Money Has a Cost

When I speak about the "cost of money" I am talking about just that. Allow me to explain it here to avoid boring you by repeating the same definition whenever I talk about it. All money has a cost

Money is either used to make you money or you have lost the opportunity for your money to make you money. Or at least to make you as much as it could.

If you are borrowing money to operate your business this money has a price. The price, of course, is the interest you are paying on the money while you are borrowing it. If you have money that you are holding in the form of cash in a low interest bearing account or short term investment, this money may also be costing you money.

How? Simple. Let's say you are in a good cash flow situation and you have a cash balance of $ 50,000. You know this money will be needed for operational expenses in the near future so you let it sit in your business checking account or a short term liquid investment account. Let's say you are learning 1/2% interest during this time.

It might seem that this money is working for you making money, and indeed it is. But the question is whether or not this is the most effective use of that money. If your money is in one place it can not be in another at the same time. Obvious right? Well, if your money is tied up in the bank you must ask yourself - is this the best place for it? Is there another use you could put this money to in order to earn more money?

For example, you can pay some bills off early and take a trade discount of 2%. I will cover this in future articles but for now think and understand money has a cost. If your $ 50,000 sits in the bank earning 1/2% interest you will earn $ 250 per year. Now I know I have not factored in compound interest but I want to give a simple example of how you should think.

If you have the cash sitting for 30 days you will have earned 1 / 12th of this $ 250 or $ 21. But what if you had used that $ 50,000 to pay off bills early and get a 2% discount? A 2% discount on $ 50,000 is $ 1,000. A simplistic example to be sure, but even using this you have increased the return on your money significantly.

Leaving your money in the bank had a cost to you. A lost opportunity cost. An opportunity to use this money to make you more money. But you must consider your cash flow, no matter how effectively you might otherwise use your money, you only have so much of it to use and there before the availability of cash must be considered.

Money does not have a cost. If I have used $ 10,000 to pay an invoice early that offered me a 1% discount I have saved $ 100. If I used that same money to pay a bill early that offered me a 2% discount I have doubled my return on the use of that money as I have saved $ 200.

Do you see my point? Now put aside any cash flow questions for a minute while I make another
point.

Now what if I did not pay any bill off early, but instead put that $ 10,000 in an investment for 12 months paying me 1%? Have I not done well by perception $ 100 on my money? It would seem so, but this is not the case.

By paying off an invoice early to take advantage of an early payment discount, you will save much more than the discount. When you earn a 2% discount by paying an invoice early, you are earning a return far greater than 2%. Unless you understand this there will be no way you can properly determine whether the best use of your money is to pay the invoice off and take the discount or not.

The formula is simple so do not despair. Here is the formula:

365 x discount rate
Effective annual interest = ---------------------------------------
Number of days payment must be
made ahead of the due date to earn this discount.

So if a supplier offers you terms of "2/10 net 30" what is the effective rate of interest? Well, first
of all, he is offering you a 2% discount if you pay in 10 days. The normal terms are 30 days. This
means that to get the 2% discount you must pay 20 days early.

For this example we are assuming that you would normally comply with the 30 days terms.

For the sake of this example let us say the amount of the bill in question is the same $ 10,000 we have been talking about. This is what your formula looks like:

365 x.02
Effective annual interest = -------------- = .365
20

Your effective annual interest rate is 36.5%. Obviously, even if you had to borrow the money to pay off this invoice your rate of return will be well worth it.

Do not think I am suggesting paying off discounted invoices as the only option you want to look at. I have simply chosen this often overlooked strategy as an example.

You must always consider all your options for using your money. The goal is to seek out the most profitable option available to you at any given time.

Never forget that money has a cost. How you use it can make a great deal of difference to your bottom line.

The Secrets to Making Millions Online As an Affiliate

What's the secret to making online?

Wow, what a great question and I know many people want to know the answer, because the answer will be life changing for many, many people ...

Now who knows the answer ?? Well, ask any Internet Millionaire and they will tell you that there are a few options to be successful but the most proven, most effective and by far the most profitable business online today, is to become and Affiliate Marketer.

Affiliate Marketing is one of the easiest ways to generate high volumes of consistent cash on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. In fact many newbie Affiliates are eaching anywhere from $ 1000 up to $ 10,000 per month with no website, product or list of their own.

There are hundreds of programs that will show you how to become an affiliate online, but I can tell you now that most of them, or at least 90% of them are full of crappy e-books, up sells and fake promises that leave you more confused and more frustrated than ever before.

The best way and the only true way to learn something, is to learn it from someone that has achieved the results you are looking for or better still someone who is currently achieving them.

Introducing you to Michael Cheney, who is one such person approaching Millions of dollars a year as an Affiliate Marketer. He has many years of experience in this area and has a wealth of knowledge to share as a teacher and mentor for anyone who are seeking to create a solid "up your boss" income on the internet. Michael has created an unbelievable program that is by far one of the best Affiliate Marketing Programs online today and is guaranteed to make you a very successful and wealthy Affiliate Marketer.

Watch over the Shoulder of one of the Internets Top earning affiliates, who currently earns millions online every year as a super affiliate. Michael has created this amazing program for the first timer or the expert and has left nothing out. There is incredible detail with guidelines the Gurus do not want you to unforgettable. It will feel like Michael is right beside you holding your hand and leading you step by step to your financial destiny. You will find easy to follow instructions, methods and strategies that will in no time have you generatingenough money so you can live the life you have always dreamed of and no doubt will soon be saying a few magic words to your job or boss.

Included in the program are videos, PDF's, Audios & some surprise bonuses, all which are very easy to understand and follow and very soon you will be attending large sums of cash. This is a, I need this now purchase for 2010.

You will get Rich with this System if you take action. Everything you need to start earning huge affiliate commissions online is covered in detail through this entire program.

Three Things You Can Do With Gold Bullion Coins

Those who acquire gold bullion coins will be faced with a dilemma when they finally arrive at their house: what on earth are they to do with them? There is so much you can do with gold bullion coins that it can be difficult to know what use to put them to first.

If you are stuck for ideas on what to do with your gold bullion coins (GBC), then here are a few suggestions. The great thing about gold bullion coins is that they can be put to an infinite amount of uses. This list is by no means definitive!

1. Collect them

The number one use for these coins is for collection purposes. Some people collect stamps, some people collect football trading cards, some people collect gold bullion coins.

If you are a collector then the first thing you will want to do is view them in-line with the rest of your collection. Your collection may be stored in your safe, or at the local bank. A GBC collection is never really complete, but it sure does feel satisfying the more you add to it.

2. Use them as currency

Some gold bullion coins can actually be used as currency in their respective countries. The Gold Panda, for example, is legal tender in the People's Republic of China, which is why they are issued in the condemnation of Yuan.

There's no better feeling than taking your coins to your local store and using them to pay for everyday items, such as bread and milk. Be aware though, some stores will not accept them as currency, so if you are desperate to cash them, you'll have to take them to a bank or specialist trader.

3. A paper weight

One unconventional function for GBC is as a paper weight. Paper plays as bigger role in our lives now than ever before. Even with the growth of the internet, paper is still the cornerstone of any good office.

GBCs make a great paper weight. They are dense and heavy; which helps them make sure the paper they are weighing down stands no chance of going anywhere. They also look great on your desk and are sure to grab the attention of any visitors or passers-by.

These are the three main uses of this product. As we state though, this list is not Gospel! Try asking around your friends if you run out of ideas for uses for your GBCs.

Hire Web Developer - 10 Important Points to Ponder Upon

Nowadays it is almost an outdated thought to run a business without online presence! Besides that people know that online presence increases or just double the Return on Investment for all the businesses! Also institutions or organization do also keep their presence online to establish or spread themselves to the world. And to make the effort of building a website there are lots of web development companies who offer the customer or the clients to hire web developer. In this way the website building process has become easy and affordable too!

But there are some aspects in website development. One of those factors is to hire web developer who is or is really helpful or worthy to be hired. This is the reason I am trying to put down just 10 important points that always come in consideration at the time of hiring web developers. Let's have a look on the points:

1. Before you decide to hire web developer, just assess your requirements. It is very important to know what kind of development you are looking for. Do you need a simple static website or e-commerce site. Depending on these you have to search for the web developers.
2. Are you looking for open source development or the hard code? It may be the case that your projects can be best done in open source or vice-versa. So before you go to hire web developer make sure that you have determined the technologies / programming languages. It is essential because there are developers who are expert and specialist at open source or the hard code. You need to choose your ones.
3. You need to find out the expert and experienced people for your projects. You should never hire web developers who are having little experience in the kind of development you are looking for. Why not check out the portfolio of works? It will let you decide the quality of people you are choosing.
4. Try to assess the knowledge base and the professionalism of the developers you are considering to hire. You should clear the queries about the project you are thinking to offer to the developers. Again the work ethics or the process of work (stonestone deliverables, project documentation etc) will let you know the developers. So when you hire web developer never forget to take interview.
5. When you are thinking to build a website you should find the market trend to know if the project can be given to a local developer or it is best to think of outsourcing. These days it is best to hire web developer from offshore companies. Not only the cost but also the growing competition has facilitated the availability of best services from anywhere in the world.
6. You may hire web developer as dedicated to your projects or may go time-based hiring as you require. Both are good. But dedicated hiring is the best ploy as in this case your headache is less to complete the project. Even the flow of project is smooth and time of development becomes less.
7. You may hire web developer from a company or a freelancer. If you hire from a company you will get many types of developers or the specialist altogether and the development process becomes smooth. But in the matter of freelancers you have to be very much choosy and careful to know the professionalism or the quality of work of the particular developers. Sometimes multiple hiring of personnel becomes essential in the case of freelancers.
8. It is very much important to know that you hire web developer from somewhere that has proper infrastructure to complete your project. It is particularly essential as many a time it is found that you go for hiring a freelancer who does not have access to latest technologies and tools or the true setup to finish the projects. So proper search and confirmation of the infrastructure has become mandatory (also for companies).
9. Try to find out how is the reputation of the developer in providing support to the project both through the project completion and afterward maintenance. Never hire web developer with poor record in support or do not forget to judge the communication level of them. Otherwise total investment in the project may go in vain.
10. When you decide to hire web developer, do not go behind affordability always, care for the legal issues too. It is fact that affordable web development is now very possible. But it is not all the companies provide best service at affordable cost. Find out the reputed companies who do not only provide affordable service but also clears legal dealings, say money back guarantee issues, copyright, document & resource transfer and all.

Hope after going through the above points, you will understand how important it is to be careful in the process of hiring developers for getting the best development of the website you are thinking to build. Always remember the responsibility of best website development never only rest on the developers. It is also your discretion to hire single web developer from multiple companies or team of developer from one company. However, never feel helpless if you find the things little lengthy. You may take help of directories and tactfully choose the request a quote process for searching and getting best developers. Never hurry but be steady in the website building initiative - you will be successful.

What Are The Best Indoor Heating Options?

Most of the people start planning for their heating equipments to be used even before the arrival of the winter season as it can not bear the cold without them. Apart from inglenook and heaters, there are new and more advanced options that are being considered by the people now. These options including underneath floor heating are trouble free, inexpensive and can prove to be the permanent answer to intensely cold weather. There are a lot of options available to you when it comes to indoor heating.

Forced air / central heating system : The boilers heat up the air which is then shoved out of the vents with the help of air channels. The central point of the home is involved in the humidification, dehumidification and filtration of the air. This system is very economic and its settings can be adjusted for hot weather. The major drawbacks of this unit include maintenance on regular basis and creepy noise of air channels.

Radiant heat : The hot water tubes installed under the floor are used to distribute the heat evenly. The boilers (oil, gas, electricity) are utilized in heating the water tubes. Although this system is known for efficient generation of heat, it may take longer to warm up the rooms.

Hydronic / hot water based board system : Similar to the radiant heat, the hydronic heat is delivered to the rooms through heated hoses. The boilers are used to heat up the hoses but unlike radiant heat system, these pipes are placed in the small baseboard systems fixed in every room of the house. The heat is even delivered but it takes too much time to warm the rooms.

Steamers / boilers : This system uses the radiators to heat up the place and only one or two pipes are involved in the process. The pipes are heated using different techniques such as electricity, gas, and oil. Minimal maintenance is required by this system and they are available in different sizes.

Geothermal : In this system, the heat is taken from one place and propelled to another place. Even though much waste of resources is avoided by this system but it can be very costly.

When making a selection, you should consider all the aspects of each home heating system and then decide accordingly. Many companies are providing different packages of indoor heating systems with installation and you can also avail the offer of after sale services by just paying some more money.

Top 10 Reasons For Using The Easy Email Way to Transfer Your Email

If you need to transfer all emails from one computer to another, from one email client to another or from one operating system to another you can easily get a simple and easy guide needed to transfer your email.

There are probably many perfectly beneficial ways of transferring your email but here are 10 extremely good reasons for working with the transfer email guides:

1. These guides are written specifically with regards to your needs eg Thunderbird to Outlook 2007 as well as Outlook Express to Windows Live Mail. There's no guesswork, it really is an accurate match.

2. It really does not work! (typically the obvious here but a good deal advice the user gets for free on the internet does not work or merely offer you aa half answer) When the guide you may need is written it means that it has been tested that's why it works.

3. There's no need to shop for any software - this amazing method uses free software

4. It's very easy to follow along with, you do not need to be a technical pro

5. Making use of this system you will not come up compatibility issues - even if you're moving email from a PC to a Mac or Linux to a PC

6. What's more, it shows how one can move your contacts and signatures

7. There's a money back guarantee - if you can not get it to work you get a refund

8. There's a support forum anytime you need help it's actually there

9. You will not waste time shopping around for other solutions that may or may not exactly work (be careful of "free" advice, it may possibly cost you ")

10. Should you use way more than one computer and you want to synchronize your email once you have performed the initial transfer, it's an easy next step towards the Easy-Email synchronization setup.

You will be able to see these guides if you follow the links provided below.

Air Conditioning Repair is Your Key to a Comfortable Summer

With average August temperatures only in the low 70s, it does not seem like Boston would be uncomfortably hot in the summer. But as every New Englander knows, it's not the heat, it's the humidity that make the summer months uncomfortable.

Fortunately, your air conditioner will dehumidify the air as it is chilled, helping combat both the temperature and the humidity to maximize your comfort this summer. Of course, if your air conditioner is not in great shape, you'll need to have it fixed before the truly swampy days of summer hit. That's why it's important to call your air conditioning contractor today!

Air conditioner repair in Boston is your answer to comfortable living this summer. Routine service can help keep your AC in great working condition, but if your unit has developed a problem, it's time to call in the big guns-HVAC professionals. Regardless of what type of HVAC system you have, from air heating heat pumps to traditional cooling units, they'll be able to provide complete diagnostics and repair services. Some problems-like low coolant levels-are easier to fix than others, but even seemingly tricky issues can be effectively resolved by a skilled air conditioner repair technician.

Frequent problems that can prevent your air conditioner from functioning at its peak include:

• Clogged drain lines
• Malfunctioning compressors
• Low coolant levels
• Broken fans
• Thermostat issues
• Duct leaks or volume

It's easy enough for a homeowner to notice an issue with their AC-usually based on the temperature in your house-but it can be difficult to accurately troubleshoot the source of the problem. That's why we recommend calling a professional air conditioner contractor. No only will they be able to correctly diagnose your problem, they also have the expertise, equipment, and knowledge to repair your air conditioning. From correct handling and disposal of older, hazardous coolants like Freon to safe AC compressor repair, your HVAC pro has what it takes to do the job right.

To ensure you get the best air conditioning repair service possible, be sure you use a licensed, experienced provider. DIY and amateur repair attempts often make the problem worse and end up with a call to the experts, so you may as well just call the pros in the first place. HVAC repair in Boston [http://absolute-home-comfort.boston-biz.com/] is a breeze when you call the experts! No more worrying about your AC unit breaking down, or suffering through the next heat wave. With air conditioner repair, you'll be ready to enjoy the whole summer in cool comfort!

Conversion Kit Electric Car - Saturn and Others

If you are thinking of converting your car to become an electrical hybrid, and you think that it will only work for Saturn models, then you are a little mistaken. The fact is, electrical car conversion can be carried out on pretty much any vehicle there is. The conversion process although different for each vehicle, is based on the same concept and therefore works in the same way.

The main motivation for converting a car to become an electrical hybrid for most people, including those looking to convert their Saturn model, is the insane gas prices and scary economic news that we are receiving day by day. Electrical car conversion gives us an option as on how to handle the increasing gas prices of the modern-day.

The problem up until now was that Saturn electrical car conversion and others was extremely expensive, and only really was available for people that could pay for a commercial installation, or those few people that could afford a brand-new or second hand hybrid vehicle.

Now, with many people having experienced and played around with this concept in their own garages, on models like the Saturn and others, the technology has become much more refined. As mentioned before, it is now possible to convert pretty much any vehicle, with the exception of maybe a large truck such as a semitrailer.

The best way to achieve this process, in terms of cost and investment return, is by using a do-it-yourself guide. These guides can be found all over the Internet, and provide a step-by-step blueprint on how to achieve the conversion process, including where you find the materials that you'll need and what tools to use.

So whereabouts do you find one of these conversion kit guides, and which ones are the best?

The Best Wheels And Tires For Trucks

When you are searching for the best wheels and tires for trucks, you need to make sure the wheel and tire that you want is going to match your truck. All trucks are different and you need to make a selection that is going to benefit you and your truck. Go through the categories below and make sure that the wheels and tires you are choosing for your truck are the correct ones.

Wheels and tires for large trucks.

When you are using your truck, such as an eighteen-wheeler, to haul massive items you need to make sure that you are getting the largest wheels possible. You want to find the largest wheels that will fit the truck, and you want to be sure that the tires are going to remain unobstructed. You could get tires that are actually too big and those tires are going to make the truck too hard to drive. These tires also give you better traction when you are trying to drive off road or on difficult surfaces. The tires also need to be able to support the truck and the additional weight of the cargo it is carrying.

Wheels and tires for small trucks.

The wheel and tire you choose for a small truck must be adapted to the use of the truck, whether it is a lorry or mini truck. There are trucks that will require the use of smaller wheels because it is meant to fit a truck that sits lower to the ground than, say, an eighteen-wheeler. When these trucks sit so low to the ground you have to make sure that you have slim tires that are going to fit the base of the truck. Also consider the tires tread for the types of conditions or roads that you'll be driving in. You need to choose the right kinds of wheels and tires because a larger wheel may not fit on the truck.

You can customize your truck in any way you want if you are using proper wheels. These wheels are going to help you drive the truck in the proper way, and they are going to provide the transaction you need when you are on the road. You need a great deal of transaction to run these trucks, and you want to get wheels that are the proper size and fit. You can make your truck run better with just one informed decision.

How to File a Nail Without a Nail File

Do not you hate it when you break or snag a finger nail? It's annoying and dangerous. Anyone that has cut their nose with a rough nail knows this. Do not even go near your eye - ouch! No file - no problem. I learned years ago how to take care of a rough nail without a nail file. Call me cheap or call me ingenious - I do not care. My methods work.

It is easiest if you are staying in a hotel to find an alternative to a nail file. And is not this when you need a file the most - away from home? It's hiding in that nice big bathroom that you do not have to clean. It comes in many colors and many sizes. It always works and will not only cure the rough edges but can help reshape the nail. Shower tiles, or more specifically, the grout between the tiles are nail-wonderful. All you need to do is rub your nail along the grout line and viola - smooth again. You can take the drive-by approach or attend to that snag in the shower - whatever fits your time line. Best of all - you know the shower is cleaned daily. Of course, this works in your own shower if you can not find a file.

The other no-file approach I find helpful is the underside of desks or stone counter tops. One is wood one is stone. Either will work in a pinch. Usually the tops of both are as smooth as glass. But the bottoms are a goldmine. File away. This will keep you from hurting yourself until you find a file.

Just pick clean places to file your nails. Do not try these tricks in the subway or in the airplane bathroom. You never know what will work. Remember, you do not need a nail file to file that nail.

Pre Approved Auto Loans Make Your Car Loan Process Pleasurable

Want to buy your dream car? Are you afraid of car loan rejection? Are you worried that you will be stuck with high rate auto dealership financing? Well, you can get yourself a pre-approved auto loan and forget worrying about car financing.

A pre approved auto loan is an easier and an excellent way to buy the car. You will not only save money but will also save yourself from dealing with dealership financing. It is possible that dealers who may not offer you lower rates. You certainly do not want to get a raw deal. But with a pre approved auto loan, you can stay away from higher interest rates and last minute changes in loan terms and conditions.

With a pre qualified car finance, you know the exact amount of money that you can spend. You automatically remain in budget. As you know each and every detail of the car loan, there are no chances of unsuccessful surprises in the future.

Pre qualified auto financing is good because it gives you greater negotiation power. The dealer knows that you have ready money and so, he will not have any problem in reducing the car price. Also, you will be able to negotiate better terms and conditions.

How To Get Instant Approval on Pre Approved Auto Loans?

Know Where You Are

Assessing your financial statements should be the first step in getting an auto loan. You must have your current pay stubs with you. It can be used as a proof of your income and employment. Your utility bills can ensure the lender that you have been making regular payments.

Study your credit report. Identify the errors and report it to the credit bureaus. Your credit score will improve as soon as wrong entries and unwarranted transactions are removed from your report. Paying off old debts and making regular payments can also help in increasing your credit score.

Shop Around

Once you have all the necessary documents, you can apply for a pre approved car loan. Do not apply with a single lender. Instead, apply with multiple lenders and then, compare car loan quotes. When you apply at multiple places, you have the opportunity of choosing the best pre-approved auto loan program.

It is time consuming to visit local lenders and dealers and apply for a pre-qualified car loan. You can make use of the internet and get your free car loan quotes. All your work will be done at the click of mouse and you will not even have to leave your home.

Choosing The Best Pre Approved Auto Loan Quote

When you receive auto loan quotes, compare them and find the best car loan program. Do not choose an auto loan quote because it has the lowest monthly payments. Consider several aspects like interest rates, loan term, APR, car loan conditions, pre-payment penalty, additional fees and charges, etc.

Once you choose a car loan quote, the lender will give you the check. It is generally valid for a limited period such as two or three months.

With a check in hand, you have the freedom to choose your favorite car. Truly, pre approved car loans are a perfect way of avoiding any unpleasurable surprises in future. So, do not waste any time and apply for a pre approved auto loan today!

Advantages of Military Auto Loans

Lots of people who have served or are currently providing services in the US Military might not know about military auto loans concept that are specifically tailor to meet their needs, with low interest rates and better pay back options applied. These types of loans are provided only to those who are actively serving in the military. This loan is also provided to those who bad credit scores. The repayment of the loans is also extremely simple and easy. They make sure that the military people make the most out of this amazing opportunity. But, your duration of service in the military does make difference in getting an auto loan.

The repayment of the loans is also very favorable too all as these are military auto financing. Being a military person if you need a car, no matter with a good or bad credit opportunities are more for military personnel, all you have to visit website and fill up easy credit application form to get pre-approved by providing some basic identity proof to get approved for military car loans. Be careful when dealing with any website out there that claim to be offer lowest rates regardless of credit history. There are many genuine websites where you can get auto financing for military members even with bad credit rating. Getting reviews and user saying can help lots in making the right decision.

Military auto loans option has major beneficial over any traditional auto loans including low interest rates applied. Most of the financial lenders are happy to provide auto loans for military personnel because they are likely to have stable income and more steadiness in their jobs as compared to people with unsecured jobs.

Online Approval:

The process for credit application are very simple, all you have to visit online and provide you complete details; like your military proofs like income, residential address and region where you are placed. You will be asked to provide your contact details. You are advised to provide your cell phone number and email address. You can never default on a Military car loan but if you do chances are your car will end up being repossessed and you might regret your behavior. Due to this your credit may suffer and your credit from bad will go under to real worst.

Everything is done online and in a very easy and instantaneously. There are many websites that provide military auto financing. All you have to do is research and look for the best deal for you. There are many websites that provide the best auto financing deals online. All you have to do is apply online after providing them your contact address, email, phone and email address. There are military auto loans called as veteran auto loans. Veteran auto loan are only for veterans. You will have to show proof of everything that have, esp. your active military work. Keep in mind that these loans may be easy to get but the financiers do check your credit will be declined and analyzed before providing you the final report. Let us hope this article helps you in the future.

Preface to an Old Story

The New Testament of the Bible was written in Greek by Hebrew writers in order to appeal to an educated Roman audience already familiar with the writings of the Greek philosophers. Insuring therefore that it would appear to the Roman reader that the story of Jesus was that of a Greek philosopher, albeit transposed onto the exotic territory of the Roman Empire's Middle Eastern provinces. Why would they do this, since the stories of the Old Testament were obviously written by Hebrews for Hebrews? Why, except to make the story palatable to those readers exactly on the grounds that a Roman audience would readily accept a tale of an outlaw philosopher and his loose band of radicals.

They would accept such stories as wildly colorful and different from the typically dry Greek dialogues that they were regularly offered. The stories of Christ, deriving in part from stories older than the Old Testament itself, were closer to Roman stories. That is, more primeval, in fact, more Greek, than the erudite plays and philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, Euripides or Aristophanes. The Gospels were stories purported to have taken place in the 'present' day, and for their time may very well have appeared "Ripped from the headlines" of revolt and crucifixion, tales of which would have doubly reached the average person in Rome in distorted and exaggerated form. Therefore a character combining attributes similar to their own gods borrowed from the Greeks and in Greek would prove immensely popular.

The qualities of the Greek Zeus, Hermes and Dionysus as the Roman Juno, Mercury, Bacchus, and the Greco-Roman Apollo, rolled into one hero who was both tragic and triumphant, hounded and persecuted while at the same time hailed and praised by the masses, would have to exert a considerable fascination over those that could read, and the stories could then be told, that is, passed on orally, until artists picked up the themes and bought them to life in vivid pictures like life-size comic books , larger than life in fact, depicting as they did miracles, angels, demons, creation, heaven, hell, and indeed God himself in the person of Jesus Christ, a beatific, bearded sage with eyes half-shut in sublime contemplation of all he had thought, his disciples and followers depicted as awestruck and astounded by his every word and deed.

This was the reaction that was bought by the writers of the tales of the New Testament, and much like the Hollywood moguls of the early 20th century they bought to mute their Jewishness by presenting the tales as not Jewish at all, but Greek. But also like Hollywood, they could not entirely conceive the obvious Jewish origin, mostly stating the fact in passing. In references that are mostly obscured by the stories' action, there are Romans, Gentiles, Philistines, and almost every creed under the sun, as well as Jews.

The following work is written with the intent of exciting the contemporary reader in the same way, of instilling the sense of high drama, adventure and romance experienced by those first Roman readers tired of the rote pageantry and banal pedagogic exposition of the day, analogous to today's celebrity-obsessed tabloid culture and the opinionated bluster of ill-informed media pundits.

The Jesus Christ presented in The Liar's Gospel is not only a product of the imagination, it is a product of an American imagination; an American Jesus motivated by self-interest, albeit caring not for the lilies of the field, which either reap nor sow.

This is a Jesus that wants his reward here on the ground; who has waited long enough to get his due and has worked out the percentage in his favor. It is a Jesus with no illusions; who takes what he wants with both hands, be it land, money or women. It is a Jesus with a rap sheet and bad reputation that he lives up to in spades. His boys are no better, devoted followers that they are, fishermen-cum-grifters, thieves and murderers.

This is and is not the Bible. Like the Bible, the Gangsters is set in the a historical present and is the story of a group of men willing to go the distance, come what may, and who take no foolish chances.

It is what the Bible would be like if it were real-occurring right this minute-to be followed by 2000 years of Atheism.

Interesting Flooring Layouts With Carpet Tiles

If you want to render a lasting impression on your home decor, flooring is one area which you must not ignore. In fact, creative flooring solutions achieved with the help of carpet tiles are not only cost-effective but also change the way your home interior looks and feels. Let us take a look at a few designer flooring layout ideas.

Entrance: The entrance of a house decides where your guest will step into. Therefore, the floor must be well demarcated. You can use light color tiles in warm tones with darker tiles along the borders of the hallway to add a distinctive look to your home entrance.

Living room: Mosaic flooring lay outs are most popular in the living room area. You can choose from a variety of colors and patterns of modular tiles to achieve a vibrant look. Choose cool color tiles in shades of white, blue, purple and green if you have a smaller living area and warm colors such as orange, red and yellow for larger spaces.

Bedrooms: Bedrooms must look warm, cozy and inviting. Therefore, for bedrooms you can choose warmer colors of carpet tiles with thin, hand painted style borders to give a Spanish finish. For the kids' rooms, you may choose tiles with bright colors and patterns to add a fun element to the overall design and decor.

Study: For a place as serious and meditative as the study, tiles which look like a wooden-finish are the best. They not only add to the elegance of the place but also have a unique appeal of their own. Choose wooden colors and rich shades of brown color tiles.

Kitchen and dining area: The kitchen and dining area can either have similar style of tiles or different ones. Plain carpet tiles in soft colors and with minimal design look the best in kitchen. However, if you wish to have different tiles in the dining area, choose dark tiles to create an impression of a border to divide the two areas.

Bathrooms: To render a relaxed feeling, bathroom flooring needs to be relaxing too. Choose light color tiles that will catch light and exude a glow while you relax in your hot tub or spa.

Balcony: You can mix and match different styles and colors of tiles in the balcony to create a vibrant flooring effect.

Here's hoping that these tips will help you choose the most suitable carpet tiles that will give your home decor a unique appeal.

How To Keep The Flesh Under Subjection

Do you know that your body is not saved yet?

I didn't. I gave my heart to Jesus when I was thirteen years old. But I noticed very quickly that, while a part of me desired God and the things of God, like reading my Bible and prayer, another part of me still wanted the things of the world, the things of the flesh. Am I the only one?

This was what really confused me at the beginning of my walk with Christ. And because of things which I did not understand, when I gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ, I doubted my salvation for over a year. I am not joking.

This was because I was taught wrong somewhat. I use to sing in the youth choir at the church I attended and they sang a song that said, "I look at my hands and they looked new, I looked at my feet and they were too.

I thank God for that church, for because of its influence upon my life, through the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, I got saved. However, this song was wrong.

My hands were not new when I got saved. Nor did my feet get reborn. The only part of me that got saved was my spirit. My body did not change. And neither did yours.

This is why a person may feel like doing wrong, even after giving your life to Jesus. Even though you did undergo a change, a real, supernatural, Holy Ghost change within, nothing changed without.

And if you yielded to your flesh and sinned, the mental torture and sadness really hurts, because within, you know that you just want to please God. Am I right? Take heart, my bothers and sisters. God has made a way for us to control the ungodly desires of the flesh.

The body will one day experience change, and this mortal flesh, this death-doomed body of humiliation will one day be changed and glorified to conform to the body of our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:50-58).

But until then, we must go to the Word of God and find out what we are supposed to do with our bodies so that they do not sway and deter us from the Will of God, and back into old modes of operation, from our past lives.

Have you been having any problems with your flesh? Does your body, at times, still want to do things you know are not right, things which does not line up with God's Word. We all can identify with this, can't we?

Maybe you came out of a life of fornication, which is sex outside of marriage. Now you are saved. You have given your life to the Lord Jesus Christ and experience the power of His cleansing blood washing your sins away and making your spirit a new creation in Him. Oh, the wonder of it all. You are new, recreated and regenerated with the very life of God by the Spirit of the Living God. And for a time you reveled in His Presence. Yet after a time you started to feel a pull back to your old life.

Feelings of an ungodly sort start to try and entice you to do things you know God does not like. You wonder what it's all about. You try to figure it out. You are disturbed. What's going on, you begin to ask yourself? Am I really saved? I thought I was. People told me that I was. The person who prayed with me told me I was. And the enemy says to your mind, maybe you are not saved. If you were saved you would not be thinking such thoughts and desiring to do such things. Maybe your sins are not washed away.

Do not listen to that liar. The devil is a liar and the father of lies. Jesus said so (John 8:44).

If you gave your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, on the authority of God's Holy Written Word, you are saved (Rom. 10:9-10).

The feelings you are experiencing is because your body, while already paid for by the blood of Christ, has not yet experienced its redemption. God, knowing this, therefore admonishes us to give our bodies to Him and yield it to Him, keeping it under control at all times.

Even the apostle Paul, who had several visitations from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and had been caught up to the third Heaven and heard things unlawful for a man to utter, to whom came the revelation of Jesus Christ and who established churches for the Lord Jesus Christ, said he had to keep his body under subjection in 1 Corinthians 9:27. "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

Permit me to once again quote this passage of Scripture from the Amplified Bible.

"But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it but hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]." (9:27)

Why would the apostle Paul have to keep his body under subjection? He was saved, was he not? If there was anyone who had a real bona-fide and authentic experience with God, it was Paul. Yet he had to discipline his body by hardships and handle it roughly. He had to make his body obey God. Why would Paul have to do this, you may ask again? The answer is because his body had not yet experienced redemption. It was not saved. Paul was saved, but his body was not. And neither is yours.

Until the Master comes and our bodies are changed, you, like the apostle Paul, will have to buffet your body, handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships and train it to obey the Word of God. It will want to go contrary to God's Will at times. But you must let your spirit, the real you, control that body and bring it under subjection. Don't let your flesh rule your life. Sure, what it attempts to push you to do may seem like fun and feel like fun. But your flesh, if allowed to be in control, will in the end, destroy you and keep you from experiencing God's best for your life.

Let me prove this to you from God's Word in Romans 8:5-6, and 12-13, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to carnally (fleshly) minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

What can we do with our flesh, you may ask? What is the answer for dealing it its ungodly passion and desires? How can we get victory over it? This I will cover in more detail in another article. But, for now, please hear as the apostle Paul give us the answer:

Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."





Here is how the Amplified Bible translate that verse:

"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship." (12:1, AMP)

Tips for DIY Carpet Installation

Before you decide whether to install the carpet yourself or hire a professional to do it, you should know that it can be a labor-intensive and time-consuming project. Make sure that you do your research on all the different steps that are involved in carpet installation when doing it yourself. The first thing that you will need to do is remove the old carpet and padding benefit it. Sometimes you can reuse the older padding but it is advisable to install new padding when you get new carpet. Before you rip up the old carpet make sure that you vacuum the carpet to help prevent excess dirt and dust from entering the air. You should make sure that you have all the necessary tools needed for carpet installation before you start.

Once you have the old carpet and padding underneath you need to vacuum the floor that was underneath. You will also have to remove all of the old tackless strips and then replace them with new ones. These are what help to hold the new carpet in place. If the strips are in reasonably good condition you can also reuse these. The first thing that you need to is put down the tackless strips and then your carpet padding. The carpet padding should overlap your tackless strips. You should use duct tape to seal the seams of the pads. It is important that you make sure that the seams do not overlap because this can lead to having lumps in your new carpet installation and can be a tripping hazard. Using a stapling gun staple the padding in place to make sure that it does not shift during the carpet installation process.

When doing DIY carpet installation it is very important that you make sure that the carpet is stuck tight against each wall before you secure it against the tackless strips. One tool that you will have to rent is called a knee kicker. This tool is used to force the carpet toward each wall. One end of the tool is padded so the one installing the carpet will kick, or hit, the padded end with their knee. It can be a very tiring job but is one that has to be done to make sure that the carpet installation looks like a professional has done it. You can also use a carpet stretcher, which is a simple hand tool that makes sure that the carpet is tight and flat against the surface of the floor. This tool is often used with other carpet tools like with the knee kicker.

Become a Corona Beer Girl and Make Money - 3 Ways to Become a Beer Girl

Corona Beer girls are having the time of their lives promoting the fun and exciting lifestyle of Corona Beer. They are sexy and attractive females that are able to grab the attention of men in local bars or sporting events.

Beer Girls typically make over $25 per hour and work a minimum of 4 hours per promotion.

Beer Companies are constantly doing promotions that resonate with their targeted consumers and using attractive girls to entertain during these promotions. You may have seen the Corona Girls at your local bar or sporting event handing out beads or playing games with consumers.

Bars Owners are asking for them while their consumers are begging for them. Beer girls are bringing in more revenue for bar owners and for the beverage manufacturer.

Beer Girl Requirements

Girls that want to do beer promotions must fit the following criteria.

1. They must be Over the age of 21

2. The must be fun, flirty, sexy and able to hold a conversation.

3. They must be reliable and have reliable transportation.

4. They must have a good memory if they are going to remember a script. Some marketing agencies want their promotional models to follow a scripts so they deliver the right message about their brand.

Become a Corona Beer Girl

1. Contact your local Corona Beer Distributor and ask them who handles their beer promotions.

2. Do a search on Google for Corona Promotional Jobs

3. Contact Corona Corporate office and ask them which marketing firm handles their promotions.

Professional Carpet Installation: How Does It Work?

Upon returning home to your apartment, after a long day at work, all you want is some peace and quiet. As you close the front door and kick off your shoes, you walk over to the sofa to relax. Unfortunately, before you can clear up your head, your neighbor begins playing opera music at a volume loud enough to be considered a live performance. Not the quietest welcome home.

One of your carpet's advantages is that that dampens the noises around you. In fact, carpeting can create a comfortable and soft feel in your home. It can also be a beautiful accessory and can really liven up a room. Very often, the color and style of your carpet is as important to your apartment's design as the furniture you select.

Once you've picked out the perfect combination of style and color, it's time to decide wherever you are going to hire a pro to install it or try to DIY. There are a lot of things to consider before you start installing carpets by yourself. In most cases, it's wise to get someone with experience to do the job.

DIY vs Professional Carpet Installation

A major advantage of installing your own carpet is that you'll save money. The usual expenses of installation, labor and removal of the old carpet will be eliminated. The only large costs on your end will be the carpet itself and any special tools that you might need to buy or rent. Also, the timing of the job is entirely up to you. Instead of waiting for the installation schedules most companies give you, you can begin the task when you want and work at your own pace. Finally, the quality of the task is in your hands. If you're worried about hiring a company only to find out later they have done a poor job, then this is your chance to make your carpet look its best.

With all that said, there are certainly some downsides to tackling the installation project on your own. For instance, if you find that the job is a little more difficult than you've expected, but you've already rented some portions and cut others, then your carpet's warranty will most likely no longer be valid. So, if you've done a poor job, there's no one to help you cover the cost. Also, as it can be difficult for you to use the equipment, this may cause issues for someone who's never tried to lay a carpet before. While the installation can be a DIY project, it's important to remember that it's also a large undertaking and one that requires a lot of determination and work.

Finding Competent Carpet Installation Providers

As already discussed, carpet installation is a big job, and if you're going to go with pros, you want to ensure you're getting the best offer for the price you pay. The first thing you'll need to do is research for a carpet installation company. There are many contractors out there that will do carpet installation, including large home-improvement stores. Keep in mind that most carpet retailers have their own carpet installation staff. The good side of working with your retailer is that both the carpet and installation should be fully covered by a warranty. However, it'll be more expensive than going with an independent installer. When you want to hire an independent contractor that will provide the same level of service, you may have to do a bit more research.

So, you've chosen your installer. What is to be expected on the installation day? At the beginning, they will remove your old carpet and dispose of it for a small extra fee. Then they will lay down the underpad, which will make your new carpet more comfortable. An underpad is a foam padding that will make your carpet feel softer when you walk on it. It will also help dampen the noise. After the underpad has been laid, the technician will begin with the carpet.

Your Benefits of Quality Carpet Installation

When you call for a professional to install your new carpet, you expect a certain level of quality and the knowledge that the job will be done to meet exact standards. Installing your own carpet could end up in any number of ways, but if you hire those who know the process, you'll end up with a job well done.

Even if the worst-case scenario happens, such as huge ripples in your new flooring, or the seams are showing, or the carpet is lifting away from the walls, you know you have some recourse against the retailer or contractor that installed it. When working with pros, you should have guarantee that the job will be done right the first time, or you will not have to pay for the repairs. The most appropriate way to avoid mistakes is to make sure the carpet is installed in place correctly the first time.

Basic Bakery Operation

Everybody loves bread. It is simple and easy to eat even while you are walking on the street or on the way to your office. Loves eating it does not mean that you know how to make it. We usually get our bread and pastry at bakery or supermarket and it is already baked and ready to eat. But do you know how the bakers made it and what is the basic bakery operation took place?

Bakery operation can be divided into four main section. This section including mixing, shaping, dressing and baking. There are certain tools and machinery needed although there are sometimes it just need experience and skill obtained by long years in this fields. Different with other type of food and beverage business, bakery business need more than one staff that work in production kitchen to be more efficient.

Mixing is the most important section in bakery operation. This section will determine how long your production will run each day including washing and cleaning process. The one who is responsible in mixing dough for bread, topping and cake mixed need to be accurate, consistent, discipline with high level of concentration to avoid mistake and waste. Not to mention using a lot of energy. Just imagine if someone who work with 20kg to 25kg of sweet dough each session, need to transfer the dough from the mixer to the kneed table to cut and weighed before dividing it to smaller pieces. These tiring process will easily make people forget and made a mistake on following the right recipe.

Transforming a dough into an interesting bread design will require skill and experience. The knowledge in culinary art will help greatly in this artistic process. Imagine a baker with a skillful hand can make more than 30 bread design each day and he need to make it all in a hurry to avoid the earlier made dough get proofed. However, for much easier bread design that does not require additional tools except for roller, a staff with good training can make sure it done. For beginner or rookie baker, task like shaping tart dough or preparing the mold for baking is most likely the best choice.

Dressing a proofed bread does not need much skill or effort. What they need is good memories and faster hand. The one who up for this task need to memorize each shape and names of the bread that are ready to dress with specific ingredients, topping and quantity. For samples, if production order require Tuna bread, so he need to make sure what shape or bread design that use with tuna flakes. This goes for every type of bread that need to be baked. If daily production require more than 30 different bread design and shape, there is nothing more than good memory needed.

The last and finishing section is nothing more than baking. The one who is responsible for this task usually known as oven man. Good knowledge and high concentration needed while handling an oven to ovoid over baked or much worst disaster. Every type of bread has a different setting of temperature and time needed to get the best result. Oven man need to concentrate on his job because handling this dangerous machinery can be much trickier when it involves electric or gas. Some small mistakes can lead to profit loss and not to mention life at stakes.

Psychological & Philosophical Reflections About Life & Humanity Based on Glimpses From the Bible

Interpretations of the Bible through the centuries

Throughout the centuries there have been various interpretations and comments about the bible. Among the best-known are one from the 11th century, of Rabbi Shlomo Yitschaki (known as Rashi, 1040 - 1105) - a French rabbi of the Middle Ages, considered as the greatest scholar ever to interpret the Old Testament. Another well-valued interpretation of the Old Testament is from a much later date - the 19th century - the one of Moshe David Cassuto, an Italian Rabbi and Scholar (1883 - 1951).

Many of these interpretations are meant primarily to those who devote themselves to reading in and learning the Bible, and otherwise are too complicated for the average person to understand.

Bible stories told in simple language

In addition, there are many books which tell the Bible stories in a more "simple, readable" language. Many of such books, intended for adults as well as for children, attempt to be accurate to the Scripture, crafted in a simple, understandable language, aimed at having the reader (s) grasp and understand the main point (s) of the stories (I do not mention here any examples of such stories in order not to "advertise" any of them).

Yet, Mordechai Rimor, Ph.D., a psychologist, a philosopher, a college teacher and the author of many academic and literary works, has found a unique way to bring the bible stories to our attention (Mordechai Rimor, Ph.D. : Variations on the Book: Glimpses from the Bible, Create Space Independent Publishing, 2012, 590 Pages).

The Uniqueness of Dr. Rimor's "Variations on the Book"

"Variations on the Book", is unique in form and style, featuring brief tales - one page or less. Each tale is based on one verse taken from the Old or the New Testament. In the more than 500 tales in "Variations on the Book" Dr. Rimor allows his imagination to carry him beyond "dry" interpretation of the verse and to a more poetic, interesting, compact story-line. In so doing he not only brings forth a unique approach (different from many others who tried to literally interpret the Bible), but also engages us, the readers, in visualizing the picture he draws in front of our eyes.

What's unique and refreshing about Dr. Rimor's "Variations on the Book" is that he does not try to interpret the bible stories, nor does he attempt to re-write or craft them in a simple language. Rather, he takes a paragraph which joins his attention and, based on this single paragraph, he crafts a short, concise fictional story, applying his own imaginary powers.

In so doing Dr. Rimor gives us - the readers - the freedom and the "permission" to use our own imagination, psychological and philosophical perception - just as he does! - to refer to the Bible's stories in our own way , thus linking our own life-experiences and wisdom to the Bible's stories.

Many literary as well as religion scholars have long agreed on the promise that the Bible engulfs all possible "scenarios" of human kind, from love and death, to betrayal and war; from belief and emotion, to sadness and happiness. Dr. Rimor's book takes a note of such a well-known argument and uses his fruitful imagination to bring a new, current life-perspective to many of the Bible's versions.

As such, Rimor's "Variations on the Book" hints at the educational value of the Bible, by "allowing" and encouraging us to open our eyes and imagination to the Bible's stories - each from our own perception and life-experiences.

Is there any better way to get "involved" with these stories than on a personal level?

Pros and Cons of Declawing Your Cat - Know Your Options

Please consider your options before presenting your cat for declaw surgery

There are many alternatives to declawing that should be considered before you choose to have this surgery done on your cat. I'm going to discuss a selection here, along with three of the most common surgical techniques.

Option to #1: "PRE-CLAWING"

I'm going to coin a term here! Have you ever heard the term "precycling"? It's the act of buying items that you know will NOT create a lot of waste. Like, buying something in a cardboard box instead of something in a plastic bag. Anyway, if you've got a cat, or you're going to get a cat, THINK before you buy your furniture. Cats like to scratch rough surfaces, so instead, buy items with a smooth texture like leather or velvet. The better you "preclaw", the more likely you can avoid having to declaw your kitty!

Option to #2: NAIL TRIMMING

Trimming your cat's nails is pretty easy, once you get the hang of it. A cat with blunt nails does MUCH less damage to furniture, drapery and rugs, and in my opinion, trimming your cat's nails is much easier than applying Soft Paws. The basic premise of trimming your cats nails is to cut the white part, don't cut the pink part:

Option to #3: SCRATCHING POSTS

Most cats can be trained to use a scratching post to avoid declaw surgery. Scratching posts can be bought, or if you're into carpentry, built. Sisal-covered posts are preferred by many cats, though other materials like cardboard are often equally effective. Scratching posts that include several elevations (horizontal and vertical) are best since cats like sitting on elevated surfaces. If one post doesn't work, get a second one, and experiment with their locations. Offer kitty a variety of surfaces and elevations, and he will soon choose his favorites. You may need to entice him to paw at the new post by encouraging him to chase after a toy or string around it. As you might expect, the earlier you start to train your cat to use appropriate scratching surfaces, the more likely he will be to prefer scratching posts in the end.

Option to #4: SOFT PAWS

These are soft vinyl caps that you superglue onto each of your cat's nails. They fall off after a few weeks, and need to be reapplied at least monthly. I can count on one hand the number of clients who have used these and liked them. On the other hand, if you think you'd like to see your cat with fluorescent pink nails, these might be just the thing for you. Seems to me trimming the nails is easier and just as effective.

Option to #5: FELIWAY

Feliway is a pheromone, produced as either a pump spray or a room atomizer, that mimics the scent applied when a cat rubs the side of her face on something. The theory here is that if your cat smells what she thinks is her own pheromone on the couch, she'll be less likely to feel the need to apply the scent that comes out of the bottom of her FEET by clawing.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AVOIDING DECLAW SURGERY, this site from Cornell University offers a video series on Managing Destructive Scratching Behavior you may like. http://www.partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/destructive-scratching

Veterinarians use one of three basic surgical tools to perform declaw surgery

LASER SURGERY

Sure, they're whiz-bang, and incredibly expensive, but it turns out a LASER is really just a fancy scalpel blade. Its supposed upsides are that it "seals and cauterizes" as you cut, but the way it does this is by literally burning a hole through the tissue. As you might imagine, burned tissue doesn't like healing against other burned tissue, and bleeding several days after surgery is not unusual. I have seen NO clinical benefit to using the LASER, so I don't have one. Don't believe the hype! A LASER does NOT improve outcomes, and is NOT worth the money!

THE GUILLOTINE DECLAW

BOOOO! Back in the day, veterinarians used a brand name nail trimmer to remove MOST of the claw. Problem is, sometimes that little bit of claw you left in there regrew, causing additional pain and often a second surgery to remove the regrown portion. No vet worth visiting does this anymore. MANY OF THE STORIES YOU READ ABOUT ON THE INTERNET REGARDING POORLY HEALING DECLAW SURGERIES ARE RELATED TO THIS OUTDATED SURGICAL TECHNIQUE. Nail Trimmers do a POOR job of declawing

COLD STEEL BLADE

When I am asked at our Indianapolis Veterinary Clinic to declaw a cat, with informed consent and having considered alternatives, my surgical experience has taught me to prefer an ordinary #11 scalpel blade for this surgery. I can feel the tissues and make sure I'm only cutting what I intend to cut, I can see the tissues and don't have to wear LASER-attenuating plastic glasses, I can hear the tissues move and not listen to the gas-evacuation pump that is necessary during Laser surgery. In my hands, a scalpel is the safest, quickest healing, most effective tool to use for this surgery.

Consider your options and make an INFORMED decision before surgery

Whatever your feelings, it's clear there are alternatives to consider. Alternatives to having it done in the first place, plus alternatives to consider on the surgical table if you decide to have it done.

A Comprehensive Guide In Choosing Used Vans For Sale

When it comes to vehicles, vans are one of the most popular options since it provide numerous benefits for individuals. For one, vans can be used in different purposes. Next, vans are very reliable. And, vans have good value in case that you plan to sell it in the future. However, buying a new one can be very expensive. That is why, more and more individuals are opting for used vans for sale. To help you the best used van, below are some factors you need to consider.

Model

First and foremost, when searching for used vans, it is important for buyers to check the model. This is important since there are numerous models to choose from. And, each model offer unique features that can match a driver's need. Plus, older van models are cheaper than new ones, which can benefit individuals who have low budget.

Engine

The next factor that individuals need to consider when searching for used vans for sale is the engine. Apart from interior and exterior features, van models also differ in the engine. Some engines are equipped with more advanced technology for better response, while some engines are built to provide you with power. Not to mention, you may also find used vans that use gas or diesel engines. So, it is important that you consider these factors in order to help you make better buying decisions.

Space

It is also best that you check its space. Some vans have larger interior space than others. And, these vans are commonly used by individuals who are looking for a vehicle that can be used for private as well as business purposes. Other than that, space is crucial especially if you want to provide comfort for the whole family when traveling.

Maneuverability

Individuals must also consider its maneuverability. Vans are quite huge. Thus, driving on tight spaces can be stressful. This gets even worse if the van you purchased does not have good maneuverability. Vans with good maneuverability can also help you reduce the risks of accidents.

Parts availability

Finally, it is also best that you check the availability of parts of the van before purchasing. Surely, you can find used vans with low mileage or even vehicles that are in pristine condition. However, with regards to parts, finding one can be hard. So, make sure that you choose a van that have accessible parts. In this way, you can maintain the vehicle easily and properly without spending too much.

These are some of the most important factors that individuals need to think of when searching for used vans for sale.

Is Cash Gifting a SCAM?

Stop the commotions! Everything on the internet is a scam. Right? That's what I was told. There are scams out their in cyberspace. But I will tell you as a member that cash gifting is furthest from a scam. In cash gifting there is almost a security factor in the system. You are invited into the program so that you can gift the individual. But it does not stop there. The reason that you are given the opportunity is so that you can give someone else the same opportunity.

People go to college to learn about a career. The problem is that 80% of students do not use that learning for that career. I know that cash gifting has a better percentage rate for people that learn the system.

This is possible because the members that you see all over the web are their to make money and produce more members. The only way that it is going to work is if they teach new members the secrets of the internet.

I have never known so much about the internet. The only way that I found out about the secrets was by taking action and joining the program and if that means that it might be a scam than I just wasted a lot of time and so did my invite. People were put on earth to prosper and change. Lets start using that to our advantage. Lets stop accusing people of wrong for our own self-confidence.

Please research and contact a team of friends that do not really now each other but help each other.

Van Parts - How Do You Replace a Torque Converter?

If you're faced with the decision on whether or not to fit your own torque converter and are unsure how to do this, then do not fret. We'll take you through how, in our step by step guide.

Depending on your speed and levels of skill, this job will take around three hours to complete. It is a fairly tricky job to undertake so please take the time to read through the instructions and ensure that you feel competent and confident in your ability to complete this work.

The first thing to note is that you will need to have the car jacked up completely, at both ends and of course ensure that it remains level. Jacking the car involves raising one side at a time and ensuring that both sides are jacked adequately.

The first step of the process to replace a torque converter is to locate the driveshaft. The rear axle will connect to this and at that location the driveshaft will be held in place by bolts- four in total. You will need to remove these bolts before continuing. The next steps will instruct you on what to do in order to remove the drive shaft from the rear axle.

Ensure that the van (or car) is in the neutral position. This is very important to enable you to turn the driveshaft. Carefully move the driveshaft so that it becomes loose, enabling you to free it up from the rear axle. Once you have moved the driveshaft, pull it away from the axle and once you feel you have done this enough, pull the driveshaft away at the other end too- from the transmission.

The next step in this process is to open the bonnet and locate the transmission filler tube. You will need to remove this tube and you can do this by following the tube all the way through to the transmission and loosing the bolt that holds it in place at this area. Once loosened, pull out the tube. It is important at this point that you ensure the car is back in park.

The next step in the process is to locate the torque converter attached to the transmission. You will need to go back underneath the vehicle for this. There are bolts holding these together which will need to be removed before you will be able to remove the converter. In order to remove the bolts effectively, you will need to jack up the transmission slowly. The reason for this is to take any pressure off the cross member, enabling you to disconnect the parts. Only once the pressure is taken off the cross member, should you try to remove the bolts holding these two parts together. The bolts connecting the cross member to the frame of the van or car should also be removed. Once this is complete, remove the cross member itself.

After this, disconnect the transmission from the engine and this is firstly done by freeing up the bolts connecting these two parts. You will most probably need a socket set for this. Once the bolts are gone, lower the transmission on to the jack and then on to the floor.

Next, pull the old torque converter from the input shaft. Congratulations- you're now ready to fit the new converter!

Firstly, top up the new part with transmission fluid in order for it to function correctly, and slide into place, into the input shaft. Gently push the converter side to side until it fits correctly, this may take a little manipulation to get it snug.

To secure the new parts, follow the sequence you took to remove the bolts in reverse order. You must make sure that everything is fitted correctly and connected together with bolts as was the condition found.

Once complete, you can now lower the vehicle ready for use. Check the transmission fluid and top up with some more new fluid if required.

Lastly, you will need to turn the engine on and let it run idle for a period of time- usually and few minutes in order that you can check levels when the engine is running and warm. If you need to top up again after this then so, it is perfectly normal for the vehicle to require another top up.

Building Background - Benefits of Using Sentence Frames to Build Background Knowledge

Even as native English speakers we sometimes struggle with just the right word to explain, describe, clarify, or elucidate what we want to convey. We always understand more than we can speak. One of best ways to engage English language learners (ELL) in actively acquiring new material is to connect their background knowledge to the new topic. So, let's give them some sentence frames to help them use language.

We will be most successful if we remember to always start with the concept or theme.

#1 When beginning a new topic, let pairs pretest one another. Write this sentence frame on a board, overhead, or PowerPoint, or make your own blackline master with the sentence frame repeated four to six times on a page so you can cut them into strips to hand out to the pairs.

A: "Do you know anything about (topic)?

B: "I'm not sure, but I do know _____."

or "I think it could be _____ because I learned _____."

After students copy the sentence frame, or use the handy strips, erase the word 'topic' in the first sentence. Write in the topic for today. It might be a theme, or a characteristic, or an emotion.

• Read the sentence frame aloud to the students.






• Read it again, and this time the students should repeat after you.






• Give them sixty seconds (yes, really time it, using the entire sixty seconds) to look at the word and think about everything they know about it. No talking. No writing. Just thinking.






• Next, let students use another 60 seconds (yep, time it again) to write words and phrases to capture their thoughts about the topic.






• Finally it is time to talk.

This is time well-spent. Your lesson will be stronger and more relevant. Your students will be engaged. You can continue to spiral the content, connecting it to what they already know or previously learned. The ELs will build confidence as they are encouraged to think, write, and talk about what they already know.

#2 Plan more opportunities for student interaction. Here's another sentence starter than can be used with individuals, then shared in small groups.

This new theme of _____ reminds me of a time in my life when _____.

#3 Make sentence frames with the word 'because' to have students explain connections between previous learning and the new topic.

"I think the next topic will be _____ because our last lesson was _____."

This kind of sentence frame encourages prediction according to prior learning. This is a good time to show the students how much they have learned and how it all links together.

#4 After reading a story, a sentence frame can be used to let students speak with a partner. You can expand this speaking activity to include a second partner, like elbow- partners and across-the-aisle partners. Provide a sentence frame:

For example, "I think _____ is a hero, because _____."

#5 Ask students to make comparisons to concrete objects in linguistic ways. Hand out objects to students and give them some time to think and write again, before speaking.

Try this sentence frame with a variety of objects:

I am like this _____(Snickers bar), because I am _____ (nutty).

I am like this _____(Matchbox Ferrari), because I am _____ (small and fast).

I am like this _____(red pencil) because I am _____ (my face is red because I have to talk aloud).

The objects you use can be almost anything!

Now that your imagination is gearing up, make up some sentence frames to use tomorrow.

• Think about how you would want the smartest student in the school to speak.






• Then use your target vocabulary and academic language to make a sentence frame.






• Encourage your ELLs to speak in complete sentences in all conversations in the classroom. This will increase their academic vocabulary, which maximizes learning, and builds confidence.






• Kids like to feel smart!

How to Purchase Forklift Parts

All forklifts have certain common components. These forklift parts are vital to the performance and operation of the equipment. Due to constant use and wear and tear, some parts such as forks, brakes and transmissions components have to be replaced quite often.

Usually forklift parts are purchased from different sources. Both new and used parts are available. There are many dealers who have printed catalogs listing all the parts that are available with them. Also there are a number of different manufacturers exclusively for forklift parts. A company that manufactures forklifts also produces replacement parts.

The most important component of the forklift is of course the forks. Without quality forks, the forklift may not be able to transport the materials quite efficiently. These forks are also called blades or tines which vary from model to model. The other important part of a forklift is the brakes. Forklift brakes operate in a similar manner to the brakes of an automobile and they have many parts in common. Brake shoes and break drums are among the most commonly purchased forklift brake parts.

Forklift transmissions are vital to the machine's operation. Forklifts can use either manual or automatic transmissions. Manual transmissions are probably more common and are easier to fix, but many people prefer automatic transmissions because they are easier to use. Many forklift parts dealers have both new and used transmissions for sale.

The Roll Clamps is also another important part of a forklift. There are various models of roll clamps which are available to handle all types and sizes of paper rolls including newsprint, Kraft paper and tissue and coated papers. The models of roll clamp include rigid arm, pivot arm, slide arm and spilt arm clamps all of which are designed to meet the different requirements.

The Carton Clamps is another important attachment for handling multiple unpalletized products such as appliances, furniture, cartooned, canned or frozen goods. Large rubber faced pads gently squeeze the side of the load (containing numerous cartons) until it can be lifted, and then transported to either the warehouse or trailer.

The Rotator is also one of the most important forklift parts. The rotator is used to aid the handling of skids that may have become excessively tilted and other specialty material handling needs. Some forklifts are fitted with an attachment that allows the tines to be rotated. This type of attachment may also be used for dumping containers for quick unloading.

It is very important that only good replacement of the forklift parts is purchased in order to keep the machines in good running condition. Many forklift parts dealers offer extensive warranties on their products. Most forklift parts of every model and make are available in the market so a replacement for a part of a particular make or size can be easily found.

What Is Bitcoin and Is It a Good Investment?

Bitcoin (BTC) is a new kind of digital currency-with cryptographic keys-that is decentralized to a network of computers used by users and miners around the world and is not controlled by a single organization or government. It is the first digital cryptocurrency that has gained the public's attention and is accepted by a growing number of merchants. Like other treaties, users can use the digital currency to buy goods and services online as well as in some physical stores that accept it as a form of payment. Currency traders can also trade Bitcoins in Bitcoin exchanges.

There are several major differences between Bitcoin and traditional currencies (eg US dollar):

1. Bitcoin does not have a centralized authority or clearing house (eg government, central bank, MasterCard or Visa network). The peer-to-peer payment network is managed by users and miners around the world. The currency is anonymously transferred directly between users through the internet without going through a clearing house. This means that transaction fees are much lower.
2. Bitcoin is created through a process called "Bitcoin mining". Miners around the world use mining software and computers to solve complex bitcoin algorithms and to approve Bitcoin transactions. They are awarded with transaction fees and new Bitcoins generated from solving Bitcoin algorithms.
3. There is a limited amount of Bitcoins in circulation. According to Blockchain, there were about 12.1 million in circulation as of Dec. 20, 2013. The difficulty to mine Bitcoins (solve algorithms) becomes harder as more Bitcoins are generated, and the maximum amount in circulation is capped at 21 million. The limit will not be reached until approximately the year 2140. This makes Bitcoins more valuable as more people use them.
4. A public ledger called 'Blockchain' records all Bitcoin transactions and shows each Bitcoin owner's respect holdings. Anyone can access the public ledger to verify transactions. This makes the digital currency more transparent and predictable. More importantly, the transparency prevails fraud and double spending of the same Bitcoins.
5. The digital currency can be acquired through Bitcoin mining or Bitcoin exchanges.
6. The digital currency is accepted by a limited number of merchants on the web and in some brick-and-mortar retailers.
7. Bitcoin wallets (similar to PayPal accounts) are used for storing Bitcoins, private keys and public addresses as well as for anonymously transferring Bitcoins between users.
8. Bitcoins are not insured and are not protected by government agencies. Here, they can not be recovered if the secret keys are stolen by a hacker or lost to a failed hard drive, or due to the closure of a Bitcoin exchange. If the secret keys are lost, the associated Bitcoins can not be recovered and would be out of circulation. Visit this link for an FAQ on Bitcoins.

I believe that Bitcoin will gain more acceptance from the public because users can remain anonymous while buying goods and services online, transactions fees are much lower than credit card payment networks; the public ledger is accessible by anyone, which can be used to prevent fraud; the currency supply is capped at 21 million, and the payment network is operated by users and miners instead of a central authority.

However, I do not think that it is a great investment vehicle because it is extremely volatile and is not very stable. For example, the bitcoin price grows from around $ 14 to a peak of $ 1,200 USD this year before dropping to $ 632 per BTC at the time of writing.

Bitcoin surged this year because investors speculated that the currency would gain greater acceptance and that it would increase in price. The currency plunged 50% in December because BTC China (China's largest Bitcoin operator) announced that it could no longer accept new deposits due to government regulations. And according to Bloomberg , the Chinese central bank barred financial institutions and payment companies from handling bitcoin transactions.

Bitcoin will likely gain more public acceptance over time, but its price is extremely volatile and very sensitive to news-such as government regulations and restrictions-that could negatively affect the currency.

Therefore, I do not suggest investors to invest in Bitcoins unless they were purchased at a less than $ 10 USD per BTC because this would allow for a much larger margin of safety .

Otherwise, I believe that it is much better to invest in stocks that have strong fundamentals, as well as great business prospects and management teams because the undering companies have intrinsic values ​​and are more predictable.

Disclosure: Victor Liang has has no positions in Bitcoins and has no plans to change his position in the next 72 hours.

Buy Cheap Tires Without Sacrificing Quality

We all want a bargain, but we also want to know that the product we are buying is of good quality for the money we are paying. Tires are no exception to this, but buying cheap car tires does not need to be the same as buying poor quality tires. By shopping around for the best price, you can often find deals on mid-range or even premium car tires that will save you money both in the short term (low price!) And the long term (by reflecting you much longer).

The EU tyre labels that will be mandatory from November will help you to see the quality of the ty at a glance by showing you how they perform at wet braking, rolling resistance and exterior noise. However, this should just be the start of your research as you will not always be braking in the wet, and sometimes you might even want to go around corners! Both handling and dry braking will also be important factors, and there are also many other aspects of performance and safety that the tire manufacturers test their tires for, so use the internet to look at the quality of the tires more closely. Once you have found a brand that delivers the performance you want, and you know which model you want, it is time to shop around!

The internet comes into its own when we're talking about shopping for the best prices; there are so many websites available to help you with this, and nowadays, even your average search engine will bring up some prices if you search for the product. So have a look around to see if you can find a cheaper price than your local dealer. Remember to take into consideration fitting costs and disposal of old tires, as well as inconvenience to yourself if you have to go to a specific garage. It is no use finding cheap as chips tires that you have to drive for 50 miles and use up loads of fuel to get fitted!

Once you have a few prices, you can make a few phone calls, as often a tire fitting service will price match with a competitor. This is why it makes sense to call the most convenient tire fitting service first. You may find that a mobile ty fitter can offer the best prices due to lower overheads. Replacing tires may be a necessity, but by spending a little time shopping around, you can get great quality tires at cheap tyre prices !

Police Motorcycle Auctions - Steps to Buy a Seized Bike Now

Everybody likes to save money when they make a major purchase such as a used ATV or a powersports bike. This is especially true in this period of economic crisis.

There are many normal auction houses which allow potential motorcycle purchasers to make significant saving, yet arguably the safest way to buy a bike is to visit one of the popular police motorcycle auctions.

Over the last decade it has been increasingly common to find the police selling off all sorts of goods, sometimes at rock bottom prices, purchasing a motorcycle from a police auction is possibly the best way to procure the bike you want at a bargain price.

Officers sell motorcycles for many reasons. Usually these bikes have been stolen and then recovered, or the motorcycles were just designated by the government. Although in this situation the bike will usually be purchased without a number plate or documentation, the new owner will need to re-register the bike.

Some police motorcycle auctions will have already taken care of the paperwork, meaning the bike is ready to put back on the road. Often officers will have exotic items like all terrain vehicles, which they have been designated and confiscated from a criminal or criminal group, and are unable to track down the original owner.

In this case the government will keep the item for a set period of time, to allow the original owner to come forward and claim it, after a certain time the bike will be put up for sale.

Lastly, the police motorcycle auctions will occasionally sell off used equipment, including bikes, these will have all of the branding and special equipment removed before they are put up for auction. These can be exceptionally good purchases if you are lucky enough to find one.

As mentioned in the previous section, purchasing and ex-police bike from a can be an excellent way to procure an exceptional bike at a great price.

Officers have a policy of decommissioning vehicles within 3 years of purchase and during their lifecycle they are maintained impeccably. During the time that they are used by the government they are seldom driven aggressively, and when they are it is in the hands of a very experienced and highly trained rider.

Therefore, almost every bike will be in superb mechanical condition when it comes up for auction. We also need to consider the fact that some local forces order their motorcycles with factory configurations already installed.

These come in the form of increased engine performance, better braking systems, improved suspension and suchlike, finding one of these bikes at auction is something of a gold mine, you can avail yourself of a factory modified bike at the fraction of the cost of purchasing one from the manufacturer.

Police motorcycle auctions are fairly safe when it comes to risks involved. That being said, it is still important that you check out any bike you intend to bid upon before the auction starts.

You will have no worry over the actual financial transaction involved in buying a bike from a police auction, although you will still need to make sure your choice of bike is suitable and in good order.

Removing a Locked Club or Steering Wheel Lock

What do you do when you have lost your keys to your Locked Club or Steering Wheel Lock also called a steering wheel car theft prevention device?

In cities with high auto theft and theft of autos drivers have to use car theft prevention devices like the The Club to lock the steering wheel to prevent their cars from being stolen. In 2009, British Columbia had the highest car theft frequency in Canada. Approximately 11 vehicles per 1,000 or 2-4 times the auto theft of other provinces and regions. British Columbia is the auto theft capital of the Western World.

A quick search of the Internet will result in several suggestions on how to remove a steering wheel club. Several website recommend forcing the lock with a screwdriver or to freeze the lock with Freon. Both of these methods do not work and usually result in damaging the wheel, front windshield or causing the airbag to deploy at the cost of hundreds of dollars (one person had the front and side air bags deploy at the cost of over $3000). Another persons' fingers were frost bitten not to mention how expensive and environmentally unfriendly using Freon to freeze the lock. Has anyone ever seen the results of using Freon work on any lock? Urban myth or something for MythBusters.

Bottom line: Screwdrivers and Freon does not work. Clubs have been designed to prevent the average or above average car thieves from removing them.

An Automotive Locksmith has been trained to safely, and with no damage to the car, remove a locked Club or Steering wheel lock. Most of the time they can pick the lock with their lock picks quickly and efficiently.

Despite the risk of you losing your key to your steering wheel lock they are still a great deterrent to prevent the theft of your car. Even if your car has an alarm system, immobilizer or the car is equipped with transponder or chip key security system a club or steering wheel lock is highly recommended to install on your car. And if you do lose your Club key, a car Locksmith will remove the steering wheel lock with no damage to your car or steering wheel.

If you have auto insurance, Canadian Automobile Association, American Automobile Association or other emergency auto/RV/motorcycle/bike roadside service, and if your keys are locked inside the car or trunk, or your keys are lost or broken, they will cover emergency locksmith service up to $100. A professional automotive locksmith will provide you with a receipt so you can submit it to your auto insurance provider for reimbursement.

Step By Step: How to Change A Tyre

It is important to know exactly how to change a tyre in case you end up into a messy situation on the side of the highway. Some of us have people to call in these cases but there are occasions where you might be far out and help could take some time to arrive. Here is an easy step-by-step tutorial on how to change your tyres.

1. 
   
   
   
   
   Firstly, make sure that you stop on the side of the road where it is safe and you have enough space to change the tyre. Always be aware of the oncoming traffic where you are changing the tyre.






2. 
   
   
   
   
   Making sure that you have all the necessary tools to do this job is an important factor. You will need a tyre iron, a jack, a spare tyre that is properly inflated and fit for the purpose, as well as the manual for the car. This manual will give you the necessary instructions on how to change the tyre if there are specific features your car may have.






3. 
   
   
   
   
   Make sure that you have the handbrake activated before you start with the wheel changing process. It is also important to place an object behind the opposite wheel in case the car starts to roll backwards.






4. 
   
   
   
   
   On most cars, there are indentations under the car that make for a stable place to place the car jack. You can see where these indentations are by means of small markings along the side of the car. The side of the car has to be at least twenty centimetres off the ground so that you can easily change the part.






5. 
   
   
   
   
   You will need to remove the hubcap so that you can reach the tyre. The hubcap has been clipped on and can be removed by wedging the flat part of the tyre iron into the crevice of the cap. The hubcap is the part of the tyre that protects the lug nuts beneath.






6. 
   
   
   
   
   Loosen the lug nuts using the correct side of the iron. Some cars have special adaptors that fit onto the nuts. You won't need to completely remove the lug nuts as of yet. You can remove them as soon as you have taken the tyre off of the wheel. The tyre should simply click out of place and be easy to remove.






7. 
   
   
   
   
   Fit the spare tyre to the wheel piece. The bolts have to line up with the holes. Place the lug nuts onto the bolts and start tightening it equally by hand. You can then use the iron to tighten the nuts properly without having wasted too much energy. Do not over fasten as it could break.






8. 
   
   
   
   
   You can then place the hubcap back onto the face and lower the car. The spare tyre should only be used for emergency moments. You will notice that they are narrower than a regular tyre.

Now you can drive safely to a fitment centre. As soon as you get there you should get the tyre replaced.