are going to embark on the “Define Lincoln Luxury” competition together. Again.
To win the prize, aspiring filmmakers must have created an original commercial that articulates their own interpretation of Lincoln luxury. This commercial should be around 30 seconds to a minute long. And of course, there must be a feature of at least one shot of a Lincoln vehicle.
Lincoln luxury could also be seen through the various Lincoln Versailles parts and other Lincoln parts that Lincoln Parts and Car Parts offer. The parts are absolutely the lowest prices and yet they assist in keeping Lincoln vehicles maintain their claim to luxury.
Sentencia Interruptus: The Texas Pause
I've actually never heard anyone talk about this, so it's up to me to break the news to the world about this phenomenon. It can be a monumental problem, if you don't know about it, understand it, and adhere to its rule. "It" is, and I believe I've aptly named it, Sentencia Interruptus, or commonly known (or soon will be) as the Texas Pause. Problems can arise in communications between husbands and wives, employers and their employees, teachers and students, and others, if one of the parties is unaware of this regional dialectic/linguistic idiosyncracy.
You've heard of never being able to get a word in edge-wise? This is similar, except untold paragraphs and unexpressed thoughts are now floating out in the universe, never to be heard from again- all because of the Texas Pause. How does this happen? Typically native Texans possess a speech pattern in which they will express a thought, pause for 3 or 4 seconds (sometimes longer) mentally preparing their concluding thought (we like to plan our conclusions for maximum effect.) Unfortunately, the other person in the conversation will jump in and start talking before the first person is finished. I know you'd never be guilty of thinking ahead about what you're going to say, instead of listening, but that's not the only problematic thing about this.
There are thousands of frustrated Texans who had profound things with which to conclude, who never had the chance, because someone else barged in, unaware of the Texas Pause. Can you imagine what brilliant ideas we, as a society, have probably lost as a result of this travesty of dialect? How many spouses have resorted to saying, "You never listen to me"? How many employers miss the "...and their new branch wants to order 100,000 more widgets than last month"? How many teachers pivot and point to another student while the first student to answer still had words stuck between the mind and tongue, choking on the fact that the incongruency of an incomplete thought has made them look really stupid? How many Texans have skipped dessert in a restaurant because the waiter or waitress shifted their gaze to the next patron for their order? I ask you, is this fair?
Because of the world's ignorance of the Texas Pause, we are losing valuable thoughts, educational opportunities, industrial productivity, and cherry cobblers by the millions. Please put a stop to this madness. Tell everyone you know about the Texas Pause........................................ and let's make this world a sweeter and more complete place in which to live. Pause and say "No!" to Sentencia Interruptus. Countless thoughts could be saved if you will only listen.
In October of 2005, then Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, on national television, admitted to having the Texas Pause.
In an interview with Fox News, Miers said, "I pause, before I speak." Sentencia Interruptus reared it's head, once again, as she appeared to correct the interviewer. Telling someone you pause before you speak is a learned assertiveness among those with the Texas Pause. Many others may, now, come forward to admit they have this, which will foster understanding throughout the world, where there has been none, yet. That might be a good thing, considering the international ramifications of any misunderstanding, especially when there's a Texan in the White House.
© 2005 Dianne James
You've heard of never being able to get a word in edge-wise? This is similar, except untold paragraphs and unexpressed thoughts are now floating out in the universe, never to be heard from again- all because of the Texas Pause. How does this happen? Typically native Texans possess a speech pattern in which they will express a thought, pause for 3 or 4 seconds (sometimes longer) mentally preparing their concluding thought (we like to plan our conclusions for maximum effect.) Unfortunately, the other person in the conversation will jump in and start talking before the first person is finished. I know you'd never be guilty of thinking ahead about what you're going to say, instead of listening, but that's not the only problematic thing about this.
There are thousands of frustrated Texans who had profound things with which to conclude, who never had the chance, because someone else barged in, unaware of the Texas Pause. Can you imagine what brilliant ideas we, as a society, have probably lost as a result of this travesty of dialect? How many spouses have resorted to saying, "You never listen to me"? How many employers miss the "...and their new branch wants to order 100,000 more widgets than last month"? How many teachers pivot and point to another student while the first student to answer still had words stuck between the mind and tongue, choking on the fact that the incongruency of an incomplete thought has made them look really stupid? How many Texans have skipped dessert in a restaurant because the waiter or waitress shifted their gaze to the next patron for their order? I ask you, is this fair?
Because of the world's ignorance of the Texas Pause, we are losing valuable thoughts, educational opportunities, industrial productivity, and cherry cobblers by the millions. Please put a stop to this madness. Tell everyone you know about the Texas Pause........................................ and let's make this world a sweeter and more complete place in which to live. Pause and say "No!" to Sentencia Interruptus. Countless thoughts could be saved if you will only listen.
In October of 2005, then Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, on national television, admitted to having the Texas Pause.
In an interview with Fox News, Miers said, "I pause, before I speak." Sentencia Interruptus reared it's head, once again, as she appeared to correct the interviewer. Telling someone you pause before you speak is a learned assertiveness among those with the Texas Pause. Many others may, now, come forward to admit they have this, which will foster understanding throughout the world, where there has been none, yet. That might be a good thing, considering the international ramifications of any misunderstanding, especially when there's a Texan in the White House.
© 2005 Dianne James
Defense Driving Tips From A Parked Position For The Novice Driver
Leaving a parked position can be quite the hazard, if your not sure of the proper procedure.
You are about to move forward from a parked position. Position you’re hands at ten o’clock and two o’clock on the steering wheel. If you let go of the steering wheel, you’re hands should continue to rest on the wheel. Some drivers prefer the 3 o’clock and the 9 o’clock position. If your driving an automatic, the right hand should not have to go too far to change gears, placing it back to the 2 position. The left hand should slide down the steering wheel without leaving the steering wheel to signal. Place your hand back to the ten position when you finished signaling. One hand on the wheel is not the safe way to drive a vehicle.
Now your ready to drive forward and you have done all the safety checks before you roll forward and signaled out of you’re parked position. Safety checks include checking your mirrors and shoulder depending on the direction your pulling out of. If you do not pull out right away after your checks, you will have to recheck again. Keep in mind that you are leaving a parked position and you are hardly moving. Traffic behind you can be moving fast. Check you're shoulder just before you think you are going to accelerate and glance a second time, after you have looked forward to check you're path ahead. Checking a second time gives you that option to go back to the brake, in case a vehicle comes around some corner and surprises you. Use you’re review mirror as much as possible to avoid this situation.
When you’re parked between two vehicles. Position you’re vehicle so you are clear of the vehicle in front of you, by inching back far enough. Position the nose of your vehicle forward, in a clearance position ahead of you. When you are on a wide roadway, you typically have a couple of feet without obstructing traffic and cyclists. Make sure you are not entering the nose of your vehicle into a potential hazard! Keep in mind the amount you turned the wheel. If you have cranked the wheel quite a bit. Make sure you do not end up on the other side of the road. To avoid this potential hazard, ease off the gas pedal when out of the parked position and gain control of direction by correcting the steering wheel position.
Reviewing the proper procedure of leaving a parked position from a curb.
(1) Path ahead
(2) Mirrors
(3) Signal
(4) Shoulder check
(5) Path ahead
(6) Recheck shoulder
(7) Proceed when all is clear
The first thing you check is your path ahead to make sure it’s clear.
Check your mirrors to see if it’s safe behind you.
Signal to traffic behind to let them know your intentions. (Hand signal if you think other drivers can’t see you’re signal. Also bring you’re hand back in before you start to maneuver the vehicle out of the parked position.)
Glance over to your blind spot just in case another vehicle pulls out from across the road, just before you make the maneuver.
Recheck your path ahead and proceed forward with one more glance over you’re shoulder. Do not release the brake pedal until after you have looked forward. A pedestrian may have approached you’re vehicle while you were looking the other way.
I hope these defensive driving tips will help you in you’re goal in becoming a defensive driver. Have an expierenced driver, or a recognized defensive driving school help you for further instruction on this topic.
You are about to move forward from a parked position. Position you’re hands at ten o’clock and two o’clock on the steering wheel. If you let go of the steering wheel, you’re hands should continue to rest on the wheel. Some drivers prefer the 3 o’clock and the 9 o’clock position. If your driving an automatic, the right hand should not have to go too far to change gears, placing it back to the 2 position. The left hand should slide down the steering wheel without leaving the steering wheel to signal. Place your hand back to the ten position when you finished signaling. One hand on the wheel is not the safe way to drive a vehicle.
Now your ready to drive forward and you have done all the safety checks before you roll forward and signaled out of you’re parked position. Safety checks include checking your mirrors and shoulder depending on the direction your pulling out of. If you do not pull out right away after your checks, you will have to recheck again. Keep in mind that you are leaving a parked position and you are hardly moving. Traffic behind you can be moving fast. Check you're shoulder just before you think you are going to accelerate and glance a second time, after you have looked forward to check you're path ahead. Checking a second time gives you that option to go back to the brake, in case a vehicle comes around some corner and surprises you. Use you’re review mirror as much as possible to avoid this situation.
When you’re parked between two vehicles. Position you’re vehicle so you are clear of the vehicle in front of you, by inching back far enough. Position the nose of your vehicle forward, in a clearance position ahead of you. When you are on a wide roadway, you typically have a couple of feet without obstructing traffic and cyclists. Make sure you are not entering the nose of your vehicle into a potential hazard! Keep in mind the amount you turned the wheel. If you have cranked the wheel quite a bit. Make sure you do not end up on the other side of the road. To avoid this potential hazard, ease off the gas pedal when out of the parked position and gain control of direction by correcting the steering wheel position.
Reviewing the proper procedure of leaving a parked position from a curb.
(1) Path ahead
(2) Mirrors
(3) Signal
(4) Shoulder check
(5) Path ahead
(6) Recheck shoulder
(7) Proceed when all is clear
The first thing you check is your path ahead to make sure it’s clear.
Check your mirrors to see if it’s safe behind you.
Signal to traffic behind to let them know your intentions. (Hand signal if you think other drivers can’t see you’re signal. Also bring you’re hand back in before you start to maneuver the vehicle out of the parked position.)
Glance over to your blind spot just in case another vehicle pulls out from across the road, just before you make the maneuver.
Recheck your path ahead and proceed forward with one more glance over you’re shoulder. Do not release the brake pedal until after you have looked forward. A pedestrian may have approached you’re vehicle while you were looking the other way.
I hope these defensive driving tips will help you in you’re goal in becoming a defensive driver. Have an expierenced driver, or a recognized defensive driving school help you for further instruction on this topic.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Dealing with Car Dents
Sometimes accidents do happen. And sometimes, even dents could find their way to your car despite the extreme care you take when dealing and handling your car. There could be very many reasons why your car could get dents. However, dents are still dents and they do not look good on your vehicle – or any vehicle for that matter.
If there are only small dents like those that your vehicle could get from accidentally bumping into your garage wall, these could be actually removed without much difficulty. In fact, you can actually do it yourself. With the proper instruments, proper equipment, and the right amount of knowledge on how to do it, your vehicle could become dent-free.
The first thing to do would be to drill a hole in the center of the dent. That way, you can get to the middle of the dent itself and work your way from there. Then, insert a dent pulling tool in the hole that you just drilled. A dent pulling tool could be actually found at auto parts stores as well as other stores that offer automotive items and merchandise.
When you have the dent pulling tool inserted inside the hole, pull on the tool. Do this until the dent on your car pops out or at the very least, appears flat. When you have achieved this stage, you can then remove the dent pulling tool out of the hole.
On the other side of the metal sheet which just had a dent, bang out the back of the dent. However, make sure that you do this carefully. You would know just when to stop when you see that it is already smooth. You can do this with a metalworking hammer as well as a dolly.
When the dent is already smooth, you can now fill the hole you drilled with a body filler and then later on cover the area with touch-up paint. That way, your vehicle would look like it never experienced a dent in its life.
If there are only small dents like those that your vehicle could get from accidentally bumping into your garage wall, these could be actually removed without much difficulty. In fact, you can actually do it yourself. With the proper instruments, proper equipment, and the right amount of knowledge on how to do it, your vehicle could become dent-free.
The first thing to do would be to drill a hole in the center of the dent. That way, you can get to the middle of the dent itself and work your way from there. Then, insert a dent pulling tool in the hole that you just drilled. A dent pulling tool could be actually found at auto parts stores as well as other stores that offer automotive items and merchandise.
When you have the dent pulling tool inserted inside the hole, pull on the tool. Do this until the dent on your car pops out or at the very least, appears flat. When you have achieved this stage, you can then remove the dent pulling tool out of the hole.
On the other side of the metal sheet which just had a dent, bang out the back of the dent. However, make sure that you do this carefully. You would know just when to stop when you see that it is already smooth. You can do this with a metalworking hammer as well as a dolly.
When the dent is already smooth, you can now fill the hole you drilled with a body filler and then later on cover the area with touch-up paint. That way, your vehicle would look like it never experienced a dent in its life.
Dealing With A Car Dealer
Negotiating, haggling, horse trading, whatever you like calling it, is essential when it comes to buying a car. If you don’t partake, for any reason, then you’ll pay more for the car than you had to. And don’t forget, you’ll be paying interest throughout the life of your loan on an amount that could have been lower.
Negotiating the price of a car puts a lot of people into their uncomfortable zone. But, it really should not; especially today with all of the information available to the consumer. The key to confidence and a higher level of comfort comes in the form of knowledge and research.
Let’s get a bit of a jump start on your research with some key points to keep in mind when you have decided that it’s about time to change your ride.
Since there is so much information available to you, don’t try to commit your research to memory; even if you are only considering a couple of choices of vehicles. Take the time to organize your notes into a car buying possibilities folder. Make sure that you take your folder with you to the car dealer. Don’t be embarrassed or self conscious about doing this; this is a business transaction and you should treat it as such.
As a rule of thumb, car dealers have a profit margin of about 10 to 20 percent. The 20% is theirs if you pay the sticker price and it’s 10% for the car dealer if you get closer to the dealer invoice price. Keep in mind if you want a specific car with specific options that you can’t find on a dealer’s lot and you order the car; you’ll get exactly what you want, but your ability to negotiate the selling price will be greatly diminished.
Don’t let emotions or car shopping fatigue get the best of you. If you find the exact car that you want and are ready to become a buyer, keep you thinking and your emotions close to the vest. If you find yourself getting tired and mentally beaten down to where you ‘just want to get this over with’ take a break or come back another time. Remember, emotionally buying a car or buying when tired and fatigued will probably cost you money. It’s important to remember that you have the ultimate trump card. You can always walk out of the dealership at any time. Without you there is no deal and car dealers certainly know this.
The early part of the car buying process is getting competitive prices. This may not be as easy for you as it sounds on the surface. Selling cars is an extremely competitive business for car dealers. They don’t like to give out their ‘very best price’ over the phone or with just a short visit to their lot. They know that no matter what price they quote you, if you take that price a few blocks down the road to the next dealer; of course they’ll beat that price (if even by just a few dollars) just to get your business. So, you can’t blame them for being a bit protective of what their actual bottom line figure to you may be.
But remember, you control the negotiations. At some point during the car buying process, if you are serious about getting your best deal, you will have to sit down and tell the salesperson straight out that you are a buyer and if they will work with you to put the deal together then a deal may very well come together. Be very serious about this. Get the car salesperson and the dealer excited about selling you car not you getting excited about buying a car from them.
Once the negotiating sleeves are rolled up, you’ll want to negotiate from the dealer invoice price up. Never, never, negotiate from the sticker price down. And never, never, never (notice the 3 nevers!) negotiate, buy, or otherwise discuss or reveal what you’d like your monthly payments to be. DON’T even discuss a monthly payment range! You’ve done your research. You know the numbers. You know that if you get this car for that price; you’ll be in budget. Don’t discuss this with ANYONE!
And finally as you move closer to closing the car negotiating, don’t pay for things you don’t need. Everyone at a car dealership is tasked with selling and making profit for the dealer. You will, of course, have to pay for taxes, registration fees, and destination charges. But don’t pay for additional delivery charges, handling, marketing, promotional, floor charges, administrative fees, or any other dealer verbiage for things they are trying to add on to the deal. And be sure to say “thanks, but not thanks” to extras like pin stripping, rust proofing, fabric protection, paint sealant, or any thing else. These are just 99.44 percent pure profit for the dealer. And you sure don’t want them in your financial contract where you’ll even be paying interest on them.
In summary, do your research and put your findings in a folder and use it. Knowledge is confidence and comfort level. Negotiate honestly and reasonably. Don’t toss out ridiculous numbers and expect to be taken seriously. You want to be taken as a serious buyer. Don’t get emotional or fatigued. If you do, take a break and come back later. Be prepared to spend some time and work getting your best car deal and a good deal you will get.
Negotiating the price of a car puts a lot of people into their uncomfortable zone. But, it really should not; especially today with all of the information available to the consumer. The key to confidence and a higher level of comfort comes in the form of knowledge and research.
Let’s get a bit of a jump start on your research with some key points to keep in mind when you have decided that it’s about time to change your ride.
Since there is so much information available to you, don’t try to commit your research to memory; even if you are only considering a couple of choices of vehicles. Take the time to organize your notes into a car buying possibilities folder. Make sure that you take your folder with you to the car dealer. Don’t be embarrassed or self conscious about doing this; this is a business transaction and you should treat it as such.
As a rule of thumb, car dealers have a profit margin of about 10 to 20 percent. The 20% is theirs if you pay the sticker price and it’s 10% for the car dealer if you get closer to the dealer invoice price. Keep in mind if you want a specific car with specific options that you can’t find on a dealer’s lot and you order the car; you’ll get exactly what you want, but your ability to negotiate the selling price will be greatly diminished.
Don’t let emotions or car shopping fatigue get the best of you. If you find the exact car that you want and are ready to become a buyer, keep you thinking and your emotions close to the vest. If you find yourself getting tired and mentally beaten down to where you ‘just want to get this over with’ take a break or come back another time. Remember, emotionally buying a car or buying when tired and fatigued will probably cost you money. It’s important to remember that you have the ultimate trump card. You can always walk out of the dealership at any time. Without you there is no deal and car dealers certainly know this.
The early part of the car buying process is getting competitive prices. This may not be as easy for you as it sounds on the surface. Selling cars is an extremely competitive business for car dealers. They don’t like to give out their ‘very best price’ over the phone or with just a short visit to their lot. They know that no matter what price they quote you, if you take that price a few blocks down the road to the next dealer; of course they’ll beat that price (if even by just a few dollars) just to get your business. So, you can’t blame them for being a bit protective of what their actual bottom line figure to you may be.
But remember, you control the negotiations. At some point during the car buying process, if you are serious about getting your best deal, you will have to sit down and tell the salesperson straight out that you are a buyer and if they will work with you to put the deal together then a deal may very well come together. Be very serious about this. Get the car salesperson and the dealer excited about selling you car not you getting excited about buying a car from them.
Once the negotiating sleeves are rolled up, you’ll want to negotiate from the dealer invoice price up. Never, never, negotiate from the sticker price down. And never, never, never (notice the 3 nevers!) negotiate, buy, or otherwise discuss or reveal what you’d like your monthly payments to be. DON’T even discuss a monthly payment range! You’ve done your research. You know the numbers. You know that if you get this car for that price; you’ll be in budget. Don’t discuss this with ANYONE!
And finally as you move closer to closing the car negotiating, don’t pay for things you don’t need. Everyone at a car dealership is tasked with selling and making profit for the dealer. You will, of course, have to pay for taxes, registration fees, and destination charges. But don’t pay for additional delivery charges, handling, marketing, promotional, floor charges, administrative fees, or any other dealer verbiage for things they are trying to add on to the deal. And be sure to say “thanks, but not thanks” to extras like pin stripping, rust proofing, fabric protection, paint sealant, or any thing else. These are just 99.44 percent pure profit for the dealer. And you sure don’t want them in your financial contract where you’ll even be paying interest on them.
In summary, do your research and put your findings in a folder and use it. Knowledge is confidence and comfort level. Negotiate honestly and reasonably. Don’t toss out ridiculous numbers and expect to be taken seriously. You want to be taken as a serious buyer. Don’t get emotional or fatigued. If you do, take a break and come back later. Be prepared to spend some time and work getting your best car deal and a good deal you will get.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Dash Kits Installation
Car dash kit installation had been a process which was done manually in before days. But now it has been well automated, and even an ordinary layman can install the dash kit in his car using the simple step-by-step instructions for installation.
Each car company provides the customer with a step-by-step installation guide and if at any moment the customer feels hanged up or feels the need of an assistance the customer care center can be called up for further assistance regarding the installation process.
Some of the care instructions to be taken before the installation process are: the red plastic on the back of each piece should not be peeled off at the initial point; the filament of each piece has to be checked properly in the kit by fixing it to the dash and checking it. If any of the kit does not match do not continue with the process, just stop the process and the local distributor has to be contacted immediately for further installation. Utmost care should be taken to avoid direct skin contact while installing or any sort of prolonged exposure with any chemical agent which is given in the installation kit. These are the tips on safeguards to be maintained before installing the kit. In the same way there are some tips to be followed during the process too; such as alcohol should not be applied to dash the trim pieces which are not over layered. The adhesive promoter has to be applied wisely, as it gets dried very quickly. So, it has to be applied as son as possible through the whole dash area once the adhesive promoter is been opened.
While installing the dash kit people have their own preferences. So, the companies give a vast and best choice on this regard. The customer can choose the color and the wood based on the color on the interior present. Likely, if a car interior is in a dark color to have a perfect blend a dark colored kit can be chosen and the same way for a light colored interior car a light colored kit can be chosen. The best choices will be offered by the company who deals in the kit itself. The best combination on colors can be chosen from the catalogues provided in the showrooms.
While installing the kit, the customer either can take the help of the dealer or can install himself as it is an easy to do process. Some useful tips have to be read carefully and implemented, before and while installing the kit. Dash kit installation is just an easy go process as the company who deals with it itself provides a complete step-by-step guide on the installation process and in any case of trouble or trouble shooting the customer care centre of the company can be contacted for further assistance. A wide range of color combinations and appealing looks are provided as people concentrate more on their dash boards and on their appealing and unique looks.
Each car company provides the customer with a step-by-step installation guide and if at any moment the customer feels hanged up or feels the need of an assistance the customer care center can be called up for further assistance regarding the installation process.
Some of the care instructions to be taken before the installation process are: the red plastic on the back of each piece should not be peeled off at the initial point; the filament of each piece has to be checked properly in the kit by fixing it to the dash and checking it. If any of the kit does not match do not continue with the process, just stop the process and the local distributor has to be contacted immediately for further installation. Utmost care should be taken to avoid direct skin contact while installing or any sort of prolonged exposure with any chemical agent which is given in the installation kit. These are the tips on safeguards to be maintained before installing the kit. In the same way there are some tips to be followed during the process too; such as alcohol should not be applied to dash the trim pieces which are not over layered. The adhesive promoter has to be applied wisely, as it gets dried very quickly. So, it has to be applied as son as possible through the whole dash area once the adhesive promoter is been opened.
While installing the dash kit people have their own preferences. So, the companies give a vast and best choice on this regard. The customer can choose the color and the wood based on the color on the interior present. Likely, if a car interior is in a dark color to have a perfect blend a dark colored kit can be chosen and the same way for a light colored interior car a light colored kit can be chosen. The best choices will be offered by the company who deals in the kit itself. The best combination on colors can be chosen from the catalogues provided in the showrooms.
While installing the kit, the customer either can take the help of the dealer or can install himself as it is an easy to do process. Some useful tips have to be read carefully and implemented, before and while installing the kit. Dash kit installation is just an easy go process as the company who deals with it itself provides a complete step-by-step guide on the installation process and in any case of trouble or trouble shooting the customer care centre of the company can be contacted for further assistance. A wide range of color combinations and appealing looks are provided as people concentrate more on their dash boards and on their appealing and unique looks.
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