Chinatown bus lines are a budget traveler s dream

: A Guide to the Chinatown Bus The word is out—the cheapest way to get from one major U. S. city to another is on the “Chinatown bus”. In recent years this has become transportation option of choice for budget travelers in New York, Washington DC, and Boston, and more recently on the West Coast. Students, backpackers, and an array of other savvy travelers have long loved the rock bottom prices that these bus companies offer. Despite the popularity of these bus lines it can still be difficult to find information on Chinatown bus service. What exactly is a “Chinatown Bus”? Read on and you will have the inside track on this great budget travel option. Chinatown Bus history The Chinatown bus phenomenon began in the late 1990s when an entrepreneur in New York’s Chinatown started running daily bus service from Chinatown in New York to Chinatown in Boston. The service was aimed at Asian immigrants who wanted to shop or visit relatives in either city and needed cheap and convenient transportation. The service was bare bones—no advertising, customer service, or bus stations. Customers simply went to the bus stop, waited for the bus (or van), and paid the driver upon boarding. For those willing to do without frills, they offered virtually the same service as traditional bus companies at a substantially lower price. Before long, the word spread and all kinds of people started using the service. It became especially popular with students, budget travelers, or people for whom the service was simply more convenient. Soon more bus companies duplicated this model and started offering service in other cities. Now you can find this type of bus service in Philadelphia, Virginia, Baltimore Washington DC, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco. At this point the term “Chinatown bus” is used more loosely to describe this sort of low-cost/low-frills service. Many, if not most, of the companies do not have Chinatown as their main location and may not cater to the immigrant population at all. These operators are also sometimes referred to as “curbside” operators. How can tickets be so cheap? $15 between New York to Boston? $25 from Las Vegas to Los Angeles? It seems hard to fathom. Chinatown bus companies are able to keep prices low because they operate in a fundamentally different way from traditional carriers. Foremost, the service is very basic. There is little in the way of customer service or amenities. Most of these operators do not have formal stations, picking up passengers at bus stops instead. They eschew traditional advertising in favor of word of mouth. Further, many of the operators play a very hands-on role in the operation—you will not see idle executives at a small independent bus company. Finally, these operators make sure they fill their buses. That is why Chinatown bus operators usually only operate on heavily trafficked routes. Indeed some companies only run buses at peak times. Are they safe? When these companies first started operating, concerns were raised about safety standards. There is still controversy within the bus industry about whether these newcomers are complying with the same regulations as the traditional companies. However, a task force set up by the Federal government to look at safety issues found that Chinatown bus companies did not perform better or worse than other types of bus companies (ie. charter, tour buses). All bus companies operating in the U. S. must undergo the same inspection standards and must comply with the same rules. Realistically there is probably a range of quality among Chinatown bus carriers. Some are fly-by-night operators trying to make a fast buck, while others are legitimate entrepreneurs who plan to grow and operate a long term business. What you should expect

• No frills service—the driver may be the ticket collector; there will not be a lot of customer service.


• Comfortable buses. Despite the low fares buses are usually quite nice. Most buses are comparable to Greyhound and many are actually more deluxe.


• Communication challenges. Drivers are legally required to speak enough English to help passengers in the case of emergency. In reality this is often adhered to rather loosely. At the very least, expect your driver to have an accent.


• Possible delays. Many of these bus routes are on highly congested roads. When the roads are busy, expect delays.


• Rest stops. Buses will have a lavatory on board but there is usually a 10 or 15 minute bathroom break on trips over 4 hours. Don’t be late returning to the bus, the driver will not count heads before leaving at the appointed time.


• Full buses. Buses definitely sell out at peak times (weekends and evenings). Book ahead or get there early if you want secure a seat.


• Plastic Bags. An odd little quirk on Chinatown buses is that every aisle seat usually has a plastic grocery bag tied to the arm. I guess they find this is the best way to keep the buses clean.

How do I find the Chinatown Bus? Again, “Chinatown bus” is a term used to describe a type of operator and not an individual bus company. Many unrelated bus companies fall into this category. Since most Chinatown buses do not spend money on advertising it can be difficult to find out details about schedules and bus stop locations. Many of the carriers are becoming savvier about the Internet and quite a few have websites with information. Usually an Internet search will yield links to bus service to your destination. There are also several directories, such as chinatown-bus. org that include links for most Chinatown bus companies and the author’s employer, GotoBus, is a centralized booking site that has schedules and sells tickets online for most Chinatown bus companies. The Chinatown bus is not for everyone. If you want an orderly system with American style customer service, you should probably stick to traditional carriers. However, if you know what to expect and come prepared with a sense of adventure and humor, you should enjoy the trip just fine. You will also enjoy the money you save!

Kpo in india

: /24-7PressRelease/ - INDIA, May 08, 2006 - After the great success of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) in India, it is now the KPO turn to make its presence felt. BPO success in India is encouraging overseas companies eyeing Indian market for outsourcing their high-tech knowledge based jobs. Operational cost saving, pool of talented workforce, infrastructure improvement and favorable government policies are the major factors, which are responsible for the Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) in India. According to a report by GlobalSourcing Now, the Global Knowledge Process Outsourcing industry (KPO) is expected to reach USD 17 billion by 2010, of which USD 12 billion (almost 70%) would be outsourced to India alone. Indian KPO sector has already taken steps in employing highly educated and talented people and number of KPO professionals is expected to cross more than 250,000 by 2010 compared to the current figure of 25,000 employees. The graph on the right suggests that Expected Growth in Global BPO and KPO Markets (2003-2010) What makes India a preferred destination for KPO? The Indian workforce is highly literate and they are well-versed with English language, thanks to Indian educational system. Every year India is producing hundreds and thousands of English speaking, trained professionals in the fields of IT, Engineering, Education, Law, Science, Finance, Architecture and other competitive fields. The Indian advantage primarily lies in the educational and technical qualifications of its workforce. A survey conducted in 2002 by NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies) showed that an Indian ITES-BPO center in banking and financial service sector, performs better than US and UK based BPO centers in various categories like the total number of transaction, total number of correct transactions, total customer satisfaction, number of transaction per hour and the average speed of answers. It has also showed in the survey that 45 percent of Indian service providers have the highest quality certification like Six Sigma (A rigorous and disciplined methodology that utilizes data and statistical analysis to measure and improve a company's operational performance, practices, and systems. Six Sigma identifies and prevents defects in manufacturing and service-related processes.). BPO or KPO in India are getting more quality conscious and they are frequently improving to have standards that of internationally accepted. They are in the process of highly acclaimed quality management standards from International Organization for Standardization (ISO) such as ISO 9002, ISO 9001, ISO 9001:2000, ISO 9001:2001 and from the CMM framework to the new CMMI framework. For further information, please visit at KPO and KPO in India

The bad side to online dating and scams

With the online dating growing more in success, both for investors and for uses, online dating scams are popping up left and right. You need to prepare for the online dating world by always using common sense and by reading up on the se online predators from time to time. Protect your time and money by always keeping up to date about the online scams. You should also keep your heart safe too. First people that are pretending to be interesting in your dating profile can scam you online. You should be aware of anyone that wants to meet immediately because it should take a few weeks of online chat and phone calls before meeting another person is even thought about. When you do meet someone, do not leave your personal belongings alone with him or her at any time. This is an easy way for them to steal your credit card or other personal information and you may not notice these things are missing for a few days. Also be aware of people who send you links. Do not click on a link without first knowing what it is and never download any programs on your computer that others users are sending you or have in their profiles. These are often some type of spy ware programs that can steal information from your computer like your passwords and credit card numbers. The second type of online scam is done not by the online dater, but by the online dating service. The problem here is often the same. An online dating service that is not well known has only recently been established and may steal your credit card number of other personal information for their use. These companies because they are online can disappear easily without a trace and it may be a long time before your money is found and it is at all. Always read the terms and conditions before you sign up to be sure that there is no clause that give them permission to sell your email address or use your personal information in any way. Last, you need to be concerned if an online dater should ask you to cash money orders, online users have been scammed into cashing these checks and wiring the money to a person who claims to be in another country unable to cash checks. The people will spend a lot of time devoted to gain another’s trust before they ask them to cash any checks. The checks are usually “washed” which means that they were purchased for a small amount of money and then altered. These people will eventually get caught and it is impossible to prove that another person made the cash checks and you will be responsible for owing the bank. The online scams can put a real strain for online dating but if you are smart, you should not have any problems. You need to protect yourself by not giving out too much personal information and by staying out of financial matters.

How to wake up eager to start

When you jump out of bed every morning, all fired up with enthusiasm, motivation and eagerness to... Huh? What's that? You don't do much jumping in the mornings? Well, okay, when you ease out of bed every morning, all eager and enthusiastic to... Huh? What's that? You don't do that either? Well, okay, when you're lying there in bed every morning wondering why the heck you should bother to get up... Does your mind flash on all the things you'll get to do today, or is it filled with all the things you've GOT to do today? What's the difference, you ask? Aw c'mon, any ten-year-old kid can answer that one. It's the difference between waking up thinking "It's Christmas Day" or thinking "I've got Final Exams today." And face it, most of us live as though we're facing final exams every single day. Each sunrise brings more battles, more struggles, more dogged trudging, more frustrated attempts to deal with our chronic burdens. Meanwhile, a few happy folks really do wake up eager. They're rarin' to go as soon as the light hits their eyeballs. But how do they do that? What's their secret? Would you believe they don't have any secret? They just find it in their heart to love what's happening to them. Even the so-called "bad" stuff is treated with respect and dealt with as a potential learning experience -- something to profit from -- maybe even fun (with slight adjustments in attitude). But they don't make any secret of it. What they do is right out there for the rest of the world to see. The only trouble is, the rest of the world is terribly busy not seeing. Not seeing the sunshine around them that so completely fills the lives of the eager-awakeners. Those living in the darkside are tuned in to the dim, gloomy, depressing aspects of every event. Every day brings them the exact same occurrences that their bright-side neighbors receive, but since they're stuck in the dark-side, they must experience it all in shadows. You have a radio, right? And when you turn the knob, the station changes. All those programs, every one of them, is in the air around you. But when you dial the radio, you're selecting just one from among all those thousands of signals. And when you wake up in the morning, your dial can be set wherever you want it. Happy; sad; eager; dreading; energetic. So is your mental dial stuck on station K-R-A-P or K-O-O-L? On W-O-R-M or W-A-R-M? If you're not quite satisfied with the daily programming you're receiving, it's not that hard to change it. No kidding... it's not. But you do have to do it yourself. Nobody -- I mean nobody -- is going to come in and reset your dial for you. Now, you've read enough pos-think books and listened to enough tapes, you have a pretty good idea how this works. Let's stop kidding ourselves. You do know WHAT to do. But you haven't had much success with it. But there's one thing in all those techniques you're NOT doing. When you do your spiritual exercies, whatever form you select, you get up afterwards and go about your day looking for signs that it's working. And when you don't immediately see those signs, you start wondering why it's not working. BBZZZZZZT! Wrong move. Instead, you're supposed to be thinking how thankful you are that it IS WORKING, even though you don't see anything yet. You fill your mind with strong thoughts about what you want. Now isn't that simple? But it'll sure make a difference in the way you wake up every morning.

Living in mexico sugar and spice but not always nice part 5

There is a great restaurant in town where I love to eat steak. It is cheap, though they don't offer the best cuts of meat. However, the steak is tender, comes with a load of sides, and is cooked perfectly for my tastes. It is a popular place and listed in all the guidebooks. I've even referred people to it. The ambience is 20th-century jazz and very classy. The location is also perfect and easy as pie to find. I don't know if a tourist would notice this or not, but when Gringos come into the place, they seemed to be served last, and only after the Mexicans are served. We've been in there when we've been seated and not so much of a smile is brought to our table until all the Mexicans get their orders taken and meals served. Once, we sat there and sat there while the waiters seated and served Mexicans who came in twenty minutes after we were seated. That was the last time we ate in this place we loved. My boycott of it did not occur until after I confirmed this with at least four other gringos. They too have been treated like this. I've tried asking the waiters who work there when I see them on the street about this but they have sealed lips. They won't say. They don't deny it. They just won't say. So I won't say where this place is. Again, the most shocking thing is not that gringos are discriminated against in any restaurant. It isn't true of all places, mind you. In Casa Valadez, they treat us like royalty. I keep expecting one of them to give us backrubs and spoon our soup into our mouths each time we come in there. But, this fine treatment is not true of all the places in town. The most shocking thing is, you guessed it, that those who inhabit Gringolandia will tell you this does not go on. They claim it can't have happened because they've never seen it. Sigh!!

Are you covered and don t realise it

Amanda was 42 when she was given the difficult news that she had ovarian cancer. The West Yorkshire woman received chemotherapy treatment after diagnosis, but Amanda became one of the unlucky ones. She had a bad reaction to the chemotherapy and because of this she was unable to work. So when a tax bill arrived in the post for a large sum of money, re-mortgaging her house felt like the right thing to do. The building society with whom she had the mortgage asked her to bring along her life insurance papers to support the mortgage application. But to Amanda's surprise, what she thought was a life insurance policy was in fact critical illness insurance instead. She had been paying out Ј80 per month for two separate insurance policies with Scottish Provident and Norwich Union and had absolutely no idea that those two policies covered her for critical illness. As a result, Amanda claimed back a staggering Ј100,000, which paid not only the tax bill but her mortgage as well. Many of us haven't got a clue about the exact sum we're paying on insurance each year or the details of what we are in fact covered for. Not only are we shocked to find out that we are actually covered for more than we in fact realise, but that we're doubling up by paying for various types of insurance that actually cover the same thing. You'll find that it's areas such as loss of income, legal expenses, theft and death which most often people wind up paying out twice for when there is no need - mainly because they haven't carefully read the insurance policy or because it has been the case that some insurance has been put on to some policies as an added bonus. In a recently released Financial Services Authority survey, it shows that car insurance policies also come with added extras like breakdown recovery and legal expense cover. Paying out for these added extras when you do not want them is an easy mistake to make, according to the survey, because you actually have to physically ring the insurance firm and tell the staff that you do not want them before these 'options' are removed from your agreement. Take permanent medical insurance (PMI) for example. Many aspects of this policy cover you for the same things that Payment Protection Insurance covers you for. But few people realise this and so they take out both. The FInancial Ombudsman is very aware about the situation surrounding insurance duplication. They say that "people often do not realise until they make a claim that they have been paying for a policy that provides very little, if any, benefit". Take a look at your Critical Illness Insurance, as this is one area in which you sometimes get cover from your employer. Find out whether you have this type of insurance with your work before you make the purchase on this policy. Do the same with life insurance, because if you have a company pension scheme, life insurance is something you do not actually need. The reason? Because most company pension schemes have a death-in-service benefit. What this means that should you die while you are still an employee at that particular firm, then large, a tax free payment will be made - a payment which could add up to four times your annual salary at the time of your death, or more. Other types of insurance you might not need includes mobile phone insurance. The consumer watchdogs will tell you this is something that's often a waste of money because you have to pay the first Ј50 of the claim and if you already have home insurance, that insurance might provide you with some protection. Others include car insurance extras such as legal expense cover. If you are a member of a trade union, then you could have some legal cover anyway. Some companies trying to get people to take out ID theft insurance. A waste of money? The consumer watchdogs think so because if it is the case your ID gets stolen you are only responsible for the first Ј50 and most of the time the banks are prepared to waive charges.

What to consider when coming up with a franchise idea

So many people think that by getting into the franchise business, they are setting themselves up for an easy way to make money, with a safety net under them the whole time. The only real advantage is that you are buying into a business model that works with the help of a company’s marketing and sales abilities. But just as with starting a company from scratch, one must have a plan and a model to come up with and follow in order to get the money one will need to start the franchise. Naturally, one of the first things to consider is if the idea you are considering is legal or ethical? With the internet being as big as it is, there are many scams that are out there. Most of which come to you through an email. A good rule of thumb is if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you see the phrase “work from home” run the other way, it is most likely a scam. If you see an idea and you like it, find out first if others have made the idea succeed. Contact them and talk with them at length. Also, contact the franchise company and ask to see their financial reports. They should always let you see them. Find out if they make a profit on a regular basis. But most importantly, are you going to work hard to make the franchise idea work? A great deal of hard work and planning can go into a franchise business. You can lose just as much with a franchise idea as you can in any small business. So making and following a budget is extremely important. Most franchise companies will let you know what kind of revenue you can expect to make each year. Budget below that amount. And don’t worry about what kind of experience you’ve had in the franchise’s area. They provide training.

How elliptical machine workouts can help you

How Elliptical Machine Workouts Can Help You Many people wonder how elliptical machine workouts can help them. There are many benefits of elliptical machine workouts that can not only help you get into shape, but also encourage the most unenthusiastic person about exercising. Elliptical machine workouts have many benefits, and unlike using weights and other types of exercise equipment, elliptical machine workouts are much easier on the body. Elliptical machine workouts do into require any special equipment, skill or fitness requirement, which makes elliptical machine workouts universal. Because of this reason alone, it is now wonder that elliptical machine workouts are becoming so popular. One of the greatest features about elliptical machine workouts is that they are low impact. This takes a big burden of strain away from your exercises and also helps elliptical machine workouts more user friendly. Due to the low impact, elliptical machine workouts are very safe, as there is a very low chance that you will not injure any part of your body. This is especially useful for people who are new to exercising and are not in full exercise shape, and this makes elliptical machine workouts user friendly for older aged adults. It may be surprising to some, but due to the low impact, elliptical machine workouts actually can burn more calories then form doing regular fitness routines. This can help you reach your fitness goals at a more rapid rate. Another benefit of elliptical machine workouts is the lower perceived exertion that you feel after a workout. This may mystify some, however elliptical machine workouts really do seem easier and you are working just as hard as if you were doing any other exercise, if not harder. Elliptical machine workouts accomplish this because they copy the natural movements of your body. By doing this, elliptical machine workouts seem easier making it easier to provide a hard workout without it feeling like it is so hard. There is a caution point to this however. You must remember to not over strain your body. Some elliptical machine workouts seem very simple because some machines provide a lower impact then the average machine. For this reason, you want to be sure to keep your elliptical machine workouts at a moderate level and time period. This will help you not work your body to hard and over strain it. Depending on what type of machine you have, you can make your elliptical machine workouts into full body exercises. This is a great benefit, and even though not all machines provide a full body workout, elliptical machine workouts still provide the highest calorie burn in the shortest amount of time. So regardless of what type of machine you have, your elliptical machine workouts can be done quickly while still maintaining effective results. Elliptical machine workouts also provide interval training. With elliptical machine workouts you can use different resistance levels and sometimes even different elevation levels to change your workout. This can help you build and lower different workout challenges to your elliptical machine workouts which makes elliptical machine workouts easily customizable. As you can see, elliptical machine workouts are easy and offer many benefits that other exercise machines and fitness programs do not offer. Elliptical machine workouts are great for all ages, fitness levels and body types. Because of all the great features and benefits that elliptical machine workouts provide, it is no wonder that elliptical machine workouts are becoming so popular.

What is homestead protection

If you are sued in court and lose, the person who sued you may try to force the sale of your home to collect their money. A homestead makes it harder for them to do this. A homestead protects some of the equity in your home. If your home is worth more money than you owe on it, you have equity. For example, if your home is worth $350,000 and you owe $300,000, you have $50,000 in equity. A homestead can protect the $50,000. There are two types of homesteads, automatic and declared. What is an automatic homestead? If you live in the home you own, you already have one. It protects some of your home equity until you sell your home. You do not have to sign or file anything to have an automatic homestead What is a declared homestead? A declared homestead is a legal form that you record with the Registrar-Recorder’s office. A declared homestead protects some of your equity for six months after you sell your home if the following three conditions are all true: You sell your home and buy another home within six months; The protected amount is used to buy another home; You record a homestead on the new home. Only the home you live in, qualifies for a homestead. Who needs a declared homestead? If you’ve been sued in court, lost, and have a large money judgment against you, a declared homestead can help. If you sell your home, it protects some of the proceeds for six months. This gives you time to buy another home and record another declared homestead. How much does a homestead protect? Both automatic and declared homesteads protect the same amounts: $50,000 for an individual; $75,000 if the homeowner lives with at least one family member who has no interest in the house; $150,000 if the homeowner is 65 years of age or older, or is physically or mentally disabled; $150,000 if the homeowner is 55 years of age or older and single with an annual income of $15,000 or less; $150,000 for a married couple with a combined annual income of $20,000 or less; A homestead does not protect you against: Foreclosure of your home by mortgage lender if you are behind on payments. The enforcement of a mechanic’s lien; A judgment for child or spousal support. How do I file a declared homestead? You can file a declared homestead by taking these steps: Buy a declared homestead form from a stationery store or search for a generic form online. Fill out the form. Sign the form and have it notarized. Contact the Registrar-Recorder’s office where the property is located for fees and filing addresses. Companies offering to help you file a declared homestead cannot charge more than $25.

What makes wine more protective against cholesterol and coronary heart disease

In recent years, scientists have concluded without doubt that many human diseases such as heart disease, cancer and ill-effects of the aging process can be caused or stimulated by a ravenous group of chemicals called free radicals. They act to create oxidative inflammatory damage in tissues such as blood vessels(Clogged arteries) and in joints called Rheumatics or Arthritis and in localised cells called benign growths or Systemic fully-blown cancers . In this scenario, there is however a knight-in-shining-armour that jumps to the rescue and purges these ever hungry little killers. The name of our crusader is Antioxidants. Without getting too technical, the oxidation process in our bodies is crucial for health, without it, for instance, we would not be able to extract energy from our food. However if there are too many free radicals in our bodies, this can be very harmful. Our body has its own defences against free radicals, in the form of enzymes that are able to turn the hungry little tissue-devouring sharks into harmless water but sometimes our body's natural defence mechanisms can't cope. Other times, external events can cause huge increases of free radicals within our bodies, such as x-rays, cigarette smoke and exposure toother toxic substances. And so a surge of free radicals can swamp our defences and illnesses may take place. So what does oxidation and free radicals have to do with heart disease? Low density lipoprotein, commonly know as "bad" LDL, can penetrate and gather against the inner walls of our arteries which under certain conditions, form fatty streaks and plaque. Taken alone, LDL particles aren't so dangerous it seems, however, when attacked by free radicals they turn into dangerous and somewhat aggressive cells, capable of actually penetrating and harming the smooth inner walls of our arteries through localised inflammation thereof, So Oxidized LDL is known to be the culprit in stimulating atherosclerosis, heart disease and stroke. Antioxidants, as the name suggests, help stop the oxidation process, which are the results of free radicals doing their stuff and Most antioxidant research has been carried out on vitamins (A, E, beta carotene) but quite a lot of work has also been done on the healthy benefits of red wine. While most research on red wine has been done in relation to coronary heart disease, it seems that the benefits of wine don't stop there. Fo instance, Red wine contains a wide range of flavanoids; these are the chemicals that give the wine its particular taste, color and character, making one different from another. Many of these flavanoids act like antioxidants. Perhaps the forerunner of wine research was carried out by a one Serge Renaud, who discovered the French Paradox, which suggested that wine was the decisive factor in protecting the people in southern France from their very high fat diets and ultimately coronary heart disease. Even if these people do eat large quantities of high fat cheese, pвtй, and salami they have some of the lowest rates of heart disease in the world. Another study, statistical rather than practical, by a Professor Grey of the Swiss University of Bern focussed on the low, medium and high coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality figures of the World Health Organization. He found from among the high mortality areas were Finland and Scotland, the middle areas included Ireland, and the low CHD areas included Spain, Italy and France. He then compared heart attack rates with antioxidant levels in blood samples taken from men living in those areas. His results showed that high antioxidant levels, in particular vitamin E, coincided with low death rates of heart disease. Moreover that low vitamin E levels were 94% more accurate in predicting CHD rates than were cholesterol levels or blood pressure figures! Apart from diet, the high CHD regions drink very little, if any wine, whereas the low regions traditionally accompany their meals most days with wine. But it certainly seems strange that two much studied cities; Glasgow in Scotland and Toulouse in France show many similarities and yet many differences. People of both cities eat tremendous amounts of high fat foods, traditionally take little exercise and drink alcohol. The surprising difference is that while the people of Glasgow have one of the highest rates of CHD in the world, the fortunate people of Toulouse have one of the lowest. Traditionally beer and spirits are the preferred drinks in Glasgow, while the folks in Toulouse drink red wine. (Of course the fact that the weather patterns in both areas are poles apart had nothing to do with mortality rates either... Ahemmm.) So, it has been suggested that drinking in moderation together with meals is beneficial, while binge drinking at bars in the evening is harmful... duhh! It seems the southern Europeans don't drink for the alcohol buzz, but just as a pleasant accompaniment to their meals. At first the large heart institutions such as the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association ignored both antioxidants and frowned upon wine. While it is clear that it could be potentially dangerous for a physician to recommend his patients start drinking alcohol, it is also strange that they pretended for so many years to ignore the evidence. Roll on a few years now and even if they don't promote the taking of vitamin pills; antioxidants and free radicals they are now more recognized as factors in disease. Though, according to the AHA "There is no scientific proof that drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverage can replace conventional measures.” No direct comparison trials have been done to determine the specific effect of wine or other alcohol on the risk of developing heart disease or stroke. The costs of clinical trials is so high that only the pharmaceutical industry have the financial clout to invest in them -- invest being the correct word. For more fascinating articles on cholesterol please see my website: cholesterol-and-you. pranicpulseoflife

Generate a healthy income online with gifting

If you've always dreamed of earning a part-time or full-time income online from your home, gifting might be the solution. Gifting offers a tremendous opportunity to work from home, reduce your taxable income, and gain wealth for your future. Through gifting, many Web entrepreneurs are discovering benefits they didn't realize were theirs. Gifting Explained Gifting is a unique home based opportunity in which no company is involved, there are no payroll checks, and there are no overhead expenses. It relies on the "act of giving" and the reap-and-sow concept - giving results in receiving. Gifting is beneficial to everyone because gifts within certain monetary value limits as set forth by the government are considered tax-free. These gifts come directly off the top of your income, thus, decreasing your taxable income and possibly your tax bracket. The beauty of gifting is you can give and receive as many gifts as you want all the while helping others to become a giver and receiver. There are many ways to give gifts and benefit from giving on your taxes. Some acceptable gifts are monetary gifts, real estate gifts, mutual funds, gifts in kind, life insurance gifts, income gifts for heirs, charitable donations, and retirement assets. Churches, charity organizations, companies, and even royal families have been benefiting from giving for years. There are even medical insurance alternatives called medical share programs in which participants send money as gifts to individuals according to monthly medical needs. But many individuals don't realize they can benefit too, even if they don't own a business or charitable organization. Giving and Receiving for Income To establish a full-time or part-time income, there are home based gifting opportunities that act as a liaison between the parties on both the giving and receiving end. The givers and receivers all benefit by recommending others, but unlike pyramids or network marketing plans, those who are recommended are not on bottom levels trying to work their way up. Also, there is no selling involved. Web resources, videos, and other avenues make explaining the process easy. And unlike most business opportunities, there are no products or services to sell. Everyone gives and receives the same gifts, so everyone benefits. Benefits of Gifting Gifting is growing in popularity as a home based opportunity for several reasons. The benefits of giving are not commonly known to the general public; therefore, there's a good opportunity to educate others about gifting and its many rewards. Also, there are many others online who would like to share in a gifting opportunity but aren't sure how or who to trust. This allows new gifters to introduce many people to the concept without a lot of advertising. Another benefit is anyone can participate in gift giving from their home, enjoy freedom from a 9-to-5 job, and spend more time with their family. Gifting also brings many interesting people together to form lifelong friendships. Everyone involved has a sense of giving back to the online community while also enjoying the benefits of receiving extra income for enjoyment, bills, retirement, college tuition, savings, and other financial needs. Gifting allows many people to stay at home while building tremendous wealth. The gifting income levels vary from one individual to another, with some earning thousands of dollars each month. For those who realize success through gifting, the "joy of giving" becomes much more joyful!

Baseball betting how to bet basics

: If you know nothing about sports and you still feel the urge to wager, baseball is the easiest sports to wager on. As opposed to football and basketball, where you are mixed up with the point spreads and other confusing calculations, in baseball betting you simply put your money on the outcome of the game. In addition, the baseball season lasts longer, which means more matches and bigger chances to go home with the winning money. Here is a step to step guide to baseball betting. The main difference between baseball betting and other team sports betting such as football and basketball is that while the latter ones use point spreads, the former uses the money line. What is a Point Spread? Point spread is the most common betting type offered in football and basketball betting. The sportsbook spreads the odd of a certain match by subtracting points from the favorite team, which is the team most likely to win and adding points to the underdog, which is the team that will raise a lot of eyebrows if wins. What is a Money Line? In baseball betting, the sportsbook sets the odds strictly on the outcome of the match. In order to even the action, bettors would have to risk more money on the favorite and risk less on the underdog. This is called the money line. For example, if the money line is minus 170 on the favorite and plus 150 on the underdog, then you would have to bet 170 dollars on the favorite in order to earn 100 dollars. On the other hand, if you bet 100 dollars on the underdog, you would win 150 dollars if they would eventually win the match. The difference between the minus 170 on the favorite and the plus 150 on the underdog is known as the twenty cent line. If the money line was minus on the favorite and plus 150 on the underdog, it is called the ten cent line or dime line. The fifteen cent line is also common in baseball betting. Sportsbooks also offer total bets and run lines in baseball betting. 1) Total Bets: These wagers are based on the sum of the runs scored by both of the teams. For example, if the sportsbook sets the over under total of a match as 7, the over wins if the sum of the runs scored by both teams exceeds 7 and the under wins if it sums up to less than 7. 2) The Run Line: This wager is the baseball variation of point spread. When you are betting on the run line, you are betting on whether one of the teams wins by more than one run, which is marked as minus 1.5 or stays within one run, marked as plus 1.5. Conclusion: Although the money line makes baseball betting simpler than football and basketball betting, it causes the payoffs calculation to be more complicated: 1) In order to calculate the payoff when wagering on the favorite you should add 1 to the favorite price and divide it with the favorite price. 2) In order to calculate the payoff when wagering on the underdog you should add 1 to the underdog price.

French cheese can add a european touch to your entertaining

France is certainly in the forefront of cheese manufacturing, with over 500 varieties of cheeses that are made in this region alone! While many of these cheeses are of the soft variety, French cheeses can actually be a healthy alternative to some of the cheese favorites that are frequently served in the United States. French cheeses are lower in fat while packing in the flavor because of the higher water content in soft cheeses that actually keeps the fat count at a reasonable level. These delicious varieties of cheese can be a great choice for everyday, by using them in pasta dishes and sprinkled into salads. They also work well for entertaining, on platters offering a variety of cheeses with crackers and crusty breads for spreading. French Cheese and Other Foods French cheeses make a nice complement to a number of different types of food, including breads, fruits and honey. Soft cheeses like the popular brie taste delicious when paired with fruits like blackberries or figs. Blue cheeses work well with a number of fruits, as well as a variety of nuts for maximum flavor and variety. Try a salad sprinkled with blue cheese and chopped walnuts for a delicious topping. Semi-hard French cheeses are delightfully paired with fruits like pineapple, kiwi and cherries. Chutneys are another nice complement to many of the cheeses today, and you can make your own or buy them in a variety of gourmet shops. Try placing a bowl of chutney next to your cheese platter for guests to serve themselves. French Cheese and Wine It is hard to think about the delicious French cheeses without considering which wine is the best pairing. Wine and cheese go together like peanut butter and jelly, but the question always becomes which wine is the right choice? Red wines are often the clear choice with French cheeses, but there are many white selections that will work equally well. The best rule of thumb to keep in mind is to avoid a wine that is too light to mix with the pungent aromas and flavors of the cheeses that you will be serving. It is also a good idea to limit the number of choices in cheeses that you place on your platter to ensure that the ones you select will work best with your wine selection. Stronger cheese flavors will require a more full-bodied wine, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Shiraz. On the other hand, softer cheeses can be quite nice with a lighter and fruitier wine like Beaujolais. When in doubt about the right wine to serve with your French cheese platters, ask someone at your local liquor mart for advice. Many of these stores will offer wine experts that will answer all of your questions.

Gratitude and the law of attraction

Gratitude or appreciation of what we already have is necessary to attract things we want. Every day when you wake up try to be thankful. Think about the good things in your live you should be thankful for. Appreciate your job (even if you don’t like it). Feel gratitude for a place to live. If you have some food, some friends or anything else you can find to appreciate, appreciate it. A lot of people don’t have enough even basic things like food, water and their own place to live. It’s natural that you want more, that you want to improve your standard of life, but first you need to feel gratitude for what you already have. If you start your day with feelings of gratitude you will feel good and you can keep that feeling all day. But you should also write down something like this: “I am so happy and grateful that…” and then write what you would like to have. For example: “I am very happy and grateful that I make $1 million per year; that I have wonderful and loving wife…etc.” Use the present tense, visualize the things you want, be grateful for them, and think about them as already yours. When you achieve them, you can add new things to your list. When you write about money, start first with amount you believe is possible and then increase the amount when you got the amount you’d written down. Be specific. When you start doing as described above, at first you might feel strange that you are using present tense for the things you want to have in the future, but it’s important to train your mind and force your mind to think about them in present tense. After some time of playing such “mental ping pong” your mind will obey and will help you to achieve the things you want.

Communication par internet entre franchiseurs et franchises

: Cette communication entre franchiseurs et franchisйs peut donc se faire aujourd'hui via Internet ou cвbles de d'interconnexion reliant les franchises via leur rйseau et permet de rentabiliser le travail des franchisйs par le gain de temps en recherche d'informations si ce dernier est correctement utilisй. Les franchisйs peuvent alors passer leurs commandes en ligne et contrфler les dates de livraisons. La plus part des grandes franchises utilisent le systиme "а la minute", qui permet de connaоtre au moment prйcis l'йtat des stocks ou encore les livraisons effectuйes а leur franchisйs. Cela a donc rйellement permis d'activer le processus et signifie йgalement que le franchisй peut mieux rйorganiser ses stocks sans кtre а court au moment X. Les systиmes les plus pointus permettent йgalement aux franchisйs de s'approvisionner auprиs d'un autre franchisй si le franchiseur est а cours de stock. Les demandes peuvent кtre connectйes au rйseau et toutes les ventes peuvent кtre relayйes auprиs des franchiseurs. Cela implique donc que la plus part des cas des demandes d'ordres peuvent кtre retirйes directement par le franchisй. Pour le franchiseur, cela est fantastique car il n'est alors plus nйcessaire de perdre du temps а rechercher le franchisй disposant de la quantitй adйquate dйsirйe qui pourrait rйpondre urgemment а la demande. Les franchisйs en tire un avantage certain car ils voient leur travail diminuй et leur permet de passer plus de temps sur les problиmes marketings et la gestion de la relation clientиle. Par ailleurs, les franchisйs peuvent maintenant payer en mкme temps en ligne le franchiseur et les fournisseurs sans avoir recours aux carnets de chиques, enveloppes et postage. Une solution simple de payement en ligne donne de nombreux avantages que ne peuvent procurer les mйthodes de payements classiques. En plus d'augmenter leur facilitй de caisse, ce systиme leur permet йgalement de rйduire les risques de fraude. Par exemple, une grande sociйtй de jeux carte possйdant bon nombre de franchises. L'une d'entre elle se retrouve а cours de jeux que l'on vient de lui demander. Un simple passage sur Intranet et elle peut alors renseigner exactement son client quant aux dйlais de livraison du produit. D'autres systиmes encore plus perfectionnйs permettent de voir leurs comptes, rendant alors leur travail plus aisй grвce а une analyse plus objective. Le comptable est ainsi capable de voir en temps et en heure toute transaction effectuйe et de rйcupйrer les donnйes des autres franchises. Mais l'Intranet permet aussi а l'entreprise d'y dйposer ses brochures, de visionner les derniиres vidйos publicitaires de la sociйtй et йventuellement aider les franchiseurs en leur adressant un feedback sur la maniиre d'amйliorer leur politique marketing pour le futur. Ils peuvent йgalement tenir leurs opйrateurs informйs de faзon rйguliиre de maniиre manuelle. Pour cela, un accиs Internet haut dйbit est obligatoire, les franchisйs dйveloppant habituellement leur business depuis leur ordinateur. Cela implique au franchiseur de devoir former son franchisй quant а l'utilisation et la maintenance de leur outil informatique. es franchiseurs aiment adopter ce systиme afin de renforcer l'image de marque de la compagnie et faire participer activement leurs franchisйs au cњur de cette derniиre. Toutefois, les dangers de l'utilisation d'Internet (ou intranet) sont nombreux. Si le serveur principal des franchiseurs tombe en panne et ne dispose pas de back up adйquate ou une facilitй d'accиs d'autres serveurs, tous les rйseaux des franchisйs peut кtre pйnalisй.

Take back control of your pc with malware removers

One of the current biggest threats to computer users today is called malware. Malware is software which hides itself onto your PC and does its malicious work while you are working obliviously at your PC. It can hijack your computer, redirect you to other webpages, serve you pop up ads, collect and send information stored on your PC like your online banking passwords. There are several ways to get infected with malware. You can get infected by installing programs which are bundled with malware. A good example are file sharing programs also known as peer-to-peer file sharing programs. Also you can get infected by visiting certain websites. Usually the program poses as a legitimate program you need to install to view the webpage. Another way to get infected is visiting websites which take advantage of "security holes" in your browser. So it's very important to run the latest security updates of your operating system. What can happen to you and your PC when you are infected with malware? The people who receive the information send by the program could steal information stored on your PC or entered by you at your keyboard. They could withdraw money from your online bank account. Another use for information theft is to impersonate you with false documents and get a loan or buy a new car in your name. You might even get in to trouble with the law as they attack servers from PC. Another common use for malware is by using the infected PC's for sending spam. People could get spam originating from your PC. How can you detect that you are infected with malware? The easiest way to detect and remove these programs is by using malware removers. These malware removers can scan your PC for the latest malware programs. Other signs of infection could be a slow internet connection with the internet, high loads and thrashing of the harddrive. Even if you find the malware it will be hard to delete because some of these programs can replicate themselves. How can you protect your PC from these programs? Regularly update your Windows via the windows update website or automatically via windows update! Always be wary of websites demanding you to have to install programs to use their website. Use special malware removers / scanners to scan your system for malware, spyware and adware. Scan your PC today to prevent being infected by malware. Most software vendors offer a free software trial version. It will usually perform a full system scan and remove some of the problems. If you like the software you can buy it later through their website.

How to avoid credit related scams

In recent years, our televisions and email in-boxes have been inundated with advertisements from companies promising to help consumers improve their credit. Many of these companies offer a quick fix for people who have a high-rate of debt or bad credit, and the promises made often seem to good to be true. Many offer extended lines of credit, immediate debt relief and easy access to cash. Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that many of these offers are too good to be true, and consumers must read carefully to be aware of possible scams and protect themselves from compounding their money troubles. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cautions consumers against many forms of credit scams that consumers face today. Two of the most prevalent scams against consumers include offers for advance-fee loans and credit repair services. Advance-fee loan scams often target consumers with credit problems or consumers who have difficulty getting credit. In exchange for an up-front fee, these companies guarantee that applicants get the credit they want - usually a credit card or personal loan. Below are some points to keep in mind before responding to ads that promise easy credit regardless of credit history: Most legitimate lenders will not "guarantee" a loan or credit card before a formal application process is followed, especially if the applicant has bad credit or a bankruptcy. It is an accepted and common practice for reputable lenders to require payment for a credit report or appraisal. A processing or application fee is also an accepted practice. Never give a credit card account number, bank account information or Social Security number out over the telephone unless the company is familiar and it is explained clearly why the information is necessary. Credit repair scams are some of the most common credit scams today. They are in ads in newspapers, on television and on the Internet. Consumers receive fliers in the mail and calls from telemarketers offering easy and immediate credit repair services. Consumers should be very cautious in answering advertisements for these services. The FTC advises consumers to be aware of any credit repair companies that: - ask for payment for credit repair services before any services are provided - do not advise a consumer of his or her legal rights and what can be done independently by a consumer - for free - to improve credit - recommend against contacting a credit bureau directly - suggest inventing a "new" credit report by applying for an Employer Identification number to use instead of a Social Security number; or - advise disputing all information of a credit report or taking any action that seems illegal, such as creating a new credit identity. If a consumer follows illegal advice and commits fraud, he or she may be subject to prosecution. Consumers who feel they may have been a victim of a credit scam such as the two described above should contact their local consumer protection agency, state Attorney General, or Better Business Bureau. For additional information on credit-related scams, or to file a formal complaint against a fraudulent company, visit the Federal Trade Commission's web site.

Dvd copy 1 click software makes duplicating your cds a breeze

As the music industry grows by leaps and bounds more and more people are buying software that will allow them to copy DVDs and CDs. This type of software makes it very convenient and easy to make a duplicate copy of your favorite disk. 1 Click DVD Copy is one of the more popular programs for this as it is extremely easy to use. However you should know that copying DVDs and CDs is not legal in all countries. It is generally believed that you are entitled to make a backup copy of a DVD/CD that you own for your own personal use. As more and more movies and music are being released on DVD, making sure you have a backup copy ensures your future use of any disk you purchase. Many previously released documentaries and films are now being released on DVD, which makes viewing and enjoying a much easier pastime. Many people like to make a duplicate copy after purchasing rare footage so they won't risk loosing it. There are many other things you can do with this type of software too. For example, DVD copy 1 Click software also offers a limited error correction feature which allows many scratched and damaged disks to be recovered. For example, if you have a DVD that wont play because it is scratched or damaged there is a very good possibility that through the use of software a copy could be made that is not damaged. Some copy software programs also allow you to convert your VS moves to DVD, or to back up your video games. Before making a purchase it is wise to try the program first and make sure it can do what you want it to, 1 Click DVD Copy free download trial is one way you could do this. By trying the program first you also ensure that the program is easy for you to use and that it is compatible with your computer. These types of software are offered at varying prices by the different manufactures. The use of duplicating software is a wonderful and useful addition to your software collection. It is easy to protect your entertainment investment with the right software.

What is a university of phoenix online degree actually worth

Any online degree probably cannot compete with a traditional university degree. Concentrated time spent on the campus in a face-to-face discussion setting is perhaps the best way of knowledge transfer, in spite of the advent of technology that can make physical presence of a classroom redundant! Being able to attend a regular class is, however, not possible for every student. You might not have the resources in the initial stages of life, and at a later point in life time might become a constraint. Hence, to complete your education, you need the flexibility of time and place and the convenience of doing it from anywhere in the world. The University of Phoenix is perhaps one of the best options available to you today. The University has earned repute for excellence and success. In fact, according to a student survey, there is 95 percent satisfaction level amidst students who earn their online degree from the University of Phoenix. The alumnae from the University of Phoenix have seen a marked increase in their marketability. They have been able to secure jobs that they desired, or have received promotions in their present jobs. Many full-time homemakers have been able to complete their education, which has helped them not only with their self esteem but has also prepared them for job markets once they decide to move out. The flexibility offered by the University of Phoenix is a major advantage. Each course can be taken over a period of five to six weeks and students can take a break between courses. They do not have to be present for any classes and can review the downloaded learning material offline at their convenience. Additionally, the University of Phoenix Online education is recognized for most employer reimbursement plans. For these reasons among many others, the University of Phoenix is perhaps the best place to start looking for the means to fulfill your career goals.

Newyorkcityhotels

The Ultimate Hotel Guide To New York City New York City is the city that never sleeps, es verdad? Well, it’s certainly no wonder with so many places and stuff that would please all the senses. There’s the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Madison Square Garden and God knows what else. But the question is...where do you stay in New York City? Admittedly, the cost of living, especially rent expenses, is still rocketing sky high in New York City. If you know where to look, a lot of restaurants offer affordable yet tasty dishes so food’s no problem. When it comes to shopping, don’t think that New York City is just all about Macy’s. Of course not! There are a lot of bazaars that are ongoing throughout New York City and all you need is an efficient guide to help you out. For tourist spots, you shouldn’t believe either that everything in New York City comes with a ticket price. Nuh-uh! In fact, just walking in downtown New York is already a sight to behold. So the only problem is, yes, where to stay? Before I launch on a list of New York City hotels that could interest you, first, I have to warn you that what’s termed as “affordable” in New York City may not be “affordable” in your vocabulary. So if you’re cash strapped, better check first if you’ve got some friends living in New York City who’d lend you a room for a week or two as you go sight-seeing. New York is a city of high rise towers and a number of those are hotels that you can take your pick of. These buildings range from the five star hotels to the funky ones to hotels with “affordable” packages. Four Season Hotel : if you’ve got kids, then you should consider staying in this kid-friendly hotel because guests under 18 can stay for free. The tallest hotel in New York City, it also provides its family guests with coloring books, a video lending library and welcome gifts for kids. Soho Grand Hotel : if you’re the type of traveler who can’t bear to leave your behind, have no fear because there are several hotels in New York that can accommodate furry guests, just like the Soho Grand Hotel. Upon checkout, you’ll even be given a goldfish to remember your New York holiday. Affinia 50 Suites : this particular hotel has no difficulties in landing a Top 10 spot in any survey when it comes to being the best hotel in New York City. Previously known as the Plaza 50 Suites, this is a no-fuss-comfort-zone for travelers who want basic accommodations that would also be easy on the pockets. Large suites equipped with kitchenettes are also available if you so prefer. Hilton Time Square : Never mind Paris Hilton and her notorious antics. At least her family still hasn’t stopped in being one of the best when you’re talking about hotel services. The Hilton Time Square is one of the poshest hotels in New York City, with a twenty-five-seater theater and even its own wax museum! And just because it’s posh, don’t assume that the staff would turn its nose up on noisy, bratty kids or dirty, scrambling house pets. Nuh-uh! The Hilton Time Square aims to please all forms of guests, human and non human, adult and kids. So now, all you need to do is choose which hotel you’re going to stay, pay the bill, enjoy the scenery and of course, tour New York City!

Homeowner loans to add value to your property

First time buyers receive a great deal of attention at the current time due to the increasing difficulty of making that first step on the property ladder. It is rarely documented however of the difficulties facing homeowners looking to move up the property ladder which is too becoming increasingly difficult. Recent research shows that the average upscale from a two to a three bedroom property now stands at Ј27,100. Those looking to upscale from a three to a four bedroom house face the biggest hike in price at Ј64,032. As a result of these differences in price, coupled with the fees involved in moving home, more and more people are looking to use homeowner loans to improve & extend their current home to take the effect of upsizing. When buying a property, many property developers will look at the potential to improve, modify and extend in order to increase the value. This is also a technique now used by many buyers looking at the potential for home improvement. It can be difficult enough to buy property, with many considerations that must be taken into account. There are many issues that can reduce property value let alone increase it; however the type of property you buy can dictate your ability to improve it or even make any additions at all. The type of property that best suits improvement will depend on the nature of work you would like to perform. For example, if you are planning to convert a loft in an extra room then it is important that there is enough room to stand up in. Sometimes the easiest and cheapest way to increase your home’s value is to invest in an improving, up and coming area using a homeowner loan. Signs that an area’s property market is set to improve can be relatively easy to find. These signs may include looking at particular areas or streets that are already popular with buyers. It is often the case that as particular streets or areas increase in value, buyers are priced out of their preferred location, so move as near to it as they can afford. The important thing to remember is that there is no guarantee that any improvements made on your property will result in an increase in value. Buyers in different locations will be after different things. It is an important consideration to ensure that you are offering potential buyers what they really want. For example a conservatory may be appealing to some but not to others A good yardstick is often to consult the local estate agents who much a property would be worth subject to improvements being carried out, such as a new kitchen or a conservatory. Often it’s the smaller, cheaper improvements that can generally offer higher returns than the more expensive ones. The larger and more expensive jobs such as converting your loft or basement may seem appealing to buyers, however they are often unwilling to pay a premium that meets the expense and effort of carrying it out. The cost of any home improvement and the likely return will vary hugely on the type of property and the area that it’s located. Very few developments come in under budget with the majority coming in over budget. Quote received from builders can often be on the optimistic side. It is therefore prudent to over budget for works Below is a rough guide of the costs versus the benefits: Loft conversions: Cost: Ј15,000 to Ј35,000 Potential value increase: Ј20,000 Difference: - Ј5,000 A loft conversion must be done properly in order to increase the value of your home. A very important consideration is that it cannot be classed as a loft conversion unless it meets specific building & planning regulations. Your local council will be able to give advice on what those rules are. Basement conversion: Cost: Ј100,000 Potential value increase: Ј20,000 to Ј25,000 Difference: - Ј77,500 A basement conversion is among the most expensive of home improvements. Recouping the initial outlay when selling the property is very difficult let alone making a profit. In some case it can however be very beneficial when selling the property if used as an extra bedroom. Extension: Cost: Ј30,000 to Ј50,000 Potential value increase: Ј20,000 to Ј25,000 Difference: - Ј17,500 An extension is fast becoming a popular alternative to moving home in order to upsize. You will usually have to sacrifice garden space which can of course have a negative impact on your home’s value. Before commencing with any planned work it is important to consult your local council as there may be restrictions on the height and proximity to boundary lines of any addition. Off-Road Parking: Cost: Ј1,000 Potential value increase: Ј5,000 Difference: + Ј4,000 Again, this work requires consultation with the local authority as the job may involve altering the height of the curb. This can prove to be one of the cheapest and most effective improvements that can be carried out. Conservatory: Cost: Ј10,000 to Ј15,000 Potential value increase: Ј12,000 to Ј19,000 Difference: Ј3,000 Conservatories may not seem quite as attractive in today’s market as they once would have done to the potential buyer. Adding a conservatory is an expensive exercise and would perhaps be best considered for personal use rather than as a tool to increase the value of the property.

Camping do you have the skills to survive the outdoors

As our society becomes more and more technological, cold and urban, ever more people are starting to feel the urge to get away from it all, take a break from modern life and go back to the way things were for our ancestors. Perhaps this explains the rising popularity of camping holidays, the ultimate experience of going back to nature and living in the wild, with only a basic structure for shelter and a fire for cooking. Of course, lots of people don’t exactly do it that way. Camper vans are popular, as is ‘car camping’, and all sorts of electrical appliances have been adapted for camping – there are even camp microwaves. Most people consider at least modern toilets and showers to be a campsite necessity, regardless of whether it’s really true to the spirit of the activity. Camping doesn’t really have to be an outdoors thing if you don’t want it to be, as many camper vans aren’t that much different to houses on wheels, and many families stay in them for a large part of their holiday. It’s all about doing what you feel comfortable with. For hardcore campers, though, the truest form of camping is camping which teaches survival skills, such as eating-wild caught food, finding your way around by the position of the sun and making fire. You would have to be very hungry to eat the animals that can be found in the woods of most countries, however, and for this reason camping with facilities and packed food is far more popular. Most campsites are in woods or open fields, and are often publically-owned – if you want to find one, they should be clearly marked on maps for walkers and on road signs for cars. It’s up to you what you take with you, but most people will prefer to have at least a tent, sleeping bags, torches, and either a tool for making firewood or portable oven where campfires aren’t allowed.

The evolution of mobile phone technology

Every month, millions of people worldwide are adding themselves to the mobile phone community. This will go on all because mobile phones are such great devices that using them you can talk to anyone in this world from anywhere, anytime. Mobile phones provide you an array of feature that you can speak as well as sent and receive data. But, it depends on a model that a mobile phone can contain as many as possible features within. A mobile phone stores contact information of your desired people, sends and receives e-mails, displays you flash news, enables you playing simple games in your free time etc. Mobiles phones integrated with PDAs, MP3 players and GPS system are also widely available. However, only few may know how mobile phones with such integrated features actually work. Knowing the technology, that work behind such mobile phones could sure help you using it extensively. At least a new model is released with newer add-ons every month. If you are in idea of buying a new mobile phone then you also need to be sure about how to buy a mobile phone before your purchase. At this point, you need to know that the very quite fact about a mobile phone is that its functions similar to a radio. The technologies like telephone and wireless communication been invented more or less in the same period (actually in late 1870’s), soon after these two combined to give us the model for today’s mobile phone. People later started using these radio phones fitted inside their cars and its antennas been mounted on the top. However, because of lesser channels available, more people were not able to use these radiophones. To add, you can compare that day mobile phone to a CB radio or a walkie-talkie to understand it better. Today, the smarter thing about mobile system is splitting up of an area into smaller cells thus enabling millions of people to use the mobile phones simultaneously. Mobile systems function in a way that within a cell area, at least 56 people can talk on their mobile phone at a time. In another side, to send and receive the tower signals, mobile phones are equipped with low-power transmitters. Related to technology, its first generation, which used analog signals is called 1G. Digital transmission coming into existence, the number of channels increased which were of 2G mobile technology. The mobile technologies, which were later developed, claimed superiority over the earlier. The current 3G mobile phones offer you unbelievable features like email, stereo sounds and video. In the power consumption part, battery-operated mobile phones normally consume low power and this has made the possibility of having handheld mobile phones. Another important aspect with the mobile phone is the services offered to the subscribers are of cheap rate. This is because mobile phone system requires a number of base stations in a region to operate its service. But as most people use mobile phones, the cost per user remains low irrespective of large number to based stations installed. A mobile telephone switching office handles all the phone connections and controls the bases stations that function under it. Anyway, future generation mobile phones are to come which are going to provide us a breathtaking service for both professional use and fun.

Effectiveness of painkillers in the treatment of fibromyalgia

When a person feels overly exhausted and constantly hurting all over, they may have fibromyalgia. This is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons of a person, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points. These points are places in a person's body where a slight hint of pressure causes pain. Also called fibrositis, chronic muscle pain syndrome, psychogenic rheumatism and tension myalgias, fibromyalgia is more common to women than men. People dealing with this condition often report that they do not respond to the types of medication that relieve other people's pain. A new research from Michigan explains that this might be because patients with fibromyalgia were found to have a reduction in the binding ability of a type of receptor in the brain that is the target of opioid painkiller drugs such as morphine. The study includes PET scans (Positron Emission Tomography) of the brains of patients with fibromyalgia, and an equal number of people without the said condition. Results indicate that the patients with fibromyalgia have reduced their mu-opioid receptor (MOR) availability within the parts of the brain that normally process and dampen pain signals, specifically the nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate and the amygdala. According to one of the research investigators, the reduced availability of the receptor was closely associated with greater pain for people with fibromyalgia. He said that these findings could explain why opioids are anecdotally thought to be ineffective for people with fibromyalgia. He also added that this particular finding is significant because it has been hard to determine the cause of pain in patients with the said condition, to the point that acceptance of the condition by medical practitioners were slow. Opioid pain killers work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. In addition to morphine, they include codeine, medications like Darvocet, Vicodin and Oxycontin. Researchers in this study theorized from their findings that with the lower availability of the MORs in three regions of the brain of people with fibromyalgia, such opioid based pain killers may not be able to bind as well to the receptors as they can in the brains of those people without the condition. To make it more simple, when the pain killers cannot bind to the receptors, they cannot relieve the patient's pain as effectively. The reduced availability could result from a reduced number of opioid receptors, enhanced release of endogenous opioids, or both. The research also found a possible link with depression. The PET scans showed that fibromyalgia patients with more depressive symptoms had reductions of MOR binding potential in the amygdala, a region of the brain thought to adjust mood and the emotional dimension of pain. In knowing this, people should be more aware of their body and how it reacts to pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition where the intensity of symptoms actually vary. It is best if people are informed of this condition, specifically, that this health problem is not progressive nor life threatening. Self-care can help reduce fibromyalgia's symptoms by getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Planning to quit smoking

Millions of people smoke, and to many, particularly those that have been smoking for some time, the prospect of quitting seems daunting. An addiction to nicotine is a serious one, and is multifaceted: there is a physical component, in that your body craves the nicotine the cigarettes contain, and a psychological one, in that many habits and situations become associated with cigarettes for the smoker. For these reasons it is important that you come up with a plan of attack in order to quit smoking: although the cold-turkey technique works for some people, the vast majority of smokers will have success only with a more comprehensive plan. When you first consider the prospect of quitting smoking, it's probably going to seem far fetched, but keep in mind that thousands of people - people that are no different from you - quit smoking every year. If they can do it, there's no reason that you can't. Many smokers also feel that after a certain age it is "too-late" to quit smoking. Simply put, this isn't true, and should not be used as an excuse to avoid an attempt to quit smoking: the health benefits of quitting smoking begin the very day you stop. Before you actually have your last cigarette, begin to build up your willpower. Your willpower is going to be your most important tool in quitting, and it's very unlikely that you will be successful without it. Spend some time thinking of the reasons you want to quit smoking. Learn about the health benefits of quitting, for both yourself and the people around you. Do some math and come up with some figures for the amount of money you'll save by not buying cigarettes, and think of something you'll use that money for. Once you've built up your willpower, it's time to have your last cigarette. To keep your spirits up, understand that the human body is incredibly resilient, and your health will improve as soon as you stop smoking - literally. 8 hours after your last cigarette, carbon monoxide levels and oxygen levels in your blood stream will return to normal. At 24 hours after your last cigarette, you statistically reduce your chance of a heart attack. Only 48 hours after your last cigarette, your sense of taste and smell will improve as your nerve endings start growing. As you continue to stay smoke free, think of the longer-term benefits to quitting in order to keep your willpower up: even after 2 weeks your lung power will begin to increase, and continue to do so over time. Other aspects of your health will continue to improve in various ways. The ultimate motivator should be the knowledge that 15 years after quitting, your risk of death is almost the same as someone who has never smoked - a remarkable fact that illustrates our the human body's surprising ability to restore itself. By coming up with a concrete plan to quit smoking you will greatly increase your chances of success. Crucial is understanding the important role that your willpower will play in the process, and planning to build up this willpower weeks before you attempt to quit. Once you've stopped you have to keep the strength of this willpower up, and to do so, remind yourself of the health benefits you will be privy to immediately after butting out that last cigarette.

Easy gulf coast grouper fishing part i

: The gulf coast of Florida offers some of the best grouper fishing around. The Gulf has fairly calm water most of the year (except for our new 11 month recent hurricane season). The gear is pretty simple: a fairly stout rod, I say fairly stout because you don’t want your rod too stiff because this will effect the action it has on the bait…more on this later. I use 40lb line on the reel with a 100lb shock leader, and about an 8/0 hook. I like to use live bait for grouper fishing but some prefer jigs, spoons, and even heavy grade trolling lures. After gear, guests, and boat are ready we need to catch some bait.

I like to use the “junk” fish that you catch when bottom fishing with smaller rigs. Blue runners, sand perch, lizard fish, etc… Grouper are not real picky eaters when it comes to live bait. Yes, they do have favorites like anything else that eats, but the fish mentioned above will work great. I start my day with a piece of a large squid, about the size of you open hand is usually enough. I like to use large squid because it is tougher and stays on the hook better.

Check you local fish market for availability. We head out and stop around the 45’ area and start looking for our bait. Most of the time there are no clear signs of where the bait is, you just have to keep trying till you have some luck. The bait we are looking for is holding on the bottom most of the time unless you can find some sardines in the area, then try a Sabaki rig or something similar. Cut your squid into small strips and send it to the bottom and see if any small bait fish are going cooperate with your plans.

Unless you have a favorite area to catch bait, you might have to move around till you start getting bites. We usually move about 300-500 feet each move till the bait starts biting. After you get a couple dozen baitfish in the livewell head on out to your fishing area. Ours is around the 100 foot mark and is a series of GPS marks in a 3-5 mile square area.

If we don’t get a bite in 20-30 minutes or so we will move on to another GPS mark in the area, (and no, I won’t give you my GPS #’s)…sorry! This article is continued in part II.

Defining point of service pos health insurance

A POS or Point of Service plan is kind of like an HMO and PPO combined type health care plan. You have more flexibility than a regular HMO, but pay a smaller fee and deducible than a PPO. It is perfect for those people who need more flexibility but want to pay less. You will be asked to select a general provider that is off the list of acceptable doctors. This will be your primary care physician and he or she will be the one to manage what care you receive. He or she will direct you to specialist and hospitals as needed that are also participants in the plan. Usually there are many providers from each specialization to choose from and typically covers a wide geographic area. With this type of policy, you will not have a large deducible if any, and still have a minimal co-pay on visits and prescriptions. Of course, this is if you stick with the preferred providers list. You also may want to make sure what drugs are covered under this plan and if you have to pay more for newer on not generic medications. Some doctors don't think about what kind of insurance you have when writing out the prescription and you need to remind him or her if you are only allowed to buy generic to be covered. You will also have a choice to see out-of-network providers when you need a specialist and they are not on the list. Most POS plans require you get a doctor's referral prior to seeing another doctor or specialist. Once referred to a specialist within the network, you will have to be prepared to pay more. If you choose to do this, you will be billed directly and must submit the claim to the insurance company your self. Your insurance company will pay their flat rate for whatever you had done and you will be responsible for the rest. You may also be responsible at the time of service to pay the entire amount and wait to be reimbursed your self from your insurance. If you chose to see a specialist on you own, the cost will be higher and around 50% if you were not referred. You will be required to pay a higher amount if you go out-of-network. So in essence, you have the right to see whom you chose, but at your own expense. The POS plan will only pay their flat rate for specific medical issues and not above it, unless it is an emergency situation. Many people like the idea of having more say in their health care choices, while others care more about saving money and don't care who they go to. What you chose will depend on what you personally want and what is more important. The emphasis on this plan is prevention of illness or disease to cut the cost to both the individual and the insurer. Most other plans such as HMOs and PPOs have the same basic emphasis. You are encouraged to take an active roll in your health and do what it takes to remain not sick and disease free for as long as possible. The idea is to see the doctor less so both you and your carrier together spends less money. The idea with this plan is that if you have to put more money into your health care you will think twice at whether or not you really need to go. If you want to waist the insurance companies money you have to waist your own too to do it. Medical insurance companies are in business to make money, they want you to stay healthy so they can collect your premium and not have to pay it out to the health care provider. So, for those people who do not want to pay as high as a monthly premium tends to opt for this type of health insurance plan. This one will ensure a low rate with out having to worry about huge deductibles or co-pays if used more like an HMO. So, if you think that this sound like something you are interested in, talk to several different companies and get some policies to look at. Make sure to look at what is covered as well as the price. Do a little research in the various insurance policies that are available. The one that you need to pick will depend on your priorities.

Menopause and insomnia

Insomnia is a very common symptom reported by numerous women at the onset of menopause. It is characterized by sleepless nights and often uncomfortable sleep such as tossing and turning in an effort to get comfortable. If you are primarily a mentally active person, it can become very difficult to calm the mind. You feel restless and irritable. Welcome to the change of life. Insomniacs sleep is chock-full of waking up at frequent times during the night, waking up too early, and light sleep where the ticking of a hand clock may jolt you awake. This condition occurs during menopause because it is a side-effect of other menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and general physical and mental discomfort. When your body is dealing with night sweats, it’s easy to have your sleep interrupted, which makes it even more difficult to be sharp and at your best during the day. Consuming stress-inducing foods loaded with things such as caffeine can further stimulate tension, so it is important to maintain a caffeine-free diet. Avoid drinking coffee as late in the day as possible. Do not over stimulate your nervous system. Release tension by learning hatha yoga postures or how to breath deeply and mediate. Try altering your sleep arrangements. If you find that your pillow is not soft enough, or maybe it’s too elevated for your head, make adjustments. If you find that the polyester blankets you’re lying on does not relax the contours of your body – switch them. It takes effort to accommodate these changes and make yourself as comfortable as possible. Exercise also preps the body for restful sleep. Scientific studies suggest eating fat loaded foods are not recommended before bedtime. So a steady, healthy is a great plus. Insomnia can be treated by consuming foods that increase the serotonin levels in your brain so that your body relaxes. Serotonin is responsible for aiding with sleep by calming your brain. Drink a glass of warm milk before bedtime to help calm your nerves. There are many causes for insomnia that stem from menopause. Depression is characteristic of this transition and can negatively influence your sleep. Decreasing estrogen levels can cause the on-set of depressive symptoms. In the menstrual cycle, ovulation causes progesterone (which has soothing effects on the mind and body) to be released. Irregular cycles may cause anxiety to build-up, as a result of the lack of this Ёhappy hormone. Ё For some people, taking melatonin is enough to get a restful night. For others, a prescription sleeping pill is necessary. Some women swear by black cohosh to help with body flushes as well as natural sources of progesterone. In any case, it is important to consult with your doctor in order to decide together what treatment is best for you. The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Review of directory generator by armand morin

Directory Generator is a software product that can generate hundreds of keyword-targeted web pages. The purpose is to help you get targeted traffic to your website so you can make more sales or earn commissions. I was one of the earliest users of Directory Generator before it launched publicly August 26, 2004, so I’ve had a little head start in testing it. Let me give you a little background info first: In late 2003, new traffic generating software appeared called Traffic Equalizer. I have to admit I knew nothing about it until recently. My guess as to why is that it is talked about mostly among big marketers, and probably mostly at seminars. It’s just like Armand Morin to ride the traffic software wave and even try to make a better surfboard. And that’s what Directory Generator is. It is supposed to be equivalent to software such as Ranking Power, Traffic Equalizer, and Traffic Hurricane, which allows you to get targeted traffic by generating pages that get high search engine rankings. The difference is, like most of what Armand does, the results are classier and more professional looking. Of the previously mentioned programs, Traffic Hurricane is the only one that is free. Why pay for this other software if you can get it free? Because your Traffic Hurricane pages will have someone else’s Google AdSense ads on your pages, earning them money off your traffic. Now that I have Directory Generator, I don’t need someone else earning money from my traffic unless they’re going to pay me part of it. Selfish, aren’t I? One other thing: I’m surprised no one noticed this but Google doesn’t allow Adsense code to be placed on pages not owned by you, so the way this is set up might get someone into trouble. I know what you’re thinking…Yeah, that’s nice but can Directory Generator really generate targeted traffic? Absolutely! The first website I created with Directory Generator is steadily earning Google AdWords income every single day without me doing a thing. It took 30 days for traffic and commissions to really start kicking in. I don’t want this to sound like hype but this is the easiest money I’ve made so far. Nevertheless the second website I made isn’t doing squat. But that just tells me: There’s no such thing as a sure thing. The domain name you choose and keywords you target can make a difference. But the second website also hasn’t been up as long, so we’ll see what happens… Am I going to get rich off the money it’s generating? No, nor could someone quit their job with it, but at the rate it’s working I would earn the $250 price back fairly quickly. My goal was to first earn the domain fee back and I did. The site is listed in Google, but gets no traffic from there. Most of the traffic comes from other search engines. If it had multiple pages spidered by Google, look out! I’ve heard through the grapevine of multiple people earning 4-figure monthly incomes from sites created with traffic-generating software. And I’ve heard of one person earning a six-figure income. For now, this test tells me that this software really does work. Here’s a little secret: No one who uses traffic generating software will tell you their website URL. That’s because they don’t want people ripping off their profitable website. So you have to buy the software to see the sites it produces. At $250 a pop, that’s an expensive trial. What do you do with the traffic it generates? 1. You earn Google Adsense commissions (this feature is built into the software). 2. You can add SearchFeed (you can’t add both. Google doesn’t allow it). 3. You can add a Linkshare ad to earn additional commissions. 4. The newest version lets you earn Amazon commissions. BENEFITS: Easily generate 100s of keyword targeted pages for a niche directory. Disadvantage: You still have to choose your keywords which will be your site theme. You have to know how to FTP the pages to your web host. Unlike Traffic Equalizer, the program won’t do it for you. CONCLUSION: Highly recommended. Thank goodness Armand didn’t price this software too cheaply. If you only try one traffic-generating software program, I recommend Directory Generator. For more information, visit directorygenerator.

Flame resistant jackets

Jackets are a very important part of workwear. Apart from adding to the complete rugged look of the wearer, uniform jackets are also very important in protecting the wearer from extreme cold conditions. And in recent times, with the help of fire retardant fabrics, jackets are serving one more important purpose. They are protecting the wearers from fire. Yes, flame resistant jackets have already been introduced in the market, and they are protecting people from all kinds of accidental fire conditions in the workplace, and also adding to their rough worker look! The general material used for the manufacture of flame resistant jackets is a material known as INDURA. INDURA and its recent developed version of Ultra Soft are proving to be really great materials for keeping all kinds of stray fires away from the wearer and giving them a high degree of protection. The INDURA Ultra Soft material consists of a blend of cotton to an extent of 88% and high tenacity nylon to an extent of 12%. While nylon helps to resist the fire, the cotton material makes the jacket somewhat porous and helps the fabric to get aerated. Due to this reason, the person wearing the jacket does not feel unduly warm. Also the INDURA Ultra Soft material that is used in making the flame resistant jackets is extremely resistant to all kinds of accidental fires and high temperature conditions in the workplace, such as those caused due to spurting, bubbling or splashing of molten materials, high furnace temperatures, flash fires, welding flames, etc. The material is quite durable too – the jacket might wear away, but its flame resistant properties will not wear off. The best part of the flame resistant jackets is that they can be personalized in a number of ways in order to add to their look. There are all standard looks for the flame resistant jackets available, with different kinds of pockets. The cross pockets are very popular with the jackets, which are secured with brass zippers. In addition, there are places where tools like screwdrivers, rulers, compasses, etc. can be held. There are many exciting colors to choose from too, like the ever popular denim colors, and different shades of browns, blues and blacks. Unconventional colors can also be specially ordered for and obtained. Flame resistant jackets can weigh anywhere between 10 to 15 ounces, depending on their size and thickness. They have brass zippers up in the front, which helps them to retain their flame resistant properties, and they are attached to the jacket with the means of Nomex tape. Nomex is a fire resistant adhesive material that is almost a standard in all kinds of flame resistant wear. Similar brass zippers are used on all the breast pockets and side pockets. The flame resistant jackets can be easily complimented with a whole flame resistant ensemble, like shirts, workpants, jeans and even boots and hoods. Online retailers have a great range of several kinds of flame resistant jackets that can be personalized for you in whichever way you choose. You can embroider your company's logo on them, or can screen print an image for you. More flames resistant jackets at embroidered-uniforms-corporate-apparel/work-apparel-uniforms-flame-resistant-workwear-c-26_25.html.

A call on the price of uranium

Interviewer: Before we talk about the potential of uranium shortages and the steep price rise in that energy source, could you explain how you got started with this idea, and what is the philosophy behind Strathmore’s acquisition program of uranium properties? Dev Randhawa: Several years ago, Strathmore Minerals started with the idea of acquiring properties “out of the money” at very cheap prices in the belief that the uranium prices would recover so that our assets would be worth more. No one was paying attention to the commodity we chose: uranium. Strathmore Minerals is basically a call on the price of uranium. That’s how we started the company. This strategy is similar to what Lumina Copper (AMEX: LCC) used and what Silver Standard used. For example, the chairman of Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ: SSRI) is on our board of directors. Our first step was to buy every pound we could for as cheaply as possible. The second step is to buy property that we think we can put into production. We are actively looking for those. Interviewer: But uranium has a powerful environmental stigma. Why, then, are you enthusiastic about this type of energy source? Dev Randhawa: As with most people, when I began investigating uranium, I thought this was bad stuff. I thought of Three Mile Island and everything else. The more homework I did on this, the more I realized that nuclear power is clean and safe. That is primarily what uranium is used for now. It should be known that no one ever died at Three Mile Island. No one actually died at Chernobyl. Yes, people got sickpare that to coal or the oil spills in the fossil fuel sector, and the damage it has done to the environment. The problem is no one is championing nuclear energy. Frankly, the “greenies” have done a great job of burying the story. As I did homework, I found out France relies on nuclear power for about 78 to 80 percent of its electricity needs. I realized that somebody did a great job lobbying and built a very unhealthy picture toward uranium, when really it’s needed. We don’t talk about the cost of coal. We don’t talk about global warming. But, look at what coal has done. Global warming is a function of fossil fuels. That is why you are seeing a growing positive response to nuclear power. For example, one company has applied to put a new nuclear reactor into the US. Interviewer: To what do you attribute the recent, steep price rise in uranium? Dev Randhawa: Since last year, the price of uranium (U3O8) has climbed back steeply back up. At one point, the price was moving up about $1/pound per month. Uranium’s price is more in line with the price of oil as opposed to other commodities. For a long time, we’ve only produced on the average about 90 million pounds, when we needed 140 (million pounds). There’s been an imbalance for a number of years. This extra came from foreign sources, or from internal US inventories. Since the 1980s, we’ve been using more uranium than we have been producing in the western world. As a result, the extra that we’ve needed has come from Russia, the US government or inventory that utilities had. Interviewer: But most investors, let alone the consumer, don’t know that uranium’s spot price has nearly tripled, since bottoming three years ago. Why is that? Dev Randhawa: Uranium only makes up one percent of the cost of running a nuclear reactor. The biggest factor in why uranium prices can go up, even more rapidly than gold, is that uranium is insensitive to its use. Uranium prices can go much higher. In casual conversations with a few Toronto analysts, some believe it can go up to $80 or $100/pound. For example, if the price of gold tomorrow went to $800/ounce, it will affect someone’s purchasing decision. The guy might say, “I was going to buy this ring and now it’s up 70 percent because the price of gold is up. Maybe I will buy a silver ring instead.” The same occurs with other commodities. People may change their purchasing decision based on a commodity price doubling. If the price of uranium went to $44/pound, the average consumer’s electricity bill might go up a few dollars. It is not going to force someone to turn off their power. However, if the price of oil doubled tomorrow, many of us would be driving smaller vehicles. It would make a fundamental difference in how we behave. That’s not going to happen with the price of uranium. It’s like buying pencils for your office. It’s not going to change the way you do business. Even if no nuclear reactors come onboard for the next few years, the ones already there will need the pounds (of uranium). We have a shortage coming up. Interviewer: Why do you believe a uranium shortage is in the cards? Dev Randhawa: Bottom line is: the nuclear reactors are going to run out of fuel. You have to know that permitting takes a long time in the uranium industry. It’s not like finding a gold property tomorrow and maybe two years from now you are pouring gold. Typically, the permit takes at least three years out. Because nuclear reactors need it, that’s what is causing the price rise. Demand has kept going higher, but production has fallen off the chart. In this industry there are only about half a dozen companies exploring for uranium. At one time, back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, there were almost 150 uranium companies. There hasn’t been any underground mining since the early 1990s. And that doesn’t even include a wild card: there has been talk that by 2020, 90 percent of the nuclear reactors coming onboard will be for China. Interviewer: And what would reverse uranium’s steep price rise? Dev Randhawa: The only thing that could kill this market would be if Russia discovered it had a lot more pounds to sell. Or the US government, through USEG, came up with more pounds. When we first entered the market, eight years ago uranium rose to around $17-$18/pound. Then it fell. What happened was the U. S. government sold their uranium to a private group, who turned around and dumped it into the market, from then until last year. In October of last year, the Russians were also dumping uranium onto the market for their hard cash. Interviewer: If replacement value for uranium comes in the form of exploration costs to find and mine this energy source, what would that cost be? Dev Randhawa: Realistically, it would be $20 to $22/pound. I know some are going to say they can do it for less. By the time you take your exploration costs, development costs, and so on, you really need to get $22 to $25 for most properties to go into production and still make money. That’s why most of what you see in the market are ISL (in situ leach) projects. On one property we discovered, it would cost between $16 and $17/ pound to pull it out of the ground. But on others, it might take $20 - 22/pound to pull it out of the ground, after labor costs and sell it on a forward contract. Canada is producing the most uranium because of the grades. Some say Canada has the lowest cost, but that’s not quite accurate. What they mean to say is that the cash costs are the lowest. People forget that it costs up to $2 billion to put some of these into production. Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) was a creature of the government at one time. They were treated that way. Interviewer: Earlier you noted that investing in Strathmore Minerals was “basically a call on the price of uranium.” Can you clarify what you meant by that? Dev Randhawa: As uranium prices, the share price of Strathmore Minerals should rise. If you look at Bema (Amex:BGO), when gold prices were at $265/ounce, what was it worth? As the price of gold moved up, it had value. Has it gone into production yet? No. Silver Standard (NASDAQ:SSRI) is similar, but it has had to tell its story because people are so focused on gold. The key for investors is not to go where the crowds go, but to go where you can find value. If you believe that nuclear power is the place to be, and the shortage is real, you have got to own uranium stocks. Interviewer: What sets Strathmore Minerals apart from any other exploration companies in this sector? Dev Randhawa: I challenge any junior exploration company to show an individual who has actually put an ISL (in situ leach) uranium mine into production, including Cameco. They just aren’t around because the industry has been dead since the early 1980s. There aren’t many experts left in this business. The last standing geologist, which Cogema had, was David Miller, who is now working with Strathmore Minerals, as our head consultant. He is the one who has put the Strathmore strategy together. We’ve been looking in southern and eastern Africa. Strathmore is going wherever there are pounds that others have overlooked. Our competitive edge is a database we acquired from Kerr McGee (NYSE: KMD), which used to be number one in the uranium industry. Recently, we announced properties in Wyoming that could be satellite ISLs. We have enough pounds there that we could throw one of them into production. But we still need higher prices. We are still in the acquisition stage. Strathmore is going to be very aggressive in picking up properties that we think have pounds in the ground or smaller properties that we think can be ISL-able in the US. Everything we’re looking at in the US is for ISL. In Canada, we have over 700,000 hectares in the Athabascan region. That’s a major asset for us. It’s one of the richest areas in the world for uranium. Some of our targets are near existing mines. In Quebec, we’ve got a large property that was drilled by Uranerz. Robert Quartermain has certainly been a part of that strategy. That’s what he did with Silver Standard, and that’s what we’re doing here. We are aggressively going after properties. When sophisticated investors meet our team, they see the story we’ve got and they see our management. You’ll see why we were able to millions of dollars in financings. Our strategy has been to buy the has-been properties, the low fruit in all the trees. And that’s what we’ve been doing. ***************************************** Devinder Randhawa Mr. Randhawa founded Strathmore Minerals Corp. in 1996 and is currently the Company's CEO. Mr. Randhawa also founded and is currently the President of RD Capital Inc., a privately held consulting firm providing venture capital and corporate finance services to emerging companies in the resources and non-resource sectors both in Canada and the US. Prior to founding RD Capital Inc., Mr. Randhawa was in the brokerage industry for 6 years as an investment advisor and corporate finance analyst. Mr. Randhawa was formerly the President of Lariat Capital Inc. which merged with Medicure in November 1999 and the was the founder and former President and CEO of Royal County Minerals Corp. which was taken over by Canadian Gold Hunter (formerly International Curator) in July 2003. Mr. Randhawa also founded Predator Capital Inc., which became Predator Exploration. Mr. Randhawa received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with Honors from Trinity Western College of Langley, British Columbia in 1983 and received his Masters in Business Administration from the University of British Columbia in 1985.